Red Hook Fest this weekend!

It's a big weekend for Red Hook! Brooklyn Studio Tours for the visual arts and the 20th annual Red Hook Fest for dance.  During the Red Hook Festival you can watch dance performances, participate in a dance party yourself and eat, of course.  It's an especially important year for this event and for Red Hook in general after all the area's been through with the hurricane aftermath.  One of the performances, Danced Invocations for Red Hook Recovery, is dedicated to Sandy survivors.  Learn more on their website or click the links below for more info on events starting tonight.

FRI MAY 31 BBQ/Dance Party (6pm-8pm)
SAT JUNE 1 Red Hook Rebirth Parade (10am)
SAT JUNE 1 Mainstage Performances (12pm-7pm)

More on Carnivals!

We blogged about PS 29's Friday night carnival yesterday, mainly because it sounded like fun and we've seen flyers posted everywhere in the neighborhood.  We saw the flyer above today and wanted to give PS 32 a shout out too!  They are having a spring carnival as well this Saturday day from 12pm-4pm, so if a carnival/festival sounds like fun and you'd rather go in the daytime this one's for you! We have such wonderful schools in our hood, mainly because of parent and community involvement.  These festivals are a great way to get out there and support our kids!

PS 29 Carnival

May 31st, this Friday, between 5pm and 8pm PS 29 is throwing a carnival celebration in it's schoolyard to welcome a new principal, Dr. Rebecca Fagin.  The amount of activities at this shindig are too many to list.  You'll probably be able to make them out on the flyer above.  Just know they'll have all the normal festivities, such as face painting and bouncy houses, plus a whole bunch of more unique activities such as a hair coloring station, hacky sack demonstration, and a fortune teller.  And food, of course, BBQ and snacks.  Should be a good time!

Brooklyn Studio Tours.

The 5th annual Brooklyn Studio Tours kicks off this Saturday, June 1st and includes Sunday, June 2nd as well.  We blogged about this last year, which was held in mid-May.  Good choice to hold it a little later this year since the weather has been so crazy.  This tour is meant to bring people to the Red Hook and Carroll Gardens community to observe the local art scene first hand by touring the artists studios or the local businesses supporting them.  It's a great way to see our hood for those who aren't familiar and see it in a different light for those who live here! You can check the tour's facebook page for more info.

Brand New Bagels.

The new bagel shop at 285 Court Street is open! Although it was closed when we walked by in the evening. It looks pretty nice.  Simple but nice.  It's great to have a new bagel shop in the neighborhood.  There aren't too many options and in our opinion you can never have too many.  It's good to have one within a few block radius for those early morning breakfast runs.  We're psyched to try this place out!

Red Hook Ferry Tomorrow!

Good news for businesses in Red Hook, residents, and visitors alike comes this weekend when the expanded free summer ferry service starts at Pier 11 in Manhattan.  It makes two stops in Red Hook one is off of Van Brunt Street and the other is, of course, Ikea.  The decision to expand this route of transportation was mainly because of the impact that Hurricane Sandy had on the area.  Service will begin tomorrow, May 25th.  Read more here.

The Pianos are Coming to Our Hood in June!

Have you heard of the Sing for Hope Pianos program?  Here's a brief summary.  88 artist-designed pianos will be placed around the city starting in June.  Not only are these beautifully designed from them spontaneous performances will occur daily.  After their time with the public they will be donated to under-served schools,and other community organizations in need.  A couple of these pianos are coming pretty close by.  One will be at Columbus Park near Borough Hall, one in Brooklyn Bridge Park and another in Gowanus at 336 3rd Street.  Check out their site for more info.

Governor's Island Opens Soon!

This Saturday, May 25th, marks the opening day of Gov Island to the public for the season.  We're so lucky that this amazing spot is just a short (and free!) ferry boat ride away from Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Here are a few things you can expect to see this weekend.

Children's Museum of the Arts Free Art Island Outpost Program: May 25-September 29,  Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm
Join CMA's Teaching Artists for free hands on art-making each weekend. Collaborate with other visitors on a variety of themed art workshops including painting, sound design, sculpture, animation, podcasting, and more!!  For more information visit www.cmany.org.

Better Than Jam: handmade gifts shop: May 25- September 29, 11 am-6pm
For it's 3rd year, the Brooklyn boutique of all locally handmade products, will be bringing the creations of New York City's most talented artists and crafters

Vintage Baseball, Saturday and Sunday May 25-26, Saturday, June 29, Saturday July 27, Saturday August 24 and Saturday, August 21
See baseball played as it was at the turn of the last century! Visit the Parade Ground and enjoy America’s pastime the way it used to be played!

 

Chickens at Urban Meadow.

