Author Archives: Chad Purkey

Grand Opening Celebration at Shic Hair, Nail & Beauty Bar on Sunday, 11/13

Grand Opening Celebration at Shic Nail, Hair & Beauty Bar on Sunday, 11/13 from 2p-5p. Join Shic by Soketah for an afternoon of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and fun!

15% off all Redken beauty products. 10% off all Fiji beauty products. Book an appointment for a future date and receive 20% off. Great time to purchase that gift for your self or for a friend– hair, manicures, pedicures, makeup, massages.

Enter raffles for a chance to win over $200 in beauty services.

A portion of all of the grand opening afternoon sales will be donated to Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective (BYMC). BYMC provides ongoing case management and education advocacy services to disadvantaged young mothers to ensure that young mothers experience educational success and self-sufficiency.

Receive a free Express design manicure of Express eye makeup application and gift bag with a donation of $10 or more in support of the Brooklyn Young Mother's Collective.

Shic by Soketah is a 1500sf beauty bar deluxe, owned by Keisha Farrell, Sonia Lashley, Kristal Thomas and Jamilla Martin.

The space is perfect for regular pampering sessions and is also equipped to handle group or private events such as birthdays, girls night out, corporate events, bridal parties and special occasions.

Inquire about customized packages and special rates for group bookings.

Shic is located at 564 Myrtle Avenue between Emerson and Classon (across the street from Soketah Salon). Please call Shic at 718.875.6845 for a hair, nails or massage appointment or further information.

For further info, please contact: host@3girlsbeauty.com

$1 Drinks + Free Music: The Emerson's 1 Year Anniversary

Wishing The Emerson a happy 1st anniversary on this coming Veteran's Day!! Dollar drinks, live music, pool tournament. Celebrate from 12midnight to 4am on Friday. Oh yeah!!

Dollar drinks, a pool tournament, and live music in one place with no cover sounds pretty good to us. This is the 1 year anniversary party of The Emerson.

Live Music Hosted by Paper Garden Records

3:30 – Stephanie Carlin

4:30 – Howth

8:00 – Swear & Shake

8:30 – The City and Horses

The Emerson's favorite DJs

5:30 -Ahficionados

10:00pm -TBA Special Guest

11:00pm- ROCK-L

1:00am- Mickey Perez

2:00am- Lip

Dance on over!

The Emerson is located at 561 Myrtle Avenue between Emerson and Classon. They can be reach by phone at 347.763.1310.

Secret (kinda!) Sale @ Brooklyn Stone Boutique this weekend!

Never missing the opportunity to offer fashion and bargains, Brooklyn Stone Boutique holds a secret sale this weekend.

Expanding the store staff by 2, there's an upcoming sale each day of the weekend–yep, both Saturday (November 12) and Sunday (November 13). So, grab some friends–and stop in!

What's so secret about this sale?? You MUST know and use the “secret code”!

Hopefully we won't get in touch for posting.

Brooklyn Stone Boutique is located at 366 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Clermont and can be reached by telephone at: 347.763.2041.

Saturday's secret code is 'kiyomi'.

Take 10% off full priced merchandise (excluding independent designer items) and an additional 15% off already reduced merchandise.

Sunday's secret code is 'sheryl'.

Take 10% off full priced merchandise (excluding independent designer items) and an ADDITIONAL 15% off already reduced merchandise.

Building 92 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Opens on Veteran's Day

The much-anticipated opening of Building 92 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard is this Friday, Veteran's Day.

Building 92, the Navy Yard's museum and historic center in it's 4 floors features a visitor's center, resource center, gallery and cafe.

Building 92 is open Wednesday thru Sunday, 12p-6p. Walking, bus and bike tours are available. Free admission this opening weekend and lots planned this opening 11/11/11 Veteran's Day weekend, including looping shuttle bus between Building 92 and Jay Street subway station, family fun, prizes and giveaways.

Building 92 is located at 63 Flushing Avenue. Read more here.

pic from the Bldg92.com website

Beer Tasting @ Khim's Millenium Market

Khim's Millenium Market at 536 Myrtle to host a beer tasting on Saturday, 11/12 from 4p-6p.
The beer tasting will feature Blue Point Beer.

Blue Point is brewed locally, Long Island's only microbrewery.

