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.

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.

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)

Shop Brooklyn--Summer Days! is here. From August 11th thru the August 22nd, drop into a Myrtle Avenue shop with the green Summer Days flyer in the window to receive your Brooklyn Bonus, a special savings to you for doing what you know and love, shopping local.

Anima Italian Bistro, Barking Brown, Brooklyn Junior, Five Spot, Gnarly Vines, Green in BKLYN, Green Pets, Kapella's Hair Salon, Kiini Ibura, Karen's Body Beautiful, Luz Restaurant, Move w/Grace Yoga, Dance & Pilates Studio, Polish Bar of Brooklyn, Sans Souci Restaurant & Bar, Soketah Hair Salon are some of the participating Myrtle Avenue businesses. Stop in and ask about the 'Brooklyn Bonus' today.

Check out the ishopbrooklyn.com for additional information, including a full list of participating Myrtle Avenue as well as businesses throughout the City that are participating.

Gray's Studio Cafe (formerly known as Images for Life Boutique) is up and running. Stop in and enjoy. The name change reflects the business expansion, which now includes the cafe portion: lattes, espressos, biscotti and more. The 'studio' portion includes full photographic services: portraits, compcards, headshots passport photos, small and large wallet sizes at affordable prices.

Gray's Studio Cafe is located at 354 Myrtle Avenue (between Adelphi and Carlton) and can be reached at 718.757.5831.

Jump up and wave!!!!!

It's Jamaica's 48th Independence Celebration and Sans Souci Restaurant & Bar at 330 Myrtle Avenue (between Washington Park & Carlton) is doing it up in a BIG way.

Stop in and celebrate the entire weekend: Friday, August 6th; Saturday, August 7th and Sunday, August 8th. Doors open daily at 11am.

Come celebrate culture with live music and fresh, delicious, authentic cuisine: Rundown, Ackee & Saltfish, Roast Breadfruit, Roast Fish, Mackerel, Festival, Sorrel, Bammie, Cornmeal Pudding, Potato Pudding, Roast Corn, Corn Soup, Goathead Soup. All that and more, prepared by Award Winning Chef Basil and his team. Drink specials all day long.

Move your feet everyday: Music each day provided by Country Flex. Live band on Sunday from 4pm thru 8pm

Sans Souci Restaurant & Bar is also the official after party spot for reggae legend, Beres Hammond's performances at BAM/Howard Gilman Opera House on the 6th and 7th. Call Sans Souci Restaurant at 347.227.8135 for further detail.

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.

Friday is a perfect day for a spa opening (with thoughts focused towards the weekend and relaxation). And ANY day of the week is perfect for enjoying one.

The spa at Karen's Body Beautiful opens tomorrow, Friday, July 16th. Stop in and pick up a menu of services or better yet, stop in and enjoy a service or two. KBB will offer a plethora of services, including pedicures, manicures, facial and wet room services (herbal wraps, body exfoliation, etc.). Free hand lotion with a manicure on opening day.

The spa is actually a natural progression for the business. With the sleek look of the KBB store and the yummy-smelling and feeling natural hair, bath and body products made on premises (which of course are still available!), Karen and employees would very often get requests to see their menu of spa services.

So, wait no further. Stop in and check out the newest spa on Myrtle Avenue. Karen is located at 436 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton and Waverly Avenues. Drop in or call 718.797.4808 for an appointment.

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On Sunday, July 18th, a 'Loving Your Hair w/Natural Care' workshop with celebrity stylist, Felicia Leatherwood. Leatherwood has worked with stars such as Jill Scott, Sanaa Latham and Will Smith and has appeared in People Magazine, Essence, and InStyle, as well as in film and television. Felicia is the ultimate natural hair guru.

Felicia specializes in helping women transition hairstyles and grow healthier hair, happier hair! Admission for the 'Loving Your Hair w/Natural Care' workshop is $35. To RSVP call KBB at 718.797.4808.

Decked out w/ its signature bright blue awning and also at the ready with its famous turkey dishes (including the deep fried turkey!), sides, sauces, homemade drinks and delicious desserts: Jive Turkey is open for business.

With more than 15 different flavors of whole turkeys and a daily menu of delicious sandwiches, salads and dishes, Jive Turkey has been featured on the Food Network show Unwrapped, Road Tasted with the Neely's and the Travel Channel's Food Paradise and in Gourmet Magazine.

Eat in (front of store or garden) or take out.

What are you waiting on? Stop in.

Jive Turkey is located at 570 Myrtle Avenue between Emerson and Classon. Call 718.797.1688, option 2 with any questions.

Yamashiro reopened on July 13th, right on schedule.

After a very brief hiatus to make some aesthetic adjustments, the restaurant has reopened, sporting a much funkier and definitely more well-lit look. Light gray walls, new multi-colored lighting installed on the ceiling and at the base of the sushi bar gives the restaurant a more modern flair. A projected waterfall on the wall behind the sushi bar area will be added by the weekend or early next week.

The food is just as fresh and delicious as ALWAYS, so stop in soon.

Yamashiro is located at 466 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Hall Street. Call 718.230.3313 for additional details.