(Photo by VTHD)

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

• Great POP-UP Art Sale! Feb. 26-28 @ DAC, 26Feb10, DAC
• Civic groups fighting to Move Jane’s Carousel, 22Feb10, NYP
• Get in Shape for Spring at Fitness Guru, 23Feb10, Fitness Guru
• Jewelry Making Workshop in Dumbo, 23Feb10, Gia Fragalli
• Unwelcome: Jane’s Carousel?, 22Feb10, BHB
• Commandant’s House in Vinegar Hill, 23Feb10, Scouting NY
• Carousel Site Raises Objections, 25Feb10, Brooklyn Eagle
• Nouvel’s Carousel in Park Upsets Some, 23Feb10, Cityrealty
• Sesame Letterpress, 26Feb10, Cherrypatter
• DUMBO Manhattan Bridge Arch Riskier Than Stabber Alley?, 19Feb10, Gothamist
• 1st Look at Hecho en Dumbo on the Bowery, 26Feb10, Grubstreet
• SI Model Brooklyn Decker Just Moved to Dumbo, 26Feb10, Modelinia
• If I had $25mil, 21Feb10, Brooklyn
• Water Taxi, 24Feb10, NYDP
• Books on Water St, 26Feb10, prettytrashyart
• Will Manhattan Grimaldi’s Eliminate Brooklyn Lines?, 27Feb10, NYP
• Secret Service Eats at Grimaldi’s, 21Feb10, SliceNY
• Questions for the Secret Service @ Grimaldi’s, 22Feb10, LMag

The thirteenth Digital Dumbo event, sponsored by HUSH was a full house last night at Galapagos Art Space, despite blizzard conditions. Conceived in Dumbo, birthed in Dumbo, operating daily in Dumbo, (as well as Montreal, Canada), HUSH focuses on telling stories with moving images as they pertain to all things digital. Co-founders Erik Karasyk and David Schwartz (@HushStudios), and Director of Interactive Tim Nolan (@tim_nolan) presented the visual imagery on the big screen and provided a setting that makes Digital Dumbo one of the coolest industry events in NYC. Providing an open bar and free candy (courtesy of Dewey’s Candy) helped fuel the fun too. J Russell Fraze and VJ Dan Savage (somethingsavage.com) provided the perfect music set too.

The Digital Dumbo events bring together the best digital minds of Dumbo and NYC and is a showcase for growing media and technology businesses in Dumbo Brooklyn. While the job market across the country is down, the companies of Digital Dumbo are growing. It’s no mystery that they’re working hard to bridge the online and interactive areas to clients that are looking for nimble and innovative players, but they also know how to play hard. These companies love what they do and where they do it. Says HUSH, “it is totally awesome how we can peel off some time and dedicate it to the idea of giving back to the place we all love, live, and work in.”. The master plan of self proclaimed Digital District of NY to lead, innovate, and exchange ideas is seen when talking with people of ‘@nydd‘.

Watch for more to come in the newly acquired domain name digitaldumbo.com, as announced last night. Great job all!

HUSH (heyhush.com)
68 Jay Street, Suite 208, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hush Studio Flickr set
DumboNYC Flickr set

Gossip Girl is filming around Washington, Front, and Water Streets in Dumbo Brooklyn on Monday, March 1, 2010 between 6am-10pm. Remember to move your vehicles by Sunday at 8pm.

With the snow storm, not sure if this is still happening, but assume it still is since these signs went up some time last night. Some other photos from the snow this morning:

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Here’s an amazing video titled The Sandpit by Sam O’Hare includes video of Dumbo using techniques similar to time-lapse tilt shift photography. We previously posted a few tilt shift photos of Dumbo. Some shots were of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a view of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge Park (From One Brooklyn Bridge Park building), and Pearl Street Triangle (from the Manhattan Bridge), Plymouth Street, and York/Jay Street.

How did Sam do it? He used a Nikon D3 (with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 lenses) and a series of still photos that totalled over 35,000 photos when put together into the video. Read more about it in detail here. This is amazing Sam!

The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society is moving its headquarters out of Brooklyn Heights and up to Warwick, NY, according to a story by Brooklyn Daily Eagle. We previously posted a story that they are moving some operations out of Brooklyn, but the Brooklyn Eagle story is more definitive:

“We have submitted a proposal to the Town of Warwick to build a complex there that we’re calling the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses,” Richard Devine told the Eagle Tuesday. “We have started the land use process there.” Devine, who is in charge of real property for the religious organization, was confirming what was contained in a document forwarded anonymously to the Eagle last week.

The current world headquarters and administrative offices at 25 and 30 Columbia Heights, which are massive buildings — they are 13 and 10 stories, respectively, and 304,650 and 402,300 square feet — are still occupied and the business of the organization goes on.

“We have eight smaller buildings [in Brooklyn Heights] we have yet to sell,” Devine said in a 2009 interview. “Because of the market we are not actively promoting their sale. We’ve even started using the Bossert [Hotel] again on a limited basis.”

