Our beloved and special Red Hook, Brooklyn

Well before the pandemic, PortSide created virtual programming, in 2016, we launched a unique, digital maritime museum Red Hook WaterStories.  This cultural tourism project covers Red Hook past and present, tells NYC’s maritime story in microcosm and makes the whole peninsula an attraction and educational site.  It’s a great source for school curricula.

Red Hook is a rapidly evolving, mixed-use neighborhood. Mixed-use means that zoning allows a range of land uses that include manufacturing (heavy and light), commercial businesses, and residencies. Red Hook has stunning waterfront views, a working waterfront that provides work and opportunities to see ships and tugboats, a burgeoning artist colony, and quality artisanal food and craft emporia concentrated near the main drag Van Brunt Street.  By 2020, multiple e-commerce warehouses are being built here which has locals concerned that our sleepy village vibe may get killed by truck traffic.

We have great spirit, as in a growing sector of beer brewers, distillers and wine makers.  We have two seafood eateries (Red Hook Lobster Pound and Brooklyn Crab) that attract people from afar and the quieter Kevin’s Restaurant. We have the Red Hook Farm, a youth project!  Two large shopping magnets, IKEA and Food Bazaar (formerly Fairway), define the southern rim of the peninsula.  

Red Hook is home to the Red Hook Houses, NYC's second largest public housing projects and Brooklyn’s biggest, so we also have a large community of need. This inspires much of the programming at our diverse socially-oriented non-profits.  Their public programs create other reasons to visit Red Hook.

Many of local bars and eateries serve as cultural centers by hosting host bands, readings, and events. Covid has reduced the number of events, but not the community’s spirit. During the pandemic, Red Hook pivoted, strongly; and there is a boom in mutual aid services and cultural events and civic meetings on Zoom and Facebook. Get info on that and business closed/open updates here.

Fostering Red Hook’s economic and community development is part of PortSide's mission. Our Red Hook WaterStories museum provides educational and cultural experiences to residents of Red Hook and also creates an attraction and destination that brings visitors and investors to Red Hook.

Please donate and support the growth of this project!