Dumbo NYC

Found in Dumbo: “Coach, cheerleader, 5′2″ 102lbs, has a posse…and a twitter feed” (@coachdearleader)

“Matt Foley lives in a van down by the river. 5′8″ 270lbs. Matt Foley motivational speaker”

Dumbo Gymnastics from Blue Barn Pictures, Inc. on Vimeo.

Dumbo Gymnastics teamed up with fellow Dumbo business, Blue Barn Pictures, the talented Dumbo-based multimedia production company to create a promotional video of Dumbo Gymnastics. Great to see local companies collaborating with eachother.

Blue Barn Pictures (bluebarnpictures.com)
68 Jay street, Suite 311, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 852-1403

DUMBO Gymnastics (dumbogymnastics.com)
68 Jay Street, Suite 509, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(917) 971-4208
Email info@dumbogymnastics.com

Previously:
{DUMBO Gymnastics Expands Fall Schedule, 16Aug2010}
{Dumbo Gymnastics for Kids Opening in Dumbo, 24May2010}
{Blue Barn Pictures Training Courses, 30Sept2009}

First Thursday today, Thursday, September 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A chance to visit many quality galleries at night in the Dumbo Historic District – galleries showing works from artists of many disciplines, especially photography, while hosting receptions, producing live music performances and curator/artist talks among other highlights.

Let’s not forget the incredible views you can enjoy as you walk from one gallery to the next and the local drink specials afterward. Most of the art is for sale. Printed maps and 1st Thursday cards are available on-site.

Participating galleries may vary each month. For more information contact Zannah Mass at zannah@twotrees-dumbo.com or 718-222-2500 x38.

This month’s highlights include: Almacen Unlimited Art’s (111 Front St., Ste 222) U.S. launch right here in Dumbo for their first satellite gallery outside of Brazil with an exhibit of Yuli Geszti entitled “Form, color and beyond”; The exhibition Material Witness featuring paintings made of unconventional materials by Bari Kumar & Mondongo at Bose Pacia, a two-night only Back to School Sale!! at Mighty Tanaka Gallery showcasing the work of many emerging Brooklyn artists, Cinema 16 at Smack Mellon presenting short films by Maya Deren, Wallace Berman, Kihachiro Kawamoto and live performance of scores by Ablehearts, and a showing of Ira Fox’s digitally altered photographs entitled still lifes at Magasin Totale.

Check gallery websites for updates.
A.I.R. Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 228
Amos Eno Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 202
Bose Pacia, 163 Plymouth St.
Brooklyn Arts Council, 111 Front St., Suite 218
Caption Gallery, 55 Washington St., Suite 802
Cave Canem, 20 Jay St.
Central Booking, 111 Front St., Suite 214
Collective Consciousness NYC, 10 Jay St.
DUMBO Arts Center, 30 Washington St.
Farmani Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 212
Giacobetti Paul Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 220
Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 226
Klompching Gallery, 111 Front St.
Kris Graves Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 224
Magasin Totale, 10 Jay St., Suite 724
Melville House, 145 Plymouth St.
Mighty Tanaka Gallery, 68 Jay St., Suite 416
NY Studio Residency Program, 20 Jay St.
One Arm Red, 10 Jay St.
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main St.
Pratt Institute Photo Seniors, 20 Jay St.
Rabbithole Studio, 33 Washington St.
Randall Scott Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 204
Smack Mellon, 93 Plymouth St. @ Washington Street
Spring, 126a Front St.
Umbrage Gallery, 111 Front St.
VII Photo, 28 Jay St.

Within minutes of meeting Robert Isakov, owner of Barber on Pearl in Dumbo, you know he’s a social man whose mission is to provide complete satisfaction for his clients. No, he did not make me write the above statement. However, I was offered drinks, food, and he’s planning community events and was kind enough to provide a special offer for DumboNYC readers. We stopped by his barber shop and asked a few questions.

Why did you open a store in Dumbo?

I own another barber shop in Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Street Barber Shop, and several regular customers are from Dumbo or moved to Dumbo recently. A few years ago, I was curious to find out what Dumbo was about and really like the atmosphere, views, and of course the community in Dumbo. So I decided to walk around after hours, on the weekends, and in the morning to look for space to open a second location. When a location became available on Pearl Street, I signed a lease. I decided to open on Pearl Street because the landlord allowed a 5 year lease with the option to renew for another 5.

Who are your customers? And has the customer base changed over the years?

