Category Archives: District News

Networking Event at Five Spot on Saturday, 6/11.

Networking event at Five Spot this Saturday, June 11th, doors open at 6:30pm. The networking event is titled, 'BK Nation,' the networking event for Brooklyn people (and people who love Brooklyn).

Come out and network with other Brooklyn residents. Bring business cards, flyers, or postcards promoting your Brooklyn business or organization. Join efforts to build a Brooklyn-wide network of information, services, and resources.

The event is absolutely FREE. All people and all ages are welcome. Food and drink will be on sale (must be 21 and over with I.D. to drink).

Music featuring DJ Misbehavior, who will spin a special Michael Jackson tribute. The Soulfolk Experence (with guest vocalists) will also be in the place. Come out!

FIVE SPOT is located at 459 Myrtle Avenue, corner of Washington Avenue. Please call them at 718.852.0202 for more detail.

Energy Fuel Eatery for 386 Myrtle Avenue

Energy Fuel, the eatery with the slogan 'never fried or cooked in oil…always grilled and baked!' plans to open it's doors on Myrtle Avenue in two months. Myrtle Avenue will be the fourth location for the restaurant which currently has outposts in Park Slope, Bay Ridge and Ridgewood, Queens.

Lean bison or ostrich wraps (lean ground bison or 97% ostrich with onions, peppers and brown rice); Pancake heaven (multi-grain pancakes topped with berries or bananas); tilapia w/sweet potatoes and broccoli; the vegetarian wrap (mozzarrella over roasted broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and zucchini w/a touch of chipotle sauces a wide variety of salads are amongst the menu offerings.

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Wishing much success to uber-talented, Amadou Gueye, the fashion designer who recently ran his 'Tres Elegante' business out of 386. Amadou, who holds a PhD in Economics decided to return to the field of politics.

Kir Royale + Kir Royale + Fashion Royale, this Friday (6/10) and Saturday (6/11)

Kir Royale tastings this Friday in the form of a “mini-crawl” on Myrtle Avenue. Also, a make up party, featuring the latest lip glosses and lip hues plus sangria and nibbles. All absolutely free–stop in!

Friday, June 10th

Mini-bar crawl at CakeJoy Bakery and Gnarly Vines this Friday. Absolutely free of charge. Stop in for the smooth, light and refreshing taste of kir royale in your glass (Gnarly Vine tasting) and as a baked cupcake confection (CakeJoy tasting). Tasting times, from 6p-9p. Cake Joy Bakery is located at 364 Myrtle Avenue and can be reached at 718.624.CAKE. Gnarly Vines is located at 350 Myrtle Avenue and can be reached at 718.797.3183.

Saturday, June 11th

There's no other way to say it–pucker up! It's a makeup party at Brooklyn Stone Boutique, featuring new lipgloss and lipstick hues from FSL Cosmetics plus sangria, sweets and the new summer fashion collection at Brooklyn Stone Boutique. It's absolutely free of charge to drop in–but call or email to RSVP. Event time, 2p-6p. Brooklyn Stone Boutique is located at 366 Myrtle Avenue and can be reached at 347.763.2041. Also, Kir Royale cupcake tastings continue at CakeJoy Bakery next door.

Fort Greene / Clinton Hill Community Food Assessment

As explained in a previous post that you can read here we have been busy conducting a Community Food Assessment (CFA). We have 3 volunteer opportunities available to help us finish up the work:

1. We need volunteers to help with the Community Food Assessment street surveys. These are on-going for the next 2 weeks. Each survey takes approximately 5 minutes and we offer participants a one-way metro card. There is no minimum time expectation from you, just whatever you have to give.

2. Street surveys to be conducted at the Fort Greene Greenmarket on June 11th. We need 1 morning shift 8-noon and two afternoon shifts noon-4 filled. More info on the market can be found on the GrowNYC website here.

3. One volunteer needed to survey the Greene Harvest CSA members as they pick-up their shares on June 11 at Habana Outpost 757 Fulton from 9-11:30am. More info on the Greene Harvest CSA can be found on their website here.