Khim's Millenium Market is open 24-hours. They have a wide variety of grocery products as well as separate fresh salad and soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt counters.

Khim's Millenium Market is located at 536 Myrtle Avenue between Steuben and Grand in the Myrtle Hall building. Please call them at: 718.230.0788.

The Bakery That Could: 1000 Pies for the Holidays

It's been four months since The Bakery (also known as 'Krumbs') at 154 Vanderbilt Avenue, was closed down by the Department of Health for an expired permit.

There is not much that can quell the entrepreneurial spirit. Determined to re-open by raising funds to cover the costs of the DoH fine plus the mounting rent debt for having to close her doors, Bakery owner, Adrienne Braxton has devised a plan to sell over 1000 pies this holiday season.

“I did the math and it can work,” stated Adrienne. “I know that that's a lot of pies, but I'm determined to roll up my sleeves and make this work for my family and my business,” she continued.

Specializing in all things baked, including homemade breads and confections like raspberry rugelach, classic pound cakes, gingerbread cookies, almond tortes, blueberry tarts, apple pies, fresh handcrafted breads and cinnamon rolls, the bakery will offer pies only in this special bootstrapping effort of determination and endurance. Check out more of Adrienne's story here.

Adrienne will rent kitchen incubator space to bake the pies, but will be at the bakery this Saturday (10a-4p) to take orders. Please stop in and help this much-loved bakery to reopen.

Pecan pies are $23. Sweet potato pies are $20.
Adrienne can be reached at 347.384.2275 or krumbsbakery154@gmail.com.

The Bakery is located at 154 Vanderbilt Avenue between Myrtle and Willoughby. Stop in this Saturday between 10am-4pm to place an order.

Brooklyn's 2012 Extraordinary Women

The office of District Attorney Hynes annually honors 'Brooklyn's 2012 Extraordinary Women.' Deadline to nominate your candidates for this honor is January 17, 2012. Click here for more information and an application.

Mojito Cuban Cuisine Offers Living Social Deal!

Savor the flavors of Cuba at Mojito Cuban Cuisine. Living Social offer is $20 for $40 worth of authentic Cuban fare at Mojito Cuban Cuisine. Check it out here.

Stop in for brunch, lunch or dinner! A variety delectable menu items from which to choose, including fried sweet plantain, shredded, braised short ribs in tomato sauce with sauteed onion, olives and bell peppers; chicken and potatoes stew in tomato sauce with sauteed onions and peppers; fried marinated pork chops with sauteed onions and peppers; pressed sandwiches and many other both meat and vegetarian selections. Bar items include aged rum, wine, sangria, daiquiris and of course mojitos. Choose by the glass or by the carafe.

Mojito Cuban Cuisine is located at 82 Washington Avenue between Park and Flushing. They can be reached at 718.797.3100.

photo credit: Mojito Cuban Cuisine

Many Ideas for Improving Park Avenue Safety

Over 50 people were in attendance at last night's Park Avenue Safety Workshop. Everyone had a lot to say about which blocks and which intersections on Park Avenue along the BQE were the least safe, and even more to say about how the city could make improvements. Attendees split into 5 different groups, representing 5 different geographic areas of Park Avenue from west to east, so participants were able to discuss the very specific issues and challenges affecting each block and how to make them safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

The goal of this workshop was to identify, prioritize, and locate specific enhancements that will improve pedestrian safety and calm vehicular traffic on Park Avenue between Navy Street and Steuben Street. Given the number of students that are crossing Park to and from school, and the number of residents that are living on Park or adjacent to it, improving safety needs to be prioritized by city agencies.

This workshop was the first step in creating a community-based plan that can be used to advocate for important changes, both short-term and long-term. A special thanks to Architecture for Humanity New York for putting in countless hours to prepare for and facilitate the workshop, and to now help pull together everyone's ideas into the makings of a draft plan.

Stay tuned for the scheduling of additional meetings where these preliminary findings and ideas will be presented.

Help improve pedestrian safety on Park Avenue! TODAY

Have you ever tried to cross Park Avenue in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill? If so, you may have walked for blocks to find a safe crossing, or maybe you just decided to dodge speeding traffic. We're sure you've though to yourself, 'shouldn't this street be safer for pedestrians?' Well, we agree. It should be safer!

