(Photo by j_segura)

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

• Brooklyn’s DUMBO: History, chocolate and bridges, 28Jul10, AP
• Brooklyn Heights, First ‘Burb, 31Jul10, WSJ
• Watchtower Properties: $1 Billion? Really?, 29Jul10, BHB
• Brooklyn’s Movie Funhouse, 24Jul10, WSJ
• Movie noise in the Heights? What movie noise?, 30Jul10, BK Paper
• Social media-focused ad firms look to hire, 30Jul10, Crain’s
• Drink (But Don’t Make Noise!) at BKBridge Park, 26Jul10, LMag
• Sketching in DUMBO with Lapin, 26Jul10, urbansketchers
• Brooklyn’s Magic Kingdom, 29Jul10, Curbed
• Interview with Carrot Creative, 30Jul10, Tech Startups

Photo by @NYCphotos in the DumboNYC Flickr pool.

New York Outrigger Canoe Club (NYO) will once again host the annual Liberty World Outrigger Competition on July 31, 2010. Liberty is one of the largest sporting events in New York Harbor and one of the most prestigious outrigger canoe races in the world. Teams will race along a challenging and visuallystunning course in New York Harbor, past landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The currents and boat traffic create an unpredictable and washing machine like effect making this race one of the most difficult in the world. Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the event unfold along the New York and New Jersey waterfronts. This year, approximately 250 paddlers from around the world are expected to compete. Past participants have included teams from Tahiti, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Sweden, France and Canada, as well as US teams from Hawaii, California, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania.

There are three categories of races:
Women (15 miles) Start time 7:30 a.m.
Men (15 miles) Start time 11:00 a.m.
Mixed (co-ed) (11 miles) Start time 2:30 p.m.

All races will launch from the Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn. From there, crews will head south around the Battery and north up the Hudson River. At 34th Street, they will head west across the river, then south down the New Jersey side of the Hudson River past Hoboken, Jersey City and Ellis Island. At the Statue of Liberty, crews will turn east across New York Harbor and around the southern end of Governors Island and past the Brooklyn Piers. The finish line is directly in front of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. For a detailed map, vantage points, and estimated arrival times, please visit www.newyorkoutrigger.org/liberty.

The Associated Press just posted a travel story on Dumbo, that’s been picked up by several papers and will probably be published by others in the next few days. The article, titled “Offbeat Brooklyn neighborhood offers history, bridge views” is a fairly thorough portrayal of Dumbo. The article starts with “Four centuries in 30 minutes. That’s what tourists get in trendy DUMBO. The history of this offbeat Brooklyn neighborhood includes Dutch settlers, George Washington, Walt Whitman, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, and a 21st-century chocolate shop.” If tourists are spending 30 minutes at Fulton Ferry Landing and Jacques Torres, they’re missing out on the real Dumbo. I agree that both are must visits for first time visitors, but the truth is, they’re in the Fulton Ferry Historic District and there’s a lot more history east of Washington Street in Dumbo as well. If visitors want to see the artist studios, there’s the Dumbo Arts Festival (September 24 weekend), a good chance to visit the art galleries and to check out events in Dumbo.

The article also mentions that Dumbo is relatively unknown. That’s true for non-New Yorkers, but national stories will no doubt bring more attention to this ‘secret neighborhood’ with the best views of NYC that’s also a creative community of digital and traditional artists.

Read the full AP article on MSNBC.

1) Digital DUMBO #18 “Get Your Job On”

What: Digital DUMBO #18 “Get Your Job On”
When: Jul 29, 2010, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Where: The Dumbo Loft, 155 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Month after month, the newspapers report shrinking job numbers. However, fueled by the digital economy, the DUMBO area of Brooklyn continues to grow. Why? Because there are hundreds of companies in the Digital District that are providing services that matter in the new economy. And the good news is….THEY ARE HIRING.

Attend the Digital DUMBO event at The Dumbo Loft on July 29th from 6:30 – 8:30 and have the chance to meet decision makers from some of the industries hottest media and technologies companies. At the event, you can find out more about hiring at HUGE, Pontiflex, The JAR Group, Carrot Creative, and DealNews.com, among many other companies. These companies are working with some of the world’s most recognizable brands from Ford, Disney, PepsiCo, ASPCA, Tommy Hilfiger, Heinz and many others.

This will be a great chance to meet hiring managers and learn about opportunities over casual drinks!

Note: You don’t need to be actively persuing a new career to attend. The event, as usual, is open to everyone and will be in the typical Digital DUMBO format.