I opened my shop in Brooklyn Heights over four years ago, where most of them are local residents. I make sure they are happy with their cut/shave. If they aren’t, I will do everything I can to provide 100% satisfaction. So I have a dedicated customer base who return. Not much change in the customers, but they bring back their children for cuts. Some of my Dumbo customers are my customers from the Brooklyn Heights location.

You do children’s haircuts too?

Absolutely, I am great with boys and girls as young as 3. I have many tricks to keep them sitting still to get the best cut possible. Men are associated with barber shops, but I also have women customers who are very happy with our cuts.

You mention that you want to be involved with the community. How will you do that?

I want to host parties, gathering, and sponsor events. I see lots of events in Dumbo and would love to sponsor events by providing food, drinks, discounted haircuts. (side note: If you are looking for an event sponsor, Robert is open to discussion. Contact info below). We see lots of young professionals and families in the neighborhood and want to talk to everyone about how to make the community one happy family.

You’re offering a special for DumboNYC readers. What do they need to do?

Yes, for people who mention they saw this interview, bring in your kids and I can provide a 20% discount for your child if you get a haircut. Our cuts are $15, and we keep the prices as low as possible, but we love Dumbo and want to see more regulars come by.

Thanks to Robert for the special. Stop by and tell them you saw us here. Looking forward to seeing you around.

Clinton Street Barber Shop (Yelp review)
104 Clinton Street (between Joralemon St & Remsen St)
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Barber on Pearl (aka Pearl Street Barber) (Yelp Review)
57 Pearl Street (between Plymouth St and Anchorage Pl)
Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Shop hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Sat 9am-6pm
Sun 10am-5pm
Phone: 718-855-3090

Previously:
{Barber on Pearl Now Open, 27Jul2010}
{Barber Shop “Coming Soon” to Dumbo, 02Jul2010}

According to a press release from Public Advocate, Bill de Blasio, they have launched a new website that exposes the landlords behind some of the city’s most dangerous and dilapidated buildings including 96 in Brooklyn:

“The Public Advocate’s NYC’s Worst Landlords Watch List is the first resource allowing tenants to look up a current or potential landlord by name and see code violations for other buildings the landlord owns. The Watch List is available online at advocate.nyc.gov/landlord-watchlist.”

According to the city, 311 receives more calls regarding landlord complaints than any other topic, so this site should be a useful resource for residents who deserve better conditions. According to the website, there’s nothing in Dumbo that shows any code violations, but Brooklyn has the most landlord violations. Let’s hope they also follow the new state bill that passed yesterday requiring landlords to tell prospective tenants about bedbug infestatoins at an apartment within the past year.

{Landlord Watchlist site}

The Fulton Ferry Landing Association (FFLA) noted on their blog that contractors have been clearing out 11, 13, and 15 Old Fulton Street to reduce the load on the structures, under the supervision of the DOB’s forensic engineering division, as we posted three weeks ago.

“we have been informed by Landmarks that the owner has retained a new engineer to revise the shoring and bracing plans. (Some of you may have seen him taking measurements at the buildings in the last week.) According to the LPC, it should take one to two weeks before the revised plans are submitted to the DOB and the LPC. Since progress on the stabilization plan continues, the DOB has approved extending the hold on demolition until September 8th.”

However, the FFLA still notes that it does not mean these historic structures are saved. They suggest that you send an email to the “Commissioner of Buildings, Robert LiMandri, the Borough Commissioner, Thomas Fariello, and cc our electeds.” (sample email).

(Thanks to Fulton Ferry Landing Association for the photo.)

Previously:
{Scaffolding Going up on Old Fulton Street, 12Aug2010}
{Full Vacate Order at 9 Old Fulton Street, 10Aug2010}
{Vacate Order on 11-15 Old Fulton Street, 13Apr2010}
{Old Fulton Street Townhomes Under Contract, 30Nov2007}
{Three Vacant Buildings on Old Fulton Street, 18Jan2007}

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• PaperGirl Rolls Into Dumbo, 26Aug10, RWK
• Man Cave Experts Open Store in DUMBO, 23Aug10, BHB
• Modern Anthology: A Sophisticated Man Cave, 23Aug10, Racked
• DUMBO gets its first traffic signal, 24Aug10, BK Paper
• Cold Storage Warehouse RIP, 25Aug10, Brownstoner
• A Dumbo Visit, 23Aug10, A Baked Creation
• Dumbo Getting Very Own Stoplight, 23Aug10, Brownstoner
• Superfine- Bluegrass Brunch, 26Aug10, NYT
• Storm Troopers Invade DUMBO, 27Aug10, BHB
• T.K. Small Talks Brooklyn Bridge Park Gravel, 25Aug10, BHB
• Walkabout: The Manhattan Bridge, 26Aug10, Brownstoner
• 100 Jay Street, #4D, 24Aug10, Brownstoner
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Tobacco Warehouse RFP, 25Aug10, BHB
• Joyent Launches New Smart Solution for Digital Agencies, 25Aug10, PR

