Volunteer with the Myrtle Ave community?

We are often asked “how can I get involved?” and “I want to help my community!” We hear your generous offers and invite you to volunteer with us on Myrtle Ave.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

We have a number of volunteer opportunities coming up, including planting daffodil bulbs along Myrtle Avenue and helping at the many free community events that we’ll be hosting throughout the holiday season (e.g. Fort Green Tree Lighting, Small Business Saturday, etc.).

If you are interested in volunteering at the monthly Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry, where we distribute 13,000 lbs of fresh produce to local families, please click here to sign up and for full details about that opportunity.

Volunteer Sign up

If you are interested in any of our upcoming volunteering opportunities, please fill out the form below. We will contact you with full details and a full invitation to volunteer leading up to each event. You are welcome to volunteer as many or as little times as you’d like with no obligations.

We look forward to working with you in serving our community!

General Volunteer Form

General Volunteer Form
Volunteer opportunities *
Things to consider

Seafood, a Daycare & Tea shop Now Open on Myrtle

Summer 2019 has seen new awnings, fresh facades, and new businesses on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The neighborhood’s newest storefronts bring a new seafood eatery, a welcome additional daycare, and curated art with your tea. Below is a round-up of the three businesses who opened their doors this past month:

photo credit: @captlouibrooklyn

Cap’t Loui Seafood Boil

Serving seafood boil tossed in Louisiana style Cajun sauced bags, fryer baskets, a raw bar, and more daily. Found at 413 Myrtle Avenue between Vanderbilt Avenue and Clinton Avenue, this seafood eatery offers New Orleans style seafood on the menu.

Cap’t Loui’s Seafood Boil, 413 Myrtle Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205, (347) 844-9920. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 4pm-10:30pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-12am; Sunday 12pm-11pm

photo credit to @spreadyourwings_381

Open Your Wings

Upcoming is a new daycare for toddlers, preschool, and after school for your childcare needs. Open Your Wings is licensed in NYC by DOH and has certified teachers. Located at 381 Myrtle Ave on the corner of Clermont.

Open Your Wings, 381 Myrtle Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205, 718-852-7020. 

OJBK Tea Shop

A purveyor of hot and cold drinks, bubble teas, and slush OJBK treats visitors to a revolving art exhibit. This September OJBK is partnered with Pratt. OJBK is located at 525 Myrtle Avenue between Grand Ave and Steuben Street.

OJBK Tea Shop, 525 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn 11205, (718) 576-3047

Are you ready for the monster mash, a graveyard smash, ready for the monster mash?

For the third Halloween – the Myrtle Avenue Plaza will become a dance floor for a Monster Mash!

Featuring Thriller dance class and open dance battle led by PS20 Dancers and Mr. Chung, starting at 4:45 PM.

What: Myrtle Monster Mash Dance Party on Myrtle Avenue

When: Thursday, October 31st, 4pm – 6pm

Where: Myrtle Avenue Plaza (at Myrtle Ave and Emerson Pl) in Clinton Hill

Kids and adults welcome! Costumes are encouraged, but not required. Kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult guardian. Call (718) 230-1689 for more information.

On September 25th, the Senior Advisory Council met for their second meeting of 2019 to discuss ongoing concerns around Myrtle Ave. The council formed committees around Transportation, Events & Signature Events, and Business & Services to strategize upcoming actions and events.

We received guest speaker Rosamond Fletcher of Fort Greene Park Conservancy. Rosamond updated the Council on upcoming capital improvements in the park through two phases, including the creation of new ADA-compliant ramps at entrances along the Myrtle Avenue side of the park, the replacement of 83 trees and planting of additional trees, and expansion of the fitness and barbecue areas in the northwest corner of the park near Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Street. 

Additionally, the Council received updates on the MTA’s public engagement process for an upcoming re-mapping of the Brooklyn bus network. The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership will advocate with the Senior Advisory Council’s Transportation Committee to be a part of the process to voice senior commuters’ concerns over wait times and to support possible solutions to improve bus efficacy, such as bus schedule monitors, traffic regulation and enforcement, etc.

The Council’s Events committee began forming a calendar of events for seniors on Myrtle Avenue, including a relaxing spa day as one of the possible upcoming events for the Council. Instructor Q of Clinton Hill Champions Martial Arts & Fitness agreed to kick-off the Senior Self-Defense Class on October 8. If any seniors would like to sign up, please contact us at (718) 230-1689 ext 4# Classes will be capped at 20 participants. The class will be FREE to participants through the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership with support from the Brooklyn Community Foundation.

