Two Former Alma Negra Co-Owners Debut Mexico City-Inspired Restaurant on 5th Avenue
Plus: BKCM's last Midsummer Nights of the season, oyster shucking, and parking stickers of shame
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In This Issue: Apapacho Interview • New Openings • Local News • Business Buzz • Our Top Picks for this Week
Meet the team behind 5th Avenue’s Apapacho
Eighteen years after beginning his restaurant journey in Park Slope, Jimmy Placido is having a full circle moment. Placido, who formerly worked at South Slope’s Fonda and was on the team behind 4th Ave hot spot Alma Negra, has joined forces with two friends to open their own Mexico City-inspired restaurant on 5th Avenue, in the heart of Park Slope.
Apapacho, which means “to embrace with the soul” in Nahuatl, debuted at the beginning of the month. Placido teamed up with Acencion Mendez, also from Alma Negra, and friend Jazmin Suarez. Together, they have over two decades of restaurant industry experience under their belts. The trio worked with Studio Public designer Brandon Teitelbaum to create a space that feels welcoming. “We want to created a cozy, homey environment with excellent Mexican food, drinks and service,” Placido shares.
“I started my first restaurant journey in Park Slope and 18 years later I am back as an owner.”- Jimmy Placido, Co-Owner of Apapacho
Inspired by central Mexican cuisine hotspots like Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Puebla, the menu features made-from-scratch favorites— “similar to a Grandma’s cooking”, Placido explained— as well as craft cocktails with a tequila and mezcal focus. Highlights include Vieira Con Coco, pan-seared scallops with pasilla rice and coconut habanero salsa, and Enchiladas Norteñas, braised short ribs with queso fresco and mole rojo.
When the trip considered the best location for their passion project, Park Slope was at the top of their list. “We loved our concept for this kind of neighborhood,” Placido remarked. Some of the team’s favorite local spots include Miatzil, Blueprint, Black Oak, and McMahon’s Public House.
“A space where you can travel to Mexico without buying that airplane ticket,” Placido responded when asked what he hoped Apapacho would be for the neighborhood. “A place where you can come enjoy all the passion and love we put into our menus.”
Visit Apapacho at 191 5th Ave between Berkeley Place and Union Street.
Openings
Sesilya Restaurant & Bar is set to open at 256 5th Ave (between Carroll and Garfield) in the former Negril BK space, bringing Georgian cuisine and wine to 5th Ave. Stay tuned for opening details!
Bunny Fit Club, a women-owned strength training club, has opened its second location in Prospect Heights at 651 Bergen St. The club, which also has a location in Fort Greene, offers personal training and small format classes focused on strength and conditioning.
Closings
Chuko Ramen closed after 15 years on Vanderbilt Avenue. They will be missed!
The Mediterranean chain Taim outpost on 7th Avenue has closed, along with several Manhattan locations, after being seized by the state for an apparent failure to pay taxes.
Local News 🗞️
Park Slope is the hottest luxury neighborhood of the year, according to a Redfin analysis. The report ranked U.S. zip codes in the 100 most populous metro areas by year-over-year growth.
Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand avenues won Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s “2026 Greenest Block in Brooklyn” contest for the 4th time.
The Ursas, the 30 foot and 13 foot bear sculptures created by Bushwick based artist Jen Lewin, arrive at their permanent home on the Gowanus Canal.
NYC brings back bright green parking “stickers of shame” after a fourteen-year long ban, which was repealed last week. The stickers, which are accompanied by a $65 parking ticket, read "This vehicle violated NYC street cleaning rules. As a result, this street could not be properly cleaned."
A car on 12th St spotted with the “Sticker of Shame” (from Reddit) Spike Lee and Clara Wu Tsai, co-owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, will launch a new film festival at BAM this November. Called “Playback”, the festival will include screenings of repertory films, live music, community activations, food vendors, poetry readings, and more.
Green-Wood Cemetery has received $4 million in funding from the City Council for community outreach and design of the Green-Wood Green-Way, which will include wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and a restoration of the streets along the cemetery’s southern border.
PureGym has re-opened after being closed for several months for renovations. Upgrades include new cardio equipment, a women‘s-only workout space, and a functional training zone with turf, HIIT and circuit training equipment.
Business Buzz ⚡️
Brooklyn Blends will be hosting their annual back to school haircuts and school supplies event on Tuesday September 8th. Consider helping out by donating to the drive!
Zagaya Wine Bar is now serving brunch, featuring delicious Ethiopian flavors & house-made sangrias & spritzes.
Gertie is collaborating with Canyon Coffee this week. Gertie will be featuring a “Very Los Angeles Bagel” with avocado, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and hot sauce on an everything bagel. They will also be offering a special iced coffee made with Canyon beans. Canyon Prospect Heights will have Gertie pastries available in shop!
