Category Archives: District News

New Year’s Resolutions on Myrtle Avenue

Making and keeping New Year’s resolutions can start with the best of intentions but then life gets complicated!  Keep your resolutions positive and attainable by turning to your neighborhood for inspiration! Here are some Myrtle Avenue ideas to explore in the New Year!

Resolution #1 – Indulge in self care! Nourish yourself with a hair treatment, get glam with some new make up or start a skincare routine

The B.Beauty Bar – 154 Vanderbilt – try out their own line of cosmetics!

Just Because Hair Therapy Salon – 141 Carlton – get a hair treatment!

Pick up some affordable cleanser or moisturizer at one of several pharmacies along the Avenue.

Myrtle Pharmacy – 446 Myrtle

Myrtle Drug Care – 355 Myrtle

Health Point Drugs – 392 Myrtle

Whitman Pharmacy – 329 Myrtle

Resolution #2 – take up a new hobby! Explore new interests and maybe meet some neighbors!

Sarai – 334 Myrtle – Community classes are free every Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.

Blick – 536 Myrtle – Art supplies for all ages and all levels of experience!

Indulge Kitchen Supplies – 469 Myrtle – Start baking!

CKO Kickboxing – 525 Myrtle – Work on those muscles!

Green in BKLYN – 432 Myrtle – Resolve to live lighter on the planet with eco-friendly options, such as the refill station for cleaning products!

Resolution #3 – Catch up with friends! Connecting with those who make us happy is good for the soul! Get some drinks, alcoholic or not, and share some stories.

Cardiff Giant  – 415 Myrtle – Great vibes and all NY-made beer, wine and spirits.

The Emerson – 561 Myrtle – Get a little competitive over a game of pool!

Mr Lee’s Bar + Lounge – 471 Myrtle – Look out for great DJs!

Move with Grace – 431 Myrtle – Pick a fresh drink and walk around the neighborhood!

Resolution #4 – Pursue your green thumb! Bring a little nature and sunshine into your life

Flowers of Frida – 382 Myrtle – Extensive selection of plants and planters!

Bella Rosa Flowers and Gifts – 566 Myrtle – Pick up a plant and then a bouquet for your love!

Khim’s Millenium Market – 536 Myrtle – Plants and groceries!

Clinton Hill Hardware – 450 Myrtle – Not only plants but also seeds, soil and additional supplies.

Resolution #5 – Get involved! Act in solidarity with your neighbors and support those who may be struggling at the moment!

One Community NYC – help distribute fresh produce and non-perishables to people experiencing food insecurity

Clinton Hill Fort Greene Mutual Aid – shop for groceries and essentials for neighbors; donate gently used goods; support a working group to support CHFGMA

Fort Greene Park– help maintain and beautify our local green space.  Surround yourself with nature!

Brooklyn Book Bodega – donate new or gently used books or help sort at their Book Hub as part of their mission to increase access to books for kids

Resolution #6 – Try out a new look! Take a leap – big or small – pick out some new glasses, get a new hairstyle or get your nails done!

Get a new pair of glasses!

DC Optics – 390 Myrtle

Optical Gallery – 446 Myrtle 

Try a new hair style and get your nails done, too!

Shic by Soketah – 564 Myrtle 

Rhed Salon + Spa – 362 Myrtle

..or try a new hair color?!

Salon [718] – 456 Myrtle

Hair + Co – 487 Myrtle

And we haven’t forgotten the Gents!

Ray’s Barber Shop – 331 Myrtle 

Doo’s Barber Shop – 435 Myrtle 

Miracles Hair – 470 Myrtle

Resolution #7 – Get out of the house! The cold months make it hard to leave the coziness of home but there’s so much to explore!

The Spot for Art – 572 Myrtle – Browse the gallery of Voodo Fé’s fantastic paintings

Brooklyn Music Kitchen – 177 Vanderbilt – Check out the calendar for live music, open mics, burlesque and more!

Putnam’s Pub – 419 Myrtle – Play trivia every Tuesday with a group of Friends!

Jill Lindsey – 370 Myrtle – So many classes! Music for kids; tarot readings, astrology consultations; breathwork and more!

Don’t forget to tag @myrtleavebklyn during your new 2023 adventures!