 Want to Join the Council?

We invite interested residents of the Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout, and Brooklyn Navy Yard area to join the Senior Advisory Council for a meeting and to join one of the committees: Events & Signature Events, Transportation, and Business & Services. The meeting locations will revolve on both ends of the district to accommodate neighborhood residents. 

Would you like to join the Senior Advisory Council, or come to the next Council meeting? Do you want to sign up for more information? Give us a call at 718-230-1689 ext#5 or email info@myrtleavenue.org for more information.

Thank You to Our Supporters

The Senior Advisory Council offers a warm thank you to Bishop Memorial Mission at 127 Emerson Place – who generously provided the space for the meeting.  

“Age-Friendly Myrtle Avenue” is funded in part by a grant from Brooklyn Community Foundation’s Elders Fund. Thank you to the Brooklyn Community Foundation for supporting our work to connect the elders of our neighborhood to co-create a shared vision for our community.

2019 Myrtle Avenue Annual Report Released

To read about the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership’s work over the past year, click through our 2019 annual report below.

To learn more about the BID, please visit our ABOUT US page.

YEMP Summer Playback

Myrtle Avenue merchant Jill Lindsey with Young Entrepreneur Mentorship Program participant Synyah during her six-week summer job assignment at the Jill Lindsey shop and cafe.

With the invaluable support of community partners, Myrtle Avenue merchants, and self-driven youth, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn partnership has successfully closed out their 13th year of the YEMP (Youth Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program) initiative! YEMP Summer 2019 was one for the books and also came with a lot of firsts.

#TheyWorked

This year’s YEMP summer initiative was packed with enriching opportunities for our participating Youth. We partnered with a local entrepreneurship consulting company to bring an afternoon of Shark Sessions which was a fun interactive version of the television show Shark Tank. The teens learned the basics of starting a business and even practiced pitching a business concept of their own. We had the owner of Green in BKLYN, Elissa, begin a scholarship fund in loving memory of her first intern, Cristina Valentin, for YEMP interns who exemplify activism and compassion for their community. After a competitive application process, 15-year-old Synyah Jordan was awarded the YEMP Activist scholarship of $100. Synyah Jordan also graced the YEMP closing ceremony as a keynote speaker and shared her personal experience through an empowering speech.

At the YEMP closing ceremony, the community in attendance showered all the fellows with words of encouragement and love as many of them continue to work, prepare for school, and be change agents in their community.

Want to Get Involved?

For information on how and when to apply for the annual YEMP internship, you can sign up for Myrtle Avenue’s newsletter to receive updates as soon as the 2020 YEMP application opens.

Special Thank Yous

To the 11 Myrtle Avenue merchants who volunteered to serve as employers and mentors to the participating local high schoolers:

  • Jill Lindsey
  • Green In BKLYN
  • Move With Grace
  • Vitality Juice Bar
  • Champion’s Taekwondo
  • Peck’s
  • Sandbox
  • Petee’s Pie
  • Brooklyn Public Library Whitman Branch
  • Halal Spot
  • Just Because Salon

A sincere thank you to supporters of the 2019 YEMP program: Con Edison and The Gilbert Rivera Charitable Foundation.

Thank you to Voodo Fé who accommodated the closing ceremony in their art gallery space at 572 Myrtle Ave.

Want to become a supporter of the YEMP program? Please contact us about becoming an individual donor.

FREE Walking Tours of Fort Greene & Wallabout

Advanced registration is required! Visit Eventbrite to register for an upcoming tour. 

On the 3rd Saturday of each month, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership will host a FREE guided walking tour through the historic Wallabout neighborhood.  The walks are being offered in partnership with the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, with additional support from the Walt Whitman Project and American Opera Projects.

The guided walk will explore 400 years of history through the area’s historic architecture and landmarks and will venture into the neighborhood’s beautiful mix of pre-Civil War homes and late 19th-century industrial district just outside the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  The tour will focus on how the neighborhood has developed from when the first people from Europe and Africa arrived in the early 1600s. Along the route, notable residents and “hidden” landmarks will be discussed, like author Walt Whitman’s home, a former Tootsie Roll factory, Michael Jordan’s birthplace, and more.

The tours begin in Fort Greene Park at 11am from May through October 2019.