2) Media Circus:The Year in Hyperlocal

What: Media Circus: The Year in Hyperlocal
When: Thursday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: JLA Studios, 63 Pearl St (between Water and Front St.), Brooklyn, NY 11201

Join Gelf for a frank discussion of the pitfalls and prospects of hyperlocal featuring Mark Potts, a hyperlocal pioneer and CEO of Growthspur (interview here) and Jake Dobkin, publisher of Gothamist and well-known rabble-rouser (an interview from Dobkin’s last appearance available here), as we once again view the past and future growth of the field through the eyes of the people who are driving it.

3) Movies With A View

What: Movies With A View: Rear Window
When: Jul 29, 2010, 6:00pm – 11:00pm (Films at sundown; DJs at 6:00)
Where: Pier 1 section of Brooklyn Bridge Park

“Come down to the park to enjoy the city’s premiere (free!) outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront.”

According to a Real Deal article last week, Toll Brothers is setting up a construction and sales office at 215 Water Street (at $30 per square foot). The adjacent 10 story condo Toll Brothers is planning to build at 205 Water Street, approved in April. Construction is set to begin by the end of the year.

Previously:
{Proposed 205 Water St Building Approved, 21Apr2010}
{More 205 Water St Renderings, 05Apr2010}
{205 Water Street Plans Revealed, 18Mar2010}
{Toll Brothers to Build Condos at 205 Water St, 07Jan2010}
{Demolition at 205 Water Street, 24Jan2007}
{In the Press: Demolishing 205 Water Street, 27Jan2007}
{Stop Work Order Violation Issued at 205 Water Street, 14Feb2007}

Readers have reported recent car break ins on York Street between Adams and Front Street and on Front Street between Gold and Hudson Streets this past week. According to police patrols, they have received at least 6 or 7 reports of car windows smashed or items stolen from cars. Could Squarehead be back on the streets?

Be on the lookout for suspicious activity and call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811 (store this number in your cell phone)) or 911 if you witness any crimes. Please continue to call so they can log/track the area. If they get enough calls, they will deploy more patrol or even a NYPD Sky Watch.

There’s a new barber shop called “Barber on Pearl” in Dumbo. Based on some comments from customers, a men’s barber shop is a welcome addition to the neighborhood:

• “its an old school place, no fanciness, just a good cut, fast and inexpensive ($15ish..) great addition to the neighborhood.”
• “Got my haircut here Sunday. Great neighborhood shop. Friendly and professional barber.”
• “I have been waiting for an authentic barber shop in DUMBO for over 3 years now… FINALLY I FOUND MY NEW SPOT. This guy comes with amazing experience, and adds a wonderful razor finish with a hot towel massage”

Welcome to Dumbo!

Barber on Pearl
59 Pearl Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Shop hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Sat 9am-6pm
Sun 10am-5pm
Phone: 718-855-3090

Previously:
{Barber Shop “Coming Soon” to Dumbo, 02JUul2010}

Darren Taylor, owner/head coach of Taylor Fitness is holding an open house on Saturday, July 31. He will be offering free classes on that day at 11am-12noon and 12noon-1pm. Based in Dumbo at 10 Jay Street Suite 304, Darren is a level 1 CrossFit Instructor who follows the theories and methodology of the CrossFit style of training, which is used as a strength & conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.

Darren’s mission is to fuel a revolution for the fitness minded individual in Dumbo who is in the pursuit of Elite Fitness not just aesthetics. He is passionate about fitness and will definitely help you achieve your goals. The open houses fill up fast so call or email to reserve your slot.(Bring water, towel)

Taylor Fitness (tfitnyc.blogspot.com)
10 Jay St. Suite 304
Brooklyn New York 11201
phone: 347.533.2439
email: taylorfitnessnyc@yahoo.com

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

• Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar Open Pier 1, 23Jul10, BK Paper
• Cell Phone Service and Brooklyn Heights, 22Jul10, BHB
• reRun Gastropub Theater, 22Jul10, NYT
• Movie Review: Audrey the Trainwreck (at reRun), 22Jul10, NYT
• Man cave outfitter to open in DUMBO, 23Jul10, BK Paper
• NYC Honors The Archway, 21Jul10, BK Paper
• Heights residents complain of noise, 20Jul10, BK Paper
• Real Deal on Watchtower Properties, 21Jul10, BHB
• Toll Brothers to open Dumbo office, 20Jul10, TRD
• Dumbo Pics w/ allthingsnyc, 21Jul10, allthingsnyc
• DigitalDUMBO Job Fair July 29, 20Jul10, NYC Convergence
• High Attendance at Bridge Park Movie Series, 22Jul10, BK Eagle
• Brownstoner Listings Marketplace Goes Local, 21Jul10, Brownstoner
• Brooklyn Residents Rally Against Movie Noise, 20Jul10, Gothamist
• grand union warehouse, dumbo, 19Jul10, fortheloveofbrooklyn
• Gastropub Theater, 20Jul10, Grub Street
• Dumbo’s reRun, 23Jul10, Eater