Starting Fall semester '09, Pratt students, faculty and staff will be able to use their Pratt identification cards to make purchases on Myrtle Avenue.

In this expanded capacity id cards will essentially be used as debit cards with cash balances used to shop or dine at local businesses on the Avenue. Currently the cards can be used to make purchases solely on the Pratt campus and related facilities: cafeteria, the PrattSTORE, computer labs, copy center.

The program will be open to approximately 6,200 students, staff, and faculty, and to 150 eligible businesses on Myrtle Avenue.

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is currently signing up a smaller number of Myrtle businesses to help pilot the program in the Fall.

This Saturday at 9pm, celebrate BAM Cinematek's 10th Anniversary and kick off the Afro Punk Festival with a free film at Fort Greene Park! The film, "What's on your plate?", is a thought-provoking and entertaining documentary about kids, food and politics. Bring a blanket and claim your spot on the grass early!

Here's the synopsis:
Safiyah and Sadie are two 11-year old African-American girls growing up in New York City. Over the course of a year filmaker Catherine Gund follows them as they start to ask - and answer - questions about the food on their plate. Where does it come from? What's in it? Why is it so hard to get healthy meals into schools and what will happen if we don't?

Photo credit: www.bam.org www.bam.org

With the collapse of 493 Myrtle and the demolition of 491, residents have lost not only their homes, but all of their possessions as well. Here's a list of links compiled from local blogs that will tell you how you can help:

Donate to all residents through the office of Councilmember Letitia James

Donate to Andrew Schneider through this site

Donate to Andrew Schneider and Anh Nguyen through this site

Donate to Jess Banning by clicking here

UPDATE: Additional information on fundraising events is posted here on the NY Times Local blog. Myrtle restaurant, Chez Lola, is holding an event this Sunday.

ART OPENING AT TAMBORIL: June 26, 2009, reception begins 7:00pm Join Tamboril in a celebration of art from a male's perspective. Featured artists include:

-Ansel Pitcairnwing, visual artist & illustrator

-John Christopher Morgan, visual artist

-Samuel Sudley, visual artist

special interpretive dance performance by Oumou Diallo

*enjoy free cocktails compliments of trump vodka with purchase of entree item, 7 to 8pm

RSVP info@tamborilnyc.com

Also, don't forget to join us for happy hour every Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 to 7:30pm. 2-for-ones are featured.

Update (6/22/09) from DOB:
- 491 Myrtle is being demolished floor by floor prior to debris from the collapsed building is removed for safety, given that 491 Myrtle's structural integrity has been compromised
- For now, all businesses on the north side of that block must continue to stay vacated due to the possible collapse of 491. Residents in most of the buildings on the block have been allowed to return
- Myrtle Avenue from Hall to Emerson will remain closed to vehicles (not to pedestrians or businesses) for 3-4 days as debris is removed

493 Myrtle Avenue, the 4-story mixed-use building located between Hall and Ryerson collapsed yesterday (Sunday) sometime after 2pm, according to news reports. Vesper Bar and Lounge was located on the building's ground floor.

For now, Myrtle between Washington Avenue and Steuben Street has been cordoned off as a safety precaution.

The buildings adjoining 493 sustained at least some damage.

Cause of the collapse still being investigated. The NYC Department of Small Business Services, the Office of Emergency Management, officers of the 88th precinct amongst others are on the scene providing assistance to business owners and residents.

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

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

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

The Fort Greene CSA kicked off its season last week. They are sponsoring a cooking demo this Wednesday at the north east entrance to Fort Greene Park, where Just Food Community Chef, Tree (pictured above), will prepare items from the weekly vegetable share from 5pm - 6pm.

The CSA memberships are sold out for this season, but the cooking demonstration is free and open to the public. Come out and try some kohlrabi!

Yesterday Myrtle Thai re-opened their doors on Myrtle Avenue! Their new location is just a few blocks away from the old, at 438 between Clinton and Waverly. Stop in for lunch or dinner and check out their colorful new digs!

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

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

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

Visit www.brooklynhealthyfoodcampaign.org to find out more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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