Free Health + Wellness Events in Prospect Park

May 24, 2023

Did you know that spending just 20 minutes in nature can decrease stress and promote wellbeing? This June, Prospect Park Alliance is kicking off another Summer of Stewardship by celebrating the many ways you can help care for your park and the wonderful things your park can do for you!

RSVP today for these free health and wellness events, and stay tuned for more ways to Be a Park Champion this summer in Prospect Park:

Prospect Park Yoga with Brooklyn Flow
Thursdays, June 1- August 24, 7 pm 
– 8 pm
Prospect Park Long Meadow (Enter at Grand Army Plaza)

Learn More + RSVP

Brooklyn’s most beloved outdoor yoga series is back in Prospect Park! Brooklyn Flow and Prospect Park Alliance present free, outdoor yoga on the Long Meadow. Brooklyn’s finest yoga teachers from different studios around the park lead free, outdoor group yoga classes in a low-pressure, beautiful environment. Join hundreds of Brooklynites each week to celebrate yoga and wellness in our treasured Prospect Park. Bring your own mat or towel, a bottle of water and friends. All levels are welcome. Please sign the waiver prior to your first class. Prospect Park Yoga is made possible in part through support from NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

AMP’d Interval Training with Chelsea Piers Fitness 
Tuesdays, June 6 – September 26, 6 pm – 7 pm

Prospect Park Long Meadow (Enter at Grand Army Plaza)
Learn More + RSVP

Join Chelsea Piers Fitness and Prospect Park Alliance to hit the grass and push your body to new limits in this high-intensity interval training class that combines bodyweight strength and cardio on the Prospect Park Long Meadow. You will move through a range of movements from running and jumping to lunges and crunches to keep you motivated and energized. All levels are welcome.

Upbeat Pop! Dance Fitness at the Boathouse
Saturdays, August 19 – February 24
Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shape-up NYC for a 45-minute dance fitness class! Come prepared to shake, roll, grapevine, and clap to your favorite upbeat pop songs. We will use this time to cultivate joy and silliness while getting a great workout and reaping the benefits of cardiovascular fitness. All levels are welcomed and encouraged. Whether you want to learn some new choreography or need a space to step-touch and sing, this class is for you!
Learn More

Nature Exploration Family Bird Walks
Thursdays + Fridays, 3 pm 
– 4 pm + Saturdays + Sundays, 12 pm – 1 pm
Learn More

Calling all families and children! Join Prospect Park Alliance for a Nature Exploration Family Bird Walk as we search for the hundreds of bird species that stop in Prospect Park each year, while exploring nature and stretching our legs. Binoculars and bird guides are provided.

Want Be a Park Champion? Visit prospectpark.org/champion to learn more about caring for Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Juneteenth at Lefferts Historic House

May 23, 2023

Join Prospect Park Alliance and partners to celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Juneteenth at Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park. Brooklyn’s Backyard will be home to a month of celebrations of Black and Caribbean cultures. Enjoy music, dance, storytelling, drumming  and much more for Brooklynites of all ages.

Legendary Traditional Characters of J’Ouvert
Sunday, June 11, 2 – 5 pm, Free
Lefferts Historic House
Learn More + RSVP
Join Prospect Park Alliance and JouvayFest Collective, Bush Wo/man Conversations Project, and 2J & Friends at the Lefferts Historic House for a fun and informative family-friendly  event about the legendary traditional characters of J’Ouvert. J’ouvert (pronounced Jew-vay) translates as ‘I Open.’ It marks the beginning of the annual Carnival celebrations in many Caribbean islands. J’Ouvert was started by formerly enslaved Africans in the predominantly French speaking colonies, when they began participating in the pre-Lenten festivities of the ruling class. In Trinidad and Tobago, the tradition was further solidified through the Canboulay riots in 1881. J’Ouvert remains a potent living tradition and symbol of the power of history and culture in the Caribbean, Brooklyn, and beyond. This event will be held rain or shine.

Juneteenth + One Love Little Caribbean Day
Sunday, June 18, 12 – 5 pm, Free
Lefferts Historic House 
Learn More + RSVP
Prospect Park Alliance invites you to pull up to Juneteenth, I AM CARIBBEING style, with DJ sets and games presented by Fun With Friends and Little Caribbean artisans.

Steelpan Day
Sunday, June 25th, 5 pm – 7 pm, Free
Lefferts Historic House 
Learn More + RSVP
Prospect Park Alliance and I AM CARIBBEING invite you to celebrate Brooklyn’s Steelpan Day with live performances by Hearts of Steel alongside steelpan musicians from Little Caribbean and beyond.

