There’s been an active discussion on the Dumbo Parent’s Organization (DPO) in the past week about the recent change in traffic patterns, resident concerns, and increased pedestrians in Dumbo. Dumbo’s first stop light was installed in August 2010, and residents say that another review of intersections need to be revisited. Last week, the Brooklyn Eagle published an opinion piece on why Dumbo needs more traffic lights given the shift from a purely industrial district to the busy urban area it is today. Today’s Dumbo, the writer Raanan Geberer says is radically different: “There are condo buildings, retail stores, restaurants, offices and more. The bicycle craze has also hit the area in a big, big way, and several Citi Bike racks are in the area. There are several construction sites, which means more trucks and delivery vans. While DUMBO isn’t exactly Times Square, it is now a busy urban area. And it is clear to me that more traffic lights are needed.”

After the jump below are some posts from members of DPO. Tell us in the comments what you think.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Fitness Guru opened their new gym at 215 Water Street (between Bridge and Jay Streets) on June 6, 2013. The 8,000 square foot gym includes two levels with areas for weights and various workout equipment, men and women’s shower and locker rooms, pilates area, and a huge spinning studio called Bike Brooklyn. The lower level includes a 360 degree monkey bar, barre, weights, and other equipment. The main level includes the workout equipment, locker rooms, pilates, weights, and a terraced Brooklyn Bike studio. Michael Feigin, the founder of The Fitness Guru (TFG), told us that he is interested in creating an accessible community space for members and unlike other gyms, avoids the revolving door membership of regular box gyms. TFG has boot camp, spin, barre, and other classes, and will be adding more. For schedule and info, go to fitnessgurunyc.com.

The Fitness Guru (fitnessgurunyc.com)
215 Water Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
facebook.com/TheFitnessGuru

Previously:
{The Fitness Guru and Bike Brooklyn to Open Fitness Center at 215 Water Street in Dumbo, 06Nov2012}

What do you do when you can’t find just the right kind of shorts for guys, not too tight, not too baggy, made with quality material in NYC? If you’re John Coghlan, a Brooklyn, Dumbo-based surfer and entrepreneur, design your own uniquely Brooklyn shorts and run a Kickstarter project. John is also a co-founder of Dumbo Startup Lab.

Here’s his story: “When I was packing for my honeymoon in the Maldives, I wanted some new boardshorts and couldn’t find anything that was functional, stylish and locally-made. While I wound up settling for the ‘moon, I recently decided to get to work crafting awesome boardshorts that are made in NYC.”

What makes them great:

• Timeless cut: not booty cutters, not baggy. Just a great fit that will look great on any guy with any body type
• Functional: Super comfortable fabric, big pockets to stash your stuff and a drawstring waist let you wear them anywhere.
• Colors: Classic colors that don’t scream “I’m going to the beach”.
• Made in NYC: This is our favorite. The shorts will be cut, sewn and finished by NYC artisans.

If you’re planning on going to the beach this summer, you’ll want to check out his project, Brooklyn Surf Shorts. Pledge ends on June 7, 2013.

There is a fundraiser for Senator Daniel Squadron’s campaign for Public Advocate on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, hosted by Mike Germano.

Mike Germano, co-founder and CEO of social media agency Carrot Creative, is among DUMBO’s original advocates. After a term in political office, Mike established his company in DUMBO and went on to create the now global Digital DUMBO and co-found the New York Digital District, both of which he is a board member of.

Please join Mike and the Dumbo community to support Dumbo’s future:

I haven’t been involved in politics since 2007 when I left office to focus on growing my business. At that point, we moved Carrot Creative to DUMBO, knowing that it would eventually grow to be the epicenter of our industry. Now is a crucial time for the identity of DUMBO in terms of tech and infrastructure growth. What needs to happen down here isn’t going to be accomplished by small business owners alone; we need someone with vision and a track record for enacting change. For the upcoming race for Public Advocate, I am putting 100% of my support in Senator Daniel Squadron –the candidate that has the experience and resources we need to accomplish our goals in DUMBO.

I want to invite you to a fundraiser I’m hosting for the Senator on May 7th in DUMBO and ask for your support of a leader who has our community’s growth on his agenda. I would be honored for you to attend, meet the Senator, and donate to his campaign.

Details are as follows:

Date: May 7th, 2013
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: reBar in DUMBO, 147 Front St., Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 766-9110
Donate to RSVP: squadronfornewyork.com/germano
*The $100 entry donation can be made via the above link or at the door.

If you are unable to attend, a donation of any size will still go towards helping this candidate that is so important to the future of DUMBO’s development.

Dumbo has a community of furniture craftmakers and studios such as Olga Guanabara (which moved to 215 Plymouth Street in August 2012), Journey Home, Shibui, and Baxter & Liebchen, among others.

While several have moved (see below), a new furniture maker has set up a studio on Plymouth Street, Mark Jupiter. We caught up with Mark in Dumbo:

Q: How did you get started in the furniture making business?

