Jane Walentas with her Carousel, October 13, 2006

  Photo courtesy Jane Walentas

An article in The New York Sun today describes the carousel’s opening at 65 Water Street on Friday:

“Friday at noon, at 65 Water St., a 1922 carousel painstakingly restored by Jane Walentas — the wife of David Walentas, who through his firm Two Trees Management owns 13 buildings in of the neighborhood — will open to the public (for viewing only, no rides). The carousel is a beautiful ornament on an already delectable stretch of Water St., which includes Jacques Torres Chocolate and the French bakery Almondine, not to mention the River Cafe at the end of the street.(Ms. Walentas referred to this as the “street of dreams.”)”

  Photo courtesy Jane Walentas

I had the priviledge of chatting with Jane Walentas at the opening. Ms. Walentas purchased the carousel in 1984, and after 22 years of her labor, the historic carved wood carousel has been restored to its original condition. The decorative carvings and vibrant paint, leafed in 24k gold and palladium are beautifully embellished with faceted jewels and 1200 lights. The temporary space where the carousel is housed is unfortunately too small to allow the public to safely ride the carousel, but Ms. Walentas is looking forward to the day when a Carousel Pavillion will be in the Brooklyn Bridge Park will have a permanent home. We’re looking forward to it too.

  The lighted Carousel at night

We also asked Ms. Walentas about the Empire Stores. Her dream is to provide a place where artists can display their artwork in lofts and galleries. We hope it becomes a place of art but when that will happen is still TBD. Thanks to Ms. Walentas for her “dreams” and for her beautiful restoration work.

Jane’s Carousel
56 Water St. Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
The First Carousel on The National Register will be open Fridays through Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

{David Walentas, Neighborhood Creator and Patron of the Arts, New York Magazine, October 13, 2006}
{The Paradox Of DUMBO, Art Around Town, The New York SUn, October 13, 2006}

Mary J. Blige (opened by Pharell Williams) played at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, Dumbo Brooklyn tonight presented by Pepsi Smash Live and Power 105.1 Radio. We happened to stop by hoping to get in and luckily got tickets from a woman who gave away her tickets. Mary J. Blige played for a good hour and the backdrop of Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge was a great location for the native New Yorker to perform some of her best hits: Take Me As I Am, Baggage, Be Without You, I’m Going Down, One (U2), Love is All We Need, No More Drama, Real Love, Family Affair.

   Photo by alba

Date: Thursday, September 21, 2006
Location: Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park

Grab a blanket or lawn chair and go to Movies With a View for a special double feature of
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure at 7:00 p.m.
The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert at 9:00 p.m.

Shows are FREE!

Movies With a View features fresh-popped popcorn, beach chair rentals, refreshments by RICE, and one of New York City’s most spectacular views.

Visit BrooklynBridgePark.org for more information.

“CITIZENS BY ANY OTHER NAME”
with Don Byron and Music For Six Musicians, Alejandro Escovedo, and Suzanne Vega
4 – 7 PM, gates open at 3:15 pm
Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park

This free late afternoon concert, outdoors on the dramatic Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront, features three great musical stars plus special guests. The virtuoso clarinetist / composer Don Byron and his Music For Six Musicians ensemble, and two brilliantly articulate singer-songwriters – Austin, Texas-based Alejandro Escovedo and New York City native Suzanne Vega – will each perform sets of original music on a theme of the Immigrant Society in today’s America.

For more details, go to www.brooklynbridgepark.org.

Officials are installing lights at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in DUMBO to keep the waterfront spot open past dark.

A State Parks spokeswoman said officials will be working to install interim lighting in the park at the foot of Main St. in the coming weeks and hope to have the lights up and working by about midSeptember.

However, Parks spokeswoman Wendy Gibson said it is too soon to know how late the park’s hours will be extended – or when the later hours will begin. It also was unclear whether it will be seven days a week or just weekends.

{DUMBO park lightens up, NY Post}