A successful CFA relies on community input. We thank you in advance for your help!
For more information contact Kassy at 718-230-1689.

New Restaurant on the Avenue: Thai 101 Bistro

Stop by and say hello to the folks at the new Thai bistro! They don't have a sign yet, but they are open! Looks like their first order of business is a $7 lunch special. Visit them at 448 Myrtle between Washington and Waverly (next to Clinton Hill Hardware). Online menu coming soon!

Call for Artwork: Myrtle Windows Gallery/June Exhibition

Deadline for submissions is approaching! Send your artwork by May 20th. (This is a multi-artist exhibition, so feel free to submit as few as one or as many as five pieces for consideration!

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Myrtle Windows Gallery is back, with MARP Curator-in-Residence, Christina Vassallo, at the helm for the upcoming exhibition this June. We're looking for twelve (12) existing two-dimensional works of art (paintings, prints, photographs, collage, mixed media, etc.) that can be installed in storefront windows along the avenue. This exhibition's theme is patterns and their place within systems. Representations of natural systems, diagrams of consumption, and urban mappings are just a few examples of relevant interpretations of the exhibition theme.

We are always looking to support local artists, so if you are Brooklyn-based, we especially want to hear from you! Send in an application to christina@randomnumber.nu by May 20th. All the details are listed in the flyer attached here. Click here for photos of past exhibitions. Here's a link to photos of participating merchant windows.

This Weekend: Studio Stroll and Brunch on Myrtle!

It's time for the annual SONYA Studio Stroll! Come out and visit with your local artists and see what they've been up to on Saturday, May 14 & Sunday, May 15 from 12pm-6pm both days, rain or shine. The Stroll is a self-guided tour of SONYArtist members studios and galleries within our community (Ft. Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout and Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn) that attracts thousands of visitors from the NYC metro area. Theres fabulous vintage architecture, parks, a college campus or three, great shopping, and fine dining right here on Myrtle to round out a truly inspirational experience. Find out all the deets here on SONYA's website.

Hadas Gallery Presents: Ali Spechler's "Brooklyn Shtetl"

You are invited! The Hadas Gallery (541 Myrtle between Steuben and Emerson) is holding an opening reception for a new exhibition featuring a series of contemporary Jewish portraiture by painter Ali Spechler on Sunday, May 15th from 2-5pm. The exhibition will be up at the gallery through June 30th. From the press release:

“Spechlers subjects range in mood. Somber, hilarious, confident; she paints personality with all its appeal and flaws. Her paintings play with the seriousness that can overburden religious affiliation…Her portraits challenge the sometimes quirky meshing of religious identity with pop culture“.

For all the details, visit Hadas Gallery's website.

Brooklyn Loves Japan + New Outdoor Space @ Dope Jams, June 4th

Cross two biz owners with philanthropic hearts and crazy enviable music collections and what do you get–a Dope Jams musical fundraiser for Japan. $10 admissions will get you innnnnnn, baby: money towards a good cause, a plateful of BBQ and DJs spinning at the turntable, including Dope Jams owners, Francis Englehardt and Paul Nickerson and DJ Tek all the way from Japan.

Visit Celebrate Life to stay up to date on Dope Jams monthly parties, including more info about the Japan fundraiser, the upcoming May 21st party and this photos from March's fundraiser and party for Haiti.

Dope Jams new outdoor space is directly behind their store. It's at 200 Classon Avenue between Myrtle and Willoughby. Call 718.622.7977 for further information. Raindate: Sunday, June 5th.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration @ Los Pollitos III

Cinco de Mayo celebration at Los Pollitos III tonight. Live music plus meal and drink specials. Viva la good food, good drink, good company and fun times. Stop in!

Los Pollitos III is located at 499 Myrtle Avenue and can be reached at 718.636.6125.

Brazil on Myrtle Avenue, every Saturday at Five Spot

The Brazil-Brooklyn Connection presents “Brasil in Brooklyn,” a music extravaganza you won't forget. Every Saturday at Five Spot Soul Food & Supper Club (459 Myrtle Avenue), 9pm-4am. Samba, Samba, Samba…

Live music featuring Binho Shining and Band, Special Guest, DJ Stefan Andemicael. Caipirinhas and great food.

