Went on my annual pilgrimage to the DUMBO Arts Festival yesterday with my friends Erica and Joy in tow. After a quick first hit of contemporary art installation at Smack Mellon, we made a bee line to Jacques Torres for the chocolatier's justly famous Wicked Hot Chocolate. The thick, creamy stuff wasn't as "wicked" as we would have liked, lacking in its usual chile, spice zing, but the heat and chocolate more than made up for it.
We sipped as we made our way through hundreds of open studios, eyeing delights like Amy Bennett's vividly compelling "doll's house" interpretations and Thomas Germano's witty riff on an American icon - the baseball. We all found Kelley Bush's cibachromes evocatively soothing and Jane Walentas' restoration work of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #61 enchanting.
As we wove in and out of studios and a few galleries, we noticed other art lovers clasping Torres' signature bright orange cups, drinking in the warmth of his hot chocolate.
Then we started to notice a few of them clasping cups of a different sort - Starbucks cups. Where did they come from? Did they travel all the way from Brooklyn Heights' Montague Street with their double-foam, half-caf lattes?
One turn onto Main Street towards Fulton and we knew that there was no turning back from DUMBO's gentrification. There it was. A bonafide Starbucks firmly planted on the corner.
Now all they need is a chain grocery store and pharmacy. Anybody have the numbers for Key Foods and Rite Aid? That should complete the evil trifecta nicely.
bastards
Posted by: Dr. Biggles | October 19, 2004 at 06:56 PM
ummm yeah DUMBO *does* need a chain grocery and pharmacy! Put yourself in the shoes of residents, which I once was. There's one convenience store lacking normal groceries like chicken and NO pharmacy whatsoever. What if you need to fill a perscription? As charming as the untouched industrial DUMBO may be, a neighborhood can't get by on chocolate alone!
Posted by: phoebe | October 20, 2004 at 01:35 AM
I still live here and get by just fine without those thing. Especially if the lack of them keeps people away. If you can't make a 5 minute walk to Brooklyn Heights then stick with the chain happy UWS. It is amazing how often people are drawn to a neighborhood because of its character and then set about moaning for change. The mindless hordes who I'm sure were packing the starbucks are a great example.
Posted by: helio | October 20, 2004 at 02:48 AM
There is a chain supermarket (since 1997---the first one was firebombed by owner) you just have to walk down York St. to enter, a medical office and formerly a Pharmacy don't know if its still there. Right accross from the Projects.... Some of the Deli's are open all night and sell 40's, dime bags and bullets if you need them.
Posted by: Radian | October 20, 2004 at 10:40 AM