The article mentions the Brooklyn Heights buildings but does not mention the buildings in and around Dumbo, including 69 Adams (the ‘tennis court‘ building), and the parking lots on 85 Jay Street and the lot behind 70 Washington Street at York and Front Street. There’s nothing official yet on the Dumbo properties, but we do know the ‘Witnesses’ take great care of their properties and are nice neighbors (though some may object to the religious practices).

Previously:
{The Watchtower Moving Some Operations from Brooklyn, 09Mar2009}
{‘Mysterious’ 85 Jay Street Activity?, 30Jan2008}
{Where’s the Tennis Court in Dumbo?, 10May2007}
{Glimpse Inside Jehovah’s Witness Headquarters, 16Nov2006}

Today’s amNY features Dumbo in their Food Lover’s guide to this Brooklyn neighborhood. As the article says, “Fresh and local food is the focus of the eateries and specialty food shops in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood. Innovative chefs and purveyors take cues from the neighborhood’s artistic community, with eclectic and creative cuisine.” There is a list of 8 places to check out for food in Dumbo:

1. Brooklyn Flea (June to November), Water and New Dock Street
2. Jacques Torres Chocolate, 85 Water Street
3. Almondine Bakery, 66 Water Street
4. ñ and Rice, 81 Washington Street
5. Foragers Market, 56 Adams Street
6. Superfine, 126 Front Street
7. Baco, 71 Jay Street
8. Vinegar Hill House, 72 Hudson Avenue

Surprising to see River Cafe and Grimaldi’s Pizza off the list since food lists in Dumbo typically include them. But others such as newcomer Choice Market, reBar, and the more upscale 5 Front were excluded as well. Rumor has it that there are a few cafes and/or restaurants being planned in the area, but nothing is set yet. If anyone cares to share, please comment!

{amNY 24 Feb 2010 Page 24 (pdf)}

One Front Street is offering homemade fruit-infused vodka shots, burger sliders, and other specials for $1 every Wednesday through Sunday in the month of March, according to a story by The Brooklyn Paper.

“I’m strapped just like everyone else, so I’m gonna be my number one customer,” said owner Marcelo Pevida. “It’s a bad time for everyone — we’ve changed our menu and our name [from Toro], and we want to get people in here.”

Any reviews about the food at One Front?

(Photo by New York Big Apple Images)

One Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(at Old Fulton Street in Fulton Ferry Landing)
(718) 625-4488

Previously:
{CB2: No Dancing at One Front Street, 05Nov2009}
{Application for Cabaret License at One Front, 03Nov2009}

The Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA is holding an informational meeting about the CSA. You will also have a chance to meet the CSA farmer (Fred Lee of Sang Lee Farms) and to learn about the CSA.

When: Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 7:30pm
Where: Phoenix House, 50 Jay Street (between Water and Plymouth Street)

For more info, go to dumbocsa.org.

{Past CSA Posts}

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

• Matilda Jane Trunk Show in Brooklyn, 14Feb10, Momtrendsnyc
• Green Desk Creates Collaboration, 14Feb10, NYT
• Daughter of Meryl Streep Buys in Dumbo, 15Feb10, BlockShopper
• Neighborhoodies Raises $11k for Haiti, 14Feb10, Neighborhoodies
• Dumbo Photo, 18Feb10, Words and Light
• DUMBO Archway Riskier Than Stabber Alley?, 19Feb10, Gothamist
• Toll Bros Wants 12 Story Building in Dumbo, 18Feb10, BK Paper
• Does Dumbo Want Toll Bros Condo?, 18Feb10, Found in Brooklyn
• Golden Pan Organic Crepes to Dumbo, 19Feb10, VillageVoice
• DUMBO: Digital District of New York, 19Feb10, AD:60
• ‘A Life in Three Acts’ coming to St. Ann’s, 18Feb10, YN

A man was attacked yesterday afternoon in The Archway. Below is the email from the victim’s wife. Please be vigilant.

My husband was just attacked this afternoon, around 1:45pm under the Manhattan Bridge Arch. Some guy came up from behind him and punched him.

There were some people who he thinks witnessed it but they didn’t stick around to ID him to the cops. If anyone knows anyone who saw anything, please encourage them to contact the police with information. As of now, this guy is roaming freely around our neighborhood. He was a huskier, young guy (probably late teens), african american, wearing a tan jacket. Unfortunately that was all my husband was able to see as the guy came up to him from behind and broke his glasses as he punched him. He didn’t demand money or anything, so don’t know if it was an attempted mugging or the guy was just mentally unstable.

This was a completely unprovoked attack. My husband noticed someone as he passed, but didn’t think anything of it.

We are especially concerned about this b/c we have a toddler and I frequently roam the streets with her during the day. With all the young families in the area – perhaps there’s a way to get a video camera installed in the archway?

Regardless, I just wanted to make all residents aware. And perhaps try sticking to the main streets, even during the day.

If you were a witness, or have any information related to this event, please contact the police or email us.