Five Spot Soul Food & Supper Club is located at 459 Myrtle, corner of Myrtle and Washington. Call 718.852.0202 for reservations or for additional information.

Martin Rooney to speak at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Fri., April 29th

Legendary trainer, coach and motivator, Martin Rooney to speak at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Friday, April 29th at 7pm. $25 donation will go towards Japan disaster relief.

Rooney, a much sought after speaker, is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a licensed physical therapist and was a member of the United States Bobsled team from 1995-1997 and 2000 amongst other exemplary achievements.

The event will take place at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's 13th Avenue location. Please call the BBJJ Myrtle Avenue location for additional informaton about April 29th or to find out how you can contribute to the fundraiser.

BBJJ can be reached at 718.403.0067.

The Green (Two) Miles: Myrtle Avenue

There is increasingly more green activity on Myrtle Avenue. Read about a few of those green activities here. Thanks FGA!

Myrtle restaurants participating in the Doe Fund's and Tristate's resource recovery (grease recycling) programs include:

abistro, Anima Italian Bistro, Bamboo Lounge & Grill, Castro's, Crown Fried Chicken, Duncan's, El Cofre, Falafel House, Five Spot Soul Food & Supper Club, Jive Turkey, John's Donut Coffee Shop, Kum Kau, Los Pollitos III, Maggie Brown, Mojito Cuban Cuisine, Ruthie's, Thai 101, Wally's Square Root Cafe, Yamashiro, Yummy Yummy, Zaytoon's.

Teaser: post about Myrtle tree plantings and MyrtleMenus to come.

Clinton Hill House Tour on Sunday, May 1st

The Society for Clinton Hill's annual event, The Clinton Hill House Tour, will take place on Sunday, May 1, rain or shine. Mark your calendars for this tour which will this year feature 14 different historic and interesting homes, a over century-year old historic church and a Clinton Avenue mansion that dates back to 1869.

Pick up a Clinton Hill House Tour ticket at any of the locations listed on the flyer, including Root Stock & Quade (471 Myrtle), Pillow Cafe (505 Myrtle) and the Polish Bar of Brooklyn (470 Myrtle).

Click the link above for further details.

Green in BKLYN Celebrates: Earth Day + 2nd Anniversary, Friday, April 22nd

Green in BKLYN celebrates Earth Day + 2nd Anniversary on Friday, April 22nd. Stop by–celebrate Mother Earth!

3:00pm-4:30pm
Michael Hegedus, the Naked Beekeeper and President of the Brooklyn Beekeepers Club talks about keeping bees, bee stings and yummm, honey.

Savings All Day Long
41% Off Selected Items to celebrate Earth Day's 41st Anniversary

Also all day:
$1 Raffle Tickets to Support Red Cross Efforts in Japan.
Raffle Gift Basket includes a spare SodaStream CO2 Cartridge, eco-friendly beauty products plus much more.

Jobs on Myrtle and Beyond

A few job opportunities that were shared since the beginning of the week:

Myrtle Avenue Specific

Five Spot Soul Food & Supper Club at 459 Myrtle Avenue is currently looking for a bartender. If you've got bartending skills, drop off a resume and two references, on Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:30a-1:30p.

Pillow Cafe-Lounge at 505 Myrtle Avenue is currently looking for a full-time busser and dishwasher. Drop off resume and two references anytime during cafe hours. Experience, resume and references required.

Fork, the upcoming cafe at 507 Myrtle Avenue is currently looking to hire kitchen and counter staff. Interested parties should drop off resumes at burzh-wa salon, immediately next door to Fork, Tues-Fri, 10am-2pm.

Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and Beyond

Chase Bank is hiring. Visit their website for further detail.

McDonald's Restaurant is hiring. Here is the online application, though it probably best to stop in at a McDonald's location to complete applications or inquire.

Target is hiring. Last night at the 88th precinct and youth council meeting a Target employee announced that they are currently hiring for sales, cashier and stockroom positions. Check out their site here, but call the number the gentleman shared: 718.290.1109 for additional information.

