👀 Here’s what’s happening this week:
Local Happenings and New Openings
Travel + Leisure just profiled Anthony Ramos and his Bed-Stuy bar, Milly’s, sharing the story behind the Brooklyn native’s first venture into hospitality. The piece dives into how Ramos teamed up with longtime friend Ron Leakey to open the bar, which is named after his mother, Mildred, and has become a neighborhood spot for Caribbean-inspired bites, craft cocktails, and weekend DJs. Ramos describes the vision as creating “a space that almost felt like you were in someone’s brownstone” – relaxed and unpretentious, but still special. Read the full Travel + Leisure feature here.
Outdoor dining in NYC is officially sticking around year-round, meaning your favorite sidewalk and roadway setups can now stay open through the winter. Restaurants will be able to apply for permits starting in September, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for which spots around the neighborhood take advantage of the new rules.
CHiPS, the longtime Brooklyn nonprofit providing food pantry services, community meals, and transitional housing, has expanded into the Brooklyn Navy Yard as demand for food assistance continues to grow. The organization recently moved its pantry operations into a roughly 4,000 sqft warehouse in the Navy Yard, its first physical expansion since it was founded in 1971. The new space is expected to more than double the number of households CHiPS can serve each week, while its hot meal program will remain at its Fourth Ave. location.
Spike Lee is teaming up with BAM for a brand-new two-day festival celebrating all things Brooklyn. Coming this November, the festival will bring together film screenings, conversations with cultural icons, live performances, pop-ups, and a free street fair with local food and music, including a special screening of Crooklyn. Spike is clearly keeping busy creating ways to celebrate his hometown, with his annual Michael Jackson block party also coming up next week.
Green in Brooklyn is hosting a Tiny Art Gallery featuring small, handmade works from local artists, and they’re currently taking submissions to be part of the opening day lineup in September. The gallery will be set up outside the shop for 1–2 weeks, where anyone can open the door, take a tiny piece of art home for free, or leave a small handmade creation for someone else to discover.
If you need anything from me this week, I’ll be at Milly’s.
Marina ✨
🗓️ Our Top Picks:
Thursday, August 20 (tonight):
The Emerald Holiday Pop-up (6pm–9pm): Jewelry maker The Emerald Holiday is popping up at Candor Candy for the first time, where you can browse, touch, and design your own pieces. The first 50 guests will receive a special treat, with deals available for everyone who stops by.
Friday & Saturday, August 21 & 22:
Peral Soft Opening (5pm–10pm): From the teams behind Olmo in Bed-Stuy and Cicatriz in CDMX, Peral is having their soft opening before officially opening on September 2.
Saturday, August 22:
UrbanGlass at Summer Streets BK (9am–5pm): Summer Streets is back, opening more than 20 miles of NYC streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and joggers with free fitness classes, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities. In Brooklyn, the route runs along Eastern Parkway, where Fort Greene’s UrbanGlass will be hosting a free, drop-in beadstringing activity.
Know Your Neighbor (3pm–6pm): Clinton Hill Fort Greene Mutual Aid is hosting a community gathering at Greene Garden, bringing neighbors together to connect, share food, and build local networks of support. The whole family is welcome, and guests are encouraged to bring something to share.
Saturday, August 29 is the planned rain date.
Student Sidewalk Sale (12pm–2pm): Artshack is hosting a student sidewalk sale at their store, featuring one-of-a-kind pottery made by students in their “Making & Selling Your Pottery” class, with all of proceeds going directly to who made each piece.
Casanara Block Party (12pm–7pm): They’re celebrating their 2 year anniversary with a block party hosted by Saint James Joy, bringing an afternoon of music and dancing to St. James Pl. and Fulton St. There will be sets from three local DJs throughout the afternoon and is free and open to all.
Saturday & Sunday, August 22 & 23:
Hotel Loves New York (10am–2pm): Hotel Ceramics is hosting their first pop-up at Dinner Party where you can stop by to drink coffee out of their handmade chunky mugs, eat a tasty treat and shop their collection.
Sunday, August 23:
Sunday Asado at Colonia Verde (5pm–8pm): Chef Anthony Verastegui of North Miami Beach’s Barra Callao is bringing his Peruvian Nikkei cooking to the Colonia Verde garden, with a menu centered around fresh seafood, ceviches, and dishes that combine Japanese technique with the bold flavors of Peru. Verastegui runs the intimate 12-seat chef’s counter, which was recently recognized with a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand. The evening will also feature NAMI, the first Mexican sake, for a cross-cultural pairing of Peruvian, Japanese, and Mexican flavors. Book through Resy.
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📌 Neighborhood Job Board:
This week: Associate Director, Operations at BRIC Arts Media, Assistant General Manager, Host, and Servers/Bartenders at Grimm Tavern, and Executive Initiatives & Board Liaison at Brooklyn Arts Council.
View and list jobs by Brooklyn neighborhood for free! Have a link to a job listing already? Simply copy and paste the link and it will auto-fill the rest.
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