By LA Slugocki –
P.S. Bookshop, 145-A Front Street relocated to 76 Front Street, owned and operated by Yuval Gans, specializes in all things literary; used and rare books, first editions, reprints, high brow, low brow, the sacred, the profane, the ridiculous and the sublime, as well as a burgeoning children’s collection. But do not mistake it for The Strand. That, he said, is not my model. This is not a supermarket.

His model is the Gotham Book Mart, may she rest in peace (1920-2007). He remembers arriving here in 1993 from Israel, dropping his bags off at a hotel in Times Square, passing Radio City Music Hall, announcing Aretha Franklin tonight, and thinking, my God, what’s tomorrow, and heading straight to the fabled, now defunct bookstore. This is his model, his aesthetic; a bookstore with an affinity for the neighborhood, a bookstore that is a meeting place.

When I stopped by today to see if he had a copy of Jean Anouilh’s Medea, he was ringing up An Analysis of Three or Four Things I Know About Her, Jean Paul Goddard’s film. This woman had traveled from Mexico to buy this book for her son— who had located it online. Then Yuval led me to the back of the 2,000 square foot store, clambered up a step ladder and retrieved four anthologies of Anouilh’s plays. Sadly, not a one contained his adaptation of Medea. I said, well, where are the anthologies, maybe it’s one of those. It wasn’t, but I did find a copy of Sarah Kane’s infamous and posthumously produced 4.48 Psychosis, now out of print.

I’ve known Yuval for a long time, from back in the day when he worked at and designed the intricate labyrinth of books at Heights Bookstore, formerly on Montague. I loved his window displays, every month a different theme. This month marks his third anniversary in Dumbo. How did you create your inventory, I asked. He said, road trips, from here to Maine, scouring library sales, estate sales, country fairs, bookstores, and auctions where I would buy an entire lot.

When he opened his doors in 2006, he had one tenth of what is now on the shelves. Now, today, the books come to him. He got a 1st edition of Rem Koolhaas’ Delirious New York, and decided he would price it competitively just to keep it in the store for awhile. Alas, it still sold, almost immediately. The out of print market, he said, is flourishing. He is particularly proud of his collection of architecture and photography books, including several signed first editions by Horst and Avedon, among others.

But as father of two children, he may be the most proud of the children’s section. It’s housed in the central portion of the store complete with an indoor playground. Beginning in September, every Sunday at 4:00 p.m., the children’s reading series resumes, which includes music; sort of like karaoke for the Harry Potter and Hello Kitty set. Neighborhood children, of course, are big fans, but they come from all five boroughs.

Personally, I get a huge kick out the pulp fiction collection, titles like: White Trash, The Tigress, Love Hungry— oh, those man-hungry, slutty women from the 1950’s! Whatever happened to them? Seriously, they’re hilarious, and, by the way, priced to sell at around $20. On my way out, I saw Howl by Allen Ginsberg, a 4th printing. The price, $100. I hesitated, imagining the heft and the weight of the book in my hand, exactly where it would go in my library, how it would look and how it would feel— then decided, no. Maybe another day. I still had Euripides’ Medea (I settled for the original), a new Moleskin notebook, and an out of print play.

For more information: 718-222-3340 or info@psbnyc.com

Previously on DumboNYC: P.S. Bookshop Opens in Dumbo, 09Oct2006
P.S. Bookshop (psbnyc.com)
76 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 718-222-3340
Open 7 days a week 10am-8pm

We didn’t envision new retail signs being all that newsworthy, but since many (ok six, does that count?) have been asking to post this one, here it is. Baco has installed their new steel sign. So did they clear this modern artistic polished steel sign with The Landmarks Preservation Commission, which regulates changes to the Dumbo Historic District buildings? Well, they aren’t required to get approval since 71 Jay Street does not fall within the Dumbo Historic District (see map below or PDF map.) How did that sliver of area avoid landmarking? The original brownstones that were part of the block got demolished (See prior post: Dumbo Then and Now: 67-73 Jay Street) so there’s really nothing to landmark. The owners of 67, 71, 73 Jay Street can build or rebuild there as desired.

