Those of us who have been around Dumbo for a while know about the dearth of restaurant space in the area. This has to do with out-of-sight ductwork requirement to the roof of landmarked designated buildings in Dumbo, which is difficult and expensive. There are restaurateurs, celebrity Top Chefs, and world class sommeliers who live in the neighborhood and have looked for space in Dumbo, without much luck. So when new restaurants launch, you can expect a highly anticipated opening, as it was for Choice Market in February 2010. As much as the neighborhood wanted to love ‘Choice’, kinks and all, people were inevitably turned off by the slow service. After one year of operation, the owners of Choice Market (also known as Choice Kitchen) sold their business.

The new owner, Mike, is a seasoned restaurateur who lives in Brooklyn. He took over the space and soft-launched their new restaurant, The Gallery (d/b/a The Gallery Cafe) in April. The Gallery still provides breakfast items for dine in and take out (now serving Empire Coffee), and lunch to the working crowd. However, the evening service has been transformed into a dining experience. The original ceiling design remains intact but the bench seating was removed and drapes were added to conceal the bright kitchen area. The restaurant welcomes walk-in diners and those who just want to enjoy a nice bottle of wine or a pint of beer.

The food is best described as Mediterranean though the menu includes comfort food classics like burgers and mac ‘n cheese as well as Italian/French/Spanish influenced dishes. Appetizers include sweet shrimp delicately flavored with a savory cream sauce and tuna tartar with a dollop of caviar and a touch of soy chili sauce (see below pic). Short ribs with herb butter in a rich port wine sauce was slowly simmered for 8 hours to achieve that melt in your mouth quality. For sweet-tooths, the house-made desserts are high quality and vary nightly – pear custard tart, apple crumble pie, chocolate mousse, and red velvet cake were recently featured.

The Gallery is a restaurant that believes service and food quality should be first priority. The care Mike puts into service is evident when you see him in the dining room talking with each table as if they were his only guests.

The Gallery also provides a full catering service to businesses and homes in the area. They will deliver a full spread of delicious food complete with warming trays, utensils, plates, and linens. (View a few pics here).

Check it out and tell Mike DumboNYC sent you!

The Gallery Cafe (thegallerycafe.co)
108 Jay Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
718-797-1695

Hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-10pm
Sat-Sun Brunch 9am-4pm
facebook.com/thegallerycafe

According to a Two Trees press release, two record companies have signed leases with Two Trees Management, adding to the neighborhood’s artistic feel. Anthology of Recorded Music was previously located in lower Manhattan and !K7 Records has expanded their German operation in the United States by choosing DUMBO as their location. “Musicians and recording companies are drawn to DUMBO because of the immense creative culture found everywhere in the neighborhood,” said Caroline Pardo, Director of Leasing for Two Trees. “We have artists, galleries, performance venues, and a laid-back, yet energetic work force.”

Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc., recording under the label New World Records, signed a lease for 2,346 square feet of space in 20 Jay Street. Founded in 1975, the company focuses on both music of the past and new emerging music.

!K7 Records GMBH based in Berlin, Germany, is a company running four independent labels each covering a variety of musical genres including electronic/avant-garde pop, funk/soul/disco, hip hop and urban. !K7 Records GMBH will establish their New York City presence at 55 Washington Street.

Two Trees Press Release (75kb PDF)

Past music company news: Mick Artists Management at 31 Washington Street, 16Dec2008

(“If you see something, skate something”, Photo by Josh Derr)

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

• Dumbo experiencing a mini-boom, 23May11, TRD
• Gothamist settles in 20 Jay DUMBO, 23May11, Crain’s
• John Mayer Spotted at Pub One, 24May11, NYP
• Cubicle-sharing website seeks more friends, 27May11, Crain’s
• Rally To Save Fire Co. Unites the Heights, 26May11, BK Eagle
• 109 Gold in Vinegar Hill: All About Modern, 26May11, BK Eagle
• Vinegar Hill House to expand, 24May11, BK Paper
• 1 Main PH on Selling New York TV Show, 23May11, NYT
• Labapalooza! at St. Ann’s Warehouse, 22May11, NYT
• BKBridge Park Becomes Popular Site for Events, 24May11, BK Eagle
• Brooklyn’s Once-Bustling Waterfront, 23May11, BK Eagle
• Leasing of Market-Rate Units Begins at GAIR2, 23May11, BK Eagle
• Loosecubes Has A Pretty Cool Office, 23May11, SFGate
• Reinventing the Town Square – BK Flea, 23May11, Inc
• Brooklyn Bridge Park Opens an Expanded Portion of Pier 6, 25May11, BBP
• New B’klyn Bridge Park section opening, 26May11, Crain’s
• New East River Ferry service, 26May11, BK Paper
• East River Ferry Starts June 13, 26May11, Curbed
• Development Watch: 20 Henry Street, 23May11, Brownstoner

Photo by Josh Derr.

