Winter's Tale Filming.

The pics above a below are from last week in Brooklyn Heights.  We walked by the set of Winter's Tale and stopped for a while to check out the beautiful scene.  There was a gorgeous white horse, very old cars, actors dressed in 19th century fashion and the crew was placing fake snow, which was basically cotton sheets, on the stoops and sidewalks. All along this beautiful cobble stone street (Joralemon and Columbia Place).  We're assuming the street would be shot from a distance because that snow wasn't fooling anyone within 20 feet of it.  We looked up the film on IMDB and found that is has a huge cast, which includes Will Smith, Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, William Hurt and Jennifer Connelly. 

Eat Pie and Shop is back.

We must admit it's a catchy title and makes you want to Eat Pie and Shop of course.  The holiday festival/PTA fundraiser for PS29 is back this year with their pie social, pie contest, gift fair, portrait taking, crafts, singing, face painting, and more.  For more info you can go to eatpieandshop.org.  Basic info is below.


Sunday, December 2nd between 11am and 4pm
425 Henry Street, PS29

Dry Dock Deals.

A great thing you can do for the community of Red Hook is shop for the holidays at the local businesses, most of whom were affected during Sandy and are trying to recuperate.  Many are getting back on their feet and ready for customers during this very important shopping season.  Dry Dock is offering a great deal.  Many bottles of wine were damaged (as in the labels) but are still perfectly drinkable and they are offering 20% off for those and 10% off of the damaged spirits and sparkling wines.  Stock up for your holiday parties and reinvigorate Red Hook's economy.

Business Legal Clinic Meeting Today.

Need to speak with a lawyer?  Today is a great opportunity for you to do so in a community meeting setting at this legal clinic coordinated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  Starting at 1pm and going until 5pm you can meet with attorney's to discuss FEMA ans SBA related issues as well as commercial landlord/tenant, employer responsibility, insurance, and contract issues. Meet at IKEA in the Bay Ridge Training Room on the 2nd fl. 

Gowanus Meeting with EPA.

Tonight Gowanus residents can meet with the EPA about hurricane aftermath topics, including water samples and any other questions residents and business owners may have.  NYSDEC, FEMA, and OSHA will also be represented at the meeting.   More info is below.


Monday November 26, 2012 at 6:30 pm
P.S. 32 – 317 Hoyt Street near Union Street

Have a Good Thanksgiving Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  We've had a rough month but, especially with all the wonderful cooperation and charity going around, we still have a lot to be thankful for.  We also wanted to spread the word about a couple fo things going on tomorrow.

Thursday-

-110 Wolcott 12-2pm Meals to Go being served (small platters not plates) Excepting hot meal drop off 10am on

-Sit Down Family Style Community Dinner 4pm location TBA (to be confirmed tomorrow morning) Excepting hot meal drop off 3pm on

351 Van Brunt will be open Thanksgiving Day from 10am-2pm for anyone who wants a heated, lit place to bring their dinner, be with others or use the usual services at 351 (wifi, computers, recharge).

 

We'll get you more info as we get it.

The Musical Extravaganza to Restore Red Hook!

The Bell House is having a benefit tonight that sounds amazing!  The evening starts off with square dancing and ends with Roseane Cash!  In between Jesse Lenat, John Pinamonti and the Brotherhood of the Whiskey Spitter Rebellion play and Michael Buscemi screens his new film named after the bus that runs through Red Hook, "B61".  It's $30 for a good cause, proceeds go towards Restore Red Hook.  Learn more and buy tickets here.

Thanksgivng News.

Thanksgiving for hurricane victims has come early at a handful of venues around the city.  Barclays Center hosted an early feast as did The Old Homestead.  There is also going to be a pop-up market in Red Hook with farm fresh produce for Thanksgivng.  See more info on that from their facebook page below.  And we know that this is pretty far from the city but it's a very kind offer from the Frost Valley YMCA located in Claryville, NY. "Frost Valley YMCA has set aside several weekends for families directly affected by the storm to come to the Catskills and enjoy our facility, including hot showers, home cooked meals, and warm beds free of charge. We are also offering a Thanksgiving celebration for anyone unable to have their own this year due to Hurricane Sandy."

ATTN: TODAY & TOMORROW: A POP-UP Market!
Where: the Corner of Sullivan and Richards Streets Across from PS 15!!!

If you are in Red Hook today come on down and join! Lot's of local produce from John Glebocki, and Fred Wilklow.

Yams! Collards! Kale! Brussels! 5 kinds of Potatoes!
5 Kinds of Apples, Cider so much more.