Participatory Budgeting in District 35

The 2023 Participatory Budgeting, March 25-April 2, is a process in which community members get to decide how part of the public budget of District 35 is spent.  Our City Council representative, Crystal Hudson, is asking our community to vote how to spend $1 million in this “transparent, equity-oriented and community-driven process.”  The money is spent on infrastructure projects that benefit the public, with the guidelines that each project costs at least $50,000 and the final results lasts at least five years.  In late 2022, the community suggested projects and Council Member Hudson’s office chose those that were eligible.  You can find a list of nominated projects HERE.  

Voting opens March 25 and continues through April 2.  You will be able to vote online (link coming soon) or in person.  You can even volunteer to help with in person voting.  There are 11 polling sites including one on Myrtle Avenue, at the Ingersoll Community Center.    

For more information on participatory budgeting, click here.

Year in Review on Myrtle Avenue

We had a great 2022 on Myrtle Avenue! Here’s a look back!

EVENTS

We had so much fun in 2022 gathering with neighbors at the 20+ free community events we hosted this year – from Summer Nights to Touch-A-Truck, and the Artists Market to the annual Tree Lighting. Here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments with neighbors! Thank you to the dozens of partners, artists, and business owners and local event sponsors NYC Ferry and Tankhouse who made all of these projects possible!

ART

1 Black Artstory Month mural by The Sona Arts at Shic by Soketah

2 “Full Battery” by Violet Zhang in the Myrtle Plaza

3 Black Artstory Month mural by Dana Robinson at Locals BKNY

4 XOXO ground mural by 13 various Pratt Foundation students

5 Preserving Activism storefront exhibition by Pratt Archives

6 Installing Full Battery by Violet Zhang

7 Local students view the Black Artstory Month storefront exhibit “Democracy’s Body” curated by Unjaded Curations

8 Fashion show featuring designs by first-year Pratt Institute students

9 Holiday window by Colin Kerr at Joe & Sal’s Pizza

PUBLIC SPACE

It’s a day in, day out job keeping Myrtle Avenue looking good.  Big thanks to our staff, street team members from Block by Block, reliable crew from City 1 Maintenance, and The Hort for their work year round maintaining furniture, sweeping litter, removing graffiti, emptying trash cans, planting, watering and weeding flower beds, hanging holiday decorations, and lots more! 

Invaluable thanks also goes to our partners at NYC Sanitation, and to our NYC Council Member Crystal Hudson for providing funding support to help make it possible.

BUSINESSES

We love our local businesses! It was a busy business year on Myrtle Avenue in 2022, with 20 new businesses opening and over 150 local, tried-and-true shops and restaurants continuing to serve the neighborhood (and our org working year-round to serve the businesses). Have you had a chance to try every one of the new restaurants that opened this past year???

☑️ Soco To Go

☑️ Casa Nono

☑️ Jimmy Johns

☑️ Mint Heights

☑️ White Tiger Tavern

☑️ Glin Thai

☑️ Collective Fare

AGE FRIENDLY

 In 2022, the Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council met throughout the year to plan and host events on Myrtle like coffee socials and wine tastings, enjoyed outings to Broadway, a busy Active Aging Week in October, attended digital literacy courses to boost independence, and met with local elected officials to discuss local issues that would help aging in place in our neighborhoods. Big thanks to Brooklyn Community Foundation for supporting our age-friendly initiatives with their Brooklyn Elders’ Fund, allowing us to work in collaboration with our partners Age Friendly Central Brooklyn and the NY Academy of Medicine. 

FOOD PANTRY

For a 7th year, we continued working with neighbors on distributing free groceries through the Fort Greene Fresh Pantry. As we head into 2023, local non-profit One Community NYC will take the lead on operating the program and working with many local volunteers and partners to make the food distribution happen every Saturday. For neighbors looking to volunteer or donate needed funding to keep the program going, please visit One Community NYC.

It’s been a really great 2022 and we can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store!

Myrtle Holiday Windows Walk

There’s nothing better than holiday lights to get you in the spirit for the season! Decorated holiday windows, colorfully lit trees, and holiday street lights line Myrtle Avenue from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day this year. See out guide below on where to catch them all!

