Photo Exhibition at The Joint

Check out “Photos of Olde Brooklyn“, an exhibition of photography by local Richard “Deek” Eisenhart, beginning this Thursday at The Joint on Myrtle. Stop by the opening reception at 8pm that day, or visit anytime through October 4th.

Richard “Deek” Eisenhart is a graphic designer living in NYC. Originally from Elmira, New York, and now living in Brooklyn. He worked from 1986 to 2009 as a graphic artist in the children’s fashion industry and continues to do freelance work in other areas of the fashion industry. His personal works includes painting, drawing, digital art, and amateur photography.

The Joint, 471 Myrtle Avenue between Washington & Hall Street

Back to School Welcome to Our Local Schools

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Sending a big hearty welcome and welcome back to all students who will be starting the school year tomorrow as well as those who have returned a week and two weeks ago. Wishing you the very best for the school year.

If there is anything we can help with here on Myrtle Avenue, please call or email to let us know. In the meantime, we think you’ll find our handy website student guide to Myrtle Avenue helpful. It’s chock full of information about student discounts, local job listings and more.

Connect with us on our social media networks @MyrtleAveBklyn for the most up-to-date Avenue news, discounts and opportunities.

Polish Bar of Brooklyn Offers Monthly Beauty Memberships

Calling All Fashionistas, Budgetnistas and Self-Care Mavens: The Polish Bar of Brooklyn kicked off its monthly subscription services last month, offering some of the beauty boutique’s most popular services at an up to 45% savings. This exciting new monthly membership initiative gets you unlimited monthly services at bargain prices. $45 per month will get you unlimited manicures and $75 per month will get you unlimited waxing services or unlimited manis and pedis.

What’s more, signing up for the monthly membership subscription gets you access to bonus savings and VIP booking status (priority in and out service).

Through this new service, Polish Bar has helped to up your nail game. Try new designs and polishes and be ready for a quick change from work to the theater to a party at the drop of a dime, or at the least the time it will take you to get to the salon and back.

Inquire in-store on how to get started today.

Myrtle Ave Gets Honorable Mention in Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest 2015

Proud of our honorable mention in the commercial category of this year’s Greenest Block and Brooklyn Contest. Thank you Brooklyn Botanic Garden!

Now is the Time to Open Your Business on Myrtle Avenue

If you are looking to open a business, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is here to help you find the perfect location. Currently, along Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, there are ten available retail spaces, and with a growing population and number of retail spaces available within new construction buildings, it’s the perfect time to explore opening your businesses right here.

To begin to see if Myrtle Avenue is right for your business, review the Summer 2015 Quarterly Real Estate Report, which has a list of available spaces and provides an overview of what types of businesses Myrtle Avenue consumers are currently looking for. The report also highlights new shops and restaurants who have signed leases and are slated to open soon.

What’s in Demand

After conducting a retail assessment and consumer survey in 2014, we found that there are several types of businesses that are both under-represented and ones local consumers have the dollars to support (but are choosing to spend elsewhere due to a lack of availability on Myrtle Avenue). These business types include:

Specialty Food Retail (particularly a full service butcher)
Casual Dining (particularly quality, grab-n-go or counter service, restaurants)
Full service gyms
Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt

Where to Open Your Business

With ten spaces currently available to lease, there’s a variety of locations, sizes and amenities available for you to choose from. A couple of highlights include:

364 Myrtle Avenue: This newer construction building offers 1,500 square feet on the ground floor with a large basement. Located just two blocks from Fort Greene Park, the storefront is on a bustling block that is dominated by locally-owned businesses (Jill Lindsey boutique, Brooklyn Sweet Spot cupcakes and the new Gentleman Farmer restaurant.) Across the street, Walgreen’s provides a major anchor that further draws out many customers to this block.
81 Fleet Place: Located at the corner of Fleet and Myrtle, this newly constructed building has over 11,600 square feet retail space currently available for lease and is divisible up to seven storefronts. This building is one of three currently rising along Myrtle Avenue near Flatbush Avenue Extension, adjacent to Fort Greene Park, Downtown Brooklyn and Metrotech. Leasing is currently underway, with the building slated to be available for occupancy in late 2015.

Resources for Prospective Businesses

In addition to reading the Quarterly Real Estate Report, we invite you to contact us to learn more insider information about the Myrtle Avenue commercial district and how your business might best succeed here. Also, save the date to attend the next Quarterly Real Estate Breakfast on Wednesday, October 7th at 8:30am at 81 Fleet Place (on the corner of Fleet and Myrtle). The breakfast will allow you to connect with brokers and property owners who have available commercial spaces and to learn more about doing business on Myrtle Avenue.

