Zaytoons Restaurant Goodness, Yum!

Yummm, just had a falafel sandwich for a late lunch at Zaytoons Restaurant, 472 Myrtle Avenue. Looks like NearSay is on the same page–in today’s article on Zaytoons they ask if you know what falafel is. Our answer is a resounding–yes! Those warm, flavorful, filling pillows of chickpeas on a freshly-made pita, with tahini and wonderful veggies and spices. Oh yeah!

Don’t forget to check out Zaytoons upcoming event, the Magic of Belly Dance dinner and performance on April 28th!

Zaytoons is located at 472 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street. Please call (718) 623-5522 for details.

Cookie Decorating Contest and Local School Fundraiser at Le Petit Bakery

Calling all kid artists and cookie lovers! Le Petit Bakery at 354 Myrtle Avenue is holding a cookie decorating contest on Sunday, May 5th. Please sign up in advance at Le Petit Bakery (by April 27th) so that they are able to prepare supplies for you! The cookie decorating contest will take place between 1pm and 3pm. Okay, more of the details:

For who?

Grades 1-2: contest is 1pm-2pm

Grades 3-4: contest is 2pm-3pm

*Judging will take place after each time slot.

How to participate:

The cost to enter is $10 (in advance) or $12 (at the door/day of event). 25% of proceeds will go towards supporting Arts & Letters Academy)

Prizes:

1st prize: winning cookie will be duplicated and sold at the bakery

2nd prize: $10 gift card

3rd prize: $5 gift card

Le Petit Bakery is located at 354 Myrtle Avenue between Adelphi and Carlton. Please call 718.875.6500 for additional information.

Citi Bike Share Info Meeting, 4/24

Come out and get information and ask questions on the Citi Bike Share Program.

When: Meeting is Wednesday, April 24th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Where: Benjamin Banneker Academy, 71-77 Clinton Avenue.

Please call Alfred Chiodo at Council Member Tish James office for more information.

An Evening with Mark Bittman, New York Times Food and Opinion Writer

All are invited to this exciting event and opportunity to support the Brooklyn Food Coalition (BFC).

Mark Bittman, New York Times Food & Opinion writer, will speak on “The Future of Food” and will address how we can eat for the health of our bodies and the planet.

All Proceeds go to support the Brooklyn Food Coalition: Working Toward A Healthy, Just, and Sustainable Food System For All!
– General Admin tickets are $20
– Limited amount of student tickets for $10
– VIP Dinner & talk for $175 includes: a 4-course meal, wine, a signed copy of Mr. Bittman’s new book “VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 p.m. to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health…For F…”, and entry to the talk

Purchase your tickets here.

Where: Long Island University in Downtown Brooklyn
Arnold and Marie Schwartz Athletic Center
1 University Plaza (DeKalb and Flatbush Avenues)

When: April 30th

Time: 6PM

Need more info? Visit the BFC website here.

Call crimestoppers if you have any info on missing teen, Tiffany Ortiz.

From Fort Greene Patch:

Tiffany Ortiz was last seen at approximately 8:30 a.m. at a home on Saint Edwards Street near Park Avenue on April 20th. Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 13-year-old girl who went missing Saturday morning in Fort Greene. Ortiz stands 5-feet-tall, weighs 90 pounds and has short black hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ website atwww.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Photo Credit: NYPD

The People’s Hollywood 411 Service Directory: small businesses, filmmakers, musicians, take a look!

Trayce Gardner, founder and executive director of the Brooklyn Young Filmmakers Center (BYFC) has created what she calls the ‘People’s Hollywood.’

The People’s Hollywood project connects small grassroots film productions (mostly short films or web series episodes with budgets under $5000) with locations (especially small business locales), crew, and allied artists (music and other art) to help with both production and marketing.

BYFC is in the process of creating a directory to match filmmakers, allied artists and locales (business owners). If you are an interested filmmaker, musician, artist or small business located in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill (Fort Greene and Clinton Hill small businesses are the pilot group for now), please take a moment to complete the following surveyif you interested in directory inclusion. Also, take a moment to view the videos on participating small businesses, including three located on Myrtle Avenue businesses (Omar from Falafel House, Janet from Kappella’s Salon, Mark from Mark’s Gourmet Burgers).

