Due to the holiday schedule, the gallery walk will take place on
Thursday, January 8th, 2009.

DUMBO 1st Thursday features area galleries, open from 5:30 to 8:30, on the first Thursday of each month. There is no admission fee - participating galleries are open to the public. Gallery receptions, neighborhood dining and bars, and live music add to the evening’s festivities:

January 8, 2009 First Thursday Participants include, but are not limited to the following list. Please check with each gallery to confirm that they will be open late on Thursday.

5+5 Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 210
A.I.R. Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 228
Amos Eno Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 202
Aswoon Gallery, 14 Jay St.
Brooklyn Arts Council, 111 Front St., Suite 218
Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation, 111 Front St.
DUMBO Arts Center, 30 Washington St.
Gloria Kennedy Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 222
Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 226
Klompching Gallery, 111 Front St.
Melville House, 145 Plymouth St.
Pochron Studios, 20 Jay St.
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main St.
Rabbithole Studio, 33 Washington St.
Robert Wilson/rw Work Ltd, 111 Front St.
Safe-T Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 214
Smack Mellon, 93 Plymouth St. @ Washington Street
Spring, 126a Front St.
Umbrage Gallery, 111 Front St.
VII Photo, 28 Jay St.
Wessel + O-Connor Fine Art, 111 Front St., Suite 200

Some highlights include:

	powerHouse Books YES WE CAN : Barack Obama’s History-Making Presidential Campaign January 8-February 8, 2009 Opening reception: Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 6-9pm On January 8, we will be open until 9pm for the Gallery Walk The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main St., Dumbo Brooklyn, 866-99-ARENA Yes We Can is the story of Barack Obama’s historic, world-changing journey from junior Senator from Illinois to President of the United States of America as documented by Scout Tufankjian, the only independent photographer to cover his entire campaign from before he announced his run through the Election Night celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park. powerhousearena.com
	A.I.R. Gallery National Members Group Exhibition Curated by Rocio Aranda January 7- February 1, 2009 Opening Reception Thursday Jan. 8th, 6-8pm 111 Front Street #228, DUMBO Brooklyn, 212-255-6651 airgallery.org
	Amos Eno Gallery Presents: MANATEES, A SERIES OF ENCAUSTIC PAINTINGS BY ULRIKE STADLER A reception for the artist will be held at the gallery on January 8 from 6-8pm January 6 to 31, 2009, Tue-Sat 11-6 Manatees is a series of 11 encaustic paintings on lauan board, yellow birch, maple and canvas made by Stadler between 2006 and 2009. 111 Front Street #202, DUMBO Brooklyn, 718-237-3001 amosenogallery.org
	KLOMPCHING GALLERY “Inside The View” by Helen Sear January 8th, 6-8pm Exhibition Dates: January 8 - February 27, 2009 Helen Sear contributes to the long history of montage by superimposing two images- one a portrait of a woman and the other a landscape. Each image is then erased through a process of digital drawing, with the network of lines based upon the patterns of hand woven lace making. ©Helen Sear, courtesy Klompching Gallery 111 Front Street #206, DUMBO Brooklyn, 212-796-2070 klompching.com
	Melville House Publishing Candy Jernigan Exhibition Show runs throughout January Candy Jernigan worked in New York as an artist + graphic designer, and she was an illustrator in every sense of the word. Her eye was evident, whether collecting objects for her paintings and journals to illustrate evidence of where she had been, or making detailed illustrative drawings. She could activate a single line, suddenly revealing horizon, sky, and ground. Candy died in 1991. Melville House Bookstore, 145 Plymouth Street, DUMBO Brooklyn, 718-722-9204 mhpbooks.com
	Galapagos Art Space CAPACITA Claudio Finni Galdiolo in INCAPACITA, Opsvik & Jennings, Amy Kohn Octet + Art by Jill Auckenthaler An evening of art, music, and a short theatre piece called Incapacita. January 8th, 8pm, $10 16 Main Street, DUMBO Brooklyn, 718-222-8500 galapagosartspace.com

[UPDATE: According to a commentor, the opening is slated for February 1, 2009.]