To learn more, please contact the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership at (718) 230-1689 ext 6#.

Myrtle Avenue Plaza Construction Update: September 7, 2015 – September 11, 2015

As construction on the Myrtle Avenue Plaza continues some residents and businesses will be experiencing water interruptions along Myrtle between Classon and Grand Avenues as well as on Emerson Place between Park and Willoughby Avenues on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 and Wednesday, September 9, 2015. The scheduled interruption is the result of necessary water main work on the avenue and is set to take place at 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Please make the necessary adjustments and, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out to the Community Construction Liaison Mr. Christopher Fields at (718) 857-3283.

Garden Recipe Series Featuring Ingersoll Gardeners

Many residents have emphasized the need for health and nutrition education in our community. The gardeners at the Ingersoll Garden of Eden are local residents who are passionate about sharing knowledge about healthy eating and living with their neighbors.

When approached by the Fort Greene Focus about gathering recipes from Community Gardeners, they agreed to provide healthy recipes they use after harvesting vegetables from their garden, which recently won a First Place award for 2015 Sustainable leadership practices from National Grid through the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest.

The series kicked-off with a recipe from a gardener named Aretha Singleton, who was also one of our Healthy Communities Initiative Community Chefs. Our Community Chef Cookbook includes a number of healthy, tasty recipes from Ms. Singleton, along with other Community Chefs. Click here to find out how to purchase the cookbook for just $5!

Sandbox’s Mobile Crew Offers Door-to-Door Mail Pickup

Wrapped van, check. Customer friendly crew, check. Ready for your call, check, check.

Sandbox Pack & Ship, located at 417 Myrtle Avenue, now has door-to-door mail pick up service available. The mobile van is available to pick up packages and mail from local residences, including apartment buildings as well as large and small businesses.

The new mobile service is the direct result of feedback from several local seniors who expressed difficulty in getting to the post office and requested more a door-to-door service. This feedback was shared during MARP-coordinated neighborhood focus groups and an older adult forum, all held over the past year and all aimed at learning how to make the neighborhood, particularly Myrtle Avenue, friendlier to older adults. MARP has since been designated an Age-Friendly Neighborhood.

“The impetus for the van was the feedback from seniors and we are committed to doing just that. We decided to broaden the vision though, and we’ll accommodate basically any of our neighbors who reside in our local pick up zone and who give us a call,” shared Stanley Green, Sandbox owner.

The mail is brought back to Sandbox Pack & Ship where it is shipped using a wide range of land, sea or air options for worldwide shipping, including USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL, with a focus on offering the fastest and most affordable options.

Sandbox Pack & Ship is located at 417 Myrtle Avenue between Vanderbilt and Clinton Avenue. Please call them at (347) 599-2819 with questions or to arrange mail or package pick up.

Share Your Ideas for Improving our Community!

As residents of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and as frequent visitors to Myrtle Avenue, we know you have strong opinions about our neighborhood’s strengths and a keen eye for what could still use some attention. Your answers to this short set of questions will help us better understand how we can serve all community stakeholders as our neighborhood continues to grow and develop. It will take just a few minutes (really, we promise!).

Feel free to circulate to your neighbors, block associations, civic associations, fellow parishioners, etc. We’re hoping to reach as many residents as we can through mid-September. Thanks!

Paper surveys are also available at:
Apple Bank, 418 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton Avenue & Vanderbilt Avenue
Fort Greene SNAP, 324 Myrtle Avenue between Carlton & Washington Park
Walt Whitman Branch Library, 93 St. Edwards Street

Share our survey with residents of Fort Greene & Clinton Hill:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MyrtleAvenue

Become a Karaoke Star at Brooklyn Eats on Myrtle

Mondays are karaoke nights at Brooklyn Eats on Myrtle. Step up to the mic on Monday nights from 8PM to 11PM at Brooklyn Eats on Myrtle for their weekly karaoke nights. Belt out your favorite song like you mean it.

Here’s a chance to show off your vocal prowess. Impress your friends, co-workers or strangers at the bar.

Be the star we always knew we could be. Yes, you are a singer — regardless of what our friends say. 😉

While at Brooklyn Eats on Myrtle, enjoy delicious cocktails at the bar and dinner too, with a wide variety of scrumptious menu items, including vegetarian chili, macaroni and cheese and burgers and fries.