Urban Meadow, a beautiful community garden on President and Van Brunt, has added chickens to their space.  They've had them for a little while now but just recently we noticed that a couple of them were roaming free so we snapped this pic.  The tulips and other spring flowers are blooming, along with the scattered flowering trees.  That as well as the picnic benches, brick garden paths and now the chickens strolling around make this a really cute spot.

Buying into Brooklyn Event Reminder!!

Tomorrow night is the night.  Just wanted to let everyone know, and remind those who already knew, that we'll be at Brooklyn Brewery along with a great panel of folks who can answer your questions about buying in Brooklyn.  Come for the knowledge, come for the beer, come for the snacks.  Come see us!!  Check the event's facebook page for tickets and more info.

New Restaurant on Hicks.

We passed this place on the corner of Hicks and Degraw the other day and we wouldn't have given it a second look had the door not been wide open and we noticed that work was being done on the place.  It barely looked like a storefront back when it was a hydroponic shop but after glancing in the windows (pic below) you can see that it's going to be a restaurant.  We asked the gentleman working what type of food they will serve but he only said he knew it would be a bar and restaurant.  We just learned that it's going to be a burger shop.  The owner, who is the same as the previous gardening store, is quoted on GrubStreet as wanting to sell "Shake Shack–style burgers for $5," Sounds like a good addition to this area!

Go Dancing at the Park Tonight!

You may have missed the kick off of Celebrate Brooklyn! Dance Parties last Thursday but if you feel like dancing tonight you are in luck because this series is still going on and tonight is the night.  Meet up is at 7pm on Pier 1 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and it's free. Tonight is Afro-Cuban night with Pedrito Martinez and DJ Nickodemus.  Read more about the duo below. Alos get there at the beginning for free dance lessons.

Havana-born vocalist and percussionist Pedrito Martinez leads a small band with a big sound, featuring Ariacne Trujillo and special guest Luis Sanchez-Faife (Alto Sax). Lauded as “an incomparable performer” by The New York Times, Martinez’s unmatched work on the congas anchors the band’s fresh, hip-shakin’ beats. From downtown to uptown, he keeps audiences dancing with his “quick hands [and] a voice like lightning” (Wall Street Journal). DJ Nickodemus, of Turntables On The Hudson fame, will also be on hand to spice up the East River with his universal dance sounds.

BWAC Event this Sunday.

There are so many great events going on at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. Visual art, music, film.  This Sunday you can visit and listen to their Readings in Red Hook series.  This show is for local authors to share their work with the public.  The theme for this Sunday, May 19th is "Sandy Experiences".  BWAC is located at 499 Van Brunt Street and is open weekends 1pm-6pm. Check out their site for more info.

Brooklyn Heights Spring Fair This Weekend!

Willowtown Spring Fair is coming to Brooklyn Heights this Saturday, May 18th.  This cute little street, Willow Place between Joralemon and State, will be bustling with people on Saturday between 12pm and 5pm.  Along with live music there will be face painting and races for the kids and wine tasting for adults.  There is so much more (bounce house, fire engine, kitten adoptions plant sale, etc) It's a little one block street but it's going to be packed full of activities and snacks!

Citibike is coming!

Here's a pic we took of the latest addition to the Pier 6 area.  A Citibike rack!  We were so excited about this bike share program when we heard about it a very long time ago, before it was even called Citibike, and after many delays and postponements it's finally coming..for real.  This is a really perfect location too. It's right at the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is a great place to bike around, although you have to watch out for those pesky pedestrians.  It's also on the Greenway and you can easily bike to Red Hook from this point too.  Can't wait to see how this program goes.

Waterfront Museum Events This Weekend!

If you're looking for something to do this weekend you should check out these events going on at the Waterfront Museum in Red Hook.  This is the last weekend to see the production "Moby Dick-Rehearsed by Orson Welles" performed by the Brave New World Repertory Theatre both Saturday and Sunday. What an amazing setting to see this story come to life. Tickets : $25 General, $18 students/seniors. 
        On Sunday, Mother's Day, between 2pm and 4pm come visit the museum and experience Harborlore, story, song and dance presented by Brooklyn Arts Council.  This event is free!  More info on this one below. This museum is awesome and if you haven't visited yet this is a great weekend to go!

Part of Brooklyn Arts Council's HARBORLORE Festival opening weekend, this afternoon showcase features diverse Brooklyn traditional artists on Red Hook's antique barge. Artists demonstrate a variety of stories and rituals associated with water including Mother & Daughter Annie & Taseen Ferdous dancing the Bangladeshi Water Vessel dance; James Lovell telling and drumming the Garifuna boys' initiation story from St. Vincent about a young man named Supnik who catches fish in a magical way; Lenny Speregen, NY Harbor diver telling stories of "treasure" found in our Harbor;  Braata Jamaican Folk Singers performing traditional baptismal hymns; and a Hindu water ceremony dedicated to the Elephant-headed god Ganesh. The event is FREE. Donations are requested. Families are encouraged to attend.

