Summer begins to heat up this weekend in Fort Greene

FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010

African Rhythms / American Echoes
Artistic Director Chuck Davis

Pamodzi Dance Troupe (Zambia)
Dallas Black Dance Theatre (Dallas)
Illstyle & Peace Productions (Philadelphia)
BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble (Brooklyn)

Courtesy of Pamodozi Dance Troupe

Now in its 33rd year, DanceAfrica, guided by the vision of artistic director Chuck Davis, unites dance companies from near and far to celebrate the cultures of Africa and its Diaspora. This year, the Pamodzi Dance Troupe from Zambia offers a medley of traditional music and dance rich with Zambian heritage. They will be joined by the American companies Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Illstyle & Peace Productions from Philadelphia, and Brooklyn’s very own BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble for a program that promises to inspire.

A Memorial Day weekend tradition, DanceAfrica is packed with dance, music, art, and film events-plus the-one-and-only DanceAfrica outdoor bazaar.

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

SATURDAY, May 29, 2010

Peter Blanchette at Fort Greene Park Artisan Market

Taking a break from his busy schedule to support Fort Greene Park, guitarist Peter Blanchette will be performing at Fort Greene Park’s Artisan-Market on three consecutive Saturdays, premiering on Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 29 and returning on June 5 and June 12.

Peter Blanchette is the inventor of the 11-string archguitar. His repertoire of unusual and internationally acclaimed arrangements and compositions spans from medieval to contemporary to ethnic, played in solo recital or with selected
other instrumentalists to form the Virtual Consort.

BAM Dance Africa Bazaar
Sat, May 29, 12noon-10pm
Sun, May 30, 12noon-8pm
Mon, May 31, 12noon-8pm

Lafayette Ave and Ashland Pl
Rain or shine!
Free!

Dance Africa Bazaar - picture courtesy of BAM

Celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Africa and its Diaspora at the DanceAfrica 2010 Bazaar. Close to 300 vendors from around the world converge on the streets surrounding BAM, transforming the neighborhood into a global marketplace offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion.

The Bazaar will also feature entertainment for families with face painting and crafts at the Children’s Village, and guest artists will be roaming through the marketplace throughout the day.

Serving Greater Fort Greene,
The Fort Greene Association

Many thanks to Community Board 2 which has begun to publish their General Meeting Minutes. Following are some highlights which will be of interest to Fort Greeners. For the complete April 2010 Minutes click here.

Presentation by Mr. Kai Smith
- New York City Community Cleanup

Mr. Smith stated that his organization is a small group funded by the City that is focused on cleaning up streets. There is an 11-person crew based on Schermerhorn Street that travels the borough. From vacant lots to graffiti cleanup, Mr. Smith and his team reach out to property owners and clean up sites at no cost.

Mr. Smith requested the support of community residents by taking photos of sites and emailing them to his office.

Their motto is ‘you point it out and we’ll clean it up.” They focus on publicly owned sites. Kai Smith’s phone number is 917-224-2072. The website is www.cleanupnyc.org.

Brooklyn Navy Yard - Job Posting

Mr. Richard Drucker from the Brooklyn Navy Yard announced that he is now accepting applications for the summer employment program for college students. There are approximately thirty slots. For more information visit http://www.brooklynnavyyard.org/ or download the application here http://www.brooklynnavyyard.org/ecenter/2010SYP_Employment_Application.pdf

We talked about it at our Arts & Jobs meeting in April 2009, now it is a reality. Join BAM for the groundbreaking festivities this weekend for the new Fisher Theatre.

Ashland Pl (between Hanson Pl and Lafayette Ave)

Performances by
Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band
Soul Tigers
BAM / Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble
Youth poets from BAM’s Brooklyn Reads program
Salsa students from the Brooklyn Music School
Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet
Sô Percussion
DJ Kervyn Mark and DJ Kamala: Melting Pot Global

Activities
Art-making with Cey Adams & students from BAM’s Arts & Justice program
Dance classes led by Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet
Face painting
Plant giveaways

Food vendors
Brooklyn Soul
Cuzin’s Duzin
Janet’s Kitchen
Mr. Softee Ali Has
Original Roast Corn
Uncle Oscar’s Island Cuisine

Check out what’s happening on Myrtle Avenue with two art installations at the Carlton Triangle (Myrtle and Carlton) and the NW Fort Greene Park Entrance (Myrtle and St. Edwards).

