Dinner and other questions re DUMBO?
Jul 19th, 2012, 12:40 PM
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Dinner and other questions re DUMBO?
We're going to be in NY for a long weekend in August (and going to the GTG!) and I'm trying to plan some things that we've never done before.
I've finally convinced my SO to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge with me and I'd like to do some things in the DUMBO area. We've never been there. So here's my plan so far: I've reserved tickets for a concert at Bargemusic and it starts at 8 p.m. I thought we'd have dinner before but I don't know any restaurants around there except for the River Cafe. I'd rather not go there since we've already been there a few times and besides, it's too pricey. I'd like a nice, casual, reasonably-priced place. A fish place would be great but I'd consider others. It would be very nice if it were within a not-too-long walk from Bargemusic.
Here's the Fodors list:
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...oc:709802.html
I'd love to have your comments on any of these places and your suggestions for others.
Also, if we crossed over to DUMBO in the afternoon, where should we walk? What should we see? Should we go to the ice cream place? Is it particularly good?
I'm guessing that the concert will end at about 10 and we'll walk back to Manhattan across the bridge afterward. When we get to the Manhattan side, will we be able to easily find a cab?
Thanks for your help,
gtg
I've finally convinced my SO to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge with me and I'd like to do some things in the DUMBO area. We've never been there. So here's my plan so far: I've reserved tickets for a concert at Bargemusic and it starts at 8 p.m. I thought we'd have dinner before but I don't know any restaurants around there except for the River Cafe. I'd rather not go there since we've already been there a few times and besides, it's too pricey. I'd like a nice, casual, reasonably-priced place. A fish place would be great but I'd consider others. It would be very nice if it were within a not-too-long walk from Bargemusic.
Here's the Fodors list:
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...oc:709802.html
I'd love to have your comments on any of these places and your suggestions for others.
Also, if we crossed over to DUMBO in the afternoon, where should we walk? What should we see? Should we go to the ice cream place? Is it particularly good?
I'm guessing that the concert will end at about 10 and we'll walk back to Manhattan across the bridge afterward. When we get to the Manhattan side, will we be able to easily find a cab?
Thanks for your help,
gtg
Jul 20th, 2012, 05:06 AM
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I was under the Brooklyn Bridge last weekend. We went under the bridge to get half priced tickets to Broadway shows at the South Street Seaport Museum. However, I know next to nothing about NYC. I can tell you that there are lots of people there.
Jul 20th, 2012, 06:01 AM
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Vinegar Hill is an excellent restaurant. We have not eaten at Hecho en DUMBO but maybe you can check out the reviews.
There are many art galleries and furniture stores. Also there is the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory, Jacques Torres for choolcates and Almondine Bakery for exceptional croissants.
DUMBO means Down Under the Brooklyn Bridge Overpass which is stupid as the name itself.
There are many art galleries and furniture stores. Also there is the Brooklyn Ice Cream factory, Jacques Torres for choolcates and Almondine Bakery for exceptional croissants.
DUMBO means Down Under the Brooklyn Bridge Overpass which is stupid as the name itself.
Jul 20th, 2012, 06:10 AM
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After you walk across the bridge into Brooklyn, you'll be in a park. Cross it and go towards the East River to get to DUMBO. then go East towards the river into Brooklyn Heights to see a beautiful 19th century neighborhood (Bownstones abound) and promenade overlooking the river. Great views of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty. You can walk from there down to DUMBO which now has a fabulous park overlooking the River ("Bridge Park").
Ice cream place is good. Be sure to the Jacques Torres Chocolate place (66 Water Place). This is his original store. Also has ice cream, I believe. Amazing chocolates. There are trendy clothing stores, galleries in the DUMBO area.
"Henry's End" is on Henry Street and was good when I went a few years ago.
Don't go to Grimaldi's. Waiting on line for pizza? Give me a break! (I'm a native Brooklynite.)
If in Brooklyn Heights, go to Montague Street (just ask anyone where it is, it's the main shopping street)- there are a lot of restaurants there that are reasonably prices.
You'll be walking a lot. And wonderful walking it will be!
Ice cream place is good. Be sure to the Jacques Torres Chocolate place (66 Water Place). This is his original store. Also has ice cream, I believe. Amazing chocolates. There are trendy clothing stores, galleries in the DUMBO area.
"Henry's End" is on Henry Street and was good when I went a few years ago.
Don't go to Grimaldi's. Waiting on line for pizza? Give me a break! (I'm a native Brooklynite.)
If in Brooklyn Heights, go to Montague Street (just ask anyone where it is, it's the main shopping street)- there are a lot of restaurants there that are reasonably prices.
You'll be walking a lot. And wonderful walking it will be!
