One from last night:

Spacebuster event in Dumbo Brooklyn; April 23, 2009

Related: {Celebrate Earth Day in Dumbo, 23Apr2009}

(Photo from storefrontnews.org)

From Dumbo Improvement District:

Please join the Dumbo Improvement District and Studio-X, Storefront for Art and Architecture, Raumlabor & Inhabitat tomorrow for

a real-time, ecologically based competition based on “Iron Chef” and held within Spacebuster by Raumlabor.

Spacebuster is a mobile inflatable structure – a portable, expandable pavilion – that is designed to transform public spaces of all kinds into points for community gathering.

The pavilion is comprised of an inflatable bubble-like dome that emerges from a step van that also houses the compressor that keeps the Spacebuster inflated. The dome expands and organically adjusts to its surroundings, be it in a field, a wooded park, or below a highway overpass. The material is a translucent plastic that allows the events taking place inside of the shelter – screenings, lectures, dinners or discussions – to be entirely visible from the outside. Likewise the exterior environments become the events’ backdrops.

IRON DESIGNER Features Teams of Third-Year M.Arch students from:

• Columbia University GSAPP
• Parsons The New School for Design
• City College of New York
• Pratt Institute

Thursday, April 23rd @ 7PM
Meet at the Pearl Street Triangle in DUMBO, Brooklyn
The winning team will be featured on Inhabitat.com

Sponsored by Studio-X/Columbia University GSAPP, Storefront for Art and Architecture, Raumlabor, Dumbo Improvement District and Inhabitat.

Related:
{Manhattan Bridge Arch Now Open Permanently, 20Apr2009}
{Bubblicious Spacebuster to Take On High Line, Dumbo, 20Apr2009, Curbed}

Following the Manhattan Bridge Archway’s (The Archway) “soft opening” in September 2008, the gates were temporarily closed again so that construction on the space could be completed. Yesterday, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Dumbo Improvement District permanently removed the gates to The Archway, allowing pedestrians to walk through.

The asphalt was removed to reveal the original Belgian blocks, and more work will be done soon to install benches and lighting. Per Dumbo Improvement District, who manages maintenance and programming for The Archway, plans are in the works to have events and programs throughout the year. First up is Earth Day programming on Thursday, April 23rd, and the Dumbo Parent Organization will hold the Epic DUMBO Stoop Sale on Saturday, May 2nd.

The 7,000 square foot archway is a grand space for events, art exhibitions, and open markets. We’re looking forward to it. Thanks to the Dumbo Improvement District, who coordinated funding and in-kind contributions from private partners, Two Trees Management Co., Pearl Realty Management, Rogers Marvel Architects PLLC and Ettinger Engineering Associates, and worked with DOT and the City of New York to make this happen.

Previously:
{Manhattan Bridge Archway Opens in Dumbo, 08Sept2009}
{The Archway, Dumbo Improvement District}

Outside enjoying the weather…Hope you’re able to get out of that office to enjoy the warm sun.

(Photo by Jason Fleitz)

In today’s edition of the Brooklyn Paper online, the police report writes that cops are searching for two perps who attacked at least 3 victims along the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge footpaths last week. A cop source said that the victims are reporting similar descriptions of two tall young men in dark sweatshirts in each incident:

• Manhattan Bridge path near Plymouth Street: Two perps attacked a cyclist on Nov. 4. “The perps pushed the victim off his bike at around 2:30 pm, just as one pulled out his gun and said, “Get up against the wall and give me your money.”"
• Two perps attacked another cyclist on the same path near Flatbush Avenue Extension on Nov. 5. The two perps came up behind the man, who only speaks Mandarin, and pushed him to the ground. One punched the victim in the face, while the other demanded cash and said, “Money, money, money.” The victim forked over $300.
• Two thugs mugged a man on the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path on Nov. 4, making off with his cellphone, iPod and briefcase. As the perps approached the man, who was nearing the Washington Street exit, one punched him in the face while the other said, “Give me your money.” The victim tried to fight, and ended up cutting his hand.

 (Photo by Henry N. Seymour, Cazenovia, NY)

We’ve all seen countless photos and photographers take shots of the Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street. This one is from a visitor who send us his photo after a rainy evening in June. The lit up Empire State Building is nicely framed in the archway under the bridge. Thanks Henry for the photo.

The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Dumbo Improvement District held a press conference this morning to announce the opening of the Manhattan Bridge Archway in Dumbo, a joint project of both groups with Rogers Marvel Architects and Jim Conti Lighting Design. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, among others attended.

The opening of the archway is one of the initiatives of the Dumbo Improvement District and will be opened in two stages. The public space has been closed for 17 years and previously occupied by DOT’s Division of Bridges for the cutting and storage of metal needed for bridge projects. Today marked the “soft opening” at which point the Improvement District will keep the Archway open to the public as a pedestrian thoroughfare and plaza, locking the gates at night. The archway will be further beautified with lighting, benches, and to remove the asphalt to reveal the Belgian blocks and will be open 24 hours upon completion to coincide with the Manhattan Bridge’s 100th birthday in 2009. This fall, the Dumbo Improvement District will continue to fundraise, to support the longer-term restoration of the archway, maintenance, and programming costs. The Dumbo Improvement District’s annual fundraiser, Dumbo Fight Night 2008, will be held on October 2, 2008. As Marty Markowitz stated in his speech, he envisions events with tables, benches, and exhibitions in the 8,000 square foot archway once the restoration is fully completed.

 Rogers Marvel’s rendering of the completed Archway

From the DumboNYC Flickr Photo pool, another great HDR shot from Josh. The shot was taken at dusk on Sunday:

(Photo by Josh Derr)

{Video Art Project on Manhattan Bridge Anchorage, 07Mar2008}

The Dumbo Improvement District is working with the Brooklyn Arts Council and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), bringing a temporary public art project, “Applied Kinetics,” a video art project that projects a large screen on the Manhattan Bridge anchorage at Front and Adams Street. Dumbo’s Leo Kuelbs has curated Brazilian video-artist, Adriana Varella for this project. It was a cool sight to see the whole anchorage wall (pictured above) lit up last night showing the video installation.

Thursday, March 6th-Sunday, March 9th
Dusk-11:00 p.m.

Press release after the jump.
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