We've held three previous workshops about the area under and around the elevated BQE in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and safety was the primary concern at each of them. Have something to share about safety on Park Avenue? Join your neighbors at this workshop!

Park Avenue Pedestrian Safety Workshop
Thursday, November 3rd
6-8:30pm
Benjamin Banneker Academy (71-77 Clinton Avenue @ Park)

The goal of this workshop is to identify, prioritize, and locate specific enhancements that will improve pedestrian safety and calm vehicular traffic on Park Avenue between Navy Street and Steuben Street. Given the number of students that are crossing Park to and from school, and the number of residents that are living on Park or adjacent to it, we feel that improving safety should be prioritized by city agencies. This workshop is the first step in creating a community-based plan that we can use to advocate for important changes, both short-term and long-term. Architecture for Humanity will be assisting with workshop facilitation and development of the plan.

Hope you can make it! Email dan@myrtleavenue.org or call 718-230-1689 if you have any questions. Download the workshop flyer here.

RePOP wins Village Voice 'Best Vintage Furniture Shop' Award

RePOP, the Wallabout-based vintage furniture store, recently won a Village Voice Best Of Award in the category of 'Best Vintage Furniture' for the year.

The Village Voice article states, “amble through its spacious warehouse to find such gems as an incredibly creepy Victorian-era medical examination chair, a 1950s glowing Mountain Dew clock, and a curious assortment of tiki masks.”

The award-winning shop, which recently celebrated its 5th anniversary, has much notoriety, winning past best of vintage furniture awards and mentions in TimeOut New York, Apartment Therapy and Design*Sponge. The shop is also featured in the book, 'The New York Best Of Shops' by Ranjani Gopalarathinam.

Check out RePOP's interior design and home-rearrangement services also. The shop is hailed for its amazing and recent interior work (repurposed and vintage interiors) for Nitehawk Cinemas in Williamsburg.

RePOP is located at 68 Washington Avenue between Park and Flushing. The shop can be reached at 718.260.8032.

Red Apple Supermarket – Now Open!

As of Monday, the Red Apple Supermarket on Myrtle and Ashland is officially open! Welcome to the avenue! The community is buzzing about the store. Hear what people had to say on this News12 piece.

Have you been by yet? What do you think?

Billo’s 99 Cent Plus, Stop In!

Billo’s 99 Cent Plus is a cornucopia of products and of savings, stop in today! Billo’s now carries CFL lightbulbs for $1.99.

Billo Diallo purchased the 99c store at 480 Myrtle more than 5 years ago and since then has been all about having useful products that customers want on hand.

As a go-to store on the Avenue, Billo carries a wide range of products, including school supplies, party supplies, kitchen and household cleaning supplies, laundry products, shopping carts, rain gear, music accessories, CFLs (!) and hey, you name it–it’s there.

Billo also has a very extensive collection of African film, including several Nollywood classics. “I’m waiting to highlight film from Guinea one day,” shared Billo, about his country of birth.”

Billo’s 99 Cent Plus is located at 480 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street. You can reach the store at 917.345.5674.

Project Safe Surrender Returns, Dec. 2 & 3

Project Safe Surrender returns. Project Safe Surrender is an opportunity for those with warrants or C-summonses (see list below or call for more information) to have them lifted and their cases adjudicated in a safe environment. As the project states, “this is not a pardon, but rather a solution that is favorable.”

Project Safe Surrender will take place on December 2 and 3 at Mt. Sion Baptist Church, which is located at 365 Ralph Avenue, corner of Pacific.

Please contact Anita Alexander at 718.388.3900xt.46 or anita@projectsafesurrender2011.org for further information.

If you have a warrant or c-summons for the following, come out:

  • littering
  • unleashed dog
  • failure to have a dog license
  • animal nuisance
  • unlawful possession of alcohol under age 21
  • consumption of alcohol in public
  • spitting
  • riding a bicycle on the sidewalk
  • unlawful possession of handcuffs
  • trespassing
  • loitering
  • disorderly conduct
  • making unreasonable noise
  • aggressive solicitation
  • unlawfully in a park after hours
  • failure to comply with posted signs in park

Art Show and Reception: Tuesday at Connecticut Muffin

Meet artist Tarra Rehounek on Tuesday, November 1st at Connecticut Muffin (423 Myrtle Avenue)! She will be showcasing her patterned designs and greeting cards (also for sale) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Light refreshments will be served, so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Wicked Good Franks Grand Opening on Saturday, 10/29!

