(Above photos of the flooding in Dumbo by @barneyrobinson, October 29 vs November 2, 2012)

The effects of Hurricane Sandy have devastated much of the region and our thoughts are with anyone currently dealing with issues related to the storm. There are many parts of NY and NJ still without power and running out of food, gas, and clean water. The Atlantic has photos of the aftermath of the area. In Dumbo, check out the post-hurricane photos by photographer Rob Cleary.

Thousands of businesses and homes have been destroyed, and while we’re all trying our best to get back to normal day-to-day life, it’s not as simple as restoring electricity and cleaning from the flood waters. The Dumbo community has come together to help eachother in many ways. There have been a lot of kind offers from those who have electricity and space to allow neighbors and businesses to work together, share a meal, or an outlet to charge your devices. We’re getting a lot of emails and Twitter messages from those who want to help. The best way to help out is to do good for our neighbors in the region. Go to the Dumbo Businesss Improvement District website to help Dumbo businesses rebuild.

There have been several online fundraisers set up already and upcoming events for Hurricane Sandy relief. Here are a few others out of Dumbo that we’re aware of (please send additional ones to us at dumbonyc@gmail.com:

• Frankenstorm Sandy Connect the Dots and Volunteer Day, Saturday, November 3, 2012, noon, 155 Water Street
• Help Clean Brooklyn Bridge Park (Main Street). Volunteer to clean storm debris from the lawns, paths, and planting beds. Saturday, November 3, 2012, 2-5pm
• Help Governor restaurant rebuild. Please help get their employees back to work doing what they do best: cooking excellent meals for Dumbo
• Galapagos Art Space on Smallknot. Tina of Swiss-Miss set up this online fundraiser. While the target amount is set at $2,500, Galapagos will need more like $80,000 to rebuild.
• Owney’s NYC Rum Tasting: A Benefit for Dumbo Recovery, Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 6:30pm, 45 Main Street
• Brooklyn Recovery Fund, A Partnership of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and the Brooklyn Community Foundation
• powerHouse Arena recovery donation. powerHouse Arena was destroyed by the flood. Please consider helping them by donating. Photos and progress are documented on sandyhatesbooks.tumblr.com
• Smack Mellon recovery donation. Smack Mellon is closed until further notice. Please consider a tax deductible donation.

You can also help businesses in the neighborhood and buy goods and services and eating at restaurants in and around Dumbo. Brokelyn also has a list of weekend hurricane relief events and other donation opportunities.

The neighborhood is cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy and will be for a while. While many of the buildings and retail shops away from the East River did not sustain major damage from the high winds and rains, some buildings closer to the river are still without power and may need repairs. In some cases, businesses will have to be closed indefinitely until proper assessments are completed. To help Dumbo businesses rebuild, go to The Dumbo Improvement District website to find out more about how you can help.

For latest updates on Dumbo and its businesses, follow us on Twitter (@DumboNYC) or The Dumbo Improvement District @DUMBOBID.

NYC and the New England coast is bracing for what will bring a “life-threatening storm surge”. Residents and businesses in Zone A (generally Water Street and Plymouth Street in Dumbo) are in the mandatory evacuation zone. A NY Times article interviewed some Dumbo residents who have stayed behind. High tide has come, and parts of Adams Street near the Brooklyn Bridge Park is underwater already:

(Photo by @JessicaKRoy)

As of 10:00am Monday, La Bagel Delight, Dumbo Kitchen, Blanc & Rouge, Bridge Fresh, and Peas & Pickles are open.

Oak Studios, a Dumbo-based digital agency at 10 Jay Street set up a live webcam feed (video above).

Please take proper precautions as Hurricane Sandy makes its way to New York on Monday afternoon/evening, especially in the low lying area of Dumbo and Brooklyn. If there are other updates, comment below or follow us on Twitter @DumboNYC for the latest on Dumbo-related updates.

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Mayor Bloomberg just announced a mandatory evacuation order for New York City for Zone A in NYC. If you live in a low-lying area and have concerns about flooding or prolonged power loss, consider staying with friends or family outside these potential flood zones. If you cannot stay with family or friends, call 311 to find out the location(s) of the nearest shelters around the city. To find out what zone you live in and the location of your nearest shelter visit gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.htm or call 311. Parts of Dumbo are in Zone A, so check the nyc.gov page for your address.

Subways will be closed by 7pm and bus service will be stopped by 9pm. Public schools are closed on Monday.

(NY Times storm tracker image)

From what Mayor Bloomberg has just announced, NYC is not requiring mandatory evacuations for Hurricane Sandy (as of 3:30pm EST), as it did with last year’s Hurricane Irene. At the time of this post (3:30pm), it is too early to determine Hurrican Sandy’s path and strengh by the time it nears NYC by Monday.

The city hasn’t yet made a decision on schools until Sunday (October 28). To get updates, sign up for Notify NYC Alerts (get them via text or email), New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), or NYC.gov severe weather update.

