Red Hook Ball Fields
Does anyone know when the Red Hook ball fields get started?
mmm...food
Apr 20, 2008 08:03AM
Does anyone know when the Red Hook ball fields get started?
mmm...food
Apr 20, 2008 08:03AM
According to Curbed, they may not open until June this year. Bummer, because I plan to be in New York next weekend.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/b...
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June?!?! Lame.
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Also just as a heads up starting next Sunday 5/18 I read that a decent amount of the vendors from the ball park will also be at the new Brooklyn Flea market off the G Clinton/Washington Stop.
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Did anyone check this out over the weekend?
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I was at the flea yesterday. Only fruit and corn was there. Supposedly next week there will be pupusas and huaraches.
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Nice!
Both times I've been to the flea I've spent all my money on food.
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Is there food when the Flea opens at 10a? Or does it take time for the vendors to fire everything up?
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If anyone has a chance to try the food being sold at the baseball fields in lieu of soccer tacos, I highly recommend it! I went last weekend and after waiting in line for about 20 minutes, I saw the older woman inside of a red van dipping her bare hands into a bucket of what looked like mashed up liver. Turned out the only two options they had were barbacoa (stewed goat meat) and tacos de sangre. I love barbacoa, and although this one was a bit on the fattier side, it was delicious. I was a bit hesitant about the taco de sangre but was pleasantly surprised...it was rich and flavorful, not too gamey or "bloody" tasting at all. If you can get past the name and the bare hands, it's definitely worth it. I'm not sure if this was truly a bunch of coagulated blood that I was eating, but if it was, I consider myself converted.
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Did you eat at the baseball fields on Saturday, or on Sunday? More to the point, do you know if these vendors serve food on both days, or just one?
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I have the EXACT same question.
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I asked the (exact same) question on another thread and got no answer. (except some highly useful info about the regular ballfields.)
I can tell you I was there last Sat late morning and nada. Would definitely love to have some more precise and updated 4-1-1 on when to go and what to get.
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I read on another blog that the baseball field vendors are SUNDAY ONLY. I haven't been nor witnessed this myself, just what I read. I might check it out tomorrow and report back.
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Dave et al: unlike the soccer fields, where it's become a business quite apart from the sport schedule, the baseball fields' food is still totally tied to the league schedule. When there's no game, there's no food. The games so far have been Sundays only. I'm not sure if other leagues will be starting or if playoffs are on more than Sundays. Only way to find out is to have a conversation with a vendor.
As an aside, how many of us go back far enough to remember that the "main" food vendors at the soccer fields used to only be there for player support as well?
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I just ate there today. I had one of the best tacos of my life-- arepas too. Then my father went and another friend rode his bike from Williamsburg. Everybody had great stuff.
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Are you sure you went to the red hook food stands? My SO and son went down there today and reported back that the stands are not open yet. I was totally bummed cause i was looking forward to a huarache and a barbacoa taco.
Did you perhaps go to the vendors on the fields further down (smaller, some selling out of coolers)? Or were they lying to me so they could keep all the delicious food for themselves? ; )
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I drove by on Sunday and they were not there... A friend also reported that she didn't see them on Saturday either.
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They have arepas now? Which stand?
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Here's the response I got from Cesar Fuentes when I asked him about the ball fields. The English translation is mine and may not be exact.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: cesar fuentes
Date: 2008/5/4
Subject: RE: Red Hook vendors
Estimado Sr. Wilson,
Dear Mr. Wilson,
Gracias por su interes en nuestro evento.
Thank you for your interest in our event.
Aunque afortunadamente ganamos el permiso permanente para poder operar en el parque por los proximos 6 anos, todavia necesitamos aclarar ciertos requerimientos antes de comenzar oficialmente.
Although we fortunately obtained permanent permission to be able to operate in the park for the next 6 years, we still need to clarify certain requirements before officially beginning.
Esperamos comenzar al final de este mes -Mayo, Labor Day Weekend- o en las primeras semanas de Junio.
We hope to begin at the end of this month - May, Labor Day Weekend - or in the first weeks of June.
En nombre de los vendedores, me agrada saber que, asi como ud. hallan muchos hinchas amigos esperando nuestra pronta apertura. Le dejare saber nuestro dia oficial de apertura pronto.
