Some 25,000 runners—the most in the event’s history—will race in the 33rd annual Brooklyn Half on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The race takes runners on 13.1-mile journey through the heart of the country’s fourth largest city, traveling from the rolling hills of Prospect Park through Grand Army Plaza, and a myriad of historical communities to a one-of-a-kind finish on the world-famous Coney Island boardwalk.

From the folks at the Brooklyn Half Marathon, there is a 3 day pre-party in Fulton Ferry Landing and Dumbo starting today:

You’re not in Manhattan anymore, and this isn’t just a number pickup. You’re running in Brooklyn now, baby—and this is Dumbo, where we’re throwing a three-day bash to get runners ready for the all-new, bigger, better Brooklyn Half.

The Pre-Party is a festival of music, food, and shopping—including great running gear from New Balance. It’s a quick and easy trip, and you’ll find out why so many people are crossing the East River.

Getting There
Come on over to the Old Tobacco Warehouse, right on Brooklyn’s East River waterfront at 26 New Dock Street. It’s a real 19th-century warehouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park, right under the bridge. The nearby High Street subway station is one stop from Manhattan on the A/C line; you can also take the 2/3 to Clark Street or the F to York Street and walk a few blocks. Or take the East River Ferry from East 34th Street, Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, or Wall Street for $4 each way. Another option is to walk or bike over the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Plaza and then three more blocks down Fulton Landing or Washington Street to the waterfront.

What’s Going On?
How about live music, Brooklyn house DJs, an outdoor beer garden, great eats from local vendors and food trucks, an espresso bar, official Brooklyn Half merchandise, New Balance shoes, and Team for Kids Taper Runs? Throw in running-form analysis, the New Balance insta-grapher, and maybe a genuine Italian ice, and you get the idea: This isn’t just another pre-race expo—this is a Pre-Party. (You do get to pick up your race number (with B-tag) and your New Balance technical participant shirt.)
Think about it: You’re going to run 13.1 miles through some of the most colorful neighborhoods on earth. Your finish line is at Coney Island. We can’t have you getting bored before the start!

Dates and Times*
Wednesday, May 15 12:00 noon–9:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 16 12:00 noon–9:00 p.m.
Friday, May 17 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
*Last entry into bib pickup: 9:00 p.m. / Last call for beer and food: 9:30 p.m.

Head to the grotto for beer provided by:
Brooklyn Brewery
Sixpoint

Taste local fare from food vendors and more:
McClure’s Pickles
Takumi Taco
Chickpea & Olive (Wednesday/Thursday only)
Omilk (Friday only)
One Girl Cookies
Pipsnacks

And check out the food trucks lining the warehouse:
La Bella Torte (Wednesday/Thursday only)
Andy’s Italian Ice
Trusty’s Burgers & Bites
Shorty’s
Hibachi Heaven (Wednesday/Thursday night and Friday all day)
Munchie Mobile (Thursday night only)

(Photo by lmichalos)

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy announced the Movies With A View lineup for the 14th year. This will be Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s sixth year partnering with Syfy to present Syfy Movies With A View. The free, outdoor film series will take place on Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and will feature films from different cities around the globe.

The first film in the park kicks off on Thursday, July 11, 2013 and runs weekly through Thursday, August 29, 2013. The audience will be taken on a journey each week with feature films that take place in cities such as Chicago (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), Hong Kong (Enter the Dragon), London (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), Rome (Roman Holiday), Detroit (8 Mile), Philadelphia (Rocky), San Francisco (Vertigo), and a location that the public will choose later in the summer.

In line with the “With Love From…” theme, DJs from Brooklyn Radio will feature pre-movie music from the films’ locations. BAMcinématek will continue to curate short films to be shown before the feature each week.

The Conservancy is also excited to welcome back community partners Astronomers Association of New York, who will be on hand to help stargazers scan the skies with telescopes provided by Syfy, and Transportation Alternatives, who provide free bike valet parking. Also highlighting the series are returning media sponsors Time Out New York and Brownstoner. DUMBO-based publication, Gothamist, will be joining the team as a media sponsor for the first time.

Music starts at 6:00 pm, and the films begin at sundown. Park concessionaires Blue Marble Ice Cream, Luke’s Lobster, No. 7 Subs, Lizzmonade Brooklyn, and the Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar will be offering food and drink for purchase.

FREE! On the Harbor View Lawn of Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. (directions)

See www.brooklynbridgepark.org for full press release and more information.

Note: capacity is limited and lawn seating is first come, first served.

