Sunday, May 6, 2007 –
Expect the bikes to arrive around 10am and keep coming until 3pm. The dotted lines on the map indicate the streets which will be closed to ALL traffic except bikes.

 (Image courtesy of Dumbo Neighborhood Association)

 5 Boro Bike Tour through Dumbo, 5/6/2007 (Click for larger)

 5 Boro Bike Tour through Dumbo, 5/6/2007 (Click for larger)

 ”Best Banana Display Ever” @ Foragers Market, 56 Adams Street (Click for larger; Photo by 917press)

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

• Adam Matta plays at Rebar, 4/29/07, adammatta.blogspot.com
• Holy Bull Market, Batman: 110 Livingston 85% Sold, 4/30/07, Brownstoner.com
• Twist and Shout, 5/2/07, New York Daily Photo
• where to go for lunch breaks in Dumbo?, 5/2/07, Chowhound
• Brooklyn Bridge, from Dumbo, NYC, 5/2/07, brooklynlens.wordpress.com
• Mother’s Day at Modern Tots, 5/2/07, Momtrends
• 5th Annual BKLYN Designs Set for May 11-13 in DUMBO, 5/2/07, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• Prepping for Something Bigger at 39 Front Street?, 5/3/07, Brownstoner.com
• Pricey Parking at 1BBP, 5/3/07, Curbed.com
• Dumbo…in Japanese, 5/3/07, ameblo.jp
• Dumbo…in French, 5/4/07, psickopat.blogspot.com
• Neighborhood Buying Guides Tell The Story of New Brooklyn Growth, 5/4/07, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• Everybody in!, 5/5/07, The Brooklyn Paper
• Stripped of its park, 5/5/07, The Brooklyn Paper

From Brooklyn Enthusiast:

ZOË celebrates the opening of its Dumbo store, where Champagne will be served on Sunday, May 6, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
68 Washington Street
Receive 15% off your purchase when you print out their invitation here.

www.shopzoeonline.com

Previously: {Zoe Store in Dumbo Now Open, 11/27/06, DumboNYC}

The NY Metro paper today believes that the Brooklyn Bridge Park (the future one that is located along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway), may be the noisiest park in NYC. “The site is very noisy,” says a sign leaning against a model of the latest park plan, designed by landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. “Without any sound-attenuating structures, the majority of the site would experience at least 70 decibels [dBA] of noise. … At this noise level two people, six feet apart, need to shout to be understood.” The existing area of the park in Dumbo is said to be roughly 65 dBA. Last year’s performance at the Tobacco Warehouse in Empire Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park “82 Decibels” is named for the level of noise in that area from the Brooklyn Bridge and BQE.

However, the area has one of the few ‘beaches‘ that overlook Manhattan. And when you’re there, somehow the great views make you forget that there’s any noise at all. Enjoy the beautiful 70 degree weather this weekend!

 (Photo courtesy of bly2k)

 (Photo courtesy of j_bary)

 (Photo courtesy of kobenhavn)

{The city’s noisiest park?, NY Metro, 5/4/07}

Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry, Laurie Anderson and other artists performed on Tuesday night at St. Ann’s Warehouse to help the Brooklyn Arts theatre net $200,000. According to a Bloomberg article, the benefit concert for Arts at St. Ann’s drew 390 people, “who sat at tables covered with black fishing nets. The dinner featured flank steak, marinated in cumin and coriander, and tea-smoked salmon arrayed on Lazy Susans.” I couldn’t make the show, but I asked Zannah Mass, the new Cultural Director for Two Trees what she thought and her answer made me regret it: “What a night! Big night. Much fun. Fine wine. Fine food. Good company. And the best part…The show!” I can’t bankroll a whole table, but for a $250 donation, good wine, food, and a great show I’m going to support St. Ann’s next year.

{Lou Reed, Bryan Ferry Join `Rogues’ at Brooklyn Theater Gala, Bloomberg, May 3, 2007}
{Upcoming Benefit Events For Local Art Groups, St. Ann’s and Smack Mellon, DumboNYC, April 23, 2007}

Michael Alan invites you to draw, paint, sculpt, create every Friday in May at Retreat. This workshop will feature 1-2 of your favorite nude female Draw-a-thon Theater models as performance artists doing dramatic and intense short shows, gestures, 15s and long poses in a more intimate and relaxed setting. This is a great opportunity to make art and become a part of the Draw-a-thon community.

Music, food, and drinks from Rebar.

