In an article on The Albany Government Law Review Fireplace blog by Andrew Stengel, they argue that the proposed placement of Jane’s Carousel in the Empire Fulton Ferry Park contradicts the purposes of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. Jane’s Carousel is loved by many (for example see Brooklyn Paper article), but some also believe a carousel in the park will bring unwanted noise, pollution, and traffic to the area (prior post on this). We’ll quote a piece of Mr. Stengel’s conclusions here:

“The planned carousel for Empire Fulton Ferry Park likely constitutes a conversion—and thus requires approval from the Regional Director of the National Parks Service[36]—because it contradicts the purposes of the grant and it is a non-outdoor recreational use in the LWCF project area. The purpose of the LWCF grant is to protect the waterfront which is “one of the few places on the New York City waterfront that gives visitors true access to the water . . . [and also exists as] a rich habitat for fish, crabs, and birds of the New York Harbor Estuary.”[37] A carousel abutting the waterfront—or anywhere else in the former Empire Fulton Ferry Park—is a clear conflict with the LWCF grant.[38] The carousel would serve as an obstacle to access of the waterfront.[39] Moreover, the carousel, with the proposed large enclosing structure, will obstruct and destroy one of the most famous view corridors to the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City.[40]“

However, read the full Albany Government Law Review Fireplace blog article for the full arguments. We were also able to obtain the original letter of the federal grant (750kb PDF) if you are interested.

(Image rendering courtesy of Jean Nouvel from Brooklyn Eagle)

First Thursday today, Thursday, November 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 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.

Dumbo Culture 411 also posted three fun itineraries about Dumbo (pdf files):

• What To Do In DUMBO Before, After, and During the November 4th First Thursday Gallery Walk
• Suggested Weekend Itinerary in DUMBO
• Create Your Own Weekend DUMBO Itinerary

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 Arts Council, 111 Front St., Suite 218
Caption Gallery, 55 Washington St., Suite 802
Cave Canem, 20 Jay St.
Central Booking, 111 Front St., Suite 214
Collective Consciousness NYC, 10 Jay St.
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
NY Studio Residency Program, 20 Jay St.
One Arm Red, 10 Jay St.
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main St.
Pratt Institute Photo Seniors, 20 Jay 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.

At least according to a feature last week by The L Magazine, 4 of the 50 “Best Blocks” in Brooklyn are in Dumbo. The following ‘blocks’ in and around Dumbo were named ‘the best’:

Best Block For Date Night: Water Street between Main and Old Dock Streets – “Highbrow culture at St. Ann’s Warehouse or Galapagos Art Space; drinks before dinner or after at Water Street Restaurant; and fancy-ass dessert at Jacques Torres (closes at 9pm on weekends). Top off the night with a stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park for that Woody Allen moment…”

Best Block For Celebrity Sightings: Front Street between Jay Street and the Manhattan Bridge – “Jason Schwartzman, Cynthia Nixon, Jay Z, Beyonce, Spike Lee, Alexis Bledel (of the Gilmore Girls!), the entire cast of Gossip Girl, Paul Dano, Michael Pitt… These are just a few people we’ve recently seen near our office.”

Best Block For Gallery-Hopping: Washington Street between Water and Plymouth Streets – “See large-scale projects by established artists and new works by emerging locals skipping between Smack Mellon’s massive refurbished boiler house space, the Dumbo Arts Center’s expansive loft and Rabbithole Studio’s raw basement gallery.”

Best Block for New Media: Main Street between Water and Front Streets – “Realtors recently re-dubbed Dumbo “Silicon Beach.” Seriously. A sampling of new social networking locative buzzword emergent media companies operating in this block’s behemoth office building: Digital Gravel, Fusia Communications, Red Herring Design, Lost Boys International, FreeAssociation, Domani Studios, Freeserver, Big Spaceship, The Joey Company, and so on. Also, The L, keeping it real for old media!”

There was one from Vinegar Hill for Best Block For Pretending it’s the 1930s (“Little” Street at the corner of Evans Street) “Tucked between the outskirts of Vinegar Hill and the Navy Yard, behind wrought-iron gates, sits the Commandant’s Mansion. The driveway is filled with vintage cars from the 30s and 40s and Don Corleone could walk out at any minute.”

{The 50 Best Blocks in Brooklyn, 27Oct2010, The L Magazine}

Did you vote today? Why vote? The midterm electons are for the Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller for New York State. You will also be selecting representatives in the New York State Senate and Assembly. At the Federal level you’re voting for New York State’s U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives. Visit smartvoter.org/ny/state for a list of candidates.

Polling locations are open until 9pm. For most of Dumbo residents, the polling location is at 101 Clark Street (Cadman Towers). Please check your specific address by going to the online poll site address locator or call 1.866.VOTE.NYC. Polling Places open 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.