Oh Brooklyn. I wish I could just freeze you in time and prevent the influx of more chain retailers and go back to a time where it was just you and me and everyone we know getting down and dirty until dawn in some illegal warehouse space.
I mean, kind of. You get it. Help hold onto the sacred moments in this town defined by change, evolution, gentrification. And do it right now by embracing and embarking on all of the unforgettable memories I’ve set up for you in your weekend guide. Come on, get going – there isn’t much time.
Things to do in Brooklyn on Thursday
WNYC Presents Real Estate at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg
The most common question I get asked is, where can I see live music tonight? And for good reason. There are so many distractions in this city yet also so many musicians and so many venues. So let me answer this for tonight- Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. WNYC welcomes Real Estate, plus a DJ set from Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, and special guests Red Baraat and the High & Mighty Brass Band, along with a chance to hang with all of your favorite WNYC hosts! Plus, as if you even needed it, bowling, fried chicken, and an Ask Zandaar ATM. Tickets are $75 and going fast here. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:30pm. 61 Wythe Ave.
Mortified at Littlefield in Gowanus
Feeling a little down that maybe you haven’t exactly been “living your best life!” lately? Well, this will make you feel better. Head to Littlefield tonight for this “excavation of teen angst artifacts” (journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories and more) as shared by their original authors before total strangers. Because we can all agree, at least, we’ve come a long way since hand jobs and Smirnoff Ice. Tickets, $10 available here. Doors at 7, show at 8. 635 Sackett St. #handjobsandsmirnoffice
Help Give Poetry to the People at Pioneer Works in Red Hook
Have a close encounter of the literary kind at Pioneer Works tonight by catching the fleeting, charming little book bus! It will be embarking on a 1,200 mile road trip to bring poetry to the people, specifically, to underserved communities, and well, it wants your blessing. Christen it with your words, receite a haiku or two (feel free to use one of mine) and send off this little truck on its mission with your blessing. Then head to Sunny’s, the best bar in Brooklyn… it’s just down the street. Info here. Catch the truck from 7-9pm at 159 Pioneer St.
Eggplant Parm Dinner at Archestratus in Greenpoint
Start the (almost) weekend off right as Nonna would have wanted it- sitting around a communal table with friends and neighbors that at least feel like family, eating a real meal and drinking wine and appreciating all the good things in life. Forget the stress of the week and seek shelter and comfort in the beauty of eating and drinking and being together. Seem impossible in this crazy town? Then you haven’t had a meal in magical cafe hidden in the back of a cookbook store in Brooklyn. Owner Paige Limpari will bring it all back down to earth for you Thursday night in the form of eggplant parm, and everything else you didn’t realize you’ve been missing from your life. Reserve your space and your plate here for $30. 6:30-10pm, 160 Huron St.
National Axe Throwing Day at Bury the Hatchet in Greenpoint
I know a few things for sure- all of these National “days” inherently dilute the sanctity of a day of festivity. And in fact, there is one woman responsible for coming up with — holidays herself. Another thing that I know is that when axe throwing originated, an official “day” for everything was not a thing. Therefore, National Axe Throwing Day really palors in existence to, say, just another manic Thursday. However, it’s made a comeback for beer slinging, Ax-scented frat boys and the girls who want their attention and thus, it has a day. And it’s today. And you can celebrate it in Greenpoint, at Bury The Hatchet! Info here… kind of. Also, please leave comments about what you think got so poorly blacked out in that post.
Things to do in Brooklyn on Friday
Dance Party for Asylum Seekers at Bushwick City Farm
Come, #revelwithacause this weekend at the Bushwick City Farm. If you’ve become increasingly frustrated with the Trump administration’s increasing hurdles for refugees and asylum seekers, and while this jarring publicity stunt is effective at fueling our own anger, what do we do other than keep demanding impeachment within our rather safe social circles and hopefully rally behind the next worthy candidate? Well, for one thing, we can all dance together under the moonlight at a farm in Bushwick where your ticket purchase will directly support a refugee family here in Brooklyn. Bushwick City Farm welcomes some of our city’s best djs and you and everyone you know who cares about change to come, dance, give help and hope. Tickets are only $8, show your support here now and be there, 8pm-1am. 354 Stockton St.
Shakespeare in the Park Presents Much Ado About Nothing, in Central Park
Your reason to cross the river at least once this month. Go to Shakespeare in the Park. One of the most magical and creatively alive happenings in the city, and best of all, it’s FREE. If you haven’t been, you’ll need to get to Central Park early. Like, 8am early. Bring snacks and coffee and a blanket. Camp out, sit in, make friends. They start giving out tickets at noon so settle in. Collect only up to two tickets per person. Spend the rest of the day at any number of museums, come back for the performance. Be moved. Info here. Oh, yeah… if you’re rich you can just buy a ticket. But… #eattherich
Brooklyn Art Book Fair at the McCarren Park Pool in Greenpoint
Summer is (basically) officially here and that likely means that come most Mondays, you’ll likely have nothing to show from the weekend other than a beer-soaked pair of jorts and a whimpering bank account and smudgey, ink-stamped wrists that you’ll don proudly like battle scars. #summertime Want to have something else to show for it? Head to the Art Book Fair at the Mccarren Park Pool. Browse over 40 independent artworks, publications, and editions from emerging artists and writers. Find something that speaks to you or for itself. Support local artists. Friday, 6-9pm and Sat noon-6pm. Free entry. Info here.
