June 9th: Brooklyn Pride Parade

Save the Date!

Brooklyn Pride Happy Hour and Parade 

Saturday, June 9th

Pride Happy Hour (time and participants TBA): Visit participating restaurants and bars on 5th Avenue and receive discounted prices.

Night Pride Parade (7:30 PM Kick Off):  5th Avenue – from 14th Street to Sterling Place, Come join the fun with the first “Night Time Parade” in the Northeast.

Battle of Brooklyn Interactive Tour

Lots of great stuff happening on Fifth, these days. As we mentioned yesterday, there are a lot of new businesses opening along the avenue and even more "coming soon" signs in storefront windows. Of course, our favorite playground (JJ Byrne) has been reopened and spectacularly renovated. Now, The Old Stone House has added a new feature to their website: an interactive tour of the Battle of Brooklyn!

Check out digital maps of the battle scene, listen to an audio tour narrated by Brooklyn's own John Turturro and play Battle of Brooklyn games. Install the audio tour on your iPod or smartphone, put your headphones on and you can take a walk back through time right on Fifth Avenue (just be sure to look down and watch out for the kids).

Recent Changes On Fifth

As we noted earlier this month, change is in the air on Fifth Avenue, as new stores, bars and restaurants have taken over many of the vacant storefronts that started to pop up over the long, hard winter. The Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is happy to welcome our new neighbors:

-Noble Dental Care PC (Dental, 340a 9th Street)
-Aarpan Indian Restaurant (Restaurant, 396 Fifth Avenue)
-Pure (Restaurant, 88 Fifth Avenue)
-Habitat (Clothing and Accessories, 137 Fifth Avenue)
-Caramello (Gelato cafe, 179 Fifth Avenue)
-The Munro (Bar, 481 Fifth Avenue)
-Vice Versa (Vintage, 550 Fifth Avenue)

Plus, as we noted back in April, Le Chandelier (264 Fifth Avenue) has been sold to Rompal Salon and the space has been renamed "Radiance Beauty Salon." There are still a lot of "Coming Soon" signs along the avenue so stay tuned and keep your eyes open for exciting new businesses on Fifth.

Happy Memorial Day

- from the merchants of Fifth Avenue and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID. Looking for something to do, today? Here are some ideas.

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Park Slope! If you are in town all weekend, enjoying the quiet, here are some Fifth Avenue businesses that will be open and offering a little something special, should inspiration strike (in no particular order). Note: we'll update the list as information becomes available.
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Aperitivo: Open Monday and serving brunch from 11 to 4.

Rachel's Taqueria: $4 margaritas this weekend!

Pink Olive: running a promotion on a new line of cooler/lunch bags. Could come in handy for a weekend picnic! Details here.

Stone Park Cafe: Serving memorial day brunch on Monday from 10:30-3:00

Bogota Latin Bistro: will be open as usual this weekend and will be serving brunch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11am to 3:45pm.

Tabeel: Will be closed, BUT they will have a booth at Dance Africa at BAM. Saturday Sunday and Monday. FOOD ,CRAFT, HOME DECOR, MUSIC and FUN.

Ginger's Bar: Fri. May 25 GINGER'S Shake "IT" Fridays music mix DJ LINDZ from across the pond kicking' your Arse off for Memorial day Summer wkd. 10PM- 4AM

Sat May 26 G's Saturday Nite Special w/ Brooke, Shane, Christina and Jerry..anythang goes! 2PM-4AM. Pool table rack. Back Garden open. Digital Juke Box's unlimited play list!

Sun. May 27 Honor to those who Serve and in Memory of those who have! BBQ BINGO Ginger's Sunday Bingo Show with Luscious LOLA Back Garden BBQ Party!! 5-8PM G's Grill Master Jerry on hot coals and grill! FREE Burgers & Hot Dogs while they last! NO COVER! FREE TO PLAY Hang N' HOLLA PEEPS Brooke &  Shane and Jerry serving cool cocktails specials Sun afternoon delights. 7:30 Enjoy, Stay for Special LOLA Bingo Show tribute to Donna Summer.. .this is not your mothers Bingo... so bring her along too :) ❤ ALL welcome 7:30PM

Mon. May 28th Ginger's Bar back garden BBQ. Perry's Refreshing cocktail specials. Free Burgers and Hot Dogs while they last or better yet BYOBBQ and we'll fire up our hot coals for you and peeps. 5PM-4AM. Pool table rack. Back Garden open. Digital Juke Box's unlimited play list!

Also, if you are in the mood for a performance, check out our All About Fifth Calendar.

