Red Hook Ikea’s grand opening

The Ikea at 1 Beard Street in Red Hook opened at 9 a.m. today with free gifts and carnival-like festivities. Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz greeted the line of about 500 shoppers, as did entertainment from a juggling stilt-walker, a person making balloon animals and an Afro-Cuban jazz band. The first 35 people, who waited in line for three days, were given wristbands for free sofas.