Rise in Spirit: A Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, July 2, 1 – 6 pm, Free
Lefferts Historic House
Learn More + RSVP
Join Prospect Park Alliance for a Juneteenth Celebration produced by the Brooklyn-based Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation. The family-friendly event will take visitors on a journey of the African Diaspora that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa and African descendant cultures. The theme for this Juneteenth celebration at Lefferts Historic House is “Rise in Spirit.”

Enjoy performances by African dancers and drummers from the Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble, IET Band jazz quartet, tap dancer Joseph Webb, the St. Paul’s Baptist Church gospel choir and theatrical readings by Sharon Gordon. Alliance educators will also provide cooking demonstrations, historic games and more.

The Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to its core tenets to enrich, educate and entertain. They aspire to empower and strengthen youth by offering them an opportunity to learn, study and experience the history, movement and beauty of African Diaspora dance, music and culture at its highest level. They are entering their third decade, and oversee a School of the Arts, the Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, an award-winning professional dance ensemble, a Children’s Summer Art Camps, and an Arts Outreach program that services public and charter schools throughout the greater New York area. Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation also curates original programming and produces an array of special events and  concerts

The Juneteenth celebration is part of ReImagine Lefferts, an initiative funded through a Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation that is re-envisioning the mission and programming of the museum to explore the stories of resistance and resilience by the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family. The event is also funded in part through support by NYU Brooklyn.

I AM CARIBBEING is supported by NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council for the Arts, Con Edison, TD Bank and KeySpan.

c. Radka Osickova

Spot the Park’s Newest Species: The Devil Bird

May 11, 2023

For the past few weeks, an unusual visitor has been perched in the treetops high above Prospect Park’s lake. The Anhinga, also known as the Devil Bird, is a large waterbird with a snake-like neck that is typically found in the swampy southeastern corner of the country. But, for the first time since 1992, the bird has been spotted in New York—right here in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

Located along the Atlantic Flyway, with more than 250 migratory and resident bird species spotted each year, Prospect Park is a long beloved birdwatching haven. “The park’s 585 acres are a critical life-saving space for birds. Prospect Park is a rest stop full of food and water thanks, in part, to Prospect Park’s lake and watercourse,” says Peter Dorosh, a Prospect Park Alliance Eco Zone Gardener and avid birder who recently spotted the Anhinga himself. “Prospect Park was the lucky beneficiary of such an awesome sighting: Brooklyn’s only lake  caught the Anhinga’s eye.”

For members of the birdwatching community, this is an exceptional spotting outside its usual migratory path (which for the Anhinga historically reaches as far north as the Carolinas). The bird’s arrival was so unexpected, it was even featured in The New York Times.

For Dorosh and Prospect Park Alliance’s crew of Eco Zone Gardeners and Forest Ecologist, which works to restore and sustain the park’s natural areas, the Anhinga’s arrival highlights an important aspect of their job: ensuring the park’s landscape is a healthy breeding and foraging habitat for birds and other wildlife—both expected and unexpected.

“Birds stop in, refuel, rest and then continue onward for the greater breeding territories in the northern United States and Canada,” explains Dorosh. To Dorosh and Prospect Park Alliance, the priority is ensuring the birds find what they need to thrive in the park. “It’s important to plant native trees and shrub species because these plants attract insects—particularly moths and caterpillars, as they are the soft food needed to feed baby birds and fledglings,” he says.

The Alliance also focuses largely on mitigating habitat loss. “We do our part to remove the invasive plants and replace them with native plants,” says Dorosh. “This greatly benefits natural habitats and restores food webs that include the pollinating wildflowers, grasses and fruiting shrubs that are essential for insects.”

The team strives to create and maintain habitats that send the right signals to any new bird species that may unexpectedly arrive due to the changing climate. “Birds know if a breeding territory will ensure the survival of their species,” Dorosh says. “If we have enough native trees, birds will coexist with other birds and become specialized in what they eat—that’s how evolution intended it.”

As anyone familiar with the variety and abundance of species in Prospect Park knows, there’s plenty to go around. “Warblers and flycatchers eat insects. Cardinals and Blue Jays eat berries and nuts. Sparrows eat grass seeds, and Hawks are carnivores who help keep the rodent population at bay,” explains Dorosh. “We have it all in Prospect Park, as long as we maintain the habitats to become and stay healthy and native.”