The tour includes a 1.5 walk, beginning in Fort Greene Park and concluding at 99 Ryerson St.  The event is FREE, but space is limited and registration is required.

Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to learn about more local history in the Wallabout, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill area, view our self-guided Myrtle Avenue Black Artstory Tour. This free tour – available in the iTunes store or at myrtleavenue.org – highlights the area’s rich legacy of Black artistry by telling the story of eight varied artists who once called this neighborhood home.

Volunteer with the Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry

SONY DSC

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership & City Harvest have partnered to host the monthly Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry to help fight food insecurity in our community. The Fresh Pantry distributes 13,000 pounds of produce, free of charge, to 200-400 families of Farragut, Whitman, and Ingersoll Houses each month.

The Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry is made possible thanks to a partnership with City Harvest, The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, and Farragut, Ingersoll & Whitman Resident Associations.

Volunteers Needed

If you are interested in volunteering at the pantry, please fill out the form below. We ask interested volunteers to read the details about volunteer responsibilities and a general overview of the pantry and to register as an interested volunteer on the following page.

Completing this form does not require you to attend a certain number of pantries or even the next pantry date. We simply invite anyone who’s interested in helping to come when they can.

Volunteer Form- Fort Greene & Farrugut Fresh Pantry
Specifics *
Volunteer Description *
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90s Dance Party on Myrtle Ave

What better way to celebrate summer than with a neighborhood dance party? Join us on Myrtle Avenue for our monthly summer dance party in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza on Friday, August 23 for Best of the 90’s!

Enjoy dancing to your favorite hits from the last decade (oh wait, it was two decades ago now!), FREE food and treats from Myrtle Avenue restaurants, live art installation, games for kids, and more. All activities are FREE and open to all ages.

The party runs from 5-8pm on Friday, August 23rd at Myrtle Avenue and Steuben Street in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza. See you there!

 

-Survey is now CLOSED-

Thank you for your responses!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you shop, live and/or visit Myrtle Ave? If so, we need your help! Please help us evaluate our work, and understand your priorities and views of Myrtle Ave. The info you provide will help us improve our programs, refine our marketing efforts, and give insight into the types of new businesses you want to see. The survey takes about ten minutes to complete online.

2019 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn BID Satisfaction Survey.

Our survey will be open from August 15th to September 22, 2019. 

The drawing will now be held on Monday, September 23rd!

As a thank you for providing this important feedback, surveyees will be entered to win one of four $100 gift certificates to a Myrtle Avenue store of their choice. (Dependent on the availability of gift cards from the winner’s choice). 

Paper copies will also be available. To request one, please call us at (718) 230-1689. There will also be paper copies & survey boxes at Apple Bank on 418 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn Public library-Walt Whitman branch on 93 St Edwards St, Whitman Pharmacy 329A Myrtle Ave., and Fort Greene SNAP on 324 Myrtle Ave. 

Myrtle Senior Advisory Council Gets Active

Getting together and talking all things local was the agenda last Thursday at Myrtle Avenue when more than 20 local seniors gathered for the Myrtle Avenue Senior Advisory Council Meeting. After nearly a two year hiatus, the group reconvened for an open meeting to discuss neighborhood issues that impact seniors and how they can work as a group to ensure Myrtle Avenue is a welcoming place for seniors.

Let’s Get Together

On August 7th, neighbors gathered to discuss a number of local issues and to set course for the revised Senior Advisory Council. In the year ahead, the group of local elders will plan events for seniors at local businesses on Myrtle Avenue, help create and promote deals for senior citizens at local businesses, and advocate for the needs of seniors on and around Myrtle Avenue to local elected officials and city agencies. Their work will be supported by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership who originally helped found the council and sought designation of Myrtle Avenue as an official NYC Age-Friendly District.

Attendees of the Senior Advisory Council discussed common concerns around safety and transportation – particularly the MTA’s announcement to reduce B54 Bus service, senior-friendly opportunities, and the importance of access and affordability of services (laundromats, supermarkets, etc.) along Myrtle Avenue.

Want to Join the Council?

We invite interested residents of the Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout, and Brooklyn Navy Yard area to join the Senior Advisory Council for a meeting, and a potential leadership role. The meeting locations will revolve on both ends of the district to accommodate neighborhood residents. 

 Would you like to join the Senior Advisory Council, or come to the next Council meeting? Do you want to sign up for more information? Give us a call at 718-230-1689 ext#5 or email info@myrtleavenue.org for more information.