Please email or call Brooklyn Young Filmmakers Center at service@wearebyfc.org and 718.935.0490 for further information.

Clinton Hill design stars in today’s New York Times! Congrats Teman and Teran!

So great to see interior and jewelry designers, Teman and Teran Evans in today’s New York Times! The 6 foot-plus, Harvard grad school-educated identical twins are featured in an article in the newspaper’s ‘Great Homes and Destinations section’ titled, ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror.’ The article discusses their design aesthetic and experience of living together since the womb.

We’ve been fans of theirs since they were on HGTV’s Design Star. And we thank them for being BIG supporters of shopping local Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. LOVE running into them at the post office and Ruthie’s and Clinton Hill Hardware and Thai 101 and The Polish Bar of Brooklyn…you get the idea.

Congrats Teran and Teman!

Earth Day Celebration at Green in BKLYN

Celebrate Earth Day this SUNDAY, APRIL 22 with Green in BKLYN located at 432 Myrtle Ave!

EARTH DAY SCHEDULE:
•12-1:00pm: Spoonable Saucy Caramel & Brooklyn Roasting Company Coffee
A taste of Spoonable’s saucy caramel and a cuppa joe from the Brooklyn Roasting Company and you’re tasting the best of both while supporting local businesses. Wake up! Time to eat local!

•1:30-2:30pm: Fresh Fanatic
Fresh Fanatic, the all natural, local and organic market and cafe samples an array of fresh deserts and dips made in-house plus tasty cheeses and sandwich platters. All from Mother Earth!

•3:00-4:00pm: Myrtle Eats Fresh
Myrtle Eats Fresh will share recipes, talk local foods & hand out samples of treats from local farms and folks. Grow and eat)local!

• 4:30-5:30pm: Super Foxy Sweets Vegan Fudge & Raaka Virgin Chocolate
Raaka Chocolates and Super Foxy Sweets will be handing out their locally made virgin chocolate & vegan fudge. A sweet little celebration of local treats & sweet Mama Earth!

• All Day: Pick a Prize…
Spend $43 or more (for Earth Day’s 43nd year) and be entered in our raffle for awesome eco-friendly treasures – foods & other treasures from our treasured earth!

“We hope you’ll join us for some (or all) of the fun on Earth Day. We love Earth Day, we love being here & we love you!” – Elissa @ Green in BKLYN.

Visit the store online at www.greeninbklyn.com

TONIGHT!! 35th District City Council Forum & Voter Registration Drive

The Ingersoll Resident Association, in partnership with the Walt Whitman and Farragut Resident Associations, will host a City Council Forum & Voter Registration TONIGHT, Thursday, April 18th at the Ingersoll Community center located at 177 Myrtle Ave. Voter registration begins at 6:30PM and panel discussion with City Council candidates at 7PM. All are welcome!

Supermarkets as common spaces for all people — Judith Fourny at Gnarly Vines!

Paris-born, Brooklyn-based artist, gilder and curator, Judith Fourny, had supermarkets heavily on her mind over a year ago when she approached Associated Supermarket on Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street about the use of their discarded sales posters.

“I love the fact that supermarkets are a common space for all people. They are a common space for everyone, regardless of socio-economic status or culture. They serve all of our basic needs. It is a destination for all of us,” shared Judith.

In an untitled photographic series which includes thirty 18″ x 24″ posters, Judith takes photos of people in front of supermarket posters.

Click here for Judith’s website. Judith works out of her Brooklyn Navy Yard studio. The artist says she has “always been inspired by the beauty in human relationships” and uses art as a medium to reveal their hidden brilliance.

Judith’s series of posters will be up through May 5th at Gnarly Vines, 350 Myrtle Avenue between Carlton and Adelphi.