There’s less than a week to get your Discounted Advance Purchase Tickets for this year’s Fort Greene Association House Tour.

This year’s Tour, scheduled for May 2, 2010, is themed “live/work/play/fort greene“, highlighting residents who are forging a unique Brooklyn lifestyle- one that combines home, work and leisure in the same space.

In addition to 11 historic homes displaying incredible decor and design details and ideas, the Tour path also encompasses several local cultural destinations, including a backstage visit at Tour sponsor venue Brooklyn Academy of Music and an exclusive art showing of SONYA artists living in Fort Greene. These are just a few of the surprises and treats we have lined up on tour.

One surprise we will tell you about is the fantastic raffle sponsored by Rejuvenation Lighting.

30th Fort Greene Association House Tour May 2, 2010 Raffle
Sponsored by Rejuvenation Lighting

Donation: $5.00

Drawing will be held at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, May 2, 2010
Winner need not be present to win.

Grand Prize: Rejuvenation chandelier lighting valued at $750
Runner Up: Rejuvenation Sconce Lighting pair valued at $450

Proceeds benefit the Fort Greene Association, a nonprofit 501(c)3 charitable organization

Last Monday night’s meeting was a huge success with over 150 Fort Greeners learning and sharing over what draws people together - FOOD.

The pot luck was outstanding and all the dishes were great. But because it was a contest only one could be chosen to win our prize.

Congratulations to Janet Lindgren, a new Fort Greene resident, for her winning dish of Roasted Red Pepper Salad.

Here is the winning recipe:

ROASTED PEPPER SALAD by Janet Lindren

This dish started with Delia Smith’s recipe for Piedmont Roasted Peppers in her SUMMER COLLECTION. I made the roasted pepper pieces smaller and put them on a bed of peppery watercress to make what could be an appetizer into a salad. The aroma as this dish bakes is quite wonderful.
4 red bell peppers
6 plum tomatoes
8 anchovy fillets (or more)
2-4 cloves chopped garlic (or more)
½ cup olive oil (or less)
freshly ground black pepper
a bed of watercress tops
fresh basil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut the peppers, following the indentations that run from base to stem. You’ll get either thirds or fourths depending on each pepper’s shape. Try to slice through the stem so that some stem remains on each piece. This isn’t essential, but it helps the pepper pieces keep their shape as they bake. Remove the seeds. Arrange the pepper pieces on a lightly oiled, heavy, shallow, baking sheet. According to Delia, “if the sides are too deep, the roasted vegetables won’t get those lovely nutty, toasted edges.” They also brown better if they aren’t crowded on the baking sheet. Put the tomatoes into boiling water for one minute, then into ice water. Peel the tomatoes, cut into quarters, and remove seeds. Fit tomato pieces into each pepper piece, trimming the tomato pieces as necessary.

Chop the anchovy fillets and sprinkle onto the tomatoes. Peel and chop the garlic cloves and sprinkle onto the tomatoes and anchovies. Spoon some olive oil over each pepper piece. Season with freshly ground pepper (but no salt because of the anchovies.)

Place the baking sheet on a high shelf in the oven. Roast for 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Make a bed of watercress tops on a large, flat serving dish. Arrange the roasted pepper pieces on the watercress, pouring any juices in the pan over it all. Add some chopped fresh basil, if you have it.

For her effort Janet won: A $50 gift certificate to Olea, 2 House Tour tickets, and an autographed copy of the book Images of America: Fort Greene by former FGA Chair, Howard Pitsch.

A big thank you to Dan DeMarti from Olea for judging and the wines generously supplied by Best Buy Liquors.

If you missed the meeting and want to follow up with any of our great speakers here is their information.

Neighborhood Meeting- Open to All

Hungry ? Feeding Fort Greene
Fresh Solutions for Healthy Eating in the Neighborhood
LAPC – The Town Hall of Fort Greene, 85 So. Oxford Street- Monday, April 19^th, 2010 – 7:30 P.M.

7:00 Healthy and Affordable Pot Luck Contest - Judging by Dan DeMarti of Olea Mediterranean Taverna
Fill out entry form at registration table and be sure to set aside a portion for our judge

Tonight’s prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Olea, 2 House Tour tickets, and an autographed copy of the book Images of America: Fort Greene by former FGA Chair, Howard Pitsch.

