The weather people are forecasting spring weather for this weekend - 50 degrees! That's perfect for an activity, like say, strolling Myrtle and viewing some art? The newest Myrtle Windows Gallery exhibition was installed this week, featuring prints by artists from Pratt. Twelve storefronts between Vanderbilt and Hall feature works by eight artists. Sounds like a great weekend activity!

Photo: Mabuhay Gardens by Sonya Katcher at Karrot

A growing list of Haiti earthquake relief related activities taking place on Myrtle:

BROOKLYN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU 412 Myrtle Avenue 718.403.0067 Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Donations to the American Red Cross.

FORT GREENE SNAP 324 Myrtle Avenue 718.694.6957 Fort Greene SNAP accepting new or gently used socks, candles, bedding, underwear, flashlights as well as checks made out to the American Red Cross accepted thru the end of February.

GREEN IN BKLYN 432 Myrtle Avenue 718.855.4383 Green in BKLYN has listed earthquake relief resources on their website as well as put together a hardcopy list for anyone looking for ideas of ways to help. Also, Green in BKLYN is accepting check and money order donations to send to the Red Cross.

GREEN PETS SPA & BOUTIQUE 572 Myrtle Avenue 718.230.8300 Green Pets will donate collected funds to Doctors without Borders and Yele Haiti.

KAPELLA'S HAIR SALON (open Wednesday thru Saturday only) 417 Myrtle Avenue 718.222.3434 Currently collecting donations for Yele Haiti and socks which will be donated for shipment to Haiti.

KAREN'S BODY BEAUTIFUL 436 Myrtle Avenue 718.797.4808 Karen’s Body Beautiful will help provide relief to victims of the earthquake in Haiti by matching your donations. Increase the power of your donation! (from January 14th – January 20th, 2010). Funds to Yele Haiti.

LOCKAWAY SELF STORAGE 1 Carlton Avenue (at Flushing) (718) 522-5050 Lockaway is collecting only NEW items thru February 20th: bedding, blankets, underwear, outerwear, shoes, socks, towels. Clearly label items "Relief for Haiti". Donations in conjunction with Fashion Delivers (fashiondelivers.org).

MYRTLE CAR SERVICE 525 Myrtle Avenue 718.230.8100 Myrtle Car Service is collecting donations: bottled water, new underwear, socks.

ZAYTOONS 472 Myrtle Avenue 718.623.5522 Zaytoons will match customer donations. Increase the power of your donation from Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24th.

MOVE WITH GRACE YOGA, DANCE & PILATES STUDIO 469 Myrtle Avenue (Washington/Hall) 718.230.0013 Move With Grace will conduct five donation-based classes this Sunday, 1/17. Funds will go to Yele Haiti and Doctor's without Borders. The studio is also collecting beans and tealights to be shipped to Haiti.

All class are open to all levels.

10-11am Alignment based yoga

11:15-12 Belly Dance "The Fun in Fundamentals"

12:-1pm Level 1 Mat Pilates "Explore strengthening the deep core"

1:15-2:15pm Ballet Fitness

2:30-3:30pm Vinyasa Yoga Flow "Focusing on awareness and interconnectedness"

Tuesday night live music continues on Myrtle. Come out, shop, boogie...

December 8th ANIMA ITALIAN BISTRO 458 Myrtle (Waverly/Washington) Global Soul and R&B 718.855.9455

December 15th SANS SOUCI 330 Myrtle (Washington Park/Carlton) Funky Percussion 347.227.8135

Christmas tree and wreath sales are on the way, along with live music on Tuesdays between November 24th and December 15th. Check out the schedule and come on by Myrtle Avenue for your holiday cheer and gift-shopping needs.

UDPATE: The Myrtle Holiday Windows Contest is up and running as of today! Many neighborhood artists were hard at work, painting and decorating Myrtle storefronts this weekend. Take a stroll from Classon to Washington Park to view them all, and vote for your favorite via text message! The voting system only allows one vote per cell phone, so be sure to see them all before casting a vote. Instructions on how to cast your vote are posted in each of the participating windows:

Ray's Barber Shop (331 Myrtle)
Fort Greene SNAP (324 Myrtle)
Sans Souci (330 Myrtle)
Just Because (141 Carlton)
Gnarly Vines (350 Myrtle)
Cleopatra Spa (378 Myrtle)
Kiini Ibura (388 Myrtle)
The Bakery (154 Vanderbilt)
Kapella's (417 Myrtle)
Karen's Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle)
Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle)
Root Stock & Quade (471 Myrtle)
Zaytoons (472 Myrtle)
Miracles (473A Myrtle)
Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle)
Sandbox (487 Myrtle)
Pillow Cafe (5050 Myrtle)
Green Pets (563 Myrtle)
Wally's Square Root Cafe (584 Myrtle)

Hope you can join us for our 10th anniversary celebration and fundraiser. Tickets are only $25, and include open bar, food from seven Myrtle restaurants, and music by Bill Lee and his jazz quintet.

