Author Archives: Chad Purkey

Mark's Gourmet Burgers is open for biz — today, 6/22!

Mark's Gourmet Burgers is open for business today, 6/22!

The new Myrle Avenue gourmet burger shop boasts delicious burgers made with 100% certified grass fed angus beef, ground fresh on premises. Yummmm, stop in! There is something for everyone with menu items like turkey, salmon and veggie burgers also available, and steak, fish and chicken sandwiches too. Gourmet hotdogs, chicken wings, chicken fingers and fried shrimp also available.

Check out the full menu here.

Mark's Gourmet Burgers is located at 441 Myrtle Avenue, corner of Waverly Avenue. Call 718.875.2525.

pic of Mark Charles, owner of Mark's Gourmet Burgers along with his sister, Shani Charles.

Le Petit Bakery Hiring & Opening on Monday!

One of Myrtle's newest businesses, Le Petit Bakery at 354 Myrtle (between Adelphi and Carlton), is set to open this Monday! The business is still looking to fill a barista/counter position. Interested applicants can send a resume off to info@lepetitbakery.com or call 718-875-650 for more info.

Learn more about the new bakery at their Facebook page.

Hill Stock: Music Festival This Weekend!

Hillstock is an annual Brooklyn music festival organized by Never Break Down. Over the weekend, almost 50 bands will perform at venues in Clinton Hill, including a FREE block party on Saturday, June 23! The Hill Stock Block Party takes place at 106 Emerson, between Myrtle and Classon from 11am-8pm, featuring FIFTEEN live bands! Did we say it was FREE???!!?

Check out the full schedule here for all three days, and find out more about this home-grown music fest. Organizers say their goals are to 'promote great local music, build community, and provide an affordable and fun atmosphere for people of all ages to experience new music.' Definitely worth checking out!

photo credit: The Fort Greene Clinton Hill Local flickr set

Artisan Ice Cream now in at Huey's Chueys!

Artisan ice cream and sorbets now in at Huey's Chueys!

Beat the heat and please the palate with scrumptious flavors like french vanilla, killer chocolate, guava, cappucino kahlua calypso, peanut butter fudge, mango-raspberry, pistachio, coconut almond joy and strawberry.

All ice cream, except cookie flavors, is gluten-free.

Stop in for some old-fashioned candies and other goodies while you're there –squirrel nuts, charleston chews, coconut long boys, mary janes and cake pops, mini cheesecake bites and chocolate covered strawberries are just a few.

Huey's Chueys is located at 378 Myrtle between Adelphi and Clermont — stop in!

Stay cool, people!

It's hot out there! Find your way to one of these local cooling centers to beat the heat. Don't forget to check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly!

Willoughby Senior Center
105 N. Portland Ave.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wheelchair Accessible?: Yes.

Walt Whitman Library
93 St. Edwards St.
Hours: Mon., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tue., 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Wed., 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thurs., 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Wheelchair Accessible?: No.

Ft. Greene Grace Agard Harewood Senior Center
966 Fulton St.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wheelchair Accessible?: Yes.

Raices Times Plaza Senior Center
460 Atlantic Ave.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wheelchair Accessible?: Yes.

Ingersoll Garden of Eden Gardeners on 'Hot Grease' Radio

Nicole Taylor, host of 'Hot Grease' radio show on Heritage Radio Network had a conversation yesterday, June 18th, with a few “southern women” of the Ingersoll Garden of Eden – Ms. Arnetha Singelton, Ms. Joan Bryant and Ms. Virgina Cunningham.
Listen to their conversation about foods they grew up eating in the South, about the food they are growing in their garden, and their opinions regarding young people and their interest in farming in NYC. Hot Grease quotes Ms. Joan Bryant as saying, “it's exciting because years ago, you would have never heard of young people picking up any kind of activities like this. If you would have said anything about farming, especially farming on the rooftops and little square places in the community, they would have thought you were crazy”.

Thank you to Nicole Taylor, Heritage Radio Staff and the Staff at Roberta's Pizza for a wonderful day! The pizza was delicious, your space is inspiring and the company delightful!

<i>Myrtle Eats Fresh</i> Chef Roisin Shares her Seasonal Bruschetta Recipe

Photo Courtesy of Greenmarket

This past Saturday Myrtle Eats Fresh Community Chef Roisin Wisneski made this gorgeous seasonal version of an old Italian favorite, Bruschetta. Adding beets and using a seasonal green she was able to get the majority of her ingredients at the Fort Greene Greenmarket located at Washington Park and Dekalb Avenue every Saturday 8AM – 5PM. Try the recipe at home!

