DUMBO

Destination DUMBO, on the Bay Ridge ferry

Eye on Real Estate: Savvy sculptors' works and a peerless park with flower-filled piers

June 14, 2017 By Lore Croghan Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Welcome to Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where the NYC Ferry from Bay Ridge docks. Eagle photos by Lore Croghan
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A wild whirlpool, a sculptor who makes art out of your discarded stuff and the hottest spot in Brooklyn for selfie-snapping. What’s not to like?

NYC Ferry’s newly launched South Brooklyn service has turned trendy DUMBO into a convenient weekend hangout spot — for folks who live in Bay Ridge.

The ride up the Brooklyn shoreline is faster than the subway, and so scenic. It takes 42 minutes to get to the Pier 1 dock in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and costs $2.75, just like the train.         

This is a quick list for our Bay Ridge neighbors of things to do. Those of you who live elsewhere might find this helpful, too.

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* “Descension,” by British sculptor Anish Kapoor: Practically the first thing visitors see after stepping off the Pier 1 ferry dock is this mysterious whirlpool. It’s an art installation, presented by Public Art Fund, which is dug into the grass at Brooklyn Bridge Park. It will be on display through Sept. 10.

See related stories for photos of other key things to see in the park, such as the newly opened public space on the rooftop of Empire Stores.   

* The Flower Field on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6: The flowers in the half-acre Flower Field started blooming for the first time last summer. There are vast expanses of green lawn, too — with views of Lower Manhattan’s skyscrapers.

* Usagi Art Gallery: Bring a small toy or an unwanted scrap of electronics to this gallery at 163 Plymouth St. The artist whose work is being shown through Aug. 2, Shu Ohno, will incorporate your offering into sculptures he is making — right at Usagi.

* Klompching Gallery: An excellent show called “Vanitas” runs through June 30 at this gallery at 89 Water St. It features photographs by Jeanette May and Kimberly Witham. Both artists’ works were inspired by Dutch still-life paintings.

* DUMBO Walls: There are lots of other galleries in the neighborhood. Plus there are murals that were painted in 2013 on the walls beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. They can be found on and near York Street.

* The Selfie Capital of Brooklyn: Everybody who visits DUMBO stops on the corner of Washington and Water streets to take photos. You should, too. Look closely at your pictures, and you’ll notice the Empire State Building is visible in the distance, framed by the supports of the Manhattan Bridge. See related stories for other photos we’ve snapped of this photogenic spot.

* River Café: The famous River Café at 1 Water St. on the shoreline of the Fulton Ferry Historic District is a dazzling option for dining and drinking. Another option is the rooftop bar that just opened at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which is at 60 Furman St.      

By the way, if you stay out until the wee hours, you’ll have to take a cab home. The ferry doesn’t run late at night.

 


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