Good spot for a houseboat too. via Facebook

The East River Ferry was already a pretty great way to get around, especially when it’s nice out. But, because no one is ever satisfied with merely “great” in New York, people thought about ways to improve it even more. Their idea? Get another one to go out of Manhattan down to Red Hook on weekends. And according to a press release from the city, that’s exactly what’s happening. (more…)

Sunny’s in better days (via flickr user waywuiwei)

Six months after Hurricane Sandy, Red Hook staple Sunny’s Bar is still shuttered, which sucks for everyone in the neighborhood, and for pretty much most breathing, thinking human beings capable of feeling love, too. But they’re doing their best to get back on their feet, launching an Indiegogo campaign and feting it with a May Day celebration/benefit at the Bell House in Gowanus. (more…)

Face painting at last year’s Red Hook Fest (via flickr user DTETC

Red Hook is home to more than wonderful bars and street hockey and maritime toughs who coulda been contenders. It’s also home to a thriving arts scene, and that suffered along with everyone else during Sandy. The recovery effort has been underway for a little while, but there are still plenty of people in the neighborhood that are struggling to get back on their feet. All the more reason, then, to come out and celebrate all the neighborhood has to offer at this year’s upcoming Red Hook Fest. (more…)

He’s Chuck Schumer and he approves that elote

Now that the Smith-9th Street subway station is finally open, everyone is going to want to ride there, right? At the very least, just out of curiosity. Of course, once you get to the station, you might find that you’re a bit peckish. Fortunately for you, a slew of food vendors will be down in Red Hook, waiting for you to come and spend money and eat.  (more…)

It WILL exist. via Brooklyn Pix

Well, OK, we admit it, we were Skeptical Sallys about the Smith-9th Street station ever re-opening. Can you blame us? Oh really, you can? Because we all know the MTA just moves sooo fast on things. Well, whatever, let’s stop fighting and just focus on the good news: the Smith-9th Street has an official opening date, Friday, April 26 at 10:30am.

We will reopen the Smith-9th Streets station next Friday at 10:30am. #MTA

— Kevin Ortiz (@MTA_NYCT_Vocero) April 19, 2013

So, which transit nerd is gonna be the first one through the turnstile?

Vegans need not apply. via Flickr user Maggie Hoffman

It’s Monday, so the last thing you want to be thinking about is Saturday. Both because it’s so, so far away and because last Saturday’s debauchery involving eating $80 worth of stadium food might still be sitting like a rock in your stomach. Screw that though, everybody’s working for the weekend, right? Especially when that weekend has free grilled cheese in Red Hook. (more…)

Maybe give some to Occupy Sandy. via Facebook

So we’ve already got one way to argue over how to spend gobs of money, at least if you live in Brad Lander’s district and want to be part of his participatory budget-palooza. If you don’t live in Lander’s district, don’t get bummed out about not being able to spend huge amounts of money, because you’ve got two more chances in front of you. One, involves how Ikea should help Red Hook, and and the other is the big kahuna: how do we spend the money the federal government gave us after we clawed it out of their horrible hands. (more…)

It DOES exist. via Brooklyn Pix

It’s always weird to report on good news about the G train. In part because no matter what the good news is, it’s never “The MTA has decided waiting six years for a G train might be too long.” But, you take what you can get we suppose, and we will certainly take this news. After an endless era of construction, the Smith-9th Street station will finally be ready for you to stand around and crane your neck down the tracks. (more…)

The happiest place on Earth. via Facebok

Just in case this week’s multiple frigid incidents of wintry mix made you forget that summer in Brooklyn is basically the best thing ever, Monday, April 1, the Brooklyn Crab is celebrating their extended summer hours with a huge re-opening party. For the occasion, they’ll be serving up dollar oysters and $1 beers…and no, it’s not an April Fools prank. (more…)

Although, we guess you can hang out at the bar while the person shops for you. via Flickr user Urban_Lisa

So we’ve previously covered how much it costs you to to shlep all your crap home from Ikea (both a useful guide AND a window into Tim’s hairstyle at the time). But we’ve also gotten sage relationship advice from cupcake genius Allison Robicelli that included a whole paragraph on not going to Ikea. Fortunately for you, Ikea has a way to avoid both the shlepping and the fighting, and still get your stuff, but of course, it’ll cost you. For $99, you can give them a list of all the stuff you want, and they’ll both buy it for you and deliver it to you. So, the question is, is the Picking with Delivery service worth it? (more…)