myrtle minutes - Fort Greene Park

Fort Greene Park Voted Best for Public Art

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:14:00 -0400

Fort Greene Park voted one of the top parks for public art viewing by TimeOut Magazine. In an article in the mag last week, 'Five Best Parks for Viewing Public Art', Fort Greene is listed along with City Hall Park and Battery Park City. The article highlights the current Myrtle Bird Town exhibit, which consists of more than 50 birdhouses made from salvaged materials, created by artists, Jennifer Wong and Daniel Goers. BirdTown can be viewed at the NW entrance to Fort Greene Park (Myrtle and St. Edwards) as well as the Carlton Triangle (Myrtle and Carlton)now through December. Check out the artists' website for additional information: www.myrtleavenuebirdtown.com.

Compost Project Needs Volunteers

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:06:00 -0400

We received the email below from our friends at the Fort Greene Compost Project. Here's more information on how to sign up with this wonderful group: Composting at the Fort Greene Farmer's Market is an all-volunteer, community supported project -- which means we need your help to keep this neighborhood service going! Volunteers are needed to mind the drop-off bins, take donations, and help turn the compost at our sites around Brooklyn. If you have never volunteered before, please consider taking a shift. This locally-grown project is the first of its kind, but needs its friends and neighbors to participate in order to keep running every Saturday. Take a look at our Volunteer Schedule -- we need people to fill shifts in the red, green and blue spaces. If you can help out, email us at fortgreenecompost@gmail.com with the date and shift time and we'll sign ya up or to request further information. Our pals at Habana Outpost, a local solar powered eatery, are offering folks another incentive to help out with the Fort Greene Compost Project. Those who take a spot on our Volunteer Schedule will not only keep the compost drop-off running as a neighborhood service, but they'll also receive a $10 Gift Certificate to Habana Outpost at 757 Fulton Street. Lunch is on them. Or dinner.

Twinkle, Twinkle, You're A Star!

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:30:00 -0400

What a joy to stop by the upright piano located at the Belgian-blocked plaza at Washington Park and Myrtle and catch neighborhood residents stopping in to play a diddy or two. It's all in good fun, so whether you're a trained pianist or not--hey, just hit a key or two as an ode to our fair neighborhood. Only 6 days left to stop in and play! The piano will be gone by Monday, July 5th. The pianos are part of Play Me, Im Yours, a public art project created by Sing for Hope. 60 pianos are installed in parks and public places througout NYC, including two in Fort Greene Park--one on Myrtle and Washington Park, the other up the hill at the north oval, just opposite the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. (pic: Dave Polazzo, Parlor Jazz who rode by on his bike, stopped and played awhile)

Play Me, I'm Yours

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:59:00 -0400

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, Im 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!

Tickle the Ivories, Tap Your Feet: Make Music New York is Monday!

