Expanded Summer Streets Comes to Myrtle Avenue

Last summer, the DOT initiated an exciting new program that shut down a major Manhattan thoroughfare to automobiles, creating safe street space for people to walk, bike and play.

Through September, 14 street locales will play host to a Summer Streets event, including an event right here in Clinton Hill!

Move About Myrtle will be held Sunday September 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue between Clinton Avenue and Emerson Place,  and is sponsored by Myrtle Ave Partnership.

Pretty great, especially since September is one of the most beautiful months in the city.

So far, there are several really creative activities planned, including a roller rink in the street!

Here's a block-by-block summary of the activities planned for September 6th:

Emerson-Grand The Brooklyn Urban Arts Market returns! This annual open-air market anchored by live music, DIY fashion, and local creative culture. Rock out with youth band School of Rock All Stars at noon, or dance to the old-school jams of DJs Soul Summit at 3pm. A temporary roller rink will bring some additional throw back flavor to this year's events. Get your trendy back-to-school shopping done too. Brought to you by MARP, Rebel Music Management, BAM, Deutsche Bank.

Hall-Ryerson Celebrate local farmers, local restaurants and local food initiatives with your neighbors on Myrtle between Hall and Ryerson, a block dedicated entirely to a delicious topic: food.

12pm -3pm CSA Potluck Picnics -With blankets and home-cooked food in tow, the Fort Greene CSA will be taking over a plot of the food block each week to host potluck picnics open to all. The first potluck will be an eat-in to raise awareness and take action for real food in our schools, and initiative championed by Slow Food USA.

12pm 2pm Teen Iron Chefs - Every Sunday, a small crew of local teens will be hosting interactive cooking demonstrations with seasonal, locally grown produce donated by Greenmarket farmers.

4pm 6pm Local Chef Cooking Demonstrations-Chefs from newly-opened Myrtle restaurant SanSouci will showcase their tasty Caribbean fare.

All day: Raised Garden Bed Construction - Local food activist Tree Williams from LiveSip will host an all day interactive event constructing and planting a mobile raised bed garden to be donated at the end of the day.

Washington 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. The first Sunday includes:

11am Mom and Me Yoga Bring your mat! 1pm African Dance with drummers s Bring your rhythm! 4pm Caribbean Celebration Bring your flag!

Waverly Clinton For kids (and the inner child in all of us), this block will be devoted to good old-fashioned fun! Street games (think: four square), hula hoops, jump ropes, and sidewalk chalk will be on hand for open use throughout the day.

1pm-3pm Hoopdancing Class- Join Fitnotic trainer Sheryl Wilson, CPT, for a free beginners' class in hoopdancing - the latest fitness craze sweeping NYC! Class is appropriate for children and adults of all ages. In addition to hoopdancing instruction, Fitnotic specializes in prenatal, postnatal and mommy & me group fitness classes and personal training programs. Learn a few tricks and get a great workout!

Merchant Specials + Promotions

Five Spot is hosting an eating competition (food category still TBD) and music throughout the day outside the restaurant to celebrate their 13th Anniversary (Myrtle at Washington)

Enjoy free smoothie samples at Karrot (Myrtle between Clinton and Waverly)

Come to Green in BKLYN to recycle your batteries and cell phones (Myrtle between Clinton and Waverly)

Learn how to make your own pesto at Anima (Myrtle between Washington and Waverly)

NYCPet.com is providing a treats and a pet pool so that your animal friends can enjoy themselves too (Myrtle at Washington)

Myrtle Windows Gallery - New Works

4pm-8pm Opening Reception at Pillow Cafe (Myrtle between Ryerson and Grand? Celebrate the opening of the fourth Myrtle Windows Gallery installation, which brings the works of local artists to storefront windows on Myrtle between Hall and Clinton. This exhibition is curated by Kennis Baptiste of The Rising Arts Gallery, and includes photography, paintings and multi-media works.

Interested in helping out? Myrtle Avenue Partnership need  a small army of volunteers to make this happen, and they're lucky to have partnered with NY Cares for all four events. If you're interested in helping out give Meredith a shout at Meredith@myrtleavenue.org.

See you there!  (Well, not on the 27th, which is the day after my wedding!)