Have Something to Say? Of Course You Do.

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you love your neighborhood and want to help make it even better. Or you may just want $100.* Either way, you’ve come to the right place.

In less than 5 minutes, you can tell us YOUR thoughts and ideas for Myrtle Avenue.

Take the Survey

*As a THANK YOU, you will be entered to receive one of three $100 gift cards to a Myrtle Avenue business of your choice (dependent on the business’ availability of gift cards). The drawing will be held after the survey closes on April 20.

Easter Egg Hunt at Fort Greene Park

Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt taking place at Fort Greene Park on Saturday, March 31 from 11 am- 2 pm. Activities will include face painting, kiddie tattoos, and crafts. Please have children bring their own baskets.

The Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance and a performance by Lotus Creations will take place in the afternoon. Enter at Myrtle and North Portland Avenue, near the barbecue area. Recommended for children ages 12 & under.

Representatives from the following organizations will be available for family-friendly programs and resources:

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Brooklyn Public Library
Ingersoll-University Settlement
Department of Youth and Community Development
YMCA
MetroPlus

This event is a partnership with Council Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo and Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley in conjunction with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Velmanette Montgomery. 

Sign The Petition for a Crosswalk at Grand Avenue

Over 500 people have signed the petition calling for a safe crosswalk at Myrtle Grand. Sign your name and help us reach our goal of 1,000 signatures!

On Myrtle Avenue, we have started to make our New Year’s resolutions and at the top of our list is a crosswalk at Myrtle and Grand Avenues.

We have launched a petition to install a crosswalk on Myrtle Avenue at Grand Avenue. You can read the petition below, but please sign it here to tell the NYC Department of Transportation that a crosswalk at Grand Avenue will make Myrtle Avenue safer for everyone.

SIGN THE PETITION

We ask that the NYC Department of Transportation install a crosswalk on Myrtle Avenue at Grand Avenue. Currently, there is no crosswalk on Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Emerson Place, a four block stretch of a busy commercial corridor. Without a crosswalk, Myrtle Avenue is often difficult and dangerous to cross.

The everyday things people do on Myrtle Avenue – buy groceries, catch the bus, grab a meal or drink with friends – all require walking blocks out of the way or taking your chance dodging traffic. Meanwhile, Myrtle Avenue Plaza, a large public space on the south side, has plenty of seating but no crosswalk access for four blocks. These conditions are especially problematic given the large number of senior citizens that live and shop nearby.

Adding a crosswalk signal to Myrtle Avenue at Grand Avenue will make Myrtle Avenue safer. Please sign this petition to let the NYC Department of Transportation know that four blocks is too far without a pedestrian crossing signal.

SIGN THE PETITION

New Public Art Coming to Myrtle Avenue

‘Adorn Me’ by Tanda Francis.

Myrtle Avenue will continue to be an open-air art gallery with the announcement of a new public art piece coming to Fort Greene this summer. NYC Parks has announced the installation of “Adorn Me”, a new temporary piece at the entrance of Fort Greene Park, at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park.

A sculpture by Brooklyn-based artist Tanda Francis will be unveiled this June in a space that has become home to a number of temporary public art installations over the past decade. The piece is one of 10 temporary installations being installed in public parks throughout the city this year as part of the “Art in the Parks: UNIQLO Park Expressions Grant” program. This initiative, which began last year, “builds on NYC Parks’ equity initiatives by bringing public art exhibits to parks in need of cultural programming,” according to NYC Park’s website.

Local partners participated with NYC Parks and UNIQLO in selecting pieces for installation at specific sites. The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership was thrilled to be part of this process again, along with fellow local partner Fort Greene Park Conservancy, in advocating for “Adorn Me” to be placed on Myrtle Avenue.

About the Artwork

From NYC Park’s website:
“Tanda Francis’ work examines the African presence in public space as a powerful force of beauty and cultural relevance. Inspired by African sculptural tradition, including Ife portraiture, Francis also incorporates Victorian and colonial ornamentation into her work. Adorn Me will address the underrepresentation of this demographic in public artworks, and provide a healing message during a time of heated debate over monuments erected as symbols of oppression and control.”

To learn more about Tanda Francis, click here. For more information about the “Art in the Parks: UNIQLO Park Expressions Grant” program, click here.

A Librarian Who Serves: Janet Conton

Janet Conton of the Bklyn Public Library Walt Whitman Branch

March is Women’s History Month. Each week, we’ll profile an incredible woman whose work over the years has made Myrtle Avenue a great place. 

Meet Janet Conton: A community Librarian Who Serves

Janet Conton has been the Neighborhood Library Supervisor at the Walt Whitman Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) for the past eight years. As lead librarian, her role is to identify the community’s needs and interests and create programs and deliver programs created by Brooklyn Public Library to addresses those areas. They may be literacy programs or bringing various forms of social engagement and entertainment to library users.

Such programs have included: story time, arts and crafts, book discussions, and computer basics and games, as well as courses introducing children on “how to code” and resume writing.  Movie nights are a regular feature at the library and live performances have featured everything from Jazz to puppetry.

“I see my main role as Neighborhood Library Supervisor, to outreach to the community and invite people in, so that the Walt Whitman staff and I can show them what the library has to offer them.

One can immediately see Janet’s very genuine interest in the Fort Greene community. She takes an active role in getting to know her patrons and engaging with kids who nowadays tend to spend more time on the computer than reading books. She’ll ask them about the games they’re playing online, if they’ve ever considered how those games are made, if they’d be interested in making their own games – planting the seeds for curiosity and future learning.

Having attended graduate school in librarian studies and archival management at Pratt Institute, Janet is very familiar with the neighborhood.

Janet is also a part of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Transitional Services Team, a group of library staff who in addition to working in the branches also works in jails, and detention centers delivering books, facilitating story times and book discussions. Janet currently teaches computer basics at a Brooklyn transitional services bureau office.

