UN-BEE-LIEVABLE HAPPENINGS ON FAB FULTON
Earth Week and Spring delivered new neighbors to our area recently, and their digs are better than any “Air Bee N Bee” listing you’ll see for Brooklyn!
“Bee hotels” are now in a public plaza near you. As reported by 6SqFt, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the Pollinator Port Project, during a press conference at Gates Avenue Plaza (Gates and Vanderbilt) on April 25. The project will install habitats for at-risk native bee populations at planters in seven public plazas and open streets, giving them a place for nourishment and allowing researchers from Rutgers University to analyze their use of the “bee bunkers” and how they travel across the city.
Resembling birdhouses, the habitats are filled with natural materials like reeds and bamboo, serving as spaces for bees to nest their larvae and rest. Female bees, who deposit their eggs in the summer, are given a protected space to build their nests. Burrowing bees are known to stay close to their habitat and typically forage for food within three to four blocks of where they live. They are also mostly docile and rarely sting humans.
Researchers from Rutgers will study the insects, marking them with safe, biodegradable colored spots to learn about their population size and movement between green spaces. The Horticultural Society of New York hosts an annual “Bee Jubilee” where New Yorkers volunteer to help identify marked bees to see where they travel.
Check out the bee hotels the next time you’re out on Gates Avenue Plaza; click here to learn more about the Pollinator Port Project!
STAY COOL THIS SUMMER WITH HEAP
Did you know New York State’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has a Cooling Assistance benefit that can help you with the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan?
Before the summer months kick into high gear, check to see if you’re eligible. Applications are now open! Click here for more details!
WHAT’S NEW?
The district is emerging from a sleepy winter; spring has been bubbling up in spurts, and all of us looking forward to warmer weather! Put these spots on your list to explore and visit:
After closing for renovations late last fall, Mr. Melon left a large hole in the community for inexpensive fresh produce, fresh juices, and colorful flowers. Finally, the beloved store reemerged in March but with a much more colorful storefront awning. There’s no name out front yet, but the staff has informed us it’s transformed into Mr. Kiwi! No matter the name, it’s good to have the market back open and packed with fresh food bargains for the neighborhood! (975 Fulton)
Clever Barber (961 Fulton) opened up an outpost on Fulton Street, their third in the chain. Head there for haircuts, shaves, and men’s grooming.
Where My Dogs At Pet Spa and Hotel (900 Fulton) brings dog grooming and pet boarding services to the Clinton Hill side of the district. An established business since 2019, Where My Dogs At relocated to Fulton Street from a space in Prospect Heights and is now open!
Kofee (711 Fulton) opened its doors in March and has been a go-to spot for curated espresso and coffee-based beverages since its arrival. The cafe features an array of amazing pastries made on-site, an app that offers 15% off your first order, and the coolest Instagrammable neon sign on the street!
Two long-time businesses shifted space in the district: Yafa Deli moved a few doors down from its former corner location in Clinton Hill and is now open and operating at 887 Fulton. babacool closed its former location at 64 Lafayette and reemerged down the street at 33 Lafayette (across from BAM) — all within a week!
CHECK US OUT!
Have you seen FAB’s new look? We have new signage up at local bus shelters, on digital LinkNYC kiosks, and in our plazas, thanks to grants from NYC Tourism and NYC Small Business Services Department (SBS)!
CAN’T MISS EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR!
May is the start of “we back outside” season — add these events to your plans with friends and fam; there’s something for everyone!
Shala Yoga is FREE and back in Fort Greene Park! Join them on Sat., May 4 from 11 am to noon, on the Eastern Panel of the Monument, then every Saturday, through October 19. Also on May 4, drop by another park happening: Brooklyn Community Board 2 presents Rhythms of Wellness: A Free Health Fair Extravaganza. There’ll be a panel discussion on maternal health, free blood pressure testing, on-site medical professionals, giveaways, raffles, children’s activities, and more! noon – 4 pm
It’s a Sidewalk Sale on Sat., May 11! Join Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly Brooklyn (680-6868 Fulton St.) at their annual spring sale and collage party, where they’ll have specially priced books, stationery, collage-making, and more!
ART360 is back, and celebrating The Art of Play! Get into hands-on art activities with some of your favorites, like Urban Glass and The Hort, but also this year, engage in music-making with Brooklyn Music School, and some athletic pursuits with PingPod and some double dutch champs! There is so much to do, and it’s all FREE; Sat., May 18, noon – 5 pm in Fowler Square Plaza, Fort Greene.
Shred Event at Ridgewood Savings Bank (1035 Fulton), Sat., May 18, 10 am to 1 pm. Shred your personal documents and papers securely, for FREE! No appointment is necessary; limit five boxes per household.
For 46 years, Dance Africa has been the celebration to kick off summer at BAM! Among performances, talks, and exhibits, DanceAfrica’s beloved bazaar returns, featuring more than 150 vendors from around the world, offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion. Celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Africa and its diaspora—and see the streets surrounding BAM transformed into a global marketplace. Bazaar Hours: Sat, May 25, 12—10 pm; Sun, May 26, 12—8 pm; and Mon, May 27, 12—8 pm
FGC HEALTH FAIR AND JAZZ CONCERT
Get your health goals together this season — swing by the Fort Greene Council, Inc.’s annual Health Fair on Thursday, May 30, and take advantage of a plethora of health and wellness resources, all FREE! Jitu Weusi Plaza (Fulton and Grand) will be the site for health assessments, giveaways, and more, starting at noon. The day will end with a live jazz performance in the plaza, featuring The George Gray Coalition (6 – 8 pm). Don’t miss it!
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.
