Bed-Stuy Gateway and the Fulton-Nostrand Revitalization Project

Restoration Rocks Music Festival - Saturday, September 15, 2007; 12-5pm

September 15, 2007 from 12 PM – 5 PM
Raindate: September 16, 2007
Free in the Restoration Amphitheatre

The Restoration Rocks Music Festival is a free outdoor event featuring several of Brooklyn’s hippest, hottest, and funkiest bands. The event will celebrate Bed-Stuy’s cutting-edge style and Restoration’s 40th anniversary with live sets by Game Rebellion, Martha Redbone, Red Lights to Rio, Roughstars, Sankofa, Shelley Nicoles’s blaKbüshe, Shrine for the Black Madonna, and Tamar-kali. A great choice for any fan of Afro-Punk, Black Rock, New American Underground, or electrifying live music. Come prepared to party. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/restorationrocks or call 718 636 6976.

Inaugural Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant: What an amazing party

What an amazing party we had in Bedford-Stuyvesant this past Thursday, April 12. The inaugural Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant was a smashing success and we want to thank everyone who helped to make the event such a success, from our event sponsors, to our elected officials, organization partners, merchant association members, volunteers and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighbors who all came out to help us kick off the public phase of the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District Formation Campaign (more details on that to come soon on this website).

Our very own Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz kicked off the Toast and the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Campaign in boisterous Brooklyn style with a proclamation.

From Toast to Bedf...

Elected Officials and Leaders of the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Steering Committee celebrate the Borough President's proclamation of April 12, 2007 as Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant Day in Brooklyn.

From left to right: Edmon Braithwaite (Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Steering Committee Co-Chair, Vice President of Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Assn.), NYS Assemblymember Hakeem Jeffries, NYC Council Member Letitia James, NYS Assemblymember Annette M. Robinson, Joel Dabu (Executive Director, FNUMA; Commercial Revitalization Manager, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp.), Hardy Joe Long (President, FNUMA), Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Noah Katz (Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Steering Committee Co-Chair), Colvin W. Grannum (President/CEO, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation).

From Toast to Bedf...

Bacardi USA and its brands was one of the 18 companies represented at the Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Wellcare Health Plans, a Corporate Member of FNUMA, was also the sponsor of the entertainment at the Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant.

From Toast to Bedf...

The Brandon Sanders Jazz Ensemble really jazzed up the house.

Finally, a toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant's bright future.

From Toast to Bedf...

So who and what exactly is going to be at the Toast to Bed-Stuy?

Curious to know exactly what wines and spirits you'll be able to sample at Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant? Scroll down to see a list of companies scheduled to exhibit at the event.
Click on the image below to view a list of companies exhibiting Distilled Spirits

Click on the image below to view a list of companies exhibiting wines

Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant Press Release

Download fnumatoast_to_bed_stuy_press_release_final.pdf

Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant Wine & Cocktail Tasting and Fundraiser; Thursday, April 12, 2007 7-10pm

Celebrate the continuing revitalization and renaissance of the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business District by joining us at the Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant Wine Tasting and Fundraiser.

• Sample premium wines and cocktails from around the world
• Nibble on Hors d'oeuvres
• Listen to the cool sounds of Bedford-Stuyvesant's Brandon Sanders Jazz Ensemble

Proceeds from ticket sales to the Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant benefit the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association and Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation's efforts to form a business improvement district in the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business District.

Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant
Thursday, April 12, 2007; 7-10pm
Taking Place at Carver Federal Savings Bank
1281 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Toast to Bedford-Stuyvesant was sponsored by:

Presenting Sponsors:
Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association
Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
Carver Federal Savings Bank
Nostrand Wines and Liquors

Media Sponsor:
Our Time Press

Entertainment Sponsored by:
Wellcare Health Plans.

Saturday: Universal Hip Hop Parade on Fulton Street

Now in its sixth year, the Universal Hip-Hop Parade will take place this Saturday, August 12, 2006 on Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

From the UHHP Website: www.universalhiphopparade.org

During its first six years the UHHP has presented stilt walkers, motorcycle & van clubs, graffiti banner displays, marching bands, sound trucks, dancers and more. Hip-hop legends, elected officials, community activists, legendary MC’s have participated. Come to the historic Black neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn on Saturday, August 12th and celebrate legendary freedom fighter Marcus Garvey’s birthday by participating in and watching the annual “Universal Hip-Hop Parade”. Your presence and participation makes the celebration successful. The Universal Hip-Hop Parade (UHHP) is a grassroots movement to encourage social justice advocacy and to support the local business community by utilizing the creative culture of hip-hop. The parade is always held on the Saturday before Marcus Garvey’s August 17th birthday. Marcus Garvey used culture as a tool to empower people and encouraged the growth of Black institutions. The UHHP 2006 continues that tradition!

Link: Universal Hip Hop Parade.

Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! Main Stage Schedule and other details

The rides are ordered, the performers are ready to go, and the weather is looking bright. It looks like it's going to be a bright, pleasant summer day for a fun-filled Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest!

Proceeds from the sale of attraction tickets and tent entry tickets to this Saturday’s event will support the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District Formation Campaign, a project of the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Commercial Revitalization Program.

There are 26 exhibitors selling a variety of arts and crafts, jewelry, fresh cut flowers and other unique goods that will definitely not be like your typical New York City street fair selection. Food vendors will be providing food items such as Roti, Fish and Chips, Jamaican-style jerk chicken, and vegetarian West-Indian dishes.

The Doe Fund will be offering free hamburgers, hot dogs and lemonade from their booth.

