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Made in Brooklyn Walking ToursWhy would a native New Yorker like myself sign up for a walking tour in her home city? Because there's always a new discovery to be made in one of the five boroughs. Recently, I did a walking tour of Williamsburg with Dom Gervasi of Made in Brooklyn Tours. And over the course of three-some hours, Dom introduced our small group to what he called the "maker" movement: innovative locals crafting beer, chocolates, other food items, wooden furniture, textiles and much more. |
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Manhattan vs Brooklyn. Which Side of the Bridge is Best?When Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billy Holiday, Lou Reed and practically every other American musician wrote their respective odes to New York, the place they were really singing about was Manhattan: the Empire State Building, ice-skaters in Central Park, steaming manhole covers and hotdog stands on every corner. For decades, New York City began at FDR Drive and ended at 12th Avenue. |
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A Walking Tour Through Gowanus, Brooklyn’s Dark HorseThe neighborhood is named after an Indian chief,” says our trusted guide Dom Gervasi, who leads a group of us through the hardly trafficked streets of Gowanus. This is not my first walking tour with Gervasi, owner of Made in Brooklyn Tours. I’ve been on his guided walk through DUMBO before and loved every minute of it. I had no idea Brooklyn was filled with such rich history and indie artisans who were so committed to keeping the art of the small business so alive and well in this area. |
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New York Natives | Made in Brooklyn ToursMade in Brooklyn Tours are guided walking tours with a "Made in Brooklyn" theme. They tell the story of Brooklyn's rich manufacturing heritage and today's thriving "maker movement". Dom Gervasi is the owner and producer of Made in Brooklyn Tours. As a Brooklyn native, Dom decided to form the Made in Brooklyn Tours in February 2011, and has since expanded with tours of five distinct neighborhoods. Check out this video as New York Natives caught up with Made in Brooklyn founder Dom Gervasi! |
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Beyond the Canal: Exploring GowanusGowanus, Brooklyn has long been associated with its canal– and that’s not a good thing. Considered one of the “most extensively contaminated water bodies” in the United States by the EPA, the Gowanus Canal has been accumulating raw sewage and industrial waste since it was completed in 1869. Given the high price of New York City real estate, it comes as little surprise that the area is undergoing a transition from industrial zone to “up and coming” residential neighborhood. |
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New Walking Tour Highlights Products Made in GowanusIn the minds of most New Yorkers, the chief export coming out of Gowanus are jokes about its stinky canal. But tour guide Dom Gervasi sees another side to the neighborhood — a business hub that's creating innovative products. On Dec. 15 Gervasi, founder of Made in Brooklyn Tours, will offer his first-ever Made in Gowanus expedition, a three-hour odyssey aimed at showcasing the neighborhood's thriving artisans, handcrafters and small manufacturers. |
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Brooklyn Small-Business Owners Hit Hard by SandyDom Gervasi, owner of Made in Brooklyn Tours, started calling and texting clients on Friday when he heard public transportation was being shut down in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. “I did my walking tours on Friday and Saturday, but cancelled the Sunday tour,” said Gervasi, a former high-tech salesman who founded his one-man tour company in 2011 after the company he worked for filed for bankruptcy. |
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Brooklynites Starting Walking Tour BusinessesLaid off in a tough economy, some tough-minded Brooklynites have come up with a novel approach to earn cash. Show people the old neighborhood. Here’s how a pair of local entrepreneurs turned hardship into opportunity by starting walking tour businesses in their old Brooklyn nabes. |
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Stoop Stories: Dom Gervasi of Made in Brooklyn ToursDom Gervasi is the owner and producer of Made in Brooklyn Tours. The son of Italian immigrants, he grew up on the block where Mama Sbarro opened her first Salumeria in Bensonhurst. Dom is a licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide and has a great passion for the places and people that make Brooklyn tick. |
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A Walk with Made in Brooklyn ToursI felt a bit weird trekking to Brooklyn and staying there for two days to explore the neighborhood. Let me explain, the burrough and I don't really know each other. In fact, the only reason why I haven't had much of a love affair with Brooklyn is because I had dismissed it as a residential landmass, even though I didn't know anything about it. I have several friends who live in the area who had constantly voiced their love for their locale. |
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Exploring Brooklyn with Made in Brooklyn Tourshis week Howe's New York is touring Brooklyn with Dom Gervasi of Made In Brooklyn Tours. Come along with us as we learn about the great neighborhoods of Brooklyn that you can visit and explore. |
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Makin’ it in Brooklyn Comes to BensonhurstThe inaugural Made in Brooklyn Bensonhurst tour kicked off on Saturday, February 11. Despite the chilly weather, there was good turnout and a lot of fun to be had on the sight-seeing trip led by Made in Brooklyn owner, Dom Gervasi. Gervasi, who grew up in Bensonhurst, started the trip in front of Shabu Shabu, where the first Sbarro’s salumeria once reigned. |
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See Who’s Makin’ It in BensonhurstWhat does a Bensonhurst boy who's already come up with a selection of Made in Brooklyn tours do for an encore? How about a Made in Bensonhurst tour? Native son Dom Gervasi will hosting the inaugural Made in Bensonhurst tour this Saturday, February 11. "People come here from other parts of the country and some from other parts of the world," Gervasi explained. "I have a special place in my heart for those who still stick it out and are making it." |
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Exploring Brooklyn from the Fairfield InnBrooklyn. Happening place, right? It seems like everyone’s heard of it. But has everyone visited it? The Brooklyn Bridge with Lower Manhattan's skyline in the background It’s been said that to really get to know New York City, you have to reach beyond Manhattan and explore other boroughs. I’ll be the first to admit that I, for one, am terrible at doing this. I hardly ever leave Manhattan except for a planned social occasion. |
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The Brooklyn Series: Artisans of DUMBO and GowanusAsk New Yorkers where things are happening and they’ll tell you Brooklyn is where it’s at. This bustling borough, with a population of approximately 2.6 million, has an ever-changing culture. Yet, one thing that always remains the same is the constant influx of passionate artists and artisans who are drawn to Brooklyn’s dynamic neighborhoods. These budding entrepreneurs are the invigorating pulse that keeps Brooklyn alive and beating. |
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Made in Brooklyn: Top 10 Holiday GiftsSave money and support local businesses by buying your holiday gifts at a Brooklyn boutique. These shops provide handcrafted merchandise you can’t get at chain stores– with prices starting as low as $5. Many of the shop owners are also artists who make, market and sell their products; if you visit these stores, don’t miss the chance to ask them about their work. |