(photo by tripill)

Officials from the NYCDOT, NYCDDC, and Dumbo Improvement District have hosted two public workshops to gather community input on the permanent design of the plaza space known as Pearl Street Triangle in Dumbo Brooklyn, on in July 2012 and January 2013. They have incorporated the community’s comments and suggestions and will be hosting a third workshop for another round of feedback on March 20, 2013 at 6pm at NYU-Poly Incubator (20 Jay Street, Suite 312).

As we noted in November 2011, the Dumbo Improvement District secured $20 million for a second phase of street reconstruction, which includes the permanent build out of the Pearl Street Triangle.

Please join to give your feedback or comment below on what you would like incorporated there.

(Photo by @jennybeanNYC)

The Dumbo Improvement District introduced the installation of Heartwalk, a massive, 30-foot art installation made from Sandy-salvaged wood in the Pearl Street Triangle in Dumbo. Situ Studio (based in 20 Jay Street in Dumbo) was originally commissioned to create the piece for Times Square. Heartwalk will be on view in the Pearl Street Triangle (Water Street at Pearl Street) through April 30, 2013.

(Photo by Keith Sirchio)

Read more about it on The Dumbo Improvement District website.

The DUMBO Businesss Improvement District’s fundraiser is tonight at Galapagos Art Space. Tickets to the event are almost sold out. According to the Dumbo BID, they’ve raised $10,000 for Dumbo’s Sandy-ravaged businesses and art spaces from ticket sales alone. Their goal is to raise at least $10,000 more through their auction tonight. Auction items include:

• Borough President Marty Markowitz’s Voice on Your Voicemail!
• A private 2 hour party at Jane’s Carousel for you and 50 loved ones!
• A tour of Etsy with CEO Chad Dickerson – with lunch at “Eatsy”;
• Great Brooklyn Nets tickets;
• Digital DUMBO Sponsorship spot;
• art by David Ellis;
• a private tour of Watertower on roof of 20 Jay with Tom Fruin!
• a staycation at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg;
• bottles of wine and a wine tasting party in your home from Blanc and Rouge;
• NOZ outerware;
• West Elm interior design and gift certificates;
• Alexis Bittar jewelry;
• framed photographs and art courtesy of Frameworks New York
• and more!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 6-10pm
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main St
New York, NY 11201

While we’re bracing for another weather alert today, there are still many in NYC and NJ who have major needs from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. We’ve seen incredible support from the community helping our neighbors in the region. For ways to help, go to the Dumbo Businesss Improvement District website to help Dumbo businesses rebuild.

Another way to help TODAY/Tomorrow and Friday, organized by Dumbo businesses, Mick Management and The Fitness Guru was sent to us:

Mick Management, an artist management company in Dumbo along with the new local gym, Fitness Guru, will be donating care packages to the students of the PAVE school in Red Hook, Brooklyn – who have been affected by the hurricane. PAVE has opened a temporary location today so that the kids can return to school. On Friday when the students leave, we’d like for them to leave with PAVE Packs that will have some essential items they will need over the weekend. Many of the children still don’t have power at home and we want to ensure that they will be able to focus on their school work and be comfortable this weekend. We will be collecting the below items for the PAVE Packs starting tomorrow, Thursday 11/8 from noon to 7pm and on Friday from 10am to noon. Please donate what you can from the following list. The school needs enough for 250 kids:

• Mini lanterns, book lights, or flashlights so that scholars can do homework and read at home: Such as this, this, or this.
• Batteries
• Hand Warmers
• Books for Kindergarten to 6th grade students
• Canvas or paper grocery bags

There is also a need for blankets and/or sleeping bags, but not for every student.

Drop Off Location for items:
Fitness Guru
215 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Thursday, November 8 from noon – 7pm
Friday, November 9 from 10am – noon

About PAVE
PAVE is a free, public charter school that prepares Kindergarten – 8th grade students to thrive in competitive high schools and four-year colleges. PAVE provides its students with a rigorous academic program and a community built on the school’s core values of Perseverance, Achievement, Vibrance and Excellent character (PAVE). We currently serve nearly 300 Kindergarten – 5th grade scholars. Please visit our website to learn more – www.paveacademy.org.

PAVE is located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a neighborhood hit very hard by Hurricane Sandy. More than 70% of their families reside in the community and have been without water, heat, and power for the last 7 days. PAVE is re-opening on Wednesday, November 7th in a temporary facility due to extensive water damage at our permanent facility. While PAVE looks forward to seeing everyone back at school this week and restoring a bit of normalcy back in the lives of the scholars and families, the current conditions present unforeseeable challenges. Providing the school community with essential items as well as supplies that support learning is critical. Your support makes a direct impact. Thank you.

(Photo of Washington Street without power after Hurricane Sandy by Guillaume Gaudet Photography)

A significant storm is forecast to impact NYC from mid-day today through Thursday morning. Although only an inch of rain is forecast, sustained winds will reach 25 to 40 miles per hour, with gusts up from 55 to 65 miles per hour. The wind will cause a storm surge ranging from 3 to 5 feet at high tide Wednesday afternoon. The City is working to help New Yorkers recover from Sandy. Shelters will remain open until residents can safely return to their homes.

NOTE: Due to the impending Nor’easter – the Help DUMBO Rebuild Fundraiser will be postponed by 1 week – until Wednesday, November 14.

