Following the reopening of Red Hook’s Fairway Market March 1—which was all but wiped out by October’s Hurricane Sandy—there’s more good news for the borough. Heights locals looking to hop the R train for Coney Island’s seasonal goodies now have an official green light. Last Sunday, the Luna Park rides reopened, after being washed over with 5 feet of seawater.

The BK Chamber of Commerce shares that “Coney Island’s colorful rides only just emerged from an extensive rehabilitation. Workers were still finishing the repairs when families began to crowd the entrances on Sunday morning.”

Alberto Zamperla, CEO of the firm that operates Luna Park, tells the New York Times, which covered the reopening, “Our commitment after the hurricane, from Day 1, was to be ready on time for this event.” The rehab included everything from replacing electrical systems to dumping go-carts brined in seawater.

In attendance for opening day were state Senator Charles E. Schumer and Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz.

Luna is one of two privately owned amusement parks that opened in Coney Island on Sunday. Much more in the NYT story.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/56753

Among improvements to the grocery post-Sandy—which decimated the 52,000sf waterfront store with 5 feet of water—are wider aisles, no dead ends in produce, entire store is easier to navigate, bakery is three times larger, a new cafe with enhanced offerings, meat & seafood easier to shop and a self-serve meat aisle across from the butcher counter.

In addition, a new expanded bulk section now comprises 198 items, including granola, nuts & seeds, grains & beans, natural candy and more.

The store was packed all weekend, here’s the Tale of the Tweets from opening day onward:

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55734

The reopening of Red Hook’s Fairway Market March 1 is be treated as a celebration for the local community, complete with guest “stars” and lots of hoopla. Racked reports that the grand reopening at 8 a.m. Friday will include demos and giveaways—and an appearance from Miss America Mallory Hytes (who lives in Brooklyn) and Borough Prez Marty Markowitz.

As previously reported, 5 feet of water filled the 52,000sf waterfront grocery store. Owners have invested $10 million to install a new bake area and larger cafe, wider aisles and all-new equipment.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55543

After Hurricane Sandy devastated Red Hook’s beloved Fairway Market, the entire neighborhood has suffered as many that visited the grocery from the surrounding vicinity also stopped supporting other local businesses that depend on so much traffic from the anchor store.

Good news: Fairway is set to reopen March 1, according to the New York Daily News, after 5 feet of water filled the 52,000sf waterfront grocery store, damaging all equipment, including refrigerators, cash registers and merchandise. The market was gutted, along with a $10 million price tag to put in a new bake area and cafe, wider aisles and new equipment. Workers are now putting the finishing touches on the store.

And to the credit of Vice Chairman Howie Glickberg, most employees were never out of work as the store has put itself back together. Fairway officials set up shuttle buses so employees could work at other outlets within the chain. “We have an obligation. We’re the cornerstone of Red Hook,” Glickberg said. “This area was devastated and we had an obligation to take care of our workers.”

All 300 workers at the store on Van Brunt Street were rerouted to other Fairway markets, some as far away as Douglaston, Queens and Westbury, Long Island.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55363

The Fairway Market in Red Hook was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy in November, as the 52,000sf waterfront grocery at the base of Van Brunt took on 5 feet of water—which also had a detrimental effect on surrounding boutique businesses that depended on Fairway’s customer base. Good news: Fairway’s Facebook page reveals that the store is planning to reopen in March—and it’s also hiring additional staff. Welcome home, Fairway… you’ve been missed.

UPDATE: More about Red Hook businesses in The New York Times. (Photo: Brownstoner)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/54047

As BHB reported November 9, Red Hook’s Fairway Market suffered major damage from Hurricane Sandy. with the 52,000sf waterfront grocery at the base of Van Brunt taking on 5 feet of water and closed “indefinitely” as rebuilding ensues. Red Hook store General Manager Andy Zuleta has posted a video showing the destruction, cleanup efforts and his optimism for a bigger, badder locale in the near future. See it here, posted on November 13.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51906

The New York Times reports on the devastating flooding from Hurricane Sandy of Red Hook’s Fairway Market—a favorite of many Brooklyn Heights’ shoppers—and its impact on so many other smaller shops in the neighborhood. The 52,000sf waterfront grocery at the base of Van Brunt took on 5 feet of water and is closed indefinitely. The Times says: “Fairway was a destination after it opened in a striking, sprawling, brick-and-wrought-iron Civil War-era building six and a half years ago.”

Fairway Market suffered ruined floors and ovens, display cases tipped and shattered, a $50,000 coffee roaster is trashed, wooden cash registers were scattered everywhere… There’s also potential structural damage. Cheeses, breads, vegetables & canned goods blanketed the puddled floor. Workers threw out everything, filling 70 dumpsters.

UPDATE: More in The Brooklyn Paper, including photos, here.

Meanwhile, neighboring Italian wine shop Botta di Vino, which opened two and a half years ago, is also seeing the effects of the store closing. Co-owner Triciann Botta says, “It is the lifeblood of this neighborhood. I’m a wine seller. Food goes with wine. When we lost Fairway, we lost a big part of our customer base.” Others impacted: cafe & bar Fort Defiance, wine shop Dry Dock, gift shop Foxy & Winston, and restaurants Home/Made and the Good Fork (which took on 2 feet of water in its dining room).

