WINTER THINGS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Don’t let the winter keep you inside; it’s prime time to check out neighborhood spots and continue to support your local merchants and business owners. Here’s a little cheat sheet of FAB spots where you can come in from the cold with family, friends, or explore solo:
Get Into the Arts! Unleash your inner creativity with events, workshops, classes, and more at Urban Glass, 718 Dance Collective, Greenlight Bookstore, Mark Morris Dance Center, and Cardinal Gift Shop. Check online for their updated calendars. If you enjoy the not-so-hands-on arts, take in a movie or performance at Irondale Ensemble, Theatre for a New Audience, JACK Arts, Haiti Cultural Exchange, Brooklyn Music School, or BAM (40th annual MLK Tribute coming up soon!).
Where to Warm Up: Fight off the winter chill with cozy, comforting fare. Some of your fave FAB eateries and watering holes have added new items to their menus this season that are sure to thaw you out! Habana Outpost now has an amazing traditional tortilla soup! Try mulled wine at DSK, hot cider at Belli Ristorante & Bar, or a spiced winter toddy from Bati Ethiopian Kitchen. If caffeine is your thing, Sweetbee offers new winter lattes (sugar cookie and mint mocha), plus a gingerbread chai that goes down warm and spicy! Or enjoy a happy hour coquito espresso martini at Emily. And if you have a sweet tooth, nothing beats fresh, hot churros from Slutty Vegan, or warm waffles and hot melts (hot chocolate drinks) at Emack’s & Bolio’s. The pear confit at Endswell is a stellar end to a fabulous meal, as well!
Where to Work Out! Resolutions aside, when you’re ready to release some stress or just get moving, be it in the name of physical or mental fitness, keep these destinations in mind: Prema Yoga, Spear Physical Therapy, Ping Pod, Shala Yoga, IMX Pilates, Cynergy Spa, Crunch Fitness, Ommmango Wellness, Park Sports Physical Therapy, and Fort Pilates.
Where to Cheer! Sports can always bring us out from in front of our own TVs to gathering places with fans and rivals. Root for your faves in the NFL, NBA, NHL, Premier League, and more at these around-the-way bars: Fancy Free, Hops Hill, Fulton Hall, and Fulton Grand.
Whatever you do, just don’t hibernate all winter! Our neighborhood is FAB all year round!
BITTERSWEET GOODBYES… AND HAPPY HELLOS
Among the bustle of the holidays, you may have missed a few comings and goings in the FAB district. After 14 years, Neal Farinah Salon (709 Fulton) has closed their doors. Owner Neal Farinah, famously known as Beyoncé’s hair pro, announced in a November IG message that he is moving on to pursue the next chapter in his story. The salon took its last appointments on December 31. Electric Lotus Tattoo will start the new year in a new location, in Park Slope. We’re sad to see them go, but loyal clients can find them nearby at 233 5th Avenue. Also, in a sudden move, after being on Fulton Street for just over three years, Oma Grassa (753 Fulton) shuttered. We did not hear back from their management regarding the reason behind the closure. And finally, a Brooklyn institution, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, will be leaving Fulton Street for a new location in Crown Heights.
On a brighter note, Dosa Royale opened at 65 Lafayette after relocating from its former DeKalb Avenue address, and the place has been packed since its launch! And coming soon to Fort Greene is Candor Candy, targeting a March opening at 664 Fulton, the former Douglas Elliman location. Follow them on Instagram to stay updated on the opening; they plan to donate $1 to Clinton Hill Fort Greene Mutual Aid for every new IG follower they get through January 31!
CODE BLUE AWARENESS
What is Code Blue? When the outdoor temperature is 32 degrees or lower, including wind chill, the City follows Code Blue procedures overnight from 4 pm to 8 am.
During Code Blue, outreach teams check on people who live on the streets and in the subway more frequently. Homeless people may also stay at any NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter or drop-in center without going through the normal intake process.
If you see an unhoused person outside during Code Blue, please call 311, so they may receive assistance.
ATLANTIC YARDS WORKSHOP #3 IS
THIS MONTH
The Atlantic Yards Redevelopment will complete this landmark project with mixed-use buildings and a new public open space. The next workshop in the series — set for Thursday, January 22 at 6 pm via Zoom — will feature a presentation by Empire State Development (ESD) and the development team, introducing key themes and insights from Public Workshops #1 and #2, followed by a Q&A period. Feedback received during the engagement process will be collected and published in a Community Engagement Report in early 2026. This report will be used by ESD and the development team to shape the project plan.
Register here now for more details and to pre-submit up to two questions, with additional questions welcome during the workshop.
CUYLER PARK IS BACK!
If you missed it, Cuyler Gore Park quietly reopened in late November, right before Thanksgiving, completing the $5.6 million capital reconstruction project at the beloved Fulton Street green space. The fences came down to reveal a transformed park, complete with new brightly hued café-style seating, additional lighting, plenty of benches, landscaped nature areas, and a new jungle gym play area. We definitely look forward to warmer days in the park, but for now, it’s a pleasure to walk through and appreciate the renovated green space, which had been closed for a year.
FAB ANNUAL MEETING
The FAB Fulton Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, January 29 at 12 noon, on Zoom. The meeting is open to the public; join us for a recap of last year’s achievements, updates on the work of the BID, and a peek at what’s to come. If you would like to attend, please send us a quick email here with your full name, email address, and put “FAB Meeting” in the subject line. You will be placed on the list to receive login details.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is leading a Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) to better understand our local business corridors, and they need your input. Please complete this brief survey aimed at understanding the shopping habits, preferences, and desires of residents and visitors; share your thoughts about the commercial areas in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. What do you want to see in your neighborhood? Access the quick questionnaire here through January 15!
ABOUT FAB FULTON
The Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB FULTON) is a non-profit organization that advocates for and collaborates with small businesses and property owners along Fulton Street in Brooklyn’s neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming community while securing resources and partnerships for initiatives that enhance and promote the district.
