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Mayor Bloomberg just announced a mandatory evacuation order for New York City for Zone A in NYC. If you live in a low-lying area and have concerns about flooding or prolonged power loss, consider staying with friends or family outside these potential flood zones. If you cannot stay with family or friends, call 311 to find out the location(s) of the nearest shelters around the city. To find out what zone you live in and the location of your nearest shelter visit gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.htm or call 311. Parts of Dumbo are in Zone A, so check the nyc.gov page for your address.

Subways will be closed by 7pm and bus service will be stopped by 9pm. Public schools are closed on Monday.

(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)

(Photo by Jane Kratochvil)

Howl-O-ween & Muttsquerade Parade
Perfect Paws, 102 Hicks Street, 718-852-6200

Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012, 1pm-3pm
Dog Parade 1-3pm on the Promenade, and announcement of the winner and after-party at 4:30pm at Vinegar Hill Vet (57 Front Street in Dumbo)
Location: Brooklyn Heights Promenade Remsen Street entrance.

Free to watch, but please pre-purchase your entry tickets at Perfect Paws for your pet.

Proceeds go to non-profit organizations, Hillside Dog Park, Sean Casey Animal Rescue, and Blue Rider Stables (no kill pet shelters).

They will be awarding the top winners wonderful prizes donated by local stores and vendors. They are taking donations all month long. All funds are greatly appreciated and used to support and save animals.

Winners will be announced at the Vinegar Hill Vet Clinic in Dumbo (57 front street) 4:30 pm sharp. And please stay for the after party drinks and noshes will be served. Support the cause and buy raffle tickets or bid on auction items donated by locals, including Alexis Bittar, Dewey’s, Gleason’s, St Ann’s Warehouse, Umbrage Books, 66 Water St Restaurant, Trunk, River Cafe, Salon de Quartier, local photographer Julienne Schaer, and local artist Jen Ferguson among other items.

As we mentioned earlier this week, the West Elm’s first West Elm Market opened today. The store includes an espresso bar serving La Colombe coffee as well as pastries and light food choices. (Pastries are from Roberta’s.)

The new store concept will sell “solutions for everyday living, designed to delight and made to be used” and include items for the kitchen, garden, personal care, and “care and repair“.

There are tables where you can enjoy your coffee and space for cooking and product demonstrations.

West Elm Market
50 Washington Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
(Google Map of 50 Washington Street)

Store Hours
Mon-Sat: 7am – 8pm
Sunday: 9am – 7pm

In just two weeks, the new St. Ann’s Warehouse at 29 Jay Street will show the American Premiere of the Baxter Theatre of South Africa’s Mies Julie.

Susan Feldman, Artistic Director of St. Ann’s said in an email newsletter, “We are tremendously grateful to all who have helped us stay in DUMBO and activate the new warehouse. We are meeting our new neighbors — great bars and restaurants! — and we’re particularly thrilled to welcome Brooklyn Roasting from next door as our coffee bar. We’re hustling to put up our posters, hang our banners, and add the finishing touches we need to start greeting you on November 8th. So, come celebrate this bountiful confluence of riches — Mies Julie was too good to pass up when we saw it in Edinburgh, and it is our great privilege to now pass it on to you. It’s really incredible. See you soon at St. Ann’s Warehouse!”

Mies Julie will be showing from November 8 – December 2, 2012. For info and tickets, go to stannswarehouse.org/current_season.php?show_id=77.

St. Anne’s Warehouse (stannswarehouse.org)
29 Jay Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

Brooklyn Bridge park has requested proposals for the creation and operation of Park concessions, including restaurant, food carts, and a marina at Pier 6 and for the Smokestack building. From the Brooklyn Bridge Park:

The Smokestack Building is prominently located at the intersection of Water Street and Old Fulton Street, adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge. Situated between Pier 1 and the Empire Fulton Ferry sections of the Park, the site has great visibility from Old Fulton Street and sits in a highly trafficked pedestrian thoroughfare. Empire Fulton Ferry features spectacular views of the harbor and is the location of the historic Tobacco Warehouse and Jane’s Carousel. Located at the foot of Old Fulton Street, Fulton Ferry Landing is one of Brooklyn’s most historic sites and a popular tourist destination. Pier 1 to the south is the largest of the park’s piers and the location of many of the park’s special events and programming. In the future, BBP plans to reconstruct the area beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and offer additional amenities to the public which will further increase pedestrian traffic to the area.