Job seekers and those with jobs to advertise should also contact the Workforce 1 Job Center at 9 Bond Street (between Fulton and Livingston) for additional job opportunities and related information.

Project Safe Surrender: have minor court offenses dismissed this Fri. and Sat.

Project Safe Surrender will take place this Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd at two Brooklyn churches. Project Safe Surrender is a pilot project designed to dismiss all C-summons and warrants for minor offenses such as littering, having an unleashed dog, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, spitting, loitering, unlawfully in a park after hours, making unreasonable noise and failure to have a dog license. Please click here for more detailed list of offenses and other information.

A summons if ignored will turn into a warrant, which can lead to an arrest. Having a warrant or arrest can lead to many things, including having a record, the inability to secure a job and inability to obtain a drivers license.

Here's an opportunity to have warrants/summons lifted and cases adjudicated in a safe environment.

Please stop in at one of the following churches on Friday or Saturday to have C-summons or warrants for minor offenses lifted:

Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church
760 DeKalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY11216

Antioch Baptist Church
828 Green Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11221

For additional information, contact Anita Alexander at 718.388.3900xt. 46 / anita@projectsafesurrender2011.org

Brooklyn clergy will be partnering with the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office, New York State Office of Court Administration, the Legal Aid Society and the NYC Police Department to implement Project Safe Surrender on April 22-23, 2011 from 9-5 p.m.

Kinara II: 50% off Lunch Specials

Kinara II now offers 50% off lunch items from its delicious menu of Indian cuisine. Stop in and enjoy.

Kinara II is located at 368 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Clermont. They can be reached at 718.237.4008.

Trilok Fusion Center for Arts & Education: Summer Camp + Spaces for Rent

Trilok Fusion is currently enrolling children, ages 2 thru 15 into their summer camp program.

The summer camp program runs from July thru August at their new space at 143 Waverly Avenue. The outdoor space adjoining the Trilok building will be used for gardening, the kitchen and studio spaces in the basement will be used for cooking and also weaving at in-house studio, Weaving Hands, Inc.

Every year a central story or theme is selected, often from a folk tale or children's book. At the end of each month, children will put on a production based on the chosen books.

Enrollment is open. Sign student up for Weaving and Sewing (July 5-8; August 1-5), Music and Dance (July 11-15; August 8-12), Cooking and Gardening (July 25-29; August 22-26), Art and Theater (July 18-22; August 15-19).

For additional information or to register, please contact Trilok at 718.797.1700 or trilokfusion.com.

Also, event (birthday parties, baby showers, anniversary parties, conferences, meetings, wedding receptions, etc.) and creative spaces (rehearsal, open studio, performance, recital, etc.) are available at Trilok. Call Trilok at 718.797.1700 for additional information.

Trilok Fusion is located at 143 Waverly Avenue, just north of Myrtle Avenue.

Ruthie's Serves Up Southern Comfort

No need to head south for mouth-watering southern fare, Ruthie's is located at 560 Myrtle Avenue.

Ruthie's restaurant, named for loving founder Ms. Ruth West, was featured in a recent NY Daily News article which highlighted a few best of the best southern restaurants around our borough, “Best soul food in Brooklyn: Serving up Southern comfort.”

Delicious Southern classics served at Ruthie's include collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, baked chicken, smothered turkey wings, chopped barbeque, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, southern fried chicken, iced tea, cobblers, pies and cakes.

Call also for catering and special orders.

Ruthie's is located at 560 Myrtle Avenue and can be reached at: 718.399.2400

A few weekend (and beyond) happenings, beginning today

Brooklyn Stone Boutique (366 Myrtle). Friday, April 15th. Henna Party tonight from 5-8pm. Bring your hand, wrist, foot, ankle&you get the idea, get there! Discounts on selected store merchandise.

Kiini Ibura Jewelry (388 Myrtle). Saturday, April 16th. Kiini Ibura Jewelry selling its fabulous jewelry at the Diaspora Art Mart this Saturday. Using semi-precious stones to create must-have earrings as well as bracelets and necklaces, Kiini Ibura Jewelry is all the rage. The Diaspora Art Mart is 12p-7p, 2nd floor of the YWCA on 3rd Avenue.

