Clean out those closets! Fort Greene SNAP and Brooklyn Young Filmakers are inviting Fort Greene neighbors to hold their own stoop sales on Saturday, June 27th as part of the FGInfoX Stoop Sale Day. They're also encouraging participating households to pledge a portion of their proceeds to one of the small neighborhood non-profits participating in the FGInfoX Stoop Sale Day, but it's not required.

Sign up to participate by Monday, June 22nd and have your location on the Stoop Sale map! Contact Henrietta or Terry at Fort Greene SNAP 718-694-6957, or visit www.fortgreenesnap.org to download an application.

Not interested in holding a stoop sale? Do a green thing and get your name in the film credits by donating saleable items that you are not using to Brooklyn Young Filmmakers for resale at their stoop sale to help them fund their July film project. BYF will use the proceeds from their stoop sale to help fund a Community Filmmaking shoot here in Fort Greene in July. Contact FGInfoX@wearebyfc.org or 718-935-0490 to find out how.

The Brooklyn Healthy Food Campaign is seeking volunteers for Brooklyn Food Summer 09, an 8-week campaign to help Brooklyn residents overcome challenges to food access and affordability, and empower them to speak with both their voices and dollars to demand healthy food options in their neighborhoods.

The next volunteer orientation will take place this Thursday from 6:30 to 8 right here in Fort Greene at Fort Greene SNAP (324 Myrtle Avenue)!

WHO: YOU! Champions of local, healthy food
WHEN: Ongoing, beginning June 1
WHERE: Brooklyn neighborhoods where residents lack access to healthy food.
WHY: Brooklyn faces a health crisis of rising obesity and diabetes among children and adults. These diet-related diseases disproportionately affect certain neighborhoods where residents lack access to healthy food. Though there is sufficient healthy, culturally appropriate food available to serve all Brooklyn residents, this food in not getting onto the tables and into the bellies of many Brooklynites.
HOW: Sign up to volunteer here.

Visit www.brooklynhealthyfoodcampaign.org to find out more.

On June 20th, the 2nd Annual SummerFest at the Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters will celebrate its students, summer, and community!

Free and open to the public, SummerFest invites all to this outdoor festival featuring an exhibition of student artwork, student performances, face painting, and games for all ages, including a dunk tank!

Enjoy our “Taste of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Food Fest” with food from Myrtle Avenue favorites like Kum Kau, Ruthies and Chez Lola, as well as many other local eateries: Bacchus, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Chez Chez Oscar, Graziella's, Habana Outpost, iCi, Island Pride Restaurant, Kif, La Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant, Mont Blanc Dessert, Olea Mediterranean Taverna, Red Bamboo, Roosters Chicken Rotisserie, and Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies.

Raffle items include a Park Slope YMCA family membership, a Giants football jacket signed by Carl Banks, 2 i-Pod nano's, and a digital camera! Wow!

When:
Saturday, June 20th, 2009 from Noon to 3:00pm

Where:
The Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters, 225 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205 (between Dekalb and Willoughby in Fort Greene)

Visit the school's website, www.uaaal.org for more info.

Click here to apply to vend at the summer's best local bash – the annual Afro Punk Block Party on Sunday, July 12th.

We're looking for local, home-based vendors and entrepreneurs creating fashion, jewelry, art, accessories and more to participate in this year's event, which takes place on Clinton Avenue between Myrtle and Willoughby. Limited 10' x 10' vendor spaces are available, so act fast to confirm your spot and take advantage of the recession-friendly early bird rate of $75!

Are you interested in improving food access and security in the neighborhood? Want to work on local initiatives like creating a Healthy Food Task Force, developing a Supermarket Recruitment Strategy, and starting a youth-run market?

In partnership with Just Food, a non-profit that works for just and sustainable food systems in the New York City region, were looking to fill a full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA position to spearhead upcoming food access initiatives in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. We have some exciting food related initiatives to be launched this summer and have been granted the opportunity to offer a VISTA Member position to jumpstart these projects!

Click here here for a full description of the position.

To apply:
Send a cover letter and resume to BOTH Meredith@myrtleavenue.org and vista@justfood.org, and fill out an application at www.americorps.org.

AmeriCorps*VISTA program basics:
annual stipend: $13,548

plus:
$4,725 education award or $1,200 cash bonus at the end of year of service
other benefits include:
– basic health insurance
– moving allowance to help defray the costs of moving to NYC and home again
– monthly Metrocard to cover the cost of daily commuting and travel
– professional development allowance

Myrtle Avenue's in this weeks TimeOut New York. The block between Clermont & Vanderbilt is billed one of the “New Yorkiest” blocks in the city. Lots of wonderful small businesses mentioned, including Kiini Ibura, Tres Elegante, Duncan's, Chez Lola, RC Discount (aka Home & U), Benhadi Supermarket (aka Hala Hala), and Century 21 Nail Salon.

Check out the full story here!

The colorful photography of local artist Trevor Brown will be with us until next Thursday. That means you still have this weekend to check it out! All pieces and prints are for sale, too. Check out information on buying here.