It’s been a while since we saw activity at the Ignazio’s, the pizza restaurant on Water Street. This week, chairs and tables were being set up, windows were being cleaned, and the interior looked like pizza can be served any day now (though we didn’t see the baby grand piano in there yet). Owner Louis Termini is known to make great pizza, so we’re looking forward to try the new place. Anyone have an opening date? Also, based on conversation on an earlier post about area liquor licenses, it looks like their license is still pending.

Ignazio’s Pizza
4 Water Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

Previously:
{December Homecoming Planned For A DUMBO Pizzeria, 23Aug2007, Brooklyn Eagle}
{Ignazio’s to Open at Fulton Ferry Condos, 06Jul2007}

Last week on 12/30/2008, 192 Water Street was issued a stop work order on the property. The online records aren’t clear about the reason. However, since DumboSpace LLC acquired the property a year ago, the construction crews have been busy working on the building since mid-year. The owners are converting the ground floor and lower floor into a 250 person live performance theatre and plan on creating 10 condominium units on floors three through five.

Previously:
{192 Water Street Construction Moving Forward, 23Jul2008}
{Condo and Theatre Conversion at 192 Water Street, 02Jan2008}

It’s been over two years since we posted about the two townhouses on 100 and 102 Gold Street. At the time, the two townhouses were on the market as a package for $2.5 million. According to public records, the sale price for 100 and 102 Gold Street was $1.6 million and closed on 4/18/2008. The owner has also taken out construction loans to demolish and build 5 story buildings (10 units total) on the two lots. (The photos show 6 stories, but the DOB filing states 5 stories.) The building on the right, 102 Gold Street, is being built first. These could be interesting apartment units and the top level looks like it may have a patio that will have a nice view of Manhattan.

{NYC DOB 100 Gold Street}
{NYC DOB 102 Gold Street}
{Two Townhouses in Vingegar Hill for $2.5million, 29Nov2006}

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• War on Fun Breaks Out on DUMBO, 03Jan08, BHB
• Yoga Classes at Rabbit Hole Studios, 31Dec08, littleyellowbirds
• A Year in the Hood, 29Dec08, Brooklyn Paper
• New Chapter for Wine Bar at 50 Henry, 02Jan08, Brownstoner
• Looking North From Dumbo, 31Dec08, bluejake
• Fire on Cranberry Street, 03Jan08, McBrooklyn
• Brooklyn Photos Du Jour: Yo(rk), 28Dec08, newyorkshitty
• Coney Island vs. DUMBO, 31Dec08, karriejacobs.com
• 209 Reasons Brooklyn Is So Damn Badass, 01Jan08, FIPS

A resident from the 7 Old Fulton Street building emailed us that a ’sandwich shop’ is opening there soon and applying for a liquor license. The problem is, they’ve complained to the NYC DOB (10 complaints according to the DOB site) about the construction crews that have been “nothing but disruptive to his neighbours” and don’t see a need for a liquor license in a block with at least 4 other liquor licenses. Here’s their email:

I’m writing to let you know about a liquor license hearing that will be taking place next week.

At 7 Old Fulton Street, in DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn, there’s a new restaurant opening at some time in the near future. I live in the same building, so I’ve spoken briefly with the owner of the new restaurant, and he’s told us that it’s going to be a sandwich shop.

The hearing is for a full liquor license to allow them to serve beer, wine, and spirits. I was hoping to let people know about this because I’d imagine locals wouldn’t be too happy about this. I can’t imagine why a little sandwich shop would need a liquor license, and It’s pretty clear that the guy opening this restaurant isn’t much interested in what is good for the neighbourhood. He and his construction crews have been nothing but disruptive to his neighbours, and we’ve had to call 311 countless times to report the unlawful and improper practices going on. It might be different if he were putting in something that people in the area would use, but he’s seemingly just trying to get some business from tourists down by the Fulton Ferry Landing who don’t feel like standing on the Grimaldi’s line.

As a reminder, in the last month, the community board denied a liquor license to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on Fulton Ferry Landing because they felt it wouldn’t be a great idea to have more alcohol down there with all the tourists and kids everywhere. At present, within a one block radius of 7 Old Fulton Street, there are at least 4 other places with liquor licenses (River Cafe, Pete’s Downtown, Toro Asian, and 5 Front), and I’m not sure about the status of Grimaldi’s.