Interested in catching a glimpse of the Devil Bird? Learn about bird watching opportunities in Prospect Park.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s work to sustain the environment and how you can help support the plants, wildlife and community of Brooklyn’s Backyard.

c. BRIC

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Announces 2023 Lineup

Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get ready for a season of music, dance and more at the Lena Horne Bandshell! The 2023 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, kicks off on Wednesday, June 7 for a season of 20+ free shows, benefit concerts, dance performances, film screenings, discussions, special activations and more. The festival, presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, is back for its 45th annual season of bringing communities together for summer fun in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

“BRIC is about community, art and culture and there is no greater example of that than BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!,” said BRIC President Wes Jackson. “For 45 years our team has brought free and affordable programming to Prospect Park, and low-cost media education to the people of Brooklyn. We’re honored to serve our neighborhoods in this way every summer, and we look forward to 45 more years at the Bandshell and beyond. Thank you to our friends and partners at the Prospect Park Alliance and the Parks Department. I’ll see you out there.”

“BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park is a beloved flagship event, and a clear sign of summer for our community,” said Morgan Monaco, President of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that operates the park in partnership with the City. “Music and performing arts are what help keep us thriving in good times and in bad, and I’m grateful that the park serves as an important inspiration for artists of all kinds. The festival has brought a wide range of free music, performances and family programming to Brooklyn’s Backyard and we look forward to coming together this season with the many diverse communities of Brooklyn.”

Tickets are available for many of this season’s benefit shows, and the majority of the festival’s performances are free to the public. For more information, check out our BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! page, and for the full line-up, scroll down!

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 Opening Night: Taj Mahal | Corinne Bailey Rae | The Harlem Gospel Travelers

Saturday, June 10, Family Day: Soul Science Lab | Olivia K and The Parkers

Thursday, June 15, Jake Wesley Rogers | Kara Jackson | Bright Light Bright Light

Saturday, June 17, Juneteenth UNITYFEST 2023

Friday, June 23, Antonio Sanchez: Birdman Live | Takuya Kuroda

Saturday, June 24, Benefit Concert: NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge) | Robert Glasper with Lalah Hathaway & Bilal | BJ The Chicago Kid

Saturday, July 1, Ibrahim Maalouf | Hermanos Gutiérrez | 2023 Tiny Desk Contest Winner

Saturday, July 8, Kelela | Liv.e

Thursday, July 13, Rennie Harris | Decora

Friday, July 14, Oumou Sangare | Vox Sambou

Saturday, July 15, Marcia Griffiths | Brown Rice Family | Dj Miss Hap Selam

Friday, July 21, The Chelsea Symphony feat. Lady Jess | Lucrecia Dalt

Saturday, July 22, Ali Sethi | Raja Kumari | Roshni Samlal

Thursday, July 27, The Wallflowers | treya lam

Saturday, July 29, Rickie Lee Jones | Thornetta Davis | Chris Pierce

Thursday, August 3, Jorge Drexler | Cimafunk | Julieta Rada

Friday, August 4, Indigo De Souza | Vundabar

Thursday, August 10, Benefit Concert: The Revivalists and Band of Horses

Friday, August 11, BRIC Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Weekend

Saturday, August 12, BRIC Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Weekend

Friday, August 18, iLe | Divino Niño | Sara Curruchich

Saturday, August 19, John Cale | Tomberlin

Tuesday, August 22, Benefit Concert: Alex G and Alvvays

Wednesday, August 23, Benefit Concert: Alex G and Alvvays

Thursday, August 24, Closing Night: The Head And The Heart | Izzy Heltai

c. Martin Seck

Grand Army Plaza Arch Restoration Begins

May 3, 2023

Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that operates Prospect Park in partnership with the City, has begun work on the restoration of the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza. The restoration is part of a larger project to restore Grand Army Plaza, the formal entrance to Prospect Park, and its surrounding berms, through $8.9 million in Mayoral funding.

“We are thrilled with the planned restoration of the historic arch at Grand Army Plaza, which has served as a Brooklyn icon and welcomed visitors to Prospect Park for more than 130 years,” said NYC Parks Commissioner, Sue Donoghue. “The first meaningful restoration work on the arch in decades, this project and will clean and repair the exterior, and add improved, energy-efficient lighting to better showcase the arch’s historic elements. The restored arch will serve as the perfect complement to the broader restoration of Grand Army Plaza.”

“The beloved Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon and an important gathering space for dialogue and protests that advance social justice. We are so grateful to the Mayor’s Office for providing the funding to make this project possible. Prospect Park Alliance is excited to restore this landmark in all its glory so it can serve as a welcoming beacon and essential civic space for our community for generations to come.” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President.

Prospect Park creators Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Grand Army Plaza as the grand formal entrance of Prospect Park in 1867. In 1889, the plaza became the site of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch, which was dedicated in 1892 to commemorate those who fought with the Union troops during the Civil War. The arch was designed by John H. Duncan with sculptures by Frederick MacMonnies, two preeminent figures of their times. On top of the arch is a quadriga of Columbia, representing the United States, surrounded by two winged Victories who trumpet her arrival. Smaller sculptures mounted on pedestals depict soldiers and sailors.

