Restorations Summer Series

For the past month or so I have been interning with the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. Because I am not a native of Bed Stuy, I was not familiar with Restoration or its effect on Bed Stuy. But after hours of working on different projects, listening in on conferences and visiting sites I have begun to understand what Restoration does for the Bedford Stuyvesant community. All of Restoration’s programs and resources are intended to help or improve lives of residents of Bed Stuy and other Brooklyn neighborhoods. Restoration does a lot for the central Brooklyn community and the community means a lot to Restoration as without their support Restoration would not exist. Having the opportunity to take part in the different projects that Restoration implements I can see that the relationship between Restoration and the community is strong and important.

This summer Restoration is hosting a diverse series of events including a film festival, DJ sets and weekly exercises. I see these events as an extension of Restorations relationship with Bed Stuy as they will feature many local artists, foster community and bring cultural and health well-being. The events will be taking place along Fulton Street, in the newly renovated West Plaza at Restoration and the adjacent newly created Marcy Plaza. One of the goals of this series, which ends in October, is to get the community familiar with these new spaces. Bed Stuy’s Fulton Street is now lined with trees, and benches. The Renovations to the West Plaza of Restoration, the area outside of Applebee’s and the post office, saw the addition of greenery, seating areas and glass walls. Marcy Plaza, along Marcy Ave and Fulton St, is a new space complete with six benches, a water fountain and additional seating. These three projects encourage more walking and social activity. In addition the extension of the sidewalk at Marcy Plaza increases pedestrian safety but most importantly the three projects give the community open area and the events this summer will capitalize on some of this space.

There have already been some events in the Marcy and West plaza. This past Tuesday was the second time that the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium performed in the West Plaza. On Wednesday I had the pleasure to take part in the weekly Farmers Market, operated by Brooklyn Rescue Mission, which ran from 9am to 1pm. The market, which was in Marcy Plaza, sold berries, apricots, collard greens, delicious sweet potato pies and herbs.  Youth from the Noel Pointer Foundation came out and played their stringed instruments. 

I’d advise all to take a look at Restoration’s website at www.restorationplaza .org and join their Facebook page at www.facebook/bsrc to keep updated on the happenings.

Here are list of the events happening this summer and fall

Health

Farmers markets every Wednesdays 9am-1pm July 17th-October 30th, Marcy Plaza

Neighborhood bike rides and runs every Wednesday 6pm July 17th-September 24th and October 2nd, West Plaza

Foodtown Super Market Tour & Cooking demonstrations, with special guest filmmaker Byron Hurt, September 6, 4-7pm, Super Foodtown

10k Run & Walk with Bike Ride & Kiddie Run (a part of Bed-Stuy Alive), October 13, 8:30 registration-10:30 Race, Fulton Street

Dance

Soul Summit Dance Party, West Plaza, 3pm-8pm, August 4th September 1st and October 6th

Ronald K. Brown Evidence Dance Company Premier Restoration Plaza Performance, Amphitheatre, September 29, 2pm

Art & Culture

“Essentially Earth: Linda Hiwot/Jasmine Murrell” Art Exhibition: July 6th-August 23rd, Skylight Gallery, 3rd Floor

“The Butler: A Witness to History” A Bookend Event for the Brooklyn Book Festival: September 21, 3-5pm, Skylight Gallery

“Danny Simmons-A Personal View” Art Exhibition, September 21st-November, 7pm, Skylight Gallery, 3rd Floor

Theatre

Brooklyn Shakespeare-ience presents a youth production of “Romeo & Juliet”, August 10 7pm, Marcy Plaza

BEAT Festival “Roadside Attraction” A Site Specific Theater Piece, September 18, 12pm, Marcy Plaza

BEAT Festival: “Brooklyn 63” Brooklyn & The Civil Rights Movement, September 19, 6pm, Billy Holiday Theater

BEAT Festival: “Nancy” A Site Specific Theater Piece, September 20, 5pm, West Plaza

Film

Women of African Descent Film Festival and Youth Film Festival (Presented by The Brooklyn Chapter of The Links, INC., August 16, 23 & 30, 8pm, West Plaza

Film Screening of “Soul Food Junkies” (with Special Guest Byron Hurt, Filmmaker), September 6, 7pm, SuperFoodtown

Urban World 2nd Annual Bed-Stuy Community Screening, September 13, 7pm, West Plaza

“The New Black” with filmmaker Yoruba Richen (presented by Toshi Reagon’s Word Rock and Sword Festival), September 20, 7pm, Skylight Gallery

Music

Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, Tuesdays, July 9th-30th, 6pm, West Plaza

Phat Tuesdays/DJ Sets, Tuesdays August 6th-27th, 6pm, West Plaza

Soul Summit Dance Party, August 4th, 3pm-8pm, West Plaza

Soul Summit Dance Party, September 1, 3pm-8pm, West Plaza

Restoration Rocks! Music Festival/Bed-Stuy Alive! (Featuring Bid Daddy Kane and more), October 12th, 10am-5pm, Fulton Street

Soul Summit Dance Party, October 6th, 3pm-8pm, West Plaza

BIO

I am Nigerian but was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. I went to Deerfield Academy, a boarding school in western Massachusetts, for high school. I am currently enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and will be starting my second year this August. I am a Cashin Fellow at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). I got to Restoration through LISC and since June I have been helping out on a number of projects including, a business survey, mapping health, food and fitness resources in Bed Stuy, the Youth Arts Academy stairway playlist and helping out wherever I am needed.