Hooking Up with Red Hook

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Red Hook was that promising guy across the river who never quite lived up to your expectations, but he continues to try, pulling out all the stops and wowing you with his goods. He's hard to reach, confusing and paradoxical at times, with a touch of the sketch factor, but you keep coming back for more. Home to the largest projects in the city, the only Ikea in all five boroughs, Steve the Key Lime Pie Maker, and that house with all the maritime, nautical kitsch all over it, you've got to love Red Hook.

The Lowdown

Red Hook was originally a port neighborhood, and its history is evident if you look around at some of the nautically-decorated houses and nearby industrial buildings. Currently, the Carnival Cruise ships dock here and there’s a waterfront museum.

However, the artists have replaced the dock-workers. Studio spaces abound because of the relatively (to Brooklyn) cheap rent. Now that there are more mainstream amenities, like Fairway and Ikea, what will be next for this little peninsular neighborhood?

The Edibles

Unfortunately, Red Hook has seen some restaurant turnover, due to the lack of incoming hoards; good places have been forced to shutter, so it’s your duty to keep that from happening.  Yeah, Red Hook doesn’t have subway service, and who takes the bus? Bike or drive, people!

Brooklyn Fairway

480 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

“Supermarkets”, as in large grocery stores like the rest of the country has, were hard to come by in New York up until five or so years ago, but Fairway steps up to the plate for Brooklyn. It’s a little insane in here, comparable to Whole Foods, but I really dig the outside waterfront cafe with picnic tables.

“Supermarkets”, as in large grocery stores like the rest of the country has, were hard to come by in New York up until five or so years ago, but Fairway steps up to the plate for Brooklyn. It’s a little insane in here, comparable to Whole Foods, but I really dig the outside waterfront cafe with picnic tables.

Red Hook Ball Fields

Clinton Street and Bay Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

When the popularity of anything ensues in New York, however, the drama follows. Amidst the Department of Health brouhaha are the Red Hook Ball Fields vendors, serving up tacos and pupusas in makeshift stations, while they are currently working out the sanitation and proper vending kinks.

Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie

204 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Before I knew about Yelp, I noticed Steve’s address was nowhere on his website, so I emailed him for directions. His response? A clever, “Those who truly want to find it, will.” Yeah, thanks. I make my own key lime pie anyways!

Before I knew about Yelp, I noticed Steve’s address was nowhere on his website, so I emailed him for directions. His response? A clever, “Those who truly want to find it, will.” Yeah, thanks. I make my own key lime pie anyways!

Good Fork

391 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

With 360 and Pioneer BBQ gone, Good Fork is holding the food fort down. Mmm pork dumplings, homemade gnocchi and grilled aspargus.

With 360 and Pioneer BBQ gone, Good Fork is holding the food fort down. Mmm pork dumplings, homemade gnocchi and grilled aspargus.

Baked

359 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

 

Get Thee to Red Hook!

Sixpoint Brewery

40 Van Dyke Street Brooklyn, Ny 11231

It may not have the list of events, happy hours, and programs that Brooklyn Brewery does, but what else would you expect from this modest Red Hook brewery? Plus, their beers are waaaaay better than BB’s. Tours are by appointment only.

Hmm, scary birthday bear.

Bait & Tackle

320 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, Ny 11231

Lots of taxidermy, cheap beer, and lots more taxidermy. Bait & Tackle is like that crazy uncle of yours you describe to people as someone who is a “character,” a nice euphemism for “crazy.”

Sunny's

253 Conover Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

For 5 generations, Sunny’s has kept it in the family; one of the last vestiges of the dockworkers’ day-to-day, Sunny’s has seen the slow gentrification, in terms of patronage, that the neighborhood has.

Rocky Sullivan's

34 Van Dyke Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Purchaseables

Few people travel all the way to Red Hook to buy non-food or -drink items, but that will all change now that Ikea is in town. The blue and yellow Swedish seller of put-together furniture will be, dare I say it, THE Red Hook hot spot?

IKEA+Urbanity=Grafitti

Ikea

1 Beard Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Even if you don’t need any unstable shelving units or Swedish meatballs, take advantage of the free water taxi service from Manhattan to the Hook every weekend.

Atlantis

353 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Specializing in antiques and furniture, the folks at Atlantis also work in restorations. Click on the link below to learn how to reupholster a retro kitchen chair with Beatrice, Atlantis’ owner. Someday I’ll get around to doing this with my four awesome yellow chairs.

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About The Author

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aliciak Rss 

Tribeca
I like to: crochet, eat, read, write, go to museums, watch old movies, cook, bake, observe children, visit the library, travel, cut my own hair, explore New York, mix gin drinks, bike ride, take photographs, keep in touch with people, be crafty, swim in the ocean, make bets, and read blogs and ca...