Photo courtesy of KlemZven

• Bring back a trolley!, Brooklyn Papers, Oct 21, 06
• Cheap housing advocates push for more changes in subsidy program, Brooklyn Papers, Oct 21, 06
• Trolley idea is derailed, Brooklyn Papers, Oct 21, 06
• Plan B for 421-a, Brooklyn Downtown Star, Oct 19, 06
• ‘Tears’ & ‘Control’, Courier Life
  

  Safe-T-Gallery in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood, at 111 Front Street, Suite 214, presents two shows this month: Corey Armpriester’s “A History Of Tears” and Jun-Ah Kim’s “Mind Control.”

  The studio will be hosting a studio session for the crying project, October 21 from 3-7 p.m.; anyone willing and able to cry before the camera is welcome to drop by for a free portrait.

  Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 12-6 p.m. and Thursday until 8 p.m. For information, visit www.safetgallery.com

“More than 80 choreographers and dance companies, of just about every artistic persuasion and level of experience, will perform in 15 different programs in this sprawling but oddly cozy annual extravaganza. Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., 5 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m., at the John Ryan Theater, 25 Jay Street, Dumbo section of Brooklyn; Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, on the Brooklyn waterfront between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges; (718) 855-8822, whitewavedance.com; free.”

October 19 – November 4, 2006 – Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.-10p.m.

Poor Jacob’s Hamlet @ Spring Theatreworks
Spring Theatreworks presents “Poor Jacob’s Hamlet”, an ultra-minimalist de/re-construction of Shakespeare’s classic text with a focus on the malleability of truth and how our preconceived notions of what seems familiar and true can be manipulated. By restructuring the plot you are drawn to question Hamlet’s intentions and accusations of murder against his uncle Claudius as opposed to accepting them as fact. The show will be performed in Spring’s signature intimate loft space in DUMBO. Thursdays through Saturdays each week at 8pm through November 4th.

Seating is limited so reservations are strongly encouraged! To make reservations, send an email to tickets@springtheatreworks.com with your name, choice of performance and number of seats desired.

www.springtheatreworks.com

25 Jay Street, Studio #203 (btwn Plymouth & John)
917-213-1242

  Photo by epc

I heard from a reliable source that Dellorito’s on 29 Jay Street (next to The Plant) is opening for business on Saturday. Their sign says:

“Dellorito’s, Grill and Creamery
Serving grilled cheese and Panini Sandwiches
Burgers, Soups and Salads
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor (fountain drinks, sundaes, cones, hot coffee)”

This will be a nice complement to Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory or Almondine in the area. Let us know what you think of Dellorito’s if you happen to go this weekend.

UPDATE: A commenter confirmed via an ad in Brooklyn Papers that the opening day is tomorrow.

If you’ve walked around the Dumbo Brooklyn neighborhood, you probably have seen this vintage green car. The car seems to match the old cobblestone streets and the pre-war buildings (now converted to condos). You can now buy it for $7500. The owner bought it from its original owner, a retired cab-driver. Many Dumbo residents and visitors have taken photos of the car and is somewhat of a “celebrity” in Dumbo. So owner, why are you selling? Too bad, ’cause it would’ve matched the proposed trolley going up and down Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Some additional photos by Dottie admirers:

  Photo by mulia

  Photo by danivance

  Photo by justinyc

  Photo by bugged_out_cars

  Photo by mad_pixelist

  Photo by dr.snitch

{Checker 1977 – unique ‘NYC state of mind’ opportunity – $7500, Craigslist.org}

  Photo from New York Daily

The Daily News has a piece about Brooklyn’s best eateries today. Dumbo institutions Grimaldi’s and River Cafe made the list of Brooklyn’s top restaurants in Zagat’s top 50.

  Bubby’s Menu, Photo by Happy Dave

Meanwhile, NYCnosh.com, a food blog has a thorough review of Bubby’s in Dumbo. While I haven’t had all the entrees they reviewed, I agree that some dishes are wonderful, while others are just plain. I’ve had both brunch and dinner there. The dinner was disappointing compared to their brunch. I had their burger, where their bun was so thick and dry, and the sides were bland that I decided that I was not going there for dinner again. The brunch is a different story. I’ve been to Bubby’s in Tribeca and had very good brunch there. So I recently went back to the Dumbo Bubby’s for brunch. If you like sweet breakfasts, their french toast, waffles, and pancakes are very good. The best savory dishes include the corn beef hash, apple turkey sausage, and thick cut bacon.

I hate to say this because Bubby’s in Dumbo is in my neighborhood, but I prefer Bubby’s for brunch over dinner. Their homemade pies are delicious.

