POST HURRICANE SANDY: Rebuild.Restore.Recover

Sandy's Aftermath in Haiti
Photo: MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

The path of Sandy's wrath stretched from Jamaica to Haiti to the southern tip of the United States to New York then to Canada. Her reach was powerful and her impact was (and is) just as devastating.

I'm sure you've seen the countless accounts in the news and in social media of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. My heart aches.

And as we here in New York City slowly but surely bounce back we can’t help but to reflect in order to assess what was destroyed, give thanks for our blessings, remember loved ones lost, face the hard reality of starting over and picking up the pieces to move forward.

Me, Caprice, our friends and families are safe and were very fortunate. For that, we are truly thankful. Our hearts go out to the families and communities that are suffering. We feel your pain and are with you.

Sandy's Aftermath in Red Hook, Brooklyn
Photo: Chante Ramsey/VySyn Photography
Volunteers along with The National Guard were in Coffey Park today bringing a total of 25,000 MRE's
and 30,000 bottles of water to residents.

We urge everyone who was as fortunate as we were, to count your blessings and find out how you can help those in need as they continue to struggle to carry on. Below are some resources that I gathered from local officials that you can refer to give your time and/or provide resources to:

NYC Service: http://www.nycservice.org 
New York Cares: http://newyorkcares.org 
Occupy Sandy Relief: http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/volunteer/ 
Brooklyn Community Foundation: http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/ 
Transit Forward: http://www.transitforward.org/hurricane_sandy_assistance
Rockaway Waterfront Alliance: http://www.rwalliance.org 
The Red Hook Initiative: http://www.rhicenter.org 
The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City: http://www.nyc.gov/fund 
The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org

I also urge you to reach out to your local officials for additional volunteer and donation resources in your area.


-Chante

FILM REVIEW: SPIKE LEE "Red Hook Summer"

Red Hook Summer, a new Spike Lee Joint was released this weekend in NYC about a kid, Flik Royale, who is visiting the Brooklyn hood for the summer to spend time with a distant relative and unravels truths about his family's dark past.

It is undoubtedly clear that Flik doesn't want to be there. He is Atlanta born-bred, middle class youth thrust into the projects - a recipe for comical scenes like his boisterous reaction to his temporary abode featuring images of a white Jesus and other religious symbols that adorn the apartment of his grandfather, a high ranking member of the church, Bishop Enoch Rouse.  

Soon after he gets settled into Red Hook, hidden truths about himself and his family begin to unravel. Spike takes us on this journey very carefully as he weaves the various personalities of the residents of the 'Hook. I wanted him to dig a little deeper into the characters just for a spell to give us more than their stereotypical outward appearance of being a thug, wanna-be rapper, preacher of all sermons, single mother, curious youth girl and outspoken young boy. Spike did just that - he never disappoints! If you don't know these people-types beyond what you hear or read, you definitely left the theater with knowing a bit more.

I commend Spike Lee for creating an in-depth cinematic masterpiece that spoke loudly about religious balance in a world of the faithless and the overwhelming poverty-struggle as well as preaching about the secrets of truth coming to light regardless how much you try to "cover it up". 

Aside from painful secrets being uncovered, there was a burgeoning friendship between Flik and Chazz, a young sassy girl from the projects being raised by her mother a vocal member of the church that Bishop Enoch presides. Initially the youths clashed but they found a common ground by way of Carmelo Anthony. He showed her his Atlanta through his eyes and she showed him Red Hook, Brooklyn through hers. This is the most beautiful part of this film.

I highly recommend that you see this film during these last days of summer in a theater near you! 

In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

-Chante

Summer In NYC 2012

Flower Power on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

The beginning of August signals a lot for me. August 1st kicks off a month-long birthday celebration, throughout the month of August I'm witnessing carnival novelties pop up across Brooklyn in preparation for the parade next month and then the reality check hits me mid-month that the summer is coming to a close.


While I'm a little sad that summer will bid us adieu pretty soon, I can only reflect on how amazing this season has been even with the intense hot-waves! Vacationing in the city has been exciting from taking a day trip to the local parks, sailing on the ferries as an alternative route to trekking to those unchartered parts of New York City and re-exploring neighborhoods that I haven't been to since I was in my early twenties.


This summer was (and is) dedicated to re-confirming what I already know - how awesome NYC truly is!

Gantry State Park @ Long Island City
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

With still a few weeks left of this summer season, I have plenty more planned (and unplanned) to look forward to. I can't hardly wait!


-Chante

L to R: Enjoying a cool treat courtesy of a Mister Softee truck, Sweet treats @ CandyRush (Brooklyn),
Joe's Pub in the East Village, CityPoint - future shopping center in downtown Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

At the Fairway Pier @ Red Hook in Brooklyn
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

L to R: Wall Street Wifi Hotspot, Jamaica Avenue (Queens),
Park Slope's Stinky Brooklyn Cheese Shop, B61 Bus Stop in Red Hook (Brooklyn)
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

L to R: Chelsea Market at lunchtime, DUMBO Brooklyn,
Bird watching at the Brooklyn Bridge Park pier, Sweets at the Dewey's Candy Shop (Brooklyn)
Photo Credit: Chante Ramsey/Vysyn Photography

RED HOOK's Brooklyn Crab Shack with a View

After making its debut this Spring, the Brooklyn Crab is the place to chill at in Brooklyn for seafood, for great sights to see and an escape from the busy Manhattan scenery.


I checked this place out yesterday during a much needed getaway to the shores of Brooklyn. They open its doors daily at 4pm and to my surprise the line was packed before then. As you can tell, the wait was a bit onerous for some but bearable for me on this gorgeous Spring/Summer day.  I was flying solo and I was initially hedging on leaving to settle on something to nosh on from Fairway considering that we were told the wait would be an hour, at least. But I'm so glad I stuck it out. One of the servers felt my inner angst and gave me a table with a lovely couple. While I waited for my shrimp, crabs and beet salad, I sipped on a yummy yet lethal strawberry daiquiri.


Between the cool breeze, dope view of the pier, bellowing laughter and pleasantries with my table mates, I realized that I will come back for more deliciousness even after experiences some minor flaws of this place (delayed set up of both bar areas and staggering hour plus waits for a thirsty hungry crowd is not a good look).  


The potential for Brooklyn Crab to be great is there. They have this "great escape" location (they offer shuttle bus service from the 61 bus stop and the Carroll St train station on the F/G lines for those not familiar with Red Hook), and they are the best seafood game in town (well in the area - tied with Redhook Lobster Pound on Van Brunt, of course).


I find this place a bit gutsy to use the moniker "Brooklyn" in its business name. But hey that's how Brooklyn does it. 


Definitely stop by Brooklyn Crab this summer - hope to see you there!


-Chante

Photo Credit: Brooklyn Crab