Episode 5: Craig Anthony Miller (craiganthonymiller.com)
Directed by Christine Jan Mesias
Created by David Castillo
Produced by Blue Barn Pictures, Inc. for DumboNYC on vimeo

If you’ve spent any time in Dumbo, you’ve probably seen Craig Anthony Miller’s artwork around. Craig is an artist who painted the Water Street mural collaboration, Pedro’s Restaurant wall, and on reBar’s wall. In this episode of Crossing Dumbo, Blue Barn Pictures interviews Craig. His creativity is “inspired by energy, trying to depict things that give people a hope, a strength or a determination to move forth and lift themselves.” Some deep thoughts for next time you walk by his Water Street mural collaboration.

Crossing Dumbo, a web series of video portraits of artists, entrepreneurs and residents in Dumbo Brooklyn. This is a collaboration between DumboNYC and our talented friends over at Blue Barn Pictures. Different directors from Blue Barn Pictures, a creative content agency, bring their own approach to each interview to create a distinct profile of the person being interviewed and place them within the Dumbo community. The people at Blue Barn Pictures truly love what they do and support the community in a positive way, and for that we’re grateful to have them be a part of Dumbo.

{DumboNYC.com/category/crossing-dumbo/}

Readers have reported car break ins on Front Street between Jay and Bridge Streetlast night. There were at least five cars broken into, so if you are parked there, you may want to check up on them.

Please 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.

(Thank you to the readers who sent in this tip).

Darren Taylor, owner/head coach of his studio in Dumbo has been providing fitness training since 2009. 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 help you achieve your goals. Recently, he received approval to be a CrossFit Affiliate, only one of five in Brooklyn certified to provide CrossFit training.

CrossFit is a general physical preparedness program designed to build well-rounded extremely fit athletes who can handle just about anything nature, their jobs and their lives throw their way. NY1 recently reported about Darren’s CrossFit program. The CrossFit program is built on three pillars:

• Functional movements that translate directly to your everyday tasks – whether it’s putting out fires or putting away the laundry.
• Variety of movement that challenges you mentally and physically, pushing you to adapt to new challenges while keeping you engaged and interested.
• Scaled intensity based on individual fitness levels, and built on a solid foundation and understanding of movement, form and technique. At CrossFit Dumbo, we often say consistency before intensity – we want to make sure you’re doing it right before we scale it up.

More info on CrossFit from Darren after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 6) at 3:30 is the first Pomme Arts class.

A new art class developed by Pomme, this class is for older children from the ages of 4 to 8 who love arts and crafts and are comfortable with manipulating a variety of materials.

Each class will feature a project that uses specific techniques like sewing, collage, sculpture, and beading.

Class size is purposely kept small so that each child can have the space and easy access to materials in order to create an atmosphere conducive to creativity.

The teacher, Courtney Quay is a 3′s teacher at Plymouth Church School in Brooklyn Heights and is also working towards her masters degree in early childhood education at Bank Street College of Education.

This week they’re making customized wooden block stamps.

Register for their 5 class summer session or drop in for $25 a class. Call 718.855.0623 or email info@pommenyc.com for more information.

July 6 to August 3, 2011, Wednesdays at 3:30pm
fee $110 for 5 classes or drop in for $25 a class.

(Photo by Ben Cobb Photos)

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

• 5 Rules of Success From Brooklyn’s DIY Masters, 28Jun11, Inc
• DOT Unveils Makeover for Approach to Brooklyn Bridge Park, 28Jun11, StreetsBlog
• DUMBO Arts Festival Gets a Big New Partner, 29Jun11, BK Eagle
• 2011 DUMBO Arts Festival Brought to You by AT&T, 1Jul11, LMag
• City wants to boot buses off of Old Fulton St, 01Ju111, BK Paper
• DOT Plans to Give BBP Pier 1 Approach Some Room to Breathe, 29Jun11, Curbed
• DOT Looks to Revamp the Streets Near Pier 1, 29Jun11, Brownstoner
• Mayor Bloomberg Visits Dumbo’s Sing For Hope Piano, 28Jun11, BK Paper
• DUMBO Tanabata Event, 29Jun11, BK Eagle
• Macy’s Plans its Third Annual Betrayal of Brooklyn for July 4, 29Jun11, LMag
• East River Ferry Ridership Strong After Initial Free Period, 30Jun11, CBS
• Photos: Cyclists Vs. Tourists On The Brooklyn Bridge, 29Jun11, Gothamist
• Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, 29Jun11, Crave
• Kendrick Lamar, DJ Evil Dee, J-Live Added To 2011 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, 01Jul11, HipHopDX
• Archway’s Sing for Hope Piano Is… Cozier Than Most, 29Jun11, BK Eagle
• 100 Reasons Why Brooklyn Lives Up To The Hype, 28Jun11, Gothamist

On Thursday, July 7th, a benefit event will take place at St. Ann’s Warehouse from 3-7pm. It will raise money for the children affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The folks spearheading the event are ITO EN (a Japanese tea company with offices and distribution locations in Dumbo) and the Fulton Ferry Business Association. Many (if not all, it seems) of the Dumbo restaurants and businesses are participating. Free food, live Japanese music and free photograph/portraits (by a Dumbo resident) will be available for small donations. Some small children’s summer kimonos are there to try on as well.

July 7th is a special celebration day in Japan called Tanabata where two stars meet each other on the 7th day of the 7th month. People generally celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, on tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bamboo trees. The benefit will also allow the Dumbo children attending to write wishes for the Japanese children.

This will be a nice opportunity for folks that are still in town to learn about Japanese culture, as well as give back to those who are in need. Japanese Public TV will also be covering the event.

If you cannot attend the event, there is also the opportunity to make a donation via their website and Paypal: www.dumbotanabata.org.