North Flatbush BID is hosting their 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes through August 23rd! Enter for the chance to win $500 and share $500 with a local business! Play by shopping local on Flatbush Ave & saving receipts of $20 or more or writing an online review of any local businesses. Drawings will be held every other week. Click here for full details & sweepstakes rules.
Last week, I enjoyed outdoor music on 7th Ave at BKCM‘s Midsummer Nights (don’t miss the last one today—details under “Our Top Picks”!) and then walked to Prospect Park for outdoor yoga. How are you soaking up the last days of summer?
Mychal
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Sponsored by Mini Steps Daycare
Now Enrolling Infants & Toddlers Care in Park Slope
Looking for a warm, nurturing daycare for your little one? Mini Steps Daycare recently opened in Park Slope and is welcoming children ages 6 weeks–24+ months into a licensed Group Family Daycare. Conveniently located on 16th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues, our program is led by experienced educator Tamari Alpaidze and provides personalized care, play-based learning, and daily communication with families. With a small group of children, every child receives the attention, care, and encouragement they deserve during their earliest years. We'd love to welcome your family and show you around. Learn more about our program and request a tour at ministepsdaycare.com.
Our Top Weekly Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!
Thursday, August 13
Midsummer Nights— Strings N Skins, 6:30pm: Last concert of the season! For the sixth year running, BKCM’s Midsummer Nights series is bringing four evenings of free music to BKCM’s front stoop in July and August. Curated by NPR Tiny Desk artist and former BKCM Jazz Leadership Fellow Mélanie Jean Baptiste Charles, this year’s lineup is a who’s-who of artists who are transcending genres and revitalizing jazz.
Jazz Night & Garden Party @ CityWell Brooklyn, 6:30-8:30pm: Join CityWell for a night of live jazz, drinks, and community in their beautiful outdoor oasis in Gowanus. $45 ticket includes snacks, drinks, and music.
Showcase NYC @ Parklife, 7-9pm: Support new work by local NYC/Brooklyn artists at this monthly series on the big screen at Parklife’s outdoor patio! This is an open, community-friendly event, so bring a friend, grab a brew, and get ready for a great lineup of new work, followed by a Q&A with the creators. Free to attend.
Saturday, August 15th:
Book Sale @ Green-Wood Cemetery, 10am-7pm: The Green-Wood Cemetery is offering for sale a selection of books collected over the years, including beautiful coffee-table books on art, music, and historic cemeteries, as well as titles exploring the lives of some of their prominent permanent residents.
Sunday, August 16th:
Spilling Tea About the Revolution @ Old Stone House, 11am-3pm: Join historian and educator Sydney Marenburg for an all-ages, drop-in dialogue leading up to there Old Stone House‘s commemoration of the 250th Battle of Brooklyn. Free.
Tuesday, August 18th:
Party On the Plaza (for Teens) @ Brooklyn Public Library (Central Branch), 12-2pm: Teens! Come to Central Library for a ton of fun activities, books, food, great tunes, and freebies! Plus, learn about internships & volunteer opportunities from partner organizations.
Wednesday, Aug 19th:
Shuck Yourself @ Lo-Fi Bar, 6:30pm: Mister Oyster's Oyster Shucking class is back by popular demand! $65 gets you a class, 15 oysters, and a fun new community to talk seafood with. Return students get a discount!
Bluegrass @ Mathilde, 8:15-11:30pm: The summer pickin continues with this weekly Bluegrass series at Mathilde! Enjoy a lovely summer evening with community, drinks, and a four piece Bluegrass band.
Plan Ahead for this Popular Event:
Flower Arranging Class @ Zuzu’s Petals (Thursday, October 1st, 6:30-8:00pm): Spend an evening with the Zuzus and share in over 50 years of floral knowledge and experience. In this class, learn how to select blooms, create sustainable structures, and utilize color theory to create your very own lush, unique flower arrangement to take home. The class price includes the blooms you’ll use in your arrangement, a 4x5 glass vase, flower clippers, and a beverage to enjoy! $150.
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Neighborhood Job Board 📌
We’re hiring for a part-time Sponsorships & Partnerships Lead - see today’s job board for more info!
This week’s jobs: Farm Market / Event Space Staff at farm.one, Multiple roles at Thursday Bread & Coffee, Education Intern at the Gowanus Canal Conservancy
View and list jobs by Brooklyn neighborhood for free! Have a link to a job listing already? Simply copy & paste the link and it will auto-fill the rest.
✨ Secret Slope ✨
This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:
A popular frozen yogurt spot is soon to open in Park Slope • A parking garage in Park Slope is slated for a high-end luxury conversion