Stop by Pillow Cafe on 3/30 to hear author and local resident, Brett Truitt read from her new book, Lillie. Reading begins at 5:30pm. Come out, meet and greet her, have a glass of cheer and participate in a question and answer session.

Lillie is a novel based on the author's family genealogical research– three siblings and their lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina during the Reconstruction Period.

Pillow Cafe is located at 505 Myrtle Avenue (Ryerson/Grand).

Dine-In Brooklyn, Brooklyn's sixth annual Restaurant Week, is March 23 – April 2, 2009. The price for brunch for two or a three course lunch or a three-course dinner is a bargain at $23.00. (Beverages, tax, and tip not included and some restaurants are only participating in lunch (L), brunch (B) or dinner (D), some are doing all three).

A number of participating Myrtle Avenue area restaurants include:

Anima Italian Bistro (B/D) 458 Myrtle Avenue 718.427.1122

Chez Lola (D) 387 Myrtle Avenue 718.858.1484

Five Spot (D) 459 Myrtle Avenue 718.852.0202

La Stalla (D) 499 Myrtle Avenue 718.636.6125

Luz Restaurant (B/L/D) 177 Vanderbilt Avenue 718.246.4000

Maggie Brown Restaurant (D) 455 Myrtle Avenue 718.643.7001

Mojito Cuban Cuisine (D) 82 Washington Avenue 718.797.3100

Tamboril (D) 527 Myrtle Avenue 718.483.2152

Reservations are advised. A complete list of participating restaurants can be found on the Brooklyn Tourism website.

The MTA proposes service cuts for the G train (no more G to Queens on evenings and weekends). Yesterday morning the line became one of many to be eulogized at a mock funeral service.

The Save the G Coalition, along with State Assembly Members Joseph Lentol and Hakeem Jeffries were amongst yesterday's mourners in Queens.

Assemblyman Joseph Lentol had this to say: “The G Train has been on life support for years and all of our efforts to revive it and bring it new life have gone completely ignored despite the tens of thousands of people who rely on it every day and the many more who would if the G were actually a reliable train. So now we stand here at its funeral as we ask everyone to stand with us and take action one last time to save the G.”

(Photo courtesy of the Straphangers Campaign)

Myrtle Windows Gallery (MWG) is an open air art gallery that breaks down the walls of the traditional private art gallery to bring two-dimensional art to the public arena via the storefront window, where it is accessible to anyone simply walking down the street. Ten Myrtle Avenue storefronts temporarily transform part of their windows into gallery space for the works of local artists. The initiative helps bring together artists, local businesses, and the community in a dialogue about art in public spaces.

Installation System
The installation system serves to create a uniform look that unifies the exhibit, and displays work in a way that does not damage the merchants space or the work itself. The system includes a solar shade to provide a clean backdrop for the artwork while maintaining light and view through to the interior of the shop. A cable hanging system allows the artwork to hang in the window in front of the shade. The Partnership will not provide insurance to cover the art during this exhibition; however, the artist has the option to secure his/her own policy to cover theft or damage to the works while installed in the storefronts.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria
MWG seeks ten (10) existing two-dimensional works of art (paintings, prints, photographs, collage, mixed media etc.) that can be easily installed in each of ten storefronts windows. Preference will be given to local artists whose work captures or is inspired by urban life. If the artist chooses to offer pieces for sale the Partnership will receive a commission on each sale, to be negotiated with the artist prior to the exhibit. Given that community accessibility is a key component of the mission of this initiative, we hope to exhibit works at a broad range of prices.

Application Process
The following materials must be received by Friday, February 13, 2009 at 5pm at:
Myrtle Windows Gallery, 472 Myrtle Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11205
” Complete contact information including name, address, telephone and email address
” CD of images of the works to be included in the exhibition, with index listing title, medium and dimensions for each
” Narrative description of the collection of works to be included in the exhibition
” Current Resume and artist statement

Artists will be notified by February 18, 2009, and installation will take place beginning February 23, 2009.

Click here for photos from our last Myrtle Windows Gallery Exhibition, with works by artist Anne Lafond.

Please email Meredith@myrtleavenue.org with questions.

Masstransiscope, a quite colorful piece of public art installed more than 28 years ago in the abandoned Myrtle Avenue subway station, has been restored.

Artist, Bill Brand installed the work in September 1980. One of the things which makes the work unique is it is constructed from 228 hand-painted panels, viewed through a series of vertical slits set into a specially constructed housing. The piece works on the principle of the Zoetrope, a 19th century optical toy.

Over the years, the installation fell into disrepair and the panels became covered with graffiti. Last year, Brand and some volunteers went through a meticulous process of cleaning and restoring the panels.

To see the Masstransiscope, catch the Manhattan-bound B or Q train. You will see it outside the right side of the car just after leaving DeKalb Avenue, but before you reach the Manhattan Bridge.

Photo above taken from
artist, Bill Brand's website and blog