Author: George Fiala

Red Hook News

Going Behind the Scenes with Furniture Studio Hachi Collections

Japanese designer Shuya Iida attended furniture design school in Tokyo, where he learned how to build cabinets and chairs. After graduating in 2009, he moved to New York and studied English. Soon after he began working for a Japanese construction company, making furniture pieces and learning how to build rooms from the ground up. Four years later Iida founded Hachi […]

Red Hook Stories

Brooklyn Craftsman Gene Manigo Rebuilds Life and Builds Custom Home Furnishings

Eugene “Gene” Manigo, 66, lifts a long piece of wood that looks like a door and places it nearby a saw in his workshop, Hammer Time Studios. He provides instructions to his apprentice, explaining what length and width he’d like for this piece and how thick the wood should be. The two discuss and confirm numbers before the electric saw […]

Real Estate, Red Hook News

Q&A with Local Architect Allison Reeves

Architect Allison Reeves has been practicing her trade for the last 25 years – working on a range of residential, restaurants and small-scale retail designs to large-scale cultural and educational projects. Her goal has always been to provide modern design with a focus on the innovative use of materials and research-based solutions. Reeves thought about going out on her own […]

Food

RHSR’s Behind-the-Scenes Chocolate Factory Tour with Li-Lac Chocolates

Li-Lac Chocolates is an old time chocolate maker, operating in Greenwich Village since 1923. They made a celebrated expansion to Sunset Park’s Industry City a few years ago. I visited them on a rainy Thursday morning in January, in anticipation of their busy season of February 14. When I got there, they were prepping and making chocolate cherry cordials. Master […]

Columbia Street, Health, Kids

The Great Room Is a Hit With Local Caregivers and Children

The community has welcomed The Great Room, a haven for caregivers and children alike, warmly since it opened in the Columbia Street Water District in June 2018. The prenatal and parenting wellness space, co-owned by local mothers Susannah Gersten and Jessica Rich, is meant for kids and adults to explore, find solace and share joy. “We’re both therapists, and we […]

Arts, Books

Graphic Designer Samantha Dion Baker Discusses Her “Draw Your Day” Book

Brooklyn Heights artist Samantha Dion Baker published her first book last August. She is a BASIS Independent Brooklyn parent, and has been holding student workshops there.           “Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal” is an instructive guide that delves into Baker’s creative process and provides ways to develop and master a […]

Health

Briefly Swapping the Pen and Paper for a Pair of Kickboxing Gloves at a Class

Honestly, I was nervous during my Monday morning commute as I headed to CKO Kickboxing Carroll Gardens (562 Court Street). Not nervous to kickbox for the first time, but a little nervous because I hadn’t been in a gym-like environment in nearly three years. I played three sports during grade school and high school and went to the on-campus gym […]

Columbia Street, Community Board 6, Transportation

New Enhanced Crosswalks are Coming to Columbia Street

Community Board 6 met on Dec. 12 for their monthly general board meeting, held at the Cobble Hill Health Center (380 Henry Street), with much to discuss and vote on. CB6 members approved Department of Transportation (DOT)’s proposal to implement pedestrian safety improvements for Columbia Street from West 9th Street to Luquer Street. This follows requests from P.S. 676 Red […]