Dikeman St, Red Hook

Dikeman Street runs through the heart of Red Hook, which has been known go be a pretty rough neighborhood. Right on the waterfront, it has some great views of the harbor, but because it's an industrial area, the folks living here are mostly blue collar, fiercely ethnic and can be confrontational if they feel you're invading their turf. But, we were there in search of Steve's Key Lime Pie, which is just a couple of blocks away (definitely worth the drive, by the way). The homes on Dikeman Street are mostly multi-family and get better as you go farther away from the water. You can tell that they're not very well maintained, as I saw lots of window air conditioning units precariously perched on the window ledges, and a lot of busted windows. There are a lot of vacant lots around, which is coupled with industrial areas and abandoned cars. I would not be comfortable living here, but I think if you're a native to Red Hook, this is probably paradise.