The Arch was landmarked in 1975, when the structure was in severe disrepair, and in 1976 Columbia literally fell from her chariot. The City undertook a restoration of the Arch in 1977-79, with subsequent work in 1989 and the mid-1990s. In 1999, the Arch’s bronze statuary groupings were restored by the NYC Parks Monuments Conservation Program.

This restoration is the first since the mid-1990s, and includes replacing the arch’s roof; cleaning and repointing the brick and stone structure; repairing interior elements, including historic iron staircases that lead up to the roof; and improving the exterior lighting to better showcase the historic elements of the arch and its statuary while making the lighting more environmentally friendly by utilizing energy efficient technology.

Restoration of Grand Army Plaza, and the landscaped berms that frame the plaza on its east, west and north sides, began in Fall 2022. This work includes removing invasive plants, shrubs and trees that are in poor condition and adding native trees and shrubs that provide interest and color throughout the seasons. The Alliance will also replace the existing chain link fence with low, decorative steel fencing, and restore the broken bluestone and granite paving around Bailey Fountain and the John F. Kennedy Memorial so that it is ADA accessible.

Work on the Plaza and Berms is slated for completion in Fall 2023. The Arch restoration is expected to take 12 months, and reopen to the public in Spring 2024. During the period where the arch and plaza are simultaneously being restored (through Fall 2023), access will be curtailed at the Arch, and the public is requested to utilize the crosswalks and pedestrian pathways at Plaza Streets East and West.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s Capital Projects.

Must See Spring Bloom Destinations

April 4, 2023

Spring is here in Prospect Park, and Brooklyn’s Backyard is flourishing with flowering cherry blossoms, vibrant witch hazel, peach and white magnolias and more. To help you make the most of the season, we’ve compiled a guide of our top bloom destinations throughout the park, with both hidden treasures and classic favorites.

Mary Keehbauch, Deputy Director of Landscape Management at Prospect Park Alliance, shares how the team is taking in the change of season and planning for what the upcoming months will bring, more specifically in the park’s 250 acres of woodlands. “We are collectively taking this time to scout and be inspired by the returning forces of nature,” said Keehbauch. “As yellow trout lilies and wildflowers such as trillium push through the leaves and vines, our team will clear the way for blooms to come. We welcome park visitors to stroll the chip lined trails in our woodlands, and watch as the transformation begins, assisted by the April showers, extended hours of soil-warming sun, and our hardworking team supported by wonderful dedicated volunteers.” As you admire the blooms of Brooklyn’s Backyard, remember to leave petals, leaves and berries on trees and flowers. These are essential to the pollinators and wildlife that call Prospect Park home, and by making the most of spring from a safe distance, you’re helping our ecosystem thrive.

Spring blooms at Grand Army Plaza and vibrant hues of Carmen’s Garden in front of the Litchfield Villa. c. Martin Seck + Michael Silverstone

Grand Army Plaza

Grand Army Plaza is Prospect Park’s formal entrance, and features some of the park’s most impressive architecture, and ornamental flowers and trees. Among them, early-blooming cherry trees and daffodils are the first to arrive. April welcomes Eastern redbud and pink-flowering cherry trees that give way to the white Silverbells in May. As summer approaches, watch for the clustered flowers of the bottlebrush buckeye.

LeFrak Center at Lakeside

At Lakeside, the spring blooms attract park visitors and wildlife alike! Park goers who visit the greenroof at Lakeside in early spring will be able to catch the vibrant yellows, oranges and reds of Witch Hazel. As April advances, Lakeside receives a fresh coating of delicate white blossoms from the many Serviceberry, Chokeberry, Cherry laurels, and Foxglove Beardtongue that are buzzing with activity, as well as blooms of yellow from the Fragrant Sumac and Spicebush. Late spring brings with it a crescendo of flowering dogwoods and dewberries, and those with a keen eye might just spot a few of the subtle, deep purple blossoms of Lakeside’s paw paw trees!

Litchfield Villa

The historic Litchfield Villa is a well-known destination for flower lovers. In April, tulips and Juneberries electrify Carmen’s Garden, located directly in front of the pre-Civil War-era mansion, heralding the arrival of warm weather. In May, blossoming crabapple and hawthorn trees paint the landscape in pinks and whites, while perennial displays replace the fading tulips. Be sure to head around back to see cream-colored flowers of the Korean dogwood trees.

Magnolia trees in bloom along the Long Meadow in Brooklyn’s Backyard. c. Martin Seck

Long Meadow

Passing through the Meadowport or Endale Arch in mid-April, visitors are welcomed by the peach and white bouquet of magnolia and dogwood trees that line the Long Meadow’s north end. The warmer weather brings out lilacs, as well as the hanging flowers of the yellowwood tree.  Later in the season, enjoy the view under the shade of a flowering linden tree, and take in the sweet scent of the oakleaf hydrangea near the Picnic House.