The next Senior Advisory Council meeting will be on Wednesday, September 25th at 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM at Bishop Memorial Mission at 127 Emerson Place on the corner of Emerson Place and Myrtle Avenue. See the flyer below.

Thank You to Our Supporters

The Senior Advisory Council offers a big thank you to Locals – a new market to open this fall at 332 Myrtle Avenue – generously provided the space for the meeting.  

Age-Friendly Myrtle Avenue is funded in part by a grant from the CABS Community Foundation, an advised fund of the Brooklyn Community Foundation’s Elders Fund. Thank you to the Brooklyn Community Foundation for supporting our work to connect the elders of our neighborhood to co-create a shared vision for our community.

Sign the Petition: Restore B54 Bus Service

Photo by: Anthony Huntington

Join us for a “Rally for the B54” on Thursday, August 8 at 10am at the Myrtle Ave and Washington Ave bus stop (in front of A-rod Grocery).

The MTA is proposing to cut service on the B54 bus this fall, increasing wait times and creating more crowded buses during morning commutes and throughout the day. Sign the petition, calling on the MTA to not reduce service on the B54

For most of Myrtle Avenue, the B54 is the only transit option available. Cutting service will further decline ridership, leading to worse conditions for riders who cannot afford to hail cabs or who are unable to walk the long distance to a subway station.

According to plans from the MTA’s New York City Transit Authority, fewer busses will run on weekdays during morning peak times, midday, and during evening service. The plan would increase wait times up to 15 minutes (up from 12 minutes) at certain points during the day. These longer wait times, according to the MTA’s projections, will push capacity on buses at certain times of the day to 94% (up from the current measured capacity of 84%).

Current plans do not call for changes in service levels during peak evening hours.

Sign the Petition

FREE Summer Events: Music, Fitness, & More

Throughout summer 2019, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership will host FREE weekly events in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza in Clinton Hill (corner of Myrtle & Steuben).

Follow @MyrtleAveBklyn for any schedule updates throughout the summer.

Event Schedule

Jump To: OUTDOOR FITNESS / ARTS & CRAFTS / KIDS CONCERTS / LUNCHTIME CONCERTS / GAME DAY / DANCE NIGHT

OUTDOOR FITNESS

High Energy Workouts
Every Saturday, 9-10am

June 1 – Boot camp with Vitality Health & Wellness
June 8 – Kickboxing with CKO Kickboxing. *TWO* classes will be offered, at 9am and 10am. Gloves will be provided.
June 15 – Boot camp with Southbridge Fitness
June 22 – Boot camp with Vitality Health & Wellness
June 29 – Boot camp with Southbridge Fitness
July 6 – Boot camp with Southbridge Fitness
July 13 – Boot camp with Vitality Health & Wellness
July 20 – Boot camp with Southbridge Fitness – DUE TO THE HEAT, TODAY’S CLASS WILL BE INDOORS AT SOUTHBRIDGE FITNESS (322 MYRTLE AVE, BTWN WASHINGTON PK & CARLTON)
July 27 – Boot camp with Vitality Health & Wellness

BONUS: Enjoy free weekly yoga in May & June with Sunset Stretch Series on Tuesday at 7pm, sponsored by MedRite Urgent Care. FULL INFO

ARTS & CRAFTS FOR KIDS

Every Saturday, 1-4pm with Blick Art Materials

May 18 – Make your own slime
May 25 – Make your own coaster
June 1 – Draw your own Superhero
June 8 – Make your own Father’s Day Card’s
June 15 – Paint your own mini canvases
June 22 – Make your own Origami Animals
June 29 – Make your own mini kites
July 6 – Make your own puppet
July 13 – Decorate your own mask
July 20 – Decorate your own flower pot – DUE TO THE HEAT, TODAY’S ART DEMO WILL BE INSIDE BLICK’S STORE.
July 27 – Paint the teddy bear

KIDS CONCERTS & SING-ALONGS

Select Thursday & Saturdays, 10:30am

June 27 – Funikijam
June 29 – Hopalong Andrew
July 13 – Funikijam
July 18 – Performer TBD
July 27 – Hopalong Andrew

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

Every Tuesday, 12-2pm

June 4 – Utril Rhaburn
June 11 – Edwin Vazquez
June 18 – Mijori Goodwin
June 25 – Utril Rhaburn
July 2 – Edwin Vazquez
July 9 – Utril Rhaburn
July 16 – Mijori Goodwin
July 23 – Edwin Vazquez
July 30 – Mijori Goodwin

MUSIC & DANCE NIGHT

Select Fridays, 5-8pm

Enjoy live music and learn some new dance steps at monthly Dance Nights in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza. Plus, enjoy free food, drinks, games and art during this Friday night neighborhood hang.