(Arrow points to 71 Jay Street, click for PDF map of Dumbo)

Cafe Baco (bacoliving.com)
71 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Related:
{April Dumbo Food Tidbits, 01Apr2009}
{5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden, 21Aug2009}
{Dumbo General Store New Signage, 23Jul2009}

Google Map has started adding ‘points of interest’ on their Dumbo map, including restaurants, bars, stores, and companies in the area. A few of them are misplaced on the map (for example, Brooklyn Flea Dumbo is no longer on Front Street and Blueberi is misplaced on Pearl St) and there are many others missing (though I’m sure it’s a work in progress). Is Google planning on mapping out all the street level retail stores in the area? They’re not yet at the level of detail that, say, MondoMap has, but given their mantra of organizing the world’s information, perhaps they’re moving towards combining maps, business listings, and local blogs on the map. They’re not going to catch up with hyperlocal news and content of outside.in (outside.in’s Dumbo news: outside.in/DUMBO_Brooklyn_NY), but it looks like Google is moving towards that direction.

And the center of Dumbo according to the map? Galapagos Art Space; could be a center of culture (or something), but based on Dumbo Historic District boundaries, the Pearl Street Triangle would be more central on the map.

Google Map of Dumbo

Rabbithole Studio is a professional studio in Dumbo that rents studio space for artists and presents solo and group exhibitions for up-and-coming artists. What makes them stand out is that Shawn Lyons, the owner also runs Rabbit Movers, a moving company that specializes in moving and caring for fine art and furniture, and “hire only people who were passionate about art, as he was, and had creative ambitions, as he did.” The NY Times article writes:

Today, Rabbit Movers owns three trucks and employs 40 people. Its reputation continues to grow through positive word of mouth and almost uniformly strong endorsement on Web sites like Yelp.com.

Mr. Lyons estimated that the company took in $400,000 last year, though he was unsure because he only recently began managing his books. But he remains in debt, he said, partly due to his devotion to an exciting byproduct of the endeavor: Rabbit’s growth as an artists’ collective.

According to people interviewed, Rabbit Movers could be making a lot more money, but the business allows him to be “an unlikely patron of the Brooklyn art scene, content to set aside his own writing, for the time being, to provide a valuable platform for others.” It’s nice to see a platform such as Rabbit Movers and Rabbithole Studio be in Dumbo that empowers and highlights emerging artists. They are currently calling for entries (due September 1, 2009) for the Fall Emerging Artists 2009 show that starts on September 24, 2009 during the 2009 Dumbo Art Under the Bridge Festival.

Rabbithole Studio / Rabbit Movers
33 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Rabbithold Studio tel: 718-852-1500
Rabbit Movers tel: 718-852-2352
info@rabbitholestudio.com | move@rabbitmovers.com

[UPDATE May 17, 2010: 5 Front Bistro has been replaced with Brooklyn Bridge Gardens, as mentioned here. For menu, go to their website: brooklynbridgegardens.com]

Unlike the Dumbo General Store sign controversy (or non-controversy), the new 5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden sign is fabric and Brooklyn Paper did not turn this sign into a “riveting neighborhood debate”. We’ve been to the garden patio and is an upscale atmosphere for drinks. Brunch was tasty and had the waffles, which were crispy and light. We can’t comment on dinner, since we haven’t been, but please comment with your thoughts on 5 Front.

5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden (fivefrontrestaurant.com)
Five Front Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
718-625-5559

Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 5:30 pm to 11 pm
Friday: 5:30 pm To Midnight
Saturday: 11am to Midnight
Sunday: 11 am to 11 pm
CLOSED MONDAY
(bar is open later)

Previously: {Five Front Restaurant Review, 21Aug2006}

We love heading to Speak Low for its chill candlelit lounge (we wrote about it before). They serve the best mixed drinks in the area. Yesterday, the people at Speak Low opened their outdoor patio bar, called Speak Up in the courtyard space next to Rice Restaurant. The outdoor lounge has lots of tables and couches for alfresco lounging. They are serving draft beer, wine, liquor, and their famous cocktails, including their new Speak Up Punch. Along with drinks, they are serving hot dogs and veggie dogs everyday, and on Thursdays and Fridays will have a limited supply of fresh lobster rolls.

Speak Up (patio bar)
75 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(between York and Front Street)
7 days a week; open at 5pm

Speak Low
81 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY; (718) 222-1LOW
Happy Hour 5pm – 7pm

From Community Markets, there’s a cooking demonstration today (Sunday, August 16) from Noon to 2pm by Carrie Luckner-Zimmerman, the market manager of Community Markets. Carrie is a chef and instructor at Sur La Table in Manhasset, NY. Per an email from Community Markets:

“Carrie, who is a graduate from at La Courdon Bleu in Paris, says her experience living in the 15th Arrondissement forever changed the way she would think about food. “There was always fresh, local produce- there were farmers markets everywhere,” she remembers. “That’s why I wanted to work at Community Markets.” Carrie will be using local goat cheese from Coach Hill Farm, a vendor at Community Market’s Park Slope Farmers Market, Bread from Orwasher’s Bakery, a DUMBO Farmers Market vendor and beets from Glebocki and Phillip’s Farms, also at the DUMBO Farmers Market. “For this recipe I will show people how to make use of the whole beet, even its’ bitter greens,” she says.”

