Smartmom: Smartmom’s tree is a symbol — not of the birth of Jesus, silly, but of her acceptance of her family’s new holiday traditions. Comment.

Bay Ridge: The candidate who nearly unseated New York City’s lone Republican congressman Vito Fossella in 2006 isn’t taking any chances this time around — he’s already won a key endorsement, even as a new report shows that his opponent’s finances are in trouble. Comments (3).

Coney Island: This year, Coney Island residents debated two visions for the neighborhood — one presented by the Bloomberg Administration, the other presented by the area’s principal landowner, Thor Equities. This week, we invited a proponent of each plan to slug it our in our first ever Coney Island Smackdown! Comments (29).

Brooklyn Angle: Here’s the real reason why this is the most wonderful time of the year. Comment.

It wouldn’t be Brooklyn without the smackdown — those classic conflicts between a pair of feisty fighters. Comment.

Cartoon: From a tornado in Bay Ridge to a dead whale in the Gowanus Canal, Mother Nature fooled with Brooklyn for most of the year (heck, we even had some snow in January — a miracle!). Here are the stories that showed some of Mom’s wrath — and her good-natured side. Comment.

Politics: Borough President Markowitz’s Christmas card was the best to land in our “In” box (that pile of mail near the linotype machine). So for our third consecutive year, here’s our exclusive analysis of all the hidden imagery in the elaborate artwork, including at least one reference to Markowitz’s nascent mayoral bid. Comment.

In 2007, The Brooklyn Paper’s readers found themselves on The Stoop, our new page dedicated to neighborhood news, gossip and all the other stuff that we talk about on our front steps. And what a year to make its debut! Comments (1).

Politics: It was a banner year for Borough President Markowitz. He played a role in attracting Trader Joe’s to Atlantic Avenue, got to flirt with the idea of running for mayor, and even deliberately insulted Robert Redford and the gay community. Love him or love him even more, Marty sure isn’t boring. So here it is: the year in Marty! Comment.

Event: No matter who you’re kissing when the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve, if you’re in Brooklyn, there will be fireworks. Look here to find out where! Comment.

Dining: More often than not after a night of drinking, eating is the last thing on your mind. In fact, putting anything besides aspirin into your system often feels like it could have catastrophic results. Getting yourself fed, though, is an important part of the healing process. So where to go for New Year’s Day brunch? Comment.

Nightlife: New Year’s Eve can go either way. Sometimes a great party will keep you out until dawn, then staggering into a diner for breakfast having already broken most of your resolutions. In other years, a quiet night with friends can do the trick. We’ve gathered a list of all of the above, so you can pick a celebration that’s just right for you. Comments (1).

Coney Island: The annual New Year’s swim at Coney Island used to be only about jumping into the frigid ocean — but now, the Polar Bear Club is finding itself in uncomfortably hot water for accepting a donation from Thor Equities, the mega-bucks developer that wants to create a Vegas-style amusement and residential district along the Boardwalk. Comments (3).

DUMBO: State officials hurriedly closed Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park last week after getting a report that a Civil War–era warehouse was in imminent danger of collapse — the latest chapter in a long failure to develop the site. Comment.

Politics: He’d make a great mayor. He still loves Atlantic Yards. His city pension won’t cover his living expenses if he ever retires. And he will go to the mattresses to oppose tolls on the East River bridges. That’s just a small taste of what Borough President Markowitz had to say in our annual end-of-year interview with the irrepressible Beep. Comments (2).

Strange things are bound to happen when you cram 2.3 million cantankerous folks into 81.8 square miles of urban landscape. Comment.