Jul 20th, 2012, 06:24 AM
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Ooops - Should be "Go South (not East) to get to Brooklyn Heights, although if you're n Cadman Plaza West, you're pretty much already there, but to get further in where the beautiful streets are, go a bit south and then walk across Pierrepont St. or other streets that are perpendicular to the River and Cadman Plaza West.
Have I messed your mind up enough?
Have I messed your mind up enough?
Jul 20th, 2012, 06:54 AM
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Kenav
This is GTG is the initials of the original poster. There is a separate and long thread on the NYC GTG.
The residential architecture in Brooklyn Heights is historic and spectacular as is the view from the Promenade which has been used 1,000's of movies and TV shows. The stores and restaurants on Atlantic Avenue are not as chi-chi as DUMBO but are interesting and varied especially the Middle Eastern places.
I am with Kenav, even though Grimaldi's makes good pizza, it is not great nor worth the wait.
This is GTG is the initials of the original poster. There is a separate and long thread on the NYC GTG.
The residential architecture in Brooklyn Heights is historic and spectacular as is the view from the Promenade which has been used 1,000's of movies and TV shows. The stores and restaurants on Atlantic Avenue are not as chi-chi as DUMBO but are interesting and varied especially the Middle Eastern places.
I am with Kenav, even though Grimaldi's makes good pizza, it is not great nor worth the wait.
Jul 20th, 2012, 11:56 AM
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Thanks, everyone -- this is excellent info!
Vinegar Hill looks interesting but has a pretty limited menu for my SO's needs. Henry's looks better for us. Hecho seems to be closed which is too bad because it got uniformly great reviews.
I don't have much interest in Grimaldi's. Several websites have said it's mainly a tourist place. We'll probably hit the ice cream store and Jacques Torres, though.
We'll be checked into our hotel at about 2 p.m. on a Friday and I think we'll just head over to Brooklyn and spend the rest of that day and evening there.
kenav, the NY GTG is on August 11th on the Upper West Side. Here's the thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...gtg-in-nyc.cfm
I hope to meet you all there!
Vinegar Hill looks interesting but has a pretty limited menu for my SO's needs. Henry's looks better for us. Hecho seems to be closed which is too bad because it got uniformly great reviews.
I don't have much interest in Grimaldi's. Several websites have said it's mainly a tourist place. We'll probably hit the ice cream store and Jacques Torres, though.
We'll be checked into our hotel at about 2 p.m. on a Friday and I think we'll just head over to Brooklyn and spend the rest of that day and evening there.
kenav, the NY GTG is on August 11th on the Upper West Side. Here's the thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...gtg-in-nyc.cfm
I hope to meet you all there!
Jul 20th, 2012, 12:32 PM
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Yes, I am the DUMBO and I am sorry that I gave the real estate people another name DUBBO.
When I was growing up in Brooklyn and someone said, "Where do you come from?"
And if you answered, "DUMBO."
They would have said, "And I'm from freaking Pluto," and beat the hell out of you.
When I was growing up in Brooklyn and someone said, "Where do you come from?"
And if you answered, "DUMBO."
They would have said, "And I'm from freaking Pluto," and beat the hell out of you.
Jul 20th, 2012, 08:27 PM
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Adu, I don't see you on the GTG thread. Not coming?
My absence is one small reason for the spectacular turn out.
_______
Thirty-five years before they built that monstrosity that is the South Street Seaport, it was a tough area and that was also before the real estate people came up with the idiotic names of DUMBO, Clinton (for Hell's Kitchen), Tribeca (triangle below canal (street), and Noho. Maybe Soho was invented by then.
My absence is one small reason for the spectacular turn out.
_______
Thirty-five years before they built that monstrosity that is the South Street Seaport, it was a tough area and that was also before the real estate people came up with the idiotic names of DUMBO, Clinton (for Hell's Kitchen), Tribeca (triangle below canal (street), and Noho. Maybe Soho was invented by then.
Jul 21st, 2012, 05:13 AM
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Aww, Adu, I was hoping to meet you!
Actually, one of my SO's profs and his mentor at Princeton, was very important in the revitalization of the South Houston area. A couple of years ago there was a ceremony and there's a little plaque there somewhere honouring him. Either he or his partner came up with the name. I've never been sure which one.
Actually, one of my SO's profs and his mentor at Princeton, was very important in the revitalization of the South Houston area. A couple of years ago there was a ceremony and there's a little plaque there somewhere honouring him. Either he or his partner came up with the name. I've never been sure which one.
Jul 21st, 2012, 06:25 AM
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"Yes and they all stole it from the area in London."
Well, you could say just about everything about NY was 'stolen' from an area in London (or elsewhere) and you could make a good case for the accuracy of that statement.
