Jeff Newell, a musician and music historian, teaching the kids about how music of the early 20th century relates to music they may hear today. He has a studio in Vinegar Hill.

Samara Gaev, a NY-based poet and educator, working with the 5th graders to brainstorm as they write (and at the end of the week record) their original songs. Samara is on the board of Project Rhythm, which was founded by Jamin Gilbert, president of Ishlab Music Studio in DUMBO.

Blake Harrison of DUMBO-based Flocabulary, teaching the 2nd graders vocabulary words by rapping about a cat named Biggie. Blake and Alex Rappaport talked to the kids about how music sticks in your head and can help you learn.

(Photos courtesy of Jam On DUMBO)

Jam On DUMBO provided the first Music Week at P.S. 307, five days of music programming for the elementary school’s students, from May 21st to May 25th, 2012.

During Music Week, Jam On DUMBO is bringing more than a dozen musicians, educators and performers to P.S. 307 (209 York Street, Brooklyn). Students will be exposed to different types of music and movement and have the opportunity to explore the importance of music in their own lives.

“We understand the value of children having access to the arts. At a time when budgets are cut so drastically from schools, community partnerships like the one with Jam On DUMBO are crucial,” says P.S. 307 Principal Roberta Davenport. “This event is at the core of what we believe – this idea of expanding the worldview of children, and bringing to them unique experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

The week culminates in a Friday assembly where the fifth graders will perform their original songs. Funmilayo Chesney, an award-winning Congolese dancer and instructor at the Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance, will also perform.

More from the press release after the break.
Read the rest of this entry »

(Photo by Chris Frank)

Con Ed will brief neighbors on the recent fire and findings of the investigation into the fire tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 7pm at Phoenix House.

The environmental reports by ConEd’s Environmental Health and Safety ChemLab showed elevated PCB contamination in the surrounding area.

All are welcome. Thank you to ConEd and the Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association for setting up this meeting. Please RSVP to vinegarhillbklyn@gmail.com.

When: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m. sharp
Location: Phoenix House, 50 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(between Water & Plymouth Streets)

Related:
{ConEd Substation Explosion Collateral Damage, 14May2012}
{Fire at ConEd Plant in Vinegar Hill Yesterday (Again), 30Apr2012}
{ConEd Transformer Explosion in Dumbo, 16Sept2011}

There is an open house at PS 307 Vinegar Hill (209 York Street) tomorrow, May 3, 2012 from 9:30am-11:00am and 6:00pm-7:30pm.

From the school:

Still looking for a school for your child to attend in September? Come learn what PS 307 has to offer – Violin & Keyboard Instruction, Social Emotional Learning, Dual Language Mandarin/English Program, Technology Based Instruction, Afterschool Programs, School Health Center, ASD Horizon (Autism Spectrum Disorder Program) and more

For Information, call 718-834-4748

We’ve heard positive feedback from parents in the neighborhood about the Pre-K through 5 Grade school.

PS 307 (Daniel Hale Williams)
209 York Street, Brooklyn NY 11201 (Between Navy & Gold Streets)

(Source: WSJ)

An article over the weekend by the Wall Street Journal discussed the dearth of apartments and commercial space in Dumbo. The Observer’s BetaBeat, Brooklyn Paper, and The Real Deal also reported on the limited commercial space in Dumbo last week.

According to the WSJ article, three large development projects have been created on Water Street (between Jay and Bridge Streets) – 192 Water Street, 205 Water Street, and 220 Water Street:

But developers are betting that with little inventory available in the more-developed part of Dumbo, buyers and renters will be willing to pay similarly steep prices to live along the grittier border with Vinegar Hill, a six-block neighborhood along the waterfront.

“The concept that Dumbo is just a two- or three-block area is a misconception,” said Carre Harnett, director of leasing for the developer, GDC Properties, which developed one of the new properties, 220 Water St. “There are a finite number of developable buildings and a few parts of land, so we’re filling out Dumbo.”

…thanks in part to a rezoning a few years ago to allow for residential conversions and new construction, eastern Dumbo has seen a modest influx of apartments. Construction was sluggish through the recession, but several buildings ahave finished or are nearing completion.

At 205 Water St., Toll Brothers is building a 65-unit condo project that tries to emulate the warehouse buildings in the area, including using reclaimed wood from the Coney Island boardwalk as part of the interior decorating.