I represent the residents of this building, and we’d like to let anybody who might be affected by this place getting a liquor license that their liquor license hearing is coming up. Like I said, this guy has been completely indifferent to the needs and concerns of the residents of this building, and I’m pretty convinced that’s how he’ll be with the neighbourhood in general. So we’re going to be opposing his liquor license application, and we wanted to get the word out to anybody else who might be interested in having their voice heard too.

If the restaurant owner is reading this, we’d like to hear your side of the story (email us). The hearing will take place on Wednesday January 7th, 2009 at 6pm. It is located at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 Dekalb (at Felix), 3rd Floor, Conference Rooms 3A and 3B. If anyone is able to attend, please let us know the outcome.

2008 saw many ups and downs for Dumbo. Change was the theme for 2007 and 2006, but in 2008, Dumbo seemed more stable and became Brooklyn’s priciest neighborhood, which is to say that gentrification has come and is here to stay (much to the dismay of long time locals). The original local artists, who say that they’ve been priced out of Dumbo saw it coming when the Walentas real estate developers renovated the grand old Gair Buildings. Let’s take a look back at 2008 and see the Dumbo top ten.

1. Dumbo Turns Greener with CSA, Farmer’s Market, and Recycling
   One of the Dumbo Improvement District’s initiatives in 2008 was their SEED Green effort to make Dumbo more environmentally friendly and sustainable. They brought a farmer’s market to Brooklyn Bridge Park on Main Street and introduced recycling bins on the streets. Dumbo resident Leslie Winston organized a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for Dumbo and Robert Elmes’ Galapagos Art Space created NYC’s first LEED certified ‘green’ cultural venue in Dumbo.
2. New Retailers Opened in Dumbo in 2008
   DiDi’s Dog Boutique and Leader Trading Company, Dumbo Pet Care, Recycle-a-Bicycle (reopening), Nate’s Pharmacy, Vinegar Hill Veterinary Group, Melville House, J’s Wine and Spirits, Mikey’s Hookup, Salon de Quartier, Galapagos Dumbo, Farmani Gallery, Brooklyn Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Vinegar Hill House Restaurant, NYC Pets, and Wellness Lounge.
3. Car break-ins and crime in Dumbo
   Unfortunately, 2008 saw lots of broken glass around Dumbo from car break-ins in late summer. A few months later, Darren Stone (aka “Squarehead”) was sentenced for break-ins and other crimes. Also, NYPD deployed Sky Watch in response to a few muggings around the area, which reduced crime. The second half of the year saw a reduction in burglaries, assaults, and larceny. (see 84th Precinct crime stats.)
4. Dumbo Improvement District Gets New Executive Director
   Dumbo BID Executive Director Tucker Reed leaves for Baghdad and new ED Kate Kerrigan, an experienced community developmnet leader at Downtown Alliance takes over at Dumbo Improvement District.
5. Artists Highlight Work in Dumbo
   Give credit to the Walentas’ for giving subsidies for artists’ space in Dumbo, but as many artists were priced out of their lofts in past years will tell us, Dumbo isn’t as much a work/live artist neighborhood as it used to be. We did see plenty of art installations in Dumbo this year including Olafur Eliasson’s NYC Waterfalls that people either loved or hated, Tom Otterness’ Large Covered Wagon (which is on view through January 2009), the Telectroscope at Fulton Ferry Landing, and the lighting installation, “This Way” under the Brooklyn Bridge.
6. …Including Foreign Street Artists, Who Continue to Show in Dumbo
   French street artists, c215, Jef Aérosol (DumboNYC flickr pics), and FKDL (DumboNYC flickr pics), came to Dumbo this year to show us their work. Local galleries Halcyon the shop and Jan Larsen Art occasionally host exhibitions. We’re told by these artists (and others) that there’s more to come in 2009.
7. Dumbo’s Photo and Art Festivals Grow
   While the Dumbo Art Under The Bridge Festival held their 12th year with a reported 150,000+ visitors, the first annual New York Photo Festival kicked off in 2008. Daniel Power, co-founder of the NYPF envisioned this internationally scaled festival with Frank Evers (of VII Photo) and propelled Dumbo as New York’s ‘photo district’. The NYPF drew large crowds from around the world, but they’re already busy planning for next year’s event, which will be expanded to 10 days (May 14 - 24, 2009). The 6th Annual BKLYN Designs (recap) held their largest design show to date. Founder Karen Auster is planning an even larger event in Dumbo and we look forward to it in 2009.
8. Dumbo Real Estate in 2008; Mostly Down
   Along with the rest of the country, Dumbo’s real estate prices were down, but not out. Dumbo is still the priciest neighborhood in Brooklyn (per square feet), but as real estate limps into 2009, we may see more drops in prices. Dumbo continued to attract commercial and retail tenants in 2008. The loft prices in 2009 will likely mirror the market in Manhattan, but the neighborhood seems to integrate commerce and residences that attract businesses and retail markets.
9. More Movie and TV Filmings
   The Dumbo waterfront and desolate streets have always attracted film crews to the area, but NYC film incentive tax breaks and the streetscapes brought more filming to the area in 2008. (Remember old Dumbo in Phil Collins “Take Me Home” music video or Al Pachino’s Ferrari scene in Scent of a Woman?) With the success of the tax incentives, the filmings may continue in 2009.
10. Two Trees’ Dock Street Dumbo Development Rejected by Community Board
    The Community Board 2’s land use committee voted 7-6 against rezoning of Two Tree’s Dock Street Dumbo project, which is a proposed 183-foot building on Dock Street near the Brooklyn Bridge that includes street level retail, an underground parking garage, a middle school, and rental units above the school. The full community board will vote on the proposed rezoning in January 2009.