Flourishing woodland flowers in Prospect Park’s woodlands. c. Martin Seck.

Ravine

Those with an adventurous spirit should head across Binnen Bridge and past the Nethermead to the Park’s woodland Ravine. Look for spicebush with its clusters of yellow flowers and small red fruits that are rich in nutrients for small birds. Pond edges are home to chokeberry, and American elderberry, deciduous shrubs native to New York. These shrubs will later feature berries that attract a variety of wildlife, making them instrumental in the health and diversity of Prospect Park’s natural habitats. Watch for the rare and lively Pinxter azalea which will add a vibrant pop of color to the evergreening woodland areas.

Bartel-Pritchard Square

Prospect Park is home to a few dedicated pollinator  gardens. In addition to Grand Army Plaza and Carmen’s Garden, Bartel-Pritchard Square features a variety of springtime blooms. The arching Carolina allspice with its unique maroon flowers that smell of strawberry anchor the native pollinator friendly beds, and it’s hard to miss the old-fashioned weigela, an ornamental shrub with beautiful trumpet-shaped lavender flowers.

Plan your visit to Prospect Park. 

c. Paul Martinka

Play Ball! Alliance Restores Long Meadow Ballfields 2+3

March 31, 2023

Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, Comptroller Brad Lander, Borough Parks Commissioner Martin Maher and Prospect Park Baseball Association President Eddie Albert took part in a much-anticipated ribbon cutting: the official opening of the newly restored ballfields 2 and 3 on the Long Meadow in Prospect Park.

The fields were restored by Prospect Park Alliance through funding from Comptroller Brad Lander while serving as Council Member in District 39, and are the final two of seven ballfields on the Long Meadow that have been restored by the Alliance through funding from the City Council and Mayor. The restored fields are reseeded and have new clay infields and drainage to keep them in good playing condition. The restoration also included newly paved pathways, benches and drinking fountains, and dedicated clay storage bins and shaded dugouts.

The restoration of the final two Long Meadow Ballfields mark the conclusion of an important improvement to Brooklyn’s Backyard,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President. “These fields are vital recreational amenities for all of Brooklyn, serving thousands of youth each year, and we are so grateful for the support of Brad Lander, our partners at NYC Parks and all our local elected officials whose support enables the Alliance to sustain Prospect Park for the millions of community members who live and play here.

“With the completion of the last two of the historic Long Meadow’s seven ballfields, Prospect Park is a home run for baseball players of all ages,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “I thank the Prospect Park Alliance for having the vision and leading the way on this needed project. Brooklyn’s Backyard is ready to play ball!”

“I’m excited to say ‘play ball’ once again on the newly restored Long Meadow Ballfields, thanks to the hard work of the Prospect Park Alliance. Investing in our parks and recreational spaces is a necessity for the health and well-being of our communities,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.

“I’m so happy to see the Prospect Park ballfields open just in time for spring,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Thanks to the funding for my predecessor, Comptroller Lander, our community will have fully renovated fields to enjoy this summer. I’m looking forward to visiting the park when it’s warmer and see teams playing on the new ballfields!”

“This was not simply renovation, it was smart renovation. By turning the diamonds into all clay infields with improved drainage, grooming the fields for play will be easier and more games will be played. By resizing the clay infields, all ages will have greater access to play. This is a perfect example of how great things can result from a partnership between dedicated public officials and the people they serve,” said Eddie Albert, President, Prospect Park Baseball Association.

Since the early years of Prospect Park, in the late 19th century, the Long Meadow has been a beloved destination for sports and play. Enjoyed first by croquet clubs, then for lawn tennis and today, America’s ultimate pastime: baseball. With increasing demand overwhelming the nearby Parade Ground fields, five baseball diamonds and space for football and soccer were constructed on this portion of the Long Meadow in 1959, with concrete and brick bleachers and surrounded by fencing, both of which interrupted views down the length of the meadow.

In 2011, Prospect Park Alliance created a new master plan to restore the fields in the Long Meadow. This ribbon cutting and the restoration of fields 2 and 3 marks the completion of the restoration of all seven of the Long Meadow ballfields and kicks-off right on time for the start of the Baseball season, where Brooklynites will enjoy all that the newly restored fields have to offer.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s Capital Projects.

c. Sam Hollenshead

Smorgasburg 2023 Returns with Slate of New Vendors

March 24, 2023

Everyone’s favorite outdoor food market is back in Prospect Park! Kicking off its 13th season on Sunday April 2, Smorgasburg Prospect Park is back on Breeze Hill every Sunday through October. Presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance, this year’s Smorgasburg Prospect Park features its largest-ever lineup with over 65 vendors.