The smokestack could be a great place for something like Shake Shack or a seafood shack, no? What else would you want to see there?

Information Session & Site Tour November 7, 2012
Submissions Due December 3, 2012

(via Brownstoner)

Looks like the new West Elm Market (previous news about 50 Washington Street) will also include a “La Colombe workshop“. The sign above was displayed in the window of the West Elm Market store, which will open on Thursday, October 25 in early November. West Elm Market will sell kitchen, garden, tools, and personal care, according to the sign on the window.

You may know that La Colombe is also served at Almondine Bakery as noted in our old Dumbo coffee post, which needs updating. Maybe once West Elm Market opens, we’ll do an update on coffee in Dumbo. Anyone what to do a coffee tasting?

West Elm Market
50 Washington Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

This past Saturday afternoon was a perfect crisp autumn day for the annual PS8 Fall Family Festival. With help from the families who came out for two hours of fun, The PTA of PS8 raised over $11,000 for PS 8, Dumbo’s local elementary and MS8, its brand new middle school. This money is instrumental in helping the school maintain crucial funding that has been drastically cut by the city in recent years.

The PTA offered their thanks to the community, the generous businesses, and individuals who donated funds to make this event a success:

“With huge support from Karen and Alan Heyman of Sotheby’s and creative and delicious giveaways from so many of our local businesses, the event had a great vibe and something for everyone. DJ Kai was rocking the dance party, cookies were decorated, sand art, glittery self portraits and silhouette pictures were created, faces were painted, pony rides, bouncy castles and mini train rides were enjoyed, mac & cheese, cupcakes, ice cream, bagels, hot dogs, drinks and coffee all consumed! Everyone went home happy, full of treats, and tired. Thank you to everyone who donated by purchasing a ticket and to all of the businesses who gave so generously – it couldn’t have happened without you!

If you are interested in donating to PS8, they can always use the help! Whether your kids go there presently, plan to in the future, or you just want to support your neighborhood school, we are all building this community together. Whatever you can do to help us teach our kids with as many resources as possible, the students, teachers and parents of PS8 do appreci8 any and all efforts.

Here’s the link to support PS 8: ps8brooklyn.org/donate/gnxa/. Businesses that donated to the Dumbo Fall Festival include:

• Karen and Alan Heyman of Sotheby’s
• Half Pint Citizens
• La Bagel Delight
• BoConcept
• Dewey’s Candy
• NY Kids Club
• NY Water Taxi
• Circle Line
• West Elm
• Gran Eléctrica Restaurant
• Zoë
• Flywheel Sports
• Governor Restaurant
• Brooklyn Roasting Company
• Two Trees
• Vinegar Hill House
• Front Street Pizza
• Powerhouse Arena
• Galapagos Art Space
• Jacques Torres
• Swing Hair Salon
• Pirate’s Booty
• Bridge Apothecary
• Toll Brothers
• Honeydrop
• The River Cafe
• Stewart/Stand
• Journey
• One Girl Cookies
• Aikido of South Brooklyn
• Chelsea Piers
• Jane’s Carousel
• Gymstars
• Dumbo Gem Spa
• City Chemist
• Perfect Paws
• Vital Theatre
• Glacéau Vitamin Water
• Creatively Wild Art Studio
• New York Mouth
• 185 Plymouth
• The DUMBO Improvement District

(Photos by Brian Mosbacher)

(Photo from Governor)

There have been lots of restaurant and food related news in Dumbo Brooklyn lately. Talking to residents, restaurants, chefs, and people who work in Dumbo all agree that while we still need some choices (like a good Chinese or Vietnamese place), we’re getting better options.