Myrtle Holiday Window Walk

  1. Fort Greene Park Holiday Tree
  2. Sarai Yoga, 334 Myrtle
  3. Gnarly Vines, 350 Myrtle
  4. Joe & Sal’s Pizzeria, 353 Myrtle
  5. Jill Lindsey, 370 Myrtle
  6. dc optics, 390 Myrtle
  7. Putnam’s, 419 Myrtle
  8. Three Stars Laundromat, 439 Myrtle
  9. Peck’s, 455A Myrtle
  10. Clinton Hill Animal Clinic, 476 Myrtle
  11. Hair & Co, 487 Myrtle
  12. SoCo ToGo, 509 Myrtle
  13. Blick Art Supplies, 536 Myrtle
  14. Taqueria Tepango, 568 Myrtle
  15. TB Coffee, 578 Myrtle

Holiday Trees & Lights

  1. Fort Greene Park Tree: at Myrtle Ave & St Edwards St. On view starting Sunday, December 4, when we’ll have the annual Tree Lighting!
  2. NEW! Carlton Triangle: Trees wrapped in lights and fun holiday decor will fill this greenspace.
  3. Clinton & Myrtle: Fences decked out with garland, lights, and community info about the holidays.
  4. Myrtle Avenue Plaza: Colorfully wrapped trees fill the space along Myrtle Avenue, from Hall St to Emerson Pl.
  5. Street Lights: from Flatbush to Classon, all along Myrtle Avenue you’ll find festive lights strung across the street and on lampposts.

 

2022 Neighborhood Holiday Guide

The holiday season is here! And there’s no place better to celebrate then in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill on Myrtle Avenue. Here’s your guide on where to find the best gifts at local shops, enjoy free holiday events with family and neighbors, reward yourself with FREE hot chocolate, find the best backdrops for your holiday pics, and how to give back for the season!

QUICK LINKS

Holiday Events
2022 Gift Guide
Free Hot Cocoa
Myrtle Toy Drive
Holiday Windows

Read the Holiday Guide

Click to enlarge

The 2022 Myrtle Ave Holiday Guide was mailed to neighbors across Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. If you haven’t seen a copy arrive in your mailbox yet, look for one up at a Myrtle Ave shop or at the Fort Greene Tree Lighting on Dec 4.

Shop Local For the Holidays

The best gifts are the ones found at local shops. If you need some help on your search, visit the 2022 Myrtle Holiday Gift Guide for great finds from the neighborhood’s locally-owned shops.

Free Holiday Events

Find full event listings and details in the Myrtle Avenue Events Calendar.

  • Fort Greene Tree Lighting: the 8th annual lighting will be on Sunday, December 4, 4-5pm at Myrtle Ave & St. Edwards in Fort Greene Park. Come by free hot cocoa, write your letter to Santa, live holiday music, and lighting of the tree!
  • Myrtle Menorah Lighting: Come celebrate on Sunday, December 18, 5:30-6:30, with Chabad of Clinton Hill & Pratt, and enjoy sufganiyot, live music & fun for the entire family at Myrtle Plaza (at Myrtle & Steuben)
  • Fort Greene Kwanzaa Celebration: From December 26 – January 1, find daily activities at various locations across the Fort Greene. For full details about each day’s happenings, please visit myrtleavenue.org/events after December 1st.

Free Hot Cocoa!

Shop local, sip local. Spend $25 or more from November 26 to December 24 and earn a FREE cup of hot chocolate! 

Shop at Jill Lindsey, Green in BKLYN, & Indulge Kitchen Supplies, and bring your ticket for a free cup of cocoa at Peck’s or TB Coffee House.

Myrtle Ave Toy Drive

The annual Myrtle Avenue Toy Drive will serve families with kids of all ages living in NYCHA’s Ingersoll and Whitman Houses. Donate new, unwrapped toys between Nov 26 – December 15 at these businesses and at the Fort Greene Tree Lighting!

  • dc Optics – 390 Myrtle
  • Putnam’s – 419 Myrtle
  • [salon]718 – 456 Myrtle 
  • Hair & Co. Salon – 487 Myrtle
  • Apple Bank – 418 Myrtle 
  • Just Because – 141 Carlton

Shop Myrtle! 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are just around the corner and Myrtle Avenue is the perfect place to find gifts for everyone on your list. Look out for our annual neighborhood Holiday Guide in your mailbox soon, but here’s a sneak peek of the Gift Guide!

THE 2022 MYRTLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

The top gift picks from Myrtle Avenue’s local merchants to help make everyone on your list happy!

JL Hydrating Body Cream, $34

Jill Lindsey – 370 Myrtle Ave | Shop Online
The Jill Lindsey Body Cream is a rich healing, hydrating cream with a custom blend of organic mint, lavender, and a hint of rose.

