Come 'n' get it: apples, a variety of juices, corn, lettuce, kale, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, parsley, and eggplant. Sorry, the watermelons didn't come on the truck. Don't let that stop you from trying the seed spitting contest!

Your support is MUCH appreciated!!

When: Thursdays 4-7PM
Fall hours begin Sept. 9th 3:30-6:30PM
Where: Myrtle Ave btwn Prince/Navy
Farmer: Glebocki Farms and Red Jacket

Please bring your own bag.

Explore Myrtle Avenue is back this September! Get your gamecard at any of the Move About Myrtle events, or at one of the 20 participating businesses! Entering the contest is easy...just spend $10 at five businesses on the gamecard and collect five stamps, then submit your card as an entry into a drawing for one of four $400 Myrtle Shopping Sprees!

We've added ANOTHER contest this year - the "Myrtle Fan Appreciation" raffle! At each of the four Move About Myrtle events, we'll draw one name from our pool of Facebook fans to receive $100 in Myrtle gift certificates! You can also enter your name at our table at the event.

Okay, party people, now that we've gotten past hump day, and are totally pumped up to come out to enjoy Move About Myrtle activities this weekend--we've got special Karrot Health Food Store news to announce that will make the weekend exponentially sweeter.

Karrot now carries high-end imported craft beer, such as La Fin Du Monde, Triple Karmeliet and the Hulk, a natural-ingredient brew, which Karrot owner, Carlos, describes as "guaranteed to blow the lid off of your vegan consciousness."

Okay, you're thinking--"wow, I am so there. What will Carlos and Radhames, those Karrot nice guy owners, think of next." Well, as per Carlos, if you stop in this Saturday, 9/4 between 3p and closing, and do the following- an instant 20% off of your purchase:

- purchase at least $30 worth of groceries, with at least one of your items being beer

- look Radhames in the eye and say--"Radhames, you're the man"

...and instantly, 20% off this Saturday.

Customers' Request

Why beer, you ask? Carlos and Radhames answer simultaneously: "our customers kept asking for it."

Ahh, let's toast to that.

See you there!

Karrot is located at 431 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton and Waverly. Call the store at 718.522.9753 for more information.

This summer the avenue is sprinkled with sidewalk sheds and scaffolding as merchants and property owners make repairs and improvements to their buildings. Many of these projects, ranging from commercial interior renovations to cornice reconstructions to complete façade restorations, are receiving New York Main Street grant assistance through MARP.

The New York Main Street Program (NYMS) is multi-million dollar Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) grant program administered by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) to provide financial and technical resources to help New York communities with their Main Street revitalization efforts by: providing financial incentives for the rehabilitation of traditional building stock, fostering small business development, encouraging energy efficiency and addressing issues of code compliance. The NYC Department of Small Business Services has provided MARP with operating support to manage the program for the last 3 years.

Through a competitive process the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) has been awarded New York Main Street funds in three previous rounds of funding. To date, we have been awarded $500,000 and as of this summer, almost all of those funds have been committed or disbursed!

How it works on Myrtle:
Our NYMS Grants are matching, reimbursement grants available, through MARP, to property owners and merchants on Myrtle Avenue between Washington Park and Classon Avenue for façade preservation, storefront improvements and commercial interior renovations. Grant recipients employ local contractors, architects, structural engineers and preservationist (depending on the project scope) to complete the work. MARP selects and works with recipients to complete projects that:
- Respect the original design of the buildings
- Facilitate commercial activity on Myrtle Avenue
- Ensure long-term benefits to the improved buildings
- Correct immediate health and safety concerns and code violations
- Positively impact the Myrtle Avenue corridor.

Next time you’re taking a stroll down Myrtle, stop by some of the properties recently completed / under construction!

334 (between Washington Park and Carlton) – Last year the property owner updated the building the houses Farmer, and this summer, he is doing the same for the building next door. In the scope of work: upper cornice improvements, cleaning and repointing of brick, sills and lintels, interior open grid gates and a reconstructed lower cornice and storefront.