Water Towers Photo Exhibit at The Joint on Myrtle, opening on Sat., 4/20!

Have you caught the new artwork up at The Joint on Myrtle yet? Stop in and check it out!

Author and photographer, Ronnie Farley, exhibits some of her most recent work, ‘New York Water Towers.’

The art opening, a garden party and soiree, will take place Saturday, April 20th from 6pm-10pm at The Joint on Myrtle (471 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street). Stop by to celebrate the arrival of Spring and Ronnie’s artwork.

Here’s more about the exhibit from Ronnie:

New York Water Towers is a twenty-year project documenting New York City’s water tanks, to be published as a monograph this year. Through photographs and informational text, this body of work examines the relationship between the built-up environment of urban people and their vital water supply.

Water towers are contemporary relics containing a sacred substance, “the elixir of life,” hidden in plain view amongst the brick, mortar and steel of man’s creation. The more these gentle giants become hemmed in and disappear from view, replaced by a higher and higher skyline, we lose one visual reminder of a connection to the natural world and the delicate balance of our existence.

In a city teeming with human life and activity, these water towers are the umbilical cord to our survival. It is my intent with this work to inspire a more visceral approach to water, away from commoditization for industrial expansion and urban growth, towards understanding it as a key life-support for all living things on Earth.

Park Avenue Update: Daylighting Approved for 7 Locations

DOT approved our request to install “daylighting” regulations at seven locations on Park Avenue!

Parked cars near the approach of an intersection can obstruct the visibility of drivers and pedestrians crossing that intersection. Daylighting is a safety measure where parking is restricted within 20-30 feet of the approach to an intersection, allowing drivers and pedestrians a better field of vision. Daylighting can improve safety for both pedestrians and drivers alike.

Following are the locations where DOT will install “no standing” regulations within the next 90 days: Westbound Park Avenue at the approach to North Oxford Street; Eastbound Park Avenue at the approach to Waverly Avenue; Westbound Park Avenue at the approach to Waverly Avenue; Eastbound Park Avenue at the approach to Ryerson Street; Westbound Park Avenue at the approach to Grand Avenue; Eastbound Park Avenue at the approach to Grand Avenue; Eastbound Park Avenue at the approach to Steuben Street.

The Park Avenue Safety Plan was published in the summer of 2012, after a multi-year community-led effort. Stay tuned for more updates…

Day ‘n Night Gourmet Grocery Store opens at 480 Myrtle Avenue!

Day ‘n Night Gourmet Grocery store is open for business! After a long wait and build-out, the commercial life returned to the 480 Myrtle Avenue storefront this past Saturday.

Stop in and shop! Say hello to Billo(who formerly owned the 99 cent store at the same location) and his business partners in this new venture.

The store carries a wide variety of groceries, milk, eggs, bread and cheese, gourmet popcorn, chips and other snacks and soft drinks. Additionally, the store includes a salad bar, a fresh juice bar and fresh fruit smoothies section, a sandwich section (bread, rolls, heros, bagels, wraps), lottery and so much more, stop in! What more is in store? Backyard seating and fresh produce selection in front. Local college students gets 10% off with ID.

Visa, MasterCard and EBT payments welcome. Free delivery (w/minimum $10 purchase).

Day ‘n Night Gourmet Grocery is located at 480 Myrtle Avenue, near Hall Street. Call 718.230.4516 for further detail.

Nikki’s Beauty Supply store having huge sale, closing

Nikki’s Beauty Supply Store at 510 Myrtle between Ryerson and Grand is having a huge sale, 30% off everything in the store. Hair pins, rollers, makeup, hair colorings, blow dryers, tweezers, shampoos and conditioners…Nexus, Aveda, Biolage, Infusium, Miss Jessies, Paul Mitchell, Joico–everything must go.

Nikki’s is located in the lot (which also includes Associated Supermarket) slated for construction/redevelopment. All of the businesses located in this lot must relocate by the end of the month.

Please call Nikki’s for more detail: 718.789.6374.

Family Literacy Fair at LIU tomorrow! Free books for kids!

