The Fort Greene Park Conservancy will present its plans for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument at the next Fort Greene Association meeting on Monday, February 25th at 7:30p at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 South Oxford).

Preview the 3-day centennial celebration event plans which will include the rededication of the Monument; the return of the bronze eagles at the base of the Monument; the lighting of the eternal flame; Revolutionary War enactors encamped in the Park; a grand ball; souvenir journal; original orchestral and choral work by Brooklyn composer, Alvin Singleton; fireworks; a multi-nation parade; jazz performances; genealogical research stations, and much, much more.

Come out and celebrate your history. Come out and join your neighbors. Come out and learn how you can get involved.

(photo from nycparks.gov website)

You may have noticed a mesh construction fence going up in Fort Greene Park on the Myrtle side between North Portland and St. Edwards. Parks' Requirements Contracts Division has begun a reconstruction project of the basketball court and surrounding landscape. In addition to replacing the basketball court, the project will include adult fitness equipment, new pavement and benches, and an ornamental garden at the entrance at Myrtle and North Portland. The project was funded by Borough President Markowitz.

Separately, yet included in the scope of the project, Parks will also install a new drinking fountain for dogs and people with improved drainage in the center of the park. The drinking fountain was funded by Council Member Tish James.

Parks will work through the rest of the winter, weather permitting, and plans to have the basketball court open and project complete by late spring.

MulchFest 2008 is taking place on January 5th and 6th, from 10am to 2pm. Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow.

MulchFest provides New Yorkers an opportunity to bring their Christmas trees to designated sites where they are ground into wood chips. The chips can then be placed in tree pits and gardens. Parks & Recreation encourages New Yorkers to help the environment and their community by participating in this event. MulchFest takes place on January 5 & 6, 2008 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Participants are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch provided.

All lights, ornaments and stands must be taken off. Mulch will not be available at sites marked as "Drop-off Only".

Sponsored by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, the Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival will take place on Sunday, October 28th, from noon to 4pm. The Festival features a plethora of activities for children and their parents including hayrides, face-painting, inter-active children's music and dance, games and prizes plus live entertainment, culminating in a children's costume parade. The Children's Costume Parade and Contest will be at 3:30 pm.

Sunday, October 28th, 12noon to 1pm: Voted “Best Halloween Dog Costume Contest” (see photo left) in 2005 by the Village Voice, the annual contest is sponsored by the Fort Greene Park Users and Pets Society (PUPS). Registration begins at 11:30am, contest held at top of hill, near the monument. $5 contest entrance fee.

Please check out the Fort Greene Park Conservancy or the Fort Greene PUPS websites for further information.

“A celebration of the cultures, cuisine and artistic diversity of Brooklyn."

The first annual Fort Greene Fest will take place this Saturday, September 8th, from 12p to 10p at Fort Greene Park. Mainstage entertainment begins at 2pm with musician headliner Talib Kweli.

Film, includes actress/director, Rosie Perez’s new “Yo Soy Boricua."

Many of the local restaurants that we know and love will also be present and in full effect.

Pop DJ and local entrepreneur Dahved Levy from WBLS will be "rockin' you, rockin' you..."

Stop in: join your neighborhors and have a blast.

Read more about the Fort Greene Fest at www.fortgreenefest.com.

Tonight, Thursday the 30th, is the final summer film in Fort Greene Park, with Nuevo Latino food from Tamboril, the new Myrtle Avenue restaurant that opened last Saturday. Tamboril, located at 527 Myrtle between Grand and Steuben, will offer a sampling of their regular menu, including coconut tostones, bacalao cakes, empanaditas, and plantains.

Starting at dusk, the Fort Greene Park Conservancy in association with American Opera Project (AOP), will present an evening of "Baseball through the Eye of the Artist".

First AOP presents scenes from its opera-under-development "The Summer King" by Daniel Sonenberg. The protagonist of the opera is Josh Gibson, the renowned negro-league baseball slugger whose tragic story ended just before Jackie Robinson broke through the color barrier with The Brooklyn Dodgers. Using a contemporary musical language of jazzy melodies and jagged harmonies the opera portrays Gibson as a mythic character trapped by societal circumstances: a mega-athlete emotionally unable to weather the strong tides of change.

Then the films begins, with the Conservancy presenting "Bang The Drum Slowly," the acclaimed 1973 baseball film that marked the beginning of Robert DeNiro’s illustrious film career. Directed by John D. Hancock focuses on the intense brotherly relationship between a star pitcher and his less talented, terminally ill catcher.

Come out this Saturday to Fort Greene Park on Myrtle Avenue and North Portland for the 3rd in the park's summer film series. Rooftop Films will be presenting "Welcome to Nollywood", a feature-length documentary on the Nigerian Film Industry, the 3rd largest film industry in the world.

A full program description and movie synopsis is here. The basics are below.

Saturday, August 25th, 2007
5:00 - 8:30: DJ Stone and Rich Medina
8:30 - 9:00: Live Music by the Obara Melli
9:00: Welcome to Nollywood
Admission: FREE
Venue: On the lawn of Fort Greene Park
Address: N. Portland Ave and Myrtle Avenue
Rain: In the event of rain, show will be rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 26th
Call 718.417.7362 for additional information.

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is a co-sponsor of the film screening, in partnership with Rooftop Films, The National Black Programming Consortium, IFC.com, New York magazine & Council Member Letitia James.

This Sunday starts up the first of four Soul Summit music festivals in Fort Greene Park this summer. The party takes place from 3 pm to 9 pm on Sunday the 15th, on the west side of the hill in Fort Greene Park. Soul Summit always brings out a great crowd of all ages, fantastic sounds, and some amazing dancing. Be sure to come by, and if not this weekend, there are more Soul Summit events coming up.

NY Writers Coalition, Akashic Books and Fort Greene Park Conservancy are holding their third annual Fort Greene Park Summer Youth Creative Writing Program. They will hold two 6-week long, Saturday workshops from July 7th through August 11th in Ft. Greene Park. There will be a workshop for 8-12 year olds at 10:45 am to noon. The Teen Workshop (ages 13-17) will meet noon to 1:30. The workshops are lead by trained creative writing workshop leaders.

Come write and share your work in a fun, safe and supportive environment. At the end of the workshops, all participants will be invited to read their writing at the Third Annual Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival on August 18th! Register now! To sign up, contact NY Writers Coalition at 718-398-2883 or e-mail fgp@nywriterscoalition.org. Space is limited so you must sign up in advance. Parental permission required.

The 2nd film in this summer's film series is this evening on the Myrtle lawn, with the family friendly and pet friendly feature Cats & Dogs. Music starts at 8 pm, the film at 9 pm, on the lawn facing Myrtle Avenue between North Portland and Washington Park. Food will be for sale from Maggie Brown, Olea, and Pequena. Pets welcome!

This summer's Fort Greene Park film series is brought to you by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, Councilmember Letitia James, and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership.

More films to come!