Join the Brownstoners during Bed-Stuy Alive! for the 34th Annual House Tour

Join the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant on Saturday, October 20, for their annual house tour, a part of the Bed-Stuy Alive! celebration kicking off on October 6.

Now in its 34th year, the Brownstoners will once again showcase a collection of the community’s finest brownstones and limestones.

"We started the house tour 35 years ago, back in the 70s, 80s, when we found there was a flight of residents who were leaving the homes their parents had left for them," said Ava Barnett, president of the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant.

"So this was like a 'Come on home to Bed-Stuy,' a way to showcase the positive things about the community. We asked neighbors to open up their homes and invite people in. The unique thing is that you get to meet the homeowners, you get to talk to them, find out why they're interested in this community and choose to raise their families here."

The self-guided tour will begin at the historic “Old Boys” High School, located at 832 Marcy Avenue, near the corner of Putnam Avenue, from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., rain or shine. Visitors will receive a Tour Brochure, mandatory for entry into the homes and a handy keepsake and reference tool that documents the unique story behind each home on tour.

Once on the tour, attendees experience first-hand the luxury and sophistication embodied within the unique brownstones and limestones of Bedford-Stuyvesant, many of which date back as far as the early 1800s.

They will have the opportunity to speak directly with homeowners to learn about restoration, landscaping, general maintenance and the sustainability of a brownstone home. Displaying works in progress and fully renovated homes, the tour has traditionally proved to be an invaluable experience for homeowners and homebuyers alike.

Other Tour Specials:

• Also, visitors can participate in the Free Homeownership Workshop, from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. sponsored by Bridge Street Development Corporation. The workshop will be held at the starting point, located at 832 Marcy Ave at Putnam Avenue. At the workshop, participants can learn how to finance the renovation or purchase of a home in Bed-Stuy.
• There will also be the annual “Bed-Stuy Bazaar,” from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.which will include vendors from the Fulton Arts Fair, fine artisans, and more. The bazaar will take place from 10:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
• Bed-Stuy Alive! will promote special discounts in neighborhood eateries.

"The tour is a great way to introduce newcomers to the neighborhood, but it's equally as important for our current residents to participate so they get to see that their own community is still vibrant," said Barnett

"Every year, I'll meet at least one resident on the tour that says 'I didn't know about this.' And then there's the one person who says they've never missed a tour. But either way, it's equally important for us to showcase our best to our own as it is for us to showcase our best to the world."

Tickets for the 34th Annual House Tour of Bedford Stuyvesant are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the tour. Recent tours have sold out, with over 1,000 patrons, so get tickets now! Advanced tickets can be purchased beginning in August at the following locations:

Little Red Boutique, 374 Lewis Avenue at Macon, (718) 443-1170

Bed-Vyne Wine, 370 Tompkins Avenue at Putnam, (347) 915-1080

Sista’s Place, 456 Nostrand Avenue at Jefferson, (718) 398-1766