Saturday 5/30/26: Fort Greene and The Brooklyn Academy of Music

 

This vibrant, colorful, and historic neighborhood has no shortage of things to sketch. Start with the gorgeous renaissance revival building of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (designed by Herts & Tallant in 1908). Behind BAM is the romanesque Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower, formerly the tallest building in Brooklyn. Then walk down Fulton Street and Lafayette Streets where you will find an impressive variety of restaurants, shops, and businesses, including the colorfully adorned facade of 40 Acres and Mule (local resident Spike Lee’s production studio), the equally colorful facade of The Slutty Vegan restaurant (in a building that pays tribute to the local superstar Biggie Smalls), an adorable bookstore (Greenlight Bookstore), a cute little stationery shop (Yours Truly, Brooklyn), as well as retro storefronts that make it feel as though you’ve traveled back in time (see Mark Morris Dance Group, French Garment Cleaners, and Lafayette Grocery and Dairy).

If you want to venture further afield you can stroll down the tree-lined streets with gorgeous Brownstones to Fort Greene Park. There is also a Blick right on Flatbush should you need any supplies on your way to or from the subway. Fort Greene has it all!!

HOST (and local resident): Charles Cannizzaro 914-552-3658
DATE: Saturday 5/30/26
TIME: Sketching 10am - 3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Fort Greene Brooklyn: Our home base will be Fowler Square at the intersection of Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue (you can plug in 64 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, for the closest address). There are also great vantage points and good seating options in nearby Betty Carter Park, The Plaza at 300 Ashland (just on the other side of BAM), and small cafes and pocket parks up and down Fulton and Lafayette.

MEETING LOCATION: There will be a kickoff meeting this week in Fowler Square at 10am.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: Fowler Square on the corner of Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue at 3pm. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: Yes to all. There are seats and benches in all the parks and squares, and plenty of restaurants, as well as a Whole Foods.

ABOUT NYC URBAN SKETCHING EVENTS: All are welcome, no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.