This is a paid announcement from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Sheepshead Bay Merchants Association:

The first ever Sheepshead Summer Stroll drew thousands on June 1, and now it’s coming back for a second time in 2014.

The community-wide block party will see Sheepshead Bay Road packed with games, giveaways, live entertainment and food from local restaurants on Sunday, September 7, from noon to 5 p.m. The event takes place from Emmons Avenue to East 15th Street, turning the entire walk from the subway to the water into an action-packed pedestrian mall.

Come check it out, and support your local businesses!

The above is a paid announcement by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Sheepshead Bay Merchants Association. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

The Sheepshead Bay community came together with police from the 61nd Precinct Tuesday to celebrate National Night Out Against Crime.

NYPD precincts in all five boroughs celebrated the event, a symbolic gathering initiated 31 years ago to show neighbors reclaiming their streets from violence and crime. New York City’s police force is joined by more than 15,000 communities across all 50 states.

Check out the photos from the event.

Police forces across the nation will celebrate National Night Out Against Crime for the 31st year, and NYPD precincts in all five boroughs will be celebrating on Tuesday, August 5. The event is celebrated in more than 15,000 communities across all 50 states, representing the communities reclaiming their streets from violence and crime.

Locally, the 61st Precinct at 2575 Coney Island Avenue is kicking off the festivities at 5:00 p.m. Clown Simon will be there!

Also, there will be music, food, rides and ice cream. There have always been some great shows put on by kids, like last year’s dragon dance and the impromptu Gangnam Style performance by this 3-year-old:

It’s also a good opportunity to meet local elected officials and our precinct’s new commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Carlos Valdez.

See the flier above for more details.

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA celebrated another banner year for its annual Israel Expo, the largest Israeli-themed festival in Brooklyn held in front of its 3495 Nostrand Avenue headquarters.

With a real, live petting zoo, music from professionals and student performers, food, vendors, amusements and rides, the event drew a diverse audience of thousands.

It’s hard to say what the biggest draw was, but this reporter was impressed by the performance put on by a group of Korean Christians showing solidarity for Israel and Jews worldwide. The group put on a traditional and dramatic drum show to the delight of onlookers.

Check out the photos for a sense of how the day went!

View the photo gallery.

The following is from our friends at the Kings Bay YM-YWHA:

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA will hold its Annual Israel Celebration on Sunday, June 8th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Y’s main site at 3495 Nostrand Avenue (between Avenues U and V). The event is free and open to the public.

The celebration will spotlight Israeli music and dance, interactive games and exhibits that showcase the achievements of Israel’s citizens, travel opportunities to Israel and much more. Thousands are expected to attend. Nostrand Avenue will be closed to traffic between Avenues U and V.

The community will enjoy live music, an Israeli marketplace full of jewelry, Judaica, Israeli craft, delicious food and giveaways. Children will play on carnival rides, visit a petting zoo and participate in other fun activities like face painting and sand-art.

Elected officials are scheduled to address the crowd at 12:15 pm.

For more information, contact Alina at 718-648-7703, ext. 224 or via e-mail at [email protected].

The first ever Sheepshead Stroll took place this Sunday drawing thousands of attendees, and highlighting local merchants through a block party atmosphere on Sheepshead Bay Road.

The Stroll is a local version of the Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walk initiative, in which the agency works with community partners to close down the road to traffic, and allows businesses to turn their storefronts inside-out for shopping, dining and entertaining. The event was hosted by Empower Sheepshead and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by Sheepshead Bites, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, State Senator Marty Golden and the Kings Bay Y.

Blessed with beautiful weather, thousands came out for food samples, giveaways, kids entertainment, shopping and eating. Keep reading for the photo tour of the event.

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Just a reminder that this Sunday, June 1, from noon to 5 p.m., Sheepshead Bay Road will  be turned into an outdoor amusement and shopping destination.

The streets will be closed to traffic and opened up for a block party like atmosphere at Sheepshead Stroll, with fun activities, games, contests and more. Businesses on Sheepshead Bay Road, between the subway station and Emmons Avenue, will be allowed to turn their stores inside out, taking over the sidewalks in front of their establishments for outdoor cafes, restaurants and beer gardens. There’ll be no such thing as window shopping, as clothing stores and other retailers put their merchandise out on display.

The Department of Transportation will bring additional tables and chairs for anyone to sit and enjoy the good weather, and several businesses are bringing in live entertainment. See the above flier for more information.

Just a word of note: buses will be rerouted to adjacent streets, and some side streets will be closed off to traffic as well. There will be parking in muni-lots and elsewhere, but it’ll be beautiful weather out, so walk it if you can!

Preparations are almost complete for Bay Improvement Group’s Bayfest 2014, the annual Emmons Avenue waterfront celebration now in its 23rd year.

The event this year will be anchored by two main stages, with Broadway Beatles tribute band Strawberry Fields headlining one, and indie vocalist Darnaa & Friends performing on the other. There will also be bands on the pier, and one on “The Dragon Boat” at Pier 10.

Aside from the music, there’ll be a kids’ zone with games, arts and crafts, inflatable amusements and more. Antique cars from the Antique Automobile Association of Brooklyn will keep the interest of grease monkeys and nostalgia fanatics, as well as a few other surprises for attendees.

