(Photo by wallyg)

From the Dog Run Volunteers:

Dear Dog Run Volunteers, Friends, & Neighbors,

We want to share with you some of the wonderful advances we have made in 2009 to help maintain and build the Dog Run (within the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy) as a great place for you and your dog to play and socialize.

2009 Achievements: Steering Committee to focus on specific projects – Fences mended – Raking – Mulching – Laminated flyers at the run – RAKE for your use at the run!!! “Check out” the rake, just email us for the password – Consultation with Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

Exciting Plans for 2010: Raffle planned for spring, with prizes! – Double gate entrance – New garbage can – Enlarging the run – Fencing – Transplanting plants – Mulching fork – Better drainage

What You Can Do: Donate! Volunteer! Bring extra bags to the run. Rake. Mulch. Make suggestions. Join the email list at: BBPDogRun@nyc.rr.com

HOW TO DONATE: Your donation is tax deductible thru the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, a non-profit 501(c)(3).

The Dog Run in Dumbo is maintained by donations and help from residents. Please help them maintain the Dog Run with your donations.

• Online: BrooklynBridgePark.org > Get Involved > Donate. Fill in Organization field with: “FOR DOG RUN”
• Mailed Checks: (“FOR DOG RUN” in memo line)
  Attn: Richard Loyd
  Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
  334 Furman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Architectural Photographer John Bartelstone recently published his book, The Brooklyn Navy Yard, and is available at powerHouse Books. His 91 duotone images show the relics of a time when the Brooklyn Navy Yard was a thriving shipyard complex between the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges. New York City’s largest and oldest industrial facility, the Brooklyn Navy Yard still repairs great ships, but also has reinvented itself with various manufacturers and businesses, such as furniture makers, movie sets, and new media companies. Mr. Bartelsone’s photographs preserve the abandoned elements of the Navy Yard and they bring us back to the days when shipbuilding was a key industry for World War II.

For more, go to johnbartelstone.com/brooklynnavyyard and powerhousebooks.com.

Street art posing as construction signs popped up around Dumbo Brooklyn on Friday. Some of them have already been taken down. They’re by street artist “TrustoCorp”. They are clever signs intended to mimic official city signs at first glance. They’re amusing and carry a funny message or words of reality (“Life is Too Short”, “It’s okay to play with Yourself”, etc.) More photos on DumboNYC TrustoCorp Flickr set.

Other TrustoCorp signs in other cities can be seen on the TrustoCorp Flickr page.

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

• JAR Group Teams w/ BCF, 03Jan10, JAR
• Galapagos Art Space review, 03Jan10, Manhattan Style
• Dumbo-based MySomeday.com Launches, 31Dec09, Mashable
• Dumbo BID Assessment Rise, 03Dec09, YourNabe
• Dewey’s Candy Store in DUMBO, 05Jan10, MommyPoppins
• BHA 100th Anniversary, 06Jan10, Brooklyn Eagle
• Toll Bros’ Site in Dumbo, 06Jan10, Miller Cicero
• Gleason’s Gym staggered by bad economy, 05Jan10, NY Daily News
• Bargemusic ‘Best Kept Secret in NY’, 31Dec09, Brooklyn Eagle
• HUSH + Cardigan Party in Dumbo, 07Jan10, JAOLM
• F Express Good for Dumbo?, 18Dec09, YourNabe
• Restaurant of the Week: Dumbo General Store, 07Jan10, PaperMag
• Dewey’s Candy opens in Dumbo, 07Jan10, TONY
• 38 Essential Restaurants in NY, 07Jan10, Eater
• Top Outerborough Food Adventures?, 06Jan10, NYTimes
• Dry-Docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 04Jan10, Scouting NY
• Comfort and Color in J Condo, 03Jan10, airbnb

Dumbo Brooklyn now has a new gym. Although Taylor Fitness opened in April, 2009, they’re ready to help you tackle your new year’s resolution of getting fit. Owner and head coach, Darren Taylor, formerly of Boot Camp Fitness Brooklyn NYC, has 15+ years experience as a trainer. His focus is assisting individuals and groups achieve their fitness goals. Celebrities such as Grammy award winning songwriter Gordon Chambers and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz have been some of Darren’s clients. He’s been featured on NY1, News 12 Brooklyn, The Lifetime Channel, as well as in Fitness Magazine and Men’s Health Magazine.

