(photo by tripill)

Officials from the NYCDOT, NYCDDC, and Dumbo Improvement District have hosted two public workshops to gather community input on the permanent design of the plaza space known as Pearl Street Triangle in Dumbo Brooklyn, on in July 2012 and January 2013. They have incorporated the community’s comments and suggestions and will be hosting a third workshop for another round of feedback on March 20, 2013 at 6pm at NYU-Poly Incubator (20 Jay Street, Suite 312).

As we noted in November 2011, the Dumbo Improvement District secured $20 million for a second phase of street reconstruction, which includes the permanent build out of the Pearl Street Triangle.

Please join to give your feedback or comment below on what you would like incorporated there.

(Photo by Steve Rudy)

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

• We Love: One Girl Cookies, 14Mar2013, Kate Spade
• Second Wave of Development to Transform Downtown, 15Mar2013, Brownstoner
• Brooklyn’s New Building Sites, Mapped, 13Mar2013, Brownstoner
• Could 51 Jay St Building be Huge Retail?, 13Mar2013, BK Paper
• 1 Main St Penthouse now $18M, 06Mar2013, Business Insider
• Vinegar Hill Locals Fear Bike Lanes will Destroy Belgian Blocks, 12Mar2013, DNAinfo
• LPC Gives Its Blessing for Dumbo Townhouse Build, 13Mar2013, Brownstoner
• Worker Is Crushed by Garbage Truck Compactor In Dumbo, 16Mar2013, NYT
• Sold: 37 Bridge Street, #THA, $2,647,450, 12Mar2013, Brownstoner
• Fulton Ferry and the Creation of New York’s First Suburb, 12Mar2013, MCNY
• One Brooklyn Bridge Park #1401, $3.25M, 11Mar2013, Brownstoner
• Giant Glowing Heart In DUMBO Created Out Of Sandy-Salvaged Wood, 12Mar2013, Gothamist
• Clocktower PH Knocks $7m Off Initial Price, 05Mar2013, TRD

Thursday March 14, 2013
Stop by Aegir Boardworks for an evening of laughs and drinks. Drinks provided by Aegir partner, Zeal Optics. Drinks poured at 6:30pm. Comedy starts at 8:30pm.

Aegir Boardworks
99 Water Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

The owners of Vinegar Hill House (VHH) meet with Vice for an episode of Munchies. Jean Adamson (chef/co-owner of VHH), Sam Buffa (co-owner of VHH), Brian Leth (chef de cuisine at VHH), Andrew Field from Rockaway Taco and Chris Perachini, owner of Roberta’s go to Hotel Delmano and Pies ‘N Thighs in Williamsburg before heading back to Vinegar Hill House for an after hours pizza cook off with their co-owners Sammy Stewart, Justin Gallaher, staff and friends.

See the video to hear about Jean’s plans before opening VHH and why they chose Vinegar Hill. Jean described the first months of Vinegar Hill House as a “shit show”. For those who went during opening month at VHH (including us), we didn’t have a bad experience. You would’ve thought that they had everything worked out. Then Brian Leth joined as the chef de cuisine.

Vinegar Hill House
72 Hudson Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11201
718-522-1018

The Kirkman Chess Club will be hosting its first Chess Scholastic on March 24th. Registration will happen at 68 Jay St . in room #513 until 9:30am. Tournament play will begin at 10AM in #508.

Contact Organizer: Jason Ciano (Ajciano@gmail.com or 347-266-6852.

There are 3 sections:
* Kindergarten-12th Open
* Kindergarten-8th Open
* Novice (U1000)

Enrollment Fee: $30 prepaid, $35 day of
Registration deadline: 5pm March 20, 2013

To register mail a check or money order to:
Jason Ciano
68 Jay Street, #513,
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Please include player name, section, USCF ID#, Rating, School & Grade.

All players must be members of the USCF. May purchase or renew membership at tournament. Official March Ratings used for tournament.
Rounds 2-4 start soon after conclusion of the previous rounds. Equipment provided, players’ bring their own clock.

$5 discount if 4 or more players registration is sent in the same envelope.
Prizes: 1st – 3rd place trophies in each section.
Two Class prizes: Top U1600 for K-12, Top U1400 for K-8, Top U800 & U600/Unr for Novice section.
Team Trophies: Top 2 teams in each section. Minimum 2 players qualify as team. Top four scores on team counted. USCF Rated. One half-point bye available, must request before round 2.

(Photo by @jennybeanNYC)

The Dumbo Improvement District introduced the installation of Heartwalk, a massive, 30-foot art installation made from Sandy-salvaged wood in the Pearl Street Triangle in Dumbo. Situ Studio (based in 20 Jay Street in Dumbo) was originally commissioned to create the piece for Times Square. Heartwalk will be on view in the Pearl Street Triangle (Water Street at Pearl Street) through April 30, 2013.

(Photo by Keith Sirchio)

Read more about it on The Dumbo Improvement District website.

The Armory Arts Week includes a night in Dumbo on Saturday, March 9, 2013, generally from 6pm (check with individual galleries for exact hours).