Ms. Conton’s library, the Walt Whitman branch, currently offers free workshops in many disciplines from business to entertainment for all ages.  Those workshops can range from resume assistance for job seekers to Xbox digital bowling for seniors to robotics and learning games and magic tricks. I would especially like young women to participate in our “S.T.E.A.M.” related workshops.  Janet would like to expand on the business workshops and add an interviewing skills workshop using the new audio/visual equipment available at the library, she’d like to add video mock interviews, so they can see what they look like when they are being spoken to, when they are speaking and how they sound. Janet would also like to foster more in person book discussion of all age groups. In an effort to use the high interest in the internet at the branch, she’d ultimately like to form an online forum for people to share reviews about what they are reading.

When considering what advice she has for young women today, Janet says first and foremost, to stay in school. Ask your parents for the help you want, but also do your own research. Read about people you admire, find out what they did, write letters to them, ask to interview them and for their advice. Be sure to eat well and get some sleep. And when considering a career (or careers), “pick something that you would do even if you weren’t getting paid a lot. Because if you love it, the money will come, because you’re probably going to be really good at it.”

Janet says she has seen the women’s movement grow over a number of decades and that we are in a new phase right now. She’d like to take advantage of that by encouraging conversations with the women that come into the library – women from different races, nationalities, cultures, and generations. Janet has been looking forward to Women’s History Month and has prepared for what she loves best – organizing programs and events to encourage just that.  Find out what’s happening at the Walt Whitman Library here online or drop in at 93 St. Edwards Street, between Myrtle and Park Avenue in Brooklyn.

Want to read about more incredible women on Myrtle Avenue? Click below to read our other Women History Month profiles:

Women’s History Month on Myrtle Avenue

Bishop A. Rice of Bishop Memorial Mission at Myrtle Ave & Emerson Pl.

March is Women’s History Month. Each week, we’ll profile an incredible woman whose work over the years has made Myrtle Avenue a great place. 

Born to Serve: Bishop A. Rice

For more than 20 years, a door has been open in Clinton Hill to those in need of help and hope. The Bishop Memorial Mission at Myrtle Avenue and Emerson Place is truly that – a mission. A mission led by a woman who has been dedicated to service and faith. This week, we sat down with Bishop Rice, founder and minister at the Bishop Memorial Mission and church, to learn more about her and the mission’s work in serving the neighborhood for more than two decades.

Personally Called to Serve

Bishop A. Rice says she was always called to serve, a feeling that was present from her childhood in South Carolina, to when she moved to Fort Greene in the 1970s, and still today. While originally she thought that meant going into education and becoming a teacher, she found the calling to serve in a spiritual sense strong and became a minister.

The Mission’s Work

Bishop Rice runs the mission with three H’s in mind: Give hope to the hopeless, feed the hungry, and help the helpless. The mission began with preparing meals for the hungry, and that work continues with a weekly pantry, open to anyone in hunger with no questions asked. In addition to food, the Mission also provides free clothing and runs programming for youth. From their preschool programs to after-school activities for kids, Bishop Rice believes it is vital to have activities for local youth because “there’s a lot of good children but we make them by not providing them services.”

“When people are in need, take them at their own worth; not what they think they’re worth.”
– Bishop A. Rice

All of these programs lead a full schedule each week for Bishop Rice and volunteers at the Mission. The food pantry is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning; adult Bible study is Wednesday evenings, youth night on Fridays, and church services on Sunday.

A Changing Neighborhood

Since moving to Brooklyn in the early 1970s, Bishop Rice has seen tremendous change in Fort the Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods. There are some of the smaller changes like seeing businesses close, including the Renken Diner at the corner of Myrtle and Classon (where Tipsy wine and spirits is now), where she worked as a waitress in the 1970s and 80s. She of course also remembers seismic events, like 9/11 when she opened the mission’s doors to house and feed volunteer firefighters who had arrived from Texas to help with the aftermath.

And there are larger issues, including displacement of residents due to rising housing costs. While the Bishop has seen neighbors and church members move out, she, of course, has seen many new faces arrive in the neighborhood as well. To the new neighbors, she invites them to become involved by volunteering at the church or donating clothes. As the Bishop said in our interview, “everybody can help somebody.”

To learn more, please visit the mission at 127 Emerson Place (between Myrtle & Willoughby), call (917) 648-3836, or follow them on Facebook.

Want to read about more incredible women on Myrtle Avenue? Click below to read our other Women History Month profiles:

Entrepreneur Extraordinaire: Rebecca Lai

March is Women’s History Month. Each week, we’ll profile an incredible woman whose work over the years has made Myrtle Avenue a great place. 

She has her father’s smile, she says. He was always smiling, always laughing. Rebecca Lai is the owner of both Brownstone Spa at (473 Myrtle Avenue) and JJ Kitchen (475 Myrtle) in Clinton Hill, and her friendly manner immediately puts one at ease. It was also her father that prompted her to get her massage therapist’s license. He worked long hours and she wanted to help him with massage but didn’t know how. So she decided to learn.

Rebecca had been managing the restaurant Kum Kau, just a few doors down from Brownstone Spa, since 1992. While holding down that job and raising her son as a single mom, she took on the added task of learning massage therapy. It took her six years to finally get her degree, and the plan was for her to have someone else run the spa, but she ultimately left the restaurant to be at Brownstone full-time.

Next door to Brownstone Spa, there was a bubble tea lounge. While talking with the owner one day, Rebecca suggested they serve some food, like noodle soup and dumplings. The owner wasn’t interested. But Rebecca told him to keep her in mind if he ever felt like getting out of the business. Well, not long after, he did want out and she quickly turned her vision for noodle soup and dumplings into reality. Rebeca, who runs the restaurant’s operations, and her brother, who mans the kitchen, must be doing something right because they have been getting nothing but rave reviews since they opened last year.

Rebecca at her restaurant JJ Kitchen, 475 Myrtle Avenue

With help from her mother in raising her son, plus encouragement and flexibility from the owners of Kum Kau, Rebecca was able to realize her desire to help people with the healing power of touch. She attributes her community of family and friends with helping her write her success story.

