Surrounded by water on two sides, separated by a highway on the others, and no subway stop -- there's a reason that Red Hook doesn’t make it onto most tourists' itineraries. Sure, Red Hook’s isolated, but it's also got some pleasant bars, restaurants, and shops, and an appealing old-Brooklyn atmosphere that make it worth a visit, especially on a lazy weekend.
LeNell's
If you want to get to one of the neighborhood pioneers, though, you’ll have to hurry. LeNell’s, a liquor store on the main drag of Van Brunt Street, is looking for a new home because of lease difficulties. For now, though, you can still check out it’s famed selection of whiskey and other spirits, their bottles piled high amid a small cupid statue and other odd furnishings.
Brooklyn Ice House
f you’d rather sit down with a drink rather than just get the supplies for one, then one likeable option is the recently opened Brooklyn Ice House, up the road a bit at 318 Van Brunt. The beer here comes with impressively low prices, and so does the BBQ: I recommend the pulled pork sandwiches ($5), which come two to a plate with potato chips. It’s a low-key place during the day, with lots of board games to play, a TV that might be tuned to some sports, and no reason to hurry out.
Red Hook ballfields on weekends
Van Brunt’s fun for a stroll, but the best reason to go to Red Hook hasn’t even opened yet this year. For nearly 20 years food vendors have been setting up shop at the Red Hook ballfields on weekends, serving a primarily Latin American crowd that comes here for the soccer and baseball games. Don’t’ expect hot dogs or boring old pretzels: think instead ceviche, pupusas and other exciting dishes. Legal snags have kept the vendors away during the sports season so far, but the director of the vendors’ group, Cesar Fuentes, is certain that they’ll all be up and running again by 26 July at the latest.
IKEA
Photo by Specialkrb
But how are you going to make it to Red Hook if the subways doesn’t? Believe it or not, a certain large Swedish retailer is here to help. Last month, IKEA opened a huge store along the water in Red Hook. The mega-store runs a free water taxi between Manhattan's Pier 11 (just south of South Street Seaport) and its entrance. There's no rule that you have to set foot in IKEA for even one Lack shelf if you take the taxi, which runs every 20 to 40 minutes.
Photo by Specialkrb
Certainly, a recent ride back from the store showed lots of people without any telltale bags--and some were even taking their bikes along. The trip itself is fun, with views of Brooklyn’s waterfront, the Statue of Liberty, and Olafur Eliasson’s waterfall installation, which will remain in the East River until mid-October.