The NYC government:

“Because Hurricane Sandy weakened trees and caused extensive damage and debris, the predicted wind speeds present an increased risk of more downed trees and tree limbs, as well as windblown debris. All New Yorkers are urged to stay indoors during inclement conditions.

In light of the beach erosion and other damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, some of the lowest-lying areas in the city – particularly the areas flooded by last week’s storm – are vulnerable to storm surge today.

No general evacuations have been ordered, but if you experienced significant flooding during Hurricane Sandy, you should consider taking shelter with family and friends, who do not live in low-lying areas, or go to one of the City-run storm shelters.”

All bridges and tunnels in the region are open, except for the Holland, Hugh Carey/Brooklyn-Battery, and the Queens-Midtown tunnels.

Most subway service is running. Some service is available on the LIRR and Metro-North Railroad. Check with MTA.info for the most updated information.

The East River Bridges are open to traffic in both directions. No occupancy restrictions are in effect.

Alternate side parking is suspended Tuesday, November 6 and Wednesday, November 7. Parking meters are in effect.

Most private ferries, including the East River Ferry are running. Service changes may be in effect.

NYC.gov Severe Weather Alert

The Dumbo Improvement District has a fundraiser on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (Fundraiser and annual meeting Postponed 1 Week – Now Nov. 14 due to Nor’easter) to help the shops, venues, and restaurants impacted by Hurricane Sandy. (Note: the fundraiser will follow the DUMBO Improvement District’s Annual Meeting as previously scheduled, which will begin at 5pm and is free and open to the whole community.)

From the BID:

More than a dozen of your favorite DUMBO spots suffered significant damage during Sandy (including our amazing host, the indefatigable Galapagos Art Space!!!). In the coming weeks and months, they will struggle put their pieces back together.

Join us on November 14 for a fundraiser to help the shops, venues and restaurants impacted by the storm. Note: the fundraiser will follow the DUMBO Improvement District’s Annual Meeting as previously scheduled, which will begin at 5pm and is free and open to the whole community.

Impacted businesses and art spaces:

• Galapagos Art Space
• Governor
• One Girl Cookies
• Aegir Board Works
• 66 Water Street
• Almondine Bakery
• powerHouse Arena
• Punto Bianco
• Smack Mellon
• Ignazio’s
• 7 Old Fulton
• Rabbit Hole Studio
• Brooklyn Roasting
• and more…

To purchase tickets or to donate, go to rebuild-dumbo.eventbrite.com

(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:

• Frankenstorm Sandy Connect the Dots and Volunteer Day, Saturday, November 3, 2012, noon, 155 Water Street
• Help Clean Brooklyn Bridge Park (Main Street). Volunteer to clean storm debris from the lawns, paths, and planting beds. Saturday, November 3, 2012, 2-5pm
• Help Governor restaurant rebuild. Please help get their employees back to work doing what they do best: cooking excellent meals for Dumbo
• Galapagos Art Space on Smallknot. Tina of Swiss-Miss set up this online fundraiser. While the target amount is set at $2,500, Galapagos will need more like $80,000 to rebuild.
• Owney’s NYC Rum Tasting: A Benefit for Dumbo Recovery, Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 6:30pm, 45 Main Street
• Brooklyn Recovery Fund, A Partnership of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and the Brooklyn Community Foundation
• powerHouse Arena recovery donation. powerHouse Arena was destroyed by the flood. Please consider helping them by donating. Photos and progress are documented on sandyhatesbooks.tumblr.com
• Smack Mellon recovery donation. Smack Mellon is closed until further notice. Please consider a tax deductible donation.

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.

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.

(NY Times storm tracker image)

From what Mayor Bloomberg has just announced, NYC is not requiring mandatory evacuations for Hurricane Sandy (as of 3:30pm EST), as it did with last year’s Hurricane Irene. At the time of this post (3:30pm), it is too early to determine Hurrican Sandy’s path and strengh by the time it nears NYC by Monday.

The city hasn’t yet made a decision on schools until Sunday (October 28). To get updates, sign up for Notify NYC Alerts (get them via text or email), New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), or NYC.gov severe weather update.

Thanks to Dumbo Improvement District’s update, Dumbo is prepared for Hurrican Sandy. They provided these additional tips:

• Safety tips from Con Edison; treat all downed power lines like they are live!
• Find your hurricane evacuation zone; parts of DUMBO are in Zone A
• Turn off your computers when you leave the office for the weekend, just in case (that means you DUMBO-techies)

“Should Sandy roll into DUMBO, we are asking that all ground floor businesses, commercial and residental property owners to bring in any loose or freestanding objects from outside their premises – signage and sandwich boards, trash cans and outdoor furniture. Know that we’ve got our Doe Fund working on the public plaza spaces.” (Last year’s hurricane prep photos and flooding photos)

Abundant Learning and The Dumbo Improvement District are hosting a chess exhibition with Grandmaster Alexander Stripunsky (against 20 participants) at the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge on Saturday, September 23, 2012 at 1pm. To sign up, email jason@abundantlearning.org

“Abundant Learning is an exclusive boutique learning center, offering enriching classes taught by experts. All of our programs promote healthy brain development. Conveniently located in Dumbo, Brooklyn, we offer a wide range of classes and instruction for 2-92 year old’s…”

Fall 2102 classes have been announced.

Abundant Learning
68 Jay Street, Suite #513
Brooklyn, NY 11201
917-727-8839