From being that familiar smile at Kum Kau for decades to now serving up massages and dumplings, Rebecca has a visible presence in the Myrtle Avenue community. We look forward to seeing what other things Rebecca has in store for Myrtle Avenue as time goes on!

Want to read about more incredible women on Myrtle Avenue? Click below to read our other Women History Month profiles:

Podcast Explores Black Arts Heritage in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill

Black Artstory Tour Collage

Enjoy strolling the streets of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill while you learn about the area’s rich Black arts history through a self-guided walking tour.  The Myrtle Avenue Black Artstory Tour is available as a podcast to download from any mobile device.

This walking tour explore’s the neighborhood’s rich history as a home to many famous and influential Black artists.  While there are countless local artists who lead incredible lives and merit attention, this tour focuses on eight different individuals who helped define the neighborhood’s lasting legacy as an enclave for Black artists.

Click here to view the tour route map and a list of artists included in the tour.

The tour is part of the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership’s annual Myrtle Avenue Black Artstory Month, held each February to locally celebrate Black History Month.  This self-guided tour is also part of the Partnership’s larger walking tour series, which includes guided historic walks through the Wallabout neighborhood.  View the events calendar to find more details and to register for an upcoming Wallabout Historic Walking Tour in September or October.

Farm Fresh Box

The Farm Fresh Box season has ended.

Enjoy farm fresh produce conveniently with the Myrtle Avenue Farm Fresh Box program. Unlike a traditional CSA, the Farm Fresh Box program offers an affordable pay-as-you-go option to purchase a box of produce with no commitments to order an entire season’s worth of vegetables and fruits.

Thank You

The Farm Fresh Box program would not have been possible without the help and support from volunteers. A big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who have helped this season, including program intern Yequarah Connor!

Summer intern Yequarah Connor volunteering at Farm Fresh Box pick-up.

From left to right – Erica & Dana from Corbinhill Food Project with Program Manager, Shaquana, and Farm Fresh Box Volunteer

Community volunteer Ruth packing Farm Fresh Boxes at our Corkscrew Wines site.

Valentine’s Day Specials on Myrtle Ave

Local merchants are keeping the love alive after Valentine’s Day by extending special offers past the holiday. Below is the shortlist of where to score great deals during the last half of February:Hair & Co BKLYN is offering 20% off to first-time clients for the entire week of Valentine’s Day (that goes until Feb 17).
487 Myrtle Ave, (718) 789-2390

Save up to $16 (33% off) on special trio packs of body washes, lotions, and polishes at European Wax Center.

European Wax Center is offering up a lot of great deals to help prep for the romantic holiday, including 50% off Brazillian or Bikini waxes. Also this month, receive up to 33% off special Valentine’s Day trio packs of body washes and lotions.
531 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 530-0307Clinton Hill Simply Art & Framing is offering $20 off custom framing jobs that use red or white frames throughout the entire month of February.
582 Myrtle Ave, (718) 857-0074

Designer eyewear is $100 off at Optical Gallery.

Optical Gallery is offering 10% off on any promo, sales, or regular purchases. There is also a post-holiday sale of $100 off glasses with frames by Calvin Klein, Chanel, Versace, Prada, Fendi, and Marc by Marc Jacobs
446 Myrtle Ave, (718) 246-2020

Give the gift of a STRAIGHT SMILE to your loved ones for Valentine’s Day. Kaufman’s Children Dental is giving a $500 voucher off of Invisalign Treatments during the entire month of February. They are also offering a FREE CONSULTATION to new patients.
549 Myrtle Ave, (718) 395-4823

Neighborhood specials to enjoy on Valentine’s Day:

Gnarly Vines is featuring a Grab ‘n’ Go Four Pack. Usually priced at $65.50, it is now $58.95, plus you get a free tote! The pack includes a mix of a white, rose, red, and tequila.
350 Myrtle Ave, (718) 797-3183

Peck’s is offering a special beer and chocolate pairing. Give the shop a call for specific product and pricing info.
455A Myrtle Ave, (347) 689-4969

Matcha cheesecake at Ugu, 541 Myrtle Ave

U-gu is offering you free matcha cheesecake with your meal.
541 Myrtle Ave, (718) 857-0222

Wine Legend’s ongoing Wednesday pre-fixe dinner special happens to fall on Valentine’s Day, offering the perfect date night experience. Enjoy a 3-course pre-fixe dinner – drink included! – for just $29.99.
166 Myrtle Ave, (347) 422-0015

Hair & Co BKLYN is offering 20% off to first-time clients for the entire week of Valentine’s Day (that goes until Feb 17).
487 Myrtle Ave, (718) 789-2390

Roses at Bella Rosa flower shop.

Bella Rosa flower shop has you covered when it comes to the most tried and true Valentine’s Day gift: roses. Or, if you’re Valentine has been a bit prickly this year, why not get them a cactus as a subtle message to step it up?
566 Myrtle Ave, (347) 763-6006

Green in Bklyn offers a perfect and delicious way to say “I Love You” with selections from their chocolate case, including truffles and chocolate covered pretzels.
432 Myrtle Ave, (718) 855-4383

Save up to $16 (33% off) on special trio packs of body washes, lotions, and polishes at European Wax Center.

European Wax Center is offering up a lot of great deals to help prep for the romantic holiday, including 50% off Brazillian or Bikini waxes. Also this month, receive up to 33% off special Valentine’s Day trio packs of body washes and lotions.
531 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 530-0307

Jill Lindsey is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a week of “Self Love” events ranging from guided meditation, healthy cooking classes, valentine-making for yourself, and manifesting love workshops with Jill! They also have their Men’s shop – an area set up for men to pick up gifts and flowers – all wrapped while they sit back and have a beer, coffee, or wine in the shop.
370 Myrtle Ave, (347) 987-4538

Couples decanter set, available at Tipsy.

