Brooklyn, NY —
Exploring Red Hook

Red Hook is my favorite neighborhood in Brooklyn (full disclosure…it is also where me, my fiance & my dog, Bonaparte live). The neighborhood is very unique and artistic. It is not connected directly to the MTA subway system, which gives it an island-like feeling of isolation. However, it is easily accessible via the B61 bus from the 2/3/4/5 subway lines at Borough Hall and the F/G subway lines at Smith-9th Street. Additionally, one can take the IKEA Ferry from Lower Manhattan or utilize one of the dozens of Citi Bike locations in the neighborhood. Once in Red Hook, there are a ton of great restaurants, bars, and other activities. For the perfect day in Red Hook, here is what I’d have you do.

After arriving tired from a trip including a plane, sometimes train, subway, a surprisingly good subway performer, and a jerky cab driver (hey, you want New York? You got it.), bunk up at any one of the great Airbnb options in Red Hook.

"They have traditional options like a hearty egg sandwich or housemade yogurt or you can just go headfirst into the NYC melting pot and have a full Korean breakfast of bibimbop"

The next morning start off at The Good Fork for brunch. They have traditional options like a hearty egg sandwich or housemade yogurt or you can just go headfirst into the NYC melting pot and have a full Korean breakfast of bibimbop (sauteed veggies, spicy gochogang, skirt steak, rice & a fried egg). The choice is yours! We have so many options, it’s really like this everywhere. After, something my fiance and I have enjoyed is the Red Hook Regatta on Valentino Pier, which is held by popular local art gallery Pioneer Works. Participants build whatever sea vessel they can manage and send it off to it’s watery demise (or not!) in the rough East River. They added a new category this year - 3D printed boats, where such innovations as laser-cut ribbing and vacuum sealed hulls were present. There’s a wind powered kids category too, where the gallery teaches children to make paper boats and sends them off.

At this point, it depends on your mood! Head over to the Van Brunt Stillhouse because their whiskey tasting room opens at 2pm on Saturdays. Or walk the dog or yourself to Prospect Park in Park Slope. Widely known for its intricate manmade wetlands and its trees, the bulk of the trees growing in Brooklyn (ha, literary joke), the park is a highly functional green space covering 526 acres. My fiance and I take Bonaparte there to run for hours.

"Quirky and creative, I have never failed to have an amazing meal and an even more fun time here."

At night, we’ll pick up a growler of housemade craft beer from The Other Half in Red Hook and head to a friend’s apartment roofdeck for dinner overlooking the water or head to one of our many local restaurants. Grindhaus is possibly my favorite restaurant in town, mainly due to the owner, Erin. Quirky and creative, I have never failed to have an amazing meal and an even more fun time here. The menu changes every week on Thursdays, so just ask Erin what to get and she’ll set you up.

Featured Listings

Bedford Corners, NY

$49,500,000

ONE OF NEW YORK'S MOST COVETED ESTATES. Enter a world where timeless elegance meets state-of-the-art luxury. Originally built in 1901 for renowned financier J. Borden Harriman, this legendary estate - historically known as Devonshire, and earlier as Uplands and once Mannices - stands as a rare example of Gilded Age grandeur, reimagined for modern living. Over its long history, the estate has been owned by some of the nations most distinguished families, and including descendants of the Vanderbilt dynasty and other notable private owners. When it last sold in 2012, it set a record as the highest residential sale in Westchester County history - an extraordinary testament to its significance and stature. Set on more than 100 acres of pristine landscape, the property offers exceptional scale, privacy, and breathtaking natural beauty, all within easy reach of Manhattan. Rolling meadows, sweeping vistas, and picturesque terrain create an unparalleled setting suited for equestrian pursuits, recreation, and refined country living. A substantial expansion is already underway, offering the next steward a rare opportunity to complete the vision, by selecting finishes, materials, and design elements tailored to their unique lifestyle. Architectural highlights include the iconic grand staircase crowned by its attributed original Tiffany stained-glass ceiling, a defining centerpiece of the home. Several accessory buildings include a carriage house, caretaker's cottage, barn with apartment, elegant gated entry and cloister with apartment, and a spectacular 33,000 sq. ft. collector car gallery designed to accommodate more than 66 automobiles. Estates of this magnitude, provenance, and proximity seldom become available. More than a grand residence, this is a legacy property and enduring asset ready to be shaped for generations to come. 2-Acre Zoning. Square Footage is for main house only and does not include outbuildings.

7755 & 7908 Oregon Road, Cutchogue, NY

$23,000,000

Introducing Oregon Close Estates. This newly fully approved subdivision is the only one of its kind on the North Fork of the East End. Experience the pinnacle of estate living at Oregon Close Estates, the North Fork's only subdivision offering expansive waterfront parcels and bucolic privacy. The master plan for this subdivision, was to remain in keeping with the direction of the North Fork Real Estate Markets which has grown toward larger estate size parcels that afford the owners plenty of room for all they wish to have on their private estates. The crown jewels are three waterfront lots each of which are approximately 5 acres with up to 292' of sound front. There are four 2.5 acre lots with deeded water access to the Long Island Sound beachfront. Two of these lots are adjacent to the agricultural parcels each of which are each 30 acres in size. One has mature grape vines maintained by Wolffer wine maker, the other fully cleared farmland awaiting the perfect equestrian or agricultural development. The entrance of the subdivision has a 2-acre parcel with the original barn. The majestic 3500 linear foot driveway, to the waterfront lots creates a European themed bucolic scene. The subdivision has Suffolk County Water for each residential parcel. Lots 3,4,5&6 have been sold to one private investor. The remaining lots are available individually or in bulk. This privacy and mystique is incomparable.sunsets are epic

51 West 69th Street, New York (Upper West Side), NY

$16,000,000

51 West 69th Street is a rare pre-war, 20-unit multifamily building perfectly positioned just half a block from Central Park on one of the Upper West Side's most desirable, landmarked townhouse blocks. The property includes 6 rent-stabilized units, 1 rent-controlled unit, and 13 free-market apartments, offering both stable in-place income and significant upside potential.brbrBuilt in 1910, the building features an elevator and on-site laundry generating additional income. Most units remain in non-renovated condition, providing a unique opportunity to reposition and capture future rent growth. With a gross building area of 13,557 square feet on a 45' x 100.42' lot, this asset is primed for long-term investors looking for scale in one of Manhattan's most sought-after neighborhoods.brbrLot size: 45 x 100.42 ftbrZoning: R8BbrConfiguration: All-residentialbrCondition: Non-renovated, value-add opportunitybrFeatures: Elevator, income-producing laundrybrbrSteps from Lincoln Center, Central Park, and major transit, 51 West 69th represents a compelling multifamily investment with immediate and long-term upside.brbrFor full setup sheet, rent roll, or to schedule a private tour, please contact the exclusive listing agent.

View All Listings

Author

William Raveis