Dear DumboNYC.com reader,
Thank you for reading and emailing me throughout the year. I created this website for the local New Yorkers who wanted to keep track of all the events in the Dumbo area. However, I get quite a bit of traffic and emails nationally and internationally to get information about Dumbo Brooklyn. I’ll do my best to respond to all emails and welcome visitors to the area. Hope you’ll find this site useful. You can also contact the Dumbo Improvement District for business info or visitor’s information. Thank you to all my fellow Brooklyn bloggers who have helped me throughout the year (see blogroll on the right margin).

I will be on holiday break from Dec. 23 – Jan. 2. I will not be publishing regularly during this period but I may post some photos or other random items so check back. If you have any personal Dumbo stories, Dumbo events, or news, please contact me and I may post it online, crediting you of course. Guest bloggers welcome.

Have a happy holidays, and more to come in 2007!
-hideyoshi
DumboNYC.com

2006 was a year of change for the residents of Dumbo Brooklyn, much like the late 1990s, when the condo conversion of One Main Street (aka Clocktower Building) was completed in 1998 followed by the condo conversion of 30 Main Street (aka Sweeney Building) in 2003. Change has been a constant in Dumbo. Of course the neighborhood name itself implies change, an area that has been referred to as Rapailie, Olympia, Fulton Landing, Gairville, and now Dumbo. Visitors, residents, and New Yorkers come to Dumbo and either hate it or love it. To love Dumbo is to love the bridges, its old (and new) buildings, its motion, its Belgian block streets, even its noise from the bridges above. The constants in Dumbo are the views of Manhattan and the bridges, the streetscapes, the close knit community, and of course change. I took some time to take a look back to 2006 at the various highlights and events that made this year in Dumbo an interesting one.

Top Ten ‘Happenings’ in Dumbo 2006:

1. Dumbo no longer considered an ‘up and coming’ neighborhood
   With more million dollar condos and even a few chain stores in the neighborhood, it is no longer considered “fringe”. Though there are still many artists and galleries in the area, Dumbo went from artists’ colony to condo glut in the past several years. New York Times featured Dumbo in their ‘Living In’ section and was careful to make no mention of words such as “trendy” or “up and coming”. According to a New York Magazine article, Dumbo was so over in 2005. With the ‘up and coming’ status gone, there’s less sex in Dumbo, at least in public.
2. Dumbo Goes Global
   2006 is the year Dumbo is recognized by international media. Articles about Dumbo were written from around the world, including the UK, Canada, Scotland, Australia, Italy, Japan, and China.
3. Dumbo Real Estate Boom Continued
   Real estate pricing/sales in 2006 went up and up. No one knows whether the real estate prices will continue to go up in Dumbo in 2007, but we’ll keep an eye out.
4. Brooklyn Became a Destination in 2006
   We saw a surge of articles in the media on Brooklyn with many mentions of Dumbo. Travel and Leisure Magazine featured Brooklyn as a destination, not just a pitstop from Manhattan. Brooklyn, as a brand even became favorable with companies such as Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Industries, or Brooklyn Clothing Co.
5. New Retailers Come to Dumbo
   Zoe, PowerHouse, Delloritos, P.S. Bookstore, Loopy Mango, BoConcept, Sovereign Bank, Tivoli Home.
6. First Annual “Dumbo Light Capades”
   To see the illumination of the Empire Stores building in the Park was a proud moment for Dumbo. The lights can be seen from Manhattan’s East side.
7. The Dumbo Improvement District Established
   The Dumbo Improvement District, a new BID without the word “business” in the title was formed in the summer of 2006 to address needs of the residents and businesses in Dumbo. They are looking at improving parking needs, fixing the block streets, and improving business relations in the community.
8. Dumbo Artists Continue to Work in Dumbo
   …for now. As loft prices and artist studios become prohibitively expensive for talented artists in the area, some are forced to move out. However, Two Trees Management, the property managers for many of the buildings established Dumbo First Thursdays, an event that features area galleries and artists’ studios open on the first Thursday of each month. Let’s hope this sponsorship continues. Of course Dumbo Under The Bridge Festival also brings the largest field for experimentation in public space art by emerging artists in the United States.
9. Dumbo High Rises Go Up
   The tallest buildings in Dumbo, the 33 story J Condo and 23 story Beacon Tower rise in 2006.
10. The End of of the 421-a Developer Subsidies in 2006
    No more developer subsidies in Dumbo. A push for a revision of section of 421-a that requires developers in the hottest parts of town — so-called exclusion zones — to make 20 percent of their housing affordable to low-income people if they want the tax break, including Dumbo Brooklyn was passed yesterday.

