Neighborhood

Affordable Housing Lottery for One Flatbush Ave now open

One Flatbush Ave Construction

Do you dream of living in Downtown Brooklyn, but lack the income to afford the multitude of new luxury apartments? Here’s another chance to try your luck at an affordable housing lottery!

NYC Housing Connect has recently opened the lottery for the upcoming One Flatbush Ave, which appears to be nearing the end of it’s construction. The building is at the intersection of Flatbush and Fulton, right next to the Nevins stop on the 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains.

Local Businesses Take the Bait in Underage Alcohol Sting

Wall of alcohol

The New York State Liquor Authority recently sent underage decoys to retail establishments holding liquor licenses to ferret out those that illegally sell to underage persons. The underage decoys went to 756 businesses where they attempted to buy alcoholic beverages.

Of the 756 businesses State-wide, 200 sold alcoholic beverages to the underage decoys, including a few in Downtown Brooklyn. The Downtown Brooklyn offenders included a 7 Eleven at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the Brooklyn Deli at 115 Willoughby Street, and Khim’s Millennium Market at 111 Lawrence Street.

Free walking tours all weekend to honor public advocate Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs

Now in its 8th year, Jane’s Walk NYC, hosted by the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), is a weekend-long celebration featuring 200+ free “walking conversation” tours throughout the five boroughs, led by urban enthusiasts and local neighborhood experts.

“There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.” – Jane Jacobs

TD’s Five Boro Bike Tour is coming our way

Five Boro Bike Tour race 2018

Image via Bike New York

The 41st annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour is back this Sunday, May 6th. Around 32,000 cyclists will gear up this year and ride through New York City on car-free streets and highways for 40-miles.

Organized by Bike New York, the tour is a fun way for people to enjoy the city and raise money for the nonprofit organization’s bike education programs. The event will start off with an expo on Friday & Saturday at Pier 12, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook with exhibitors, food and beer. And on Sunday, the bike tour begins at 7:30 am, in four waves at lower Manhattan, and moves its way through Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and finally ends in Staten Island with a Finish Festival (registered participants only) featuring local food vendors and live music.

Lined with Gold: Street Name Change to Honor Founding Black Female Civil Rights Activist

Ida Wells portrait

Gold Street, between Myrtle Avenue and Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn, may soon be renamed to honor Ida B. Wells, an African-American investigative journalist, teacher, feminist, and an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Wells spent several years on Gold Street in the early 1890s (living near today’s existing Chase Bank), after her Memphis journalism offices were destroyed by white mob violence.

Discounts at Dekalb Market Hall for National Small Business Week

Dekalb Market Hall Nobletree

We’re smack dab in the middle of National Small Business Week, which spans April 29th through May 5th this year. To celebrate, our favorite local food court, Dekalb Market Hall, has several vendors offering discounts.

Vendors with sales include Cuzin’s Duzin and Paella Shack, with many others also participating in the ten-percent discount promotion. There’s no doubt you’ll be able to find something to fit your tastes and mood down there.

Hello, Gothamist. Welcome back.

Gothamist Website screenshot

Have you heard the news? Gothamist is back!

Last year, after a vote to unionize, they were shut down. Apparently, that made WNYC sad, so WNYC brought them back. They launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money and rally the troops. And today, they’re officially back.

I couldn’t be happier. I missed them. I know this isn’t directly related to Downtown Brooklyn, but Gothamist is a fantastic resource for all New Yorkers. So I had to celebrate here.