From Underwater Lounge:

“The Fades will be playing your favorite 80′s music in the UnderWater Lounge. No Cover. Friday January 25th starting at 8pm.

You can always stop in to play pool or watch sports on our big screens. Over 40 beers (bottle and draft) along with a full array of Liquor. Chef Reggie is always making his special plates and daily made fresh hot soups. Stop in for lunch or dinner, we’re here to serve you.”

Also, on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008, at Water Street Restaurant and Lounge is Patron Appreciation Day. They will be serving complimentary hors d’oeuvres and complimentary Peak Organic Brew, Coney Island Lager, and Six Point Draft Beer (a DumboNYC favorite) from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. “PHISHBACKER” will be performing, masters of “balancing the big chill-out, the really deep groove and spirited jazz improv.” At 9pm, the complimentary beer continues to flow downstairs at the Underwater Lounge until 10pm. DJ John Webb performs downstairs.

Water Street Restaurant and the Underwater Lounge
66 Water Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn (Just over the Brooklyn Bridge)
waterstreetrestaurant.com

Still haven’t decided where to go NYE? Water Street Restaurant & Lounge invites you to come watch the ball drop their 7000 sq ft duplex restaurant and lounge space in Historic Dumbo. Free champagne toast at midnight! Music upstairs and downstairs in the UnderWater Lounge, noise makers, hats and all the typical NYE debauchery is planned.

Oh, and its free admission. Pay for only what you eat and drink. Open until 4am.

Water Street Restaurant & Lounge
66 Water Street, Dumbo Brooklyn, 718-625-9352

A wine store is planned in the space next to Bridge Apothecary at 102 Jay Street. According to The Real Deal, the NYC real estate publication, the 1004 square foot retail store, is being leased by J. Wines and Spirits and signed a 10 year lease in April 2007. According to the sign on the door, there will be an opportunity for public comment on Wednesday, December 19, at 10am at the State Liquor Authority (full liquor board hearing) at 317 Lenox Ave, NYC, NY 10027, 5th floor.

What: A TASTE OF SPAIN: Wine Tasting and Tapas @ DAC
When: Thursday, December 13, 6-9pm
Where: Dumbo Arts Center, 30 Washington Street, Brooklyn

A TASTE OF SPAIN
A selection of exquisite wines to taste and try accompanied by delicious tapas, raffle prizes and live Spanish music by the Subway Band.

Tickets $40 in advance, $45 at the door
After Party at Rebar, 147 Front Street

All proceeds to benefit Dumbo Arts Center, the non-profit contemporary arts organization that has been bringing you the wonderful Art Under the Bridge Festival each year free of charge since 1997.

For tickets call 718-694-0831 or email gallery@dumboartscenter.org.

Thanksgiving holiday is coming up next week, and two places you can get your pies in Dumbo are at Bubby’s or Almondine Bakery. We took the above photo of Almondine’s pies today and the pecan and pumpkin pies look delicious. Put in your order by Monday or you’re out of luck!

From NY Daily News:

At the popular Dumbo bakery Almondine, there’s a fabulous pecan pie ($24 for a 9-incher) and a French apple tarte tatin (puff pastry with caramelized apples, $18 for a 9-incher). Order deadline is Monday, Nov. 19. The pies may be picked up from 7am-6:30pm the day before Thanksgiving. 85 Water St. near Main St., Brooklyn. (718) 797-5026.

{NY Daily News}
{Bubbys.com}
{almondinebakery.com}

One of the great things about Dumbo is the number of creative and entrepreneurial people who base their businesses in Dumbo. We all have our favorite retail, creative, and service businesses here. However, in many people’s opinion, Dumbo can use more restaurant or food choices. So when I heard about Nylon Cooks food delivery service, I knew that many people will appreciate them as most of us don’t have a lot of time to cook at home.

Nylon Cooks is a new Dumbo-based business that just launched last week. With apologies to Brooklyn Enthusiast, they first interviewed the co-founders last week. But I had to find out more for myself. Nylon Cooks has a selection of menu choices, side dishes, and soups for adults and kids. The meals arrive in oven-proof packaging so you don’t have to clean any pots or pans.

We asked chefs Lindsay Broder and Kristen Clay about how the business started.
“After we graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education (where we met) all we kept hearing from our friends was ‘when are you going to cook for us? We’re so tired of takeout’. We quickly realized that this is the general consensus for busy New York City Dwellers. It became our mission to improve the in-home dining experience by creating meals that were as close to home-cooked as possible without the customer having to do any of the work such as shopping, cooking and cleaning!”

Do you have plans on expanding your delivery area outside of Dumbo?
“It seemed only natural since we both live in DUMBO to start our service here, but we realize that there are other NYC neighborhoods that are lacking for dinner options. Therefore, we do plan to expand in the future.”