Brooklyn Eats on Myrtle is located at 474 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street. They can be reached by telephone at: (718) 789-5000.

Enjoy a Labor Day Staycation at Lucky Lotus Yoga

Don’t have the energy or desire to skip out of town for the end-of-summer three day weekend? Relax locally by escaping for a few hours at Lucky Lotus Yoga on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene. On Monday, September 7th from 4-6pm, the yoga studio will be offering a staycation special that will allow you to relax, heal and reset.

The Staycation special with Ade will offer a two-hour session that includes a essential-oil facial steam towel, mini facial massage, a mini body massage, all followed with a personally tailored acupuncture treatment. All of this is included for the special’s $75 price. To enjoy, you must book an appointment ahead of time by e-mailing luckylotusyoga@gmail.com.

Lucky Lotus Yoga, 334 Myrtle Avenue, between Washington Park and Carlton.

FREE Kids’ Self-Defense + Anti-Bully Class at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

We love that Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offer free kids’ self defense classes.

If you missed last week’s, here’s another chance.

Free self-defense class at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Fri. September 4th at 4:30pm (not 5pm like the flyer says). Children 6 years of age and older are invited to participate in this FREE ‘No More Bullies’ class to learn self defense moves and prevention tips.

Class is open to girls and boys.

Please click here for registration information. Space is limited, so hurry.

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is located at 412 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton and Vanderbilt. They can be reached at (718) 403-0067.

Gentleman Farmer Opens this Week in Fort Greene

Gentleman Farmer Fort Greene located at 378 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Clermont, chose a quiet opening this week, opening for dinner this past Monday night.

The much anticipated restaurant features a seasonal menu which marries French traditional and New World ingredients and has a special focus on game.

Gentleman Farmer Fort Greene is the sister restaurant to chef and owner Karim Nounouh’s other culinary location of the same name, Gentleman Farmer, which has been located on the Lower East Side since 2010.

Some of the restaurant’s menu items include: onion soup, curried snails, salmon tartar, foie gras torchon, beet salad, seared sea scallop, pheasant pate & foie gras (appetizers) and mushroom ravioli, red snapper, rack of lamb, seared codfish, venison steak, smoked duck breast and bison short ribs (entrees). Currently: the restaurant is open 7 days per week for dinner at 6pm and is BYOB. Expect lunch options within the next two weeks as well as beer and wine soon.

Gentleman Farmer Fort Greene is located at 378 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Clermont, Seats at the 20-seat restaurant are available by reservation or walk-in: contact@gentlemanfarmernyc.com or call (929) 295-0784.

Open Studio for Brooklyn Weavers in September

Each month, Brooklyn Weavers Guild members enjoy open studio time at Weaving Hand. Members are welcome to weave on looms to create new projects, or can bring their own looms to develop and share projects that are underway.

This monthly session is a great time to get feedback or help from Weaving Hand staff and other guild members or, to pursue projects independently. To find out more about Open Studio for Brooklyn Weavers’ Guild Members email info@weavinghand.com

Weaving Hand, 47 Hall Street, Section E#1, 2nd floor
(718) 855-5666

Jill Lindsey 1-Year Celebration on Myrtle Avenue

This Saturday, Jill Lindsey, the eponymously named boutique, which features a cafe, fashion boutique with custom clothing designs, home accessories, a gift shop and so much more, kicks off her 1-year anniversary celebration on Myrtle Avenue. The event will take place this coming Saturday, August 29th from 1pm to 9pm and will be marked by live music, “lots of smiles”, festive drinks and tarot card readings.

Please stop in!

Jill Lindsey, 370 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Clermont
(347) 987-4583

Three Businesses on Myrtle Ave Celebrate Anniversaries This Weekend

Three Myrtle Avenue businesses are celebrating their anniversaries this weekend. What to expect: Fashion catwalks, old school hip hop great, other live music, cocktails, appetizers and tarot cards, lots of laughter and fun. Whew — stop in at all three! Big CONGRATS to our businesses for helping to make Myrtle Avenue great! Wishing you many, many more years of success.

LEISURE LIFE

Wishing you the best on your second year, Leisure Life! Grand Puba & Friends are on the mic this Friday, 8/28 at Leisure Life. Enjoy appetizers, drinks and browse the store’s very Brooklyn- and otherwise local- centric art and fashion collections while head bouncing as the Grand One spits hits like Slow Down, One For All and Wake Up (Sunshine) , 8PM – 12midnight. Check out more details here.

