From Brooklyn Independent Television (BIT), “Brooklyn’s world-wide marketplace: where do thousands of artisans and craftspeople from around the globe sell their handmade wares? Through the online company Etsy.com, which is based in Dumbo Brooklyn.” According to the BIT segment, there are 4.7 million items for sale on Etsy ($160million of items sold this year). Etsy is a great place to search for unique handmade gifts that you can’t find in any mainstream store. They moved to their current location in September.

Also every Mondays at 5pm at the Etsy Labs in Dumbo, and online, they hold a Craft Night. They host a live how-to that you can craft along with, or bring your own project to work on. The The free live demo in the Virtual Labs starts at 5 p.m. etsy.com/virtual_labs.php. If you’re in the NYC area, come by their Dumbo Brooklyn offices, the Etsy Labs, from 4 – 8 p.m.

Etsy, Inc.
55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Video from From Sector B, Episode 32 (11/20/2009) on Brooklyn Independent Television (TimeWarner 56, RCN 84, Cablevision 70, Verizon 44).

Previously:
{Craft Night at Etsy with AMH Design, 09Nov2009}
{Brooklyn-based Etsy Raises $27 Million in Fourth Round, 31Jan2008}

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

• Sixpoint Craft Ales Not Traditional Brewery, 25Nov09, NYTimes
• Dewey’s Candy Leases Space in DUMBO, 25Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• Flea Hops to Manhattan for Holidays, 25Nov09, NYPress
• Brooklyn’s Commercial Heritage, 25Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• brooklyn flea love + “gifted”, 22Nov09, sweet fine day
• Pier 6 area at Brooklyn Bridge Park On Hold until spring, 23Nov09, DailyNews
• Skanska Koch Takes Space in DUMBO, 23Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• Brooklyn boxer Yuri Foreman, 24Nov09, DailyNews

From the Dumbo Improvement District:
On Friday, November 27, the second annual “Shop Brooklyn,” an initiative of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, will officially kick off the holiday shopping season. Shop Brooklyn is an awareness campaign highlighting the uniqueness of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods and thriving shopping corridors, re-introducing Brooklyn to Brooklynites, and inviting tourists and visitors to experience this cultural and shopping destination-not just during the holidays, but year-round. Participating retailers, restaurants, bars, and other service providers will display a “Shop Brooklyn” logo in shop windows and offer special “Brooklyn Bonuses” on November 27 (“Brooklyn Friday”) and each weekend through December 25.

For more information on Shop Brooklyn, visit www.ishopbrooklyn.com.

New DUMBO stores signing up daily –
Thanks to – BoConcept, Cherry Tee, Half Pint Citizens, Journey, powerHouse Books, Water Street Restaurant & Lounge, halcyon the shop, Bubby’s & Neighborhoodies for their participation!

• Cherry Tee – 20% Off all T-Shirt Gift Sets
• Journey – With a purchase of $100 or more you will receive a stylish eco-friendly Envirosax reusable bag
• PowerHouse Arena – 30% off publication and 20% off hardcore fiction
• Water St Restaurant – Free glass of wine with purchase of an entree
• Halcyon the Shop – FREE download card with every purchase
• Bubby’s – Free slice of pie with an order of a dinner entree
• BoConcept – Buy one accessory get the second one 60% off.

Hey all, it’s a foodie lover’s favorite time of year. Thanksgiving!! However, as many of you can probably relate to this, we don’t have enough room let alone a dining table, to host the holidays at our house. So we’re traveling to my sister’s house in New Jersey for a pot-luck sort of holiday. We’re all working women (and men) and the idea is that it’s much more manageable to make one fantastic dish instead of being responsible for the whole meal.

We got designated soup and we immediately decided on butternut squash. We found this incredible recipe on Epicurious that called for brandy and sour cream (hello, delish!). We followed the recipe but for a few exceptions – we used half the called for chicken stock because the consistency was just right without adding all of it. Also we didn’t use a strainer for the soup because once it was blended it was gorgeous and smooth all on it’s very own.

I can’t wait to serve this soup today – we’re feeding ten and I have no doubt that it will be a hit. So here’s to you, my readers, I hope you’re all going to be enjoying your families and eating a delicious and comforting Thanksgiving meal. I’ll see you guys at the table. Yours, BB.

For the complete recipe click here:
epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Calvados-Laced-Squash-Soup-with-Cinnamon-and-Bay-Leaves-107250

As reported previously, Journey Home‘s new location at 72 Front Street is now open (next to Mikey’s Hookup). During the transition, they are having a moving sale at both the old location, at 166 Water Street, and the new location. The owners recently returned from their buying trip (India, among other countries) to bring back one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories for your home. As Brownstoner writes, the indoor winter Brooklyn Flea will be across the street at 81 Front Street starting in December. Stop by and say hello to them.

