Hey Brooklyn. There’s a reason that they call this place the County of Kings. It was never intended for the weak at heart, for the passive, for those who can’t speak up. It was created by and for the dreamers, the fighters, the hustlers, the you, the me, the us. So let’s tiptoe through this shining city with our diamond slippers on. Let’s paint the town red. Let’s fall in love and dance all night. Let’s shed our stresses from our minds and replace them with crowns atop our heads. Let’s take this city, our city, as our kingdom. And let’s do it all together, this weekend.
THURSDAY
Spring Art Exhibit Opening at the Brooklyn Cider House in Bushwick
Maybe cider feels like a Fall thing, but the good people behind Brooklyn Cider House want to change your perspective. Thursday night they’ll be covering the walls and barrels of their stunning, expansive cidery in Bushwick with fresh paint(ings) and pairing this facelift with bright, dry, funky ciders made on site. It’s their Spring Art exhibit opening and tastings are free, so
Island Hope Wine Dinner at Red Hook Winery
Your chance to #revelwithacause this weekend brings the warm, welcoming island vibes to a communal table at a winery in Red Hook. Doing good never tasted so good. Red Hook Winery teams up with Island Hope Wines and welcomes Chef Shaun Brian Sells and Chef Julius Jackson and all of their bold, elevated West Indian flavors paired meticulously with Red Hook
Thirst Trap with Anya Volz at Caveat in the Lower East Side
“Hey,” she said. “Here’s your reason to cross the river this weekend- a comedy show in the Lower East Side. Trust me.” This sounds like a trap, right? There are only a million comedy shows in this town, and trying to sort through and find a good one quickly ends in “holy shit how can I politely escape between jokes.” That’s why you find a trusted voice who trusts a comedy stalwart who is starting a monthly series called Thirst Trap and tells you to go to this, the first official show of the series that cleverly combines comedic games based on current events, pop culture, and the necessary evil of social media. She’s one of the freshest voices in comedy and will corral a cast of characters each month that will not disappoint. Be there tonight, and monthly. It starts at
FRIDAY
Disco Tehran at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg
Repeat after me: I did not move to this city to listen to shit music and go to blasé dance parties. We came to move and be moved, fill our ears and hearts with funky beats, to dance all night, to party until dawn. Refuse to be swayed and pushed and prodded within “hip” nightclubs in the meatpacking district. Come Friday night to Baby’s All Right for Disco Tehran, a funky warm discothéque exploring groovy household throwbacks and rare music from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Because you deserve better. You do. Tickets, $10/15 available here. Party starts at 7:30 and also when you arrive. 146 Broadway.
Dollylujah Winter Edition at the Bell House in Gowanus
Dolly Parton dinner Hallelujah, your prayers for some down-home charm and southern glamour right here in the city have been answered. Local favorite Dolly Parton cover band Doll Parts will be joining Karl Blau (and other special guests!) for this epic tribute to the inimitable country music queen. It’s all happening at
The Cocktail Experiment at Gemini & Scorpio Loft in Gowanus
Let’s face it, cocktails in this town have become a thing. A thing inextricably accompanied by a $15-150 price tag, a pretentious attitude, and a flamboyant menu upon which obscure ingredients are seemingly mixed around with “a pinch of magic” “some smokey vapor” and “actual bartender breath”. Avoid all of those things and get back to the intention of cocktails, when a bartender can show off his craft for your enjoyment, at the Cocktail Experiment this Friday night. The event is free, just bring a liquid of any kind to challenge their bartenders who will come up with something one-of-a-kind (or, hell, three-of-a-kind, six-of-a-kind, you decide) cocktail. It’s like a drunk Iron Chef meets everything you wish a Brooklyn Friday night could be. Info here, 8pm-1am on Douglass St.
National Margarita Day, everywhere apparently.
Don’t you hate it when social media decides it must designate a day for every fucking thing and then push it off into the trend surf and watch everyone lose their minds while their Instagram feeds all become some cohesive slop of feigned artistry while their lives are completely and utterly unchanged? Yeah. Me fucking too. In other news, it’s National Margarita Day. Here’s a link to where you can mindlessly pretend that’s a thing while you get drunk.
