Trash and Concrete Problems in Red Hook

The Courier touched on two issues this week that are affecting Red Hook's quality of life: trash and concrete

In an article about State and City procedures for keeping the new Red Hook concrete plant on a "short leash," the Courier's Gary Buiso writes:

State and city officials are vowing to keep a close watch on a concrete plant once it opens in Red Hook — but those hoping for an environmental assessment before that day should expect to be disappointed.

Critics of the arrival of United States Concrete’s facility to 640 Columbia Street are urging the city and the state to conduct air quality testing to determine if the plant’s arrival is even suitable for the site, which stands near neighborhood ballfields and an organic farm.....

According to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the plant will require an industrial process permit for each type of processing equipment, such as ventilation or exhaust machines, that will be employed. The equipment that has a permit is inspected when it is ready to go into use and then it is inspected every 3 years in order to renew the permit. The company also has to ensure that the piles of sand and dirt on site are sufficiently covered or sprayed with water.

Then, in another article, Buiso writes about a trash problem on Halleck St:

Forget about traffic, a Red Hook roadway has a problem of a different sort: trash.

Halleck Street between Court and Clintonhas been transformed into a veritable dumping ground, and Community Board 6 is urging the city to either turn the messy parcel into a park, clean it up, or both.

While the tract of land is under the jurisdiction of the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT), the agency never built it as an actual street, leaving it fertile territory for the accumulation of all manner of trash. And that’s exactly what happened several years back when a contractor dumped enormous mountains of fill material there, creating a mountain of dirt that seemingly encouraged similar activity, according to Board 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman. “The DOT is unwilling to remove the dirt, claiming they are not responsible for putting it there and they don’t have the resources......”

Read the rest of the concrete article here and the trash article here

Local business profiled in the Daily News

The Daily News ran an article earlier this week called "Red-hot deals in Red Hook" where they highlighted a number of local businesses that often don't get media attention. Its almost like a Not-for-Tourists guide to Red Hook. Here's what they included:

GROCERY STORE: Fairway

480 Van Brunt St.; (718) 694-6868

Fairway has the best selection of fresh meats, dairy and produce in Red Hook. Be sure to check the circular every Saturday for weekly in-store specials, like Bartlett pears for 99 cents per pound; fresh-cut swordfish steaks for $6.99 a pound; General Mills cereals, two for $5, and Kleenex tissues for $1.89.

HAIR SALON AND NAIL SALON: Golden Fingers Dominican Style Salon,

70 Lorraine St.; (718) 797-3303

Golden Fingers is the place to be pampered. Monday through Wednesday a wash and set is only $10. Everyday prices include braids for $35 and up, box braids for $80 and up and natural cornrows for $25 and up. Manicures are $8 and pedicures go for $13.

HARDWARE STORE: Celco II Hardware

289 Van Brunt St.; (718) 899-8116

At this corner hardware store, you can get keys made, get help with your locks and buy hardware, paint, heating supplies or vanities.

DINER: Flaco Luncheon,

54 Lorraine St.; (718) 222-3078

Since 1985, Flaco's has been serving up the best homemade food in Red Hook. Be sure to check in every day for the daily specials, like a small plate of rice with pork or steak for $5.50 or a large for $7. A small soup is just $3 and a large is $6, and come in varieties like chicken, beef, oxtail and tripe.

LAUNDROMAT: The Wash Stop Laundromat

34 Lorraine St.; (718) 625-7250

The Wash Stop is a block-long laundromat that really makes getting your laundry done easy. The place has more than 100 machines, drop-off service, a play area for kids and satellite television. It also has private mailboxes for rent.

DELI: F & M Bagel,

383 Van Brunt St.; (718) 855-2623

At F & M, a ham and egg sandwich is just $3, a bacon cheeseburger is $4.50 and a hot roast beef sandwich is just $5. F & M also serves hot plates of food, like meatloaf and chicken parm, starting at $6.50. Fish is served on Thursdays and Fridays, and Boar's Head cold cuts, soup and salads are fresh daily. Free delivery.

TAKE-OUT: Red Hook Cafe & Grill

228 Van Brunt St.; (718) 643-0122

This is a great place to grab a quick breakfast or lunch. The cafe serves up a variety of burgers for about $5; salads run about $6; a BLT is just $3.25; pancakes are $4 and gourmet tortilla wraps are about $6. Free delivery.

DRY CLEANERS: Y and M Cleaners

592 Clinton St.; (718) 852-0264

For the past 19 years, Van La has been keeping Red Hook's duds looking dapper. All work and alterations are done on the premises. Base dry cleaning prices are $8 for a suit; $5 for jackets; $7.50 for dresses; $3.50 for skirts and $3 for blouses, sweaters and shirts.

PHARMACY: Red Hook Pharmacy

598 Clinton St.; (718) 923-1600

Besides filling your prescriptions, for the past nine years this corner pharmacy has also carried health and beauty aids and over-the-counter medicines.

smART Hop to local galleries this weekend

Marty Markowitz's office is sponsoring the 2nd annual smART Hop this weekend, which offers five different bus loops around Brooklyn to bring people to local art galleries.