Space is limited, and RSVP's are required by Monday, November 30th. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

A direct link to RSVP and purchase tickets is here. If you have trouble with the link, or would prefer to pay by check, please contact Joanna at joanna@myrtleavenue.org.

smART Brooklyn Gallery Hop, this weekend: Saturday, November 21 & Sunday, November 22nd; 1p-6p Hop on and off the buses and drop nto the galleries to see the exhibitions, meet their friendly, informative staff and see why Brooklyn's art scene is famous. Neophytes or collectors--buyers or browsers--all are welcome.

The 'Red Loop' buses loops through Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, including to Myrtle Avenue's own, Clinton Hill Simply Art & Framing Gallery at 583 Myrtle Avenue between Classon and Emerson. Clinton Hill Simply Art & Framing Gallery has served the neighborhood for more than 15 years.

For more information, visit visitbrooklyn.org

The award-winning Big Onion Tours, dubbed the finest, most comprehensive and thought provoking tours around, plans its next Fort Greene tour: Sunday, November 22nd at 1pm.

Admission: $15/Adults, $12/Seniors & Students

Meet: The southeast corner of Flatbush Avenue & Hanson Place, under the large red BAM sign

Call the tour hotline for further detail: 212.439.1090.

At an event on Thursday evening, MARP and the 88th Precinct of the NYPD were presented with the MetLife Foundation Community- Police Partnership Award. MARP and the 88th Precinct were honored for their accomplishments in creating a safe environment and spurring economic development and job creation on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill during their collaboration over the last 10 years.

The Award, sponsored by MetLife Foundation and administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), recognizes partnerships between community development groups and police departments that have reduced crime and spurred housing development, economic activity and improved community services in low and moderate-income communities. April Hawkins, director of civic affairs of MetLife Foundation, presented the awards to MARP and the 88th Precinct, who were selected from more than 650 applicants nationwide. Michael Blaise Backer accepted the award on behalf of MARP and Captain Anthony Tasso was there to receive the award on behalf of the 88th Precinct. The award also came with $25,000 in funding to support MARP's work. Upon accepting the award, Michael Blaise Backer committed to putting $5,000 of the award to the 88th Precinct's summer youth programs.

The event was held at the brand new Myrtle Avenue Caribbean restaurant Sans Souci, located at 330 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Park and Carlton. Elected officials Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Councilwoman Letitia James were there to join in the celebration, as well representatives from MetLife, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Community Board 2, MARP staff and board members, and other community members.


Pictured, left to right: Julia Ryan (LISC), Michael Blaise Backer (MARP), Basil Jones (Sans Souci), Lillie Jones (Sans Souci), April Hawkins (MetLife), Captain Anthony Tasso (88th Precinct)

Come out to a community meeting about the availability of fresh, healthy and affordable food in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill this Thursday, November 5 at 6:30pm!

The meeting will take place at the office of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP). This will be an opportunity to voice your concerns and visions for the future, and collaborate with fellow residents to create change.

The office is located at 472 Myrtle Ave., 2nd floor, between Washington and Hall. Press the buzzer labeled “MARP” when you arrive and you will be let in.

This meeting is a part of ongoing meetings by the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill chapter of the Brooklyn Food Coalition, an effort that is organizing residents borough-wide to ensure that all Brooklynites have consistent access to healthy and affordable food now and for years to come.

For more information, please contact Regina Ginyard: reason9776(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Please join the NY Landmarks Conservancy to hear from a group of preservationists and architects who will provide a critical framework and practical advice on sustainability in historic houses. These professionals will discuss their own experiences, highlighting what is successful and what should be rethought, and will answer questions from the audience.

Preservation is Sustainability: How to Make Your Historic House More Energy Efficient

Date: Thursday, Nov. 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Location: Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn

Speakers:
Walter Sedovic, AIA LEED, Principal & CEO, Walter Sedovic Architects, moderator

Christine Benedict, R.A. ARCHITECTURE AND ENERGY LIMITED

William Neeley, Deputy Director, Preservation, Landmarks Preservation Commission

Rebecca Williams, Program Officer, Northeast Regional Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Tickets: $5.00. Registration Required.
Contact Meral Agish at meralagish@nylandmarks.org or call 212.995.5260 to register.

About the Landmarks Conservancy:
"For over 35 years, the Landmarks Conservancy has promoted the benefits of historic preservation and has become a trusted advocate for preservation policy. In addition, our unique financial assistance and expert technical advice have won national recognition. Since 1973, the Conservancy has provided more than $30 million in low-interest loans and grants, accompanied by countless hours of pro bono technical assistance to countless, non-profits, and caretakers of religious buildings for the maintenance and restoration of historic properties."