(On the second day of Rooster and my trip to New York City we explored the DUMBO, It was an interesting tri[p across the bridge. #DUMBO #Brooklyn Bridge #Susan Russo Anderson)
Exploring the DUMBO
I first heard about the DUMBO when I read the Fina Fitzgibbons Brooklyn Mystery series written by author Susan Russo Anderson. This author has become one of my favorite mystery writers. I enjoy her storytelling style and recommend her books if you are looking for a good read. I have a habit of going to the location where my favorite books are staged when I visit the city where all the action takes place. So, when my son asked where we would like to go on our second day in New York City, I said I would like to explore the DUMBO. Anderson’s writing was the inspiration that sparked the idea of exploring the DUMBO on a cold November afternoon..
The acronym stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. This artistic neighborhood is actually located under the bridge. We walked the fashionable spot located under the Manhattan/Brooklyn bridge on a cold day in November. There was a cold wind blowing off the water. From the spot where we were standing, we could look at where the Twin Towers fell. The Statue of Liberty stood in the harbor like a regal queen.
How we got to the DUMBO
If you are a citizen of New York City, you know you are blessed if you have a friend with a car. You are doubly fortunate if you have a friend with a car who knows how to cook. This is where Asa comes into the picture. She made us a delicious shrimp and grits meal before she offered to drive us to the DUMBO. (Chris was the one who did the driving. He grew up in Southern California and had the best shot of getting us there in one piece.) We managed to squeeze into her compact vehicle without an inch to spare. The temperatures hadn’t warmed up any. We were all dressed warmly when we emerged from the car at Brooklyn Bridge Park and began exploring the DUMBO.
What we did once we got there
We walked around the riverfront neighborhood for several hours. The wind was nippy. That and the frigid temperatures made it difficult for us to stay outside long. I knew I could see the Statue of Liberty from the park-like Anderson talked about in her books, but I was surprised at the stunning view we had of the city.
Chris pointed out where the World Trade Center once stood before the planes fell out of the sky. I could only imagine what it must have been like standing on that riverfront on 911. A person positioned on this shore would have a clear view of the tragedy unfolding across the river before the sky was filled with dust, ashes, and smoke. It would like experiencing a front-row seat to the end of the world. Fear would course through your body as you wondered what would happen next.
The story behind the locks
The love locks fastened to the fence facing the river were interesting. Richard says they stay there until someone decides to cut them off. It’s an imitation of what people do in Paris. I think it’s a shame someone comes along to remove them. There should be a rule the locks should be left alone for a decade to see how many of these loves survive. It made me wish Rooster and I had brought along our own metal padlock with a big red heart and our names written across the middle. The locks were an amazing find while exploring the DUMBO.
Jane’s Carousel
We moved away from the river and found some interesting shops housed in an old warehouse. Local artists displayed their work in an open area surrounded by restaurants and shops. We Came across Jane’s Carousel not far from the warehouse. The colorful ride consisted of forty-eight hand-carved horses and two chariots. It was enclosed in a metal-framed glass structure. We saw it as an opportunity to get out of the cold. We watched children ride round and round while organ music playing in the background. I found out it once lived in Indora Park in Youngstown, Ohio until it closed in 1984. The carousel was then brought to New York for restoration. There is a similar one at home in Logansport, Indiana. These antiques are priceless treasures from the past.
Traces of Walt Whitman
On the way to catch the subway, we strolled past a plaque dedicated to Walt Whitman. He severed as an editor for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle when he was twenty-six. I was mystified to walk the same streets one of America’s most well-known poets once strolled. Leaves of Grass touched my heart when I read it years ago. The way Whitman took a mystical journey through the lives of ordinary American people was captivating. The wrought ironwork on the building where The Eagle once existed sparkled in the afternoon sun. The metal dragon was a piece of art. We didn’t get to make it to Vinegar Hill or the Heights on this trip. I will save it for another time. Thus, our adventure of exploring the DUMBO ended on a literary note.
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana, who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures click here.
Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!