Vintage Records, $15+

Green in BKLYN – 432 Myrtle Ave
The shop’s vintage records collection includes lots of great finds, either for the music or the cover art.

Silk Kimono Robe, $90 

21 Tara – 388 Myrtle Ave
This comfy robe is uniquely fashioned from vintage sari fabrics.

Indulge Japanese Chef Knife, $170

Indulge Kitchen Supplies – 469 Myrtle Ave
Custom made exclusively for Indulge Kitchen Supplies, this 8” Japanese steel knife is the perfect must have for the at-home chef.

Locally Designed Jewelry, $20+

Barking Brown – 468 Myrtle Ave
Barking Brown’s fashion and accessories selection includes their own in-house jewelry line, with great pieces designed and made locally.

Dog Jackets, $33+

NYC Pet – 464 Myrtle Ave | Shop Online
Keep that pup warm and fashionable with a new winter jacket from NYC Pet, which has a wide selection of designs and sizes.

Birth of Cool Sweatshirt, $89

Voodo Fe The Spot – 572 Myrtle Ave | Shop Online
Celebrating the coolness of Miles, Voodo Fé and The Miles Davis estate have collaborated on a line of Art, Music and Fashion, featuring this new sweatshirt.  

For the Holiday Party Host

Don’t show up empty-handed, grab a bottle or a discounted holiday pack from a local wine and spirits shop. 

Something Sweet

For the sweet tooth on your shopping list, pick-up a pie from Petee’s Pie, cake from The Brooklyn Sweet Spot, or truffles from Green in BKLYN. 

Looking for more holiday things to do in the neighborhood? Check out our local 2022 Holiday Guide.

New! Recent Openings on Myrtle Ave

Over a dozen new businesses have opened on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene so far this year, brining new restaurants, services and shops to the neighborhood. Here’s a handy round-up of what’s recently opened or on the way:

Restaurants

The B.Beauty Bar, 154 Vanderbilt Ave, in Clinton Hill.

Shops & Services

Hear the latest local business opening and closing news by following us on Facebook or Instagram, or signing-up for the Myrtle Avenue E-Newsletter.

Now Open: White Tiger Tavern

Cozy dining room at White Tiger Tavern, 455 Myrtle Ave, in Clinton Hill.

 

New for summer 2022, a welcome addition of new Korean food on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. White Tiger Tavern opened its doors at 455 Myrtle Avenue, between Washington and Waverly Avenues, last month. The new restaurant and bar is a sister restaurant to popular White Tiger in Prospect Heights.The menu is filled with classic Korean dishes, along with some new and inventive twists, and a full bar menu.

Diners can enjoy indoor or backyard seating, or enjoy at home with either takeout or delivery (currently available to order through GrubHub and Seamless). Reservations for dine-in can be made through Resy.

Want to gift someone in the neighborhood with a meal there? You can also purchase digital gift cards.

White Tiger Tavern, 455 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 576-3783

Now Open: Glin Thai Bistro

In June, Glin Thai Bistro opened its doors on Myrtle Avenue, bringing a new menu of Thai classics and signature dishes to Fort Greene.

The new restaurant, replacing the previous Ace Thai, has a full menu including lots of inventive and refreshing drinks. They’ll soon begin serving beer and wine, too!

Pay them a visit at 330 Myrtle Avenue (between Washington Pk and Carlton), or order delivery, open 7 days a week!

Putting the Green in Fort Greene

You know we love a Spring moment and this year we really leaned into green!

If our annual District Satisfaction Survey taught us anything, it’s that you all love plants, and so do we – so we put in over 1,400 plants across the district this season!

Looking to the future, our plans include planting more perennials that will live in place, and bloom throughout the year, to create a more sustainable landscape throughout the whole district. We will begin this transition in stages and have started with 15 tree pits on Myrtle Avenue from Hall to Classon. You can find 920 new annuals dotting the pits on the northside of Myrtle, and they are stunning if we do say so ourselves 🙂 Year over year, we will continue to plant annuals until all 61 of Myrtle Avenue’s planted tree pits are filled with these beauties.

As we do every year, we partnered with The Horticulture Society of New York to plant the perennials and over 900 annuals in the tree pits between Flatbush Ave Ext and Hall.