If you have SNAP (Formerly Foodstamps) and spend $5 we can provide you with $2.

00 more in coupons to expand your buying power.

If you have an appointment at Addabbo Clinic, today the doctors and nutritionists are providing coupons to increase your buying power

If you are a parent of a student at PS 15 ask for Parent Coordinator Juanita Laboy who can also provide you with market coupons to help you meet your food needs in this holiday season.

SPREAD IT!

Restore Red Hook Businesses.

If you are a small business owner in Red Hook then you probably know about the organization Restore Red Hook, which has gotten a lot of props by local residents and business owners.  We wanted to put the spotlight on this organization for those who have never heard of it and may want to donate.  They are dedicated entirely to getting Red Hook businesses up and running again and were written about in a Huffington Post blog to be "a fantastic resource" that's "doing great work". You can read more about them here.  In addition to this neighborhood wide campaign businesses, such as Red Hook Lobster Pund, have set up individual campaigns through Smallknot.  Check this out.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Almost There.

Though Brooklyn Bridge Park is still recovering first from Sandy and then from the set backs caused by the Nor'easter, most of the park is now open.  They opened several of their lawns last week and have only a few section still closed to the public and those the main street playground, swing valley at Pier 6 as well as the far lawn in the southeast corner near the ferry dock.  They had a lot of volunteers right after the storm (pic above is from their facebook) and I'm sure that contributed to the fact that they were able to re-open so soon after Sandy. 

Thinking ahead for Thanksgiving.

We're trying to compile a list or get more info regarding Thanksgiving relief efforts in Red Hook.  If anyone has any info please share it so we can spread the word.  But on the subject of Thanksgiving, a lot of people have relied on the Fairway in the past for turkeys and trimmings and since it won't re-open for months we just wanted to remind people to pre-order and look elsewhere for their turkeys this year.  Here's a list from brooklynexposed that might help out.

Red Hook Emergency Relief Workshop Today!

The New York City Economic Development Corporation has schedule an emergency relief project for Red Hook Business's today at IKEA.  This meeting is a little short notice so please spread the word to those who may want to attend.  The when's where's and who's are below.


Thursday, November 15, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
IKEA Red Hook
1 Beard Street, Brooklyn, NY
Bay Ridge Training Room located near the Business
Resource Center

Join the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial
Development, Department of Small Business Services and the New York
City Economic Development Corporation at IKEA Red Hook to learn about
available business resources in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Red Hook Community Meeting Tonight!

With all that's going on it's important to regroup and discuss the issues.  This community meeting will focus on discussions about clean-up progress, relief efforts, and re-building a more storm-proof and sustainable Red Hook all around.  Come down to PS 27, at 27 Huntington Street, today at 5pm to give your input and keep informed.

Register Today for Rapid Repairs.

Starting today you can make an appointment for Rapid Repair service if your home has been badly damaged.  Bloomberg announced this program, which is in partnership with FEMA, in an effort to streamline and expedite the process of repairing homes and getting peoples power back on.  As a homeowner, you will not have to pay upfront for repairs, you will however have had to register for assistance with FEMA (DisasterAssistance.gov) and have a FEMA ID number.  To register for rapid repair you can call 311 or click here.

Your Help Is Still Needed!

For the latest in hurricane relief info check out this website. http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/  Donations and volunteers are still needed and this site will inform you of the latest in supplies and help that running low.  Also if you are interested in volunteering at RHI please fill out this form.  http://tinyurl.com/RHIvols before heading to their staging area at 480 Van Brunt St, 3rd Floor (the Fairway building).

A New Subway.

Just a few blocks from the Subway on Court and Atlantic another one is opening soon on Atlantic and Hicks.  In case you need your sub sandwich fix but don't want to walk another 4 blocks.  It's in a pretty decent spot for foot traffic now that the Pier 6 park is open.  The spot, 75 Atlantic, right next to Montero Bar & Grill, seems like it's been empty for a while but it used to be a place called Adam's Gourmet Deli.  Not sure when it's opening but the chains do tend to spring up pretty quickly so we expect it soon.

Pat Kiernan at Bell House Benefit!

This "Anything But Politics: Pop Culture Trivia" hosted by Pat Kiernan at The Bell House next Tuesday will not only be the last of it's kind for the year but has been transformed into a benefit for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  In fact 100% of the proceeds will be donated.  So, if you were ever curious about this event now is the time to check it out.  8pm show, 7;30 pm doors.  Tickets are $15 and you can purchase them here in advance.

Home and Business Rebuild Meeting Tonight!

