Memorial Day weekend is such a turning point for brooklynites. the official beginning of summertime in the city, the season that gets us through the merciless winters and rainy springs and bittersweet autumns.
maybe you’re not feeling so keen on our country right now, because some absolutely crazy shit is happening and the our leader, that reprehensible overdone yam casserole, has truly lost his mind.
Memorial Day, however isn’t about politics or national scandals or collusion with dictators or building walls. Memorial Day is meant to celebrate those brave Americans who gave their lives for our freedom to live, to love, and to bitch and be moved to actively change our current political situation.
so let’s celebrate being alive. spend this weekend clearing your hearts and minds, welcoming this new season with a fresh and optimistic outlook, shedding your clothing along with your inhibitions, letting in light and spreading love beyond borders.
I’ll show you where, how, when, and why. the who, I suppose, is up to you.
let’s do this.
FRIDAY
Best Wedding Ever at House of Yes, Bushwick.
this is your best chance to make bad decisions this weekend. yeah, that’s right. i’m doing a new little bit here, hidden among the weekend guide features. along with your semi-weekly reason to cross the river , i’ll nominate your best chance to make bad decisions this weekend… and let’s just say this one takes the cake. (ZINNNG). it’s the semi-annual house of yes best wedding ever. what does that mean? bachelor and bachelorette activities. an actual wedding chapel and licensed officiant available. drunk uncles and crazy aunts. wedding cake. champagne toasts all motherfucking night. and honeymoon suites. go to this, and wake up and have a much bigger disaster on your hands than your leftover club stamps, missing debit card, and complete lack of dignity. 10pm-4am, free before 11pm with rsvp. 2 wyckoff ave at house of yes, where they never wait for a formal objection.™
Dance Yrself Clean at Music Hall of Williamsburg.
dance yourself clean, or dirty, or into a new state of confusion where hygiene is relative and being north american scum is something we revel in and daft punk is fucking playing at my house, my house. (let’s all go to this event. and dance. to music inspired by the greatest band of all time.) 10pm, tickets $12, available here. 66 n 6th st. don’t let that address scare you. (but also don’t let it not scare you.)
Steady Sun Rooftop Party at Our Wicked Lady, Bushwick.
memorial day weekend is the kickoff for a long season of outdoor parties, so get on a rooftop and get a drink in your hand and listen to some good music. and beg the sunshine to join you. head to the steady sun rooftop party featuring milk dick and opin at our wicked lady and celebrate what promises to be a damn good season. tickets, $10 available here. 7-11pm, 153 morgan ave.
SATURDAY
Cooking with Bugs Class at Brooklyn FoodWorks, Bushwick.
we all know that the hardest thing about being on a juice cleanse is not talking about your juice cleanse. and the hardest part about doing paleo is not talking about how unhealthy everyone around you is. and the hardest part about being a vegan is losing your friends. let’s face it, diet fads are hard. shouldn’t we be more exploratative with your culinary adventures rather than limiting? the answer is yes and the solution is something that is guaranteed not to bug you as much as your foodie friends. cooking with bugs, a class hosted by chef PV and merci mercado will show you how to add these prevalent pests into your diet. and, i’m sure, how to try not to talk about it. $60 gets you in, all info and tickets here. the class is from noon-130 at Brooklyn FoodWorks, 630 flushing ave. please just imagine grating some grasshopper dust with that microplane. do it. imagine it. (do it).
Onigiri and Miso Soup Class at Archestratus in Greenpoint.
ok so it is memorial day weekend, but maybe you think that our country is kind of going to shit and wearing american flag pants and chugging bud lights isn’t exactly your thing. and that’s ok. what can be celebrated this weekend, no matter who you are, is the sanctity of learning a new skill, of being around your community, of suppporting amazing local businesses, and rather unfortunately, of cozy little rice balls and warm soups because the temperature doesn’t seem to want to cooperate. come to archestratus the onigiri and miso soup class at saturday to learn how to make these signature japanese soul foods and enjoy some of the craft beers from the case and sample a few of paige’s amazing italian desserts. tickets, $7 available here. noon-2pm at 160 huron st.
Saturdaze Music Series Kick-Off at the Kings County Gatehouses in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
of course you are quite familiar with this amazing drinking establishment that is the tasting room for the city’s oldest distillery. they’re kicking off a new music series this summer that brings together live music and djs, both potent and potable spirits, some of the city’s most sought after food trucks, plus all of the magic that comes along with drinking and eating and dancing outside in this spirited town. see the full schedule here and head out from 6-midnight. 299 sands st.
