Red Hook is the Plymouth Rock for Puerto Ricans arriving in New York City, starting in the late 1800's and running well into the 1900s, because the ships docked here. NYC's first Puerto Rican community was here, before Spanish Harlem, and Puerto Ricans remain a significant part of the Red Hook community. The ships dccked in and near Atlantic Basin, where PortSide's ship, the tanker MARY A. WHALEN is today. On Friday evening May 25, PortSide invites the community back to where it all began to share their WaterStories heritage. There will be live music by BombaYo, storytelling, potluck food and more. This event is evolving as the word gets out. Get in touch if you have ideas, have a story to share, or want to be involved. Part of the “MARY Month of May” festival in honor of the 80th birthday or our ship MARY A. WHALEN.
