To say that Dumbo has been experiencing a renaissance is a bit of an understatement. It’s more like the spirit of Dumbo is one of constant discovery. Some of the best Brooklyn has to offer is concentrated here in one deeply cinematic place, and the Dumbo condos for sale at 98 Front Street put you right in the heart of it. It’s no surprise that on any day of the week you are likely to see photo shoots taking place on the cobblestone streets where photographers and filmmakers frame actors and models against the backdrop of the Manhattan Bridge, the East River, and a skyline that is so close you feel you could almost touch it. A hotbed of art galleries, bookstores, restaurants, and specialty shops, the neighborhood’s cultural and culinary draw is rivaled only by the burgeoning of some of the most beautifully landscaped waterfront parks in the entire city.
Here is a glimpse at some of the places that make a trip to Dumbo worthwhile, and which will become the backbone of a perfect day in the neighborhood when you live in the Dumbo condos at 98 Front.
Looking for the best place in the neighborhood to grab breakfast? Or how about somewhere to feast upon magnificent pain au chocolat as authentic as any emerging from a Parisian pȃtisserie? Well then, you’re looking for the Almondine Bakery. Here, you’ll find French-as-it-gets baguettes and pastries and deliciously tempting handmade sandwiches for lunch, making it the perfect spot for a European breakfast, as well as a great place to grab a bite to take to Main Street Park, which is just steps away. Take a post-breakfast stroll through the park where you can rest on the grass or sit contemplating the river. Main Street Park is actually a part of a series of parks, including Empire Fulton Ferry Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, which curves around the waterfront and skirts Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, and Cobble Hill. Kids young and old will fall in love with Jane’s Carousel, a centerpiece of the Dumbo waterfront. The carousel is an authentic 1922 piece that was purchased in its entirety and lovingly (and painstakingly) restored by Jane and David Walentas.
If you’re feeling adventurous, or you want to start a new hobby that doubles as a perfect neighborhood workout routine, pay a visit to The Cliffs at DUMBO — a climbing wall that looks like a giant sculpture at the northern edge of Main Street Park. The Cliffs at DUMBO provides classes, memberships, and daily rates for everyone from beginning to more experienced climbers.
Right across Plymouth Street from the park is Smack Mellon — a top NYC artist residency. You’ll find a spacious gallery that recently displayed “I come to this place,” a group show featuring artists whose work explored abstraction in its relationship to cultural identity.
On Front Street, take some time to browse in Berl’s Brooklyn Poetry Shop, one of the finest poetry bookstores in the country. The shop’s frequent readings feature some of the most exciting poets from around the world.
A block away is another important art space: Art in General is a gallery unique in the New York art world in that it exists to provide space and funding for artists who might not have had a chance to develop otherwise. Major figures such as Marina Abramović and Gabriel Orozco got their start here, making this Dumbo fixture a touchstone of both the past and the future of art in New York.
With more to explore beyond this list, you’ll be sure to find a favorite that becomes your go-to spot for relaxing vibes. They’re all convenient to the Dumbo, Brooklyn, condos for sale at 98 Front, so pick a place, settle in, and don’t forget to enjoy the view.