Things to do in Brooklyn on Saturday
Panda Bear Live at 99 Scott in Bushwick
Come see Panda Bear, the wildly influential solo act usually buried within Animal Collective, life and in his natural habitat – outdoors and behind a turntable and in front of a microphone somewhere in Brooklyn. He’ll be playing and joined by Sporting Life and Dan Hougland at 99 Scott as part of Open Air, a MeanRed series of outdoor events curated just for you this summer. Tickets are only $35. Get yours here now. Doors at 7pm. 99 Scott Ave.
Animal Kingdom at House of Yes in Bushwick
Because being a furry is frowned upon, come unleash your inner beast and embrace your spirit animal at Brooklyn’s wildest human zoo. And I mean that in that most endearing way possible. House of Yes will become Animal Kingdom Saturday night, giving you all of the excuses not to hold back your animal instincts. Because yes, you and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals so let’s dress like other animals and do that damn thing. Costumes required, tickets and info here. See you there. I’ll be dressed like my own cat. #bearwithme
Total Greenpoint Immersion.
There’s truly no better substance I prefer to immerse myself in other than the drippingly charming neighborhood where I live. And this self-guided food-and-beer tour will help you do just that, and cheaply! $15 gets you 4 free Brooklyn brews at Brew Inn, Black Rabbit, the Barge, and at the Diamond, plus for an extra $10, lunch at Le Fanfare… OR, you can just do this self-guided food and drink tour I planned for you, any day of the week, during the happiest hours. You decide. Regardless, I guess I’ll see you for lunch Saturday? Tickets here. Cheers folks.
Twilight Tour at Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park
Planning a date night Saturday? Sure, you can feed each other aphrodisiacs at some of Brooklyn’s most romantic spots, or instead, you can hold hands with your lover at dusk while strolling through a strikingly historic cemetery in South Brooklyn. Trust me when I say that few things are more romantic. Or, at least for the dangerous lovers you want to have in your life. Book a twilight tour of Green-Wood Cemetery here now. It’s $25, and afterward, you can stroll over to see what the hell they’ve done with Industry City. The stroll begins at 7:30pm, meet at the gothic arches. 500 25th St.
Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor’s Island
The jazz age lawn party. The (2) weekends a year that people who own seersucker suits get to feel kind of cool, when everyone pretends alcohol is illegal, and when everyone sweats off their bold flapper makeup while waiting on the pier together, downing the rose they intended to last the entire day and not thinking for a moment that yes, everyone will be trying to get off the island at the exact same time. Yes, yes it’s the Jazz Age Lawn Party and, it’s… it’s fun. It is. If you haven’t been, you should go. And that’s that. Tickets are $0-5,000 so decide where you fall on that scale. Info here. Saturday and Sunday.
Things to do in Brooklyn on Sunday
Do things dads like!
Living in New York, most of us are unfortunately have to spend father’s day away from our dads. So once again, I’ll dedicate this Sunday’s post to doing events that my dad (and thus your dad, if he’s cool) likes!
Father’s Day Whiskey Tour Whiskey!
History! Walking around a naval yard! Yep, it’s the trifecta of dad things and trust me when I say, you’ll like it too. Come hear the history of this classic American spirit and taste all of the varieties made right here in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Tickets are going fast and your dad would want you to do this. Get yours here now. 4:40-6pm, enter at 22 Sands St.
Kayaking in the Newtown Creek!
Yes, it might be the sight of the biggest oil spill in US history, but that wouldn’t scare your dad. So don’t let it scare you either. Go kayaking with the North Brooklyn Boat Club this Sunday in the creek that separates us from Queens while oohing and ahhing at some amazing skyline vistas, with your mouth tightly shut. No, I’m serious- keep your mouth shut. That water is damn nasty. Info here.
Drink beers, play yard games at a Brewery!
It’s Can Jam at Threes Brewing which means they’ve sourced some of the most coveted cans from around the country (including the Veil brewery in Richmond, where my dad lives!) and they’re bringing them all together, with some groovy tunes to jam out too and fun games to get progressively worse at as the day goes on, PLUS oyster shuckin’ from our friends at the Meat Hook. It doesn’t get more Dad than this, in a good way. Free to attend but arrive early, these cans are rare and have an instinctive flight risk. Info here.
Eat interesting things at the Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival in the Lower East Side of Manhattan
Your #reasontocrosstheriverthisweekend is a most unlikely combination for a food fest. However, shouldn’t we be combining our food festivals into one big beautiful cultural mix instead of sequestering them? This egg rolls, egg creams, and empanadas festival celebrates Jewish, Chinese and Puerto Rican tastes, traditions, sights and sounds in the cultural epicenter of it all, the lower east side. Come and embrace the beautiful truth that there’s more that unites us than divides us, especially when it comes to eggs. or, like, short “e” sounds at the beginning of the names of foods. Just go man, it’s free to attend, all info here, noon-4pm at the Museum at Eldridge st, 12 Eldridge St.
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