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)

Are you ready to Move About Myrtle? We’re kicking it off on September 5th with a “Back to School Celebration”! Come join us for a day of fun and games before heading back to hit the books. The first Sunday is already jam-packed with free activities, music, and merchant specials, and we’re confirming more every week. New contest this year – we’ll select one lucky winner each week to receive $100 in Myrtle gift certificates! To enter, follow us on Facebook or enter at our MARP table at the events, located between Washington and Hall. You can also pick up your Explore Myrtle Avenue game cards at every Sunday event, and enter for your chance to win a Myrtle shopping spree later in the fall!

Click here to find out getting healthy about at Move About Myrtle this weekend, and here to find out about getting your groove on!

Here’s a block-by-block summary of activities for September 5th:

Clermont to Vanderbilt
Did you miss Soul Summit in Fort Greene Park this summer? They’re back in Fort Greene for two more summer dance parties at Move About Myrtle! Soul Summit DJs will spin from 3-6pm on September 5th and September 12th on Myrtle near Clermont. While you're here drop off your gently worn clothes at Tres Elegante’s Textile Drive and check out their fashion show at 4:30pm, browse the sidewalk sale racks at Kiini Ibura, and take advantage of Home and U’s Door Buster specials to give your apartment or dorm room a fall makeover.

Vanderbilt to Clinton
Here’s to your health! Jump in and burn some calories at DPHO’s Shape Up NYC fitness classes for all ages, and enjoy kid-friendly food preparation and tastings with Veggiecation from 1-4pm. Myrtle Eats Fresh Community Chef Dumeha will be cooking and serving up tasty bites made from healthy, affordable ingredients at 4pm. Also, Verizon will be raffling a prepaid cell phone, and Castro’s will be offering tasty Mexican food and barbecuing in the lot at Emigrant Bank. And…we’ve also got free face painting from noon – 3pm!

Clinton to Waverly
For kids (and the inner child in all of us), this block will be devoted to good old-fashioned fun! Hula hoops, street games and sidewalk chalk will be on hand for open use throughout the day, with plenty of ‘blank street canvas’ for all, and free arts and crafts activities! Enjoy free mini-smoothies from Karrot all day, and Sans Souci offers their Caribbean fare in the Citibank lot. Check out the spa promotions at Karen’s Body Beautiful. Green in BKLYN has a full day of activities planned, so make sure to stop by! Make bags from umbrellas with HIMANE from 12-2pm, compost with Vokashi from 2-4pm, and meet local celebrity chef Pierre Tham from Grand Dakar at 4:30pm, have him sign his book, Yolele!, and taste some Somali treats. Yum.

Waverly to Washington
Join local artist Ellie Balk and her team as they create a community ‘mural’ at the fence at the vacant lot next to Bank of America! Trilok Fusion Arts will bring their weaving looms Plenty of space to sit and watch the action here while you enjoy a drink and a bite, with sidewalk cafes at Maggie Brown’s, Thai 101, Anima and Five Spot! Brunch anyone?

Washington to Hall
Brought to you by local yoga and dance studio Move with Grace, this block will feature free yoga, dance, and themed dance parties on each of the four Sundays. This Sunday's lineup:
12 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
Little girls can get ready for school with a ‘kiddie manicure’ at Polish Bar, and fashionistas can pick up some new pieces at Barking Brown. Lots of sidewalk cafes on this block as well, so if dancing and shopping aren’t for you, then just relax with a cool drink outside Yamashiro, Zaytoons, Kum Kau and Liberty Pizza. You can even catch up on your African cinema outside Billo’s Discount Store!

Here’s a teaser about what’s in store for upcoming weeks:
Soul Summit returns on 9/12!
BAMcafe’ brings featured artists on 9/19 and 9/26
Brooklyn Food Coalition’s Good Food Fest takes over Vanderbilt to Clinton block on 9/12
“The Case of the Curious Pedestrian” brings tons of playful public art projects and performances to the avenue on 9/19
Our first ever bike/scooter/big wheel parade from Hall to Clermont kicks of 9/26, with lots of bike-themed programs throughout the day!

Excited yet??? We are! Spread the word, and we'll see you on Myrtle in a few weeks!

Move About Myrtle is sponsored by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership with support from St. Joseph's College, Emigrant Bank, and Associated Supermarket.(photos from 2009 Move About Myrtle)

MARP’s Myrtle Eats Fresh initiative includes a number of projects that engage community members in activities to improve access to healthy, affordable food on Myrtle Avenue, and in the surrounding neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Projects include a community-run farm stand, a community chef program, creating and expanding community gardens on public housing grounds, and the formation of a local food policy task force.

Join us to learn more about the program and celebrate the inaugural season of the Myrtle Farm Stand, and meet the community members, project partners and MARP staff involved in making it all happen!

When: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Time: 4:30pm
Where: Myrtle Avenue Farm Stand, at the Ingersoll Community Center
177 Myrtle Avenue (Prince/Navy)

Please RSVP: Joanna Reynolds, 718.230.1689 or joanna@myrtleavenue.org
Light refreshments will be served.