Well, you could say just about everything about NY was 'stolen' from an area in London (or elsewhere) and you could make a good case for the accuracy of that statement.
Jul 21st, 2012, 10:41 AM
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gtg, please come to Brooklyn! Maybe I could even meet you and walk around with you - I love been "tour guide" IRL even more than on Fodor's! 
I have met Adu IRL. The absence of he and his lovely wife at our GTG will be vast! (Maybe if we keep buttering him up between now and then, he'll acquiesce...)
Note that the Brooklyn Bridge is being renovated, which translates to lots of unattractive metal siding covering the parts they're currently painting. It doesn't block one's view from the pedestrian path, but makes photos *of* the BB rather awkward! At the moment, it's covering most of the Manhattan side of the bridge. Let's hope they move on by mid-August!
My favorite restaurant in DUMBO is Superfine; IMO a very suitable precursor to an evening of Bargemusic. Vinegar Hill is okay but for my tastes a little too... something... self-important I guess. For an even more casual vibe, the food at Rebar is always tasty and the beer list intriguing. They have a terrific lunch special - try the cobb salad or the pulled pork sandwich or the mac 'n cheese...
I'm not a fan of Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Chocoholic that I am, I'll go for Jacques Torres' take on ice cream any day! As others have mentioned, his chocolates are superb, and his bakery Almondine as wonderful as any French patisserie in New York can be. But for coffee, you have to go to Brooklyn Roasting Company - and try not to succumb to their donuts while you're at it!
DUMBO's named was coined by the artists who used to proliferate throughout the old warehouse buildings, but who now mostly have been pushed east to Bushwick.
Speaking of artists, another idea for your afternoon would be to visit the Brooklyn Flea in the Fort Greene neighborhood - though you'd want to get on a subway for at least some part of your excursion.
Maybe better would be an architectural-type tour as Adu mentioned. Off the BB, head south into Brooklyn Heights and its promenade, then circle back to DUMBO via the not-quite-finished brand new Brooklyn Bridge Park if the weather is temperate...
I have met Adu IRL. The absence of he and his lovely wife at our GTG will be vast! (Maybe if we keep buttering him up between now and then, he'll acquiesce...)
Note that the Brooklyn Bridge is being renovated, which translates to lots of unattractive metal siding covering the parts they're currently painting. It doesn't block one's view from the pedestrian path, but makes photos *of* the BB rather awkward! At the moment, it's covering most of the Manhattan side of the bridge. Let's hope they move on by mid-August!
My favorite restaurant in DUMBO is Superfine; IMO a very suitable precursor to an evening of Bargemusic. Vinegar Hill is okay but for my tastes a little too... something... self-important I guess. For an even more casual vibe, the food at Rebar is always tasty and the beer list intriguing. They have a terrific lunch special - try the cobb salad or the pulled pork sandwich or the mac 'n cheese...
I'm not a fan of Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Chocoholic that I am, I'll go for Jacques Torres' take on ice cream any day! As others have mentioned, his chocolates are superb, and his bakery Almondine as wonderful as any French patisserie in New York can be. But for coffee, you have to go to Brooklyn Roasting Company - and try not to succumb to their donuts while you're at it!
DUMBO's named was coined by the artists who used to proliferate throughout the old warehouse buildings, but who now mostly have been pushed east to Bushwick.
Speaking of artists, another idea for your afternoon would be to visit the Brooklyn Flea in the Fort Greene neighborhood - though you'd want to get on a subway for at least some part of your excursion.
Maybe better would be an architectural-type tour as Adu mentioned. Off the BB, head south into Brooklyn Heights and its promenade, then circle back to DUMBO via the not-quite-finished brand new Brooklyn Bridge Park if the weather is temperate...
Jul 21st, 2012, 11:27 AM
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Yes GGreen is a most charming and I hope she will not take offense if I use a word from an era, vivacious.
___
Well, you could say just about everything about NY was 'stolen' from an area in London (or elsewhere) and you could make a good case for the accuracy of that statement.
_______
Surprisingly enough, you would expect a greater English influence but the influence of everything after the Industrial Revolution, American innovation, and hundreds of years of immigration, have given NY its own flavor and charm.
There is a great vibrancy to both cities, but they do have hundreds of years on us. I would venture to guess, that over the past say 100 years NY had a bigger influence on London than London on NY.
___
Well, you could say just about everything about NY was 'stolen' from an area in London (or elsewhere) and you could make a good case for the accuracy of that statement.
_______
Surprisingly enough, you would expect a greater English influence but the influence of everything after the Industrial Revolution, American innovation, and hundreds of years of immigration, have given NY its own flavor and charm.
There is a great vibrancy to both cities, but they do have hundreds of years on us. I would venture to guess, that over the past say 100 years NY had a bigger influence on London than London on NY.