Participating Dumbo galleries include:

• Transparent Studio at Bose Pacia, 163 Plymouth Street, 6-8pm
• AHA Arcilesi & Homberg Fine-Art, 111 Front Street, Suite 222
• The Rabbithole One-Night-Only Silent Art Auction: A Recovery Benefit, 33 Washington Street, 7-11pm
• Minus Space, 111 Front Street, Suite 226
• BAC Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 218
• Mighty Tanaka, 111 Front Street, Suite 224
• United Photo Industries, 111 Front Street, Suite 204, open until 9pm
• St. Ann’s Warehouse – Kneehigh: The Wild Bride, 29 Jay Street, 3pm and 8pm show
• Smack Mellon, 92 Plymouth Street, 5-8pm
• A.I.R. Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 228, 11am-6pm
• Show: Personal Desire Propoganda, 111 Front Street, Suite 208, 6-8pm

Personal Desire Propoganda
111 Front Street, Suite 208, 6-8pm
27 artists will be offering prints for $10, the cost of making the print. Artists include:
Jeremy Sheaffer
Paloma Crousillat
Jared Friedman
Mark Rice
Corey Riddell
Lauren Pakradooni
Blake Carrington
Michael Levin
Paul Jacobsen
Jesse Weiss
Lou Joseph
Sarah Shebaro
Jonathan Stanish
Seth Scantlen
Brad Ewing
Erik Hougen
Zefrey Throwell
Nathan Catlin
Asa Gauen
Eric Ramos Guerrero
Noah Breuer
Emily Henretta
Mike Neff
Chris Benfield
Julia Samuels
Daniel Rich
Grayson Cox

1) Mil’s Trills
March 8, 4:00-5:00 PM, $20 child with adult(s), siblings $5

Mil’s Trills is an interactive series of live performances for grown-ups with babies and toddlers aged 0-5. Led by Amelia Robinson who plays original, quirky and whimsical songs on her electric ukulele and hosts a rotating cast of musical guests. More info

2) Baby Wearing 101 with Metro Minis NYC
Saturday, March 16, 1:00-3:00pm, FREE

Carriers will be available for purchase. Taught by one of Metro Minis’ trained and certified babywearing educators, Babywearing 101 is the perfect opportunity to learn safe and proper carrying of babies from newborn to toddler.

This class covers the very basics on the five different styles of baby carriers. It is designed to be an introduction to baby slings. Babywearing 101 is ideal for those who have never worn a baby and have little or no experience with carriers. We will discuss the different styles and by exploring your family’s unique needs to help you discover the right carrier for you. More info

3) Rolie Polie Guacamole
DUMBO: March 16th, 4:00-4:45
TriBeCa: March 17th and March 30th, 4:00-4:45
$20 child with adult(s), siblings $5

Rolie Polie Guacamole is a rocking “kindie” band from Brooklyn, NY that has steadily grown a devoted following of children and adults over the last few years, touring across the east coast and mid-west, with top picks by Boston.com, Time Out Kids NY, and Time Out Kids Chicago, their high energy, interactive shows are a mix of funk, rock and folk music mashed into original tunes about natural living, eating healthy and staying active. The band’s latest album, Houses of the Moly, won a Parent’s Choice Award and a NAPPA Honor’s Award! More info

RSVP required, space is limited. Email: alisha@egg-baby.com

The Playroom at EGG (on DumboNYC)
72 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

This post is sponsored by Carpingo.

Carpingo is Brooklyn’s car sharing community. Cars by the hour or day, available 24/7.

Spring is almost here and you’ve totally missed all your chances to get out of the city: ski trips fell through; snow-shoeing plans cancelled for lack of snow; or maybe you find it impossible to get out of bed on the weekend before the sun sets at 4 p.m. We’ve got just the tonic for those hibernation blues: a weekend trip to the country!

We have teamed up with Carpingo to give one lucky reader a Friday-through-Monday car share and a $500 gift certificate* to the Inn at Lake Joseph, a beautiful upstate retreat near Forestburgh, New York. Finally you and your honey can flee the concrete jungle grass, trees, and a body of water that isn’t the Gowanus Canal.

Carpingo is New York City’s only home-grown hourly car sharing company. Their service is easy – reserve a car online for when and where you need it, and it’ll be there. No lines, no paperwork, no office hours – just unlock and drive. Cars are available by the hour or the day, 24/7. Carpingo will even cover gas and insurance.

We know how it is. Sometimes you bought too many groceries at Trader Joe’s or have to move that kayak that’s been lying in your hallway since May. You just can’t do it without a car. But why bother with the hassle of alternate-side parking and mooching friends who “forget” to offer gas money? Sign up and you’ll not only get access to a car whenever you want, you’ll support a Brooklyn business that partners with great NYC organizations like Rooftop Films, St. Francis College Athletics, and Gotham Girls Roller Derby. With Carpingo, your money stays local even if you’re on the move.

So get out of those pajamas and enter our contest by submitting your email below, and as usual – earn extra entries by following/liking/retweeting and referring friends! It’ll be the perfect way to usher in the warm weather and support a great new business.

*Applicable to room rate only. Gratuity and taxes not included.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After 4+ months, Almondine Bakery has rebuilt and is now open. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the kitchen and baking equipment in October 2012. The damage was so extensive that owner/chef Hervé Poussot was doubtful that the bakery could be rebuilt. He had to close the Park Slope location since the baking occurred in the basement of the Dumbo location. But the community came together to help him rebuild with a pop-up fundraiser event, online fundraiser, and created a Facebook page to keep supporters updated. Dumbo is lucky to have Almondine back!

(Photo courtesy of Friends of Almondine Facebook page)

Almondine Bakery (almondinebakery.com)
85 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

gofundme.com/save-almondine
Friends of Almondine Facebook page
@AlmondineNYC