Pre-Civil War warehouses + Ports + No Subway + Transportation wasteland in NYC = The perfect location for creatives.
What happened to all of the artists in New York City? The Greenwich Village Hippies? The Lower East Side Punks? The Alphabet City Crew? Where did they go? Do they exist in the Millennial and Gen Z world? Yes…Yes they do. And, a good chunk of them are in Red Hook.
But, please don’t tell. 😉
Red Hook, Brooklyn is quite difficult to get to without a car. There is a ferry stop, but it still takes about an hour from midtown. Alternatively, you can get there via a cab/Lyft/Uber in about 20 minutes. No matter how you look at it, for being only about 5 miles away from Manhattan, it’s a different world. And, that’s what allows it to flourish in it’s quirky, artistic, crafty, and eclectic way!
It is also a perfect weekend getaway. You’ll be dropped off in the middle of an awesome and walkable neighborhood full of record stores, thrift shops, galleries, breweries, quirky restaurants, distilleries, and a local NYC-based winery on the water.
What to do in Red Hook?
- Take a morning ferry from Wall St. to enjoy awesome views of the Statue of Liberty, downtown Manhattan, and Staten Island!
- Grab brunch at Red Hook Lobster Pound. We recommend the BLT Lobster Roll and Pina Coladas!
- Check out local museums and art galleries! The Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition and Scanlan Glass were our favorites for the vibes and energy of the artists/space. However, you should also check out Pioneer Works and the Waterfront Barge Museum.
- Peruse the local shops. We enjoyed The Record Shop, The Chelsea Garden Center, Raaka Chocolate, and Wooden Sleepers.
- Taste and purchase some local libations for your home bar! We enjoyed Sixpoint Brewery, Red Hook Winery, and the Van Brunt Stillhouse!
- Stop by a legendary and historic dive bar for a sip in the sun in their hidden garden. Sunny’s Red Hook
- Grab some brews and ‘que while listening to the blues at Hometown BBQ.
- Settle the sweet tooth with locally sourced and made ice cream at the Ample Hills Creamery factory.
Who Should Visit Red Hook?
Foodies!
Red Hook is a foodie Mecca! Noah and I struggled to pace ourselves, because there’s something new, exciting, local, and craft-made around every corner.
Partiers!
With more than 20 bars, pubs, distilleries, breweries and tasting rooms – you could easily spend a week exploring the local libations.
Seafarers!
As a historic port of call, Red Hook still feels like a fishing village and port town. If you are into the history of the sea, wayfaring, fishing, and transport, this is the place for you!
Artists!
There are more than 20 galleries and art museums within a mile of each other. This means that you are sure to find your crowd in Red Hook! Beware, I wanted to roll up my sleeves and get to work myself within 20 minutes of meeting some of these hospitable and warm artists. You’ll definitely get pulled into their inner-circle in a hurry!
Vintage Vibers!
Looking for jazz records from the Harlem Savoy? (The Record Store doesn’t have a website…some things are better IRL.) Wanting a classic 1930s hat? How about some vintage estate jewelry? Or a one-of-a-kind book? I know you needed some sleek and slate kitchenware…And, you’ll probably want to stock up on hostess gifts and sustainable bags for when the parties start again. Any way you look at it, Red Hook’s got it all. What can we say? We’re hooked…
Other NYC Ideas…
Check out our previous posts for other NYC neighborhoods to check-out!
- Rockaway Beach
- Murray Hill and Midtown East
- Central Park
- Discover the Best NYC Landmark and Lookout – Just For You!
More coming each week!
And…it’s 2020…So, here’s my weekly reminder.
Should I Come to New York in 2020?
If you are living outside the Northeast, the answer is still, sadly, no. For more on this, check out our other posts on “Wandering and Wondering in NYC,” and “New York: Awakening from COVID-19 Slumber.” The quarantine mandates for most US states are getting stricter and stricter. New York seems to be under control (at this point). The government is doing their best to make sure it stays that way. With so many people living in such a close proximity, pandemics are especially lethal here.
Wait this one out…New York will still be here when the dust settles.
As always, don’t forget to Toast The Moon to all of your international travels by visiting our store, and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and the ‘gram to catch all of our latest posts and adventures!
Stay in your region this year, stay safe, stay distant, and be like the NYC statues – wear your masks! We’ll see you on the other side.
Cheers,
Noah and Majhon
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