We’ve had many readers concerned about the asbestos mitigation ‘huts’ that have gone up on Washington/Main and Washington/Water Streets a few days ago. We were told that this is was planned, and asked the Dumbo Improvement District for an update.

From the Dumbo Improvement District:

Asbestos abatement, planned as part of Water Street Project (Project Number SEK002355), has started and is scheduled to be completed in approximately 2-3 weeks. Fiber Control Inc. has been hired for the asbestos abatement and will be working in the tunnels on the following streets:

Water St. B/T Washington St. and Main St. (Street & Intersection)
Front St. B/T Washington St.and Adams St. (Street & Intersection)

The work will take place daily, Monday – Friday, from 7:00AM to 3:30PM.

If you have any questions, please contact the Community Construction Liaison, Paul Kidder at 718-643-2850.

Previously:
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+}

Whether you’re a New Yorker or looking to move to NYC, most people turn to neighborhood websites such as Curbed or Brownstoner to find out more about what’s going on. In addition, once you narrow your area of interest to specific neighborhoods, there’s no shortage of blogs in NYC that cover every square block. For information on Dumbo, (we hope) people stumble here (DumboNYC.com). For Brooklyn Heights, there’s Brooklyn Heights Blog. And so on. But how do you sort out the 86 or so neighborhoods in Brooklyn?

NabeWise is a neighborhood ratings and an online resource that helps you find a place that fits your values, interests, and lifestyle. According to their site, you can use NabeFinder to search for neighborhoods based on 24 attributes. They include user-generated content for reviews and photos and from social networking sites such as Foursquare for each of the 266 neighborhoods in NYC.

So where does Dumbo rank? Dumbo has a reputation for being “trendy, artsy, industrial, upscale, gritty, and expensive” according to a word cloud on the Dumbo page. Out of 266 neighborhoods, Dumbo’s highest rankings were:

• Beautiful People (8th)
• Gay/Lesbian (9th)
• Median Home Price (12th)
• Liberals (13th)
• Exclusive/Prestigious (15th)

Beautiful people is subjective, but maybe its the filming of movies or area celebrities that add to this ranking; Gay/Lesbian community is strong, and home prices are tops in Brooklyn. Overall lowest were:

• Parking (183rd)
• Rent (2BR) (136th)
• Public Transportation (94th)
• Parks (93rd)
• Quiet (86th)

Yes, parking is more difficult to come by with the ongoing construction and increased residents, rent (and real estate) is expensive, and Dumbo has never known to be quiet. However, I’m not sure if I’d agree with parks or public transportation. Brooklyn Bridge Park access and subway access is not bad with the A, C, F in the area.

Check out the Dumbo scorecard on NabeWise, and put in your two cents if you agree or disagree. What words or phrases come to mind when you think of Dumbo?

Related:
{NYMag’s Most Livable Neighborhoods List, 12Apr2010}
{Dumbo Named Best Manhattanized Brooklyn Neighborhood, 19Oct2007}

(Photo by Jane Kratochvil)

As mentioned in the press, the Brooklyn Bridge is being rehabilitated and repainted (funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). Its ramps and approaches have been rated in poor condition. According to the Brooklyn Heights Association (as reported by the Brooklyn Heigths Blog), overnight closures of all three Manhattan-bound traffic lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge, started on Monday August 23rd.

Most of the construction will occur during overnight hours:

• On weekday nights: the closing hours are 11 pm – 6 am
• On Saturdays: from midnight to 7 am
• On Sundays: from 11 pm to 9 am.

During the daytime, single lane closures may occur in each direciton during off-peak hours. Other notes:

• The bridge will reopen to traffic in both directions each morning.
• All Manhattan-bound traffic will be detoured to the Manhattan Bridge or other crossings.
• All Brooklyn-bound traffic will be maintained, and there will be no closure of the pedestrian/cycling promenade.

completion is scheduled for 2014. Further details on the Department of Transportation notice (brooklyn_bridge_brochure.pdf) and on NY Daily News.