This year’s new vendor slate may be the market’s strongest since its 2011 launch, with a depth and breadth of global cuisines on offer. Highlights include baklava ice-cream sandwiches from Iran-influenced Bibi Bakery, Trinbagonian oxtail nachos from Flatbush chef Osei Blackett, giant pans of authentic Valencian paella, Malaysian beef rendang, BBQ with a Trinidadian tilt, Portuguese piri piri chicken sandwiches with a Lebanese twist, hot-pepper sauce from Trinidad, longganisa ube sliders from the Philippines, and kalacremas and tuna tostadas honoring a Dominicana’s Black roots in Mexico. The full, mouth-watering lineup of new vendors coming to Prospect Park is below:

Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse The Bay Ridge institution of tableside Japanese dining morphs into a Smorgasburg stand with their trademark fried rice (sliced and diced with chef’s flare), fried ice cream, and crispy-rice sushi. Prepare to be entertained!

Bibi Bakery Lena Derisavifard reimagines Iranian flavors to create unique pastries, inspired by the Iranian women of her childhood. With her signature spiced-walnut and cardamom-rose baklava at the heart, Bibi is adding two showstoppers to the menu: three flavors of baklava ice-cream sandwiches and an Iranian saffron snow cone known as “Frozen Gold.”

Chop Chop Tea Proudly representing the Hakka community of China, Yonglin Cheng and her team strive to serve their native cuisine to New Yorkers with a range of unique teas—black tea with grapefruit, oolong with pineapple, lime, and goji berry, green tea with green apple and cucumber—as well as perfectly spiced beef meatballs.

Cocina Consuelo Harlem’s Karina Garcia is Dominican by birth but with her husband she developed Cocina Consuelo as an ode to provincial Mexican cooking. Her tuna tostadas are as authentic as they come, as are the tacos de jalapenos. But it’s the kalacremas—cream-filled bomboloni-style donuts—that will bring the party to the yard.

Common Meadows Creamery A family-owned plant-based creamery—coconut is their base of choice—launched recently in Kingston, NY, Common Meadows’ product is smooth as silk on the tongue and an ice dream on the palette. Their matcha and espresso gelati are knockouts (the mango sorbet too), and all their products feature local and/or thoughtful purveyors in their flavorings.

Everything Oxtail From helping his mother in the kitchen growing up in Trinidad to coming to the U.S. at age 20 to pursue his culinary career to creating menus at the James Beard House and Gracie Mansion, Osei Blackett is now chef/owner of “Ariapita,” “Chef Picky Events + Catering,” and “Picky Experience” pop-ups. His concept for Smorgasburg takes the rich beefy staple of his native Trinidad, braises it to tender perfection, and incorporates it into dishes with broad appeal like plantain-oxtail nachos and fried bake and oxtail.

Jase’s BBQ Rockaway’s Jase Franklyn learned the craft of barbecue from his mother in his native Tobago. After moving to the US, he launched Jase’s BBQ in 2018 and by 2019 his jerk pork and BBQ pigtails garnered Best Food Overall at the NYC Bacon and Beer Classic. His ribs, brisket, and chicken wings—mostly grilled/smoked onsite—feature a lilt of island spice in both his rubs and sauces.

Kalye Wayne Lopez recently opened Kalye (literally “street” in Tagalog) on Broome St. on the Lower East Side, and his modern Filipino stand follows on its heels, highlighting dishes such as their spice-rich longganisa sliders (on ube buns), vinegar-marinated chicken inasal wings, and vegetarian lumpia.

Keyks World Janice de Castro’s velvety sponge cakes (“keyks”) filled with cream-cheese buttercream are a riff on the classic Hostess junk food, only these are handmade to showcase the palette of her native Philippines, with ube, pandan, jackfruit and more.

Lemak Kitchen Kesh Dhami’s faithful, concise postcard to his native Malaysia expands beyond its tiny LIC ghost kitchen roots. Featuring flavor combos that are surprising and soothing, including chicken satay redolent with herbs and spices, beef rendang served on bao buns, and a sago pudding made with tapioca pearls and gula melaka (palm sugar)..

Maca’s by Nikky Far Rockaway’s Nicole (Nikky) Guerrero started making macarons (macas) during lockdown and quickly found an audience on social media. Her seasonal character creations—snowmen, gingerbread men, pumpkins, teddy bears, and on and on—come inendless flavors with bright colors, creative displays, and soft and crunchy textures.

Mikhuy Peruvian Restaurant Less than a year after mother-daughter team Steasy and Graciela opened Mikhuy on 4th Ave. in South Slope, they are bringing their  hyperfocus on authentic ingredients and Peruvian street foods to Smorgasburg. Their classic ceviche is layered with tuna salad, golden-potato terrine, lime-marinated white fish, and toasted chulpe corn kernels.