This Saturday, April 13th, from 11am-2pm at Long Island University – Brooklyn, Jumpstart, a national early childhood organization, is hosting a large community literacy fair, Jumpstart for a Day. This is an annual festival celebrating literacy and service that brings volunteer groups from local universities and organizations together with young children, this will be LIU’s first year hosting JFAD in Brooklyn.

Pratt MFA Open Studios, today (4/12) and tomorrow (4/13)!

Pratt Institute’s MFA program will open its studio and gallery doors to the general public today, Friday, April 12, 2013 from 5:00-9:00pm and tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 12:00-6:00pm. Live performances and a reception will take place on Friday night, starting at 8pm at the Flushing Ave Studios. A performance schedule is available here.

100 MFA candidates will exhibit artwork in various forms, including photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, new forms, video, performance, installation.

There are two addresses where studios are located. Off-campus at 248 Flushing Avenue (loading dock between Ryerson Avenue and Hall Street), elevator to 3rd Floor, and on-campus at 200 Willoughby Avenue. All campus security booths will also have Open Studio maps and general information.

Visit the Pratt MFA Open Studios website for a preview of participating artists. Pratt MFA Open Studios website.

This event is hosted by the Pratt Artists’ League and Pratt’s Fine Art Department.

McKinney, MARP Honor Tree Guard Artists

This morning, Susan S McKinney Secondary School of the Arts gave awards to dozens of students for various academic achievements, such as best grades and most improved. Three students received special recognition for their original tree guard panel designs that were selected in the second round of tree guard installations on Myrtle Avenue.

Kayla Lewis, Emily Vilorio, and Lanique Green (left to right in photo), were each called to the front of the auditorium, accompanied by a round of cheers from their classmates. MARP presented each artist with a laser-cut steel proof of their design. Proofs are made before a design can be manufactured into a tree guard. After that, they can be displayed and enjoyed as artwork.

Each of the student’s designs were made into a tree guard and tree bench and installed on Myrtle Avenue. Following are the locations: Kayla Lewis guard is east of N. Portland; bench is at Waverly; Emily Vilorio guard is at 471 Myrtle between Washington and Hall; bench is at N. Portland; Lanique Green guard is at 414 Myrtle between Vanderbilt and Clinton, bench is east of N. Portland.

Congratulations to these three artists and all the other students who received awards today!

Myrtle’s tree guards are both functional and durable, and offer a ‘canvas’ that reflects local creativity. They were created with a modular design so that each set of panels can have a unique, laser-cut design, meeting the Partnership’s goal of creating more opportunities to incorporate local public art into the streetscape. The newest tree guard panels were designed by 24 local artists, who were selected through an open call for public art.

City’s 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program Applications Now Available

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Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) applications now available.Click here to apply online or to print out an application to fill out by hand. Hardcopy applications will also be available at local library branches, including the Brooklyn Public Library’s Walt Whitman branch, located at 93 St. Edwards Street, just north of Myrtle.

For further information call the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development at 800.246.4646.

‘Magic of Belly Dance’ Dinner and Performance at Zaytoons Restaurant, Sun., 4/28

“Spring into the Magic of Belly Dance” at Zaytoons restaurant on Sunday, April 28th from 4p-7p. The evening will include a delicious 3-course Middle Eastern dinner from 4pm-5pm, followed by a belly dance performance from 5:30pm-7pm.

$20 (or $25 at the door) includes performance, buffet dinner, dessert, soft drinks, coffee and tea. Appetizers: hummus, babaghanouj, tabouleh, fatoush; Entree: chicken kabob, veggie kabob, falafel, kafta kabob, rice; Dessert: baklava, lady fingers and basbousa.

Please come out for an evening of good food and good fun.

For advance tickets, please call: 347.533.6226.

Zaytoons is located at 472 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street.

Free Bike Helmets — stay safer on wheels!

Stop by the bike helmet fitting event on Sunday, April 21st from 12p to 4p at Commodore Barry Park. Get fitted and receive a free bike helmet — stay safer on wheels!