The 8th Annual Makossa Cookout at Our Wicked Lady in Bushwick.
listen, if you eat anything this weekend that indoors that does not come off of a grill and isn’t accompanied by a cold brew and dope beats and friends, and doesn’t rhyme with yacht frog then you are not fulfilling your duties as a citizen of brooklyn. free party and cookout with amazing djs all damn day. it all goes down from 2pm-10pm, get their early, stay late, revel. rsvp here, 153 morgan ave.
Magical Grill BBQ Burlesque at The Possum Lounge in Sheepshead Bay.
have you ever been to a barbecue and thought, this would be so much better if it had more weiners. and buns. and tits. and sexually explicit dancing. and precarious sexual situations involving rather involuntary participants…. well that’s pretty much what i think every time i’m ta a barbecue. come to the magical grill burlesque saturday at the possum lounge to get your fill of all of these things, plus all the surprises you expect from magical girl burlesque. they fire up the grill at 6pm and your $20 ticket includes grub. show starts at 7pm. all info and tickets here, 1702 E 33rd St. at the possum lounge.
SUNDAY
Mister Sunday kicks off at Nowadays in RIdgewood.
summertime is for epic day dance parties and memorial day weekend is for kicking off the season. head to mister sunday at nowadays for the kickoff to their weekly party series. djs justin carter and eamon harkin will be spinning all day, plus add good food and drinks and a huge outdoor space and friends and freedom. it’s all here for you. tickets, $20 available here, 3-9pm at 56-06 cooper ave in flushing.
Sixpoint Sundown Sessions at Northern Terriroty in Greenpoint.
some breweries just aren’t intended for tours. and let’s be honest, the less manhattanites jamming up our beer drinking spaces, searching for the relentlessly inspiring tales of hops and yeast and barley and magic, the tipsier and happier we’ll all be. six point brewery has found the ideal alternative to opening their doors by inhabiting the rooftops and mouths and hearts of brooklyn all the same. they kick off their sundown session atop northern territory sunday, with fresh beats and one of the best views in town. The party goes from 4pm to midnight, just enough time to have that sweet sun and spicy paloma settle in just right. all info here,12 franklin st.
MONDAY
Summer of Love at the Park with House of Yes, Bushwick (ok so technically it’s ridgewood).
In case you missed it or don’t read this blog thoroughly (I know man, it’s wordy), the greatest venue in brooklyn now has a huge outdoor space and they are using it to throw amazing outdoor parties and festivals, host some of the best djs you’ll hear in the city this summer, to help us all spread love and share love and get a little rowdy. monday they are having a FREE barbecue and love festival with dope beats all day by eli escobar and some other friends, mama’s bazaar will be open and perusable for all your trinkety desires, there’s an arts and crafts station ,circus performances… and a pig roast, all for free. because that’s how love should be shared. RSVP here, party goes from noon to 9pm. 1820 flushing ave at house of yes’s park, where we can all love without borders.
Beats and BBQ at LP ‘n Harmony in Bushwick.
do you see a theme here? cookouts and music and dancing and booze and love. this is what memorial weekend and dreams are made of. so exacorbate your hot dog quota and let’s all get loose. this event, in it’s tenth year which is way longer than most people (although probably not most rats. those fuckers.) make it in this town. celebrate with them from 3pm to 10pm. food is free with a drink purchase, dancing is free if you put your groove in it, love is free if you open your heart. (not sure i know what i’m saying anymore). all info here, 683 grand st.
Host your own Memorial Day Cookout at the waterfront- here’s how!
buy america bandanas at Cato’s Army & Navy in Greenpoint (654 manhattan ave) for your whole tribe. you need to look like a team out there, and who knows if these cookouts will be supplying napkins. and beer drinking can be inhibited by sweat burning your eyes. just trust me, get one. and then you can join my tribe.
buy meats at meat hook. all of the meats. and charcoals. and a styrofoam cooler from 711, who make the best styrofoam coolers in the biz. (sorry, deblasio!) fill aforementioned cooler with brooklyn summer ales and rose.
elect someone to supply the bluetooth speaker.
go early and procure a coveted grill and picnic table at brooklyn bridge park.
fire it up, slap ’em down, pop ’em open, turn it up, recite the pledge of allegiance, and celebrate how wonderful it is to live in this beautiful city and to have it finally feel like summer and to be with friends. drinking beers. on a monday.
and tuesday? forget about tuesday.
with all my love,
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