Another exciting addition came to the Greenstreet triangle at Carlton and Myrtle. Known as Person’s Square, we wanted to bring even more life to this corner of the district and planted almost 300 new native plants in the two gardens there. Putting the green in Fort Greene!

Spring is also the time we bring back the furniture in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza, including our bright orange umbrellas that never cease to bring smiles as they brighten the space. As soon as the furniture came out we saw friends, classmates, co-workers, couples, and kids taking advantage by settling in for meals and cups of coffee from local businesses. 

We continued to spark joy by cleaning up all the furniture and sidewalks with a good power washing, and clearing out any graffiti that popped up. 

Now all that’s left to do is enjoy! 🍃

Enrollment Open at the New Children’s Center

The new Laurie A. Cumbo Children’s Enrichment Center (formerly the Duffield Children’s Center) is now open on Myrtle Avenue and accepting new enrollments! Local families in Fort Greene, Brooklyn can now sign-up for this remaining school year, the summer, and the upcoming 2022-2023 school year!

The Center, operated by Brooklyn Community Services, is accepting applications for 3-K and Pre-K children for the remainder of this school year, summer programming, and the next school year starting in September. Children are eligible for the rest of this school year and this summer if they were born in 2017 or 2018. Children born in 2018 and 2019 are eligible to enroll for September.

Click to enlarge

3-K and Pre-K care is FREE during the school day and year for the same hours and calendar as all DOE schools. Summer programming and extended day during the school year (until 6pm) will be fee-for-service.

For more info, please visit the Center’s website or call (718) 310-5600.

Myrtle Avenue’s Outdoor Dining Guide

It’s time. Spring weather is finally sticking and as we head into warmer, sunnier days we all want to enjoy a meal outside. Here’s the complete list of where on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, Brooklyn to find a al fresco table.

Wray's Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine at 503 Myrtle Avenue

AMERICAN

Putnam’s Pub & Cooker, 419 Myrtle
SoCo, 509 Myrtle

BARS

Cardiff Giant, 415 Myrtle
The Emerson Bar, 561 Myrtle
Vine Bar, 81 Fleet

CAFES & BAKERIES

Bergen Bagels, 538 Myrtle
Cafefornia, 360 Myrtle
Peck’s, 455A Myrtle
TB Coffee House, 578 Myrtle

ITALIAN

LaRina Pastificio & Vino, 387 Myrtle
Osteria Brooklyn, 458 Myrtle

KOREAN

White Tiger Tavern, 455 Myrtle

MEXICAN

Castro’s, 511 Myrtle
Los Pollitos III, 499 Myrtle
Los Tacos Fort Greene, 154 Carlton

MIDDLE EASTERN

Damas Falafel House, 407 Myrtle

PIZZA

Joe & Sal’s Pizzeria, 353 Myrtle

SEAFOOD

BK Lobster, 572 Myrtle
Wray’s Caribbean & Seafood, 503 Myrtle

Now Open: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

There’s another option to grab that caffeine, or herbal relaxer, on Myrtle Avenue. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has opened a new location on the Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn border at Myrtle Avenue and Flatbush Avenue Extension.

The west coast favorite’s new spot has lot seating, including coming-soon outdoor seating, where neighbors can enjoy one of their hot or cold teas, coffees, or juices, along one of their many delicious baked goods too!

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 343 Gold St (at Myrtle & Flatbush Ave Ext), (347) 227-8331

Opening Soon: Subs, Doggy Daycare & More

[updated April 19, 2022]

504 Myrtle Avenue, at Grand Avenue, in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn recently signed leases with four new businesses.

Clinton Hill is about to welcome a handful of new businesses, some of which are already getting neighbors quite excited about new offerings that will be on Myrtle Avenue.

504 Myrtle Avenue, formerly known as The Posthouse, has recently signed leases with a number of new businesses who’ll be opening in the coming months in their ground floor retail space.

Leasing plan, 504 Myrtle Avenue, courtesy of JLL

New Veterinarian Services

BondVet, which has locations across the country, is set to open its fourth Brooklyn location on Myrtle Avenue. The veterinary office offers preventive care, urgent care, surgery, dental care, and more. BondVet is already preparing for their new location with some job postings!

NYC’s First Jimmy John’s

The popular sandwich chain, Jimmy John’s, is set to open it’s first NYC location on Myrtle Avenue in the next few months. The new shop is expected to open in mid May.