JUST BECAUSE SALON

Happy 8th Anniversary Just Because Salon! Enjoy raffles, music and giveaways as models strut down Myrtle and Carlton Avenues showing off the latest in fashions featuring local designers and hairstyles courtesy Just Because Salon this Saturday, 8/29, starting at 12PM . A wonderful day of beauty for all. Click here for details.

JILL LINDSEY

First birthday blessings Jill Lindsey! Live music and drinks, fun and games, including tarot card readings at Jill Lindsey’s this Saturday, 8/29 from 1PM to 9PM as the shop celebrates year one in grand style. Enjoy delicious food at the cafe or check out the custom made and ready to wear fashions, accessories and home decor and more. More information can be found by clicking here.

Just Because Celebrates 8th Anniversary with Annual Outdoor Catwalk

Come out and see models strutting down Carlton and Myrtle Avenues in Just Because Salon‘s annual catwalk and hair show. The event celebrates the salon’s 8th year in business for and is the third year that they are celebrating with that the Avenue strut.

The celebration will feature models strutting down Myrtle and Carlton Avenue, just outside of the salon, showing off stylish fashions and hairdos, many of the fashions by local designers, all hair and makeup by Just Because Salon. Please stop in and support. Fashion, food, prizes and fun.

This is also a good time to stop with any makeup, hair or beauty tips or set up a consultation. Raffles and giveaways for salon hair, makeup or other beauty services will be given away throughout the day. Don’t miss this fun, annual affair. Stop by to wish Just Because a happy 8th anniversary.

Just Because Salon is located at 141 Carlton Avenue, just north of Myrtle. They can be reached by phone at: (718) 722-7810.

Grand Puba Performing at Leisure Life’s 2nd Anniversary Party

In celebration of Leisure Life’s 2nd anniversary in business on Myrtle, they’re giving you a bit of the old school and the new. Come out and celebrate at Leisure Life, 559 Myrtle Avenue on Friday, August 28th,

Is anyone as excited as we are that Grand Puba’s coming to the Ave, and mad curious at the ‘& Friends’ part of this. Is it KRS-One (faint), or some of the other Brand Nubian greats we know and love? Please stop in to enjoy Grand Puba perform some of his great hits, enjoy the music of Twilite Tone and to enjoy all of the other anniversary fun Leisure Life has planned.

Leisure Life is located at 559 Myrtle Avenue between Emerson Place and Classon Avenue. Please call (347) 725-3167 for further information.

Water Interruption Notice for 8/22

The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) released a Community Advisory Notice for Saturday, 8/22. Water service on Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Classon will be interrupted some time from 8am to 6pm.

If you have any construction-related questions, please contact the DDC Community Construction Liaison (CCL) Chris Fields at myrtleplazaccl@gmail.com or (718) 857-3283.

If you’d like to receive updates on plaza construction and its impacts on Myrtle Avenue, please sign-up here.

FREE Kids’ Self Defense and Street Awareness Class at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Free self-defense and street awareness class at Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Fri. August 21st at 5pm. Children 6 years of age and older are invited to participate in this FREE ‘Stranger Danger’ class to learn street awareness tips, including how to recognize and avoid dangerous street situations.

Please click here for registration information. Space is limited, so hurry.

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is located at 412 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton and Vanderbilt. They can be reached at (718) 403-0067.

Navy Green Townhouses and Condos Available

Navy Green Townhouses and condos available for sale.

Each 3,000 square foot-plus townhouse in Navy Green has three to four bedrooms, two full and two half bathrooms, a media room, large laundry room, and garden with patio. The first floor of each townhouse is open and floor-through, creating a dining area and a large living area that opens onto the patio.

Nineteen 3 BR ($1.9M) and 21 BR ($2.1M) townhouses and condos available.

Please click here for sales flyer and further information.

Please note that the contact information below should be used for further inquiries about this project, not our office:

Navy Green Sales Gallery; 130 Flushing Avneue; navygreen@hpdmny.com; (718) 878-1770.

AFROPUNK AFTER DARK on Myrtle Avenue

AFROPUNK FEST will creep into the streets, bars, and restaurants of Myrtle Avenue with a series of official after-parties. AFROPUNK AFTER DARK will take over select venues and transform Fort Greene into a captivating playground of music, art, comedy, entertainment and culture. With intimate popup performances, celebrity DJ Sets, comedy shows, film screenings, art installations, and drink specials, AFROPUNK AFTER DARK on Myrtle Avenue will ensure that the party does not end when the musicians leave the stage.