Feel free to comment below on other items of significance in Dumbo in 2008. Happy 2009!

{Dumbo Top Ten in 2007}
{Dumbo Top Ten in 2006}

In late November, the One Brooklyn Bridge condo sent updated pricing for new apartments:

• Open lofts with home offices over 1100sqft starting at $640,000
• 1 Bedrooms over 800sqft starting at $650,000
• 2 Bedrooms over 1300sqft starting at $960,000
• 2 Bedrooms over 1500sqft with Manhattan skyline views starting at $1,375,000
• 3 Bedrooms over 1400sqft with Manhattan skyline views starting at $1,377,000

The new pricing is approximately 10% lower than when we looked 15 months ago. They are also offering a shuttle service to and from the Clark Street and Borough Hall subway stations and to Trader Joe’s, a refrigerated grocery storage, new fitness center, conference room, indoor virtual golf and driving range, billiards/game room, and screening room. So much has happened in 15 months, including the banking credit crisis, which directly affected real estate transactions.

The NY Post reports today that one-third of the 449 unit building are sold or in closing after hitting the market. In September, 2008, we saw that 8 of the 10 most expensive condos in Brooklyn were from One Brooklyn Bridge. Since then, sales have probably been tough due to the economy and the uncertainty of the Brooklyn Bridge Park construction surrounding the condo building. But the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp has reported that they’ve started construction and working to open an ice rink under the Brooklyn Bridge next winter. Time will tell if there is a market that includes these ‘amenities’ and price adjustments.

More:
{Trees Grow in Brooklyn, 29Dec2008, NY Post}
{One Brooklyn Bridge Update}
{onebrooklyn.com}

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• Inaugural Invitations and Dumbo, 21Dec08, Mother Jones
• Dock St Dumbo Voted on by CB2, 22Dec08, Gothamist
• Work at Dumbo Flea, 22Dec08, Brownstoner
• Welcome to Dumbo Webliquid, 22Dec08, webliquid
• Long Wait at VH House Worthwhile?, 23Dec08, whatilikenyc.blogspot
• Andrea Strong Review of VHH, 22Dec08, the strong buzz
• Jacques Torres on the Bûche de Noël, 24Dec08, Serious Eats
• Dumbo Snowfall Photo, 26Dec08, shootingbrooklyn

Thank you for reading and emailing me throughout the year. If you have any tips or news about Dumbo, please email us at dumbonyc@gmail.com. Happy Holidays Dumbo!