June 21 – Salsa Night with Benny Lopez Latin Jazz
Live Salsa dancing performances, Latin jazz music, 3D chalk art installation, photo booth, lawn games, and free food & drink from Castro’s Mexican Restaurant

July 19 – Line Dancing
Line Dancing with Brooklyn Ed, live art installation by Voodo Fe, lawn games, and free food & drink from Villa Pancho Restaurant

Aug 23 – The Best of the 90s

GAME DAY

Every Sunday in June & July, 1-5pm

Stop by the Myrtle Avenue Plaza to enjoy free games, including cornhole, giant jenga and connect four, classic board and table games, like dominos, chess, checkers & more.

New Colorful Art Coming to Myrtle

We are so excited to welcome a new pop of color to the Myrtle Avenue Plaza with the installation of a new art piece next month. Through a collaboration with Pratt Institute’s Foundations department, several utility boxes in the plaza will be transformed into canvases that’ll feature the piece Wonderland, designed by Pratt student Elodia Wei.

Detail of “Wonderland,” featuring a stained glass motif.

DESIGN INSPIRATION

According to Wei, “Wonderland is a stained-glass window design, which depicts abstract landscapes from Myrtle Avenue and Fort Green Park. I discover that the shape of the infrastructure boxes mirrors the shape of the windows on shops and apartment buildings along Myrtle Avenue. Therefore, the landscape on these infrastructure boxes in my design is like people seeing the beautiful sceneries on Myrtle Avenue through these windows.”

Myrtle Avenue BID Executive Director, Chad Purkey (left), and Pratt Institute faculty members Leslie Mutchler (center) and Jean Shin (right) review a model of the selected design.

COLLABORATION WITH PRATT

Wei was one of 18 students who submitted a design proposal, as part of Professor Corinne Ulmann’s Light, Color & Design course this past semester. A huge thank you to Professor Ulmann for leading this project from start to finish!

Two-Wheel Tours: FREE Neighborhood Bike Rides

A Pedal Tour through the Neighborhood

There is nothing more fun than taking a spin on a perfect summer evening, down a tree-lined street in Brooklyn. Join the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership for a FREE guided bike ride around the neighborhood, led by The Brown Bike Girl. Don’t have a bike? No problem. Through a partnership with Citi Bike, there will be free bike rentals available (must be 16+ years).

Rides take place the 4th Thursday of each month from May through August 2019 and begin at the Citi Bike station at Willoughby Av & Washington Pk at 6pm. All ages, abilities are welcome!

REGISTER

RSVP - Community Bike Rides
Will you bring your own bike?
Which Community Bike Ride would you like to attend? (All rides begin at 6pm)

Please note that all riders will be required to sign a liability waiver before the ride begins. If riders are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign.

*FREE Citi Bike rentals are subject to availability of bikes at the Citi Bike station at Willoughby Ave and Washington Pk. You must be 16 years or older to use Citi Bike.

Rides may be canceled due to inclement weather. Follow @myrtleavebklyn for day-of updates or call (718) 230-1689.

Questions? Email hello@myrtleavenue.org or call (718) 230-1689

FREE Outdoor Yoga Every Tuesday

NOW EXTENDED THROUGH JULY!

Stretch it out this spring with FREE outdoor yoga classes on Myrtle Avenue. Every Tuesday night in May, June & July, yoga mats will roll out in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza for free classes taught by local yoga studios Sacred Brooklyn and Move with Grace. The weekly series is sponsored by Clinton Hill neighbor MedRite Urgent Care, open at 504 Myrtle Avenue (next door to Key Food).

The Details

  • All classes are FREE
  • Please bring your own mat
  • Classes start promptly at 7pm and last one hour
  • Meet your instructor in the Myrtle Avenue Plaza, near the intersection of Myrtle and Steuben. Classes will be held near the small stage.
  • Sacred Brooklyn will lead each class in May, and Move with Grace will lead classes in June
  • Classes may be canceled due to rain. On the day of a class, please check @myrtleavebklyn on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the latest information.