News Round-Up

Park Slope Floods! [PS Patch]

Off-the-Grid Living in Brooklyn [NY Times]

Beat the Barclays Center Traffic Blues: Use Mass Transit [Huffington Post]

The 78th Precinct Pushes to Enforce the Illegal Use of Electric Bicycles [PS Patch]

New Beer Hall to Bring Taste of Germany to Park Slope [DNA Info]

Uke Night!

Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue) will be filled with the peppy sound of ukuleles tonight, starting at 8:00 with a Uke jam (dust yours off and come on down) and then a performance by the Ukeladies: "...a perpetually-touring, twin-sister, aunt, and one tap-dancing-cousin act from Regina, Canada with a lust for life and its idle curiosities."

Here's a sample:

MS 51 Bike to School Day

Fifth Avenue's MS 51 will be celebrating Bike Month today with a special "Bike to School Day" in partnership with Bicycle Habitat. Drivers, please remain alert when driving near the school (5th Avenue and 4th Street) or along the above highlighted route. 


Interested in celebrating Bike Month before it's over? Check out the events calendar at bikenyc.org.

Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn

Coming June 2nd to 4th Street and Fifth Avenue: our neighbors at Puppetry Arts will be hosting a free festival featuring live puppet performances, Star Wars characters, live music, snacks, a bounce house and more.

The event is rain or shine and runs from 11-5. Hopefully, the weather will be better than it has been over the past 24 hours or there will be a lot of soggy puppets on Fifth Avenue.

Photos From the Fair

Wow, perfect weather at The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair, yesterday. Here are some photos that we managed to take along the streets and in the very crowded (and newly renovated) JJ Byrne Playground.

Today: Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair

News Round-Up

J.J. Byrne Playground on Fifth Avenue is Officially Open! [PS Patch]

Doorman Says Slope ‘Parking Ring’ is Real — and Necessary [Brooklyn Paper]

Celebrate Bike to Work Day in Park Slope with Brooklyn Spoke [PS Patch]

New Slope Bar Looks Like your Mom’s Living Room in the 1970s [Brooklyn Paper]

No Bike Share Locations in Park Slope Until Spring 2013 [PS Patch]

Tonight: Beer Dinner at Fornino

Are the glasses of beer, above, making you thirsty? If so, you may want to drop by Fornino Park Slope for their Beer Dinner tonight at 7PM

Join Ommegang Brewery & Fornino for a paired dinner, 5 beers, 5 courses! $45 per person (+ tax & gratuity)

If you can't make it, don't worry, Fornino has plenty of events planned for May. Check out their events calendar here.

Barclays Center Transportation Meeting

Empire State Development and Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 6 & 8 are holding a public meeting on the Barclays Center Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan:


TUESDAY, MAY 22 AT 6 PM @ BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL (209 JORALEMON ST.)

The proposal aims to reduce vehicular traffic to the arena &  minimize the effects of the cars that do come.

If you have questions or concerns, representatives of the developer be making a presentation and answer your questions.

In Five More Days!

The Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair, this Sunday, May 20th at noon. Be there!

Aperitivo: Small Game Dinner

Save the date: Small Game Dinner and pairing of wines from Campania at Aperitivo Cafe (279 Fifth Avenue), Thursday, May 24th at 7:30pm Prix Fix $75.00/pp

Mont’Antico Wines Presented by Luigi Di Girolamo of Sapori D'Italia

Evening Opener
Rive Della Chiesa Prosecco Frizzante

Minestra di Tartaruga
North American Snapping Turtle Soup Pairing – Mont’Antico Falanghina Del Benevento IGT, 2010 Blossoms and fruit scents, Fresh Stone fruits and minerality

Tranetti con Ragu di Quaglia
House Made Pasta with a Quail Ragu of white wine, fresh tomato, onions Capers & Olives Pairing – Mont’Antico Greco Di Tufo DOCG, 2011 Balanced, elegant with scents of almond & white fruit full bodied, soft & well balanced with excellent acidity

Coniglio alla Moda Porchetta
Oven Roast Rabbit Porchetta Style with Grilled Ramps Pairing – Mont’Antico Taurasi DOCG 2070 ruby red with lines of orange scents of ripe fruit, cherry, black cherry, prunes as well as notes of spices and tobacco

Crème Caramel di Anitra
Duck Egg Flan Pairing – Fratelli Casetta Moscato D’Asti DOCG, Asti, Piemonte, IT intense with a fragrant aroma of almonds & Honey. Fresh, silky and pleasantly persistent.

Mother's Day on Fifth

Did you forget to make Mother's Day plans? Don't worry, Fifth Avenue has you covered! *Note: this list may grow over the next couple of days so check back!

