Celebrating Community
Carmen Maria Machado is a queer writer who gained a widespread following from her experimental collection of eight short stories: Her Body & Other Parties; (2017) a finalist for the National Book Award. Machado’s debut is dark, playful and experimental. In “Especially Heinous,” Machado rewrites 300 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and in “The Husband Stitch,” Machado […]
On a Friday afternoon at Rusk Rehabilitation Brooklyn at Sunset Park Family Health Center, 96-year-old Mable Henry determinedly steps up and down a set of stairs, working to relearn balance and coordination. The Rusk Rehabilitation center, located at 150 55th Street in Brooklyn, is part of NYU Langone Health, and home to a clinic that’s exploring new treatment options through […]
“The House Children,” (April 2019) author Heidi Daniele’s debut novel, tells the story of the unlucky and illegitimate child, Mary Margaret, renamed Peg by the stern but not unkind nuns of the industrial school where she is sent. This is Ireland, and the year is 1937. As we hear, again and again, there was no choice for Mary Margaret’s mother, Norah Hanley, to give […]
I live in a 1,200 square foot apartment with three other adults. I share a room with my boyfriend, Eli, and we live with his sister, Tara, and her boyfriend, Andrew. This familial setup can be difficult to describe in casual conversation, “My boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend is also my roommate…” I enjoy our family arrangement and I like to imagine […]
In my experience, middle schoolers are often pragmatic, logical beings. Each Friday, I teach current events to my sixth graders. This leads to fascinating discussions as I get to see the cogs turning inside each young brain, unencumbered by the desire to look or sound smart. Middle schoolers might not have a large repository of information to draw from, but […]
Of the very few bookstores in Red Hook, Pioneer Books stands out for its smart curation and clear visibility along Van Brunt. Here are a few titles currently stocked at the humble storefront that we couldn’t help reviewing. Pioneer Books hosts regular events and book clubs. Check out their website, swing by 289 Van Brunt St, or call (718) 596-3001 […]
(Art by Jane Wingfield, olysketcher.com) A recent Sunday in Red Hook begins with a trip to Baked. Overheard conversations include thoughts on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (it’s excellent) and compliments to the manager, Frank, on his impressive display of the day’s baked goods. “I spent some time,” he admitted proudly in response to the continued praise from a trio of three I […]
My Mom, born in 1959, speaks passionately about the feminist movement. Prior to Trump’s election, my sister and I rolled our eyes when Mom proudly recalled her days as a “women’s libber.” Mom’s generation had done the hard work. I was smug in my privilege. I had rights. I didn’t feel like opportunities had been denied to me based on […]
I recently moved down the hill to Van Brunt from nearby Park Slope. Like many before me, I moved for love, but also for cheaper rent. In comparison to Park Slope’s children, stroller and dog-heavy streets, Red Hook feels, for lack of a better adjective, cool. I was hesitant to leave behind the leafy green oasis of Prospect Park, but […]