DUMBO Neighborhood Guide

By Go City Expert

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Dumbo, Brooklyn[/caption] Brooklyn has been on the radar as a popular destination for a few years now. There are many fascinating neighborhoods with a rich history, full of cultural institutions, historical sights and national landmarks. One of the most picturesque Brooklyn neighborhoods is Dumbo. Dumbo stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass, clearly indicating the neighborhood's location. Dumbo is nestled between the two bridges, Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge, and offers amazing views of both. Dumbo is easily accessible by subway, but perhaps the best way to get there is to walk or bike across the Brooklyn Bridge, or the slightly less scenic Manhattan Bridge. If you plan to take public transportation, take the F train to York Street. For walking, the best option is the Brooklyn Bridge from Chinatown, offering amazing views and a truly unforgettable experience. For biking, the Manhattan Bridge is optimal, because of its spacious bike lane and no crowds. Dumbo is known for its cobble-stoned streets, industrial, brick buildings, factories and warehouses, and outrageously expensive apartments. Nestled between the rich brick-red buildings, you can find many artisanal coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.

Food

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A pie from Julianas[/caption] Two of the most famous pizza shops in Brooklyn are located in Dumbo, very close to one another. One of them is Juliana's (pictured), a classic New York Style pizza joint, attracting customers from all over the world. The pizza is so good, usually there's a line outside. The second one is Grimaldi's, now a chain operating in multiple locations in the city, serving delicious brick-oven pizza right under the Brooklyn Bridge. To satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by Jacques Torres Chocolate, a sought-after artisanal chocolate and truffle shop.

Art

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Robert Swain: Color as Color at Minus Space[/caption] Dumbo is home to one of the most vibrant art scenes in New York City. The neighborhood's spacious, lofty buildings make for perfect gallery space and the local crowd of hip, wealthy millennials creates the ideal clientele for new, provocative art. Art in Dumbo has put together the whole portfolio of local art galleries in an easy-to-navigate website. Head to Minus Space to admire minimalist contemporary art in a spacious gallery, or the Klompching Gallery for contemporary photography.

Sites and Photo Ops

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Classic shot of Empire State Building peeking through Manhattan Bridge on Washington Street[/caption] Perhaps the biggest reason for tourists to flock over to Dumbo are the other-worldly views from its waterfront. Nestled between the two bridges, Dumbo offers incredible photo-ops and views of these engineering marvels, as well as the lower Manhattan skyline. Perhaps the most classic view is that of the Empire State Building peeking from under the Manhattan Bridge, from Washington Street and Water Street. If you prefer the Brooklyn Bridge, the opportunities for amazing shots are plentiful in this area, as soon as you descend the bridge, or are done with your pizza at Juliana's.

Activities

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Janes Carousel | Photo via NYCGO[/caption] A trip to Dumbo would not be complete without riding the famous Jane's Carousel. Built in 1922 and originally located in Ohio, this carousel brings to life the classic feel of vintage amusement parks, right on the Brooklyn waterfront. Extending past the boundary of Dumbo is Brooklyn Bridge Park, a public park built right on the Brooklyn Piers, offering many opportunities for leisure, with the most magnificent views of Brooklyn Bridge and Downtown Manhattan. Walking through Brooklyn Bridge Park is an experience treasured by locals and visitors alike, with plenty of activities for both adults and children. If you wish to explore Dumbo with the help of knowledgeable tour guides, you can take the Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo walking tour (free with the New York Pass), or take Circle Line Cruises' Hello Brooklyn Tour, which focuses on Dumbo and the Brooklyn waterfront. Alternatively, you can rent bikes or take a bike tour with one of our bike partners and explore the area on two wheels.

