Real Journalism. Written by Real People.
Our temporary library on Van Brunt Street (as you know, our regular library has been deconstructed for the time being) has many classes and events every month and one regular one is Comic Book Drawing Class with Mr. Nick which takes place on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 4:30 pm. Nick Forker is originally from Chicago and has been interested […]
Inside of Wet Whistle Wines on Van Brunt Street there are some cool-looking drinking glasses on display. These are courtesy of Meghan Mardiney’s passion for antique barware. Her husband is Cory Hil, who co-owns the wine shop. Megan has made a business from her passion. We first encountered her last December at the gift fairs that were held at BWAC. […]
Kaizers Return Kaizers Orchestra has always marched to the beat of their own drum. Now, after their first U.S. performance in years, the legendary Norwegian rock band made it clear they haven’t missed a step. Fresh off a triumphant show at Sony Hall, where their theatrical mix of rock, folk, and energy electrified the crowd, I had the chance to […]
There was a time when the NYC waterfront was a blighted mess. When I first started working in New York, first in the Village where encounter the Hudson River, and then here in Brooklyn, and the East River, I took for granted that the burned out piers I saw were an indication that the city just didn’t care about the […]
Traveling out to Salt Lake City earlier this summer for my sister’s wedding, my family found themselves exhausted, overheated and irritable the Sunday after all the festivities had wrapped up. When it’s one hundred degrees, a simple task such as crossing the street becomes a daunting prospect. Why not go to the movies? Summer time movies have a long and […]
Internet pages curated by that new cyber sensation sweeping the nation, Artificial (“Arty”) Intel & His Zombies, now list about three dozen carbon units as famous “Persons/Red Hook.” Many of them never spent much time here (Notorious B.I.G., e.g.), while others lived in Gowanus and South Brooklyn (Joey Gallo, Jimmy Iovine, e.g.) – close enough when zombies call the shots […]
In old black and white photos and movies, office workers were always depicted in huge rooms containing multiple desks, where they manned (or womanned) telephones and typewriters. There were no barriers between them and I’m sure while doing their assigned tasks they would interact with each other. At a certain point in business history, to maximize efficiency, it was decided […]
The Red Hook Library re-opened at 362 Van Brunt St. in July and continues to get plenty of use. Many people stop in to read or work on laptops, and there have been a lots of special events including zine making, which was led by librarian Gretchen Alexander on August 26. “A librarian from a different branch started the zine […]
The Red Hook Locals Softball League playoffs kicked off on August 1 with two matchups both taking place at 6 pm. Despite temperatures in the 90s, all of the teams in action were sharp early. Bait & Tackle, the four-seed, took on five-seed Hometown at Dovey Diamond while across the street the Wobblies (the three-seed) took on MiniBar, the six-seed. […]
In the late 1980s, Brooklyn wasn’t cool yet. Most hipsters did not live in Brooklyn — their center was the Lower East Side. Coney Island and Downtown Brooklyn were considered dangerous. Then, a cultural oasis sprung up on Prospect Avenue in South Park Slope — a rock club called Lauterbach’s. It became home to a group of bands who played […]
There’s no such thing as a bad seat at the Brooklyn Ice House. The two picnic tables in front of the bar provide views of passersby. In the bar’s spacious back patio, wooden tables and benches are sprinkled among rusty chairs—nothing precious enough to cause concern if you have a little spill, nor dirty enough to fear sitting on. Inside, […]
Red Hook is known for its creative spirit, hardworking communities, and growing art scene. This September, at Coffey Street Studio, the Brooklyn neighborhood becomes home to Picture Day, the directorial debut of actor Levon Hawke. Picture Day focuses on masculinity, family dynamics, and hidden secrets. Joined by Booth McGowan, actor and co-founder of Quick & Dirty Theater Company, the play […]
The first few “walking with coffee” columns were interviews with Millennials, in which we discussed their views of “boomers.” One common complaint was that the post-war generation refused to let go of jobs, culture, politics, and basically everything. It brought to this boomer’s mind a novel by Aldous Huxley, “After Many a Summer Dies the Swan.” Written in 1939 it […]