The NYC Traveler in NYC: The Dumbo Area of Brooklyn
- Marcia Crayton
- Feb 2
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 29
Not so DUMB-O, Brooklyn
Dumbo: what a funny name, even for an elephant. And it's even more interesting when you apply it to an area of a city. But that's just the case with one of the hidden gems (or maybe not so much any more) of Brooklyn, New York. It's a great way to spend
a weekend afternoon. But what the heck is Dumbo, where is it exactly, how do you get there and what do you do once you get there besides post a photo of yourself with the hash tag "DumboBrooklyn" or maybe "DumboBK?" We're glad you asked. Read on. And stay tuned so that you can get that famous bridge photo.
Welcome to the Dumbo area of Brooklyn. The name stands for Down Under the Manhattan/Brooklyn Overpass. The name refers to the area between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, both of which span across the East River which separates Brooklyn from Manhattan (the river separates Queens from Manhattan, also). The Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge from the BMW trio of bridges that take you from Brooklyn to Manhattan (yes, another interesting acronym).
Let's talk about how to get there. I'm glad you asked, even if you really didn't. It's accessible via land (feet and wheels), train or bus (public transportation) and sea. Sea? Keep reading.
Many visitors to New York (and locals on the weekends) usually cross the Brooklyn Bridge, most likely starting in Manhattan, probably because they've been exploring the City Hall area.
Whether I'm walking or riding, I usually end on the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade, safe from the traffic, because, yes, the bridge is actually a working bridge, linking drivers from Lower Manhattan on Park Row to Brooklyn's I-278, either towards Staten Island or towards Queens (a nice little artery through Brooklyn that I hate to be driving on at almost any time of the day).
When I'm starting in Manhattan, whether I'm walking or riding my bike, I get on the bridge right across the street from City Hall, at Centre Street. The 4, 5, 6, J and Z trains will get me over there. I get off at Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall or Chambers Street Stop. The bridge and the road to is now staring me right in the face, not to mention the hub of activity in the area: cars and buses passing me by on Park Row, cyclists and scooters whizzing by and locals who have seen the view so many times that they're not impressed anymore or students from nearby schools including Pace University or Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Before I start across the bridge, whether I'm on foot or on wheels, I try figure out how which route I'm going to take home. The bridge is about 1 mile long but what with foot traffic, enjoying the views and probably taking selfies, it could take me about 20 minutes to almost an hour, especially on those days that I decide to walk all the way across. Some people walk midway and then turn around.
But since this NYC Traveler blog article is about Dumbo, Brooklyn, we're going to go all the way across. But sometimes, I'm already on the other side. How did I get there? The F train to York Street will get me right to Dumbo. The A or C trains to High Street will put me at Cadman Plaza, which is a park with a couple of nice memorials and statues. I make my way to Cadman Plaza East, which becomes Washington Street, and keep walking toward the river.
There's one more way to get to the area, but first a little story:
The name of the area went through many forms, but I thought the name Olympia was one of the most interesting. For some reason, these guys that bought the land back in the American Revolution days thought about developing it as a summer place (maybe even a resort area). It's not too far fetched. The riverfront probably formed a beach area and with no bridges or buildings built yet, you can imagine it a a beachfront area. Sort of an early Coney Island.
In fact, I told you that I could have gotten to Dumbo by sea and I can: I could have taken the ferry. Cool, huh? I'm nice to the area when I arrive: part of the Dumbo area is a historical district.
I wander around, watching my footing, because some of the streets are still cobblestone, I can imagine horses clopping along back in the day. I walk down Bridge and Dock Streets and head to the East River. This lets me see the great views under the bridges: the Brooklyn Bridge borders the neighborhood, the Manhattan Bridge goes right through it.
Those cobblestones are still there because it was easier to leave them instead of digging them up. Some streets retain them fully while you can see them peeking under the asphalt when the streets need repair. The blocks were used back in the days of horses so that the horses could grip the streets better.
In between the cobble-stoned streets and alleys are boutiques, famed pizzerias, ice cream shops, rock climbing and even a "beach." So, yep, this is the Dumbo Area of Brooklyn.
So, what else can I see or do when I'm there. Almost too much. I have to go back again and again. It's a great neighborhood to experience all year long.
Brooklyn Bridge Park: Part of the park is in the Dumbo area. The whole park stretches along the waterfront from Pier 6 to John Street (Atlantic Avenue to Manhattan Bridge). I stroll along the waterfront and take in the green spaces, playgrounds, the rocks along the shore and Pebble Beach. It's not a sandy beach, and although I won't swim in it, I might wade in, but I don't because I didn't bring my water shoes. The bottom is not sandy.
The Dumbo area has its own website because there is so much to do. Most of these events are in the summertime, when the area is very popular. But if you want to visit during nice weather, spring and autumn will have something for you to do also.
One summer, while I was under the Manhattan bridge I saw Live at the Archway: there was live music that time. I wish I had my keyboard along: the acoustics under the bridge are fantastic. Caribbean blasted away while I browsed the art stalls that were there. Art and music, what more can you want on a lazy summer evening?
Well, I saw even more. Lucky for me, I had been there earlier, in the spring and caught the The Dumbo Projection Project. I wish I could be chosen one day, but for now, I'm encouraged to see my fellow artists' work of fine art, including photography, seen literally in a new light. Can you imagine the potential audience and this exhibit gives new meaning to a free exhibit.
This spring, I'm going back to Dumbo to see even more art. In April, the Open Studios event will give you a peek during one weekend in April into practically 100 art workspaces and galleries. It's a great way for up and coming artists to network and to explore all types of categories of fine art.
And there's even more art. So, I'm setting my calendar for the Gallery Walk on the first Thursday of the month, in the evenings. The galleries will stay open late so that I can explore the area walking from art space to art space, taking in the views, mingling with local artists and even enjoying local beverages.
St. Ann's Warehouse has some live theatre. Since I can't get to Broadway all of the time, I can go waaay off Broadway to see some really unique shows here. And it's not just local artists, the website lists well known celebrities for some of its events.
Like other parks throughout the city, I can catch movies under the stars and in this case, with a fabulous view of Manhattan. I'm going to take a look at the website and plan my evening.
But the one event I really want to do is the enticing sounding Dumbo Drink and Draw, which is probably just what is sounds like: sitting in The Arch, being in an adults guided drawing class.
Everything is not for the summer: more art is presented at the Six Foot Platform in autumn on Washington Street on selected Saturdays, with the street car-free for the event. I enjoy the freedom of no traffic so that I can experience more art, some alternative, all provocative. Hmmm.
That Archway is a busy location: when its not hosting performances and art, it's the site of the Brooklyn Flea Market, all year long, on Saturdays and Sundays; check the website in case the weather doesn't feel up to it.
There's so much to do, it's difficult to list it all. But before we end this article, the most unique event held at Dumbo has to be the Dumbo Drop. Remember how we said that Dumbo is a funny name for an elephant? Well, apparently the name of the famous pachyderm was not lost on Brooklyn Dumbo, either and every spring, there is a drop of toy elephant parachutes, falling down for kids to catch. The event is so popular that you have to enter a sweepstakes to get to one of the two drops on that evening. Until the drop, it's a party. No, we're not kidding, really. Have loads of family fun at the block party.
Finally, don't forget I'm at my social media moment: that famous photo from Washington Street of you and the Manhattan Bridge:
I can't wait to just wander the streets shopping, gallery hopping or dining at one of the dozens of eateries in the neighborhood.
Live Love Travel
The NYC Traveler Tips for Your Trips
Subscribe to our blog!
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Comments