Susan and I chose Red Hook as our monthly NYC neighborhood adventure. (Jill can't join us as she's participating in a 17-mile walk across five Manhattan bridges).
Traipsing around Red Hook is a lot easier. I have never been, and picture this section of Brooklyn as a quaint village with a seaside vibe.
It's not very pretty. And feels more industrial than quaint.
The stores range from small, cool artisanal shops to unappealing vintage places where the clothes and plates and things look like they could have come from someone's style-less home.
We walk to the waterfront where Lady Liberty can be seen from afar.
We browse a small gallery where two artists have created impressive collages from paper.
We spend a fair amount of time at Apotheke, an interesting fragrance studio with many eclectic, unrelated items.
We love some of the leather totes and small pouches at a leather shop called Polt Atölye. Like many of the stores here, the work is done on the premises.
We wish we could afford the gorgeous cabinetry of Leicht, a high-end German kitchen brand that has a storefront on Van Brunt.
We go to Red Hook's well-known key lime pie shop, but use restraint and buy nothing.
And we are amused by this sign on Fro Bakehouse (which isn't open).
We visit the Pinball Museum and meet one of its friendly owners (in the red shirt).
And then finally, we drive a short distance to what ends up being our favorite stop of the day.
Located on a side street in an industrial-looking area...
we find what we have come for — Raaka Chocolate Factory.
Along with another couple who are there, we are encouraged by the very nice, knowledgeable and no-pressure sales guy to sample the many many bowls of chocolate bits.
The chocolates (mostly dark) have unusual names like Sugar Cookie, Rose Saffron, Maple & Nibs, and Earl Grey, to name just a few. They are vegan, relatively healthy as far as chocolates go, and are exceptionally good.
This time I show little restraint.
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