This year, Tipsy has come up with some romantic dinner ideas and is suggesting a wine from the shop to pair with each meal. They’ll also be featuring the “Ours Decanter Set” – a great gift for couples to enjoy together.
584 Myrtle Ave, (347) 599-1672

Clinton Hill Simply Art & Framing is offering $20 off custom framing jobs that use red or white frames throughout the entire month of February.
582 Myrtle Ave, (718) 857-0074

Heart-shaped pizza at Liberty Pizza, 480 Myrtle Ave.

Liberty Pizza is here to help you really impress your Valentine by offering up heart-shaped pizzas! Just give the shop a call to place an order.
482 Myrtle Ave, (718) 789-0600

Designer eyewear is $100 off at Optical Gallery.

Optical Gallery is offering 10% off on any promo, sales, or regular purchases. There is also a post-holiday sale of $100 off glasses with frames by Calvin Klein, Chanel, Versace, Prada, Fendi, and Marc by Marc Jacobs
446 Myrtle Ave, (718) 246-2020

Give the gift of a STRAIGHT SMILE to your loved ones for Valentine’s Day. Kaufman’s Children Dental is giving a $500 voucher off of Invisalign Treatments during the entire month of February. They are also offering a FREE CONSULTATION to new patients.
549 Myrtle Ave, (718) 395-4823

We Remember Tony Venezia, Longtime Myrtle Ave Merchant & Resident

The Hollywood Fruit & Vegetable Market at 555-559 Myrtle Avenue, as seen in 1980.

It is with sadness that we share with the neighborhood news of the passing of long-time Myrtle Avenue resident, merchant, and active community member Tony Venezia. Many in the neighborhood will remember Tony, and his family, as the operators of Hollywood Fruit & Vegetable Market at 555 Myrtle Avenue, between Emerson & Classon. Mr. Venezia was 89 years old.

For over 70 years, Hollywood’s was a popular fixture on Myrtle Avenue. The produce market – founded by Tony’s parents – began serving Clinton Hill residents in 1935 and closed in 2007. Shortly after, Tony undertook a restoration project at his property, which beautifully restored the historic buildings’ facades and storefronts. Today, these spaces are home to Leisure Life NYC and BKG Coffee Roasters.

A visitation will be held at Frederick Funeral Home in Queens on Saturday, January 20, 2018 and Sunday, January 21, 2018 from 2-5 and 7-9pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 22, 2018 at St. Robert Bellarmine RC Church, 9:45 am, in Bayside.

We consider ourselves fortunate in having had the opportunity to know and work with Tony over the years and we are keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers.

A full obituary can be viewed here.

Before and After photo of 555-559 Myrtle Avenue, as seen in 2009 and 2012.

 

What’s Coming to Myrtle Avenue in 2018

2018 will surely bring many new things to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. One thing we are looking forward to is the opening of new businesses on Myrtle Avenue, bringing new services to the neighborhood like urgent care. Below is the full list of what’s already in the works for new storefronts on Myrtle Avenue, with openings planned in 2018:

MedRite Urgent Care

No appointment necessary. Urgent care is arriving on Myrtle Avenue with the opening of MedRite at 504 Myrtle Avenue in 2018. This will be MedRite’s sixth location and its first in Brooklyn.
MedRite Urgent Care, 504 Myrtle Avenue

Salon Rhed

A full-service salon, offering services for men and women, including braids, hair replacement, extensions, locs and services for natural hair. Opening in early 2018.
Salon Rhed, 374 Myrtle Avenue

Brazil’s Waxing Center

“Appreciate Every Body.” Brazil’s slogan shows that it prides itself on offering a judgment-free zone where it provides all natural, vegan full-body waxing services for men and women of every shape, size, and color.
Brazil’s Waxing Center, 362 Myrtle Avenue (corner of Adelphi)

Vitality Health & Wellness Bar – NOW OPEN

Opening its doors on January 1, the new health bar is now serving up fresh juices, smoothies shakes, and bowls, starting at just $5. Read more here.
Vitality Health & Wellness Bar, 475B Myrtle Avenue, (718) 489-1588

Pratt Gourmet Deli – NOW OPEN

Opening in late January 2018 at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Emerson Place, the Pratt Gourmet Deli will serve Clinton Hill residents with a fresh, convenient, and affordable deli counter and aisles stocked with your daily needs.
Pratt Gourmet Deli, 551 Myrtle Avenue

Gourmet Market at 81 Fleet

Plans have been filed and work is underway in The Giovanni at 81 Fleet Place for a new grocer and deli to open soon on the ground floor. The deli will be neighbors with other new businesses at 81 Fleet, including Wine Legend, SL Tax Center, and Gold Coast Bank.

Smoothie King

Smoothie King will open its 3rd New York City location in 2018 in Clinton Hill at 504 Myrtle Avenue. The smoothie shop, which began in New Orleans in 1973, now has over 800 locations around the world.
Smoothie King, 504 Myrtle Avenue

Resolution: Be Active in the New Year

New Year’s gives us all a brand new chance to make a first impression…for 2018! There are so many choices for jump-starting your health and fitness resolutions. Be it yoga, martial arts, healthy food, there’s something for everyone, every schedule – right here on Myrtle Ave.

 

SACRED BROOKLYN

This Myrtle Avenue yoga and fitness studio is running a sign-up special for two weeks of unlimited yoga, dance, and fitness for just $20. Bonus: you can use this special offer at both their Fort Greene and Bed-Stuy (197 Clifton Place) locations.

Sacred Brooklyn, 334 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 855-2973

MOVE WITH GRACE

Join now to enjoy 2 weeks of unlimited yoga classes for $45. Finish your workout with a nutritional juice or smoothie –  or maybe a breakfast bowl after the early 7am class. Delivery is also available (for the smoothies, not the yoga).
Move with Grace, 431 Myrtle Ave, (718) 230-0013

BROOKLYN BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU

For both kids and adults, Clinton Hill Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is offering a special sign-up offer that includes three classes for $19.99. Special bonus: free uniform!