Ingredients
” 1 loaf French bread
” 3 cloves garlic, mashed and minced, or 3 teaspoons garlic paste
” 2 baseball sized tomatoes, or 1 quart cherry tomatoes
” 1 baseball sized beet, washed and peeled
” 1 bunch Swiss chard, totsoi, or spinach
” Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped olives
” Balsamic vinegar for drizzling
” Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Dice the tomatoes into small cubes (

MMNY 2012 Schedule Announced!

Be sure to visit Myrtle Avenue for Make Music New York, taking place all day on Thursday, June 21st. Free music performances will be taking place all around the city, and Myrtle Avenue has performances happening at 16 different locations up and down the corridor. From jazz to rock to Latin to neo-soul to reggae to R&B to french folk to female barbershop chorus — it's here.

Come out and groove to the music and relax or eat, drink and be merry. Check out the schedule of events! Sweet music all over the neighborhood.

Soul of Brooklyn presents: A Father's Day Concert at Walt Whitman Houses

Join jazz legend Randy Weston and the African Rhythms Trio for a special Fathers Day concert and celebration, also featuring House of Waters and Jeff King Quartet. Admission is FREE! This concert is presented by MoCada as part of Soul of Brooklyn week.

Sunday, June 17th, 2012
3pm-6pm

Location: Basketball Court at Walt Whitman Houses @ Park and Carlton

Check out Myrtle Windows Gallery, get deals at participating businesses!

Have you seen all 15 artworks by SONYA Artists in 10 Myrtle storefronts between Vanderbilt and Classon yet? Myrtle Windows Gallery aims to inspire you on your daily stroll down the avenue, bringing art by local artworks right to you! Check out “Rhapsody in Movement #9” by Mary Chang at Anima Italian Bistro (picture here), pick up a Myrtle Windows Gallery Guide, and take advantage of the coupons included in the guide at these participating businesses:
Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: $19.95 Intro Special includes private lesson and uniform
Green in BKLYN: Sign up for GIB Rewards
Anima Italian Bistro: 10% of an entree (Mon-Wed, dine-in)
Thai 101: 10% of an entree (Mon-Wed, dine-in)
Miracle's Unisex Barber Shop: $2 off a haircut

Let us know what you think on our Facebook page!

Strollin on Myrtle with SONYA  This Weekend!

The weather looks fine, why not take in some artwork and tasty brunch on Myrtle this weekend? SONYAs 13th annual Studio Stroll takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 11-6pm, rain or shine (but were betting on shine). You can download the full map here, which includes a list of Myrtle brunch favorites offering 10% off for SONYA Strollers (Anima, Putnams, Fork, Pillow, SoCo, Los Pollitos, Wallys Square Root Caf

Cielo Bar Opens Tonight!

Cielo Bar opens tonight, 6/8/12!

Cielo Bar, the new 2000sf watering hole owned by local, Gil Rivera, Jr, opens tonight! The long-awaited bar, which is located at 474 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street will be open weekends only for the next 4 weeks.

Expect delicious offerings from the full kitchen + very live weeknights shortly thereafter.

Enjoy excellent cocktails, ice cold beers, music and lots of fun tonight–stop in!

Connect with Cielo Bar on Facebook for the latest.

Cielo Bar is located at 474 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street.

Barclays Center Is Hiring

The Barclays Center is currently recruiting for box office, food service, guest services, operations and security positions.

Click here to sign up to begin the registration process. NYCHA residents and residents of community boards 2, 3, 6 and 8 will be prioritized. Candidates that are screened and chosen to move forward in the process will be scheduled interviews at job fairs in July and possibly August.

Register online or at a location below by June 23rd.

Ingersoll Community Center
177 Myrtle Avenue
M-F, 1p-3p

Farragut Community Center (ATTAIN Lab)
228 York Street
M-Th 3p-6p; F 10a-5p; Sa June 9 and 23rd only 1:30p-5p

REES Central
787 Atlantic Avenue
M-Th 2p-6p

303 Vernon ATTAIN Lab
303 Vernon Avenue
Tu and Th 10a-6p

Roosevelt BTOP
400 Hart Street
M-F 10a-2p

Saratoga BTOP
940 Hancock Street
M-F 10a-2p

Van Dyke BTOP
392 Blake Avenue
M-F 10a-2p

logo credit: logo copied from the barclayscenter.com website

Watch the History of Pratt Institute on WNET's Treasures of New York

Treasures of New York celebrates Pratt Institute, excelling in 125 years of educating art and design innovators, premiering June 13th on WLIW21 and June 14th on THIRTEEN. Capturing the colleges milestone through its legacy and contributions to the world of art and design, the film creates a visual timeline of one of Brooklyns most-prized institutions.

