Fort Greene Brooklyn

 The NYC Urban Sketchers headed to the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn, home to the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Barclay Center recently. The area has really changed since I was there last (about 12 years ago.) We met at a small plaza on Lafayette Street. Directly across was Fancy Free, a Brooklyn Pub which has an incredible crowd of people on line outside. At 10 AM the line went all the way down the block. Why? To begin with they were displaying the trophy for the Premier Soccer League and visitors could go inside and take photos with it. Then a crowd stayed and watched the Arsenal team (the local team) win the Premier League championship. Also inside at the time was the current NYC Mayor Mamdami as well as Spike Lee, the filmmaker and director who is from the neighborhood. 

Although I had no interest in the game I was up for the challenge of sketching Fancy Free and the huge crowd watching the game.

After lunch there was time for another sketch. I walked around the corner just past the pub and found this sign and apartment. I couldn't resist the sign and the details on the basement apartment. It is a fun neighborhood and I hope we go back another time.