Journey Home (journeydumbo.com)
72 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 718.797.9277
Email: journeydumbo@gmail.com

A few of our readers noticed the new storefront “Dumbo Muffin” on Pearl Street. Naturally, we thought that it was the DUMBO Muffins (featured on DumboNYC last year) opening a retail outlet in Dumbo. So we contacted the owner of DUMBO Muffins, Gregory, to let him know we’ve received emails from our readers about the new cafe. We did not realize that it is not his company, DUMBO Muffins (with an “S”) and that “they are impostors”. His lawyers have sent a cease and desist letter to stop using the DUMBO Muffins name. Says Gregory, “The awning on their store says Dumbo Muffin, not DUMBO Muffins. They need to stop using our name. Although we intend to open a retail location in time, this is not our store and have no affiliation with them whatsoever.” Oops. Hmm, maybe someone can open a McDonald in Dumbo so we can have our burgers.

If you’re the owner of “Dumbo Muffin”, please email us so we can clear this up?

When: Tuesday November 24 at 7pm and 9pm.
Where: Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY

CEDAR CITY FALLS is a weekly serialized live ‘stage soap’ written by Liz Tuccillo (author of the best selling book He’s Just Not That Into You: The No Excuses Truth To Understanding Guys) with Sex and the City writers: Julie Rottenberg, Elisa Zuritsky & Cindy Chupack. Featuring Guest Star John Slattery of MAD MEN on November 24th!

CEDAR CITY FALLS tells the story of a small peaceful town filled with hard-working, God-fearing folk who due to a series of unfortunate incidents and petty squabbles, gets plunged into full-scale civil war. It is a parable (and parody) of conflict escalation, war, activism, peace and redemption.

Get Tickets at cedarcityfalls.com
**All of the box office proceeds will go to a different human rights charity every week including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Events happening daily at Galapagos. For event listings, go to galapagosartspace.com/events.html

Also, since this week is Thanksgiving week, galleries in Dumbo may not be open during their normal schedules. Please check gallery websites for current shows and hour of operation this week. A listing of some galleries in Dumbo after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

“covered in chocolate, not tourists”, seen at Duane Reade (Photo by Amazin’ Jane)

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

• Dumbo Then and Now, 16Nov09, NY Observer
• Styrofoam cemetery rises in Dumbo, 17Nov09, NY Post
• A long journey from warehouse to hothouse, 20Nov09, Brooklyn Paper
• At Brooklyn Bridge Park, lots of fits, but few starts, 20Nov09, Brooklyn Paper
• The story of Brooklyn Heights? Stability, 20Nov09, Brooklyn Paper
• Sen. Squadron’s Park Fantasy, 18Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• 84th Precinct Crime Continues To Fall, 18Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• Commercial Klutch: November Edition, 19Nov09, Brownstoner

1) “PHOSPHENE” art show at ZAKKA DUMBO

When: Tonight, Nov 20, 6-9pm
Where: Zakka, 155 Plymouth St, Brooklyn, NY

Opening Party: Featuring art by DEBORAH YOON, MIMEO, JOHN VICTOR LOUGHRRN

2) Druid’s The New Electric Ballroom

When: Closes Sunday, November 22
Where: St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Druid’s The New Electric Ballroom closes this Sunday Nov 22

It is not very often you get to hear one of Ireland’s most exhilarating new voices, Enda Walsh, together with such a revered Irish actors that includes Rosaleen Linehan, Ruth McCabe, Catherine Walsh and Mikel Murfi — a company Charles Isherwood of The New York Times praises as “superlative”, “brilliant” and “extraordinary.” Therefore, I invite you to spend your final weekend before the holidays with St. Ann’s Warehouse and The New Electric Ballroom before it leaves New York for LA. When buying your tickets online, use code ELIST30, and enjoy 30% off your tickets. If you have seen the show already, I hope you will come again or pass on the discount to a friend.

3) smART Brooklyn Gallery Hop

When: Saturday/Sunday, November 21 & 22, 2009 from 1-6 PM
Where: Various galleries around Brooklyn

On Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 70 participating Brooklyn art galleries will offer visitors outstanding exhibitions and refreshments as well as a unique opportunity to learn more about Brooklyn’s expanding art scene and galleries during the second annual smART Brooklyn Gallery Hop, an initiative of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Brooklyn Tourism.

Participating DUMBO Galleries:

• A.I.R. Gallery
• BAC Gallery
• Central Booking
• DUMBO Arts Center
• Farmani Gallery
• Henry Gregg Gallery
• Klompching Gallery
• Kris Graves Projects
• LAND – League Artists Natural Design
• Randall Scott Gallery
• Smack Mellon
• Spring design & art
• The Giacobetti Paul Gallery
• Umbrage Gallery

For more info, go to www.visitbrooklyn.org