Per their philosophy:
Taylor Fitness uses the CrossFit method, which is a broad, general, and inclusive fitness program. It trains you to be one part gymnast, one part Olympic weightlifter, and one part sprint athlete creating a hybrid athlete. CrossFit trains you at more than one capacity where you are not stuck being really strong or just really fast. It takes functional movements (i.e. movements we as humans do in everyday life) and has the athlete perform them at very high intensities. The intensity level is based on your psychological and physical tolerances, in effect making the program universally scalable.

They are holding an open house on Saturday, January 9, 2010, from 11 am-noon and 1-2 p.m.. You can drop by for a free training session, ask questions regarding technique and obtain advice on nutritional options. Call (347) 533-2439 to register for this event.

Taylor Fitness (tfitnyc.blogspot.com)
10 Jay St., Suite 304
Brooklyn, NY 11201
taylorfitnessnyc@yahoo.com

There’s a new furniture gallery in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn. Shibui brings with it the largest collection of antique Japanese cabinetry on the East Coast as well as a large selection of Japanese Folk art items, ceramics, textiles and other original antiques. Items range in price from $2 – $20,000 and up. Proprietor Dane Owen, and restoration specialist David Jackson are co-authors of the book “Japanese Cabinetry – the art and craft of Tansu” (Gibbs Smith Publisher-available on Amazon) the first new book on the subject of Tansu in over 20 years. Dane Owen comes from Santa Fe, New Mexico is also looking to open a retail store in Manhattan and chatted with him about Dumbo and his relocation.

Why did you choose Dumbo/VH area for your business after 14 years in NM?
My decision to move to NY in general based on several factors: We had a large customer base in the NY area. No one else was doing Japanese Antiques like ours in NY. Wood shrinks less at sea level than at 7400 feet (Santa Fe) so our restoration would be less intense. When the credit market dried up so did our ability to finance the business in a seasonal tourist town despite being profitable for 14 years.

As for the DUMBO/ VH area, I looked at a lot of warehouse space in Brooklyn/Queens before picking this space. Much of what I saw was less expensive, but it did not look like our customers were in any of those neighborhoods. I have customers from Santa Fe who lived in DUMBO and more who live in Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill. It is only one stop from NYC. I liked the neighborhood from the first time I saw it. I felt comfortable here.

What do you like about being here?
I love food and although I did not know about Vinegar Hill House when I signed the lease, I am very glad it is right around the corner. I like the character of the neighborhood, it has patina like our pieces. The neighbors have been great. I like that Admiral Perry’s house is around the corner also.

Does the showroom have regular hours or is it by appointment?
We have been open 7 days a week from 11 am -6 pm and we will try to stay with those hours until we open the Manhattan Store, after which we will be open in Vinegar Hill 5 days a week and by appointment, because some staff will move onto the store.

When will the Manhattan store open?
When we find a lease and landlord we can work with. We negotiated with a landlord for 1.5 months on a SOHO space. We gave up when he would not insert the word “reasonable” into the sublet clause. I am hoping that in the spring when all the pop up stores are gone we will have a better chance at finding a reasonable landlord.

Thank you Dane and welcome to Vinegar Hill and Dumbo!

Shibui joins other furniture makers in Dumbo, including: Baxter & Liebchen (33 Jay St), BoConcept (79 Front St), West Elm (75 Front St), Prague Kolektiv (68 Jay St, Suite 415), City Joinery (20 Jay St, 2nd fl), Journey Home (72 Front St), Jay East (67 Jay St), From the Source (65 Jay St), and others (please email or list them in the comments if I missed you.)

SHIBUI (SHIBUI.com)
306 Water St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-875-1119
Also
{Asian Antiques That Outgrew Santa Fe, 06Jan2010, NYTimes}

Brownstoner reported that Toll Brothers purchased the vacant lot at the 205 Water Street address in Dumbo and plans to build a 70 unit condo building there.

