Roaming Around Red Hook

Red Hook is an area of Brooklyn, New York that is an intriguing combination of industrial buildings and arty people. In many ways, it looks similar to the section of dying prairie towns between the main street and the grain elevator along the railroad tracks: low metal or brick sheds, peeling paint, rusting vehicles, chain link fence hidden by weeds. But in those small towns, the area is only a few blocks. In Red Hook, it seems to go on forever.





The streets can appear to be desolate...



... but if you look closely, you can see that someone has decorated.







Even the trucks are decorated. Here is E.T. and a pair of shoes.



And just a block away, here is Snoopy and Woodstock.



Someone has even supplied a public mirror in case you feel the need to check your own decorations.



You would figure that, being Red Hook, there would be a lot of red buildings in the area. You would be right.



But there are also blue buildings next door to red ones.



And blue buildings with red doors and gas pumps and lions watching from the fire escape.





You might find a collection of red and blue chairs outside a fire department building.



And a blue heart.



Perhaps people are inspired to decorate by the butterflies who have discovered a garden down by the water.



Unlike small dusty prairie towns, Red Hook is near an abundance of water, and has impressive neighbors down there.



Just beyond Red Hock's docks, floats the island of Manhattan.



The docks have been used for shipping for years.



And you still can gaze at the buildings of Wall Street through the fence at the Red Hook Terminal ship yard.



Red Hook isn't easily accessible by subway so make sure you take along a knowledgable friend to help you find your way there.



You'll know you've found it when you see the red hook decorating the wall.