Back in 2019, before COVID, there was this looming feeling of something impending. Not knowing exactly what it was, only that it was going to impact the economy for better or worse. Erring on the side of caution, I planned for the worst and hoped for the best. My mom had just lost her battle with a rare cancer (metastasized […]
Feature Story
Brooklyn Bridge Rotary Club returns to it’s roots, by Brian Abate
The first Brooklyn Rotary Club was founded in 1905 and met in Brooklyn Heights. Their successor club, the Brooklyn Bridge Rotary Club, is once again meeting in the Heights in a historic building at 21 Clark Street that first opened in 1928 as the exclusive Leverich Hotel. Rotary is an international organization that brings together persons dedicated to giving back […]
A Carroll Gardens pizza icon remembered, by Brian Abate
Family, friends, and neighbors gathered to mourn Onofrio Gaudioso at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church on September 9. Born in 1941, Gaudioso was remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a true gentleman. Gaudioso and his brother-in-law John Teutonico became the owners of House of Pizza and Calzone 132 Union St. in 1963. “We are here not because […]
Nick Forker teaches comics at our temporary library, by Brian Abate
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 […]
Turning a passion into a really cool business, by Brian Abate
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 Orchestra Returns to Conquer the US
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 […]
120 Waterfront acres and a plan, by George Fiala
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 […]
Twisters: What Modern Movies Can Tell Us About Our Waning Attention Span, by Kelsey Sobel
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 […]
Walt Kuhn: A Red Hook A-Lister , by Joe Enright
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 […]
WALKING WITH COFFEE: THE MOVEABLE CUBICLE, by R.J. Cirillo
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 […]