What is known as Dumbo now was previously known as Rapailie, Olympia, or Gairville. Today, the business district is known for its media and digital companies. Names such as Digital Dumbo, NY Digital District, and now Silicon Beach (despite the fact that there are no circuits being manufactured here) are some nicknames for the Dumbo Historic District. According to Fortune, the area is home to 65 digital companies in Dumbo. They highlight “six of the hottest” ones.

Says the article: “For years real estate agents, always keen to coin inventive new neighborhood names, have been branding and rebranding a five-block radius in DUMBO as tech’s next big stomping ground, using any handle that might stick: the next Silicon Alley, Digital DUMBO, and more recently, Silicon Beach. While swimming on the shores of the East River is probably about as wise as sunbathing on Sand Hill Road, the designers, developers, and transplanted executives employed at the 65-plus tech companies in the neighborhood agree that the ‘hood is a sweet spot, not just for client opportunities, but for affordable office space a subway stop away from Manhattan.”

1. Big Spaceship (founded 2000, staff of 50)
2. Etsy (founded 2005, staff of 160)
3. Carrot Creative (founded 2005, staff of 18)
4. Huge (founded 1999, staff of 300)
5. In8Mobile (founded 2007, staff of 10)
6. Brooklyn Digital Foundry (founded 1999, staff of 9)

(Photos by writer/reporter JP Mangalindan)

{A tour of New York’s startup “Silicon Beach”, 29Nov2010, CNN Money/Fortune}

Earlier this month, our friends over at MindBodyGreen launched their online flash sales for wellness experiences in NYC with MindBodyGreen New York. The site offers everything wellness for busy New Yorkers: from organic and vegan restaurants, to yoga and Pilates studios, to cleanses and more.

The website MindBodyGreen is a popular site for those who are looking to live a better, healthier, and greener life. They promote making small steps or transformative changes towards better living. Co-Founder Jason Wachob is a Dumbo resident.

Website: NY.MindBodyGreen.com
Facebook: MindBodyGreen New York
Twitter: @MindBodyGreenNY

Congrats Jason!

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

• More Apple Talk in Dumbo?, 24Nov10, Brownstoner
• 30 Washington St Two Fl Extension?, 22Nov10, Brownstoner
• Toll Bros in Dumbo, 28Nov10, Crain’s
• Digital Dumbo Inhabitant, 24Nov10, MediaPost
• The Brooklyn Bridge Photos, 25Nov10, Lomography
• Digital in Dumbo, 24Nov10, MediaPost
• 70 Washington St Rental $4800, 23Nov10, Brownstoner
• Biggie Smalls vs. DUMBO Digerati, 24Nov10, MediaPost
• 85 Water St History, 23Nov10, Brownstoner
• Q+A: Aaron Shapiro, CEO, Huge, 24Nov10, MediaPost
• Janette Sadik-Khan Changes NYC, 23Nov10, Esquire
• Plans to reuse Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo, 23Nov10, CityRealty
• Modern Anthology Review, 24Nov10, NYT
• 204 Front St Sold $1.5M, 23Nov10, Brownstoner
• Decisions Keep Coming On Brooklyn Bridge Park, 23Nov10, BK Eagle

The annual “Shop Brooklyn”, a Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz initative to remind New Yorkers that much of Brooklyn’s businesses are locally owned and operated has kicked off. Mr. Markowitz visits Dumbo with ABC News Channel 7 who said, “There are great unique stores here in Dumbo and throughout Brooklyn…there’s no reason to leave Brooklyn.” Channel 7 talks to Dewey’s Candy owner Alison Dewey Oblonsky, NOS Boutique owner Racquel Nosworthy, and Modern Anthology owner John Marsala in the news segment.

Sales listed on ishopbrooklyn.com in Dumbo are:

• Cherry Tee (55 Washington St) – 20% off
• From The Source (65 Jay St) – Gift Items Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off
• Bubby’s Brooklyn (1 Main St) – Free Slice Of Pie With An Order Of An Entre At Dinner Only
• Halcyon The Shop (57 Pearl St) – Free Download Card With Every Purchase
• Pub One (5 Front St) – 20% off entire bill with a receipt from any clothing store in dumbo!
• Dewey’s Candy (141 Front St) – Free delivery to Brooklyn or Manhattan on any purchase gift of $25.00 or more
• Water Street Restaurant & Lounge (66 Water St) – 2 for 1 dessert when Shop Brooklyn is mentioned
• TRUNK (68 Jay St)
• GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning LLC (45 Main Street, Suite 816) – 10% off your MINT Green Cleaning – initial Service
• Journey Home (72 Front St) – $100 purchase or more you will receive a stylish Eco-friendly Envirosax Reusable bag.
• powerHouse Arena (37 Main St) – With every purchase of $25 or greater, the customer can choose a free powerHouse-published book (from a selection of 3 titles).

There are a lot of other Dumbo retailers not listed on the iShopBrooklyn site that are having sales, so support the local businesses during the holiday shopping season.