In addition, at 192 Water St., Alloy Development and Hamlin Ventures have converted a century-old tea warehouse into nine lofts, most of which were priced just under $2.5 million.

While many of the streets still feel desolate, a mix of stores—from a baby and maternity shop Egg by Susan Lazar to clothing boutiques like Blueberi and Trunk—have popped up.

Other development projects in East Dumbo not mentioned in the article are 37 Bridge Street (residential), 231 Front Street (commercial), 109 Gold Street (now a rental), 185 York Street (residential), and 51 Jay Street (commercial, on the market). I’m sure this contributed to the Jehovah’s Witnesses properties in Dumbo being considered for sale.

Following last week’s incident, we received a few emails from residents on Gold Street and on York Street that there were more gunshots at Farragut Homes last night. According to one emailer, they “heard around 30 gunshots over at Farragut last night around 1:40am last night.”

According to SpotCrime, there was a shooting on Jul 18 (which is consistent with last week’s post), but does not show anything from last night:

The Gothamist map also does not show an incident. Did anyone else hear this? If so, please call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811) or 311.

We received this email from a 99 Gold Street resident about a shootout at Farragut Homes last night. Did anyone else hear this and did you call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811) or 311?

“99 Gold St resident here, there was a really out-of-control shooting at, where else, Farragut Housing, last evening. However, this time was different than the usual shot or two at 4 AM…this one was at 9:30 PM and bullets were literally whizzing down the street. I was stepping out and had to run back in with bullets flying. Pretty scary.

I wanted to find out more about the event and what the police is doing, but calling the precinct was a dead-end…what else can we do?”

So does the NYPD have to bring back Sky Watch again?

Permit # TV-8: Wednesday, 6/22/2011 and Thursday, 6/23/2011 between 6am – 2am

Filming for TV show Boardwalk Empire, starring Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald will occur on Hudson Avenue in Vinegar Hill on Wednesday and Thursday.

If you have further questions you can contact their Locations Department (Jason Farrar/Amanda Foley) at 347-486-1632.

All filming posts are tagged here: DumboNYC.com/tag/filming

In other restaurant news, The Brooklyn Paper reported last week that Vinegar Hill House is expanding their operation with a cafe next door (70 Hudson Avenue). The plans are for a 20 seat, seasonal food menu for lunch and coffee. Per Brooklyn Paper:

“Community Board 2 has recommended a beer and wine license for the new establishment, and the State Liquor Authority is expected to grant the permit within eight weeks. Minor construction has begun at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Water Street for a café that will serve coffee in the morning, and beer, wine and light noshes throughout the day.”

The secret has been out on Vinegar Hill House for a while. But how do local Vinegar Hill residents feel about another restaurant on Hudson Ave?

Filming for feature film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and John Goodman is occurring today in Vinegar Hill on Front Street between Gold and Bridge Streets. Film crew is also using 155 Water Street as a location for breaks, lunch, and staging. Judging by the title, it could be a documentary about the subway lines that run over the Manhattan Bridge, but is not. The film is based on a 2005 novel by author Jonathan Safran Foer.

The photo below was sent to us from a reader, Todd, who says the he snapped the pic from his phone of Sandra Bullock on the stairs of one of the brownstones.

109 Gold Street, a 33 unit condominium in Vinegar Hill, that consists of studios, 1BR, and 2BR residences are now on the market. The snazzy website says: “109 Gold Street features Caesar stone countertops, Bosch stainless steel appliances, Liehberr fridge integrated with white lacquer cabinetry, white oak floors, Bosch W/D units, bike & common storage, private outdoor space, fully equipped fitness center, and a landscaped roof deck.” Based on the photos, they look fairly nice, but some will be turned off by the location. There is a “Vinegar Hill 109 Completion Party” on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from 5-8pm. (If anyone goes, please let us know your impressions).

109 Gold Street joins new development buildings 100 Gold Street and 181 York Street rentals in the area. There are also 99 Gold Street rentals next door and 201 Front Street one block north. There’s also Nate’s Pharmacy next door at 111 Gold Street, and was left out of the list of shopping in the area on the marketing website.

There are ten active listings ranging $345k ($721/sqft) for a 478 sqft studio (#2E) to $720k ($714/sqft) for a 1,007 sqft two bedroom (#4D).

Previous:
{109 Gold St Development, 13Feb2009}