[DumboNYC.com is taking a vacation.  In the meantime, take a look at some photos of Dumbo (in the DumboNYC Flickr Pool) or submit a story or event about Dumbo.  We'll be back in a few days.]

VIDEO & WINE
Dumbo Arts Center
Thursday, May 26, 6-9PM
111 Front Street, #212, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Wine tasting by King Estate Winery
Video art screening curated by Richard Jochum
Music by Justin King and Tremble & Wag

Dr. Jennifer Grodberg recently opened her medical practice in Dumbo. As far as I know, it’s the only medical practice in Dumbo. But it’s not a typical practice. It’s a practice known as concierge medicine. When I called Dr. Grodberg to find out more information about her Dumbo based medical practice, she answered the phone personally. She emailed me back promptly and has an office that looks and feels more like a spa. Her practice has no front desk, office staff, hold times. it’s just the patient and her. Patients schedule and manage their appointments online, have 24/7 access to their patient health record, and can text or even video conference.

Dr. Grodberg’s motto, “Primary care done differently” truly exemplifies this medical practice that recently opened at 68 Jay Street in Dumbo Brooklyn. Dr. Grodberg believes that excellent health care centers around the doctor-patient relationship. As well as providing the most current and evidenced based medicine, her practice model emphasizes access, availability, and frequent communication outside the office. Care plans involve touching base regularly by phone, email, and video conferencing. Her patients do not lose time from their lives with an office visit for every question or concern. In contrast to traditional practices, communication outside the office is the rule rather than the exception.

Dr. Grodberg’s services include the following services:

General Care:

• Routine physical exams
• Chronic health problems
• Multi-system disease
• Acute care
• Emotional wellness
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Nutrition

Women’s Health:

• Well exams & pap smears
• Breast exams & screening
• Birth control
• Emergency contraception
• Irregular & painful periods

Disease Prevention:

• Immunizations
• Screening
• Annual health assessments
• Travel vaccinations

Procedures:

• Laceration repair
• Suture removal
• Abscess incision and drainage
• Foreign body removals

Dr. Grodberg limits the size of her practice to a few hundred patients rather than several thousand found in the traditional model. This reduced practice size enables her to offer same-day or next-day appointments with little or no waiting time and longer, more relaxed visits. (Call quickly- she’s in demand!)

In the Dumbo entrepreneurial and creative spirit, Dr. Grodberg also rotates works of local artists in her practice space. To learn more about Dr. Grodberg’s practice or to schedule an appointment, visit www.jennifergrodberg.com

Jennifer Grodberg, MD
68 Jay Street, Suite 507
Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.jennifergrodberg.com

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

• Brooklyn Decker Talks Dumbo, 17May11, Popsugar
• The Gallery (Formerly Choice Kitchens) on Yelp, 15May11, Yelp
• Development Watch: Jane’s Carousel, 20May11, Brownstoner
• Bark Hotdogs, Blue Marble, Uncle Louie G’s at BK Bridge Park, 20May11, NYT
• CB2 Approves Cafe for 70 Hudson Ave, Vinegar Hill, 16May11, Brownstoner
• The Neighborhood Names Flap, 17May11, BK Eagle
• Brooklyn Composer, Vinegar Hill Resident Kyle Dunn, 20May11, LMag
• Dorje Ling Buddhist Center, 19May11, McBrooklyn
• 160 Schermerhorn Street Courts Artist Tenants, 19May11, LMag
• Bash Compactor: Nevada Versus Dumbo, 18May11, NYPress
• New York Photo Festival 2011 in DUMBO, 15May11, McBrooklyn
• Polesque Pole Dancing Competition at Galapagos, 16May11, BK Paper
• More Info on Toll’s Dumbo 205 Water St, 18May11, Brownstoner

A pop-up shop called Dumbelle is opening on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 145 Front Street. Dumbelle features artist and fashion designer (and longtime Dumbo resident) Elaine Pedlar’s art work and offer “couture” paper dolls, coloring books, postcards and art. The opening weekend celebration on Saturday May 21st that will be filled with treats and surprises. The shop is open through September 1, 2011.

Photos by Scott Gordon Bleicher Photography.

Elaine Pedlar, Owner/Artist
Dumbelle…Pretty Smart! (Dumbelle.com)
145 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-938-5704
ep@dumbelle.com

Here are a few photos of the construction zone on Washington Street. The NYC Department of Design + Construction has been excavating the roadway for the installation of concrete base. This will then allow for the Belgian block installation. Also being worked on are the installation of new street lights on Water Street between Main and Adams Streets.

Here’s a pic from Joseph Shemuel of the installation of auger piles:

All construction posts are here: dumbonyc.com/tag/construction

Previously:
{Washington Street Sidewalk Repair, 26Apr2011}
{Construction Update in Dumbo (Mar 2011)}
{Construction Update in Dumbo (Feb 2011)}
{Pile Driving on Washington Street, 17Dec2010}
{Two Way Washington Street, 10Nov2010}
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}