What has been the reaction to your food by Dumbo residents?
“We have done a couple of tastings around the neighborhood and those that attended really loved the food and were so excited for the service to start! Some of these people have posted on their building blogs. One person wrote, ‘My husband and I have been so bored with all the food in the area- there is such a lack of good options- so we are thrilled about this new company. Everything on the menu is homemade and is absolutely delicious.’ –LS, 70 Washington. Another wrote, ‘If find yourself ordering out a lot than this is for you. The food is really good, healthy, and kid friendly.’ –AL, Jcondo.

—

I’m ordering my dinners from them next week. Good luck and congratulations on the launch of your business! For additional information on Nylon Cooks go to nyloncooks.com.

 Jacques Torres hot chocolate (Photo courtesy of Hagoody)

From this week’s NY Press best of eats and drinks 2007, Jacques Torres gets the nod for best non-alcoholic drink, or as NY Press puts it, ahem, eloquently, Best Drink To Entice Your Ex-girlfriend Into Sleeping With You, Non-alcoholic Division:

Wicked Hot Chocolate at Jacques Torres
66 Water St. (betw. Main & Dock Sts.) Dumbo, B’klyn
718-875-9772
We spent staggering sums on alcohol to entice our ex-girlfriend into sleeping with us—until we found this low-cost Spanish Fly: Jacques Torres’ Wicked Hot Chocolate. Ancho chilies, chipotle and cardamom are infused into thick, molten chocolate shavings. “Oh, this makes me feel…good,” our ex-girlfriend said, drinking deeply. She smiled as brightly as if she just chugged six gin and tonics, tucking her fingers into our back pocket and squeezing our rump. Thank you, Mr. Torres, thank you.

As the weather gets colder, their hot chocolate is a good way to warm up with your S.O. As a bonus, cross the street to Almondine for the best French pastries in NY. If that doesn’t gain you points with your girlfriend/boyfriend, I don’t know what will.

Previously:
{Dumbo Chocolate Wars}

Bubby’s in Dumbo is hosting its annual Brooklyn Pie Social on Sunday from noon to 3pm at 1 Main Street, Dumbo. A few hundred people are bringing pies for tasting and sale. It’s an ideal afternoon snack while you’re checking out art during the Art Under the Bridge Festival and a chance to try hundreds of pies! From NYTimes:

The Brooklyn Pie Social, where about 150 professional and amateur bakers are expected to offer pies for sale and tasting, will be held on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. in front of Bubby’s Pie Company, 1 Main Street (Water Street), Dumbo, Brooklyn. The event will benefit the Brooklyn New School, P.S. 150 in TriBeCa, and the High School of Food and Finance. Those wishing to bring pies may send e-mail messages to dani@bubbys.com. Information: bubbys.com.

{bubbys.com}
{Pie in the Sky, 26Sept07, UrbanBaby}

1)Blanc & Rouge Wine Tasting event
(brwine.com) 6-8pm
Bordeaux vs. Burgundy – Tasting: Tour Puy-Blanquet, St. Emilion vs. Huber-Verdereau, Bourgogne Rouge

2)Will Scott performs at 68 Jay Street Bar
Roots and Blues songwriter Will Scott performs at 68 Jay Street Bar (Jay at Water Street). Wylie Wirth joins on drums. Shows start at 7:30pm. (68jaystreetbar.com)
myspace.com/willscottmusic

Previously:
{Will Scott Performing at 68 Jay Street Bar}

I Live in Brooklyn: A Reading by Brooklyn Children Authors

Mari Takabayashi, Emily Jenkins, Paul Jacobs, and Jennifer Swender

When: September 23, 2007, 3-4:30pm
Where: The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street at Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The powerHouse Arena, a DUMBO-based photo gallery and art bookstore, invites you to a special family event in celebration of Brooklyn. In conjunction with our photo exhibit, The Brooklynites, three Brooklyn-based children’s authors will read Brooklyn and NYC-themed books. Authors featured are award-winning writer Emily Jenkins, who will read from her upcoming book What Happens on Wednesdays, a story situated in Cobble Hill; Mari Takabayashi will read a local favorite I live in Brooklyn, and author team Paul Jacobs and Jennifer Swender will read from their ever-so popular books My Subway Ride and My Taxi Ride.

Also, on Sunday September 23, DUMBO Parents Organization and DUMBO restaurants are offering a night of family-friendly dining with attractive options for young children—picky eaters and the city’s sophisti’kids alike—so that the whole family can enjoy a night out. This is a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together, while experiencing the diversity of cuisines offered in DUMBO. DPO will be organizing family-friendly attractions throughout the evening, such as a roving photographer for family portraits, clowns, magicians, and other tableside entertainment. For more information, please visit www.dineoutindumbo.com . Don’t forget to mention Dine Out in DUMBO when you make your reservationor walk in the door!

{powerhousearena.com/childrenauthors.html}
{dineoutindumbo.com}