The DUMBO Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 11am-5pm until November 22nd at the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park on Main Street.

(Photo credit MidtownLunch)

In the summer of food trucks, in NYC, Dumbo has seen its fair share of them, which is great for lunchers in the area. Today, NYC Cravings (aka NYC Cravings Truck) will be in Dumbo for lunch. They draw big crowds in midtown for their Taiwanese style fried chicken, pork chop, or mix over rice with their famous secret sauce. They also serve dumplings. Midtown Lunch calls their chicken ‘spot on’ and their favorite truck. Follow them on Twitter for the location (@nyccravings). They are on Washington and Front Street York and Front Street. Let us know your reviews in the comments.

(Photo credit MidtownLunch)

{Midtown Lunch on NYC Cravings}
{Menu and Schedule}

Other food trucks in Dumbo:
{Schnitzel & Things Truck Lands in Dumbo}
{Schnitzel Fridays in Dumbo}
{Rickshaw Dumpling Truck in Dumbo}

Galapagos Art Space and Flavorpill presents:
Career Camp, Session 2: THE FUTURE OF GREEN
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009, Doors at 6pm | Start at 7pm
Tickets $5; purchase at tiny.cc/careercamp2

Happy Hour from 6-7pm features 2-for-1 “Happy Camper” Cocktails & FREE haircuts available by the Galapagos resident hairstylist all evening!

Lecturers for The Future of Green include:

• Mark Alt, President and Creative Director, Marc Alt + Partners
• Amanda McDonald Crowley, Executive Director of EyeBeam
• Rick Thompson, COO of GreenTech Media
• Chris Garvin, Co-chair of the Committee of the Environment (COTE) for AIA-NY, COO of Terrapin Bright Green

and moderated by Liz Danzico, Chair of the MFA in Interaction Design program at the School of Visual Arts. Representatives from Mediabistro will also be present as well as Wicked Delicate’s TRUCK FARM!

Responding to the need for discussion, meaningful interaction, and a means to act upon ideas within a community of local professionals, Career Camp brings together industry-leading thinkers and next wave ideas in order to stimulate discussion, sharpen skills, and illuminate what comes next. Whether you have a job or not, want sharpen your skills, or simply learn more about an area that interests you, bring your thinking cap and your business cards! More info at: http://galapagosartspace.com/events.html#081109

Not that anyone didn’t see this coming, but notice how marketing and PR is hitting Dumbo hard? We’ve seen the tour buses on Old Fulton and on Front Street. The tourist guides in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The streetart and photo walks. We’ve seen press from Japan, UK, Germany, Canada, Scotland, and Australia among others that shows how Dumbo is “THE place to be in NYC” for a Brooklyn experience, but recently, you’ve seen street marketing and promotions hitting the streets of Dumbo in hopes of reaching a certain demographic.

(Illy Coffee campaign in front of 111 Front St Art Galleries)

Street marketing, often called “guerrilla marketing” is used to get the name out and advertising a brand with little or no money. It can be a creative and imaginative way of replacing or supplementing an ad campaign. Done effectively, it can reach a specific target audience or community. We asked one of the recent street marketing folks (not one of the pictured ones here) and asked, “Why Dumbo?” Asked to remain anonymous, they said, “Dumbo is a perfect place for street marketing with a good mix of residential, business, and of course the creative community. We [Ed: the advertising firm] felt with Dumbo being a high income demographic, they are smarter about innovative marketing vs conventional advertising. Our product campaign was perfect for this type of marketing. Dumbo also has the high condo and rent pries, so they’re more likely to buy our products.” In a way, you can say that underground street culture and artists were tuned into the Dumbo art scene long before any ‘corporation’ was and was not about ‘reaching a demographic’. But as a resident and one who appreciates art/culture, we hope this doesn’t go the way of a SoHo or West Village that brings a Banana Republic store because that’s who they’re targeting. Obviously we don’t see that happening.

But one that got us scratching our heads is the above bike photo (Thanks mikemookie for this one). Rather than being snarky and say that this is an idea that won’t work over the Belgian block streets of Dumbo, create your own caption in the comments (our readers are much more creative than we are). For the PR people out there, does this sort of marketing work in Dumbo?

(Simply Orange Juice giveaway on Front/Washington Street)

(Tour bus stop for Front Street Pizza)