Dumbo NYC

As Brownstoner reported yesterday, David Kramer of Hudson Companies revealed that the J Condo retail location on the corner of York and Jay Street (just outside of the York Street, F subway station) will be occupied by Choice Market, which is a cafe in Clinton Hill Brooklyn. Choice Market is a neighborhood cafe and takeout store, which serves organic and healthy foods, has a the boho vibe of a hippie hangout in a college town, according to the NY Mag listing of its Clinton Hill location. As a neighborly community cafe and hang out location, the now empty corner of York/Jay Street has the potential to become a destination for neighbors to grab a coffee and a house baked pastry or a lunch spot for a savory salmon burger or the grilled hanger steak with chimichurri sauce. The above photos are from Gothamist.

{Choice Empire Exanding to Dumbo’s J Condo, Brownstoner}
{Citysearch Listing of Choice Market}
{Camera in the Kitchen: Choice Market, Gothamist}
{NY Mag Choice Market Listing}

Come check out the live music of Francisca Valenzuela at Hecho en Dumbo while enjoying authentic Mexican food. Francisca, a 20 year old Chile native has a unique style, incorporating jazz, pop, and rock. Preview her music on her myspace page. Show starts approx 9pm tonight.

Hecho en Dumbo @ The Dumbo General Store
111 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
718.855.5288
hechoendumbo.com

{franciscavalenzuela.com}
{Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Hecho en Dumbo, 05May2008}

Last week’s CSA photos:

Boston lettuce with grilled skirt steak and summer corn salad

If your family would like to share photos of your CSA dishes, email photos to dumbonyc@gmail.com or add them to the DumboNYC Flickr Photo pool.

Previously:
{Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA Food Photos, 16June2008}
{Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA and Farmer’s Market Coming Next Week, 05June2008}

The Dumbo Farmer’s Market began on Sunday at Main and Plymouth streets. There was a steady flow of people buying fresh produce provided by Community Markets. The farmer’s market is a welcome addition for residents in Dumbo and will take place every Sunday from 11am to 5pm through mid-November.

{Dumbo Farmer’s Market Flickr set}
{DUMBO Improvement District Brings Farmer’s Market to B’klyn Waterfront, 17Jun2008, Brooklyn Daily Eagle}
{Off to Market? Off to DUMBO, 19Jun2008, Brooklyn Downtown Star}
{Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA and Farmer’s Market Coming Next Week, 05Jun2008}

Enough ice cream trucks debate in Dumbo. On to something healthier. The Dumbo/VH CSA reported that the first CSA distribution was smooth and successful. The produce was fresh (picked just a day before) and tasted great. Participants received produce that included sugar snap peas, green boston lettuce, baby bok choy, asparagus, bunched green scallions, and strawberries.

A few pics of the fresh produce:

And a few pics of the dishes made from them:

Thanks to Dumbo/VH CSA for their efforts. If your family would like to share photos of your CSA dishes, email photos to dumbonyc@gmail.com or add them to the DumboNYC Flickr Photo pool.

Previously: {Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA and Farmer’s Market Coming Next Week, 05June2008}

Summer is here and it’s hot. This past weekend hit record temperatures and what’s better than ice cream to cool us down? Seen for the first time in Dumbo were at least 5 different ice cream/slush trucks (not pictured is a flavored ice cart on Washington and York Street). So what you say? Not if you consider that they were stationed within a six block radius at once. And that doesn’t include Almondine’s sorbets, Jacques Torres ice cream sandwiches, and the delis with ice cream in the neighborhood. The trucks are no doubt a result of part weather, part business opportunity with the many tourists in the neighborhood, and part gentrification of a neighborhood. (I realize the Cadman Plaza truck is in Brooklyn Heights, but it’s still within two blocks of the one stationed on Washington and York Street).

Dumbo's Ice Cream Trucks Poll

• Great, much needed treat for our neighborhood
• It's good for local businesses
• Go away, we don't need the added traffic and fumes
• Meh who gives?

View Results

{Flickr photo set}
{Treats Truck at Pearl St. Triangle, 19Jul2007}

The summer season brings outdoor farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to Dumbo for the first time. The Dumbo Farmers’ Market season starts on June 15 through November 23 every Sunday from 11am to 5pm (rain or shine) at the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park on Main Street (Google map). The Dumbo Improvement District partnered with Community Markets to bring fresh, local produce and locally made products such as baked goods, flowers, dairy, fish, herbs, meat, and specialty foods every week to an area with an increase in residents in the past few years.

Also starting next week, on June 10 is the Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA. The CSA offers memberships to commit and pre-pay to buy fresh, locally grown organic vegetables from June 10 to November 11, distributed every Tuesday. With the market and CSA, Dumbo and Vinegar Hill residents have a convenient place to get their fresh produce and work towards a healthier summer.

Previously:
{Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA Meet the Farmer on April 8, 02Apr2008}
{CSA Planned for Dumbo in June 2008, 04Feb2008}

From Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy:

Brooklyn Brewery will hold the eighth annual Brooklyn Pigfest in the Empire Fulton-Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park to benefit the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy on Saturday, May 31, 2008.

The 1-6pm festival of cold beer, live music and slow-cooked barbecue at the park’s Tobacco Warehouse will feature Jeff Riley of The Smokin’ Grill and Bon Soir Catering and Sam Barbieri of the Waterfront Ale House in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Read the rest of this entry »

From the Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA. Please sign up to get fresh produce and to support their efforts:

Dear DUMBO/Vinegar Hill Neighbors:
We have started a COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE program for this SUMMER/FALL 08. COME & SEE US to sign up or learn more!
Saturday, May 10th, 12-2pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park entrance at Main st and Plymouth in DUMBO

This is your last chance to get in on an entire season of FRESH, ORGANIC produce directly from a local farm. If you can’t join us or weather does not accommodate, look for alternative location and information at dumbocsa.org.

Previously: {Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA Meet the Farmer on April 8, 02Apr2008}
{CSA Planned for Dumbo in June 2008, 04Feb2008}

(Photo courtesy of lesterhead)

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Hecho en Dumbo tonight. Hecho en Dumbo is hosting a 4 and 6 course Prix Fix menu featuring rare and authentic cuisine from Puebla ($35/45) coupled with live performances by Jarana Beat and Mexico City’s own Nacotheque.

Come see what NY Magazine calls Hecho’s food exceptional. Chef Danny Mena’s high quality and delicious food is not the place for a quick burrito to scarf down. He and business partner Ethan Smith have created a charming space with a savory and satisfying meal to share with a date or a group of friends to a casual candlelight dinner who can appreciate real Mexican food while listening to live music. Order several dishes, get drinks, talk, and share them with friends for a leisurely meal.

Jarana Beat and Nacotheque performance tonight. Various artists perform on other nights. Hecho en Dumbo hours:
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday 6pm - 10:30pm
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 6pm - 12am

Hecho en Dumbo @ The Dumbo General Store
111 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
718.855.5288
hechoendumbo.com

From last year: {Cinco de Mayo All Day in Dumbo, 2007}