Dermatology

With over 25 locations across NYC neighborhoods, The Dermatology Specialists will soon open their newest outpost in Clinton Hill on Myrtle Avenue. The provider, which has a full menu of medical and beauty services, currently has a number of positions open in Brooklyn on their job board.

Doggy Daycare

A new daycare is coming to the neighborhood for your four-legged friends! Dogtopia is set to open in the fall of 2022. While you wait, you can give their first Brooklyn location a follow on Instagram and sign-up for their pre-opening promotion special to receive six weeks of unlimited daycare for just $79 per week! To read more about the deal or to sign-up, please visit Dogtopia.

Convenient Shipping

NOW OPEN – The UPS Store plans to be the first of the new businesses to open, with an opening date anticipated in May 2022. The location will be in the same footprint as the former US Post Office, which moved a few blocks east several years ago to the corner of Myrtle & Kent Avenues. For those in the neighborhood who are looking for shipping options with other carriers, like FedEx and DHL, Sandbox Box & Ship at 417 Myrtle Avenue, near Clinton Avenue, is open seven days a week.

NOW OPEN: Sarai NYC

Sarai, 334 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11205

Sarai is a new yoga space located on a beautiful tree-lined block in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. We offer daily classes for all levels, led by experienced, kind, and dedicated teachers. Its mission is to empower the community and foster its well-being through yoga, meditation, and music.

Sarai, 334 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11205

Through the practice of asana (physical postures), they are able to calm the mind, strengthen the body, develop stability, balance, and fluency, reform old habits that may have led to injury, learn to recognize nature’s patterns within us, and potentiate our wellbeing.

334 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11205

Learn more about Sarai and their offers HERE

NOW OPEN: The B. Beauty Bar

154 VANDERBILT AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11205

The B. Beauty Bar offers many services such as Hair Extensions, Wigs, Installs & Maintenance of Wigs, Ponytails, Hair Braiding, Natural Hair Care, Facials, Waxing, Sugaring, Eyebrow Tinting, and More!

154 VANDERBILT AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11205

B. Beauty Bar also sells cosmetics and custom wig units.

154 VANDERBILT AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11205

Book an appointment HERE

154 VANDERBILT AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11205

Coming soon: New on Myrtle 2022

With the arrival of new restaurants, the commercial strip along Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill continues to grow. So far in 2022, six new businesses signed leases and are ready to open their doors opened their doors on Myrtle Avenue. Below is a round-up of what’s new and what’s coming soon to the neighborhood:

Emerson Convenience

560 Myrtle Avenue

Emerson Convenience, 560 Myrtle Ave

Emerson Convenience
The new convenience store and smoke shop just opened in Clinton Hill! Enjoy a unique variety of flavors in cigars, vapes, and more.

560Myrtle (Emerson and Classon). Open every day from 5 pm till midnight.

SARAI – YOGA & MEDITATION

334 Myrtle Avenue

SARAI
The new yoga and meditation studio just opened in Fort Greene, offering a wide variety of classes all week.

334 Myrtle (Adelphi and Washington Park). Open every day. Read more here

BEAUTY SALON

154 Vanderbilt Avenue

The B. Beauty Bar, offers many services such as Hair Extensions, Wigs, Installs & Maintenance of Wigs, Ponytails, Hair Braiding, Natural Hair Care, Facials, Waxing, Sugaring, Eyebrow Tinting, and More! They also sell cosmetics and custom wig units.

154 Vanderbilt Avenue. Book Online

SOMETHING NEW

472 Myrtle Avenue

Stay tuned for more information about this new spot.

UPS Store

The UPS Store in Clinton Hill on Myrtle is set up to open this winter. This is a good addition for the neighborhood, that have just one UPS location on the Fort Greene side. Mode details to come soon.

Century Medical and Dental Center

Century Medical and Dental Center

Century Medical and Dental Center is getting ready to open on Myrtle. The new primary care doctor office offer services like primary care physicians and internal medicine doctors provide highly personalized and comprehensive primary care services. Stay tuned for more information.

TBHC Cancer Research Center

More information to come soon!

Eisenberger Orthodontics

549 Myrtle Avenue

549 Myrtle Avenue

This will be the third location after, Williamsburg and Boro Park. Eisenberger Orthodontics will offer all dental services here, from cleaning to Invisalign & Braces! More Details to come soon.

