What: Opening Reception for: This Means Nothing by Le Bijoutier
When: February 23, 2008, 4-6PM
Where: The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street at Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

For years, French photographer Le Bijoutier has roamed the five boroughs of New York City, documenting street art as it has developed over the past decade. Unlike graffiti writers, whose bombing campaigns mark them in the public eye as vandals, the work of street artists is celebrated as progressive. Many make their name first on the streets before hitting the gallery world. But before they move on, Le Bijoutier has caught them in all their illegal glory. In This Means Nothing, Le Bijoutier chronicles these works in sticker, chalk, marker, stencil, wheat paste poster, painting, and even sculpture, revealing a new direction in public destruction for the sake of aesthetic construction. The war continues…

Born and raised in Paris, Le Bijoutier started traveling to the United States at age 12. When he moved to Marseilles, he received recognition for his acclaimed radio show, which airs weekly. He currently travels throughout Europe, promoting reggae and raggamuffin dubplates with his sound system, Dissident Sound. He has exhibited his photographs in Marseilles and Brooklyn.

{The Overspray Magazine, 18Feb2008}

Two new street level retailers have opened up on Water Street (between Pearl and Jay Street). The first one is called DiDi’s Dog Boutique. The owner, Sonia, named her pet boutique after her Chihuahua, Didi (literally Chinese for “little brother”). She grew up adopting unwanted dogs that roamed the streets of Taiwan, and cared for every one of them as if they were her own kids. She also imports her pet clothes from manufacturers she personally visits to ensure quality and safety for the pet. She calls each of her pets a ‘family member’ and is looking forward to meeting other pets and people in the neighborhood. She opened her first store on Bowery Street in the Lower East Side.

DiDi’s Dog Boutique
160 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.237.2353
dididog.com

Also opened up next to Didi’s Dog Boutique is Leader Trading Company, a retailer that offers chinaware, cookware and restaurant equipment. Since they source directly from the manufacturer, we saw that their prices were low. There’s a wide range of Asian kitchen and dining items for the home. They are also a family business owned by Sonia’s husband’s family. Welcome to Dumbo and best wishes!

Leader Trading Company
160 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.237.2353
leadertradingUSA.com

Business hours for both stores:
Mon – Fri 9am – 5:30pm
Sat 10am – 5pm
Sun Closed

{Entrepreneurs Capitalize on New Yorkers’ Pet Frenzy, 22Apr2006}

As discussed earlier last week, the new Marrakesh Express awning is up. They’re revamping the restaurant and based on many of the comments, the Indian dishes are tasty and worth a try. Commenter Anna says:

“i know the guys who run the place. they are extremely hard working, honest good people who had very limited funds and a dream and they are trying to make it work. they are longtime dumbo residents and musicians. these are the kind of businesses we should support in dumbo. these guys are the real thing. would you all rather have a starbucks in that place? or a low key joint with excellent, cheap fresh food?”

From their website, marrakeshexpressny.com, they are now open from 6am to 10pm and deliver free to anywhere in the neighborhood (up to 15 blocks). “Our owners have more than 16 years of industry experience. We saw an opportunity for the restaurant and decided to open. We are located on the corner of Front Street and Jay Street under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge in the Dumbo neighborhood.”

Marrakesh Express
68 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201-1186
For deliveries call, (866) 919-2775 or (718) 222-8293

Previously: {How’s the Indian Buffet at D Space?, 11Feb2008}

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

• Gavin Friday plays ’Stay Awake’ at St. Ann’s, April 2, 15Feb08, gavinfriday.com
• Czech Modern Design @ Prague Kolektiv, 15Feb08, blinkdecor.com
• Matzo-Gate Update: Tenants Petition Mayor, 14Feb08, NY Observer
• Embroideries by French artist Mireille Vautier @ Safe-T-Gallery, 13Feb08, parisinny.typepad
• Dumbo Getting Its Own Green Market, 12Feb08, Brownstoner
• Green dreams around city, 14Feb08, Metro
• New Photo Gallery for Dumbo, 13Feb08, Brownstoner
• 31 Washington Price Cut: $3.4 to $2.8mil, 11Feb08, Curbed
• Invite Only Erykah Badu Show in DUMBO, 12Feb08, deadlymelody.com
• The Brooklyn Vanguard Presents The Library After Dark, 13Feb08, Bed-Stuy Blog
• Why Give Chalky Hearts When You Can Give Chocolate?, 14Feb08, Brooklyn Enthusiast

So your car got towed in Dumbo? I realize that this may not apply to a lot of people in Dumbo, a neighborhood that’s promoting environmental responsibility and green-ness, but I’ve received enough emails about towed cars and where to go that I’ll post a recent experience. I have a car, but only drive on weekends, so I park on the street. I’ve never had any problems finding parking but occasionally I forget to move the car on no parking days.