{Still the big cheeses, New York Daily News}
{Aiming for the Sweet Spot at Bubby’s Brooklyn, NYCnosh.com}

  Photo from New York Mag

Steven L. Kaplan, Professor of European History at Cornell University and apparently the world’s preeminent French-bread scholar, named Dumbo’s Almondine’s baguette the best in New York. New York Mag assembled a baker’s dozen of baguettes from the city’s best bakeries and subjected them to Kaplan’s rigorous system of evaluation. The article doesn’t name all 13 bakeries, but there must be some great bakeries out there that weren’t tested.

In any case, this is the Professor’s assessment:

“Mmmm, yeah,” said the professor. The Almondine baguette has a nice look, nice resonance, and a nice song, he said. It has a little bit of fruit, a peachy, buttery quality in its nose, he noted. It achieves a good marriage of crust and crumb, and although it would not be among the best breads in Paris, it would hold its own clearly in a neighborhood bakery – but then there are 1,275 neighborhood bakeries in Paris.”

The description sounds like a bread version of a snobby oenophile, but haven’t seen any wine described as a “bad case of acne…looks like it has eczema, psoriasis, or leprosy”, “lacks sapidity”, or “reduced the male crust to helpless impotence”, as he did with some of the other baguettes.

I personally haven’t bought their baguette, but Almondine’s was rated best-looking, crust, and crumb. “Amy’s smelled the best, but Sullivan St. Bakery had the best mouthfeel. Kaplan is a tough but fair grader, and only the top two baguettes overall (Almondine and Pain d’Avignon) merited his Michelin-style wheat-sheaves designation.” Have you tried it?

Almondine
85 Water St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-797-5026

{Monsieur Baguette, New York Magazine}

 Jane Walentas with her Carousel, October 13, 2006

  Photo courtesy Jane Walentas

An article in The New York Sun today describes the carousel’s opening at 65 Water Street on Friday:

“Friday at noon, at 65 Water St., a 1922 carousel painstakingly restored by Jane Walentas — the wife of David Walentas, who through his firm Two Trees Management owns 13 buildings in of the neighborhood — will open to the public (for viewing only, no rides). The carousel is a beautiful ornament on an already delectable stretch of Water St., which includes Jacques Torres Chocolate and the French bakery Almondine, not to mention the River Cafe at the end of the street.(Ms. Walentas referred to this as the “street of dreams.”)”

  Photo courtesy Jane Walentas

I had the priviledge of chatting with Jane Walentas at the opening. Ms. Walentas purchased the carousel in 1984, and after 22 years of her labor, the historic carved wood carousel has been restored to its original condition. The decorative carvings and vibrant paint, leafed in 24k gold and palladium are beautifully embellished with faceted jewels and 1200 lights. The temporary space where the carousel is housed is unfortunately too small to allow the public to safely ride the carousel, but Ms. Walentas is looking forward to the day when a Carousel Pavillion will be in the Brooklyn Bridge Park will have a permanent home. We’re looking forward to it too.

  The lighted Carousel at night

We also asked Ms. Walentas about the Empire Stores. Her dream is to provide a place where artists can display their artwork in lofts and galleries. We hope it becomes a place of art but when that will happen is still TBD. Thanks to Ms. Walentas for her “dreams” and for her beautiful restoration work.

Jane’s Carousel
56 Water St. Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
The First Carousel on The National Register will be open Fridays through Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

{David Walentas, Neighborhood Creator and Patron of the Arts, New York Magazine, October 13, 2006}
{The Paradox Of DUMBO, Art Around Town, The New York SUn, October 13, 2006}

  Photo courtesy of dietrich

If you’re reading this today (Sun) it’s not too late to go to the Dumbo Art Under the Bridge Festival. If you went already, what did you think?

• Gleason’s Ring Cycle, Urban Studies, NY Times, Oct 15, 06
• The land down under — under the Manhattan Bridge, Lonely Planet, Oct 15, 06
• David Walentas Develops Dumbo, Still Makes Space for Artists, Bloomberg.com, Oct 13, 06
• The Paradox Of DUMBO, The New York Sun, Oct 13, 06
• Growing Pains: Dance Stakes Its Claim in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Rail

The opening night of the 10th annual Dumbo Art Under the Bridge Festival last night had an exciting buzz to it. From Jane Walentas’ Carousel Opening at 56 Water Street to PowerHouse Arena’s No Sleep ’til Brooklyn at their new space at 37 Main Street, to “Katrina Remembered” at 99 Front Street, the diversity of events and creative art is inspiring. There’s two more days left to experience the interactive art, street performances, live music, gallery openings, and open studios, so come to Dumbo to experience and support the artists from around the world.

Some photos from today:

 Jane Walentas’ Carousel, October 13, 2006

 Katrina Remembered, 99 Front Street, October 13, 2006

 Opening Reception, live music by The Blizzard of 78, 99 Front Street, October 13, 2006

 PowerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street, October 13, 2006

{THE Biggest Weekend in Dumbo, DumboNYC.com}