Located in the heart of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute is recognized worldwide as an influential institution of art and design that has impacted the lives of millions since its founding. In the past decade, the college has grown to become a pillar of Brooklyns cultural renaissance and a vital asset to its surrounding communities. Boasting an impressive roster of graduates and faculty such as Eva Hesse, Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sylvia Plachy, Annabelle Seldorf, Peter Shelton, Robert Wilson, and Carlos Zapata, among many others, Pratt has indelibly touched many peoples lives through its legacy of artistic endeavors and commercial designs.

Treasures of New York goes inside the prestigious college to discover its vibrant Brooklyn history through the eyes of the two men who built it; industrialist Charles Pratt, who founded the school in 1887, and Dr. Thomas F. Schutte, who has been articulating Pratts vision since he became the schools President in 1993. One of the defining moments in the film shows how Schutte spearheaded the revitalization of Pratts nearby neighborhoods, particularly on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn.

Hosted by former Pratt student and celebrated writer Pete Hamill, Treasures of New York: Pratt Institute premieres Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7 p.m. (ET) on WLIW21 and Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on THIRTEEN. After broadcast, the program will be available to national audiences at thirteen.org/treasures-of-ny. The website offers past episodes and conversations with visionaries behind New Yorks greatest institutions.

excerpted from the WLIW21 Press Release

To read more from WLIW21, visit here.
And to read more about Pratt's involvement in Myrtle Avenue's revitalization, read Channel 13's story online here.

Photo of Pratts Main Building. Courtesy of Pratt Institute Archives

The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) Annual Community Health Fair in Fort Greene Park

Join Myrtle Eats Fresh program participants at the Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) Annual Community Health Fair in Fort Greene Park on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be over 30 different information points along the path close to Washington Park along DeKalb Avenue where visitors can receive free basic health screenings, information on how to lead a healthy lifestyle and pharmacists will be on hand to do medication screenings and smoking cessation.

Myrtle Eats Fresh Community Chef Beryl Benbow will be preparing samples of an “Avocado, Cucumber & Arugula Salad” recipe. The Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Community Food Council will share information and encourage all to get involved in 10 community food projects happening now! Look for the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project Banner and we'll see you at the fair!

Check Out Fort Greene & Clinton Hill in the 1940s!

Curious to what Fort Greene and Clinton Hill was like in the 1940s? A spectacular new website, 1940snewyork.com, offers us a glimpse. The website features an interactive map that allows you to zoom into Fort Greene and Clinton Hill , simply called Fort Greene Park at the time, to learn about rent prices and demographics. Also, the site has a few neighborhood pictures that worth checking out.

The site was developed by the Center for Urban Research at the CUNY Graduate Center, in collaboration with The Gotham Center for the New York History.

Photo taken from www.1940snewyork.com.

D.C. Optics Opening Soon!

A new eyewear and exam store is set to open at 390 Myrtle! The space, formerly the Myrtle Express Deli, has quickly been transformed by the new tenant, D.C. Optics, which hopes to be open by the end of the June. Dr. Dennis Cheng, O.D. is behind the new business and you can find out more about him, and get some tips on eye care, at his blog. You can also check out the DC Optics facebook page!

Myrtle Windows Gallery and SONYA Studio Stroll!

The 13th SONYA Studio Stroll takes place this weekend, June 9th and 10th, featuring 50+ locations in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout, and Bedford-Stuyvesant! Visit open studios and exhibitions on 12-6 pm both days (rain or shine)!

We're featuring 15 artworks by SONYA artists in the most recent Myrtle Windows Gallery exhibition, on display NOW in the storefronts of 10 Myrtle businesses between Vanderbilt and Classon through June 28th!
Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (412 Myrtle)
Connecticut Muffin (423 Myrtle)
Karrot (431 Myrtle)
Green in BKLYN (432 Myrtle)
Thai 101 (455A Myrtle)
Anima Italian Bistro (458 Myrtle)
Kum Kau (463 Myrtle)
Miracles (473A Myrtle)
Soketah (563 Myrtle)
Wally's Square Root Cafe (584 Myrtle)

Tour the exhibition with the artists, and then join them for a drink on
Thursday June 21st at 7pm. Tour begins at Connecticut Muffin and reception follows at The Emerson Bar (561 Myrtle). Pick up an exhibition guide at any of the participating businesses and find special deals and coupons!

