Court Street, History

Go To Marietta’s to See How It Used to be Around Here, by Elizabeth Graham

This article ran in the August 2011 edition of the Red Hook Star-Revue. We reprint it today as a tribute to younger brother Mat, whose funeral is this Saturday in Howard Beach.   Floor to ceiling, he’s surrounded by racks, shelves and boxes full of clothing. But Joe Chirico goes straight to the spot behind a cluttered display stand where […]

Obituary, Uncategorized

Sad news, death of Matty Chirico of Marietta’s

From today’s NY Daily News: CHIRICO-Matthew V. Dedicated co-owner of  Marietta’s on Court Street, Brooklyn. Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday, 11:45 AM, St. Helen R.C. Church,  Howard Beach. Visiting Thursday & Friday, 2-5 & 7-9 P.M. at Scotto Funeral Home, 106 First Place, near Court St., Bklyn, 718-875-2515. Scotto Funeral Home Inc106 1St Pl Brooklyn, NY 11231(718) 875-2515  

Garbage, Port Authority

Garbage truck update

Last week we reported that a fleet of garbage trucks was rented space inside of the Red Hook Containerport alongside Degraw Street between Columbia and Van Brunt Streets. Neighbors were complaining because of the stench that was emanating through the fence as the hot sun was heating up garbage left in the trucks after their nightime pickups. Last Saturday, neighbors […]

Arts, Feature Story

Tony the Sculptor, by Alexandra Corbin

Tony walks with a gait that is unique in this neck of the woods. No slouching stroll to buy a slab of Blueberry Buckle at Baked. Even though his property is next door and even if he has fifty feet to cover between there and his sculpture garden named the ‘Golden Anvil’  – he hurries. In September Antonio Cuonzo will […]

Red Hook Library

Red Hook Library plan shelved, by George Fiala

According to today’s Daily News, the plan to split the Red Hook Library into a library and a rehearsal space has squashed. Library spokesperson Emma Woods is quoted as saying “We heard the community’s concerns and are going to have a robust dialogue with Red Hook residents, community leaders adn elected officials before moving forward with any project.” At the […]

Carlos Menchaca, Coffey Park, Community Organizations, Crime, Police

Red Hook’s Night Out Against Crime, by George Fiala

The first time I heard about “Night Out Against Crime,” back in the 1980’s I didn’t take it seriously at all. I really didn’t know what it was about, I thought it was some kind of feelgood event that did nothing to cut down on the rampant crime that was plaguing America’s cities. I left tonight’s celebration at Coffey Park […]

LICH, Politics

Politics: Marks Corner, by Mark Shames

I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to continue writing about the political scene in Brownstone Brooklyn, even though I will be stepping aside as the president of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats while I remain a general and executive board come September. In New York City politics it is close to impossible to unseat an incumbent elected office holder […]

Feature Story, History

The story behind the Clement Garage, by Clarissa Sauter

Walking or driving past Rapelye and Hamilton, one might never give the corner adjacent to the BQE a second glance. What most don’t know is that it was once home to Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto’s grandfather, his three garages, and his eight family building, many years before the BQE was constructed. Don Vincence Clementi, known later as Vincent, arrived in America […]

Community Board 6, Port Authority, Waterfront

Port Authority disses Red Hook big time, by George Fiala

For at least the past six weeks, the Port Authority has rented space alongside Degraw Street between Van Brunt and Columbia to a Bronx garbage company. At night, they switch on a bright light and their drivers head out to do their collections. During the day, the trucks sit idle, many of them still containing remnants of their collections, and […]

Red Hook Houses

Red Hook Old Timer’s Day Promises a Weekend of Excitement, by Harrison Neuhaus

Red Hook Old Timer’s Day is happening again this year on Sunday, August 10th. Starting at 11am locals and former residents will gather in Bush-Clinton Park to celebrate the history of the neighborhood and it’s residents. Due to construction at the normal Coffey Park venue, the 30th annual Old Timer’s Day will take place at “Tea Park”, officially known as Bush-Clinton Park. Despite […]

Arts, Feature Story

BWAC’s two current shows draw big crowds and sales, photos and text by Micah B. Rubin

Art is an endless conversation and the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition’s two summer shows seek to spur dialogue and challenge visitors to ask themselves: “What is Color” and explore the theme of a world “Out of Order.” The Summer Group Art Show features more than 800 BWAC member’s photographs, sculptures, paintings and a variety of other medium with many exploring […]