11/02/12 4:35pm

Main and Water Street, October 29 and November 2, 2012

Main and Water Street, October 29 and November 2, 2012

Main and Water Street, October 29 and November 2, 2012

Main and Water Street, October 29 and November 2, 2012

(Above photos of the flooding in Dumbo by @barneyrobinson, October 29 vs November 2, 2012)

The effects of Hurricane Sandy have devastated much of the region and our thoughts are with anyone currently dealing with issues related to the storm. There are many parts of NY and NJ still without power and running out of food, gas, and clean water. The Atlantic has photos of the aftermath of the area. In Dumbo, check out the post-hurricane photos by photographer Rob Cleary.

Thousands of businesses and homes have been destroyed, and while we’re all trying our best to get back to normal day-to-day life, it’s not as simple as restoring electricity and cleaning from the flood waters. The Dumbo community has come together to help eachother in many ways. There have been a lot of kind offers from those who have electricity and space to allow neighbors and businesses to work together, share a meal, or an outlet to charge your devices. We’re getting a lot of emails and Twitter messages from those who want to help. The best way to help out is to do good for our neighbors in the region. Go to the Dumbo Businesss Improvement District website to help Dumbo businesses rebuild.

There have been several online fundraisers set up already and upcoming events for Hurricane Sandy relief. Here are a few others out of Dumbo that we’re aware of (please send additional ones to us at dumbonyc@gmail.com:

You can also help businesses in the neighborhood and buy goods and services and eating at restaurants in and around Dumbo. Brokelyn also has a list of weekend hurricane relief events and other donation opportunities.

10/31/12 11:03am

Main St after Hurricane Sandy

The neighborhood is cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy and will be for a while. While many of the buildings and retail shops away from the East River did not sustain major damage from the high winds and rains, some buildings closer to the river are still without power and may need repairs. In some cases, businesses will have to be closed indefinitely until proper assessments are completed. To help Dumbo businesses rebuild, go to The Dumbo Improvement District website to find out more about how you can help.

For latest updates on Dumbo and its businesses, follow us on Twitter (@DumboNYC) or The Dumbo Improvement District @DUMBOBID.

08/03/12 1:32am


On August 6, 2012, NASA’s Curiosity rover – the most advanced robot ever sent to another planet – will land on Mars. NASA called the mission “the most important event in the history of planetary exploration” at a recent press conference about the Curiosity mission. Brooklynite and Dumbo-based author Andrew Kessler, of Martian Summer, will be celebrating the landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars on Sunday, August 5 at an event in Manhattan. In the summer of 2008, Andrew spent three months living and working in mission control of the last Mars expedition, along with 130 NASA scientists and engineers, becoming the first outsider ever granted unfettered access to such an event. He chronicles the adventure in his book, “Martian Summer”. Andrew recently wrote an article for the Huffington Post about why people should care more about Mars than the Olympics.

Details about the event here: facebook.com/events/214396065352735/

06/21/12 5:00am

Blue Glaze, a Brooklyn based multimedia company produced a profile video of Dawn Casale of One Girl Cookies on the website Women You Should Know.

In it, Dawn talks about Dumbo and the mini-documentary explores her work and life path as a successful business person.

Description:
“Dawn Casale’s story brings new meaning to the phrase “the taste of sweet success”. This Woman You Should Know is the founder and co-owner of the Brooklyn, NY based One Girl Cookies, an expanding dessert empire she started 12 years ago out of her tiny apartment. Back then, Dawn was “one girl” who spent her free time dreaming up all sorts of recipes for old-fashioned confections and modern treats, while baking thousands of cookies in the process to perfect her craft.”

Related:
{One Girl Cookies in Dumbo Opens, 01Feb2012}
{Video: Manhattan and Brooklyn Time Lapse, 27May2010}
{One Girl Cookies Construction Update, 26Jan2012}
{One Girl Cookies Opening in Dumbo, 02Sep2011}

06/11/12 12:05pm

Art by the Arch is Dumbo’s newest art venue, at the Gramercy Park Flower Shop. The first exhibiting artwork is by Tara Dixon, a long time artist and resident of Dumbo. Her work weaves words and collage elements to create atmospheric experiences, reminders or mantras. She draws from her fascination of how the world works, the passage of time and her love of color. Her personal mission has been to teach the tool of gratitude through the arts and has started the Gratitude House in her studio in Dumbo.

Tara has exhibited her art in Dumbo for over a dozen years and more recently collaborated with Brooklyn Roasting Company on one of their logo labels.

Exhibition: Into the Light: In Preparation for The Longest Day of the Year
Date: June 7-June 30, 2012

Solar imagery and luminosity are featured in Tara Dixon’s newest mixed media works. Ponder the passage of time with images that harken the summer solstice.

Gramercy Park Flower Shop (gramercyflowers.com)
32 Adams Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
(212) 475-4989

03/29/12 1:03pm

In a story that makes you wish you did what they did, the NY Post wrote about one couple’s real estate sales in Dumbo in a span of 14 years. Victor and Athena Calderone bought in Dumbo in 1998 for $275 per square foot at 1 Main Street (when Two Trees redeveloped the building), a 1,700 square foot condo for $467k. For approximately the same cost today, you can get a 565 square foot studio at 205 Water Street.

The story continues with the sale of their place for more than double and upgraded to a two bedroom condo on the same floor, which was then sold three years later worth twice. They invested in two penthouse condos at 70 Washington Street (“one a two-bedroom for $2.2 million, or $1,269 per square foot; another a one-bedroom for $1.5 million, or $1,197 per square foot”), which we profiled in April 2010 and was sold in 4 weeks for under $4million.

They purchased a condo at One Brooklyn Bridge Park before buying back into Dumbo, a $2.3 million, 2,187-square-foot, three-bedroom penthouse (with two terraces, a balcony and a private roof deck that total 2,344 square feet.)

Karen Heyman handled all of their sales and purchases since their purchase at One Main in 1998.