Red Hook-ers

I just renewed the lease for my teeny-tiny studio in Brooklyn for another year. So to remind me why I'm sticking around the nabe, I'm dedicating this whole week on M-Dashing to my favorite NYC borough, starting with this post on my weekend in Red Hook.

Red Hook is a neighborhood that's only accessible by bus, car, ferry, or, if you're the adventurous type, foot. There's no nearby subway stop, and I think this fact (among others) makes Red Hook a sort of magical, out-of-the-way destination in the minds of a lot of New Yorkers (even to those like me, who live just a 10-minute bus ride away).

Most people also know the area as the location of New York's only IKEA, our largest Fairway supermarket, and a few cruise line terminals. But that's just scratching the surface. Situated on a peninsula on the southern edge of Downtown Brooklyn, Red Hook has this old-timey-maritime-village-meets-dangerous-industrial-zone-meets-artsy-bad-ass vibe. There are great local shops with tons of personality. Restaurants and bakeries full of charming coolness. A few pubs. And also a key-lime pie store and a couple of garden centers. It's random and slightly quirky and doesn't feel like you're in New York City at all. I totally dig it.

My girlfriend Leah and I spent our sunny Saturday there, starting off with pear pancakes and breakfast martinis at Fort Defiance, then wandering through several delicious shops. Here are a few pics of our lovely day.

Photos 1 - 4: Foxy & Winston, 392 Van Brunt Street. Screenprinted totes, bags, cards, and general adorableness. Stop by and say hello to lovely Jane.

Photo 5: Erie Basin, 388 Van Brunt Street. Antique + contemporary jewelry, objects, furniture, and sophistication.

Photo 6 - 8: Metal and Thread, 398 Van Brunt Street. Art, antiques, jewelry, and gorgeousness.

Photo 9: Red Lipstick, 390 Van Brunt Street. Clothing, accessories, jewelry, and cuteness. Chat with super-friendly Amy (she's got the inside scoop on what it's really like to live in the 'Hook).