Tickets for the carnival-style attractions will be sold at the following rate: 13 tickets for $5. Tickets will only be sold in $5 increments. 

Ticket fees for the carnival-style attractions are as follows:

• Giant Castle Moonwalk - 4 tickets
• Dunking Booth – 4 tickets
• Inflate-a-hoops - 3 tickets
• High Striker - 3 Tickets
• Plinko - 2 Tickets
• Ring-the-Bottle - 2 tickets
• Tic-tac-toe - 2 tickets
• Tip-a-troll - 2 tickets
• African-style Face Painting - Free

Each person who attends the event may receive one free ticket which they can redeem for one serving of one of the following items: snow cone, cotton candy or popcorn. One item per person please. To receive a free ticket, attendees simply need to go to the ticket booth and ask for the free treat coupon. 

The Family Fun Fest main stage is programmed with a variety of exciting, family-friendly entertainment acts: Headlining the stage at 4pm is National Gospel Recording Artist Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson who will be preceded by the female Gospel quartet, The Sionettes. Admission to the tent for the Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson/The Sionettes performance is $5 per person, with children 5 and under free. All other performances during the day are no charge. The stage schedule for the entire day is as follows.

Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest Main Stage

DJ Services by DJ Master Joe Love

• 12:00-12:30pm: Bernard Gifted (no fee) - Brooklyn-based reggae/rap performer
• 1:00pm-1:20pm: Opening Ceremony (no fee)
• 1:20pm-1:50pm: the Restoration Youth Arts Academy Dance Theatre Company (no fee)
• 2:00pm-2:30pm: The Remnants - A dynamic rhythmic step performance by one of Brooklyn's finest step teams, set to uptempo R&B music (no fee)
• 3:00pm-3:45pm: The Sionettes - This female Gospel quartet and band from West Hempstead, NY has travelled across the country for over 15 years, and have shared the stage with such notables as Shirley Caesar, The Christianaires, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Lee Williams, Darryl McFadden and Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson. They inspire crowds with their heavenly harmonies, dynamic stage performance and inspiring, uplifting message of hope and love. ($5 admission fee, children 5 and under free)
• 4:00pm-5:00pm: Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson - Crowning the day’s entertainments, national recording artist Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson, whose latest album entitled “Just Being Me” was just released by the Zomba Recording label, will provide the day's headlining performance. One of the most dynamic entertainers in music, Mr. Johnson initially rose to the top of the charts in 1998 with his first hit, "Hide Behind the Mountain." A Bed-Stuy native, Mr. Johnson melds the traditional Gospel quartet sound with jazz, R&B, rock and country influences, and is affectionately known as the "new sound" in Quartet music. ($5 admission fee, children 5 and under free)
• 5:15-6:00pm: Musical Performances by the Dean Street and Revere Place Block Association youth arts performers (no fee)

Celebrate Bed-Stuy's Revitalization! The Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest, July 22, 2006, presented by the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association

Help celebrate the revitalization of the Bed-Stuy Gateway Business District by bringing your entire family out for the 1st Annual Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest!, a family-style festival that will take place in Bedford Stuyvesant’s Restoration Plaza (1360 Fulton Street between Brooklyn Avenue and New York Avenue) on Saturday, July 22, 2006.

Click Here to Download the Latest Press Release

The day's festivities will take place at Restoration Plaza, 1360 Fulton Street between Brooklyn Avenue and New York Avenue. The event will feature carnival-style games and attractions; vendor booths selling arts and crafts as well as a variety of delicious foods; free snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy and energetic entertainment on the stage in the Restoration Plaza tent.

The Family Fun Fest! stage will feature entertainment by the following dynamic groups:

• Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson. Crowning the day’s entertainments, national recording artist Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson, whose latest album entitled “Just Being Me” was just released by the Zomba Recording label, will provide the day's headlining performance. One of the most dynamic entertainers in music, Mr. Johnson initially rose to the top of the charts in 1998 with his first hit, "Hide Behind the Mountain." A Brooklyn native,  Mr. Johnson melds the traditional Gospel quartet sound with jazz, R&B, rock and country influences, and is affectionately known as the "new sound" in Quartet music.
• The inspiring gospel harmonies of the female quartet “The Sionettes"

• The energetic rhythms of the Brooklyn step team “The Remnants”

• The talented “Restoration Youth Arts Academy Dancers”

 

All proceeds from the Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! will support the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID Formation Campaign, an initiative of the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Click here to download an informative brochure describing the Business Improvement District (BID) concept.  

The Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! is presented by the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association in association with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Vendors Spaces are Still Available

The Family Fun Fest! will be an excellent opportunity for your busienss or organization to reach out to new customers. For more information, contact Ms. Mitchell at (718) 636-6989.

Save the Date! Saturday, July 22, 2006 The 1st Annual Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest!

July 22, 2006. Save the Date for the 1st Annual Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! The festival will take place in Restoration Plaza and on Herkimer Street between Brooklyn Avenue and New York Avenue and will feature carnival-style games and attractions, awesome entertainment and vendors selling arts, crafts and great food. This event is for people of all ages! Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! is produced by the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association in association with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation.

Vendors Spaces are Available, Going Fast

Approximately 5,000 people are projected to attend this event, making it an excellent opportunity to reach out to new customers. Deadline to register for a vendor space is July 12, 2006. Non-food vendors-$175 fee. Food Vendors-$300 fee. Dues-paying FNUMA members get a 20% discount.

For more information, contact Ms. Mitchell at (718) 636-6989

Click here to download the Bed-Stuy Gateway Family Fun Fest! 2006 Vendor Contract (Adobe PDF Format)