Paella Party CT Larissa Hrabec and Alberto Salas have been crushing parties in Connecticut since 2021 with their land-and-sea and traditional Valencian paellas, prepared in the classic giant paella pans. Venezuelan native Alberto pours his iconic Manhattan kitchen training and heart and soul into rich, aromatic, exquisite paella that is a feast for all.

Patok By Rach Hanna “Rach” Abada slow-roasts whole pigs Filipino-style and serves the lechon belly meat sliced as a platter, sandwich, or chopped up as sisig or inside lumpia. The rich succulent pork is fall-off tender inside with crispy skin fit for a weekend indulgence.

Tang Hulu NYC The Northern Chinese rock sugar–coated fruit skewers known as tanghulu make their Smorgasburg arrival via Chef Ivy Chen, who trained at Daniel, Nobu, and Lincoln before winning second place at the US Pastry Junior Competition and then opening her cafe Xin Xing Desserts in Parkchester in The Bronx. Ivy and partner Sizhen dip starfruit, pink pineapple, and more in sugar that quickly solidifies, then cutely display them on Chupa Chups “trees.”

Tony’s Piri Piri Antony Nassif (aka Tony Bacon) tapped into his Lebanese heritage when he came up with the recipe for his bottled piri piri, the bright and versatile Portuguese hot sauce . Now he’s kicking it up a notch with perfectly balanced charcoal-grilled chicken piri piri sammies, as well as a maitake veggie version.

Uncle Yankey’s Peppa! Growing up in Trinidad, Kevon Heath looked to pepper sauce to spice up meals that were sometimes only rice, imprinting an indelible love for the condiment. Uncle Yankey’s robust tropical pepper sauces are warm with heat but not aggressively hot.Heath is highlighting his peppa by serving pineapple chow, a Trinidadian fruit dish that adds garlic, culantro, and chili-pepper heat to create a sweet-savory salad akin to Mexican mango with tajin powder or Thai green-papaya salad.

Unregular Pasta A viral social hit concocted in Unregular’s shoebox shop on 4th Ave. in the East Village last year, these fried-pasta concoctions conjure the classic street food pasta frittata with a twist. Handmade spaghetti cacio i pepe or alla vodka is molded into a brick shape, battered in corn-flake crust, and golden-fried into a crunchy/soft comfort food with a marinara dip.

To avoid waiting on lines, this year’s market visitors will be able to quickly order from any vendor on their phones using the ChowNow app—which many New York City restaurants (and vendors) prefer for its lower fees and vendor-first ethos. All vendor menus will be available on ChowNow, with quick pickup directly from each booth. The partnership also broadens accessibility and allows for less waiting and more eating.

Learn more about Smorgasburg and plan your visit.

Bond With Brooklyn Free Community Skate

February 9, 2023

Bond With Brooklyn – a Brooklyn-centric initiative for community building spearheaded by leading real estate developer TF Cornerstone – in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and Lakeside Brooklyn, announced a free community skate event at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park. On Saturday, March 18, from 1 – 9pm, guests of the Bond With Brooklyn ice skating event will enjoy free admission, rentals, hot chocolate and a photo booth.

Register in advance for tickets to this free event (please note that walk up guests will also be honored).  Tickets for the event are first-come, first-serve and are rain or shine. Capacity is limited. 

“We are excited to invite members of the Brooklyn community to enjoy a day of ice skating fun. The community driven initiative known as Bond With Brooklyn began in 2017 with the opening of our first Brooklyn rental, 33 Bond Street. As we continue to expand the portfolio within Brooklyn, as do our efforts through Bond With Brooklyn and the imminent opening of our newest Brooklyn rental, 595 Dean Street. It is our mission to integrate ourselves into the local community through programs and events that give back,” said Zoe Elghanayan of TF Cornerstone.

Lakeside is the largest and most ambitious project in Prospect Park since its creation nearly 150 years ago. Spanning 26 acres, the $74 million restoration by the Prospect Park Alliance transformed the southeast corner of the Park into a popular scenic and recreational destination. Lakeside offers year-round seasonal activities, dining, and special events. From ice skating to boats and bikes, guests and visitors of Lakeside enjoy indoor and outdoor seating set against a panoramic view of the two rinks and beautiful Prospect Park Lake, as well as a distinctive menu at the classic Bluestone Lakeside Cafe & Bar with a full spectrum of dining options.

“Community has always been at the heart of the Prospect Park Alliance, and we couldn’t think of a better partner to bring such a fun event to life for our neighbors than TF Cornerstone, through its Bond With Brooklyn initiative,” said Morgan Monaco, president of Prospect Park Alliance. “We look forward to new and familiar faces on March 18, and hope to host more of these fun events with Bond With Brooklyn in the near future.”