In the name of the vendors, I am happy to know that they find many friends and fans like yourself hoping for our prompt opening. I will let you know our official day of opening soon.
Atentamente,
Sincerely,
Cesar Fuentes
Executive Director
Food Vendors Committee of Red Hook Park Inc.
PO Box 48
New York, NY 10159
http://www.myspace.com/redhookfoodven...
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Thanks for that info, fat hot! Just what I was looking for!
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He means Memorial Day weekend, of course. Good news. Glad they found a way to jump through all the hoops that the city idiotically put in front of them.
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“…We still need to clarify certain requirements before officially beginning…” Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but that doesn’t sound definite to me. It sounds like Mr. Fuentes is hedging himself a bit, I hope he proves me wrong – I miss those pupusas.
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can anyone expound on the differences here and what i can find at Flushing Meadow Park or on Roosevelt ?
I've never been to the Red Hook fields, but it definitely looks good..
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hboogz, in Red Hook, at least in the past, you would find about twenty vendors selling everything from drinks like Horchata and Jamaica to huaraches and quesadillas, pupusas, grilled corn and ceviche. Each vendor generally sticks to a specialty and the food is generally better than what's available elsewhere in the City. Plus, you have a generally upbeat atmosphere since you're surrounded by multiple soccer games.
I recently moved to Queens, making Red Hook a bit of a schlep. I was hoping that I'd find something close to what goes on in Red Hook at Flushing Meadows. Can you tell me more about what I can find there, and where exactly in the park I can find it? Thanks.
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i have not purchased food from vendors at Flushing Meadows, due to overwhelming shyness. the thing is, it's very difficult to tell the difference between people selling their foods and people barbequeing for themselves and their friends. also, it's spread out all over the park.
the advantage of the set-up at the Red Hook Soccer fields is that all the vendors are concentrated in one area, and therefore are clearly all vendors. this makes it much less scary for a shy girl like me.
alekz
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There are a few vendors near the College Point Blvd exits that are clearly selling to the public. One has a sign that iirc says that they're Guatemalan. The others are Ecuadorean and specialize in guinea pig. I haven't tried it there, only because of the price. Despite my almost-fluency in Spanish, they insist on charging me gringo prices.
They're in the park almost every Saturday and Sunday when the weather is nice.
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Cuy is notoriously expensive here in the city - it usually runs $25-$35 per "serving".
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I know. And that's what they're charging in Flushing Meadow Park. I'm not trying to generalize here, but I find it hard to believe that they're selling dozens of cuy every weekend at those prices.
Maybe Charlie B was right and the "vendors" are set up mostly for friends and family.
I haven't check in years but you used to be able to buy frozen cuy in some of the bodegas on Roosevelt Ave for a reasonable price
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You can still find guinea pig in the freezer case at Casa América...
http://www.eatingintranslation.com/20...
...though the more whimsical signs have vanished. Has anyone here actually tried cooking cuy?
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In the parks, it's usually grilled. My brother slow-cooked it on the bbq. It was excellent. But then again, you can say that about almost anything that is smoked properly.
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Gracias, el jefe. By the way, I would say you have a plethora of pinatas.
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I'm pretty sure most of them are there to sell to the public. Even the tiniest makeshift soccer fields have 1-2 vendors. E.g. the concrete field of Sunnyside (right where the Farmer's market meets on Sundays) gets a lot of soccer action, I was there few Saturdays ago and noticed one lady setting her wares from the back of a black limo. She said she was Equadorian. She only had 1 dish - tongue stew in some red sauce with rice, $6. Really really good, my SO still talks about it. Neither of us speak Spanish, but we never hesitate to ask if the food is for sale. The worst can happen, we get invited to a meal :)
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Does anyone know if they're going to manage to open up the stands at the Red Hook fields this weekend? I don't see anything on the myspace site, but I'm contactless today and easily distracted....
http://www.myspace.com/redhookfoodven...
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no, still working on permit stuff. 3 vendors will be at bk flea tomorrow tho - more info at The 'Chop if interested... http://porkchop-express.blogspot.com/
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Per Cesar, “We cannot start until the city approves our permits [and these are] being processed as we speak. Unfortunately, that can still take a couple more weeks before we are given a go. Realistically speaking, we can probably expect to open Mid-June.”