This address is part of the Dumbo Historic District, a landmarked area that requires approval by LPC and the Community Board 2 before anything is built there. The lot is also part of the rezoning that was passed in July 2009.

We saw the original 19th Century foundry/warehouse demolished in 2007 before it was suggested by some in the community that it could be a site for a new middle school instead of at the controversial Dock Street Dumbo site.

According to a Brooklyn Eagle article about the 205 Water St sale:

“This was confirmed to the Eagle by Toll Brothers Senior Vice President David Von Spreckelsen, who said he hopes to begin construction within the year. “The main thing is it’s in a landmarked district, so we will be going before community groups, Community Board 2 and Landmarks,” he said, adding that this process will determine how large a project it can be. This process will begin within the next month, he added.”

“Yes, we’ve been looking — obviously for something in a market that’s still strong. And DUMBO’s still strong,” he said. The firm acquired the property in late December for $8.6 million from its previous owners, the HK Organization, which abandoned plans for a residential development on the site.

A Wall Street Journal posting also cites David Von Spreckelsen, “There’s no new developments there, but if you look at the resales that are happening, they’re all at strong numbers. It’s a great site in the heart of Dumbo.” It’s not exactly in the heart of Dumbo, but it can sell well provided that the development is solid and is consistent with Dumbo’s loft style condos.

They don’t say how many stories this is, but roughly speaking, if there are 5 units per floor, that’s 14 stories or 154 feet (making some assumptions on ceiling height (see some building comparisons here). In comparison 30 Main Street is 160 feet tall (11 stories) and the proposed Dock Street Dumbo building is proposed to be 183 feet (18 stories). We’re curious to hear residents’ thoughts about how a larger development there will impact the area.

{EXCLUSIVE: Toll Brothers Planning Large Dumbo Project, Brownstoner}
{Toll Brothers To Build in DUMBO, Brooklyn Daily Eagle}
{Brooklyn, Fuhgeddaboudit? Not Toll Brothers, WSJ}

Previously:
{Demolition at 205 Water Street, 24Jan2007}
{In the Press: Demolishing 205 Water Street, 27Jan2007}
{Stop Work Order Violation Issued at 205 Water Street, 14Feb2007}

A festive occasion each month for art lovers. 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.

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 Art Project, 5 Front St.
Brooklyn Arts Council, 111 Front St., Suite 218
Caption Gallery, 55 Washington St., Suite 802
Central Booking, 111 Front St., Suite 214
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
Pochron Studios, 20 Jay St.
Possible Projects, 68 Jay St., #510
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main 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.
Watermill Brooklyn Gallery, 55 Washington Street, Suite 216

(Photo by Josh Derr)

Stewart/Stand, a design oriented boutique located on 165 Front Street is relocating one block to the corner of Front and Pearl Street soon. They will be next to the newly opened Dewey’s Candy shop. We will post photos and details once they officially open.

{Stewart/Stand Store Open on Front Street, 01Apr2007}
{Stewart/Stand Store Opening Party, 10May2007}
{Stewart/Stand Stainless Steel Wallets, 19Jul2007}

A note from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation:

Empire Fulton Ferry State Park is closed as of January 1, 2010 as construction gets underway to implement a series of exciting park improvements. Improvements include:

• Jane’s Carousel, a gift of Jane and David Walentas. The magnificent, restored 1922 carousel will be housed in a beautiful pavilion designed by Pritzker-Prize winning architect Jean Nouvel, making the carousel available for use in all seasons. (also see: Jane’s Carousel To Be in Brooklyn Bridge Park)
• Extension of the park lawn to the south across the current alignment of New Dock Street
• Stormwater retention tanks to irrigate the park’s natural features
• Park furnishings including railings, benches, picnic tables and bike racks
• Lighting so that the park will be open after dark for the first time since its opening in 1979
• Regrading the park to improve drainage

Scheduled reopening of the park is Spring 2011. The adjacent city park will remain open during the renovation. Pier 1 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park will open as early in 2010 as possible and will host the popular Movies with a View this summer.