Palo Santo: Mother's Day Brunch, Sunday, May13th. Treat mom to brunch at Palo Santo. This is one of the few occasions that we take brunch reservations for parties of all sizes, because we know that mom doesn't want to wait in line. And, on Mother's Day we pour Free Mimosas for all Moms! Brunch is served every Saturday & Sunday 10am - 3pm

Bob and Judi's Coolectibles: SALE! 20% off any item $10 and up, 10% off any Jewelry item $10 and up

(LuLu's Cuts & Toys, 48 Fifth Avenue, LuLu's for Baby, 44 Fifth Avenue, LuLu's Then and Now, 75A Fifth avenue): 50% sidewalk sale at all 3 lulu locations!

Pink Olive: For the Mom who has everything! Pink Olive and 2h Flowers are partnering to offer an exclusive subscription service just in time for Mother's Day. 2h Flowers will design a monthly signature mason jar arrangement utilizing the freshest seasonal blooms. Arrangements will be available for pick up at both the East Village and Park Slope Pink Olive locations. 6 month- $150, 12 month- $275. To get started email  2hflowers@pinkolive.com.

Melt: Celebrate Mother's Day at Melt! The whole family is welcome to join us for Brunch Specials 10:30am-4pm or a Special Dinner $30 prix fixe. Each mom will receive a complimentary dinner drink. Seating is limited so call 718.230.5925 to make reservations. Download the menu here.

Stone Park Cafe: We'll be serving up our famous brunch from 10am to 3:30, and dinner,featuring our daily market menu, from 5:30 to 10:00 on Sunday. Happy Mother's Day!

Bogota Latin Bistro: Mother's Day Weekend at Bogota! Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 13th and since we here at Bogota love mothers everywhere so much we are honoring mothers all weekend long. We will be offering our Mother's Day themed Brunch and Dinner menus on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Hours: 11AM - 1AM (Brunch until 3:45PM) Sunday Hours: 10AM - 12AM (Brunch until 3:45PM) Space is filling up fast and we encourage you to make your reservations now. For larger groups or if you have any questions call us at 718-230-3805. Feliz Dia de las Madres!

Two Lovers: For the weekend, great women’s and children’s clothing marked down 30% - 50%!

ZuZu's Petals: Fresh cut garden flowers, potted orchids, masses of colorful annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, luscious silk scarves, hand made ceramics, all natural bath and body products, scented candles. The arrangement pictured above features garden roses, viburnum, oriental lilies, and california waxflower and costs $75 and up. We can punch it up with some delicious peonies. So if you have a zuzumom , come see us! Call for flower pick up or delivery in the Park Slope area by Saturday morning. You can reach us at 718 638-0918 or email us at zuzusparkslope@aol.com

Baluchis: Mother's Day Special $30 and 1/2 price lunch. Menu is available here.

Sky Ice: Complimentary Roselle Iced Tea for all Mother's Grilled Mahi Mahi over Mesclun Salad with Thai Saffron Sauce served with, Lavender Coconut Rice Two Special Ice Creams: Chocolate Lavender Ice Cream, Mixed Berries Cheese Cake Ice Cream

Our Park Opens Tomorrow!

This Friday, May 11th at 11:00 am, the Department of Parks and Recreation will finally cut the ribbon at JJ Byrne Playground at The Old Stone House and Washington Park. The wait is over, people!

Join the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation for the ribbon cutting of the redesigned and reinvirgorated JJ Byrne Playground at the Old Stone House and Washington Park. The new elementary play area features equipment with custom interpretive panels designed by artist Julie Peppito that relate to the farming and Revolutionary history of the Old Stone House; they’re great for image searches, rubbings, and making zeotrope images. Older children can climb, crawl, and bounce through an amazing piece of interactive climbing equipment. There are still swings, game/cafe tables, and beautiful new perimeter gardens. The Parks Department and the Old Stone House look forward to greeting friends and neighbors when the playground officially opens — and be sure to pick up a free Old Stone House activity book!

Still Collecting Survey Answers

Keep those survey answers coming, Park Slope. We're getting a lot of great feedback on what you like (and don't like) about Park Slope's Fifth Avenue! If you haven't already, fill out the survey below:

Old Stone House Friendraiser

Now here's a party you should really check out.

This Saturday, May 12th, drop by The Old Stone House & Washington Park for "A Mad Hatter's Tea Party." Music, brunch, costumes, magic and more! The event will celebrate the new playground and benefit The Old Stone House & Washington Park.

Details 
Saturday, May 12, 11 am - 1:30 pm 
The Old Stone House & Washington Park 
Tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for children 
Buy them now via Brownpapertickets.com.

Fifth Avenue Fair: In Less Than 2 Weeks

Coming up in less than two weeks!

Save the date and get ready to eat, drink, walk, laugh, dance, shop and eat some more.