There will be a meeting tonight at 6:30pm at our Red Hook space on Van Brunt Street.  Architect Jim Garrison will be sharing resources on rebuilding efforts tonight with local home and business owners. Of course we'll be there.  He will help explain some of the more arcane FEMA guidelines, and advise regarding updated mechanical systems that are less expensive and less flood-prone.  This will be an essential info session for people who are looking into grants and loans to get their buildings back running again. So, come on down to 351 Van Brunt tonight.

We Voted!

Did you get out to vote yesterday?  The picture above is of an hour long line at PS29 yesterday.  Other election sites were far less crowded and depending on what district you were in you could have waited a while or been in and out.  Some poll sites had to be changed due to Sandy.  Add to that the fact that earlier this year district lines were redraw there was a lot of confusion here in Brooklyn.  Still, people were very patient where we were and people definitely came out to vote.

Hurricane Benefits Past and Future.

The pic above is of the line up at Seersucker last night and this was just at the beginning of their "Eat Pork, Help New York" hurricane benefit with all proceeds going to RHI.  In addition to pork sliders they had organic caramel corn for $3.  We hope they raised a bunch of money.  From the looks of this pic they did! A couple other area restaurants, including Arthur on Smith who were donating 10% of each bill last Saturday,  have been involved in the Red Hook hurricane efforts and we expect more to join them.  Shake Shack is offering something called a "Rally Shake" and will donate $2 to Red Cross for each one sold. 

Eat Pork Help New York Tonight!

Seersucker and Smith Canteen host this benefit for the Red Hook Initiative tonight starting at 6pm.  They'll be serving mini roast pork bbq sandwiches (four for $10).  All proceeds will be delivered to the Red Hook Initiative tomorrow morning.  RHI has made a huge impact on recovery efforts in the Red Hook area and they need your help to make an even bigger impact.  Eat some pork and give generously to the donation jar!

More Information Following the Storm from Rep. Velazquez

Help Red Hook

1) Volunteer and bring cleaning supplies Volunteer HQ: 402 Van Brunt St 10am - 5pm Sat and Sun

2) Donate ready-to-serve meals: Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks Street 10am - 6:30pm (close at 8pm)

3) Donate canned goods/non-perisable items (Flashlights etc)

Deliver to: Visitation Church: 98 Richards Street (Verona St. entrance) 10am - 5pm Sat & Sun

4) Apply for Aid: Realestate Gallery 351 Van Brunt Street

Free Acupuncture.

Acupuncturists Without Borders
will offer free treatments
at the Kentler International Drawing Space.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1 - 4PM
at the Kentler gallery -
353 Van Brunt Street

 Acupuncturists Without Boarders has provided treatments
for citizens in New Orleans and Haiti, and in many communities
in the United States after tornadoes, floods and fires.
Group treatments are simple and free and can help with the
effects of stress in post-disaster life. 
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Kentler International Drawing Space
353 Van Brunt Street, between Wolcott and Dikeman Streets

Red Hook Relief Efforts.

Whether you need help or want to help, here are a few things going on in the Red Hook area for residents, businesses and anyone who wants to volunteer.


**Red Hook Farm needs volunteers between 10 and 4pm tomorrow.

**There will be lawyers on-site at the Pal Micco Building and RHI today to help with FEMA documents, lost food stamps, and other hurricane-related questions/issues.

**Our Van Brunt Street Office, 351 Van Brunt, is offering area residents electricity for their sump pumps as well as collecting can goods and clothing donations.

**Please, if you have wifi, open your network so others can use it. 

We'll keep posting more info as it comes in.  Please post more volunteer and relief opportunities in the comment section.  Also, this link (https://redhook.recovers.org/) is for anyone who wants to donate money, goods or receive help.  It'll keep you up-to-date on what is needed.

Halloween Pic.

It's the end of a ridiculous and tumultuous week.  Here's a pic from Halloween that will hopefully make you smile.  He's a punkin.

Post Sandy Info.

So many businesses in Red Hook were destroyed this week, including Fairway as you can see in the pic above from Time Magazine they were disposing of damaged food, not giving food away as rumors would suggest.  It's so strange the differences from one neighborhood to the next.  The Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill neighborhood has returned to normalcy for the most part.  The only signs of damage were the city workers clearing an occasional fallen tree (pic above) or branches but otherwise businesses were all open.  Kids even went trick or treating last night.  But our Red Hook neighbors are really hurting.  It's a very close-knit community in which many of our crew here at Realty Collective live and work.  There is such a pride and love for this community that we are sure everyone will pull through and help each other out but it's definitely tough right now.  Here's a very important link on storm recovery info.  Please pass it along to anyone who may need it.