Cream cheese prices increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as did the prices of many other common grocery items. However, while the prices of most foods have come back down, the price of Philadelphia cream cheese remains high, even though the prices of other cream cheese brands have decreased. Cream cheese prices initially went up in part because of higher demand […]
Author: Brian Abate
One positive outcome of EDC’s threat to our neighborhoods, by Brian Abate
Members of the Columbia Street Waterfront community announced that they have officially formed the Columbia Street Waterfront Association (CSWA). Their mission is to “to promote the health, vitality, and character” for the neighborhood and “to advocate for the interests of residents, businesses, and others with a stake in the Columbia Street Waterfront community.” CSWA was formed in part because when […]
Movies in the Park expands this summer, by Brian Abate
The Red Hook Business Alliance is presenting Movies in the Park which includes movies in Coffey Park and Valentino Pier Park. There was one movie scheduled to be shown in each park in June and July, and The Great Dictator will be shown on August 9 at Valentino Pier Park, and Loving Vincent will be shown on August 13 at […]
Three France natives are sweetening the Columbia Waterfront, by Brian Abate
Brooklyn French Bakers opened on Columbia Street three and a half years ago has become a popular spot for treats and an important part of the community. Sabrina Laboure, Nelly Azambre, and Teddy Collet all once lived in France, moved to Brooklyn, and came together to form Brooklyn French Bakers. “At the beginning, I was making pastries, cake, and everything […]
MiniBar Goes from Worst to First and “Brings Championship Home to Court St.” by Brian Abate
Entering the 2025 Red Hook Softball League postseason, the seeds were 1: MiniBar 2: The Record Shop 3: The Wobblies 4: Hometown 5: B61 6: Bait & Tackle. Both MiniBar and the Record Shop secured byes, and on July 24, B61 beat Hometown 6-5, and the Wobblies beat Bait & Tackle 9-4 to set up the semifinals. After a rainout […]
Pediatrician Sophia DeCambre, who left Addabbo to have another child, is back at work, by Brian Abate
Dr. Sophia Morisseau DeCambre, a pediatrician and Brooklyn native, returned to work at the Addabbo Center at 120 Richards St. DeCambre is from Flatbush but has already spent years working in Red Hook at the Addabbo. “I’ve always wanted to do this and it has always been pediatrics for me because I love children and I love babies,” DeCambre said. […]
SPORTS: MiniBar rules Red Hook softball, by Brian Abate
On June 2, there were two games as Bait & Tackle played MiniBar in a makeup game. As they have done all season, MiniBar relied on strong defense and pitching to keep Bait from having any big rallies. MiniBar did enough on offense to take the lead and held on for a 6-3 victory to improve to 7-0 while Bait […]
Sports: MiniBar dominates RH Softball, by Brian Abate
The Red Hook Locals Softball League began May with a double header. MiniBar took on the Wobblies in a battle of two undefeated teams. MiniBar scored a couple of runs in the first inning, and great pitching by Joe “Fish” and some smooth defensive plays helped them maintain the lead into the 6th. In the top of the 6th, MiniBar […]
15th Anniversary Special Issue: Three who make Red Hook special, by Brian Abate
A Red Hook Lion Andrea McKnight Andrea McKnight was originally from Clinton Hill but came to Red Hook 55 years ago after a fire forced her to move, and became a leader in the community along with her husband Jay McKnight. “It’s hard to put into words the awesome place I’ve lived in for the past 55 years,” Andrea McKnight […]
Breakfast at Wraptor, by Brian Abate
After enjoying many evening meals at Wraptor Restaurant and Bar, 358 Columbia St., I decided to try breakfast. I got a western omelet which came with toast and fries. The omelet was big and tasty, and the eggs weren’t runny at all. There were big portions of ham, onions, and peppers in the omelet. I also had a glass of […]
Sports: New season of Red Hook Softball, by Brian Abate
The Red Hook Locals Softball League is back for a fourth season and began with a triple header on April 17. In 2022, B61 beat Bait & Tackle to become champions and win the Colucci Cup, in 2023, Bait returned the favor and beat B61 in the championship, and last season B61 beat the Wobblies in the championship. Unlike last […]
Local law firm specializes in local justice, by Brian Abate
Messing Law in Red Hook might be considered a “triple A firm” consisting of the team of Aaron Messing, Alessandra Carcaterra Messing, and Alessandra (Ale) Maldonado. Both Aaron Messing and Maldonado attended Fordham Law School but they took very different paths to get there. While Messing was born and raised in Manhattan, Maldonado was born in Peru, grew up in […]
This year’s Jane’s walk celebration included a tour of Cobble Hill
I attended the Cobble Hill Jane’s Walk on a most beautiful May 2, led by volunteers Susan Dresner and Strephen Wing. This is a yearly chance to learn some in-depth history of a neighborhood, and in this particular case, Dresner’s go-to places for food. We met early that Friday near the Bergen Street subway station. Dresner began by explaining that […]
