There is a tiny restaurant called Los Hermanos Cafe at 142 West 9th Street. It’s in the middle of the busy intersection at Hamilton and Clinton St. right in-between Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. Though the space is small, the empanadas are excellent. I spoke to Jonathan Flores, who works as a cashier at Los Hermanos. He told me about […]
Author: Brian Abate
Civic Association moves forward by Brian Abate
The newly reconstituted Red Hook Civic Association moved from P.S. 15 to the Red Hook Recreation Center for the June meeting. A healthy and lively crowd of 26 showed up. Attendees voted on whether or not Civic Association meetings would be held this summer and the vast majority voted in favor of having the meetings throughout the summer. There was […]
Build the Block , by Brian Abate
11 people showed up for last month’s Gowanus “Build the Block” meeting. It began with neighborhood coordination officers Davaughn Clinton and Jerry Antoine introducing themselves and providing updates. Antoine said that there has been an increase in major crimes. Clinton said that there have been a few recent shootings. “We have also been taking a more aggressive approach to removing […]
Talking to the volunteers of Red Hook Mutual Aid by Brian Abate
Red Hook Mutual Aid calls themselves an “independent corps of local volunteers that helps connect community members to resources, information, and supplies in an accessible format.” I spoke to a few of them about their volunteer work. “I moved to Red Hook during the pandemic and about three years ago, I was sitting in Sunny’s and a volunteer overheard my […]
Civic Association 2.0 meets again, by Brian Abate
On May 15, I attended the monthly meeting of the revived Red Hook Civic Association at P.S. 15 on Sullivan St. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 PM but I arrived early and chatted with some other attendees outside of the school. Shortly afterward, Jacqui Painter arrived we were allowed into the building. We went to the auditorium, […]
Catrina NYC’s detour in Oaxaca, by Brian Abate
While walking down Henry St., I noticed a shop called Catrina NYC with colorful jewelry and t-shirts outside the front door. Looking through the window, I could see there was more jewelry, artwork, dolls, toys, textiles, and much more. After going inside, I was greeted by Karina Perez and her dog, a dachshund named Caramelo. Perez was kind enough to […]
Was it all just a Royal Scam? Unpacking the Ample Hills cone, by Brian Abate
Spring has come and the weather is getting warm which means it is now officially ice cream season. While most of the ice cream parlors which were closed for the winter have already re-opened, Ample Hills, which has 12 ice cream parlors, including its factory in Red Hook remains closed indefinitely. A modest Prospect Heights beginning Ample Hills was started […]
Asthma in Red Hook Series, part 4: Vermin by Brian Abate
There are a lot of different triggers of asthma but among the most common ones here in New York City are pests including rats, mice, and roaches. Unfortunately, they are all over the city, and while they are a problem for all New Yorkers, they are especially detrimental to those who have asthma. In an attempt to address its rat […]
Event Outside the Addabbo Center story By Brian Abate
On April 19, New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas announced the start of construction on a $4 million project to implement resiliency measures at the Addabbo Center (120 Richards St.) The announcement took place in front of the center, as it was a beautiful day. As part of the project, a 100-kW elevated backup power generator […]
Major upgrade at Red Hook Rec Center, by Brian Abate
The Red Hook Recreation Center at 155 Bay St. unveiled its new and improved gymnasium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 28. Kids counted down from five as leaders from the Center, Council Woman Alexa Aviles, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, and others all cut the ribbon together. Renovations include a new maplewood floor, a new scoreboard, wall padding, rubber […]