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 412 Myrtle Ave, (718) 403-0067

Lead Instructor Q at Champion’s Taekwondo, 434 Myrtle Avenue

CHAMPION’S MARTIAL ARTS

Study martial arts, tae kwon do, or kickboxing with Instructor Q at Clinton Hill’s Champion’s Martial Arts and Fitness. For the New Year, there are special sign-up offers available for 1-week, 1-month, and 6-week trial packages starting at only $9.99!

Champion’s, 434 Myrtle Ave, (718) 522-5425

 

Now Open: Vitality Health & Wellness Bar

Just in time for your New Year’s cleanse, a new fresh juice and health bar has opened its doors on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. Vitality Health and Wellness Bar started serving its full menu of shakes, smoothies, bowls, and juices bright and early on January 1st at 475B Myrtle Avenue.

The business, led by certified personal trainer Adonis Hill, has 60+ healthy concoctions to choose from, all made fresh and starting at just $5.

FREEBIE ALERT: To help you keep warm during these cold, cold days, Vitality is offering free 16 oz. cups of Lavazza coffee for customers.Vitality Health & Wellness Bar, 475B Myrtle Ave, (718) 489-1588

 

Recycle Your Tree at Mulchfest

Don’t kick your holiday tree to the curb. Bring it to Fort Greene Park and give new life as nourishing mulch!

Join NYC Parks, the New York City Department of Sanitation , and GreeNYC  to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.

For two days in January, NYC Parks will set-up the “chipper” in Fort Greene Park at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park.

Click below for more event details:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 – 10:00AM – 2:00PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 – 10:00AM – 2:00PM

2017 BID Annual Meeting Recap

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn BID’s 14th Annual Meeting was held on Monday, December 4th. Local merchants, property owners, residents and community partners gathered at The Candy Factory (124 Washington Ave) to learn about the BID’s ongoing work, socialize, and to enjoy food and drink from local businesses.

During the meeting, the BID’s Executive Director, Meredith Phillips Almeida, presented an overview of the BID’s work and accomplishments for the past fiscal year. Additionally, new members were elected to the BID’s Board of Directors and a review of the BID’s finances was had. A full summary of the meeting is available below in the Draft 2017 Meeting Minutes.

To view other meeting materials, including the slate of newly elected board members and financial statements, please click below.

2017 BID Annual Report

View the 2017 BID Annual Report

Annual Meeting Agenda

View the 2017 BID Annual Meeting Agenda.

Board of Directors Election Slate

View the 2017 Slate of Directors for the BID Board.

FY17 Financial Statements

Review the BID’s audited FY2017 financial statements.

2016 BID Annual Meeting Minutes

Review the meeting minutes from last year’s annual meeting.

DRAFT 2017 BID Annual Meeting Minutes

Review the minutes of the 2017 BID Annual Meeting.

Ring in 2018 on Myrtle Avenue

Myrtle the Elf (above) is ready for New Year’s Eve, are you? Below is a full round-up of where to celebrate the big night on Myrtle Avenue with events, dinner reservations, or the best spot to toast at midnight. Have fun everyone!

EVENTS

FIVE SPOT SOUL FOOD
Hosting a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball, Five Spot will have an all-out party on Dec 31. Doors open at 8pm, the invite says dress to impress, and the $30 ticket gets you both food and champagne. More details here.
Five Spot Soul Food, 459 Myrtle Avenue

SACRED YOGA
Want to skip the crowds and instead replenish on New Year’s Eve? Head to Sacred Brooklyn in Fort Greene for Midnight Yoga. Tickets start at $25 and the event kicks off with instructor Megan Cuzzolio at 10:30pm. More info and tickets available here.
Sacred Brooklyn, 334 Myrtle Avenue

JILL LINDSEY
The shop will be hosting a party in the shop, with the drinks flowing from the bar, and the night ending with a champagne toast at midnight.
Jill Lindsey, 370 Myrtle Avenue

DINNER RESERVATIONS

LARINA
Serving up a special a la carte menu, bubbles, and live music. What more could you want? Make a reservation by emailing larinabrooklyn@gmail.com.
LaRina Pastificio & Vino, 387 Myrtle Avenue

GENTLEMAN FARMER FORT GREENE
Be fine, fancy and French. To make a reservation, call (929) 295-0784.
Gentleman Farmer Fort Greene, 378 Myrtle Avenue

PUTNAM’S PUB & COOKER
With New Year’s Eve on a Sunday, you can start the party really early at Putnam’s with their bottomless brunch. Or you can be sensible and make a reservation for dinner or cozy up to the bar in the evening and enjoy a midnight champagne toast.
Putnam’s Pub & Cooker, 419 Myrtle Avenue

SOCO
To make a reservation at the Southern Fusion destination, call (718) 783-1936 or visit Open Table.
Soco, 509 Myrtle Avenue

HIT THE BARS

CARDIFF GIANT
Head to Cardiff Giant to enjoy a special drink menu – full of specialty bubbles, cocktails, beers, and ciders – all made in New York state. Cheers!
Cardiff Giant, 412 Myrtle Avenue

THE EMERSON
Get cozy in a booth, shoot a game of pool, and ring in 2018 with unpretentious vibes at this favorite local watering hole.
The Emerson Bar, 561 Myrtle Avenue

IMBIBE AT HOME

Enjoying the big night from home? Visit one of Myrtle Avenue’s Wine and Spirits shops to stock up on the bubbly, or any drink of choice.

 

 

 


Eleven years ago, we started a summer youth employment program called the Young Entrepreneur Mentorship Program (YEMP). YEMP has provided first-time job opportunities to over 200 local teens. For over a decade, our program has introduced teens to skill building and new career ideas. Today, YEMP gives teenagers that live or go to school here in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill direct access to mentors (small business owners and local manufacturers) and introduces them to entrepreneurship.

This past year, YEMP expanded with a partnership with the Pratt Center and Pratt Institute’s DICE K-12 Program. Now through this collaboration, students have access to hi-tech classrooms and STEAM careers and they are able to further stretch, test and explore new ideas in a college setting at an early age.

Will you support our program to create jobs for our local youth? No amount is too small.


We need your help to sustain this important paid internship program for teens living here in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. 