Thanks to the arrival of both Gran Electrica and Governor to Dumbo, they’ve raised the food quality standard in Brooklyn and NYC. Governor has caught the attention of many food critics, including NY Times’ Pete Wells, who praised them with two stars last month. Chef Brad McDonald, who co-owns Colonie, along with Governor and Gran Electrica brings to us in Dumbo food ingredients on the level of Per Se, Daniel, and Grammercy Tavern in an unstuffy, cool Brooklyn aesthetic. Each visit to these restaurants will bring new surprises and consistently good food. Gran Electrica also gets better with new dishes and great cocktails. Chef Sam Richman recently started serving brunch on the weekends.

The summer food truck season is over, but with Smorgasburg Dumbo on Sundays (through November 18) and new food trucks coming to the neighborhood, there’s something new to try everyday. Food trucks continue to serve the lunch crowd in Dumbo include:

• Cinnamon Snail (@VeganLunchTruck)
• Bongo Brothers Cuban food truck (@bongobros)
• KorillaBBQ (@KorillaBBQ)
• Mexico Blvd (@MexicoBlvd)
• Red Hook Lobster (@lobstertruckny)
• Shorty’s Philly cheese steak (@shortysonwheels)
• Morris Grilled Cheese (@morristruck)
• Domo Taco (@DomoTaco)
• Eddie’s Pizza (@EddiesPizzaNY)

Follow their Twitter for the latest location or @dumbofoodtrucks on the latest on who is in Dumbo.

On to the closings:

1. Bubby’s is closing on October 27, 2012, after 9 years in the Dumbo location. This has been rumored for a while, as well as several rumors about which restaurant will take over the space. We can’t speculate on who is moving in, but we’re betting that it will be good.
2. Rice has closed on September 30, as rumors suggested in July, after 10 years there. Rumors from multiple people say that a burger place will take over the lease.

And the openings (or re-openings):

1. Little Muenster has opened a small takeout location at 145 Front Street. They serve grilled cheese, soup, and sides.
2. 66 Water Street Restaurant has re-branded and reopened. They have remodeled and bought in Executive Chef Jonathan Lemon, from The Linc restaurant and Zigolinis to create a new contemporary American cuisine menu that includes entrees such as poached artic char, fettuccine zucchini, and a “Pat La Frieda” burger.
3. Juliana’s Pizza will open in “a few weeks”, according to the Grimaldi’s family. They started working on the new restaurant after Grimaldi’s pizza moved to 1 Front St.
4. Wild Rise pizza is now open 6 days a week (closed on Sat). They opened in September 2011 for 3 days a week, so this is great news for many pizza lovers.
5. reBar has a new fall menu.

Other food tidbits – The L Mag recently tried Hillside on Hudson Avenue in Vinegar Hill and called the food and wine exceptional. Almar has new specials and getting known for their street chalkboard art (really, check their Facebook page). Dumbo Kitchen and Superfine are solid lunch and dinner options as usual, according to residents. And reBarnacle stall is still serving seasonal taco and ceviches.

If you’re into alternative dining events, there’s Underground Eats, and many food artisans/creators such as Fatty Sundays, Happy Baby Food, and Baby Mash, all based in Dumbo are involved with the community.

Whew, that’s a lot going on in the Dumbo food world, but expect more changes in the coming months. If you have others we missed, let us know (DumboNYC@gmail.com).

From our friends at Abundant Learning:
We all want kids who feel good about themselves AND treat others with fairness and compassion. So how can parents help cultivate those qualities in their kids? Come join me for a Parenting Talk in Dumbo to find out how praise and constructive criticism impact a child’s sense of self, and how problem-solving and age-appropriate responsibility heighten self-esteem.:

Promoting Healthy Self-Esteem
Saturday, October 13, 10 AM to –11:30 AM
at Abundant Learning
68 Jay Street Suite #513
Brooklyn, New York 11201

$25 dollars per participant, $40 for couples and/or friend pairs. Please email info@familymattersny.com or call 917.509.9531 to reserve your spot(s). And please spread the word to your parent friends.