On the Hook (Bits of My Weekend)

My father is in town for a visit and we decided to explore a bit of Red Hook. Red Hook is a waterfront Brooklyn neighborhood and, although it has an interesting history (and you've seen On the Waterfront and A View from the Bridge, right?), it is not generally on the list of tourist destinations. It has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the past few years, but only escaped total gentrification due to the total lack of subway service. It was in the news a few years ago over the brouhaha of the new Ikea and Fairway (housed in one of the more interesting supermarket buildings you will have seen) which plopped down on the piers.

We started out by taking the FREE Ikea shuttle from our neighborhood, which dropped us of at... uh... Ikea. But we weren't here to shop. Behind Ikea is Erie Basin Park (Ikea's attempt to salvage the maritime history on which it is now standing). Kiddo and New Kid loved the rolling planks. So fun to run over!

Don't worry New Kid, you'll be able to do it one day, too.

A giant compass.

Flowers and chocks.

We took a joy ride to Pier 11 in Manhattan and back, courtesy of the FREE Ikea water taxi.

Had a glance at Lady Liberty.

Not all of the waterfront is a welcoming park, but that's part of the lure of Red Hook.

A taste of Red Hook past.

We had a delicious lunch in the garden at home/made (so yummy I forgot to take a photo) and stopped at the famous Baked for cupcakes.

They looked as weary as we felt upon arriving home at the end of the day.

Stop by Six in the City for more Bits of My Weekend