Celebrating Community
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 […]
Care Forward, a nanny organization that works to guarantee good working conditions for domestic workers, celebrated their annual Care Heros with an award program on July 11 at Emma’s Torch Cafe. Emma’s Torch provides a welcoming space where domestic workers can relax when they are with the kids they are caring for. The Carroll Gardens Association is a member of […]
The question this month was to recall an experience in which they were discriminated against or treated unfairly. James “Papa” Johnson – One time me and my brother and my homeboys were at my uncle’s crib in East New York…and it was time for us to go home. I forgot something upstairs, and when we came back down, the five-oh […]
There’s a proverb about good intensions often leading to doom. Take the Adams Administration’s “City of Yes Housing Opportunity.” I’ll bet the branding consultants got well paid on this one. To support City of Yes is to be for “Housing” and “Opportunity.” To be against it is to be for homelessness and despair. And as for “City”? Why, join the […]
On Prospect Park West, just south of Prospect Avenue sits a small outpost of flavor and coolness Dog Day Afternoon. The shop, opened by Joe Boyle, a Chicago native, and his partner Jay Kerr, serves up a top-shelf version of America’s national food, the hot dog. I started eating hot dogs at Nathan’s in Coney Island when they were 25 […]