A: I have been making furniture my entire life. It started in my father’s woodshop as a child and evolved into making custom pieces for the Homes I build as a founding partner of the award winning prefabrication green housing company New World Home.

Q: How long have you been in business?

A: This will be our first year in business with our official launch happening now. We will be a first time exhibitor for BKLYN Designs in Dumbo this year (May 10-12, 2013).

Q: Why Dumbo?

A: To begin with my family and I live in Dumbo and have for going on 6 years now. So that was the easy part. However, we could not have picked a better neighborhood to start the company. DUMBO is going through a wonderful expansion period so we hope to serve all the new residents that are in need of something different when it comes to decorating their apartments. There is also a lot of buzz about the neighborhood in general so it makes it a fun place for the industry in general to come and visit.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: Great question – and a tough one. My immediate answer would be nature, but I also think i get a lot of inspiration from the great furniture designers around the world. The trick for me is to combine that inspiration with something the public can relate to and most importantly….afford.

Q: What do your clients like about your pieces?

A: They like that nobody else has them. That they are unique and specific to them. However, beyond this, they really appreciate the great stories behind the reclaimed materials and the care in which they are combined and constructed.

Congrats to Mark on the launch of his business! (Images courtesy of Mark Jupiter)

There have been several furniture makers in Dumbo who have moved either due to space constraints, high rents, or expansion – Counter Evolution (Moved from 10 Jay St to Navy Yards in 2012), City Joinery (left in June 2011 after rent hike and moved to MA), Prague Kolektiv (closed in February 2009), Bruce Marsh Designs (moved in 2009), ABC Carpet (closed the Dumbo location in 2006), WONK (moved out of 68 Jay St in October 2009), Aswoon/Susan Woods (closed the Dumbo location in 2008 and moved to Navy Yards), Jay East (67 Jay Street, closed retail location in 2011), From the Source (65 Jay Street, relocated to Greenpoint).

Mark Jupiter (markjupiter.com)
191 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
email: info@markjupiter.com
phone: 718-401-6600

Showroom hours:
weekdays 9:30 am – 5 pm, weekends 12 – 5 pm or call for an appointment

(Photo by ceonyc on Instagram)

Olympia Wine Bar’s official opening is on Tuesday, February 26, 2013. Karen Johnson, who co-owns 68 Jay Street Bar is also opening Olympia Wine Bar less than half a block apart. We caught up with Karen at 68 Jay Street Bar who told us, “The neighborhood needs more places where people can gather and enjoy a drink. I know people are hoping for more food options, and I would love to provide that. But Olympia’s small kitchen will be turning out small plates with room for growth. We’ll be serving appetizers such as cheeses and crostinis to start.”

We mentioned in a previous post that Olympia, in a nod to Dumbo’s history, was the name given to the waterfront community in the late 1700s. And speaking of community, Karen has been deeply involved in the neighborhood for a long time as a resident, local business owner, holds board positions with the Dumbo Improvement District, and represents Community Board 2. 68 Jay Street Bar has been open for 9 years, bringing live music, cocktails, and community together. Olympia Wine Bar is a new chapter for Dumbo with what will be its own distinct vibe. Come check it out and welcome Olympia Wine Bar!

Olympia Wine Bar
54 Jay Street, Brooklyn NY 11201 (at Water Street in Dumbo)
Daily hours: 4pm-midnight

Previously:
{Olympia Wine Bar at 54 Jay Street, 11feb2013}
{Owner of 54 Jay Street Looking to Open Wine Bar, 04Jun2012}
{Ajimas Grocery on Jay Street Closed, 14Apr2011}

Happy New Year and march into 2013! Thank you for reading and emailing me throughout the year. In 2012, the DumboNYC site had 520,000 unique visits and 1,121,000 page views. Dumbo Brooklyn still brings interested residents, visitors, businesses, workers, and tourists looking for events, housing, and information. I hope this site helped to bring the community relevant information. It can be better, and if there’s anything specific I can do, I welcome feedback to DumboNYC@gmail.com.

To another great year, Dumbo!

- Hide @DumboNYC

(Photo by jasonhawkins)

While we’ve all been so busy with Hurricane Sandy clean up, the election is already here tomorrow (Nov 6). Tomorrow’s election for US President will take place at polling places throughout the United States. You can vote ONLY at your designated polling place. Make sure you are at the correct polling site and Election District/Assembly District (ED/AD) for your address.

Due to the hurricane some polling places have been changed (though none around Dumbo). For Dumbo and Vinegar Hill residents, the polling place is either at PS8 on 37 Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights or at Farragut Community Center on 228 York Street. Please check your specific address by going to the online poll site address locator or call 1.866.VOTE.NYC. Polling Places open 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Once you vote tomorrow, head over to Galapagos Art Space (reopened after they were flooded with 5 feet of water) at 6pm to watch the election results (no charge). Results are projected live on their big screen.

Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

(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.