Full movie lineup after the jump:
Read the rest of this entry »

New York City’s bike share program, called Citibike is expected to launch in May. The program will allow members to use one of 6000 bikes from 330 stations in Midtown, Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. The bike stations have been installed in the following locations in and around Dumbo:

• North side of Old Fulton Street near Water Street – 41 bike docks
• North side of Front Street near Washington Street – 30 bike docks
• West side of Pearl Street near Water Street – 24 bike docks
• South side of York Street near Jay Street – 27 bike docks
• South side of Front Street near Gold Street – 23 bike docks
• North side of Sands Street near Gold Street – 19 bike docks
• East side of Cadman Plaza East near Red Cross Place – 27 bike docks
• West side of Cadman Plaza West near Middagh Street – 23 bike docks

The bike program has had some delay and some controversy surrounding the bike racks with advertising in Historic Landmark locations (such as in Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, and Fulton Ferry Landing). Gothamist spoke with the LPC:

“Landmarks Preservation Commission says that the stations are just fine, since the landmarks law generally allows advertising in historic districts—including on street fixtures like bus shelters, pay toilets and newsstands. “We approved the plan for the installation of bike share stations in historic districts throughout the city because they have no effect on the historic fabric of those neighborhoods,” said Elisabeth de Bourbon, the commission’s communications director”

In a Brooklyn Eagle article, store owners on Front Street in Dumbo said they were not notified or consulted with before the bike stations were installed. Doreen Gallo of the preservation group DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance (DNA) said in the article, “DOT never contacted us and never brought it through Landmarks. It’s more visual clutter in the wrong spot. That’s a great open space and it should be an open piazza; but they keep adding more and more crap. It’s an inappropriate use of this great municipal space.”

The Front Street location (top photo) seems to be a tight fit for the traffic that goes by in the busy intersection where delivery trucks pass. Thoughts?

For bike station listing, go to citibikenyc.com/stations

The former O’Crepes store has relocated and opened in Fulton Ferry Landing. Now called Old Fulton Creperie (facebook.com/ocrepes), they are located at 17 Old Fulton Street (formerly occupied by the tourist trap store called Julians and Julius).

Viktoriya, the founder of the store tells us, “We miss our locals, and wanted to give everyone another food option that’s not a pizza place or a tourist trap. We serve gluten free and buckwheat crepes, Vietnamese sandwiches, soups, coffee, tea. For locals [who mention], get two large savory or sweet crepes for $17.”

Congrats Viktoriya and good luck!

 [+]

Old Fulton Creperie
17 Old Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: 7 days a week, 10am-8pm

Previously:
{O’Crepes in Dumbo to Relocate Near Brooklyn Bridge Park, 09Nov2011}
{O’Crepes Open in Dumbo, 01Apr2010}

This morning, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey came to Fulton Ferry Landing with elephants, clowns, bicycling unicyclists, performers, and the Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz as the honorary ringmaster. Water, Main and Front streets were closed to traffic for the performance on Old Fulton Street and Furman Street.

PETA was also there to protest the torture of animals.

From March 20-April 1, 2013 The Greatest Show on Earth will make its Brooklyn debut at the Barclays Center.

Photos by Jane Kratochvil:

Throughout the month of February, in honor of St. Valentines Day, and having the Hurricane Sandy damaged heating system restored, Jane’s Carousel will be offering “2 for 1” rides.

“Two-somes” of any age will ride with just one $2 ticket.

hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11:00a-5:00p. Feb 1-28, 2013

Jane’s Carousel (www.janescarousel.org), Brooklyn Bridge Park
Entrances at Dock & Water St. or Main St. (between Water & Plymouth St.)
Nearest subways: F (York St), A/C (High St), 2/3 (Clark St)
Contact: 718-222-2502

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the adaptive reuse of the historic Empire Stores Warehouses, located in the Empire Fulton Ferry section of the Park. The RFP seeks qualified developers for the long-term lease, rehabilitation and operation of commercial and retail development in the historic structures. Revenue generated by the development of the site will help fund the maintenance and operations of the of the Park. The space will not be turned into condos, according to the proposal.

The Empire Stores are a complex of seven contiguous four- and five-story historic warehouses with an approximately 75,000 sq. ft. footprint and containing approximately 327,000 gross sq. ft. Constructed shortly after the Civil War, the Empire Stores played an integral part in the prosperous shipping activities that once dominated the Fulton Ferry portion of the Brooklyn waterfront.

The warehouses have been vacant for over 50 years and have slowly deteriorated. Since December 2007, the Empire Store buildings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park have been boarded up due to structural issues with deteriorating brick window frames.