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:50:00 -0400

Are you ready?! We hope so. Make Music New York takes place on Monday, June 21st. Make Music New York is a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21 the longest day of the year. On that day, hundreds of public spaces throughout the five boroughs sidewalks, parks, community gardens, and more become impromptu stages for over 1,000 free concerts. Eleven (count 'em: 11!) of the venues (restaurants, cafes, kids clothing store, eco-friendly shop, wine boutique, Fort Greene Park) will take place on Myrtle Avenue. Come out and groove to the music and relax or eat, drink and be merry. See the schedule of events above or below. And for all you neighborhood Liberaces and local Alicia Keys, the pianos are coming! Sing for Hope takes music to the streets with Play Me, Im Yours, a public art project that will bring 60 pianos to the parks and public spaces of New York City. Fort Greene Park will have two pianos--one on Myrtle (at the Myrtle entrance to the Fort Greene Park) and another just up the hill at the north oval, just opposite the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. The piano will be open and available for anyone to sit and play: Friday, June 18th (being delivered at 4pm) until Monday, July 5th. PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES: Anima Italian Bistro 458 Myrtle Avenue Anthony Cedras Global soul and R&B 1:00pm-8:00pm Brooklyn Junior 150 Clinton Avenue -PEMG, a community based program focused on teaching young people about Hip Hop from a cultural and Indie perspective. -Jesse Goldman (http://www.myspace.com/Jessesamgoldman), Experimental / Swing / Americana 2:30-5:00 pm. Castros Mexican Cuisine 511 Myrtle Avenue 5:30p-10pm -DJ Fuerte Chez Lola 387 Myrtle Avenue 7:30p to 10:30 pm Sedric Choukroroun Brazilian Jazz Trio Shukroon, Smith & and Monaco are a joyous trio, playing their own blend of Samba-Jazz-Pop: acoustic harp-guitar, saxophones-flute and percussion Chez Oskar 211 DeKalb Avenue 7:30p to 10:30pm The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn consists of: Billy Nemec-guitar/lead vocals, Chris Pistorino-bass/vocals, David Langlois-washboard percussion/vocals, Sam Hoyt-Trumpet/vocals The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, an early jazz, swing, and blues band, composed of acoustic guitar/vocals, upright bass, homemade washboard percussion, trumpet and saxophone, plays its' repertoire of witty songs from 1920's and 30's, along with its' augmented original tunes and often bawdy lyrics sung in catchy 4 part vocal harmony. Fort Greene SNAP 324 Myrtle Avenue -Anisa Fujah from 3 to 5 (Jazz) -Soulfolk Experience 5 to 6 (also jazz) -Jesse Goldman from 6 to 7 (experimental jazz) Gnarly Vines 350 Myrtle Avenue -Carolyn Leonhart and Jay Leonhart (daughter and dad)vocals and bass (jazz, soul, standards) 1:30pm-3:00pm Green in BKLYN 432 Myrtle Avenue Carolyn Leonhart and Jay Leonhart (daughter and dad)vocals and bass (jazz, soul, standards) 12p-1:15p and Claire Raji Rodriguez folk, pop 4p-6p Los Pollitos III 499 Myrtle Avenue 12pm to 9pm Live Latin band Move with Grace Yoga, Dance & Pilates Studio 469 Myrtle Avenue -Nucomme - rock/soul artist 8pm -Cavalier - Hip Hop/Soul artist 8:30pm -The Outabodies - Hip Hop/Jazz/Rock artists 9pm Sans Souci Restaurant 330 Myrtle Avenue Metric Man aka The Freedom Fighter (reggae) 1pm-9pm Fort Greene Park (Myrtle Avenue entrance) All day Upright piano (Sing For Hope): all day (on-site) 12p-1pm WATCH High School 2p-3:00p JHS 185 Drumline 3:00pm-4:00pm Ronald Edmonds Middle School 113 Choir 6p-7p Maracatu New York (Brazilian Percussion)

Walk NYC @ Fort Greene Park

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:10:00 -0400

WALK NYC is a FREE program that encourages New Yorkers of all ages to get fit while enjoying the outdoors. Thirty (30) park locations throughout the city will be staffed with trained walking instructors to lead walks May thru October. Fort Greene Park walks are Saturdays, 10a to 11a.

Myrtle's Make Music NY Schedule Announced

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:31:00 -0400

Be sure to visit Myrtle Avenue for Make Music New York, taking place all day on Monday, June 21st. Free music performances will be taking place all around the city, and Myrtle Avenue has performances happening at 12 different spots up and down the corridor, including one location of the "Play Me, I'm Yours" public art project, with an upright piano stationed at the Fort Greene Park plaza at Myrtle & Washington Park for passersby to play anytime from June 21st through July 5th.

Want good school food?

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0400

Then join the Brooklyn Food Coalition on June 5, from 2-4pm at it's free school food training fair at Fort Greene Park.

Meet other parents and educators who are working to improve school food, and the health of Brooklyn's children.

Parents will meet at the field at Myrtle and N. Portland Ave, and the kids are invited to the playground at the corner of Myrtle and St. Edwards Place. The Coalition will provide free supervision and healthy snacks for all children who attend.

For more information, contact the Brooklyn Food Coalition at 347-329-5093 or info[at]brooklynfoodcoalition[dot]org.

Walt Whitman's Fort Greene Park

Fri, 21 May 2010 14:47:00 -0400

The Walt Whitman Project, an arts organization dedicated to producing programs about the life and work of America's great writer Walt Whitman, celebrates the poet's 191th birthday on May 31st and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Whitman's 'Calamus' poems with a series of events, including on this coming Sunday, May 23rd in Fort Greene Park. May 23, Sunday at 1:00 p.m. "Walt Whitman's Fort Greene Park" A stroll sponsored by Fort Greene Park Conservancy and The Walt Whitman Project Walk around Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park, a greensward that owes its existence in large part to Walt Whitman's editorials written for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The afternoon includes readings of Whitman's prose and poetry and discussions about the park, the Wallabout Martyrs and the monument dedicated to their memory. This event will conclude with a walk up Myrtle Avenue to 99 Ryerson, the last existing building in Brooklyn that was a residence of Whitman. Greg Trupiano, Artistic Director of The Walt Whitman Project will be the guide for Sunday's tour. Special guests: Nicole Mitchell, mezzo-soprano & Brandon Snook, tenor. " Meet at the Visitors Center, top of the hill, Fort Greene Park " Enter at Myrtle Avenue, Washington Park, or DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn " FREE event / rain or shine " Information & Reservations: 718-391-8824 / http://www.whitmanproject.org Walt Whitman's Fort Greene Park is sponsored by the Walt Whitman Project and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy.

