amNY Visits Dumbo

Plymouth and Bridge Street

amNY’s City Living profiles Dumbo Brooklyn in today’s edition. Reporter Hesper Desloovere writes:

It’s a familiar Brooklyn tale: manufacturing businesses give way to abandoned warehouses; artists trickle in; hipsters stake their claim; yuppies invade, toddlers in tow. Dumbo’s evolution has its pros and cons. Crumbling facades are restored to their former glory, independent businesses are flourishing, unsavory characters are few and far between. However, rents are astronomical, artist types have gotten the heave-ho and strollers choke the Belgian-block streets.

The article continues by saying that at first glance, Dumbo seems an unlikely destination for young families inhabiting the neighborhood: streets are sparsely populated and basic necessities such as grocery stores are not around. However, for some residents, sparsely populated streets (especially in East Dumbo and in Vinegar Hill (mislabeled as Dumbo in the piece)) is the appeal and walking and discovering street art or seeing familiar old buildings along the water has its comforts.

“Even yuppie staples such as wine bars and vintage stores are curiously lacking. But upon closer inspection, the area’s appeal reveals itself. Dumbo’s major draws are space and light.” Dumbo does seem lacking in the ‘yuppie staples’, and we can see why some visitors/tourists don’t get the neighborhood. But to appreciate Dumbo, I tell tourists that there’s no walking guide; they just need to walk around, talk to gallery owners, residents, and bar/restaurant servers and bartenders to know Dumbo. We’ve talked with other residents, many who agree that the majority of out-of-towners aren’t willing to do so and get back into a cab to SoHo. (Agree/disagree?) The following are the places to shop, to do, eat, and play per amNY. To shop:

To do:

To eat:

To play:

{amNY.com}

8 Comment

  • What about the 2 grocery stores on Front Street? Peas and Pickles and the other one(can’t think of the name right now.) I wouldn’t say that strollers hog the streets either. Dumbo is a far cry from Park Slope.

  • What about the 2 grocery stores on Front Street? Peas and Pickles and the other one(can’t think of the name right now.) I wouldn’t say that strollers hog the streets either. Dumbo is a far cry from Park Slope.

  • Funny how so many articles about Dumbo omit the the old guard of Superfine, the only descent restaurant in a hood of limited options.

  • Funny how so many articles about Dumbo omit the the old guard of Superfine, the only descent restaurant in a hood of limited options.

  • “yuppies invade, toddlers in tow”…
    So artists don’t have kids?

    From SOHO, Williamsburg, to Chelsea (and DUMBO) I know artists that have done quite well playing the real estate game…

  • “yuppies invade, toddlers in tow”…
    So artists don’t have kids?

    From SOHO, Williamsburg, to Chelsea (and DUMBO) I know artists that have done quite well playing the real estate game…

  • Funny how so many articles about Dumbo omit the the old guard of Superfine, the only descent restaurant in a hood of limited options.

  • Funny how so many articles about Dumbo omit the the old guard of Superfine, the only descent restaurant in a hood of limited options.