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Attraction of The Week: Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum | The New Yorker Brooklyn Museum While most of New York City's major museums exist in Manhattan, there is one museum that has shown over the years that the trip to Brooklyn is well worth it. Located on Eastern Parkway, the Brooklyn Museum is a lively hub where art, culture and entertainment are celebrated. Throughout the year, the museum displays changing exhibitions as well as live performances for all respective age ranges. All five floors in the Brooklyn Museum offer something different with themes and styles that connect flawlessly along the spacious walls. Collection Founded in 1895, the Brooklyn Museum has pulled together quite an impressive collection of artistic works over their 122 years of existence. Today the museum's collection totals around 1.5 million pieces and boasts the likes of legends like Georgia O'Keefe, Max Weber and Mark Rothko. In 2002, the Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation also gifted the beautiful Judy Chicago exhibit known as 'The Dinner Party' to the museum. Many view 'The Dinner Party' as the first major feminist artwork and now it is a permanent exhibition on display. Brooklyn Museum | @nytimes With all of the works residing in their collection, it certainly helps to have some space. The museum occupies around 560,000 square feet along Eastern Parkway and measures as the 3rd largest museum in all of New York City. Prior to the museum's construction, the plan was to make it the world's largest art museum. Although it didn't become such, third place is nothing to scoff at in this regard. First Saturdays In addition to the many exhibitions, you can also expect events to be happening at the Brooklyn Museum all year 'round. One rather fascinating event that the museum holds is called First Saturdays. On the first Saturday of each month, a huge, free party is held for all of New York to visit. Some of New York's most exciting young DJ's like Kitty Cash and Jasmine Solano have played at First Saturdays. Great music fills the rooms as everyone gets to dance and view the museum for free on a Saturday night. Brooklyn Museum | Timeout If you're interested in stopping by the Brooklyn Museum, visit the attraction page and plan your trip today!
Go City Expert
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Attraction of The Week: South Bronx Tour

[caption id="attachment_1311" align="aligncenter" width="977"] South Bronx | @Curbed[/caption] South Bronx Renaissance Tour The South Bronx has long been known as a cultural centerpiece in New York and the diverse community within the borough shows that this won't change any time soon. Generations in the Bronx have seen the birth of Hip Hop, legendary Yankees teams, economic growth as well as the decline and rebirth of their neighborhoods. People on the outside looking in may view the Bronx as a historic borough within New York, but the outsider's point of view can be very different from that of someone walking and living within the area. Thanks to Inside Out Tours, there is an official tour of the South Bronx that gives us insight to not only the attractions within the Bronx but also the story that depicts the rise, fall and rebuild of the borough. The guides on the tour will also speak on what role the community has played in revitalizing the South Bronx. Highlights Some of the highlights from the South Bronx Renaissance Tour include the Bronx Museum of Art, Bronx Walk of Fame and of course the Yankee Stadium. Along the 3 hour tour, you'll be passing through Concourse and seeing the creative art deco and graffiti put on display by some of New York's talented young artists. A tour guide will be in charge of the group and will be providing explanations of the artistic scenery and historic venues that you will be passing on the tour. [caption id="attachment_1314" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Bronx Museum of Art | @arquitectonicaintl[/caption] - The Bronx Museum of Art showcases 20th century contemporary pieces and boasts a collection of over 800 pieces. Throughout the year, the museum holds exhibitions that incorporate foreign artists and collaborators. Since being founded in 1971, the Bronx Museum has worked to make art more accessible to those in the area. - On the Bronx Walk of Fame, you'll see the names of famous South Bronx residents that have been immortalized for their contributions to the community. The borough holds an annual celebration called Bronx Week in which they induct a new group of residents to inhabit the Walk of Fame. Some of the notable names along the Walk of Fame include Colin Powell (U.S. Secretary of State ), Joy Bryant (Actress) and Regis Philbin (TV Host). - We're all aware what occurs at the Yankee Stadium... But for those who don't follow Baseball, the Yankee Stadium is where the iconic MLB, team the New York Yankees play. People in New York (not just the Bronx) take great pride in the Yankees and their 27 world series championships. [caption id="attachment_1313" align="aligncenter" width="991"] Yankee Stadium | @mlb[/caption] Getting There If you're interested in taking the South Bronx Renaissance Tour, there are groups that up meet on Thursdays and Fridays at 10am in front of Grand Central Station (near the Park ave and East 42nd street intersection). The tour also conveniently offers Spanish tour guides on Fridays. Prior to meeting for departure, please make sure that you have purchased a Metro Card for the Subway as the group will be taking the train from Grand Central. For more information on the South Bronx Renaissance tour, you can visit our attraction page and reserve your spot!
Go City Expert
New York
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2 Days in New York City - A Sample Itinerary with The New York Pass®