What did I miss? Anyone else have highlights to add for Dumbo in 2006?

BoConcept, the Danish-based retail furniture chain store will be opening their Dumbo Brooklyn store this Friday at 79 Front Street, in time for the last minute holiday shopper and before Dumbo’s ‘two towers‘ are ready for occupancy (Beacon Tower with 79 units and J Condo with 267 units) in 2007. BoConcept joins other furniture maker and stores in the area: Journey Home, West Elm, Susan Woods, Wonk, Baxter Liebchen, Prague Kolektiv, Freecell and Jonah Zuckerman of City Joinery.

Welcome to Dumbo, BoConcept!

 Photos courtesy of Caryn. (Thanks Caryn!)

BoConcept® DUMBO
79 Front Street
(Between Main & Washington Streets)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel. +1 718 246 8188
Fax +1 718 246 8007
Email: dumbo@boconceptny.com

{www.boconcept.com}
See press release after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »

[UPDATE (12/24/06): The pharmacy will be called Bridge Apothecary, located mid-block on Jay Street]

The deal to bring a non-chain pharmacist at Two Trees Management fell through to occupy the space at 70 Washington this summer, but I’ve heard from a reliable source that a pharmacy is very close to being signed to occupy a space on Jay Street. That pharmacy is Concord Chemist, a full service pharmacy that carries a complete line of perfumes, cosmetics, hair care products, natural vitamins, homeopathic remedies, and surgical and medical supplies. Their website states that they even carry sunglasses from “the latest fashion lines from Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Christian Dior, and Max Mara.” Their first location is at 485 Madison Avenue in Manhattan (between 51st and 52nd Streets). The Dumbo Brooklyn location would be their second.

This is a much needed pharmacy in Dumbo and located centrally so residents from Dumbo and Vinegar Hill have a place to fill their prescriptions and get the latest in skin care products.

{Where’s the Dumbo Pharmacy?, DumboNYC.com, 10/6/06}
{concord-chemists.com}

While it seemed like construction was slow all summer at 85 Adams, this past weekend, workers were busy installing the last of the dual glazed windows with special sound-absorbing liner. The external construction elevator was also taken down and the entrance to the lobby area was being worked on. The interior lights were installed and operational. While I’ve heard a lot from J Condo owners who are for the most part satisfied with the developers, I haven’t heard from any Beacon Tower owners. Do any readers own any units and have updates on move-in dates?

{85 Adams Street Condo Progress (9/12/06), DumboNYC.com, 9/12/06}
{Beacon Tower Garden Update, 9/6/06}
{Beacon Tower website}

 Richard Perry/The New York Times

Lou Reed performed his album Berlin at St. Anne’s Warehouse in Dumbo Brooklyn for 4 sold-out days (Dec 14-17) this past weekend. The frontman of the Velvet Underground, Reed performed the album start to finish for the first time ever. Berlin was originally released in 1973 but didn’t sell until it became a cult favorite in the late 1990′s.

NY Times called the performance “touching” and “theatrical.” Did anyone else check out the concert?

{Music Review | ‘Lou Reed – Berlin’, NYTimes.com, 12/16/06}
{Lou Reed’s Berlin, Huffingtonpost.com, 12/17/06}
{Revisiting a Bleak Album to Plumb Its Dark Riches, NYtimes.com, 12/13/06}
{Lou Reed Plays “Berlin” in Brooklyn, RollingStone.com, 12/15/06}

Date: Tuesday December 19, 2006
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: St. Ann’s Warehouse 38 Water Street
Notes: Food & Music provided by Two Trees. Donate a new toy and get a free raffle ticket to win lots of great prizes.

[I've heard that Two Trees puts on a huge party every holidays, courtesy of David Walentas. Since I cannot make this event, can someone email me any photos or a recap to dumbonyc@gmail.com ? Thanks.]

With Hanukkah starting tonight (Friday, 12/15) and Christmas next week, if you still have gifts to buy, don’t panic. You can’t go wrong with the old standbys: chocolates from Jacques Torres or a bottle of wine from Blanc et Rouge, but a number of new stores opened in the past year and you can now find some fabulous and unique presents here in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Below are just a few of the many items for sale in the neighborhood to consider.