Wicked Good Franks grand opening celebration to take place on Saturday, 10/29 from 12p-6p!

Tastings and giveaways throughout the day, Frankendog competition will be going strong-competitors must eat 2 in 15 minutes!

Wicked Good Franks features hot dogs and sausages with any number of amazing, gourmet toppings. Both meat and vegetarian options are available. The owners, husband and wife team, Bruno and Kimberly Iannotta will be on deck. Come out, join the fun!

Wicked Good Franks is located at 579 Myrtle Avenue. They can be reached at 718.398.2000.

Halloween on Myrtle + Beyond: BOO!!

Halloween is always a blast on Myrtle Avenue. It falls on a Monday this year, leaving quite a wide variety of fun, fun, fun options. Hey, you can do a little monster boogie on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and&Monday (!) if you want. Keep it low key or opt to rev things up. Adult-, child- and family- friendly options available. Hope to see you on the Avenue: enjoy!

Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education

(Sunday)

Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education hosts its first annual Halloween Festival on Sunday from 1p-6p. Free admission. Pony rides, bouncy castle, games, face painting, costume parade, food by local vendors and much more! Gift basket raffle to raise funds for their childrens international travel program. Halloween Festival to take place in the Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education lot at Myrtle-Waverly corner.

Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education can be reached at: 718.797.1700.

Just Because Salon

(throughout Halloween week)

Drop by Just Because Salon for a glimpse of old-fashioned holiday window dressing. Frightful skeleton chillin in the window. Dont let all of the owners creative work go unnoticedcheck it out. Swing by with the kids!

Just Because Salon is located at 141 Carlton Avenue and can be reached at 718.722.7810.

Polish Bar of Brooklyn

(Saturday)

Polish Bar of Brookyn makeup artist, Rebecca Casciano will be doing makeup for Halloween for women, men and children on Saturday from 1p-6p. Yes, its true, come on out to Polish to get those finishing touches before you head out trick-or-treating or to that Halloween bash.

Halloween makeup special to take place at Polish Bars Prospect Heights location. Call for more details: 718.622.5363.

Dope Jams

(Saturday into Sunday)

Dope Jams 4th Annual Halloween Costume Ball from 10p until 6am. The guys at Dope Jams really, and we mean like reallllly get into Halloween, and this years Halloween is no different.

Its time for Dope Jams 4th Annual Costume Ball and party (from the Dope Jams guys: were ecstatic at the prospect of once again tossing aside any semblance of false reality, adorning the mask of absurdity affirmed, and convening the freaks for an all-out-intoxicated-free-for-all of massive hedonistic proportions that will be Dope Jams' 4th Annual Costume Ball.). Well now. Costumes are strongly encouraged. Click here for more details.

Dope Jams is located at 580 Myrtle Avenue. Call for more details: 718.622.7977.

Luz

(Monday)

Enjoy Halloween fright films that will be looped and streaming at Luz. Come dressed in your costume and get a free glass of sangria. Kids dressed in costume get free ice cream, yum.

Luz is located at 177 Vanderbilt Avenue, just south of Myrtle. Call for more details: 718.246.4000.

Maggie Brown

(Saturday)

Maggie Brown will be giving away candy and a free spooky shot to those in costume (and over 21)!

Maggie Brown is located at 455 Myrtle Avenue. Call for more details: 718.643.7001.

Five Spot Soul Food & Supper Club

(Sunday and Monday nights)

Five Spot will be hosting two costume parties. Yes, you heard correctly — TWO!

Also, during the day on Monday, kids can stop by to pick up more for their candy stashes, starting at 3!

Five Spot is located at 459 Myrtle Avenue. Call for more details: 718.852.0202.

Rope

(Monday)

Costume party at Rope on Monday. Starts at 10 pm. $100 first prize for best costume!

Rope is located at 415 Myrtle Avenue. Call for more details: 718.522.2899.

The Emerson

(Saturday and Sunday)

Saturday and Sunday, Pumpkin Carving and Painting by day + Happy Hour from 2p-7p.

Parents and other adults participating in backyard pumpkin carving and artwork get 2-for-1 draft and well drinks. Bring your kids, a pumpkin and some supplies if you have. The Emerson will provide some supplies.