:(
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Man was it a madhouse today - the pupusa vendor must've had a line about 40 people deep. Good for them, though! I'm sure it's not a replacement for the ballfields, but it's nice they're able to make a living despite the Parks Department and DoHMH assininery.
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Update from Porkchop Express:
http://porkchop-express.blogspot.com/...
Of note:
* The Red Hook Soccer Field Food Tents will look very different: out with the tents, in with the city-mandated mobile food vending trucks.
* The Red Hook Soccer Field Food Tents will taste the same: as of our interview, each of last year's vendors is planning on returning.
* The Red Hook Soccer Field Food Tents might expand their days and months of operation: the new permits are valid year-round.
* The Red Hook Soccer Field Food Tents need your support more than ever: the new permits, fees and operating costs have more-than-quadrupled their expenses.
* The Red Hook Soccer Field Food Tents are still not open: we're hoping for mid-June, and we'll let you know ASAP.
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Quadrupling of expenses? So long $2 tacos. If it happens I hope the expanded dates will make up for their increased operating costs and BS the city is (or will be) putting them through.
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so i don't quite understand. i just flew back to new york from the midwest. are the ball fields up and running or aren't they?
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they are not. not yet. they will be soon, from what i've heard from cesar. they expect "mid-june" but i've heard nothing final/definite.
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This is the link Kathryn kindly provided above. It tells you everything you want to know.
http://porkchop-express.blogspot.com/...
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If you really need a fix, one of the pupusa vendors has set up shot at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene on Sundays.
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Was just there this last weekend and they were not there. They are hoping to return in a few weeks but don't run over... wonder if the new Ikea, right near by has anything to do with the police crack down.
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http://www.chowhound.com/topics/51110...
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There were several vendors (mozzarepas, pupusas, and something else), set up at the Coffrey (sp?) field nearby yesterday. I had a most delicious pupusa, myself.
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I've read a lot of different info about red hook tacos. Have the main ball fields vendors officially set up yet?
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I was just over there and no sign of them yet. There is a sign that says "red hook food vendors coming soon" but it's almost July! Does anyone know the scoop?
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I went by today as well and there's nothing there (at the main ball field site). From their website today, with the most recent message dated Jun 10 2008:
"Thank you all for your support and interest in our affair. We are humbled to learn of the many messages received asking when we will start our season. We are hoping to open our affair as soon as possible. However, there are still compliance issues that need to be cleared before we can officially start. We hope to be able to clear these issues in the next few weeks & hopefully start our season by the end of June or beginning of July. Please continue visiting our site for updates & official start dates.
Best regards to all.
Cesar Fuentes
Executive Director
Food Vendors Committee of Red Hook Park Inc.
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im getting depressed.
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Truly upsetting
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http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/06/c...
Skip to about 5:30, Cesar Fuentes discusses the permits and health dept. issues, and having to use trucks instead of stands, as well as other difficulties.
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This is a disgrace. Who are they protecting?
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Thanks for that, Kathryn! So will I be seeing you, camera in hand as well, when they finally DO re-open?
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Thanks for the link. Frustrating that there's no time table. I really hope they aren't stalled through the summer. What a mess.
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Sadly, because they have to use trucks, the whole communal nature of the fields will be different. There's no way they'll be able to set up tables right in front of their businesses, since I assume the trucks will be on the street and selling food on the sidewalk instead of on the ballfields area.
Not to mention the trucks taking up parking spaces, the influx of ikea traffic, will make finding a parking spot very difficult.
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For years and years the vendors were a make-shift eatery looking to scratch out some extra coin from the local soccer players. Now they fall under the authority of the NYC Health Dept. and other BS city agencies, did you actually expect this to work well? I just want my pupusas...
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contempt: I'm not sure that I agree. The vendors have been there for many years and their trucks always took up the parking spots on that side of the street. And, up until 2 years ago, the grills were set up on the sidewalk on the sidewalk side of the fence anyway. Selling from the trucks would be a different feel from open grills, etc but folks always used to buy on the sidewalk and then go around into