Previously:
{Shop Brooklyn For the Holidays, 27Nov2009}
{DumboNYC Gift Ideas 2008, 15Dec2008}
{Brooklyn Borough Pres Marty Declares “Brooklyn Friday”, 21Nov2008}
{DumboNYC Gift Guide 2007}
{DumboNYC Gift Guide 2006}

News Corporation yesterday announced an agreement to acquire 90% of Wireless Generation, a privately-held Dumbo-based education technology company for approximately $360 million in cash. News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said in a statement that Wireless Generation is at the forefront of individualized, technology-based learning. As such, it is poised to revolutionize public education for a whole new generation of students. Founders of Wireless Generation, Greg Gunn and Larry Berger established the business in 2000 and has 400 employees (one of Dumbo’s largest employer) and delivers mobile and Web software, data systems and professional services designed to empower teachers.

The NY Times calls the announcement “all the more interesting because just two weeks ago, [New York City’s schools chancellor] Mr. Klein said he would leave the chancellor’s job at the end of the year to become an executive vice president with News Corporation, charged with pursuing business opportunities in the education marketplace.”

This acquisition follows the Drop.io asset acquisition by Facebook last month, and the former Waterfront Media merger with Revolution Health in 2008.

Wireless Generation
55 Washington Street, Suite 900
Brooklyn, NY 11201

As of this morning, it looks like the facade work on the 55 Washington Street building is completed and scaffolding is being taken down. Work on the exterior started in July. The building looks as good as new.

The retail conversion ‘behind’ the building on Adams Street is still being worked on.

Previously:
{Scaffolding Being Put Up Along 55 Washington, 16Jul2010}
{New Retail Space Being Created in Dumbo, 22Sep2010}

This past weekend, a public art project on Furman Street was unveiled as part of the Urban Art Program, an initiative to invigorate the City’s streetscapes with engaging temporary art installations. The art project was commissioned by the NY Department of Transporation via proposals submitted by artists. Debra Hampton was the artist chosen to design the barriers, a mural that runs down the bike lane barriers on Furman Street. We contacted Debra to find out more about the mural and how this project got done. We asked how the community was involved in making this happen. Debra said, “I worked with students from F.I.T.’s Art Collective and also my own assistants to prepare the 40 reusable stencils used for the painting. The actual painting was done by volunteers signed up with NYCares (www.newyorkcares.org) and included several members of the community which was great.”

Can you give us a project synopsis? “[My] aim is to delight and surprise viewers by transforming everyday images, usually targeted to them as consumers, into beautiful unexpected forms. A slight departure from [my] usual mixed-media work of collages, the mural incorporates one aspect of [my] studio process and applies it to the city landscape.”

Check out the mural, titled “Face to Face”, which transforms the otherwise plain barriers into repeated silhouette in bright colors down the entire facade. Great work, and thank you Debra!

(Thank you Jane Kratochvil for the photos).

DUMBO Timelapse from Ahmed on Vimeo.

“One blustery Sunday afternoon in DUMBO, Brooklyn”

(Photo by 6161810)

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

• Artists fleeing the city, 14Nov10, Crains
• Living in Dumbo New York, 16Nov10, intuidesign
• Building of the Day: 1 Old Fulton Street, 16Nov10, Brownstoner
• Tobacco Warehouse Plan To Be Chosen, 16Nov10, BK Eagle
• Groups Submit Dueling Bids For DUMBO Warehouse, 16Nov10, NY1
• Pyramid Proposed on Top of Tobacco Warehouse, 17Nov10, Curbed
• Command station enables startup, MBA to coexist, 17Nov10, Crains
• St. Ann’s to restore Tobacco Warehouse, 18Nov10, BK Paper
• Jay Lloyd’s Getaway: A Place Called Dumbo, 18Nov10, CBS
• Metaverse Mod Squad Opens Dumbo Office, 18Nov10, PR
• Potential Pyramid Scheme in DUMBO, 17Nov10, ArchPaper.com
• Tobacco Warehouse site to St. Ann’s Warehouse, 17Nov10, NYP
• St. Ann’s Gets “Conditional” Nod for Tobacco Warehouse, 17Nov10, BHB
• A New Home for St. Ann’s Warehouse, 18Nov10, NYT
• Vinegar Hill Takes a Pause in the City That Never Sleeps, 18Nov10, greengopost.com
• St. Ann’s Warehouse to Relocate, 19Nov10, Playbill
• What’s Inside St. Ann’s Plan For Tobacco Warehouse, 19Nov10, BK Eagle

Brooke Rosenthal and Omar Davis presents the 1st Annual Music Charity event that helps raise money for Little Kids Rock & The Colel Chabad Foundation. Both organizations help raise awareness for children who are less fortunate.

It’s all about the kids on November 20th! This event in Dumbo of Brooklyn will kick off with live performances from great artists, silent auctions throughout the evening, guest speakers and continue with tons dancing and delicious cocktails!

Little Kids Rock is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in underfunded public schools. Today, Little Kids Rock is one of the leading nonprofit providers of free lessons and instruments to underprivileged children in US public schools, and has served more than 100,000 students at over 1,200 schools in 24 cities nationwide.

Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously operating Tzedakah organization in Israel. It was established in 1788 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of The Chabad Lubavitch Movement.

We will start with an open bar from 8pm to 10pm + (Beer and Well Drinks)
Live music begins at 9pm

Event info and tickets: changethetune.eventbrite.com
Saturday, November 20, 2010
59 Pearl Street, Suite 115, Brooklyn, NY 11201