Most New York natives and Red Hook residents are likely aware of the neighborhood’s rich industrial history and bounty of artisanal businesses, but as a five-year transplant to New York City, I had a lot to learn from the locals to find out what they think makes the area so unique and a hub for artisans to thrive. “It’s like […]
Feature Story
The Impact of 9,000 New Apartments on Red Hook: A Community’s Concerns
I’ve been trying to calculate how many new apartment buildings are needed to accommodate the 7,000 to 9,000 housing units the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) wants to add to our neighborhood to help pay for the redevelopment of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the 122-acre strip of waterfront extending from our neighborhood, through the Columbia Waterfront District, to Atlantic Avenue. […]
Wraptor is working hard to invigorate the dining experience of the ‘other side’ of Red Hook, by Brian Abate
Enrique Barranco opened Wraptor Restaurant and Bar a few years ago at 358 Columbia St. at the corner of Seabring St. in Red Hook. He spoke about the challenges the restaurant faces, the best parts of his job, and his love for Red Hook. “I knew owning a restaurant was part of the dream but I wasn’t sure if I […]
Spending Valentine’s Day in Greenwich Village, by Brian Abate
For Valentine’s Day, my girlfriend Michelle and I went to San Marino, an Italian restaurant at 64 Charlton St. It was my first time going and her second time. There is a spot outside with flowers which would be very nice for the spring and summer but it was far too cold for the outdoor seating on Valentine’s Day. “We […]
Spending a great week in Greece, by Dario Pio Muccilli, Star-Revue EU correspondent
Greece is famous worldwide for its islands and crystal blue beaches. Of course, there is much more than that, as the country contains many surprises for visitors open to discover them. The north, the Greek Macedonia – part of the Macedonian region, occupied by Greece, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria – is full of historical and natural landmarks, immersed in Christian-orthodoxy […]
Back to Work , by Kelsey Sobel
In 2025, roughly 25% of mothers are considered “stay at home moms.” This number has increased since 2022, where the number was down to 15%, according to a survey done by Motherly, an advocacy group. It’s no surprise that this number is at odds with the 84% of stay-at-home moms in the 1950s, and the staggeringly small 16% of women […]
The People of Red Hook asks the existential question of the day by Lisa Gitlin
By now, the community meeting on the future of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the 122-acre waterfront property running from Atlantic Avenue to Wolcott Street has taken place. There is more about this meeting and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) process inside these pages. As my publisher has pointed out in his column last month, this decision made by the […]
Working to protect neighbors from ICE, by Laryn Kuchta
District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés knows how hard the Trump administration’s immigration policy is hitting Red Hook. Avilés, who is Chair of the Immigration Committee, says that community providers have noted drops in undocumented people accessing services and a lot of talk about moving away. People do not feel safe, according to Avilés. “There’s unfortunately an enormous amount of vitriol […]
Walking With Coffee, by R.J. Cirillo
A descent into the maelstrom There is a short story written in 1841 by Edgar Allen Poe called “A Descent into the Maelstrom.” It tells the tale of a mariner at sea caught in a giant whirlpool. IMHO we ourselves are currently spiraling downward in a similar predicament. Hard to say when this malevolent spin of events began. […]
David Lynch: Memorializing the Mysteries, by Kurt Gottschalk
David Lynch sat in a strange seat of power during the 1990s. He had put a tale of psychic terror about a victimized cheerleader addicted to cocaine on network television. He then retconned the notion of Elvis Presley movies to include shocking levels of physical and sexual violence and took it to Cannes. And he syndicated a comic strip that […]