Events: KICK-OFF SPECIAL! Spend at least $8 and get an additional $2 free produce!
Cooking Demo by Community Chef Jasmine Reaves
Meet gardeners from Ingersoll Garden of Eden
Free face painting with Dumeha Bernice of ParaLee’s Peace

The Myrtle Eats Fresh Initiative is supported by New York Community Trust and Atlantic Philanthropies as part of the New York City Community Experience Partnership (CEP), a collaboration with United Neighborhood Houses of New York (UNH), with additional support from Brooklyn Community Foundation.

Neighborhood Organizations are coming together to host the second annual Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Progressives' Potluck & Gathering. Community members, progressives', activists and organizers from the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill community will come together to eat, play and get acquainted. Mr. Goldman of Fort Greene Peace said it best, "we can do so much more when we know each other and work together!".

All are welcome! Please bring a dish to share.

Location: In Fort Greene Park Parallel to Washington Park, between the DeKalb Ave. (just north of the playground) and the Willoughby Avenue entrances.
When: Sunday, August 8, 1:00PM
Contact: bthstchr@yahoo.com

Hosted by: Fort Greene Peace, Brooklyn Food Coalition (BFC) Fort Greene/Clinton Chapter, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality(FUREE), Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project(MARP) & Pratt Area Community Council(PACC)

Come on out this Saturday, August 7, from 10am-12pm at the Ingersoll Garden of Eden for a FREE workshop on "Vertical Growing & Trellising", led by Just Food's City Farms Trainers! This is the fourth workshop in our Garden Workshop Series, that is running through September. This workshop will focus on how to grow more plants in less space.

All workshops take place at the Ingersoll Garden of Eden, which is located adjacent to the Ingersoll Community Center, at 177 Myrtle, between Prince and Navy.

Our last workshop, "Planting for Fall Harvest", was led by Just Food's dynamic City Farms Trainer, Ceci Charles-King. Ceci led a tour de force through all kinds of garden knowledge, from soil care, to seed saving, to what plants are good companions for others, and so much more. The workshop participants walked away with a whole lot to chew on!

So don't miss out on this workshop series! Come on out to the garden on Saturday, and take advantage of FREE access to Just Food's expert City Farms Trainers.

On all four Sundays this September, Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Clermont will transform into an active, pedestrian-friendly public space perfect for dancing, cycling, strolling, and people-watching! We’ve partnered with DOT's Weekend Walks to bring back “Move About Myrtle” for a second year, celebrating community and public space with residents of all ages. From noon to 6pm each Sunday, the commercial corridor will become a temporary neighborhood plaza complete with FREE music, workshops, performance, games, arts and much more -- all organized with the help of local community groups and Myrtle merchants. Here are some of the highlights:

September 5th: Back-to-School celebration with activities for the whole family!
September 12th: Brooklyn Food Coalition’s GRUB FEST featuring the biggest potluck ever, a Mac and Cheese contest, and fun for foodies of all ages!
September 19th: "The Case of the Curious Pedestrian" will offer playful public art installations, performances and surprises on all five blocks…and the FDNY Smoke House!
September 26th: It’s Bicycle Day, and our 2nd annual tree giveaway!

Every Sunday: kids activities and games, sidewalk cafes, free yoga and dance classes by Move With Grace studio, music and performances, merchant specials, free tastings, and raffle prizes!

Interested in helping out? Move About Myrtle provides a wonderful opportunity to support your community! Please email Meredith@myrtleavenue.org if you’d like to spend a few hours to help make these events a success. Believe us, it won’t be possible without you! We need help spreading the word (flyering, postering, blogging) before the event, and there are endless coordination tasks on event days where assistance would be much appreciated! Have a special skill or talent that you’d like to share with your neighbors? Maybe you’re an acoustic musician or dance instructor, or maybe you’ve got a knack for arts & crafts with recycled materials. If you have an idea for a program or activity, please let us know! We’d love to have you. Local energy and talent will be what truly makes this a community-centered event!

Would you organization like to participate? Local organizations can ‘sponsor’ a block by supporting and/or organizing activities to take place there, and by assisting with event promotion. Email us your suggestions! Send them to Meredith@myrtleavenue.org.

Maureen, with Just Food, gave the gardeners great advice in Saturday's workshop, "Organic Pest Control: Planting techniques to increase yields and decrease pests". Did you know that ants don't like mint? To reduce their presence you can crush up fresh mint, add it to water and use it as a spray around your garden and plants. This workshop was the second in a series of seven that will run through September. The next, "Planting for Fall Harvest", is scheduled for July 24, 2010 10-noon (weather permitting) at the Garden of Eden on Myrtle Ave between Prince and Navy. All are welcome!

Come by between 4-7PM and buy affordable fresh fruit and vegetables direct from New York and New Jersey farmers to you! We are located at 177 Myrtle Ave btwn Prince and Navy in front of the Ingersoll Community Center. Today's bounty will include blueberries, cherries, collard greens, spinach, beets, zuchinni, and much more! We accept Cash, EBT, FMNP, and WIC. Please bring your bag and extras for others if you have some to spare. See you at the market!

Okay, so some people take years of "indoor" training before making their public debuts. Sing for Hope spins that notion on its head by bringing 60 pianos to parks and public spaces of New York City--TWO of them in Fort Greene Park! One piano is at the Myrtle entrance to the Fort Greene Park (see picture above) and another just up the hill at the north oval, just opposite the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument.

Sing for Hope takes music to the streets with Play Me, I’m Yours, a public art project. The piano will be open and available for anyone to sit and play, now thru Monday, July 5th.

Stop by, play!