For more free events, please visit the Myrtle Avenue Events Calendar.

Make Music New York Returns on June 21

Celebrating the longest day of the year with music in the air. The annual Make Music New York celebration returns to Myrtle Avenue for the summer solstice on Friday, June 21. Catch live musical performances at six (6!) different venues along Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

Schedule: Make Music New York on Myrtle

Myrtle Avenue Plaza
between Steuben St & Emerson Pl
5:00PM – 8:00PM: Benny Lopez Latin Jazz Band (Latin Jazz)
PLUS Salsa dancing (instructors available to help you learn!), FREE food and drinks served by Castro’s Restaurant

Green in BKLYN
432 Myrtle, between Clinton & Waverly
12:30PM – 2:00PM: Afro Dominicano (Latin, Raggae, Afrobeat)
2:00PM – 3:00PM: Lisa Ramey (Soul, R&B, Jazz)

Corkscrew Brooklyn
489 Myrtle Ave, between Hall & Ryerson
2:00PM – 3:00PM: Martin Reuter Electronic, Funk, Jazz
3:30PM – 5:30PM: Ken Voisin Standards, Kids, Rock
6:00PM – 6:45PM: Obeah, the Muse Soul, R&B, Singer/Songwriter
7:00PM – 8:00PM: Benita Charles Soul, R&B, Singer/Songwriter

Gnarly Vines
350 Myrtle Avenue, between Carlton & Adelphi
5:30PM – 7:30PM: Tom Blatt’s The Project (Jazz)

Tipsy
584 Myrtle Avenue, corner of Classon Ave
7:00PM – 7:30PM: Genique (R&B, Afrobeat, Reggae)
+ NY Distilling Co. Tasting from 6-8pm

Bklyn Public Library – Walt Whitman Branch
93 St Edwards St. (btwn Myrtle & Park Ave)
2:00PM – 3:30PM: Annie Nirschel (Indie/Folk, Pop)

Myrtle Avenue Happy Hour RSVP

We look forward to hosting you at the rooftop vineyard in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at Rooftop Reds to show appreciation for your support of our work here at the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership. 

RSVP Form

RSVP

Will you be bringing a guest?

Please limit to 2 guests.

Celebrating Bike Month on Myrtle Ave

All month long in May, we’re joining with neighbors and biking advocates across the country to celebrate National Bike Month. Myrtle Avenue will host free events for those who bike in our neighborhood every day, as well as for our neighbors who are interested in getting introduced to urban cycling.

Scroll below to find our full list of events, or visit our Events Calendar.

MAY 4: BIKE MONTH KICKOFF EVENT

3-4:30pm, in Fort Greene Park, at Myrtle & St. Edwards St

We’re partnering with our friends in the Better Bike Share Network to a host a bike-loving party with FREE helmet giveaways, CitiBike ride demos, free healthy and fresh drinks from Vitality Health & Wellness Bar, and a raffle to win a gift card to Urban Cycles and other biking gear.

This event is being hosted by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and our partners in the Better Bike Share network, including Bed-Stuy Restoration, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and Urban Upbound.

FULL EVENT INFO

MAY 17: FREE BAGELS FOR BIKERS

7:30am-9:30am, at Myrtle Ave and Vanderbilt Ave

Stop by the corner of Myrtle and Vanderbilt Avenues on your way to work to pick up a free bagel and coffee at our annual National Bike to Work Day event. The 88th Precinct will also be on hand to register bikes, which assists the NYPD in finding lost or stolen bikes.

This event is hosted in partnership with The Brown Bike Girl.

FULL EVENT INFO

MAY 30th: FREE COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE

6:00pm-7:00pm, at Myrtle Ave and St. Edward’s St CitiBike Station

Enjoy a guided tour of the neighborhood on wheels during our free, guided monthly bike ride. On the fourth Thursday of the month, from May through August, The Brown Bike Girl will lead riders on a bike ride around the neighborhood, exploring local art, businesses, and more. Riders can bring their own bike or unlock a free CitiBike (depending on availability and must be 16 years or older).

RSVP INFO COMING SOON!

NOW OPEN: TB Coffee House

A new spot offering up caffeine, fresh pastries, and a cool new backyard hangout space just made its debut in Clinton Hill. TB Coffee House “soft opened” this past weekend on Myrtle Avenue, inviting customers into their cozy and chic new spot.

