Dumbo NYC

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}

The Brooklyn International Film Festival, a 10 day International event for independent film makers is taking place this week. One of the highlights is a film called The Collective, written and directed by husband and wife team Judson Pearce Morgan and Kelly Overton. Kelly also plays a woman who goes to NYC to look for her sister who disappeared. Her search leads her to a clandestine society, where the film takes us through some dark, mysterious, and thrilling scenes. Several of the scenes were filmed in Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights last year.

A second screening will take place on Thursday, June 5 at 8pm at the Brooklyn Lyceum. (Details here) We caught Judson for a few questions.

DumboNYC: A lot of scenes in THE COLLECTIVE were filmed in and around Brooklyn Heights/Dumbo. Were you and Kelly living in the area at the time?
Judson: Yeah, we were living on Clark St. in Brooklyn Heights. We would go on walks on the promenade to brainstorm as we wrote the movie and naturally be inspired by the beauty of the area and the city.

DumboNYC: Was the filming in the area for convenience or specifically for the scenes in the movie?
Judson: There were a few sequences in the film where the lead character, played by Kelly, is sent on a wild goose chase around the city by a group of her sisters friends, Dumbo and the surrounding area were the perfect locations to send a girl who isn’t familiar with the city, to get her out of sorts. It was a combination of the story needs and the sheer cinematic quality of the streets overlooking Manhattan and the bridges.

DumboNYC: Have you written a follow up to the movie? What’s next for you and Kelly?
Judson: We are in the gearing up for our next film, a modern day take on the story of the prodigal son. But, we are proud to announce that THE COLLECTIVE will be getting distributed, so anyone who misses it on the festival tour will be able to pick it up when it gets a broader release later this year or early 2009.

Thanks Judson and hope we’ll be seeing more of your films!
More info on the Film festival: wbff.org
thecollectivemovie.com

Below is a video of the Two Trees presentation for the PS 8 parents given last Wednesday to explain more about the proposed project. Jed Walentas discussed the proposed plan and highlights the following:

• The site is on the corner of Dock and Water Streets and occupies 45,000 square feet, consisting of three buildings, a 17 story building set back from Dock, an 8 story building facing Water and running 65 feet down Dock, and a 2 story building along with rest of Dock.
• 3 levels of below grade parking to accommodate 450 parking spaces with the entrance facing Front Street. This replaces 200 parking spots currently on the site.
• The plan calls for 400 rental units, 80 of which will be affordable.
• 10,000 square feet of retail along Water Street
• a 45,000 square foot middle school on one floor with a separate entrance on Dock Street for 300 students. Two Trees is effectively donating the space to the Department of Education with a 99 year lease.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Previously:
{Two Trees to Present Plans To Address Lack of School in Dumbo, 28May2008}
{Joint Statement by BHA, DNA, FFL, on Dock St Dumbo Building, 01OCt2007}
{Dock Street Dumbo Building Opposed by Yassky, 06Aug2007}
{Dock Street Dumbo Plans Revealed, 27Jun2007}

Tonight, Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:30pm
Plymouth Church, 75 Hicks Street (Between Orange and Cranberry Streets)

{Op Ed: Give B’KLYN This School!, NY Post}

Discuss DOCK STREET and the DUMBO REZONING PLAN with PAUL GRAZIANO

When: Sunday, May 18th, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Where: 70 Washington St. PH-E, DUMBO, Brooklyn
Cost: $75 per person donation, including wine and hors d’oeuvres

The Dumbo Neighborhood Association invites you to spend and evening with Paul Graziano, noted historic preservationist and the urban planner behind DNA’s rezoning plan for DUMBO.

Space is limited, please RSVP to: karen@dumbo-dna.org. To pay in advance, mail checks payable to “DNA” to: DNA, 45 Washington St., P.O.Box 123, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Director Tony Scott is filming the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123, a 1978 film, in Dumbo on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The movie stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta and is set for release on 31July2009. They’ve posted letters in the area, which include the street locations and no-parking notices (red line above indicate no parking). Letter from Locations Dept after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

Some neighbors have emailed about recent car break-ins in the past week. There have been several windows (”three or four”) smashed on York Street near Washington Street and on Jay Street between York and Front Street. Be on the lookout for suspicious activity and call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811 (store this number in your cell phone)) or 911 if you witness any crimes.

Reminder: Come meet the farmer and learn more about the Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA tonight, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the Phoenix House at 7:30pm (50 Jay Street (Between Water and Plymouth)).

{dumbocsa.org}
{Dumbo/Vinegar Hill CSA Meet the Farmer on April 8}

What: PS 8 Annual Spring Auction
When: Thursday, April 10, 7-9pm
Where: Hillis Hall, Plymouth Church, 75 Hicks Street, Brooklyn Heights

Please join PS8 for live music, wine, hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the school and support their children. Tickets are $50 in advance ($75 at the door) at www.ps8pta.org. Some items on the auction block:

• Baking lessons for six children at Almondine Bakery
• Wine tasting with a noted wine expert
• Be a Principal of the Day with Mr. Phillips
• Vacation home stays
• Artwork from local artists
• Personal sessions with a fitness trainer
• Estate planning sessions with an attorney
• …and much more…

As reported earlier, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is starting this summer for Dumbo and Vinegar Hill residents. This is a way for people to buy vegetables directly from a local farmer. Before the harvest season, members commit and pre-pay to buy fresh, locally grown organic vegetables from June to November. By being a member of the CSA, you’re supporting a local farmer, getting fresh organic produce for you and your family each week, and you’ll eat healthier. The CSA website offer more details on the program:

We offer both full and partial vegetable shares. Each of them are picked up every week, but vary in size. A full share costs approximately $25/week and consists of 8-10 different vegetables every week, enough for 2-4 people. Partial shares cost approximately $15/week and contain fewer items more appropriate for a single person or household that does less cooking.

Please email them at core@dumbocsa.org for more information. To meet the farmer and learn more about the CSA, they are holding an event on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the Phoenix House at 7:30pm (50 Jay Street (Between Water and Plymouth)).

{dumbocsa.org}
{CSA Planned for Dumbo in June 2008, 04Feb2008}