Neighborhood participants in the tour include:
BWAC
Kentler International Drawing Space
and
WORK

They are included on the same bus loop as Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights. There are also bus loops for Boerum Hill/Park Slope/Gowanus, Bushwick/Greenpoint/Williamsburg, Bed Stuy/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, and Bay Ridge/Sunset Park/Crown Heights.

The bus rides are free and run every hour, but it is recommended that you reserve a spot on your preferred loop and time.

More details can be found here

Community Round Table with State Senator Daniel Squadron

The Cobble Hill Association is offering us an opportunity to meet with our elected officials through a series of Community Round Table.

The CHA is kicking it off with State Senator Daniel Squadron.

7:30 PM on Monday, November 23rd
@ Christ Church, at the corner of Clinton and Kane Streets


More info on the Cobble Hill Association and this event here.

DO I MOVE YOU, ARE YOU WILLING at WORK

WORK Gallery presents

DO I MOVE YOU, ARE YOU WILLING

November 21 - December 14, 2009

a group exhibition of photography

opening SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 7-9PM.

Curated by JOSIE MINER, the exhibition features eight New York City based photographers whose works collectively consider the meditative quality of photography. Featuring a range of representational and abstract imagery, the exhibition explores the ephemeral and enigmatic interstices of life and offers an opportunity for reverie and feeling.

Featuring the works of Michael Ackerman, Mae Fatto, Allen Frame, Leila Hekmat, Allan MacIntyre, Mariah Robertson, Go Sugimoto, Hannah Whitaker.



More information about the exhibition and about Work Gallery here.

New pieces at the Art Lot

We're a little late on this one, but some new stuff recently popped up at the Art Lot on Sackett and Columbia. Our favorite of the pieces is this robot statue:

Urban Farm Conference from MAS

The Municipal Art Society recently hosted a conference called "Designing Urban Farms to Feed Our City," and they now have a podcast (here) and slideshow (embedded below) related to it up on their site, which describes the event as follows:

Representing a variety of perspectives on sustainable agriculture, architecture and planning, and touching on issues as diverse as zoning, organic farming, national agricultural policy, and climate change, the panelists addressed the question: Can New York, a city with a growing population and shrinking acreage, eventually grow enough food within its boundaries to become self-sufficient?

Our own local Red Hook Community Farm, run by Added Value, was mentioned in the discussion, which shows how this neighborhood is on the forefront of a growing trend! Considering that this area has not only the farm, but a number of community gardens and backyards, its interesting to think about the future of urban farming in NYC.

What's happening to Pit Stop?

A couple of weeks ago we walked past Pit Stop and saw signs on the window advertising that the restaurant would soon be making changes to appeal to families and kids by becoming a racecar themed Bistro 4 Kids. This made a lot of sense, since they had always been popular among families anyway - especially when they previously had the playspace in the back that kids could run around in.

Then, a few days later, I ran into Laurent, the owner of Pit Stop, and asked if I could write a post about the new concept. He told me that it would actually no longer be happening, because he had finally found a buyer for the restaurant. Indeed, Pit Stop had been for sale since the beginning of the summer, and when it seemed that there were no takers, Laurent came up with the new concept, only to find a buyer soon after.

So now there will no longer be Pit Stop as we've known it in the past, or the new kid's Pit Stop concept - that is unless the new buyer decides to run with either or both of those.

Whatever the new buyer decides to do, we can only hope that the food and atmosphere are as good as what Pit Stop had to offer.

Pit Stop has been open for 6 years, but this past Spring Laurent became head chef at a new restaurant at the Hotel Rivington in Manhattan, LEVANTeast.

Red Hook Pupusa Recipe (via Martha Stewart)

Earlier this week, we heard around the internet that there was a taping for a Brooklyn episode of the Martha Stewart show. Then, earlier today, the Red Hook Food Vendors posted a link to their Twitter account for the pupusa recipe below, which is featured on Martha Stewart's website. This is the recipe of Reina Soler, one of the Red Hook Food Vendors that can often be found at Brooklyn Flea.

Makes about 15 pupusas

• 1 pound masa
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 4 cups lukewarm water
• 3 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• Curtido, for serving
• Salsa de Tomate, for serving

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together masa and salt. Add water, a little bit at a time, until a soft, pliable, nonsticky dough is formed.
2. Using damp hands, form dough into 2 1/2-inch balls. Flatten each ball into a 4-inch patty and place 1/4 cup cheese in the center of each. Fold sides of patties over cheese to enclose and reshape into a ball. Flatten each ball into another 4-inch patty.
3. Preheat a griddle and lightly coat with oil. Place patties on skillet and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Serve immediately with curtido and salsa.

Image above from MarthaStewart.com

Off the Hook!: Plays by Red Hook kids

On 11/20 and 11/21, the Falconworks Artist Group will be sponsoring a theater event featuring local Red Hook youth:

"Six young playwrights, with the support of professional writers, actors, directors, and creative artists, take center stage in their own plays for an evening of funny, moving, raw, original theater."

The event will be taking place at PS 15.

Click here for more details and registration information

Falconworks Artists Group is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support and empower communities and individuals through theater that addresses personal and local issues......