Fort Greene SNAP (324 Myrtle). Ongoing. Fort Greene SNAP is in the middle of teaching its popular series of classes on WordPress. The popular class has students clamoring for more. To register for the next class (forming now), contact Henrietta Koffi at henrietta@fortgreenesnap.com.

Quick plug for The Socialite Design blog. Workout DVD sweepstakes going on right now at The Socialite Design. Click link above for additional information on how to enter to win. Drawing will be conducted at Fort Greene SNAP.

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (412 Myrtle). Friday, April 29th. Legendary Trainer, Coach and Motivator, Martin Rooney to speak at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsus 13th Avenue location. $25 admission goes toward Japan disaster relief.

Polish Bar of Brooklyn (470 Myrtle). Polish Bar of Brooklyn is now open 7 days per week during Spring and Summer. April M,T,W promo: Brown Sug mani and Brown Sug pedi: $50. Brazilian/Brow Combo $50.

Theatre historian, Cezar DelValle will be one of the panelists at LIU (1 University Plaza) conference on the Paramount Theater
— Magnet for the Masses: When Theater was Paramount in Brooklyn. Friday, April 15th. Free panels, performances and exhibitions on the Paramount Theater. Cezar recently published two books, The Brooklyn Theatre Index Volume I and Volume II, which include some of the small community or family theaters that were located in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, including some on Myrtle Avenue. More in a future blog poststay tuned.

More library cuts looming. Click the link and find our how we can help: Speak Up for Our Libraries.

Fort Greene Neighbors Meet with Red Apple Group Reps

Nearly 200 people gathered at Ingersoll Community Center last night to hear directly from Red Apple Group reps about their plans for the new supermarket slated to open this summer on Myrtle and Ashland. The supermarket, which will be called 'Red Apple Supermarket', will be below-ground level at the Andrea apartment building.

After a vigorous Q&A with a Red Apple Group representative, participates broke into smaller groups to draft sets of recommendations that will be shared with the Red Apple Group. Group discussions focused on: affordability, food choice and quality, seniors and mobility issues and local hiring.

Red Apple Group reps were available for the duration of the meeting, staying through to the end to hear participant recommendations.

FUREE will be be compiling feedback from the smaller group discussions to share with the Red Apple Group.

Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Council Member Letitia James were in attendance. Council Member James was one of the meeting organizers along with Assembly District Leader Lincoln Restler, the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project and FUREE.

To view photos of the last night's meeting, please visit our flickr page. Thanks to all who helped make this a successful event.

Word on the Street is 'Inspiration'

It's a fashion month of sorts at Pratt.

The Fashion Design Department in collaboration with the Graduate Communications Department is creating a wall mural as part of preparations for the Annual Pratt Fashion Show.

Pratt Fashion students came up with the word 'Inspiration' as the theme of this year's show.

Photo above is of artist, Anthony Acock [Grad CommD student]). He will create the mural and use the footage as part of a video installation that will be shown in the main entrance to the Fashion Show.

The Pratt Fashion Show will be held April 27th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan and is a major event at Pratt. This year the show is a celebration of Pratt's Brooklyn roots and will honor Hamish Bowles, editor-at-large of Vogue Magazine.

The mural (on the southeast corner of Hall Street, just off of Myrtle Avenue) will be up throughout the month of April.

Brooklyn Job Fair–Wednesday, 4/13

Over 80 companies will be present at the Brooklyn Job Fair on Wednesday, 4/13. The job fair will take place at LIU from 10a-3p.

Ikea, Con Ed, NY Methodist Hospital, Time Warner, Sovereign Bank, Lowe's, Cablevision, US Department of State and many, many others will be present.

No registration required!

Click here for more of the details.

Where?

Long Island University

Arnold and Marie Schwartz Athletic Center

1 University Plaza
(at Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues)

The Brooklyn Job Fair is presented by Boro Prez, Marty Markowitz in partnership with Citi, ResCare, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the New York State Department of Labor, and Workforce 1 with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. The event is free and open to the public.