Interested in opening a business on Myrtle Avenue? Click here to find a list of available storefronts and local retail market data.

Support Black-Owned Businesses & Community

The grief and anger we’ve seen across the country and within our own neighborhood is a response to centuries of anti-Black racist oppression, not just a single event. We want to acknowledge that truth and the heightened grief, frustration, and fatigue that many in our community are experiencing. We invite neighbors to join us in supporting each other by taking action, learning, and advancing peace and justice.

SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES 

Photo by Aundre Larrow.

We encourage everyone to Shop Local all the time. And there are over 30 Black-owned businesses here on Myrtle in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill who would love your support.

DINING

BEAUTY & HAIR

OTHER SERVICES

LISTEN TO BLACK VOICES AND LEADERSHIP

Here are a few neighbors whose words we’ve consistently found clarity and action-oriented advice from. Learn from them, raise their voices, and join them in taking action for change.

REJECT Race-Based Discrimination

Sandbox Pack & Ship, 718-928-5538

Support and live out Myrtle Avenue’s Hate Has No Business Here message. When you see bias that disproportionately impacts people of color, speak and act. Learn more about issues like racial bias, systemic racism, white supremacy, and how these issues exist in our society, including here in our neighborhood.

We recommend visiting for introductory resources:

EDUCATE YOURSELF & OTHERS

Our neighborhood was built by people who were enslaved because they were Black. Following 200+ years of State-sanctioned enslavement here, a new era of race-based segregation and discrimination began and it continues today in our neighborhood, with many policies and collective actions that place more limits on our Black neighbors than on non-Black residents. The effects of this are still with us and impact all of our lives on a daily basis. We invite all neighbors to acknowledge and learn about this fact-based history. For an intro to this topic, we recommend:

BE KIND

Everyone can benefit from a little extra patience, care, and kindness as we all experienced a heightened level of anxiety and stress from current events. Let’s take care of each other, neighbors.

The Results Are In!

We Asked and You Answered:

The annual Myrtle Avenue BID Satisfaction Survey Results are in!

We are always looking for feedback on the work we do throughout Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and our annual District Satisfaction survey has been a great platform to get responses from people we serve here on Myrtle Avenue.

Vibrant, diverse, and community are a few of the words survey users use to describe Myrtle Avenue in this year’s survey. Read on to see who responded and what are some of the survey highlights!

Some of the words survey respondents used to describe Myrtle Avenue.

Everybody Is Talking

Our online survey garnered over 170 responses from people of all ages and parts of the neighborhood. 

  • 95% of people who responded live on Myrtle Avenue, or nearby
  • 50% have lived in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill for 10+ years
  • Like other years, 50% of survey takers are between 25-44 years of age, and another 30% between the ages of 45-64

Survey Says…

From the retail mix on the Avenue to community outreach and initiatives, survey questions covered the spectrum of work we do for Myrtle Avenue and the surrounding area. 

  • Attractions: Grocery shopping, dining, and banking continue to be the top three activities that bring people to Myrtle Avenue.
  • Cleanliness: Almost 100% of survey users said they appreciate our street sanitation team! When asked to rank how satisfied they are with how clean Myrtle Avenue is, 90% of respondents said they are somewhat or very satisfied.
  • Public Space: People love plants and that is evident with almost 100% of users saying they appreciate the seasonal tree bed plantings we do along the Avenue, along with the tree guards and benches that dot the sidewalks.
  • Events: People love festivities, too! Our top ranked events of the year were the annual holiday tree lighting we host in Fort Greene Park as well as the Summer Nights series that takes place monthly from May to September along Myrtle Avenue.
  • Community Initiatives: 70% of respondents say they appreciate our initiatives to help keep neighbors fed through the Fort Greene Fresh Pantry. The Fresh Pantry helps to provide at least 600 people with  at least 25 pounds of non-perishables and produce each week.

Survey users gave a lot of insight to the types of businesses they would like to see on Myrtle Avenue.

Did We Miss You?

We are open to feedback all year round! If you did not have a chance to take the survey, or if you’d like to tell us anything else, please feel free to reach out to us: hello@myrtleavenue.org

 

Black Artstory Month 2022: Democracy’s Body

For the tenth year, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is proud to present its annual Black Artstory Month arts series. Democracy’s Body will be a month-long series with visual art exhibition along Myrtle Avenue and events in Fort Greene, curated by Bre’Lynn Lombard of UnJaded Curations. The series is made possible with support from Tankhouse.