          

Discover the Hook! This Saturday!

We're so pleased to hosting this event this weekend, May 11th.  It's from 12pm-5pm and you can start your day by swinging by our Red Hook office at 351 Van Brunt for your activity guide.  We hope everyone will come out and if you or anyone you know wants to open a business or move their business this is a great time to check out what Red Hook has to offer! We've included the press release to this event as well as the flyer.  Share!!!

PRESS RELEASE:

For Immediate Release:

May 3, 2013

 “DISCOVER THE HOOK” EVENT IN RED HOOK PLANNED TO ATTRACT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Brooklyn, NY

Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corp. (SBIDC) and the Realty Collective are hosting an event called “Discover the Hook" in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC) provides advocacy and services to help businesses in the Sunset Park, Red Hook and Gowanus neighborhoods grow and create employment opportunities for local residents. Brooklyn boutique real estate firm, Realty Collective was founded in 2005 on a mission of enriching the community where they live and work. With offices in Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront District and Red Hook, Realty Collective has taken a special interest in shaping south Brooklyn, an area rich in history and architecture. The goal of “Discover the Hook” is to attract local and sustainable businesses to Red Hook and match them with vacant properties along the main commercial corridor of Van Brunt Street and the nearby neighborhood. The event is planned for Saturday, May 11th from 12-5pm and will showcase vacant retail spaces as well as the unique local businesses and amenities the community has to offer.

During this event, a number of vacant spaces will be programmed with creative events and activities, including a pop-up shop showcasing local handmade gifts, an art gallery, and music - all hosted by local artists, musicians and community members. This event is suitable for anyone looking for a unique experience and is a great opportunity for businesses seeking retail space in a revitalizing neighborhood. They’ll have the chance to see available spaces, meet business owners and learn about the neighborhood. The Realty Collective has generated a list of current available commercial spaces in the neighborhood, which visitors will be able to pick up from their office at 351 Van Brunt Street.

New Pediatrics on Atlantic.

We've been seeing pediatricians opening up in this neighborhood more and more to meet the demand of the growing number of children and babies.  There are the small offices, such as Dr. Philippa Gordon at 300 Court which recently opened and has just two doctors, a cozy waiting room, and a few examination rooms.  The latest sign we saw on Atlantic and Boerum Place (above) looks like it's going to be a large group because of the size of the space.  One good thing about this place is, according to another sign, they'll have "after hours urgent care".  We also noticed another large space opening on Atlantic and Nevins.  It'll be great for parents to have so many options. 

Buying into Brooklyn May 21st!

We've had so much fun doing this event in the past and we're back to do it again the evening of May 21st at Brooklyn Brewery!  So, if you're starting to think about buying here and have some questions for us this is the perfect event.  You'll get your questions answered while eating snacks and drinking beer!  To read more about what to expect, including who will be with us on the panel, check out the facebook page.  You can also enter questions that you have so the panel can address them and buy tickets.

Discover the Hook Saturday!! Press Release and More Info!

We're so pleased to hosting this event this weekend, May 11th.  It's from 12pm-5pm and you can start your day by swinging by our Red Hook office at 351 Van Brunt for your activity guide.  We hope everyone will come out and if you or anyone you know wants to open a business or move their business this is a great time to check out what Red Hook has to offer! We've included the press release to this event as well as the flyer.  Share!!!

PRESS RELEASE:

For Immediate Release:

May 3, 2013

 “DISCOVER THE HOOK” EVENT IN RED HOOK PLANNED TO ATTRACT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Brooklyn, NY

Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corp. (SBIDC) and the Realty Collective are hosting an event called “Discover the Hook" in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood. Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC) provides advocacy and services to help businesses in the Sunset Park, Red Hook and Gowanus neighborhoods grow and create employment opportunities for local residents. Brooklyn boutique real estate firm, Realty Collective was founded in 2005 on a mission of enriching the community where they live and work. With offices in Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront District and Red Hook, Realty Collective has taken a special interest in shaping south Brooklyn, an area rich in history and architecture. The goal of “Discover the Hook” is to attract local and sustainable businesses to Red Hook and match them with vacant properties along the main commercial corridor of Van Brunt Street and the nearby neighborhood. The event is planned for Saturday, May 11th from 12-5pm and will showcase vacant retail spaces as well as the unique local businesses and amenities the community has to offer.

During this event, a number of vacant spaces will be programmed with creative events and activities, including a pop-up shop showcasing local handmade gifts, an art gallery, and music - all hosted by local artists, musicians and community members. This event is suitable for anyone looking for a unique experience and is a great opportunity for businesses seeking retail space in a revitalizing neighborhood. They’ll have the chance to see available spaces, meet business owners and learn about the neighborhood. The Realty Collective has generated a list of current available commercial spaces in the neighborhood, which visitors will be able to pick up from their office at 351 Van Brunt Street.