RED HOOK — Chocolate tastings, live music and pop-up sidewalk cafes from Red Hook bars and restaurants are just a few of the things planned for the neighborhood’s upcoming street fair.
Red Hook Walks will take place July 18 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Van Brunt Street between Visitation Place and Beard Street, organizers said.
The event, organized by the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corp., seeks to highlight local businesses and will be a little different from a typical street fair, said Andrea Devening, planning and revitalization manager at SBIDC.
While businesses won’t be able to sell merchandise on the street, they’re allowed to host sampling and tasting stations. Customers can then go into brick-and-mortar stores to purchase other products.
Raaka Chocolate, for example, will have a chocolate tasting and tutorial stand in front of Realty Collective, located at 351 Van Brunt St. They will be selling chocolate from inside the real estate office.
DryDock, a local wine and spirits shop, will also be hosting a tasting in front of its store at 424 Van Brunt St.
Restaurants and bars that don’t have sidewalk seating, like Fort Defiance and Kevin’s, will be setting up chairs and tables outside to serve diners during the event. There will also be a temporary “grassy area” and community yoga.
“This is an opportunity where you can have seating outside,” Devening said.
At either end of the street fair, Sunny’s Bar and the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music will have two stages with performances from bands like the Chitlin Cookers, the Luna Sisters, Dr. Hop and Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blue.
Red Hook Walks is part of an initiative from the Department of Transportation called “Weekend Walks,” in which the city partners with local groups to host neighborhood events.
The agency will sponsor the event along with local businesses and the city Department of Small Business Services.
Other highlights include a blacksmithing workshop from She Weld and ice cream samplings from Fairway Market.
“It’s definitely a local focus,” Devening said.