Event it sponsored by Councilmember Tish James and is in conjunction with NYC DOT, NYC Parks & Recreation and Transportation Alternatives.

35th District City Council Forum & Voter Registration Drive

The Ingersoll Resident Association, in partnership with the Walt Whitman and Farragut Resident Associations, will host a City Council Forum & Voter Registration on Thursday, April 18th at the Ingersoll Community center located at 177 Myrtle Ave. Voter registration begins at 6:30PM and panel discussion with City Council candidates at 7PM. All are welcome!

The Silly Dance Off Contest Returns to the Emerson Bar, Sat., 4/5!

The Silly Dance Off returns to the Emerson Bar. It’s this Saturday, 4/6 from 10pm until 2am. Get those moves ready! Here’s more from the Emerson:

Maybe you were at the first Silly Dance contest, or maybe you’ve heard the stories that became legends that became stories again, or maybe you’ve never heard of it and have no clue what the hell I am talking about.

Well it does’t matter because IT”S BACK!!!

THE GOAL: The Silliest Dancer Wins a $50 Bar Tab, The Silliest Costume Wins a $50 Bar Tab (you could win BOTH), and a $25 Bar Tab goes to the 2nd place dancer. Free drinks will be given away to silliest dancers after each round. You do not need to dress up to enter!

THE STRUCTURE: FOUR 20-30 minute DJ’d rounds with breaks in between for drinking and resting (last time people nearly danced themselves into coma so we’ve added breaks and shorter dancing rounds, but more rounds! YAY! you’re welcome…)

NO ELIMINATION (Except self elimination —- ummmm and by that I mean removing yourself from the contest….)

A SECRET PANEL of judges will determine the winner after round four by a scientific means of calculating silliness in each round and averaging that out and then multiplying that by 54 and dividing by 62 then spilling coffee on it and determining the winner by an in-house developed Rorschach test.

You can REGISTER with Max Power at any time BUT REMEMBER the more rounds you are in the more chance you have to WIN BIG and DRINK FREE all night!!!

So come down, dance, get your silly on or just sit and watch as history is made once again with one of the funnest, funniest, happiest nights you’ll be sure to encounter in your life!

Silly Music Provided During Each Round by DJ MAGGIT (John Keen, Blues Clues, Storage Wars…)

Other Music provide by MAX POWER!

FREE FUN ALL NIGHT LONG!

WHEN: Saturday APRIL 6th, 2013 10pm-2am… (registration for first round opens at 9:30, music and party all night ’til 4am!!!) WHERE: The Emerson, 561 Myrtle Avenue between Emerson and Classon WHY: Because we love you…

image: hand drawn By John Keen. Ink and colored pencil, March 2013.

21 Tara relocates to new digs on the Avenue!

Scarves, hats, rings and bracelets with semi-precious stones, shoulder bags, wallets and decorative masks are just a few of the wonderful items available at 21 Tara. Placed around the store on shelves and colorful baskets, 21 Tara boasts a cornucopia of wonderful store items, stop in!

21 Tara recently relocated from smaller digs just off of Myrtle Avenue into its current 1100sf space at 388 Myrtle Avenue between Clermont and Adelphi.

The store’s brand new signage includes both an awning and shingle. A MARP $500 facade grant and graphic design assistance helped with the completed exterior look.

T-Mobile Re-Opens Today, 4/3!

T-Mobile, the popular cell phone store, opens today at 436 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton and Waverly, stop in!

T-Mobile relocated from its original space, closed more than 4 months ago due to construction plans at the site. Other stores, including Associated Supermarket on Myrtle and Hall have also or are in the process of moving to the construction as well.

Job Opportunity: Mark’s Gourmet Burgers

Mark’s Gourmet Burgers to hire two part-time kitchen staff members. Experience working in a commercial kitchen is necessary. If interested, please email resumes to: marksgourmetburgersllc@gmail.com

Mark’s Gourmet Burger is located at 441 Myrtle Avenue, corner of Waverly Avenue.