With The New York Pass, you can tailor a sightseeing itinerary to your own interests. This two-day New York City sightseeing itinerary below is just an example of how you can use your New York Pass to visit attractions and save big on admission. Follow the itinerary below, or, just use it as inspiration to start planning your trip and visit any and as many of the other included attractions as you want. This sample two-day itinerary includes: Big Bus Classic Panoramic Tour Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island 9/11 Memorial & Museum Top of the Rock American Museum of Natural History and more... DAY 1 Big Bus Classic Panoramic Tour The best way to start your trip—get acquainted with New York City’s top attractions, landmarks, sights, and layout on a comprehensive, bus tour with live narration. You’ll be able to hop on or off at any of the 25+ stops along the tour’s 3 bus routes: Uptown, Downtown, and Midtown for the full New York City experience. Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Immigration Museum Take a ferry from Battery Park and visit the Statue of Liberty to see it up-close before heading over to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Explore the history of immigration to the United States, with a specific focus on the immigration process through Ellis Island and the 12 million immigrants to were processed at Ellis Island, walk through the institution's historic halls and galleries, and more. 9/11 Memorial & Museum Located at the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a poignant testament to the terrorist attacks and tragic events of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. A visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is educational and emotional. The galleries feature artifacts from the wreckage, photographs of the events that illustrate the events’ timelines, stories and first-hand accounts from survivors and family members of victims, and more. You’ll be able to pay tribute to the victims and service members who perished on 9/11 at the memorial site, where there are two twin reflecting pools with man-made waterfalls inscribed with the names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks. Madame Tussauds New York Meet all your favorite celebrities and interact with A-Listers at Madame Tussauds New York, right in Times Square. You’ll get to get up close and pose with Lady Gaga, Morgan Freeman, Carmelo Anthony, some of your favorite Marvel superheroes, and more as you explore the museum’s five floors of themed rooms. Get as close to the stars as you want, there are not bodyguards to shield you away! Insider tip: Madame Tussauds opens 1 hour early, exclusively for New York Pass holders. Top of the Rock Head to the 70th floor of historic Rockefeller Center for 360-degree, sweeping views of Manhattan and beyond from the famous Top of the Rock observation deck. On your way up, you’ll get to learn about the history and symbolic significance of the iconic building and Rockefeller’s vision for the building complex. When you step out onto the three-story observation deck, you’ll have unbeatable views of all the New York City skyline landmarks. Insider tip: download the free app or use the multi-media displays to help identify buildings and landmarks in view. DAY 2 The Ride Experience New York from the best seat in the city and see the streets transform into a live, Broadway stage. You’ll board a custom-made bus with stadium-style seating and large windows for unobstructed views of street performers on their various ‘stages’ throughout the city. This 75-minute traveling theater features fun, interactive entertainment and takes you to some of the top sights in New York, including Times Square, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building, New York Public Library, Central Park, and more. Central Park Bicycle Rentals Explore Central Park’s 843 acres on two wheels with a guided bike tour—you’ll get to see more than you would by foot and your knowledgeable guide will make sure you see all the top sights. American Museum of Natural History Visit one of the largest natural history museums in the world and learn about everything from extinction to the evolution of plant and animal life around the world. From our origins as a human species to Siberian Tigers and a 122-foot titanosaur (a 70-ton herbivore), you can get up close to it all at the AMNH.
Kirsten McCroskrie

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