For the first time, my car was towed last week, and found that all cars towed in Brooklyn go to the Brooklyn Tow Pound in Vinegar Hill on the corner of Sands and Navy Street (thank god it’s so close!). It’s a 10 minute walk from Dumbo. You’ll need any outstanding tickets paid before you can redeem your car. Bring your registration and current insurance card. If it’s in your car, they will allow you to get it. Once you get to the pound, (go early when there’s no line), pay your tow fee ($185 plus $20 per day) and you’re on your way. It was much easier than I had anticipated. I just have to remember to move the car next time. Anyone have other experiences to share?

Brooklyn Navy Yard; corner of Sands St. & Navy St.
Tel: 718-694-0696
Mon-Fri 8am-9pm; Sat 8am-4pm; Sun 12pm-8pm
[UPDATE: 23-Feb-2009; a reader informed us that the pound was closed on Sunday, despite what the NYC website states. Call the location before you make the trip out.]

{How to Redeem Your Towed Vehicle, nyc.gov}
{Towed Vehicles, nyc.gov}

How cool is this? Dumbo has its very own pig on You Tube:

From a discussion thread here: dumbonyc.com/2007/12/20/dumbo-veterinarian. The video was first seen on Gowanus Lounge.

Just listed is this 1 Main Street condo in Dumbo at a whopping $4,300,000. It’s currently the 4th most expensive condo listing in Brooklyn (after the penthouse units at 1 Main at $7.8 million, the 1 Grand Army Plaza listing at $6 million, and the 1 Hanson Place listing for $4.775 million). The condo has 2592 sq ft ($1659/sqft) with a great view of the waterfront from its 16 windows. There are 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Awesome location and views, but will they get the full asking?

Floorplan after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

Remembering that Dumbo artists were kicked out of their lofts in 2000, Dumbo’s Smack Mellon is asking everyone to show their support of the 475 Kent Street artists who were evicted last week by gathering support for a letter writing campaign to Mayor Bloomberg. In an email, Smack Mellon is asking to support the artists by faxing a letter to the Mayor:

Dear Friends of Smack Mellon,

In support of the artists living at 475 Kent Street who are in a terrible situation we ask that you to please fax a letter to Mayor Bloomberg. We urge you to please do so now. And please forward this to your friends. With all of our efforts, hundreds of letters can be on his desk by tomorrow morning.

For more information about what’s happening at 475 Kent Street, click here to read the article published by the New York Times on February 10.

Thank you for your support!
Smack Mellon

____________________
The FAX #s: 212 788 2460, 212 341 3810, 212 788 7745

**If your fax does not go through, please email your letter to the Mayor at:
mike@cityhall.nyc.gov
mbloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov

A similar situation occurred in Dumbo in 2000. Approximately 60 artists were evicted from their lofts at Joshua Guttman owned 247 Water Street. In December, 2000, the city’s Department of Buildings ordered the building vacated, citing fire hazards. After the artists were allowed back in, the developer then tried to evict the tenants who sued Mr. Guttman, seeking protection from eviction under rent-stabilization and tenant-rights laws. In 2003, seven days after Mr. Guttman applied to have the zoning for the building changed to allow for legal apartments, the building was mysteriously burned down. Let’s hope the residents at 475 Kent Street will get better results.

___________________
(Sample letter to the Mayor after the jump.)
Read the rest of this entry »

A commenter previously mentioned that ‘D’ Space Restaurant on the corner of Jay and Front Street now serves Indian buffet. We’ve been disappointed with the Indian delivery around the area, but haven’t had a chance to try out D Space. A lunch takeout carton is $6. Has anyone tried the food there? How is it?

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

• The Brooklyn Bridge Park Begins, 06Feb08, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• BUMBO: More Dumbo Bum Stories, 09Feb08, Brooklyn Paper
• Valentine’s at Water St Restaurant, 09Feb08, Brooklyn Paper
• DUMBO Residents Afraid of ‘Beggars’, 08Feb08, Gawker
• New Bus Line for DUMBO, 08Feb08, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• DUMBO SEEDs New Green Program, 08Feb08, Green Brooklyn
• Let’s go to DUMBO!, 06Feb08, dustbunny586.wordpress
• Inagural New York Photo Festival Launches in May, 05Feb08, shanelavalette.com
• Bar and Grill Park, Dumbo, 03Feb08, McBrooklyn
• Dumbo, Brooklyn Photo, 06Feb08, ebokeh.com