About Myrtle Windows Gallery
By breaking down the walls of the traditional private
art gallery, the Myrtle Windows Gallery brings two dimensional art to the public arena via the storefront
window, where it is accessible to anyone simply walking
down the street. The initiative helps bring together artists, local businesses, and the community in a dialogue about art in public spaces. To purchase artwork in this exhibit, contact us at (718) 230-1689.Myrtle Windows Gallery is sponsored by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, with support from the Lily Auchincloss Foundation.

New Community Space on Myrtle Between Kent and Franklin Avenues

Come share your ideas for this new community space on Monday, June 4th 6PM @ Pratt Center!

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is offering a temporary space to be used by the community at the water tunnel site at the NE corner of Kent and Myrtle and they are ready to provide access! Now it's time to come together and decide how to create a user friendly open space for all to enjoy.

WHEN: Monday, June 4, 2012, 6pm
WHERE: Pratt Center: Myrtle Hall 536 Myrtle Avenue – enter through Willoughby Avenue (walk through the parking lot
*ID is required to enter the building

To RSVP or for more info email – rsvp@prattarea.org

The event is sponsored by Councilmember Letitia James and is brought to you by Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) and Pratt Center for Community Development.

For more information on the community site visit: Myrtle Village Green

Great Feedback on Park Avenue Pedestrian Safety Presentation

MARP and Architecture for Humanity got great feedback from almost 40 residents who attended last night's presentation of draft proposals for improving pedestrian safety on Park Avenue at the Navy Yard houses. Thanks to all who attended and shared your thoughtful ideas! Stay tuned for a fine-tuned Pedestrian Safety Plan in June.

Plovgh Happy Hour & Community Meeting at Five Spot Soul Food

Five Spot Soul Food on Myrtle and Washington Avenues is hosting a Plovgh (pronounced “plow”)
Happy Hour & Community Meeting to announce the summer schedule, answer questions you may have and talk about how we can get more neighbors to sign-up. We hope to see you there! RSVP here.

Where: Five Spot Soul Food 459 Myrtle Avenue
When: Tuesday, May 29th
Time: 6-8PM

Also, because Monday is Memorial Day Plovgh will distribute to Five Spot on SATURDAY, MAY 26th 11AM-1PM. The store is NOW open! Place your order by clicking here.

Haven't heard about Plovgh yet? Read on for more info:

Plovgh is “an online marketplace that coordinates the purchase and distribution of harvest from farms to individuals. It's a way for people to get their food directly from farms, right in their neighborhood”.

How does it work? It's easy –
1) Sign up on-line with your email address
2) Choose Five Spot as your pick up point
3) Order your products Wednesday – Saturday
4) Check out on-line by paying with pay pal or credit card
5) Pick up your products on Tuesdays 5-6:30PM at Five Spot

LuLu & Po Featured in NY Times

One of the newest restaurants to the district, LuLu & Po at 154 Carlton (near the corner of Myrtle Ave), was highlighted in yesterdays New York Times Dining and Wine section. The new restaurant, slated to open on Tuesday, May 29th, is the creation of Matthew Hamilton and will feature an inventive menu of European-style food. Check out the Times write-up here or take a look at the new space on the restaurants blog.

Photo taken from Lulu & Pos blog at http://gustation.squarespace.com.

Join the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Community Food Council for a Healthy Supermarket Tour

The Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Community Food Council will be conducting the third Healthy Supermarket Tour on Thursday, May 24th 3-4PM at Red Apple Supermarket located at 218 Myrtle Avenue (at Ashland pl). The tour is led by a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Diabetes Educator who informs participants about how to read nutrition labels, how to shop healthy on budget and the health benefits (and risks) of certain foods. Past participants have really enjoyed the tour! One participant said, “I never thought to pay attention to how much something costs by its unit weight. I just bought what was on sale but now I realize the sale item may not be cheaper than the item next to it with a higher unit weight”. Another participant plans to buy more fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables rather than canned after learning how much additives and/or salt is in the canned variety.

The Healthy Supermarket Tours are one of 29 community food projects that were identified in the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Community Food Assessment (CFA) titled Get Fresh! Food access, food justice and collective action in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. Survey respondents and focus group participants expressed that not being able to discern nutrition facts makes it challenging to choose healthy products. In response, the council is offering free supermarket tours! For more information or to participate in a tour please contact Kassy Nystrom at 718-230-1689 or kassy@myrtleavenue.org.

Click here for the full Get Fresh! report.

The Healthy Supermarket Tours are supported, in part, through funding from the Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations grant.