FAB Neighborhood News – Sep 2023

SUMMER IS SLOWING — BUT WE’RE NOT!

 

Summer is slipping away, yet our friends at MoCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts) only recently completed a beautiful slice of a community garden in Fort Greene! Located at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Fort Greene Place opposite Betty Carter Park, the Ubuntu Community Garden is an outdoor green space dedicated to wellness, climate justice, and public art.
Under the watchful eye of the mural of Greg Tate by Dr. Nettrice R. Gaskins, Ubuntu Garden sprang to life through intentionally chosen plants, flowers, and trees that have a direct relationship with the African diaspora. Connections through art are abundant as well, with a colorful Ubuntu ground mural and a series of permanent sculptures by Kholisile Dhliwayo called “Brooklyn Bronzes,” that celebrate the contributions of local change makers.
Ubuntu is a South African Zulu word that means “humanity to others.” To celebrate this spirit and the shared values and cultures of Africa and the diaspora, which is a core tenet of MoCADA, visitors of all ages are invited to explore this new community green space. Ubuntu Community Garden officially opens on September 1; hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am – 7 pm. Be sure to visit this magical space!

 

NEW LOCAL DOG RUN

Did you hear? A new dog park recently opened in nearby Prospect Heights, at 595 Dean Street.
The dog run, complete with adjacent green space, is a welcome addition to the area, which has seen a spike in the number of furry friends over the past few years. We hope more developers install similar amenities in the future, to help keep our sidewalks and planted spaces free of pet waste and activity.

 

WHAT’S NEW?

If you’ve strolled the Fulton Street corridor lately, especially on the Fort Greene side, you might have noticed a few new dining destinations!
Angelina Bakery NYC, “an Italian bakery with an Asian twist,” is a new sweet spot on the street you must not miss — everything from croissants to donuts to gelato is absolutely delightful! Grab an espresso to go, or relax with a delicious sandwich in their cafe or on the deck upstairs. It’s a meet-cute, for sure; put it on the list to try! (660 Fulton)
MA Brooklyn Thai-ger (747 Fulton) is now open, for traditional Thai favorites, Charoen Krung style. Order take-out, or dine in their very chic location decorated with lots of greenery and large open windows. Enjoy noodles, curry, fried rice dishes, and more! Their Butterfly Pea Lemonade is the perfect thirst-quencher!
As we were going to print, we learned of an early review of a new oyster bar, Strange Delight, located at 63 Lafayette. It was named one of the New York Times’ “18 New Restaurants to Put on Your Fall List,” slated to open in November. NYT describes this new destination as having both bar/counter seating and a dining room, along with a bit of Louisiana flavor, featuring shrimp rémoulade and fried shrimp loaf on the menu.

 

FAB FULTON ANNUAL MEETING: SAVE THE DATE
The first in-person annual meeting of the FAB Alliance organization since pre-pandemic times is coming soon! Open to the public, our 2023 annual meeting will be held Wednesday, November 1 at Brooklyn Music School. More details to come, including registration and agenda.

 

FINISHING STRONG!

Summer may be coming to a close, but FAB still has lots of events on deck for the community to enjoy!
Our final FAB Flicks feature of the season, “Respect,” will play at The Backlot at Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center on Thursday, September 7. Join us early for a little Aretha-infused dance party!
On Saturday, September 9, we mark the return of ART360º/CLINTON HILL, a day of art-making with cultural organizations and artists. It’s a family-friendly fun-packed day that encourages everyone to get hands-on and express their creativity.
Sign up for a free Sunday morning yoga session with The Shala, set for September 10 at 9 am; bring your own mat and water to Fowler Square in Fort Greene.
We’ve got jazz on both sides of the district: winding down the Jazz at The Plaza series in Jitu Weusi on Thursday, September 14 (note the earlier start time of 5 pm), while in Fowler Square, the BMS Jazz Series gets underway with two happy hour-centered Friday sessions on September 15 and 29.
Check out all these events on our website; we look forward to seeing you there!
(We also got word that the annual Key Food Block Party will take place on October 15 in Clinton Hill, so that’s definitely something to look forward to for Fall!)

 

MANDATORY COMPOSTING UPDATE

We told you mandatory composting was coming… the DSNY program begins October 1. Prepare by ordering a brown bin for your building or home! Fines start at $25 for the first offense of not separating your compost, and go all the way up to $100 for future offenses.

Brooklyn residents can now order a brown bin until October 13, 2023; click here to complete the request form.

 

NALOXONE TRAINING FOR EVERYONE

NYC’s Department of Health holds free virtual Narcan (naloxone) training sessions in which participants receive information on preventing overdoses. After completing the training, you will be sent a free overdose prevention kit! Take advantage of this important program so you can keep your friends, family, and neighbors safe.
Sign up for an upcoming session, and get additional resources and information here.

 

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.