When: Friday May 4, 11, 18 and 25, 8pm-12midnight
Where: Retreat, 147 Front Street, Dumbo Brooklyn
Cost: $12 per session or $40 for all four

Limited seating, so purchase tickets online.

[Update: Also see Cindo de Mayo at Hecho en Dumbo: May 5, 2008]

Celebrate a full day of Cinco de Mayo in Dumbo Brooklyn. For some breakfast and good coffee, stop by the DUMBO General Store. Walk over to Brooklyn Bridge Park and enjoy the sunny weather (high 68F on Sat). Grab a beer (drink specials all day) at Rebar and listen to the first free live music event at 2pm (Roberto Poveda, Cuban). Halcyon Gallery is having a closing reception on at 2pm for Adam Collins “From the Road”. Then you can check out the exhibition “Photography and Contemporary Tactics” over at BAC Gallery on 111 Front Street, Suite 218. Grab another beer at Rebar and take in some jazz and swing at 4:30pm (Art Lillard Big Band). Go to Pedro’s Restaurant to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by getting a few tacos and Coronas (over at Jay and Front Streets). Walk over to Rebar for another set at 7pm by Mental Notes (Hip Hop jam) or for a change of scenery, check out 68 Jay St Bar. Finally, go to the Artist Block Party at 110 Bridge Street, happening all night from 8pm to 8am the next day.

What: halcyon gallery presents Adam Collins “From the Road” closing reception
Where: Halcyon, 57 Pearl Street
When: Sat. May 5th 2pm
Info: “From the Road is a collection of photographs taken by Adam Collins while on tour as a traveling musician and DJ. Always working on his photography while traveling, Adam took advantage of exploring new countries through music and documenting them on film. This is the first time the 10 year collection has been condensed and made available to the public.”

What: Brooklyn Arts Council exhibition: Photography and Contemporary Tactics
Where: 111 Front Street, Suite 218
When: May 3 – July 20 11am-5pm
Info: Photography and Contemporary Tactics, an exhibition that explores photography’s impact on traditional media, and its hand in developing new media and tactics in our own time through painting, photography and other two dimensional media.

What: Artist Block Party
Where: 110 Bridge St. between Prospect & York
When: Sat. May 5, 8pm-8am
Cost: $7
Info: www.myspace.com/ArtistBlockParty

 Beacon Tower, 5/2/2007

Looks like some of the Beacon Tower residents have finally moved into their place (windows in the above photos are lit). Residents, how do you like it there? Do the soundproofing windows live up to the claims? Any gripes? It’s good to see that the high powered lights on the side of the building aren’t turned on so they’re not shining into the windows and saving energy. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Previously:
{Beacon Tower Turns Off Some Lights, 1/23/07, DumboNYC}
{Dumbo’s Beacon of Light, 1/9/07, DumboNYC}

Dumbo Brooklyn blogger Brooklyn Enthusiast has posted about an event at Uncommon Grounds, a new bar in Brooklyn Heights at 50 Henry Street (at Cranberry Street) on Friday for an open wine bar from 7:30-8:30pm before their live music show. The live show will feature artist John Valeri, a professionally trained Jazz guitar artist. Check out the entry on the blog on how to get in for free.

With spring starting, the DUMBO 1st Thursday starts up again. DUMBO 1st Thursday features area galleries and artists’ studios, 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:

First Thursday Participants include, but are not limited to:

Halcyon, 57 Pearl Street
Jan Larsen Art, 63 Pearl Street
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street
Tivoli Home, 111 Front Street, 1st floor
DUMBO Arts Center, 30 Washington Street
Spring, 126a Front Street
(Smack Mellon is closed, in between shows.)

111 Front Street Galleries: (Elevators to 2nd floor galleries are located at 55 Washington Street entrance.)

Brooklyn Arts Council, 111 Front Street, Suite 218
5+5 Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 210
Flavors of Haiti, 111 Front Street, Suite 228
Gallery Twenty-Four, 111 Front Street, Suite 212
Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 226
Gloria Kennedy Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 222
Nelson Hancock Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 204
Safe-T Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 214
Sankaranka Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 206
s.e.e.d. gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 224
Underbridge Pictures, 111 Front Street, Suite 202
Wessel + O-Connor Fine Art, 111 Front Street, Suite 200
Pratt Institute, 111 Front Street (Special exhibit “Fifty Photographs by Twenty-Nine People” by students from the Pratt Institute photography program)