Your gift will help us:

  • Introduce youth ages 14-18 to entrepreneurship;
  • Provide first-time job opportunities for community youth;
  • Give students direct access to small business owners who will serve as their mentors;
  • Provide students exposure to science, technology, engineering and math (STEAM) through a partnership with the Pratt Center and Pratt Institute’s Center for Art, Design, and Community Engagement K-12
  • Create opportunities for youth to work at Myrtle Avenue small businesses, directly in the community where they live and/or attend school.

Much of our work in the community is made possible by contributions from generous neighbors like you, and YEMP is no exception. Will you partner with us to build opportunity for youth right here on Myrtle Avenue?

Please click here to DONATE online.

‘Myrtle the Elf’ Arrives for the Holidays

As everyone busily prepares for holiday festivities, we noticed one neighborhood elf who seems to be crossing off her to-do list at a lot of spots of Myrtle Avenue. Myrtle the Elf, as she likes to be known, is visiting many local shops as she prepares to celebrate the upcoming holidays with family and friends.

Follow Myrtle’s journey throughout December on the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.

#ShopMyrtle Holiday Gift Guide

Tis the season for giving. But what to give is always the question. With so many people on your shopping list and so little time, a well-curated gift list is crucial when tackling holiday shopping. We’ve searched high and low on Myrtle Avenue for great one of a kind finds to create the ultimate list for gift buying on Myrtle.

We hope this 2017 Holiday Gift Guide makes it easy for you to shop local, shop small, and shop Myrtle this season.

aBarking Brown products (1)

Barking Brown

468 Myrtle Ave, (718) 638-3757

Barking Brown carries both those one-of-a-kind fashion finds, as well as the staple jeans and a t-shirt. Handbags, lingerie, jewelry, and shoes adorn this trendy shop, including these Restricted brand suede ankle boots, selling for $89.

apipsqueak (1)

Pipsqueak Children’s Shoppe

469 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 636-6044

Find your train! Appealing to the New Yorker in all of us are these official MTA wooden subway cars, selling for $16.99. “Count 1,2,3 on the Subway” is a charming, subway-themed counting book, written by Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, $14.99

Magna-Tiles are a best-selling, favorite imagination play set. Prices range from $75-$120 for sets of 48 or 100 pieces. The building possibilities are literally endless and appeal to all ages.

a21 tara (3)

21 Tara

388 Myrtle Avenue, (347) 916-0045

This line of stainless steel kitchenware is made by the father-and-son business owners of “Cashmere” in Northern India. Employing a staff of other artisans in their area, these hand-painted enamel pieces are delightful. Trays, cups, canister sets, colanders, pitchers, and tifins, are priced at $42 and up.

jill lindsey (1)

Jill Lindsey

370 Myrtle Ave, (347) 987-4538

This trio is handmade in Brooklyn by Jill Lindsey herself. Made with 18k gold over brass, and shown here in andalousite, this line is also available in tourmaline or rainbow moonstone. $158-198

leisure life sweatshirt (1)

Leisure Life NYC

559 Myrtle Avenue, (347) 725-3167

“LIFE” 100% cotton hooded sweatshirts, with lettering made from vintage satin collegiate Starter Jackets. Perfect as an homage to your alma mater. $140

green in bklyn (2)

Green In Brooklyn

432 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 855-4383

Cognitive Surplus is placing “chemistry within your grasp” with their wine, beer, and spirits glassware. Printed on each glass are the chemical compounds of what’s inside the glass. $16.95 – a small price to pay for the advancement of social chemistry…

awho's your doggy

Who’s Your Doggy

364 Myrtle Avenue (718) 522-5244

This Orbee Tuff treat dispenser doubles as an interactive toy for your dog. Treats rattle around in the uniquely-designed orb until your pup finds just the right angle to get their reward. The Orbee is $22.99 and guaranteed not to rip!

Corkscrew Wines

490 Myrtle Avenue (718) 230-WINE

When heading out to a holiday gathering, impress the host by carting in a four pack of wine in a complimentary Corkscrew wine tote bag. The entire set is just $54.

Sacred Yoga

324 Myrtle Avenue, (718) 855-2973

From thermals to caps, yoga-wear, mats and t-shirts, Sacred Yoga has you covered, literally, for all your yoga apparel needs. $24-65

Holiday Gift Guide: Best Finds For the Kids

For all the kids on your list, find unique and fun gifts right here on Myrtle Avenue!

ARTS & CRAFTS at Blick

Arts, crafts, paint, brushes & maker supplies can all be found at Blick.  The art store carries a variety of Crayola, Alex, Faber Castell, Elmer’s and Klutz Gift Items for kids, and their gift sets inspire creativity as well as a love of art. Art supplies in the Kid’s Aisle start at $5 and up and are for children ages 3 years old and up. You can also find cool tubes like this Plus Plus Neon mix, essential for traveling parents and hours of fun for young kids and tweens. Plus-Plus bricks are precision crafted and BPA-free. Check out their holiday sale going on until December 24th.
Blick, 536 Myrtle Avenue between Grand & Steuben, (718) 789-0308

BOOKS at Jill Lindsey

Jill Lindsey has a variety of fully illustrated books for young readers from Moppet Books. Find the award-winning series KinderGuides which introduces iconic works of classic literature to children ages 6-12 through illustrated stories. JL also carries the Oprah Winfrey & Steve Jobs stories from the What Can I Learn from the Incredible and Fantastic Life series. Books sell for $14.95.
Jill Lindsey, 370 Myrtle Ave between Adelphi & Clermont, (347)987-4538

EVERYTHING at Pipsqueak Shoppe

You’ll appreciate that Pipsqueak Shoppe offers a wide price range for the budget shopper. The book selection really stands out and book curator Jon Vasquez takes pride in it. Find books about overcoming obstacles or being uniquely different, celebrating human accomplishments, and diversity. Check out “Tough Guys Have Feelings Too” or Color Me Kanye or the Prince Coloring Book. Find great playdoh sets, sticker books, action figures, hot wheels for $5-10, or gift that last a lifetime like Magnatiles or Tegu simple wooden magnets.
Pipsqueak Shoppe & Salon, 470 Myrtle Avenue between Washington & Hall

