What to do with your old license plates

Make a bench, then open a bar so you can put the bench out in front. Passers-by will look at it, think twice before sitting down. Maybe they’ll come inside. After a year, the Ice House in Red Hook has developed a pleasant amount of personality. (If you want a place that’s bursting with divey character, stop by the Bait and Tackle Bar next door.) For the summer, the Ice House has backyard seating. Food is better than typical bar fare: pork sandwiches, corn dogs, and Frito pie or whatever it’s called when you take a bag of Fritos, slit the bag open, and pour some chili on top.