(Photo: Jen Davis)

NYCgo.com, NYC’s official marketing and tourism organization published their Brooklyn neighborhood highlights for “BoCoCa”, Brooklyn Heights, and Dumbo. Their intro to Dumbo:

“With its rumbling of trains overhead, cobblestone streets and cavernous spaces carved out of former factories, DUMBO (an acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”) exudes a cool, urban grandeur that sets it apart from bustling Downtown Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Nestled against the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, this neighborhood has transformed during the past few decades from an industrial zone into an artsy enclave of airy lofts, unique galleries and fashionable boutiques…”

Their “10 Great Things to See” in Dumbo are:

1. powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street
2. St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water Street
3. Zakka, 155 Plymouth Street
4. First Thursday DUMBO Gallery Walk, various locations in Dumbo
5. Almondine Bakery, 85 Water Street
6. Baxter & Liebchen, 33 Jay Street
7. Blueberi, 143 Front Street
8. Brooklyn Flea Winter Pop-Up, 81 Front Street
9. Galapagos Floating Cabaret, 16 Main Street
10. Etsy Labs Presents Craft Night, 55 Washington Street, Suite 512

After the jump, see a YouTube video interview of the Zakka owner, Toshiki Okazaki.

Read the rest of this entry »

You may have seen the Wafels & Dinges truck in Dumbo once a week in the evening, but if you haven’t tried their waffels, they’re in Dumbo all day (Dec 8), according to their Twitter message at Front and Washington Streets until 6pm today and then at Front and Adams Street until 10pm.

(“Quarters Only” by Steve Talkowski)

State Senator Daniel Squadron will host a public meeting tonight to give the community the opportunity to hear a presentation from the City of New York about Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Senator Squadron said, “A city takeover has great potential if there is money on the table, a meaningful discussion of alternatives to housing, parkland designation, and community input on governance and amenities. This proposal is an exciting development. But, as always, open dialogue is crucial – that’s why I’m hosting a public forum tonight.”

Who: State Senator Daniel Squadron, Representatives from the City of New York, other elected officials
What: Brooklyn Bridge Park Town Hall Meeting
When: 7:00 PM, Monday, December 7
Where: Long Island College Hospital, Conference Rooms C & D (Corner of Hicks and Atlantic Avenue, enter on Hicks Street)

On Sunday, December 6th at 4-5pm, powerHouse Arena will host their Annual Holiday Kids Party with a visit from Santa (with photo-op) and an exciting kids reading. Also, check out their holiday books and Powershovel pop-up store. Japanese brand Powershovel takes over a portion of powerHouse Arena, offering a range of punchy lo-fi cameras, books on art and photography, and compilation CDs featuring various Japanese singers and musicians.

Annual Kids’ Holiday Party and Reading featuring
Archie and the Pirates by Marc Rosenthal

and Santa Claus

The powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
For more information, please call (718) 666-3049
RSVP: rsvp@powerhousearena.com.

Read about Archie and the Pirates and author Marc Rosenthal on the powerHouse Arena website.

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

• LAND Gallery Art, 25Nov09, Seven Days
• Center for African-American Poets Leases Space in DUMBO, 30Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• Downtown Predictions 2010, 30Nov09, Brooklyn Eagle
• forgotten-ny Visits Vinegar Hill, 29Nov09, forgotten-ny
• ‘Tis The Season in Dumbo!, 02Dec09, Fitness Guru
• DUMBO Gas Leak Forces Evacuation, 03Dec09, Brooklyn Eagle
• New Landscaped Plaza at Foot of Manhattan Bridge, 04Dec09, Brownstoner
• Condo of the Day: 70 Washington Street, #7L, 01Dec09, Brownstoner
• Shaya Boymelgreen’s 42 Main St, 01Dec09, NY Times
• Dumbo’s Della Valle Bernheimer Architect, 04Dec09, NY Times

Gia Fragalli Creations has moved to a new space in Dumbo NYC, we share the studio with six other very talented jewelers and in holidays spirits we are hosting a party on December 5th and 6th. All of Gia Fragalli’s pieces will be at an incredible 40% discount! Featuring work from: Talon, Alexia Cohen, Honey & White, Rumi Ishino, and others.

Come join us in DUMBO for the 1st Annual “JUMBO” Sale!
When: Saturday/Sunday, December 5 and 6, 1-6pm
Where: 68 Jay Street, 6th floor (Suite 610a), Dumbo Brooklyn

The indoor Brooklyn Flea is back in Dumbo starting this weekend. As was last year, it is at 81 Front Street (at Warshington Street) every Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm. There will be 40+ vendors who will be selling antiques, furniture, clothing, and jewelry. In addition, food vendors such as Choice Market pastries, pickles, jams, brownies, granola, and more will be at the location each weekend.

For Manhattanites, Brooklyn Flea’s “Gifted” pop-up market at W. 4th St and Lafayette St is open every day until Christmas eve.

Previously:
{Brooklyn Flea Dumbo Here to Stay, 14Apr2009}
{Second Brooklyn Flea Opens, 02Feb2009}
{Brooklyn Flea Dumbo Expands, 23Jan2009}
{Brooklyn Flea Winter Antiques Opens, 12Jan2009}
{DumboNYC Gift Ideas 2008, 15Dec2009}

The Dumbo Improvement District (BID) has emailed a thorough update on the street reconstruction project on Water Street from Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street. We took the above photos to document the process.

While the street work is being done, the Belgian blocks are being taken away and being stored in a secure location until they are reinstalled in the roadbed. The BID has been very involved with monitoring and ensuring the work is being done according to plans.

After the jump, read the New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) and Dumbo Improvement District’s report on the work in progress, work completed, and what’s coming ahead in 2010. The project commenced in the Summer of 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2011.

Information about the project can be found on the NYC.gov DDC site: (PDF download)

{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}
Read the rest of this entry »

While you’re visiting the 1st Thursdays DUMBO Gallery Walk tonight, check out the Dumbo holiday lighting celebration. The event is held by the The Dumbo Improvement District:

The Dumbo Improvement District cordially invites you to:
4th Annual Holiday Lighting Celebration

Thursday, December 3, 2009, 6:00PM
at The Archway (under the Manhattan Bridge at Water Street)

Festive refreshments generously provided by Choice Market, Front Street Pizza & Jacques Torres

To RSVP or for more information:
rsvp@dumbonyc.org
(718) 237.8700
www.dumbonyc.org

 (Click for full image with details)

ZOE Holiday Shopping Party

December 4, 2009, 11am – 9pm at Zoe in Dumbo:

• Assad Mounser Jewelry Trunk Show
• 3.1 Phillip Lim Resort & Spring Trunk Show
• Mizuki Jewelry Trunk Show

Savings all day with 25% off original prices, 15% additional discount off sale merchandise. (All sales are final).
*A portion of the day’s proceeds will benefit Homefront’s Women’s Initiative (homefrontnj.org).

Zoe Dumbo (shopzoeonline.com)
68 Washington Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-237-4002