The shop offers an impressively stocked pastries and treats case, plus a full coffee menu.

And the option to sip and eat indoors or outdoors is a big plus. Either pull up a comfy chair near the fireplace or grab a seat on the large backyard deck. It’s a win-win either way.

Stop in soon to try out their new offerings and to say to the friendly staff.

TB Coffee, 578 Myrtle Ave (between Emerson & Classon)

 

Happy 10th Birthday, Green in BKLYN!

Green in BKLYN is Celebrating 10 Years of Business!

Green in BKLYN has been bringing a little bit of Earth Day to Myrtle Avenue every since it opened in 2009. In that time, proprietor Elissa Olin has found a way to make her shop, not just a go-to for eco-friendly products, but a place that supports and celebrates community.

At Green in BKLYN you can find anything from sustainable, fair trade products sourced from local Brooklyn companies, to housewares, cards, books and clothes. Additionally, the shop hosts different environmentally-minded events like used book drives, compost demonstrations and recycling events. The shop has also been a long time supporter of the Youth Entrepreneur Mentorship Program (YEMP) where high school students get a 6-week summer internship to gain professional skills at local businesses.

On Saturday May 11th, from 12-5pm, Green in BKLYN is hosting an event open to all! Highlights include:

  • 10% off purchases store-wide
  • A raffle for in shop products
  • Live Music
  • Light refreshments and birthday cake from Brooklyn Sweet Spot
  • E-waste recycling drop off for SMALL ELECTRONICS ONLY (phones, tablets, etc)

There will also be a special bench dedication ceremony to remember on of Elissa’s YEMP students, Cristina Valentin, who sadly passed away, but left a big impact.

Stop by Green in BKLYN to congratulate Elissa on 10 years, and 10 more years to come!

Green in BKLYN

432 Myrtle Avenue (btwn Clinton and Waverly)

 

Shop Local: Made & Sold in Brooklyn

What’s Good in the Neighborhood?

Our community is filled with many wonderful independent shops, where keeping it local means business as usual. Read on to see some of the Myrtle Avenue merchants who not only make Brooklyn their home, but also their business.

Cardiff Giant

Pull up a seat at Cardiff Giant, a Myrtle Avenue watering hole that is no joke. Their dedication to the states brewers, distilleries and wineries creates a menu of super local and regional drinks that can satisfy any thirst. Rye from the Hudson Valley, cider from Queens, and rum from Bushwick are all represented. Stop in to take a boozy-tour of New York without having to leave Clinton Hill.

415 Myrtle Avenue (btwn Vanderbilt and Clinton)

Brooklyn Sweet Spot

If you haven’t been to Brooklyn Sweet Spot to indulge in their cookies, cupcakes or small pies, then stop reading and go right now! You can’t miss it on Myrtle – just look for the sign that says: “Banana Pudding of Your Whole Life”. It is the pudding of your life, trust us.

So good in fact, it is made in batches in their Fort Greene-based kitchen and sold in different locations all over the city. The secret ingredients in this pudding and their cakes have been passed down through owner Kym Rodgers family, so you know it’s made with love. And as the saying goes, ”Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.”

366 Myrtle Avenue (btwn Adelphi and Clermont)

BKG Roasters

Brooklyn-based and brothers founded, BKG Roasters is a neighborhood coffee spot and community gathering space offering small-batch coffee, from drip to espresso. The Farrelly brothers, Alan, Craig, and James, moved their operations from Red Hook to Myrtle after Hurricane Sandy upended their business in 2012.

Thankfully they were able to pick up here in Clinton Hill and are roasting coffee for their brick and mortar and wholesale accounts. As Spring continues to reveal itself, you will definitely find us in BKG Roasters back yard, cold brew in hand.

557 Myrtle Avenue (btwn Emerson and Classon)

Green in BKLYN

We appreciate Green in Bklyn for their dedication to selling eco-friendly products at their store. Did you know there is an eco-friendly deodorant that is made here on Myrtle and sold in their shop?  Brooklyn’s hot and sweaty summer is going to smell a whole lot nicer thanks to Scully’s all-natural deodorant spray.

432 Myrtle Avenue (btwn Clinton and Waverly)

Jill Lindsey

Jill Lindsey also likes to keep it local. Her Fort Greene flagship store supports Brooklyn artists making anything from apparel and jewelry, to textiles and home goods. The shop also likes to create an atmosphere where residents can stop in to chat over coffee or wine, at their bar-top cafe that looks out to the garden.