Bayfest kicks off at noon, filling Emmons Avenue between East 27th Street and Ocean Avenue.

An hour before it begins, at 11 a.m., the Sheepshead Bay – Plumb Beach Civic Association will hold a service for Memorial Day at their veteran’s memorial site on the south side of Emmons Avenue at Brown Street.

Photo from a Staten Island Weekend Walk (Source: NYCDOT/Flickr)

Sheepshead Bay Road will be transformed into a plaza full of outdoor cafes, kids activities and interactive, family-fun programming on Sunday, June 1, as the corridor becomes the latest participant of the Department of Transportation’s Weekend Walks series.

Initiated by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the burgeoning Sheepshead merchant’s association, the program sees the DOT partner with neighborhood organizations – in our case, Empower Sheepshead, Kings Bay Y, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and Sheepshead Bites – to produce a multi-block festival highlighting the area’s businesses and scenic waterfront.

The street will be closed to vehicular traffic and buses rerouted from East 15th Street to Emmons Avenue, as local eateries and shops extend their storefronts to the curb. There will be loads of kids activities on the asphalt – we’ve already lined up several through the Kings Bay Y as well as Sheepshead Bay Road’s Brainy Academy, who may have some hands-on Lego robotic displays – and more are on the way. There will be a curbside beer garden operated by Wheeler’s (and possibly other watering holes on the strip), and interactive exhibits from area cultural institutions are also in the works, as is a bevy of artwork and live music.

The event has yet to be named, although organizers are mulling the “Sheepshead Summer Stroll.” Suggestions made here in the comments and via our social media accounts will be considered.

Business owners, interested residents and organizations can get involved by attending an information session this coming Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at Wheeler’s Restaurant (1705 Sheepshead Bay Road). There, we’ll be hammering out more details on the programming, so if you’ve got a great idea for a street-side activity make sure you attend. (Note: there is absolutely no cost to business owners to get involved!)

And don’t forget: there’s also BayFest 2014 coming on May 18 on Emmons Avenue. Two awesome street fairs spotlighting the businesses, organizations and waterfront that bring our neighborhood to life!

A previous Kings Bay Y Purim Carnival (Photo by Erica Sherman)

Let the Purim festivities begin! The Jewish holiday is just around the corner, kicking off Saturday evening and ending on Sunday. Celebrating the story of Esther, who rose to become queen of Persia, and who foiled the evil Haman’s plans to eradicate the Jews, it’s a time for the children of Israel to boogie down with food, drinks and costumes – as well as gifts to the needy.

To help you find your party, here’s a list of local Purim events this weekend, with some for the kids and families, and some for adults eager to cut a rug to celebrate their people. L’chaim!

Purim and Costume Party At Congregation Israel of Kings Bay – Saturday, March 15, 8:00 – 3903 Nostrand Avenue – The party kicks of with the Megillah reading at 8:20 p.m., followed by celebration at 9:00 p.m. Hamantashen, graggers, Purim bags, prizes and raffles! Donations suggested. Call (718) 934-5176 for details.

Purim Party at Chabad of Sheepshead Bay – Saturday, March 15, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – 1315 Avenue Y – A kids Purim party with Megillah reading, magic show, free cotton candy and popcorn. Admission: $5/child, free for adults. For more information, call (718) 934-9331.

Purim Carnival at Kings Bay Y – Sunday, March 16, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – 3495 Nostrand Avenue – A community celebration with free hamantashen, giveaways, kosher food, music and fun. There will be rides for children, carnival games and other entertainment. Admission: free. Contact: Alina at 718-648-7703 ext. 224 or [email protected].

Purim Celebration at Shorefront Y – Sunday, March 16, 2:00 p.m. – 3300 Coney Island Avenue – Costume contests, delicious treats and kid’s activities. There will also be a performance of “A Poppy Seed Purim,” a lighthearted musical of the Biblical story of Esther. Admission is $8 per person, and free for kids under three. Call 718-646-1444 for more information.

Purim Party w/Circus Entertainment at Chabad of Kings Highway – Sunday, March 16, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – 815 Kings Highway, third floor – Amazing acrobats, hot dogs and hamantashen, live music and face painting. Come in costume for this celebration! Admission: free w/RSVP or $5 at the door ($10 for families). Call (718) 998-5394 to RSVP.

Western-Style Purim – Sunday, March 16, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Produced by Chabad of Sheepshead Bay, hosted at S.L.C. Social Hall, 805 Avenue T – A western-themed party, where attendees will help “rustle up all the Haman bandits.” Guests should come in Western attire, enjoy a buffet dinner, a reptile show, live music and Megilla reading. Admission: $36/adults, $15/children. Call (718) 934-9331 for reservations. Must RSVP by March 13.

Purim Night Out for Young Professionals & Parents – Sunday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – 10007 4th Avenue – Leave the kids at home, or, for free, with Kings Bay Y’s child caretakers, and go party your ‘tashen off. Kings Bay Y is organizing this night out at Cats Club in Bay Ridge. Admission gets you two glasses of wine, valet, discount on future drinks, live DJ and finger foods. Admission in advance: $40/person, $70 for couple. Admission at the door: $45/person, $80/couple. For more info or to reserve, contact Angela at (718) 648-7703 ext. 223.