In the News

On Saturday, January 14, in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Restoration Dance Theatre Company presented, “Lights, Camera, Movement” at Long Island University’s Kumble Theatre. Through ten dance performances, the company of 14 young dancers gave homage to Dr. King, a man who championed freedom, opportunity and justice. His vision of America is captured in his message of ... click here to read more from Bed Stuy Patch!

As I child growing up in the 70s, there were two music soundtracks that, for me, defined Christmas: “The Nat King Cole Christmas Album,” and “Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker.” That’s why when I learned that the Restoration Youth Arts Academy, in conjunction with the Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre, would be performing “The Ebony Nutcracker,” I had to grab my godchildren, and go. The production, which ran two shows this past Sunday at the...

Children, music, a gigantic snowman, goats and geese, were in the mix as the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation honored its founder, Robert F. Kennedy with the annual RFK Memorial Holiday Party. The celebration promotes literacy and healthy lifestyles in Central Brooklyn through a plethora of activities throughout the plaza. Children, young and old enjoyed storytelling, face painting, a petting zoo, games and performances by Restoration’s own Youth Arts Academy.

The Skylight Gallery of the Center for Arts & Culture at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Center held an opening for a new exhibit last Thursday. The crowd that attended the event came to view 35 photographic portraits of black female writers, poets and artists of various ages. The exhibition, “Her Word As Witness: Portrait Of Women Writers Of The African Diaspora,” includes photos of poet Sonia Sanchez, jazz singer Esperanza Spalding, editor Susan Taylor, journalist Danyel...

Last night at the Skylight Gallery in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn-based photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn debuted "Her Word as Witness: Women Writers of the African Diaspora," an exhibit that features 35 photographic portraits of some of today's most compelling writers, along with excerpts from their works.

More often than not, the city’s cultural institutions keep black Latinos and African-Americans in separate categories. The Brooklyn Museum’s photo exhibit “The Black List,” for example, was followed this year by “The Latino List.” But Brooklyn photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn has mixed both in “Her Word As Witness: Women Writers of the African Diaspora,” an exhibit featuring photos of 36 women that opens Thursday at the Skylight Gallery...

The race goes not always to the strongest nor to the fastest, but to the one that endures. Beginning in June, Bed-Stuy Patch began profiling 19 runners training for the 2011 ING New York City Marathon. On Sunday, November 6, seventeen of those 19 runners crossed the finish line. One of our profiled runners, Caitlin Martusewicz, was injured so she didn't run. And we were unable to catch up to Omar Almodovar whose time was not posted on the marathon website.

Restoration applauds Team Restoration, the organization’s first ever ING New York City Marathon team which successfully made their debut at the 42nd Annual New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 6th. The nine-person team represents a diverse group of athletes and professionals who have generously committed their personal financial support and fundraising efforts, not to mention hours of physical training in order to represent Restoration at this iconic New York City tradition. Race...

Douglas Jones, executive director of the Bed-Stuy Gateway B.I.D., has only been on the job four months, but already, he has one huge success to his credit: He is cleaning up Fulton Street. “When I came in, folks were really complaining about the lack of cleanliness on Fulton Street,” Jones said. “It was just dirty, everywhere.” Jones went to Atlantic Maintenance, the company that provides cleaning services along Fulton.