Health Bucks: Spend $5, Get 4 Back

Fri, 14 May 2010 18:59:00 -0400

Head over to the Greenmarket at Fort Greene Park this weekend. For every $5 spent using an EBT card, $4 in HealthBucks will be given to spend on fruits and vegetables. When? This Saturday at the Fort Greene Greenmarket (DeKalb Avenue and Washington Park) while supplies last. Just look for the Market Manager! Healthbucks from this Saturday's Greenmarket can be used at any Greenmarket thru June 1st! HealthBucks are a NYC Department of Health program that promotes healthy eating through shopping at farmers markets. Participating Greenmarkets include Fort Greene, Tompkins, Brooklyn Borough Hall, Grand Army Plaza, Greenpoint, St. George, Cortelyou, 97th Street and Inwood.

Strollin' on Myrtle...art, art and more art this weekend on the Avenue!

Wed, 12 May 2010 12:03:00 -0400

Big weekend on Myrtle for art, artists and art-lovers! The annual SONYA Studio Stroll takes place on Saturday 5/15 and Sunday 5/16, and includes a number of events and stops right here on the avenue. You can download the full Stroll map here, but we'd like to highlight a few for you:

Myrtle Windows Gallery: Make sure to check out the works of featured SONYA artists in 12 storefronts between Hall and Vanderbilt. This exhibition will be up through Tuesday, May 18th.

Myrtle Avenue Bird Town: This colorful installation of 50+ birdhouses at the Carlton Triangle and Fort Greene Park at St. Edwards and Myrtle just arrived a week ago, but it's already the talk of the town! Join the artists for a family-friendly and free(!) birdfeeder-building workshop at the St. Edwards site on Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

Art & Community/Home Away From Home: Childhood friends, Carol Thomas (Just Because Salon owner) and artist, Richard Blackford share their creative expressions and love of community - in Jamaica (home) and Brooklyn (home away from home) in this exhibition. Opening Night Reception at Just Because this Friday evening, May 14th, 7-10pm, at 141 Carlton Avenue with free refreshments. Theyre a stop on the Stroll as well!

Paint the Pavement: Community Roots Charter School and PS 67 have extended their street mural on St. Edwards in front of the school. It's just a few steps from Bird Town, so check it out during your Myrtle visit this weekend!

Myrtle Merchants Host Artist Exhibitions: Sans Souci (330 Myrtle), Green in BKLYN (432 Myrtle), and Tamboril (527 Myrtle) play host to SONYA artists and their works as part of the Studio Stroll.

Make your own bird feeder, Myrtle Bird Town style

Tue, 11 May 2010 16:57:00 -0400

You won't want to miss this free bird feeder-building workshop on Saturday, led by our own Myrtle Avenue Bird Town artists! They'll be at the corner of Myrtle and St. Edwards from 10am to 4pm with prepared kits for interested builders of all ages!

Celebrate Bird Town @ Sans Souci this Thursday!

Tue, 04 May 2010 15:27:00 -0400

Myrtle Avenue Bird Town has arrived at two locations on Myrtle - Fort Greene Park at St. Edwards Street, and the Carlton Triangle. Join us for and drinks this Thursday, May 6th at Sans Souci (33 Myrtle between Washington Park and Carlton) to celebrate with the town's 'founders', artists Jenn Wong and Daniel Goers.

Check out the artists' website, www.myrtleavenuebirdtown.com, for great photos documenting the building and installation processes. We've also got some great photos on our flickr site too.

Art for the Birds? Bird Town arrives on Myrtle this weekend!

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:58:00 -0400

We're thrilled to welcome Myrtle Avenue Bird Town, a temporary public sculpture installation to two Myrtle Avenue locations this weekend - the Carlton Triangle (Myrtle and Carlton) and the NW entrance to Fort Greene Park (Myrtle and St. Edwards). Dozens of playful birdhouses, created by local artists Daniel Goers and Jennifer Wong, will live in trees at these locations from May through December 2010. Stop by on Saturday between 10am and 5pm to see the artists at work!

Goers and Wong used recycled materials and experimental building techniques to create a micro-community of colorful and whimsical birdhouses for this project. Over the coming months, the birds themselves are part of the performance! Check out the artists' website, www.myrtleavenuebirdtown.com, as they document birds feeding, nesting, building, and caring for offspring in these spaces!

Celebrate the opening with us on Thursday, May 6th at Sans Souci Restaurant (330 Myrtle Avenue) from 6-8pm, with drink specials and good eats from their yummy Caribbean menu.

This Myrtle Windows Gallery exhibit is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc. (BAC).

Mulchfest 2010 @ Fort Greene Park, Jan. 9th and 10th

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:11:00 -0400

MulchFest 2010 will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 9th and 10th, 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 9th & 10th, 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".