PumpkinFest Tomorrow.

Mazzone Hardware presents the 9th annual PumpkinFest tomorrow, October 5th from 10am-4pm.  It will take place right outside of their store on 4th Place between Court and Clinton.  Admission is free and, as you can imagine, they'll have tons of kids activities.  Music, face painting and pony rides to name a few.  There will also be...well...pumpkins of course.  Thousands to choose from and design. 

The Total Gowanus Immersion.

Check out this event that we're sponsoring! The Total Red Hook Immersion was so much fun we're psyched to meet people out to have the same awesome time in Gowanus.  This neighborhood has so many great bars, shops, restaurants and venues.  If you haven't explored this hood now is your time.  It isn't until October 5th so mark it on your calendar.  You can find out all the info you'll need on BrooklynBased. 

Columbia Waterfront Fall Fest Pics!

The kids were happy, which means our table at the Columbia Street Fall Festival last week was a success! Columbia waterfront resident, Sharon, had balloon animals, face painting and glitter tattoos.  We had a great time.  Thanks to Sharon and everyone who came out!  Enjoy the pics.

Le Grand Fooding.

Red Hook has really become special event and festival central! Especially for foodies.  This year's Le Grand Fooding, on September 27th and 28th will be held at Res on 372 Columbia Street.  This year's theme is "The Time Mach'Inn", which will highlight menu options from trends staring in the early 90's to present day.  You can see a menu as well as any more info, including booking, here.

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!

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.

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!

Calling all Vendors!

The Carroll Park Fair is coming up.  Well, it's about 5 weeks away.  But now is a great time to start thinking about reserving a spot if you'd like to sell food or goods.  10 X 10 spots are $35 and you can book by emailing carrollparkfair@gmail.com.  For those of you who may want to attend there should be plenty to eat, browse, and lots for kids to do.  So you can put this on your calendar for Saturday, June 1st from 10am-5pm.  They usually have rain dates for events at Carroll Park but we haven't heard that they've set one yet.  Keep an eye out for signs closer to the day of the event.

Red Hook Harvest Fest Success!

We went out the the Red Hook Harvest Festival last Saturday and basked in the very unfall-like weather.  It was gorgeous out and, with only the slightest chill in the air, the only way you could tell it was October was by the pumpkin carvings and cider press.  There was music, yummy food, as well as farm tours (farm animals!) and cooking demos.  Overall an awesome day!

DUMBO Arts Fest!

The annual DUMBO Arts Festival is coming soon.  Three days, from September 28th-30th.  This event has always been a unique and engaging experience and we highly recommended checking it out if you've never been.  And revisiting if you have!  It covers several blocks of the neighborhood and celebrates art, music and performance.  Rain or shine it's pretty awesome because they have both indoor and outdoor spectacles.  Oh and you should definitely hit some snacks while your there.  Jacques Torres ice cream cookie sandwich anyone?

Columbia Street Waterfront Festival

This Saturday, September 10th, come one down to Columbia Street for a day of food, rides, games, live music and shopping! There will also be a special appearance by the North Shore Animal League mobile pet adoption trailer. The festival starts at 11 am and goes until 6pm and stretches from Degraw to Union on Columbia Street and around the corner on Union to Hicks Street. The weather forecast is looking lovely so let's keep our fingers crossed. If you want to enjoy local food and music or if you're looking to adopt a furry friend head to the waterfront this Saturday. See you there!

Music Festival in Red Hook!

The first annual Red Hook Star-Revue Music Festival is happening this weekend. The location, Urban Meadow at Van Brunt and President Street, is ideal for a festival. It's a nice open space with a breeze (hopefully!) coming off the water and a shady park next door with a sprinkler for cooling off if you have children with you (or even if you don't, who cares). The fest is this Sunday August 28th from noon-6pm. Expect blues, rock, and country tunes! A $10 donation will get you free food and refreshments (sponsors include The House of Pizza and Calzone and Fort Defiance). For tickets in advance you can call 718-624-5568. See you there!

Music Fest!

This has been a week full of blogs about awesome festivals and events! Why stop now? Here's another cool festival happening on August 29th at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1. This unique festival will bring together a combination of Austrian music, food and film all with a beautiful view of the New York skyline! Festivities begin at 7pm and the film will screen at 8:30. The night ends at 11pm. Details are still to be announced concerning the film program but check out the website closer to the date to find out more. In addition to eating delicious food samples, watching a film, and listening to classical music all for free, you can even win a trip to Austria! Details below taken from their website.

In cooperation with the Vienna Tourist Board, the Vienna Music Film Festival NY will offer a prize drawing to win a six-night trip for two to Vienna; to enter, click here before August 28, 2011 to answer a trivia question about Vienna and be in attendance at the Brooklyn Bridge Park drawing to win.

Jam On!

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? Jam on Dumbo, a kid's concert and music series, will be having a festival at The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge this Saturday August 20th! Between 10AM and 5pm there will be several childrens bands playing (the line up is listed below) as well as other family activities. Face painting, balloon twisting, arts and crafts, and family yoga to name a few. Local vendors will also be there to, we assume, quench your thirst and fill your bellies. Not only does this sound like a good time for all but it's free too!

• 10am: Bonga! Afro-Haitian Drum and Songs – an all-ages interactive family performance
• 11am: The Itty Biddies
• 12:05pm: P for Puppets presents: “One, Two, Tres”
• 1pm: Rolie Polie Guacamole
• 2:05pm: Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band
• 3:10pm: Still Saffire
• 4:15pm: The Mini Max Players

Arrrrgh!

We've all heard of the famed Coney Island Mermaid Parade but have you heard about the Pirate festival here in our very own neighborhood of Red Hook! On Saturday, July 30th between 11am-5pm head down to IKEA Eerie Basin Park and join in all the pirate-y activities. No there won't be any pillaging but there will be live music, a visiting schooner ship, public tours of the Mobile Nature and Maritime Museum on Wheels, a children's show, and costume contest! It should be a fun time and what better area to host such an event than Red Hook! Can't arrrrrrgue with that.