Also by night on Saturday from 10p-3am Show Me Your Pumpkins! Halloween Party and Costume Contest
$4 Pumpkin Ale on draft, $4 Halloween Cocktail. Bring a small painted or carved pumpkin and get a FREE drink! Best Costume wins $100 Cash and $50 Bar Tab. 2nd Place $50 bar tab.

The Emerson is located at 561 Myrtle Avenue. Call for more details: 347.763.1310.

Touch

Red Apple Supermarket to open on Monday, 10/31, 7am!

We just got word that Red Apple Supermarket at Myrtle and Ashland will be opening bright and early Monday morning at 7am. Opening day will include a ribbon cutting at 9:30am, so come on out and enjoy the festivities!

The new store hours will be M-Sa from 7a-10p and Sundays from 7a-9p.

MARP has been working closely with FUREE, District Leader Lincoln Restler, and Council Member Tish James, over the last 9 months or so to help ensure that the new Red Apple Supermarket will be responsive to the needs of the local community in terms of affordability, product mix, accessibility, and employment opportunities. Part of this effort included a very successful job fair held on September 25th at the Ingersoll Community Center, where 55 local residents were hired, including one of MARP's former summer YEMP students. Be sure to come by on Monday or in the coming days and weeks to see what we hope will be very positive results from this collaborative effort.

Update: Just In!
RAVIOLIFICIO LO SCOIATTOLO, Italys third largest fresh pasta manufacturer will make its Brooklyn debut on Monday, October 31st @ the Red Apple Supermarket 218 Myrtle Avenue in the Andrea apartment building from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Lo Scoiattolo has never been sold in the United States before and this is the first time for a store in Brooklyn. Free tastings will be made available.

Pillow Cafe Offers Amazon Deal!

Pillow Cafe offers Amazon deal: For $10, receive $20 to spend toward delicious food and drink!

Alright, here's what you do, walk through the beautiful blue historic storefront entrance where you'll immediately feel like you're home, then take it all in. Choose to sit at the bar or at any of the open seat options. Enjoy the artwork, inhale the perfect expresso and place your order. Place your order for any of the smooth and amazing drinks or delicious heavy hitting, lite-bites on the menu, like sandwiches, salads, pastries, wraps.

Yep, seriously! Time's running out on this deal–click here!

Pillow Cafe is located at 505 Myrtle Avenue between Ryerson and Grand. Please call them at 718.246.2711.

Gnarly Vines Featured in <i>Edible Brooklyn</i>

Brian Robinson, owner of Gnarly Vines, the Myrtle Avenue-based wine shop, is featured in the Fall 2011 edition of edibleBrooklyn.

The article, titled, Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood, discusses Brian's non-traditional route to the world of wine, the range and depth of his experiences in the wine world, his love of Fort Greene and his customers and his suppport of local businesses.

Gnarly Vines is located at 350 Myrtle Avenue between Carlton and Adelphi and can be reached at: 718.797.3183.

Nelson Rivas Mural almost complete at Trilok

The Nelson Rivas mural going up at Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education is almost ready. Nelson Rivas, a Brooklyn-based artist, who also goes by the name 'Cekis', is a highly sought after artist, painting murals internationally.

The Trilok Center for Arts & Education lot is located at the corner of Myrtle and Waverly.

Stay tuned for more information about the mural, the artist and the upcoming artist's recepton at Trilok.

Hookah Lounge for 521 Myrtle

You've probably noticed the dumpster outside 521 and all of the work being done to ready the space. A new hookah lounge is coming! The contractors say they are committed to working day and night to be open by the beginning of next month.

The lounge is sandwiched between Byme Brooklyn and the space the former pharmacy there used for storage. It's near the corner of Grand.

Glam Day @ Soketah on 10/30 !

Customer apprection day at Soketah Hair Salon! It's called 'Glam Day 2011,' and will take place on October 30!

Drop in for free styling and product advice. Discounted rates on all hairstyling services (call in advance for details).

Free makeup advice and makeovers, lashes and eyebrow services will be available all day until 4:30pm.

Jewelry vendors will be on site. Food and refreshments will be served.

Hair–check. Makeup–check. Good times–check. Glam–check, check. Come out!

Soketah Salon is located at 563 Myrtle Avenue. Please call them at 718.875.6845 to reserve your spot today.