I work in one of the coolest office spaces in New York City. It is in Dumbo, (derived from the acronym “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”) one of New York’s hippest and trendiest neighborhoods. My amazing office is a great loft space – in a renovated old hat factory building (est.1936) and it nestled right under the Manhattan Bridge, complete with red brick facade and arched windows.

The early exterior of my office contrasts markedly with a new state-of-the-art interior, super high ceilings, delightful exposed brick and beautifully glassed-in offices. I have a view that is front and center to all the action in the neighborhood. I look right out onto the pedestrian square that is beautifully decorated with colorful tables, chairs & umbrellas. The Dumbo Business Improvement District created an aesthetic that is quite unique and very cute.

There are hoards of wonderful ethnic food carts, a small farmers market, tons of chic shops and music, every night, under the Overpass. In fact there is art & entertainment to watch all day long – all year long, nights & weekends too! There is even a Lighthouse Pop Up bar that an artist created that serves wine & beer under the archway of the bridge – great cover on hot and rainy days.

From my nook in Dumbo I can hear and see all sorts of amazing things – Caribbean dancers, Chinese pop-up dragon shows, performance artists, The Brooklyn Boys Choir, local jazz and rock bands, and a gazillion film & TV shoots (spoiler alert – the TV shows GIRLS, GOTHAM and LAW & ORDER shoot at least once a week at the entrance to my building and most recently Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks holed up in our lobby during the filming of a yet unnamed new movie. Stay tuned for that one – the costumes were very nostalgic – 1950’s perhaps) When you spot the trailers back to back parked on the street that read LUCY on one and DESI on the other, just know that a really big male & female star are in the hood. (an old Hollywood tip!)

My building is also a green building (seriously there was no pun intended when I started working there.) The motto is “reduce, reuse, recycle.” It is so nice to work where people and management care so much about the environment and practice clean living. There is Brooklyn Roasting Company coffee brewed and refreshed in a communal area all day, there are a myriad of tasty spots to lunch or grab some take out within walking distance and just outside the door is a pet store. Handy for me as the office also is pet friendly – Ryleigh comes to work with me every day!

A company’s culture, which is certainly defined by the people and the brand that it is represents, can either make or break a work experience. I happen to work for an organization that is built on very high standards, hires the most talented and professional staff, is extremely successful and very well known all over the world. Not only do I really love my job, I totally enjoy going to work every day. I am usually dressed in business casual, unless I have morning meetings or need to work evenings (which is alot.) When I need to dress for success, it is very handy that the conference room happens to be right next door to my office, which becomes my makeshift dressing room, when I don’t have time to run back to my apartment. And I keep ALOT of changes of clothing there, just in case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

pink top | pearl bracelet | gold monogrammed bracelet |

gold tri band ring | sunglasses | skinny jeans

sneakers | pearl toggle bracelet – by Brenna | pumps | watch

Photographs by Viva Violeta Photography