News Round-Up

In Brooklyn Brownstone, Future President Found a Home on the Top Floor [NY Times]

Park Slope Uninterested in Non-Nursing Breasts [NY Magazine]

‎ Slopers Catch Sight of Space Shuttle Enterprise on Brooklyn Heights Promenade [PS Patch]

Brooklyn Bike Patrol Spreads Across the Borough Offering Safe Walks Home From the Subway [NY Daily News]

Readers' Choice: Park Slope’s Best Mother's Day Brunch Spot [Poll] [PS Patch]

Cinco De Mayo 2012

Looking to celebrate Cinco De Mayo? There's lots happening on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue and the weather is supposed to be glorious!

Sonido Costeno will be playing two full sets at 4th Street and Fifth Avenue from 6:30 to 9PM.

Bogota Latin Bistro: Will be open from 11 am to 1 am with Brunch starting at 11am through 3:45pm and happy hour running all day until 5pm. Classic Mojitos, Micheladas, Piña Coladas, and Mexican beers including Corona, Corona Light, and Negra Modelo. Also serving some of Latin American’s favorite dishes, including their Mexican Breakfast and BBQ Chicken Nachos Appetizer. Reservations for Cinco de Mayo celebrations this Saturday can be made at bogotabistro.com/reservations/.

Ginger's Bar: FELIZ CINCO DE MAYO! Pop by This Sat. May 5th Ginger's Bar "Salud" raise a Tequila Sunrise specials. $5 Tequila shot and beer deal commemorates Mexican forces', made up of untrained commoners, unlikely victory over French invasion led by Napoleon III. Doors open at 2 pm.

Palo Santo: $5 Drinks including Micheladas, Sangria, 32oz Tecate Beers & More. $25 Three Course Menu plus Live Nortena Music all evening from Los Gavilanes del Norte! Also, a special menu featuring Tacos, Moles, Ceviches and other Palo Santo Favorites! Call us for reservations: 718.636.6311

Also, don't forget the many Mexican Restaurants along Fifth

-Piramide (499 Fifth Avenue)
-El Pollito Mexicano (119 Fifth Avenue)
-Lobo (188 Fifth Avenue)
-Los Pollitos 2 (148 Fifth Avenue)
-Mezcal's (223 Fifth Avenue)
-Rachel's Taqueria (408 Fifth Avenue)
-Tacos Nuevo Mexico (489 Fifth Avenue)

A Goodbye Message from Bob & Judi

We received an email from Bob & Judi (of Bob & Judi's Coolectibles) yesterday that we want to share. We think it's best if you just read it:

TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS 

After 15 wonderful years, Bob & Judi will be closing their store at the end of July. 

We are having a big sale and invite you to come in and shop for that special treasure, or stock up now for the holidays. 

We would like to thank all our customers, neighbors and friends for their kindness and support throughout the 15 years. 

Bob & Judi

Actually, this is really a bittersweet occasion. Bob and Judi are moving to California and starting a new life for themselves. So, while Fifth Avenue will be losing a much-loved institution in July, we are very happy for them and wish them all the best.

For now, though, get over to Bob & Judi's Coolectibles and do some shopping before it's too late!

Photo via Here's Park Slope.

May 2012 Calendar

The Fifth Avenue events calendar has been updated for May. Take a look at it here. The events are also auto-tweeted via our Twitter account @allaboutfifth.

Also, let us know if there is anything missing and we'll add it!

Fifth Avenue's New Theme: Coming Soon!

We took a close look at the storefronts along Fifth Avenue, from Dean to 18th Street (aka the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID) yesterday and found lots of positive change.

Of course, Backyard, Badlands Barber and Salon, and Dizzy's recently opened. In addition, Skylark Bar opened in the Timboos space, Bagel Pub opened at the long-empty 287 9th Street and Sweet Treasures Bakery is serving up delicious treats at 588 Fifth Avenue. But the amazing part was the number of formerly vacant storefronts with "Coming Soon" signs in the window: 

-Pork Slope (247 Fifth Avenue)
-DuJour Bakery (365 Fifth Avenue)
-Aarpan Indian Food (396 Fifth Avenue)
-The Munro (481 Fifth Avenue)
-Premier Care (418 Fifth Avenue)
-Yogurberry (77 Fifth Avenue)
-Caramello (181 Fifth Avenue)
-Pure (88 Fifth Avenue)
-South Slope Pediatrics (501 Fifth Avenue)
-L Train Vintage (550 Fifth Avenue)
-Noble Dental Care (340a Fifth Avenue)

 Of course, there was some sad news. The space formerly occupied by Lugo Photography (169 Fifth Avenue) is now empty and the fixtures and goods in Brooklyn Mercantile were being moved to make way for a new Area Kids shop. All the best to our friends at Brooklyn Mercantile/Stitch Therapy, who will be continuing their businesses in a different form in the coming months.