370 Myrtle Avenue (between Adelphi and Clermont)

Brooklyn-based + shopping small = a win for the Myrtle Avenue community of merchants!

Myrtle Ave Entrepreneur: Keisha Farrell

For Women’s History Month, we here on Myrtle Avenue are celebrating local women who make positive impacts in our community. Click here to reach the profiles of all the local women who have been featured in our annual Women’s History Month campaign.

Keisha Farrell, owner of Soketah and Shic on Soketah on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill. Photos by Aundre Larrow.

KEISHA FARRELL

Everybody loves a good transformation. And that’s what stylist and Myrtle Avenue entrepreneur Keisha Farrell lives for. Being able to help someone transform themselves into a more confident, healthier person is what first led Keisha into cosmetology and into opening not just one but two(!) beauty-focused businesses on Myrtle: Soketah Unisex and Shic by Soketah.

GOING INTO BUSINESS

After finishing up cosmetology school, Keisha found herself working in a salon and was starting to see firsthand how she could be both a stylist and entrepreneur by opening up her own shop. In 2001, she decided to branch out and go into business for herself, becoming an owner of the salon where she worked. This brings us to her first business: Soketah Hair Divas. Soketah first opened on Myrtle Avenue in 2001, near Vanderbilt Avenue, where Chase Bank is today. After then moving to a second location a block down at 378 Myrtle, they then made their way to their current spot on Myrtle Avenue near Classon, at 563 Myrtle.

After getting Soketah up and running, and seeing it grow into a unisex salon with barber services added, Keisha decided to expand her services on Myrtle. Along with partners Sonia and Jamilla, the team of women opened Shic by Soketah’s hair, nail and beauty bar in 2011.

The original Soketah Hair-Divas location at 406 Myrtle Ave, near Vanderbilt Avenue, in Clinton Hill.

MAKING IT ON MYRTLE

For 18 years now, Keisha has owned, operated, and grown her businesses on Myrtle Avenue. And that’s not by accident. Being a born-and-raised Brooklyn girl, Keisha wanted to establish her businesses here because she, “always felt safe and comfortable on Myrtle Avenue. It feels warm, to me. And that’s how we wanted the salon to feel.” And about Clinton Hill, Keisha added that “it’s diverse, multi-cultural, and a neighborhood of working-class residents. That’s the community we wanted to serve.”

To book an appointment, call: Soketah Unisex, (718) 230-0799 | Shic by Soketah, (718) 875-6845

Read more about other leading Women on Myrtle Avenue:

Myrtle Meals: Lunch Under $10

Funny how your stomach just knows when it’s time for lunch, right?

Myrtle Avenue has plenty of places to get a delicious and filling lunch, for under $10! Check out our roundup below and put those hunger pangs to rest.

Rice + Naan + Curry + Dessert, Oh My!

Spice and Grill offers an amazing lunch special that includes: rice, naan, daal, saag, choice of curry AND dessert, for $7.99. This local favorite also offers a wide selection of other affordable dishes under $10 as well.

Spice and Grill (441 Myrtle Ave, btwn Clinton and Waverly)

You Can Never Go Wrong with Thai

Photo Credit: @malvivant on Instagram

Myrtle Avenue has a generous selection of Thai restaurants offering daily lunch specials. At Thai 101 you can get an appetizer and entrée for $7.95. This is the perfect amount of food that will fill you up, without draining your wallet.

Thai 101 (448 Myrtle Ave, btwn Waverly and Washington)

A Stacked Sandwich

The farmer in the Deli has two locations on Myrtle to get anything from cold cuts to chicken cutlet sandwiches. Grab a bag of chips and a drink and you can be out the door with a lunch that will satisfy your belly and your budget.

Farmer in the Deli (357 Myrtle Ave, between Adelphi and Clermont)

Farmer in the Deli II (541 Myrtle Ave, btwn Steuben and Emerson)

Tacos Tuesday

Need we say more? Didn’t think so. On Taco Tuesday you should stop in for what else…the tacos! They offer two hard or soft tacos and a soda for $7.50. Sign us up!

Castro’s (511 Myrtle Ave, btwn Ryerson and Grand)

There are a lot more affordable options up and down Myrtle. Be on the lookout for signs with daily specials and discounts at lunch!