366 – Scaffolding should go up any day now! The property owner has planned construction to repair the upper cornice, waterproofing and sills and lintels on the upper façade. Currently, the new tenant, Brooklyn Stone Boutique, is hard at work in the commercial space preparing to open her women’s clothing and jewelry boutique.

459 /461 (corner of Washington and Myrtle) – The owners of Five Spot went big – undertaking major work on both building facades and the storefront, with technical assistance and a loan from the New York Landmarks Conservancy's Historic Properties Fund. Their scope included new brownstone, cornice repairs, cleaning and repainting the Washington façade, removing exterior gates and installing a new, iron, accordion-style storefront with a corner entrance.

456 – 460 (between Waverly and Washington) – When you’re at Anima or Joseph Tyler Salon, look up to check out the newly repaired upper cornices!

561 (between Emerson and Classon) - Behind the construction fence, the Emerson (a new bar opening in mid to late September) is taking shape. The business owners are busy constructing the detailed interior and beautiful storefront for their new bar and neighborhood hang-out.

Stay tuned for more projects, beginning work any day now!

Farming Concrete is a volunteer, citizen science project to measure how much food is grown in New York City’s community gardens. Using the mapping tools provided by Farming Concrete one of our FRESH Teens in the Myrtle Eats Fresh program will label what is growing in each food plot and measure the plot dimensions in order to gauge the gardeners food production.

The project aims to, "enhance the perceived value and legitimacy of community gardens as a public land use in New York City and give the gardens a defined place in the fabric of the urban food system". Furthermore, the project has the potential to "open the gate to making connections between surplus food production and local soup kitchens, food pantries, or schools”, bringing more fresh food options into NYC communities!

We are honored to be a part of this initiative. To get your community garden on the map visit: farmingconcrete.com.

Come and get your Labor Day watermelon at the Farm Stand this week - YUM! My family tradition is to have a watermelon seed spitting contest. Whoever spits the furthest gets the prize! Try it, it's fun!

You can also pick up: apples, a variety of juices, corn, lettuce, kale, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, parsley, and eggplant.

Your support is MUCH appreciated!!

When: Thursdays 4-7PM
Fall hours begin Sept. 9th 3:30-6:30PM
Where: Myrtle Ave btwn Prince/Navy
Farmer: Glebocki Farms and Red Jacket

Please bring your own bag.

Move and groove at Move About Myrtle this weekend! Who needs the club, when you can get down to Soul Summit right here on Myrtle? Check out this lineup for all kinds of tail-feather-shaking activities:

Soul Summit
Did you miss Soul Summit’s last dance party in Fort Greene Park this season? Don’t worry – they’re back in the neighborhood at Move About Myrtle with two more chances for you to get down! They’ll be with us this Sunday and next Sunday, 9/12. (Clermont and Myrtle, 3pm-6pm)

Get movin’ at Move with Grace
Don’t miss free music and dance classes all day at local studio Move With Grace! Wear comfortable clothes and join in!
12noon Yoga Class (All Levels) with Grace
2pm Live Music "Major Taylor" - Rock, soul and blues
3:30pm Tahitian Dance Class (All Levels) and Performance with Mikaela Joy
5pm Belly Dance Class with Tamar Raqs

At upcoming Move About Myrtle events…

- Rude Mechanical Orchestra will be helping to create a celebratory vibe at Brooklyn Food Coalition’s Good Food Fest on 9/12. RMO is a 30-odd-piece New York City radical marching band and dance troupe. Through their music and performance they support people and communities working for social justice. (Vanderbilt and Myrtle)
- On 9/19 and 9/26 BAMcafe’ Live joins us on Myrtle by bringing DJ Idlemind “The Appropriate Agent”, Fifth Nation and le Grand Baton to the stage at Clermont and Myrtle!
- Trilok Fusion Arts youth dancers perform on 9/26!
- Maracatu provides a beat for our first ever bike/scooter/big wheel parade on 9/26!