7:30 Welcome - Paul Palazzo ([email protected])

7:40 May I Have the Envelope Please (We hope you Win!)

7:45 Fort Greene Goings-On
- Public Safety Task Force – Paul Palazzo ([email protected])
Update on proposal to enhance street safety with improved lighting
- House Tour 2010 – Live-Work-Play Fort Greene [email protected]
House Tour is the biggest and best ever Advance Tickets at
- Images of America – Fort Greene Howard Pitsch [email protected]
- Schools - Bridget Babel
P.S. 20 Spring Fling ([email protected])

8:00 Hungry? Feeding Fort Greene - Fresh Solutions for Healthy Eating in the Neighborhood
Fort Greene has changed but our choices for healthy food seem to be stuck in the past. We’ll explore the Food Solutions coming to our neighborhood

Green Hill Food Co-op (www.greenehillfoodcoop.com)
DK Holland, Kathryn Zarczynski
For information visit www.greenehillfoodcoop.com and sign up for the email newsletter
or call 718-208-4778

MARP’s ‘Myrtle Eats Fresh’ Initiative (www.myrtleavenue.org)
Meredith Phillips Almeida, Director of Community Development ([email protected])
Sam Lipschultz, Food Access Coordinator

MARP will discuss new food access initiatives including a community-run farm stand, community garden expansion, the Fort Greene FRESH Teens program, and a local healthy food task force

GrowNYC- Fort Greene Farmer’s Market update
Liz Carollo ([email protected])

Food Pantry Update
Mary Priebe ([email protected])

Vokashi - Kitchen Waste Solution
Vandra Thorburn ([email protected])

9:00 Community Forum Open Mic

The floor is yours for two minutes.
Use it to announce an upcoming event or raise an issue.
Speaking slots are limited, sign up at the door.

9:15 Final Announcements and Adjournment

Next FGA Neighborhood Meeting, Tuesday, June 29, 2010
We’ll see you next time but we’re always available online or by email at [email protected]

And don’t forget the 30^th Fort Greene Association House Tour, Sunday, May 2, 2010

There’s no greener place to be than Fort Greene this weekend with these two Earth Day celebrations. Keep in touch with all the green initiatives happening with our Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill Campaign.

Free Trees

This coming weekend you can get a Free Tree to plant on private property (not in street tree pits) — April 17 & 18, 10-3 , while they last. At the Putnam Triangle in Clinton Hill, at Fulton and Grand.

All are small decorative flowering trees, perfect for front and back yards. Shovels will be available and help getting the tree home if you need it., too.

Know a senior or other one who needs help planting? We have aid for you, as well. Please spread the word. Information: email:[email protected] or call (718) 643-6555.

Join us at our next scheduled Neighborhood meeting to be held on Monday April 19, 2010 -7:30PM, at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Fort Greene has changed but our choices for healthy food seem to be stuck in the past. At this meeting we’ll explore the Food Solutions coming to our neighborhood Come share your experiences with others and learn about efforts to provide healthy food choices to Fort Greene.

Ask questions, and get answers. Plus all the goings on in Fort Greene and don’t forget to come early and meet your neighbors with refreshments starting at 7PM.

YUMMY!
ENTER OUR RECIPE - POT LUCK CONTEST

What is your favorite healthy recipe for a family of four on a budget?
Bring along your favorite designed to cost $10 or less to the meeting
for the 7PM Neighborhood Mixer
and enter our Recipe - Pot Luck Contest.

Enter to win valuable prizes and share your secrets on healthy eating with your neighbors.

Come and savor what your neighbors have to offer.

As always FGA Meetings are Open to All
Homeowners and Renters alike

Serving Greater Fort Greene,
Fort Greene Association

The April 2010 FGA Newsletter is available online or at many of our local shops and restaurants throughout Fort Greene.

Inside this edition:
- The Greene Hill Food Co-op is coming your way
- Free Trees for You
- Safer More Walkable Streets
- BAM’s New Museum in Fort Greene
- 30th House Tour - House Sitting the Bargain of a Lifetime

Reach thousands of Fort Greene households in the mail, via email and on the web by underwriting the FGA Newsletter. For next sponsorship availability date and for details call 718.875.1855 or write the FGA at [email protected].