Read more in the Times here. (Photo: Brooklyn Paper)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51729

Brooklyn Bridge Park is closed until further notice. The Brooklyn Historical Society will be closed through Tuesday, November 6. Fortunately, Bargemusic didn’t sustain any serious damage, but repairs to an outside sprinkler pipe will keep it closed through this weekend. However, Brooklyn Heights Cinema, 70 Henry Street (corner of Orange), which remained open through Sandy’s ravages thanks to the dedication of owner Kenn Lowy, will have its normal schedule of shows. Looking ahead to this coming Wednesday, November 7, the Cinema will present songs and a reading by Steve Witt from his new novel, The Street Singer. And there’s more…

The Troupers of St. Francis College will present three performances (Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 2:00 p.m.) of Yasmina Reza’s award winning play God of Carnage, about inter-domestic strife in Cobble Hill (image, taken from the Broadway production, from The New York Times. The performances will be at the College’s auditorium, 180 Remsen Street.

If you want to to help people who were affected badly by Sandy, our neighbors in Red Hook are taking donations of food and other essentials at 767 Hicks Street; for more information see here. Brooklyn Bridge Park may need additional cleanup help; watch the Park’s Facebook page for announcements. The Red Cross has other volunteer opportunities.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/50980

He tells DNAInfo.com that residents are fed up with long, unpredictable wait times and crowded buses. “The B61 is packed like a sardine can. It’s pretty intense. It’s the only way for people to get to places like Fairway.” With renovations at the Smith-9th Streets subway stop on the G line still ongoing, the strain on the B61 is even more evident, he adds.

Two years ago, the MTA combined the B77 and B61 bus routes, extending the B61 to operate from Downtown Brooklyn to Windsor Terrace. Previously, the B77 ran from Park Slope to Red Hook along Ninth Street and Court Street in Carroll Gardens. Now, the extended B61 operates on Columbia Street, instead of Ninth Street, and passes Red Hook on its way to Windsor Terrace.

MTA responds that this summer, it will install a GPS in the B61 so that bus-arrival times can be tracked and posted online, allowing riders to check online to see when their bus is arriving. Deirdre Parker, an MTA spokeswoman, says, “we believe that by eliminating the B77 and extending the B61, we are giving customers better options by offering a single route from Downtown to Windsor Terrace via Red Hook. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the service but there are currently no plans to restore the B77.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7290

The week-long citywide OpSail event kicks off at 8:11 a.m. Wednesday May 23, with the Majestic Parade of Ships—17 tall ships and 10 U.S. Navy and foreign military ships—sailing beneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Ships will arrive from Spain, Mexico, France, Japan, Canada, Finland, the U.K. and U.S. ports. More info is below:

Where: Red Hook Marine Terminal, Columbia Street entry at Congress Street
Public transportation is strongly suggested: B61 and B63 to Atlantic Avenue and Columbia St.

When: Saturday, May 26, Sunday, May 27 and Monday, May 28, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Ships
Tall Ships
Juan Sebastian de Elcano, schooner, Spain
Cuauhtemoc, barque, Mexico
Etoile, schooner, France
La Belle Poule, schooner, France

Navy Ships
HMCS Iroquois, destroyer, Canada
JS Shirane, destroyer, Japan
FNS Pohjanmaa, mine layer, Finland
RFA Argus, hospital/cargo, United Kingdom

US Coast Guard Cutters
USCG Seneca
USCG Willow

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7223

The event’s assistant producer Deborah Monlux tells CHB, “It’s like a visit to NOLA followed by some Acadiana without leaving Brooklyn. Bring your dancing shoes!”

Also featured: The Bayou-born sounds of Louisiana native and fiddler of the year winner Al Berard; young rising star Forest Huval; former File’ Darren Wallace; Brooklyn’s own Catahoula Cajun Band and Doctor Zsa’s Powdered Zydeco; Creole fiddler Cedric Watson teaches a tune or two on the fiddle; and on Sunday at noon, Offshore Aces, a rousing mix of twin fiddle, accordion, guitar, bass, frottoir and the opportunity to join in and play. In addition, 2012 event “Cajun Mom” poster artist Eric P. Richardson will feature his humorous paintings along the music hall walls.

The Cajun & Zydeco Music Festival also showcases dancehall bands, workshops, Culture & Community Jam sessions and Gumbo dinner.

Day passes are $15 or $35 for all three days. Children under 12 are admitted free. Workshops are $25. Festival pass includes all night dance hall bands, community jam sessions, art show and “Un-Written Stories” culture session.

The festival is sponsored in part by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Louisiana Culture, Recreation & Tourism, celebrating 200 years of Louisiana.

For more info and to pre-order tix, click here.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7168

New York Daily News Cruise ships docked in Brooklyn continue to choke Red Hook with their fumes — despite a widely touted deal a year ago that was supposed to solve the problem.

The Port Authority approved $15 million to build a system allowing ships to plug into an electric grid — but costs have shot up another $4.3 million and the agency hasn’t shelled out the extra money, according to local elected officials.

The Daily News story quotes Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and other local elected officials as noting that “[a]sthma rates among Red Hook youth are high”. Red Hook resident Adam Armstrong, author of the blog A View from the Hook, accuses the Port Authority of “twiddling their thumbs.” A Port Authority spokesman says the agency is “evaluating options”.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/6990