STOREFRONT EXHIBITION

The Democracy’s Body visual exhibition of works will be up throughout February 2022 in storefront windows along Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill, between Fort Greene Park & Classon Avenue.

“In Us We Trust” by Mz. Icar at Peck’s, 455A Myrtle

This year’s show is a constellation of jubilant, imaginative works by eight contemporary artists. Set as a mural walk, the artwork honors the liberating power that Black womxn’s intersecting identities afford them and their communities. From curator, Bre’Lynn Lombard:

“Through the process of Black radical reimagination, artists shift the narrative of “democratic” principles from being held by governmental structures to the people these structures can’t live without. Featured artists call audiences back to the essence of the Greek word; demos, meaning “the people” and kratia, meaning “power, rule.”

“The works on display illustrate a world where Black womxn are honored for their natural ability to create democratic spaces by simply being human. In a nation state that is founded on the relentless powers of race, patriarchy, class and socio-economic status; Black womxn defining their own beauty standards, being one with and cultivating their land, and being authentic to their creative practices and processes, create a world in which all people -who share in any one of these intersecting identities- have room to simply be themselves.”

Click to enlarge.

EVENTS

Presentation & Discussion
Saturday, February 19, 2-5pm
We are the Original: Womanist Craftivist Poetry & Collage Making
Ingersoll Community Center, 177 Myrtle Avenue
Presented by the Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council and Cirri.

Live Stream Discussion
Saturday, February 26, 2022, 3-4pm
Gold Fronts: Celebrating the Influence and Agency of Black womxn in Visual Storytelling
Hosted and co-presented by BRIC Arts Media.
Virtual. RSVP HERE

MORE: Pop-ups: at Green in BKLYN every Saturday of the month.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Participating Artists:
Dana Robinson
Acacia Rodriguez
Sphynxx Diety
Tiffany Baker
Mz. Icar
Robert Newman III
Ananda Ray
Amanda Ocasio

Partners:
BRIC
The Cirri
Pratt Institute
Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council

Series created and presented by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership:

 

 

Theme and curation by Bre’Lynn Lombard, UnJaded Curations:

Program sponsor, Tankhouse:

ABOUT BLACK ARTSTORY MONTH

Black Artstory Month is an annual series that elevates and celebrates this neighborhood’s long-standing history as a haven for Black artistry, with past themes including Brooklyn style, healing, notions of home, and remembering. This cycle’s thematic focus was developed by Daonne Huff, who co-created Black Artstory Month with Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership in 2013. Check out past programs here.

New Year, New Hobbies & Skills

Is 2022 the year you pick up or master that hobby? These upcoming winter days are the perfect time to learn something new and these local shops are the perfect place to start.

COOKING & BAKING

Creating delectable treats is a creative hobby that comes with a truly sweet reward at the end. Here’s where to find the tools or classes for your at-home creations:

LaRina 387 Myrtle Avenue

Indulge Kitchen Supplies -469 Myrtle Ave.

Green in BKLYN – 432 Myrtle Ave.

LaRina Pastificio – 387 Myrtle Ave. – Pasta making class with head chef Silvia Barban

Brooklyn Sweet Spot – 466 Myrtle – Baking classes for kids. Call for details at (347) 916-0494

FITNESS FOR FUN

or just for fun, we have some good options for you on Myrtle Avenue.

CKO Clinton Hill, 525 Myrtle Avenue

CKO Clinton Hill – 525 Myrtle Ave. 

  • Southbridge Fitness Center – 322 Myrtle Ave 
  • Move with Grace Yoga – 341 Myrtle Ave 
  • Champion’s Tae Kwon Do – 334 Myrtle Ave
  • Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – 412 Myrtle Ave

AT HOME ARTIST

From origami to water coloring to cross-stitching, arts and crafts are some of the most fun hobbies to do during the winter months. You can find supplies to start your at-home art project at: 

Blick, 536 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

  • Blick Arts and Materials – Myrtle Ave.
  • Green in BKLYN – 432 Myrtle Ave.

 FLOWER ARRANGING

If you like plants, consider taking up flower arranging to express yourself through this unique medium-plus you bring some color to the winter inside your house. 

Bella Rosa Flower Shop, 566 Myrtle

  • Bella Rosa Flower Shop – 566 Myrtle Ave.