Thanks to Dumbo Improvement District’s update, Dumbo is prepared for Hurrican Sandy. They provided these additional tips:

• Safety tips from Con Edison; treat all downed power lines like they are live!
• Find your hurricane evacuation zone; parts of DUMBO are in Zone A
• Turn off your computers when you leave the office for the weekend, just in case (that means you DUMBO-techies)

“Should Sandy roll into DUMBO, we are asking that all ground floor businesses, commercial and residental property owners to bring in any loose or freestanding objects from outside their premises – signage and sandwich boards, trash cans and outdoor furniture. Know that we’ve got our Doe Fund working on the public plaza spaces.” (Last year’s hurricane prep photos and flooding photos)

(Photo by Jane Kratochvil)

Howl-O-ween & Muttsquerade Parade
Perfect Paws, 102 Hicks Street, 718-852-6200

Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012, 1pm-3pm
Dog Parade 1-3pm on the Promenade, and announcement of the winner and after-party at 4:30pm at Vinegar Hill Vet (57 Front Street in Dumbo)
Location: Brooklyn Heights Promenade Remsen Street entrance.

Free to watch, but please pre-purchase your entry tickets at Perfect Paws for your pet.

Proceeds go to non-profit organizations, Hillside Dog Park, Sean Casey Animal Rescue, and Blue Rider Stables (no kill pet shelters).

They will be awarding the top winners wonderful prizes donated by local stores and vendors. They are taking donations all month long. All funds are greatly appreciated and used to support and save animals.

Winners will be announced at the Vinegar Hill Vet Clinic in Dumbo (57 front street) 4:30 pm sharp. And please stay for the after party drinks and noshes will be served. Support the cause and buy raffle tickets or bid on auction items donated by locals, including Alexis Bittar, Dewey’s, Gleason’s, St Ann’s Warehouse, Umbrage Books, 66 Water St Restaurant, Trunk, River Cafe, Salon de Quartier, local photographer Julienne Schaer, and local artist Jen Ferguson among other items.

As we mentioned earlier this week, the West Elm’s first West Elm Market opened today. The store includes an espresso bar serving La Colombe coffee as well as pastries and light food choices. (Pastries are from Roberta’s.)

The new store concept will sell “solutions for everyday living, designed to delight and made to be used” and include items for the kitchen, garden, personal care, and “care and repair“.

There are tables where you can enjoy your coffee and space for cooking and product demonstrations.

West Elm Market
50 Washington Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
(Google Map of 50 Washington Street)

Store Hours
Mon-Sat: 7am – 8pm
Sunday: 9am – 7pm

In just two weeks, the new St. Ann’s Warehouse at 29 Jay Street will show the American Premiere of the Baxter Theatre of South Africa’s Mies Julie.

Susan Feldman, Artistic Director of St. Ann’s said in an email newsletter, “We are tremendously grateful to all who have helped us stay in DUMBO and activate the new warehouse. We are meeting our new neighbors — great bars and restaurants! — and we’re particularly thrilled to welcome Brooklyn Roasting from next door as our coffee bar. We’re hustling to put up our posters, hang our banners, and add the finishing touches we need to start greeting you on November 8th. So, come celebrate this bountiful confluence of riches — Mies Julie was too good to pass up when we saw it in Edinburgh, and it is our great privilege to now pass it on to you. It’s really incredible. See you soon at St. Ann’s Warehouse!”

Mies Julie will be showing from November 8 – December 2, 2012. For info and tickets, go to stannswarehouse.org/current_season.php?show_id=77.

St. Anne’s Warehouse (stannswarehouse.org)
29 Jay Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

Brooklyn Bridge park has requested proposals for the creation and operation of Park concessions, including restaurant, food carts, and a marina at Pier 6 and for the Smokestack building. From the Brooklyn Bridge Park:

The Smokestack Building is prominently located at the intersection of Water Street and Old Fulton Street, adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge. Situated between Pier 1 and the Empire Fulton Ferry sections of the Park, the site has great visibility from Old Fulton Street and sits in a highly trafficked pedestrian thoroughfare. Empire Fulton Ferry features spectacular views of the harbor and is the location of the historic Tobacco Warehouse and Jane’s Carousel. Located at the foot of Old Fulton Street, Fulton Ferry Landing is one of Brooklyn’s most historic sites and a popular tourist destination. Pier 1 to the south is the largest of the park’s piers and the location of many of the park’s special events and programming. In the future, BBP plans to reconstruct the area beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and offer additional amenities to the public which will further increase pedestrian traffic to the area.

The smokestack could be a great place for something like Shake Shack or a seafood shack, no? What else would you want to see there?

Information Session & Site Tour November 7, 2012
Submissions Due December 3, 2012

(via Brownstoner)

Looks like the new West Elm Market (previous news about 50 Washington Street) will also include a “La Colombe workshop“. The sign above was displayed in the window of the West Elm Market store, which will open on Thursday, October 25 in early November. West Elm Market will sell kitchen, garden, tools, and personal care, according to the sign on the window.

You may know that La Colombe is also served at Almondine Bakery as noted in our old Dumbo coffee post, which needs updating. Maybe once West Elm Market opens, we’ll do an update on coffee in Dumbo. Anyone what to do a coffee tasting?

West Elm Market
50 Washington Street, Brooklyn NY 11201