(1) Gift: Letterpress greeting cards by moontree letterpress
Price: $15 (pack of six)
For: mailing out to your family and friends
(purchase at moontreepress.etsy.com)
www.moontreearts.com

(2) Gift: Prints of large scale oil paintings featuring our world famous local landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge
Price: $45 and up
For: the Brooklyn art lover
(Art in chaos, 45 main street, suite 501, Dumbo, Brooklyn)
artinchaos.com

(3) Gift: The Eva Solo Thermal Carafe is great for hot or cold drinks
Price: $90
For: those who like to host dinner parties with style
(Tivoli Home, 111 Front Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn)
www.tivolihome.com

(4) Gift: The Burberry Gift set with a plaid scarf and gloves inside
Price: $125
For: your fashionable niece
(ZOE, 70 Washington Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn, 718.237.4002)
www.ShopZoeOnline.com

(5) Gift: Personal instruction in the Pilates method is available at Bridge Pilates in Dumbo, Brooklyn. They will help restore your physical vitality, invigorate the mind, and elevate the spirit with the Pilates method
Price: $65 per session
For: those who want to work on their abs for the New Year
(147 Front Street #225, Dumbo, Brooklyn. email info@bridgepilates.com or call 718.522.1506)
www.bridgepilates.com

(6) Gift: Disco Years Limited Edition photo book, published by powerHouse Books, photographs by Ron Galella. Ten editions of ten, it includes a slipcased copy of the book, and an 11″ x 14″ gelatin silver print, signed and numbered by the artist
Price: $400
For: the disco lover
(Available online www.powerhousebooks.com or visit PowerHouse Arena at 37 Main Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn)

(7) Gift: Mini-spring screens for hanging wall art or window treatments made from coiled metal bedsprings, and vary in sizes from 12″-14″h x 14″-36″w.
Price: varies depending on design/size
For: your interior decorator
(Aswoon/Susan Woods Studio, LLC, 20 Jay Street, Suite 317, Dumbo, Brooklyn)
www.aswoon.com

(8) Gift: Beautiful 100% wool scarf by Moksha in many different colors
Price: $125
For: wife, girlfriend, sister or friend
(Loopy Mango, 117 Front St (between Adams & Washington), Dumbo, Brooklyn)
www.loopymango.com

(9) Gift: Branch embossed dessert plates + platter
Price: Platter: $19 each, dessert plates, set of 4: $36.00
For: the entertainer
(West Elm, 75 Front Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn)
www.westelm.com

(10) Gift: Three Drawer Jewelry Box with Mirror
Price: $95
For: wife, girlfriend, sister or friend
(Jay East, 67 Jay Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn, 718.237.8430)
www.jayeast.com

(11) Gift: Nugget toy by Joseph Jay Reinhart created in connection with Reinhart’s recent show “The Nugget Factory” depicting his exploration into the world of sock monkeys.
Price: $40
For: the friend with the youthful outlook on life
(Halcyon, 57 Pearl St. at the corner of Water and Pearl Sts. Dumbo, Brooklyn)
www.halcyonline.com

(12) Gift: Stacrobats – Create your own circus with 5 magnetic figures to help build imagination, balance and coordination during explorative play. Award winning design promotes dexterity, self-expression, creativity, independent play and hand – eye coordination.
Price: $49.95
For: babies ages 1-100
(Half Pint, 55 Washington Street @ Water Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn, 718.875.4007)
www.halfpintstore.com

[*Special thanks to Louise for compiling gift information.]

The New York Observer features 29 families of influence in New York, including the big time real estate familes: Trump, Zeckendorf, Picket, Rose, Tishman Speyer, and Walentas. David Walentas is credited with developing the Dumbo Brooklyn neighborhood after purchasing two million square feet of property from local landlord Helmsley-Spear for $12 million in 1979.

Now, Mr. Walentas’ son, Jed, the original Donald Trump apprentice, runs the real estate business who’s currently managing the 110 Livingston Street condo conversion. The next development for Two Trees: Hell’s Kitchen @ West 53rd and 11th Avenue in Manhattan.

Read the full text of the article after the jump…

{New York Observer feature, The Walentas Family, 12/18/06 edition}

Kudos to Gothamist on recapping the new condo construction in Dumbo for 2006. Read the entertaining piece here. New developments mentioned that are growing up are:

• 100 Jay Street (J Condo)
• 133 Water Street
• 206 Front Street (Vista)
• 85 Adams Street (Beacon Tower)
• 99 Gold Street
• 53 Bridge Street
• 189 Bridge Street (Bridgeview Tower)

Also being finished up in 2007 or completed in 2006 are:

• 4 Water Street (Fulton Ferry Condos)
• 84 Front Street (The Nexus)
• 50 Bridge Street

{Overgrown Down Under: Five Swaggering Condos Come of Age in Dumbo and Vinegar Hill, gothamist.com}