According to the press release:

“The re-development of the Empire Stores is part of a larger effort to transform underutilized buildings and piers on 1.3 miles of Brooklyn’s East River Waterfront into an iconic park. The 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park project is the most significant park development in Brooklyn in over a century. The park has already proven to be a huge hit, attracting almost 90,000 visitors during an average weekend including 20,000 a month to Jane’s Carousel, located adjacent to the Empire Stores site…

The RFP requires respondents to submit conceptual plans that demonstrate thoughtful adaptive reuse of the structures, responsiveness to the site design guidelines and a level of design that is on par with the investment made on the part of the public sector.”

This site offers a highly visible opportunity to transform a historic waterfront complex into an active retail/commercial location. Developer Shaya Boymelgreen lost his deal to develop the Empire Stores after he let it sit for three years (2002 – 2006) while moving forward with luxury condo projects in other parts of Brooklyn.

Proposals are due on December 10, 2012.

{Empire Stores on Endangered List, 05Dec2008}
{Sidewalk Bridging Being Installed at Empire Stores Warehouse, 08Jan2008}
{Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park Temporarily Closed, 21Dec2007}

(68 Jay Street storefront rendering)

The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission lists the following two items in Dumbo and one in Fulton Ferry Historic District (via Community Board No. 2):

• 1 Old Fulton Street — Fulton Ferry Historic District — A Greek Revival style saloon and hotel building built in 1835, and altered in the Italianate style in the 1860s. Application is to modify the storefront with French doors, retaining the existing residential entrance, columns, bay window, and cornice, with the last element extended around the building.
• 68 Jay Street — DUMBO Historic District — A Daylight Factory style building with transitional American Round Arch style elements designed by William Higginson and built in 1915. Application is for a master plan for the storefronts, including a standardized signage scheme, and removal of the existing awnings, flat panel signs, bracket signs, lighting and conduit that are current LPC violations.
• 117 Front Street — DUMBO Historic District — Application is to modify the storefront, including new wall signage, canvas blade sign, louver venting for HVAC, and window graphics. This is the new Pinkberry store location.

Image courtesy of Community Board No. 2.

Summer Streets, the annual event where 7 miles of New York City’s streets will be closed to auto traffic and opened up for everyone to play, run, walk and bike in three consecutive Saturdays. The first Saturday will be tomorrow, August 4, 2012. August 11 and 18, 2012 will be the other two Saturdays for Summer Streets. Starting at the Brooklyn Bridge, along Park Avenue in Manhattan to Central Park, you’ll be able to bike or walk the street without cars, with activities along the route.

To get there from Dumbo, walk/bike over the Brooklyn Bridge. The East River Ferry will also be providing transportation to the Summer Streets NYC from Dumbo, waiving the $1 bicycle fee, all day, on the three consecutive Saturdays: August 4, 11, and 18, 2012. Cyclists can cross the river via East River Ferry from Long Island City (Queens), and Greenpoint, North and South Williamsburg, and Dumbo (Brooklyn) to get to Summer Streets NYC.

Summer Streets runs from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Pete’s Downtown restaurant at 2 Water Street (next to Ignazio’s Pizza and across The River Cafe) has closed, according to a worker who has emailed us. Brooklyn Eagle first reported that the restaurant is not only closed, but it has cleared its space, after being open since the 1980s. It’s too bad for a restaurant that has been a fixture in the neighborhood for a long time. Pete’s served Italian food with popular dishes like penne vodka, baked ravioli, veal parmigiana, and shrimp scampi, according to online review websites.

Calls were not returned, and there are no updates on its Twitter (@petesdowntown) or Facebook pages, and their website, petesdowntown.com is offline.

According to a Fulton Ferry resident, Pete Thristino the owner has told patrons that the lease was not renewed, and the landlord is seeking a high end restaurant to take over the space. The location is a prime space, given the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, and would attract a higher lease. A restaurant there would make a lot of ‘friends’ from residents in the area if the food quality is high, but is also a destination location for outer borough visitors.

The Brooklyn Eagle writes: “Pete’s was one of the first businesses to move into the area after it began to be redeveloped. The first signs of this redevelopment came in 1977, when BargeMusic and the River Café opened. Pete Thristino, owner of the restaurant, told this reporter in a 2008 interview that even in the early 1980s, “This was known as an area that when it snowed, there were no footprints…The building, on the corner of Water Street, was known as the Franklin House Hotel in the mid-1800s. It was an important hotel and restaurant in the days before the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, when the ferry area was the gateway to Manhattan and visiting merchants, clerks, seamen and farmers needed someplace to stay.”

Pete’s Downtown (Closed as of Dec 29, 2011)
2 Water Street (at Old Fulton Street), Brooklyn, NY 11201