SCOOTERS & BIKES at Urban Cycles

Any city kid will tell you that a scooter is a must-have. The Ride-On (ages 1-2), the Toddler Scooter (ages 2-3), and the Micro Mini-Scooter (3-5) all give a smooth and quiet ride with non-marking wheels. For kids that are Ages 8+ ask for the easy to carry Kickboard Monster in a variety of colors. Scooter prices range from $45-$300.
Urban Cycles, 478 Myrtle Avenue between Washington & Hall Street, (347) 685-4478


BOOKS & TOYS at Green in BKLYN

Green in BKLYN carries a variety of eco-friendly items for both little ones & and parents. Find wooden NYC subway trains, taxi cars from CandyLab Toys, alphabet blocks from Uncle Goose, collectible Kamibashi fair trade string dolls, Ecokid art supplies, and more. All toys are made with the planet in mind. This is a great place to find gifts from $10 & up!
Green in Bklyn, 432 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton & Waverly, (718) 855-4383

Find more gift ideas in the 2017 Myrtle Avenue Holiday Gift Guide.

Dec 16: Merry on Myrtle Holiday Event

Join us for Merry on Myrtle. We’re hosting our very first holiday event in the new Myrtle Avenue Plaza on Saturday, December 16th, from 12pm to 3pm.  Join us!

FREE activities include:

  • Musical duo singing holiday music
  • A kissing photo booth complete with mistletoe
  • Ice sculpting live demo (12-2pm)
  • Holiday crafting (1-3pm)
  • Hot chocolate!

The Myrtle Avenue Plaza is located on Myrtle between Steuben and Emerson.
For more info contact (718) 230-1689 ext 3# or email hello@myrtleavenue.org.

30 Days of #MyrtleThanks

We’ve had an amazing year here on Myrtle Avenue, and we have a lot of you to thank for that. Our Senior Advisory Council published a book. We removed literally tons of trash from Myrtle Avenue. We gave out 125,000 lbs of fresh produce to local families.  We have a (nearly) complete new plaza (finally!).  We organized dozens of arts events. We kicked off a city-wide campaign to take a stand against hate. It really does take a village to pull all of this off, and we’re going to spend this November giving just a few of our wonderful partners and neighbors a little bit of much-deserved gratitude.

Check back here throughout the month to see our growing list of appreciation, which we’ll add to every day. Or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter each day to see Want to thank an outstanding Myrtle Avenue community member yourself? Send us a message to nominate someone or tag us and add #myrtlethanks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

01/30: The Doe Fund

The Doe Fund is a non-profit that provides paid employment opportunities to those moving forward in life from incarceration, homelessness, or substance abuse. Their team of trainees provides sanitation services along Myrtle Avenue every day of the year, from sweeping up litter and bagging up trash, removing graffiti, watering street plantings, to clearing snow in the winter. Thank you to the dedicated team of trainees and supervisors who help keep Myrtle Ave clean!

02/30: Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council

The Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council continuously keeps the needs of local seniors at the forefront and organizes a number of events for seniors throughout the year, including the annual Senior Resource Fair each spring and regular social events throughout the year that promote active living, learning and having fun.

03/30: Eric Frazier of Fort Greene Jazz Festival

Our neighborhood is fortunate to have a rich cultural scene. Throughout the year, the local arts scene is showcased through several key events, including the Fort Greene Jazz Festival. today we give a #MyrtleThanks to Eric Frazier, the lead organizer and creative force behind the festival for the past 8 yrs!

04/30: Community Chef Beryl Benbow


Beryl Benbow is a local artist, mom extraordinaire, and dedicated chef in the Myrtle Avenue Community Chef program. #myrtlethanks for over 30 cooking demos in 2017 alone. Thank you, Beryl, for all you do!

 

05/30: 88th Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers

Last year, the 88th Precinct adopted the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) program and it has been tremendous. A pair of officers is assigned to a small section of the precinct, allowing the community to see a regular face and get to know their local officers better. Today at #MyrtleThanks goes out to all of the NCO’s who serve Myrtle Avenue every day, including 88th Precinct Officers O’Neill and Perez-Coyle (pictured above, L to R), John and Lewis.

06/30: Emily Ahn Levy

Today, #MyrtleThanks Emily Ahn Levy who served as an all-star coordinator of the Myrtle Avenue Young Entrepreneur and Mentorship Program (YEMP) this past summer. As the coordinator, Emily planned exciting speakers and visits to employers for the teens who participated in the annual work-learn program.

 

07/30: Fort Greene Park Conservancy

We love Fort Greene Park and we’re grateful for the entire team at the Fort Greene Park Conservancy for their stewardship and partnership.

08/30: Nora Daniel

Nora Daniel, the Director of Community & Government Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is a tremendous asset. #MyrtleThanks Nora for being the poster woman of going above and beyond to support the neighborhood activities, including the Fort Greene-Farragut Fresh Pantry.

09/30: NYC Department of Sanitation

It’s a tough job of keeping Myrtle Avenue clean, and the hard-working team at the NYC Department of Sanitation do a heck of a job every single day. Through sun, rain, and snow, the crew at DSNY Brooklyn North 2 serve us well and that’s why we pass along a sincere #MyrtleThanks to them today.

10/30: DJ Sadiq of Soul Summit

Soul Summit represents the spirit of Fort Greene. On Day 10, we send a #MyrtleThanks to our friend DJ Sadiq for bringing music and dance to Ft Greene Park every summer.

11/30: Our Local Veterans

On Veterans Day we take a moment to give a #MyrtleThanks to all of the local veterans – including some Myrtle Avenue business owners – who have served us all with their time in the armed forces.

12/30: David Barker

Sending a #MyrtleThanks to the incredible Director of Fort Greene Park, David Barker! David is always working hard to keep our favorite local park in tip-top shape, and with a smile.