SATURDAY
Caravan Gitane and House of Yes present Full Spectrum in Bushwick
We are lucky enough to live in a time and a place where we no longer resort to one-dimensional parties. We have amazing innovators and visionaries who create experiences, bringing together some of the world’s best talent to build a multi-sensory explosion to set us off and turn us on nearly every weekend. Two of the best of such nightlife movers-and-shakers, our beloved House of Yes and Caravan Gitane bring us Full Spectrum this weekend. Featuring Max Cooper presenting the NYC debut of his “One Hundred Billion Sparks live audiovisual set, plus 5 other amazing DJs, living sculptures and aerial performances, cosmic, neon art and a relaxing tea room. This is the event not to miss this weekend. It’s all happening from 10pm-5am at 99 Scott Ave. Tickets and info right here for you baby.
Studio54 Dance Party at Our Wicked Lady in Bushwick
Come wear all the glitter and disco your way back to the 70s in Bushwick Saturday night at Our Wicked Lady. GO BANG selectors Jordan Jenner and Max Dowd will be spinnin’ all the funky freshest grooves to keep your hips shakin’ and your hearts breakin’ all night. There is NO COVER to enter, which means the only lines you’ll need to be worried about are the ones inside the bathroom stall. Info here, the party starts at
Pale Ramon at National Sawdust in Williamsburg
In contrast with the hastily-built “luxury” apartment towers and tasteless developments taking over this city, some places are built with such attention to detail and design, that to enter into them and sit within is something magical. Such is the case for National Sawdust, the nearly acoustically-perfect performance center built within a former sawdust factory. And what do you want to see and hear in such a space? The bold, dreamy, and slightly avant-
NY Beer Week Kickoff at the Expo Center in Greenpoint
Yeah. I know. I usually hate these festivals. But our city and state are brewing some damn good beers, and to have (almost) all of them under one roof, being poured by the brewers who will be able to tell you all about the passion behind their pilsners and the love in their lagers is not something you want to miss. It’s the kickoff to NYC Beer Week which also means, now is not the time to restart that carb-free New Year’s Resolution. It’s happening at the Expo Center featuring 75+ breweries, unlimited tastings, a locally-sourced food court, games, music, and the best by-the-slice pizza shop in town just across the street to soak up all those suds after. Tickets and info here. 72 Noble St.
Cat Video Fest at Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown Brooklyn
Hey so if you didn’t know this already, my cat died. In November. And my heart is still broken. Thus I’ve found myself over-indulging in cat videos, of my own and anyone else’s, a little too often. And while nothing replaces the sweet softness of my little bear, seeing cats take over the big screen while lounging and indulging in all of the wondrous offerings at Alamo Drafthouse sounds like my kind of Saturday (and/or Sunday!) Cat Video Fest pounces upon us this weekend. Details here, see you there. I’ll be the one crying into my popcorn in the back row. 445 Albee Square West.
Whiskey Wars Tour and Tasting in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
New York City’s oldest distillery and the first opened since prohibition hosts the whiskey wars craft tours, not a war at all but a tour highlighting the battles and scandals that occurred in our fledgling city during prohibition, and the drinkers and fights who persevered. Come hear anecdotes and sip some damn good spirits in Building 92, where all the magic happens. Tour is from 4:30-6:
Crazytown at Sunnyvale in Bushwick
Yeah. That Crazytown. Having trouble wracking your brain for that lyric? Let me help – “you’re my butterfly, sugar baby.” Whoops, sorry. Now that I’ve stuck that song in your head for the foreseeable future, are you wondering what this fairly one-dimensional group has been doing for the past 8 years? Well, then go see them at Sunnyvale Saturday night. If you haven’t been wondering that at all, just scroll up. There are plenty of options for you in this crazy town. Info here. 1031 Grand St.
SUNDAY
Stay tuned for my Oscars Viewing Party Guide! Because that’s what you should be doing on Sunday.
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