Here's to being healthy! If you've been thinking about a healthier lifestyle, Move About Myrtle can get you jump-started! If you're already on the healthy tip, then you'll love what we have store for this Sunday. Check it out!

Veggiecate yourself!

Lisa Suriano, founder and creator of the Veggiecation Program, will conduct a cooking demonstration targeting elementary school age kids, and on the menu is Teriyaki Snap Peas and Carrots - yum! Kids will be invited to sample Veggiecation's culinary creation and cast a vote on how they liked the recipe in the Veggiecation Ballot Boxes. Empowering children to express their opinion is an integral part of the Veggiecation philosophy and method. Veggiecation Character Coloring Pages and crayons will be given out to all participants, and parents will be able to pick up a copy of Veggiecation's Top Five Tips to Grow the Love of Vegetables At Home. Fun stuff for the whole family! (1pm-4pm between Vanderbilt and Clinton)

Community Chef Cooking Demos

Myrtle Eats Fresh Community Chef Dumeha will be cooking up tasty recipes that are healthy and affordable for you to sample. Visit her from and learn some new techniques to bring back to your own kitchen! (1pm to 3pm between Vanderbilt and Clinton)

Green in BKLYN makes Move about Myrtle green!

Green in BKLYN brings some ‘green’ spirit to Move About Myrtle with a fantastic calendar of events! Bring out your old umbrella this Sunday and learn how to make a bag from it – how cool is that? (Drop off your old umbrellas throughout the week if you’re just looking to get rid of those broken ones!) Here’s the full schedule of events that will take place right outside the store (between Clinton and Waverly):
12-2pm Making Bags from Umbrellas with Catherine Charlot of HIMANE
2-4pm Vokashi Composting with Vandra Thorburn
4:30-6pm Yolele! Book Signing with chef Pierre Thiam including tasty Somali treats!
TEASER: Next week at Green in BKLYN … e-waste recycling and world-renowned dog artist Tillamook Cheddar!

Shape Up New York

Shape Up New York, a FREE family fitness program offered at parks sites, community centers, housing sites and events around New York City, helps us get fit right here on Myrtle! Fitness classes are open to all ages – no experience necessary, but wear comfortable clothes and a healthy attitude! The program is sponsored jointly by the City's Health and Parks Departments.(2pm-4pm between Clermont and Vanderbilt)

This week you can purchase: sweet corn, fresh garlic, tomatoes, yellow squash, carrots, onions, broccoli, lettuce, Kirby cucumbers, potatoes, peppers, white peaches, plums, Sansa apples, and quarts of cider.

Community Chef Yvonne Brodrick will be using veggies from our bounty to make a healthy snack. Come by and have a taste!

Please bring your own bag.

Gray's Studio Cafe (formerly known as Images for Life Studio Boutique) has expanded to include a cafe. Gray's specializes in delicious Italian desserts and hot as well as iced drinks, including cannolis, tarts, cappaccinos, lattes, espressos and caramel, cinnamon and other delicious macchiatos.

Smoothies, hot paninis and other desserts are available as well.

Gray's sells clothing accessories and has a full photography studio as well. In other words, it offers a full package for any celebratory occasion--pastries, gifts and photos to remember the day.

Mondays are 'Senior Mondays'. Those aged 65 and older can have a muffin or croissant ans a small coffee or tea for only $1.50. Tuesdays are 'Tasty Tuesdays,' drop in to enjoy selected pastries of the day at reduced prices.

Gray's is the perfect setting for poetry and spoken word, open mic, book clubs and jazz or classical music events. Stop in and inquire.

Gray's Studio Cafe is located at 354 Myrtle Avenue, between Adelphi and Carlton. They can be reached at 347.227.8293.