13/30: Turkey Giveaway Donors

A big #MyrtleThanks to the 45 neighbors and local partners who donated to our turkey giveaway campaign. The $7,000+ raised will purchase 300 turkeys, which will be given to families who visit this month’s Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry on Nov 18. Your generosity will be much appreciated by these neighbors on Thanksgiving day!

14/30: Juollie Carroll

Local block associations play an important role in building community and advocating for local needs. Today, we give a specific #MyrtleThanks to Juollie Carroll of the Waverly Avenue Block Association for continuously fighting for the preservation of affordable housing on her block.

15/30: Maria Baker

To Maria Baker of Pratt Institute’s MFA Writing Program, we give a #Myrtlethanks for editing and publishing We Live Here, a collection of six seniors’ stories of long ago Myrtle Avenue, and other stories from points near and far.

16/30: Captain Buttacavoli

#MyrtleThanks today to Captain John Buttacavoli of the 88th Precinct. He has just right amount of toughness and warmth, leading our the team at our local precinct well.

17/30: Jessica Sucher, BRIC

BRIC is a cultural gem in #fortgreene. Today we give a #myrtlethanks to BRIC’s Jessica Sucher, the Senior Manager of Community Engagement and a neighbor and friend of Myrtle, for creating connections to all BRIC has to offer for our community.

18/30: Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry Volunteers

It would be impossible to distribute 250,000lbs of food (and counting!) over the past two years without the help of dedicated volunteers who come out each month to the Fort Greene and Farragut Fresh Pantry. A big #myrtlethanks today to this team!

19/30: Ron Janoff

A #MyrtleThanks to local neighbor Ron Janoff for leading the Wallabout Walking Tours for the 2017 season! From May through October, Ron did an amazing job of leading groups of locals and visitors through Fort Greene Park and the historic Wallabout neighborhood, sharing the area’s fascinating history.

20/30: Mercy Home

A big #myrtlethanks to Mercy Home For Children for graciously hosting the Myrtle Avenue Senior Resource Fair at their beautiful space at Classon & Willougby, and for tirelessly working for kids in NYC every day.

21/30: Officer Eusebi

Today, #MyrtleThanks Detective Eusebi of Police Service Area 3. we know that community relations is your job – but you constantly go the extra mile, serve from the heart, and it’s noticed and much appreciated.

22/30: Farm Fresh Box Volunteers

The Myrtle Avenue Farm Fresh Box program – which provides low-cost shares of farm produce to local residents – cannot happen without the help of dedicated volunteers. #MyrtleThanks the crew of folks who come out to help twice a month. We look forward to seeing them again when the program starts back up after the winter break.

23/30: YOU!

Yes, you! We appreciate you and send a #MyrtleThanks today to our neighbors and partners who support our programs, follow-us on online, support local businesses, and are engaged in the neighborhood. Thank you for your support and have a happy Thanksgiving!

24/30: Corey McBeth of Emmanuel Baptist Church

#MyrtleThanks today to Corey McBeth, a quiet force at Emmanuel Baptist Church, for advancing our organizations’ mutual concern for local youth by leading programs that serve local kids and teens.

 

25/30: Local Small Business Owners

On Small Business Saturday, we send a big #MyrtleThanks to all of the local business owners who invest so much of their time and money in serving their customers in the neighborhood. Thank you for being on Myrtle Avenue!

26/30: Renee Robinson

Every year we are so impressed by our neighbor Renee Robinson’s enthusiasm for Small Business Saturday. This year was no exception. Today we send a #MyrtleThanks to Renee for volunteering this past Saturday at the #ShopMyrtle Station, spreading the word about the importance of supporting local businesses.

27/30: Myrtle Avenue’s Crossing Guards

In the morning and afternoons, the neighborhood is teeming with young students coming and going from school. Today we give a #MyrtleThanks to all the local crossing guards who keep our kids (and sometimes us adults!) safe every day. Pictured here is crossing guard Shirl at Myrtle and Clermont.

 

28/30: Terri Ball of Fort Greene SNAP

#MyrtleThanks Terri Ball of Fort Greene Snap for always spreading news about our food programs and other valuable local resources available in the neighborhood with neighbors in need.

 

29/30: Ramona Candy

Today, #MyrtleThanks local artist Ramona Candy for curating the Fort Greene & Clinton Hill Artwalk this past spring and for always working to elevate the arts in our community!

325 Turkeys for Our Neighbors

This weekend was very special for us. For the first time, our staff was able to distribute over 325 turkeys, for local families in need. These families are ones that regularly attend our Fresh Pantry every month where we distribute 10,000 pounds of fresh food with City Harvest for free.

Together with our donors, sponsors & pantry partners, we were able to bring turkeys, fresh food & Blue Marble ice cream to over 325 families. See more images HERE.

Thank you to our 40+ individual donors, our sponsors, Blue Marble Ice Cream, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, DUMBO Improvement District, Fort Greene Association, Madison Realty Capital, Society for Clinton Hill, Vinegar Hill Association & Keyfood (492 Myrtle Avenue), and our pantry partners: City Harvest, Forest City New York, & Brooklyn Navy Yard for making this possible.

Myrtle Avenue Plaza Gets Some Green

The Myrtle Avenue Plaza continues to take shape, with the recent addition of hundreds of plants to its planters and tree beds. More than 30 trees – a mix of Honeylocust, Zelkova, and Pin Oak – were planted throughout the 25,000 sq ft space over the past month. Supplementing the trees are five varieties of shrubs like Ann Bidwell Summersweet and Virginia Sweetspire.

Other plantings include an assortment of ornamental grasses like Scottish Tufted Grass and Dwarf Fountain Grass. These thick grasses are starting relatively small but will fill out, developing into lush ground coverings as they mature. Also new in the plaza’s planters are a number of perennials that’ll bring pops of color come spring. Among these flowers are Black Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Sunny Border Blue Veronica.

The plants round out other new touches like a new art installation, bike racks, and additional seating. More features are still to come, including more lighting, moveable seats and tables, and community events in the spring.