AFTER DARK ON MYRTLE AVENUE SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

Ting and Ting at Putnam’s Pub & Cooker
What: Caribbean dance party with DJ Kellz and DJ Kitty Cash.
Where: Putnam’s Pub & Cooker, 419 Myrtle Ave
When: 10pm

The Amanda Seales: One Funny Woman After Dark at Splitty
What: Join funny girl Amanda Seales to laugh along with a line-up of amazing women comedians, capped with highlights of Amanda’s one woman shows Mo Betta Wu, It’s Complicated, and Death of the Diva. Featuring: Rae Sanni, Sam Jay, Chloe Hilliard, Phoebe Robinson & Jessica Williams’ “Blaria” & more. DJ set by Amanda Seales to follow.
Where: Splitty, 415 Myrtle Ave
When: 10pm
How Much: $10.00 ($12.50 if purchased on Eventbrite)
RSVP: https://onefunnywoman.eventbrite.com

TOP RANK AFTER DARK at Myrtle + Gold
What: Top Rank Magazine is a Brooklyn based publication that profiles women of diverse backgrounds who are driving, shaping, and challenging the world around them. Join us for an audiovisual #blackgirlmagic experience with DJs D0UZE and Zephyr Ann and visuals by Salome Asega.
Where: Myrtle + Gold, 343 Gold St
When: 10pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Black Radical Imagination: AFROPUNK Edition at Splitty
Black Radical Imagination curates a screening of experimental short films by Ja’tovia Gary, Cauleen Smith, Penda Diakite, and Darren Wallace. Sounds by DJ K7, presented by Dutty Artz.
Where: Splitty, 415 Myrtle Ave
When: 8pm
How Much: $5.00 ($7.24 if purchased on Eventbrite)
RSVP: https://blackradical.eventbrite.com

The full list and schedule of events is listed here and is sponsored by Coors Light, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry, Red Bull and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership.

Throwback Thursday: Kinara Indian Restaurant Opening in 2006

Kinara Indian Restaurant, seen in early 2006 after signing a lease for 368 Myrtle Avenue.

Throwback to 2006 with this photo of 368 Myrtle Avenue, which was set to become Kinara Indian Restaurant. Nine years after hanging their “Coming Soon Indian Restaurant” sign, Kinara is still serving delicious Indian food at the same location in Fort Greene.

Kinara Indian Food, 368 Myrtle Avenue, between Adelphi and Clermont.

Community Chef Demo at The Brooklyn Hospital Center

Community Chef Beryl and Teen

The Brooklyn College Farmers’ Market will be offering locally grown produce, home baked goods, preserves, honey, jams, food stamp sign up, blood pressure screening, FREE food samples, gift card raffles and more! Last Farmers’ Market Friday is August 21, 2015 from 9am to 3pm, located in the picnic area of the front lawn of The Brooklyn Hospital Center 121 Dekalb Ave.

Myrtle Eats Fresh Community Chef Beryl made a budget friendly Massage Kale salad. Join us for the last Cooking demo of the season at The Brooklyn Hospital Center Farmers’ Market Friday August 21, 2015 from 11:30am – 1:30pm

Spice & Grill to bring Nepalese food to Myrtle Avenue

Bikash Karel, along with his father who is also his business partner, is opening Spice & Grill, a Nepalese and Indian eatery at 441 Myrtle, former home of Mark’s Gourmet Burgers. They are hoping to be open no later than mid- to late November.

The two men are no strangers to the food business, having successfully operated the Nepalese Indian Restaurant in Ridgewood, Queens for just over two and a half years. Their Queens restaurant boasts 120 menu items.

Their upcoming Myrtle Avenue restaurant will have a markedly different vibe, shared Bikash, “it will be very laid back and will have much more emphasis on grilled Indian menu items and Nepalese street food, such as mini samosa chat (tangy samosas with freshly cut sweet red onions, chili and coriander), momos (bitesize dumplings served with spicy tomato and sesame sauce), chatamari (rice crepes topped with lamb and spicy sauce), sekuwa (chicken skewers with peppers, nutmeg, lime zest and yogurt) and sel roti (sweet ring-shaped doughnuts).

The father-son team is hoping to secure a beer and wine license for this endeavor.

Their chef has more than 30 years experience at national and international venues, including former work in Japan and Brazil.

The store build-out will begin as soon as possible. The building scaffolding, put up by the property owner who is doing work to the upper floors, should be down by December 1st.

“This is going to be really special,” added Bikari. “I was raised here on Myrtle Avenue and my dad’s roots are in Khatmandu — we are looking forward to bringing something here to our neighborhood.”