This spring, TFC will open 595 Dean Street in Prospect Heights, a mixed-use two-tower development designed by Handel Architects. Anchored by nearly 60,000 square feet of public park space designed by Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architects (MNLA), as well as a state of the art Chelsea Piers Field House; 595 Dean Street will offer a total of 798 Studio, one- and two-bedroom rental units. Of the 798 rental units, 240 studio, one-, and two-bedroom units will be offered to middle income households through the housing lottery on NYC Housing Connect. The lottery for affordable units at 595 Dean Street will open to applications after the building’s opening this spring.

In celebration of TF Cornerstone’s support for developing and driving a more Brooklyn-centric focus across its portfolio; media, development progress and Brooklyn updates will be highlighted on the Instagram @BondWithBrooklyn.

To reserve tickets for the free event, please visit: www.prospectpark.org/community-skate

Bond With Brooklyn Logo

c. Prospect Park Alliance Archives/Bob Levine Collection

Black History Spotlight: Flatbush Connections

February 8, 2023

As we celebrate Black History Month, Prospect Park Alliance is engaging the public around ReImagine Lefferts, an initiative to re-envision the mission and programming of the Lefferts Historic House museum to further focus on the stories of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rest upon and the Africans who were enslaved by the Lefferts family. The initiative recently received a prestigious Humanities in Place grant from the Mellon Foundation.

On Saturday, February 11, Prospect Park Alliance is hosting a ReImagine Lefferts Community Conversation to share ongoing research and seek public guidance and feedback to inform our planning. To date, we have identified 25 people enslaved by the Lefferts family at the house between 1776 and 1827, including a man named Isaac.

This research would not have been possible without the support of civic leaders in Flatbush and beyond, such as Shanna Sabio, co-founder of GrowHouse Community Design + Development Group and trustee of the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition, a Black-led, multiracial coalition that works to preserve the Flatbush African Burial Ground from further desecration. Sabio developed a walking tour of Flatbush that explores Isaac’s story. Sabio shared her insight on the many connections between Prospect Park Alliance’s ReImagine Lefferts Initiative and the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition’s ongoing dedication to sharing the stories of the resistance and resilience of those enslaved in Brooklyn.

A 1905 postcard of the Lefferts Historic House in its original location on Flatbush Avenue before it was moved to Prospect Park in 1918.  Photo courtesy of Prospect Park Archives/Bob Levine Collection.

“It’s fairly likely that people who were enslaved at the Lefferts Homestead also interred their loved ones at the Flatbush African Burial Ground,” shares Sabio. “Just as the Lefferts House is undergoing a revitalization and will become a site where people can learn about the complex and often painful history of Brooklyn, the Flatbush African Burial Ground should be a site of pilgrimage and remembrance.”

Isaac was sold by Jacob Bergen in Red Hook to John Lefferts for $250 in March of 1818. The high price suggests that Issac was extremely skilled and that Lefferts may have purchased Isaac to run his 250-acre farm in Flatbush. However, less than three months after his purchase, Isaac escaped enslavement along with his wife Betsey and her three sons Harry, Stephen, and Joshua, who were enslaved by the Martense family across the street from the Lefferts’ farm.

Archival document of Isaac's Bill of Sale.

The Bill of Isaac’s Sale for $250 as documented between Jacob Bergen and John Lefferts.

[Isaac] Bill of Sale, Jacob Bergen and John Lefferts, March 10, 1818; Lefferts Family papers, ARC.145, Box 1, Folder 9; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Both ReImagine Lefferts and the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition seek to engage the public in a thoughtful dialogue about the legacy of enslavement and exploitation. On the necessity to share the stories of those enslaved on this land, Sabio says “Isaac’s story is a great example of the ways that enslaved people resisted their oppression. His labor, along with the labor of all those enslaved at the Lefferts House and throughout Flatbush, helped to cement the power and influence of their enslavers, and yet their stories are generally left untold. Unearthing, preserving, and sharing these important histories helps make sure that we learn the lessons of the past so we’re not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes.”

The Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition’s walking tours delve further into Isaac’s story and its profound significance. Learn more about the historic connections between the burial ground and the Flatbush community at the Coalition’s upcoming Community Day of Action and Remembrance on Saturday, February 25. Attendees will clean up the perimeter of the burial ground and have the chance to join the first walking tour of the year to learn more about the lives and stories of those enslaved in the area.

Learn more about Prospect Park Alliance’s work to re-envision the mission and programming at the Lefferts Historic House to recognize its role as a site of dispossession and enslavement.