The auto industry meltdown isn’t going to stop Maserati from unveiling the new 433hp Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS. Maserati released this new photo today in anticipation of next month’s Detroit Auto Show. Residents have seen many car shoots on the Landing over the years. It’s safe to say that you won’t need all 433 horses on the Belgian Blocks of Fulton Ferry and Dumbo, but it sure looks pretty on the Fulton Ferry Landing.

Previously:
{More Auto Shoots on Fulton Ferry Landing, 17Jul2007}
{Img: Audi Photos on Fulton Ferry Landing, 13Apr2007}

In a NY Times story published on Saturday, a Dumbo-based printing company, Precise Continental won the bid to produce one million gold and black engraved invitations for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Jim Donnelly, the owner of Precise Continental and his 65 employees are working around the clock to finish the invitations by January 2. Congratulations to Mr. Donnelly. I hope you’re invited to the inauguration.

If you don’t have a personal invitation, you can join Galapagos Art Space, who is organizing a bus to Washington DC to watch the inauguration on the National Mall with the estimated 2 to 4 million people. They are planning the whole trip (cost comes out to $73 per person). If you’re interested, email them here.

If you want to stay more local, Smack Mellon is celebrating on Jan 20, 2009 from 7pm - 12am with live performances, dancing, cash bar and food by the Red Hook Vendors.

The Community Board 2’s land use committee narrowly voted 7-6 against Two Tree’s Dock Street Dumbo project on Saturday. The Community Board 2’s youth, education and cultural affairs committee voted 9–0 to support the project, but the land use committee members who voted against the project felt that the proposed 183-foot building is too tall. A resolution to recommend R7B zoning (75-foot height limit) to the full community board passed 10-1 (with 2 abstentions). The full community board will vote on the proposed rezoning in January. After that, the project will be submitted for review by the borough president, the Department of City Planning, the City Council, and the mayor’s office.

According to the Brooklyn Paper story, “If protecting views of the Brooklyn Bridge was the committee’s goal, the vote is confusing, given that the current zoning allows the Walentases to build a far taller building — such as a hotel or other non-apartment building. The developers were seeking a zoning change so the site could include housing, including below-market-rate units, and the middle school.” However, according to a CB2 representative, “As of right they can only build a 2-story building on the entire sight, 4 stories on half, 8 stories on a quarter, etc.”

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• Jane’s Carousel, 19Dec08, thebrooklynink
• Southern Exposure at Dumbo Arts Center, 16Dec08, theartseen
• BBP Excavation Unveils Old Mill, 18Dec08, Brooklyn Paper
• Dumbo Commerical Space Still Booming, 18Dec08, Brownstoner
• Green Desk Filling Freelance Office Needs, 16Dec08, NY Observer
• 31 Wash. St Leased to Mick Artists, 16Dec08, Brooklyn Eagle
• Shop Brooklyn comes to DUMBO, 16Dec08, neighborhoodies
• Empire Fulton Ferry Park ‘Undiscovered NY’, 17Dec08, gadling
• 700 Sqft Dumbo Loft Tour, 17Dec08, Apt Therapy
• Vinegar Hill House, 08Dec08, Chowhound
• Black Watch, 16Dec08, NY Times

Alternate-side parking regulations are suspended today in NYC due to the snowstorm. The City Council passed a bill to make the practice law yesterday, just in time for the storm today. Also, there have been a few parking changes in the past day or two in Dumbo and Vinegar Hill. In addition to some of the changes made on Front Street in late November, the following streets have updated parking regulations:

• Plymouth between Jay and Bridge used to be No Parking M-F 8am-6pm and now is No Parking Friday 8-6pm (on the South side of the street).
• Plymouth between Bridge and Gold used to have No Parking signs (unlimited parking) and now is No Parking Friday 8am-6pm (on the South side of the street).
• Jay Street between Front and York Street used to have No Parking M-F 8am-6pm and has become a No Standing Anytime block on the West (or J Condo) side.

There may be other changes being made by the Department of Transportation based on the Community Board 2 vote in October. If there are others, please let us know.

(Plymouth Street between Jay and Bridge Streets)