Hey Brooklyn. Let me distract you. Let me get inside that head of yours. Let me be on your mind. Let me into your heart and let me move those feet all around this town, baby. It’s what I’m here to do and trust me when I say you’re going to like it. I’ve made plans for you, Brooklyn. I’m going to make you fall in love with this city again and remind yourself why the hell it is you live here, even as the temperatures continue to drop. Let me warm you up. It’s all right here, in your weekend guide.
Shall we?
THURSDAY
Ladies of LCD at Good Room in Greenpoint
Behind every good front man is a tribe of fierce fucking ladies who hold down the beat and create every sound so you can dance yrself clean and then dirty and clean again. The ladies of LCD Soundsystem will be taking over the Good Room Thursday night letting out all of the magic, mystery, and amazing fucking noise you’ve come to expect from the best band ever. Tickets, $15 are still available here. Get yours quick then get down from 10pm-4am, or whenever. How bad do you want it? 98 Meserole Ave at the Good Room, my favorite place to do bad things.™
The Hold Steady “Massive Nights” at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg.
Come support Brooklyn-based rock band the Hold Steady as they play four nights at Brooklyn Bowl with surprise openers. Then let’s all meet at Lake Street, my favorite bar in town and also owned by one of the members of the band. (hint: it’s Bobby.) Celebrate 10 years of this amazing band. Come. Dance. Sing. Rock the fuck out. Tickets, $40 available here. Doors at 6pm, music at 8. 61 Wythe Ave at Brooklyn Bowl,
Mama Yoshi, Japanese Comfort Food Pop-Up at the Diamond in Greenpoint
Japan, home of zen things. Temples. Yin and yangs. Those sand drawing things. A calm and centered culture that feels like a far cry from the hustle and bustle of our fair city… and maybe, just maybe, their secret is in Japanese comfort food. Foods like katsu sandwiches and curry, potato korokke, tonkatsu, and shiso slaw will bring you into the paper-walled houses of Japan and away from the paper-thin apartment walls of Brooklyn. Let Mama Yoshi comfort you this Thursday at the Diamond’s International Pop-Up Dinner series. Then get cozy with a few beers you’ve never heard of from Dave’s always impressive and constantly changing beer list. 7-11pm, info here. 43 Franklin St.
FRIDAY
Go Drink at the Greenpoint Palace
If there’s ever been a story about the near impossibility of opening a business in this city, it’s the story of the palace. Three amazing local spirits and spirit purveyors have been delayed months on opening because of unavoidable consequences and a lot of “oh yeah we’ll send a guy to check it out this week…” So let’s help them fight back with a sit-in, a stand-in, a drink-in and a huge welcoming to the neighborhood this Friday, and most of the days after that too. They’re located at 206 Nassau Ave. I’ll see you there, let’s have a drink.
Winter Garden Opening at Midnights in Williamsburg
Cold weather forces us to cover up and hunker down and forces so many magical rooftops and terraces to shut down for the season. Midnights is fighting for our right to still enjoy dining and drinking (sort of) al fresco with their winter garden. It opens Friday night will be well heated and well decorated, plus plenty of fancy holiday cocktail specials. Come and sit and sip and strip away your layers along with your inhibitions. Follow along here, and I’ll see you out there. 149 N. 6th St.
Arkham: A Dark Holiday Celebration at BIZARRE Bushwick
All doesn’t have to be merry and bright. Come to Bizarre Bushwick this Friday night and celebrate the dark side of the holidays. Come embrace the darkness with DJ Cyclonus spinning all your dark wave, synth, post punk, and goth favorites with Christmas horror playing on the big screen, drippy absynthe cocktails, fortune telling by Devil Dice Tarot. The slay bells ring at 10:30pm and the creatures stop stirring at 4 but it’s in Bushwick so if your squirrely butt wants to keep stirring, you know there are plenty of options. Free all night. Info here. 12 Jefferson St.
The Songs of Dirty Dancing at Brooklyn Bazaar in Greenpoint
Come have the time of your life Friday night and embrace the magic and music of the best film ever at the Brooklyn Bazaar. Har Mar Superstar and Sabrina Ellis will help you relive that rebellious spirit of Kellerman’s Resort. Go. Wear a leotard. Carry a watermelon. Have no shame. Tickets, $20 available here. 150 Greenpoint Ave.
Pale Ramon Record Realease at Union Pool in Williamsburg
How often do you see good music in this town? Like, really good music? I’m not talking about a soldout show at Terminal 5 … I’m talking about the kind that you still feel like you discovered by accident, the kind that you know within a few months you’ll be the one saying, “I saw them when they played at Union Pool!” This is that kind of music. Their sound is an elaborate blend of Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Mogwai. Pale Ramon’s record release party is happening Friday night. Tickets, $10, available here. Doors at 7:30pm. 484 Union Ave.
Holiday Night Market and Dance Party at Freehold in Williamsburg
You seriously have no excuse not to start your holiday shopping early. There are SO MANY amazing Christmas markets in town, so start this week. Visit Freehold’s charming Winter Lodge this weekend only for handmade gifts, stick ’n poke tattoos, tarot card readers and DJs all night. Friday night only, 7-10pm. Info here, 45 S. 3rd St.
SATURDAY
Oddities Flea Market at the Brooklyn Bazaar in Greenpoint.
Let’s face it, between our eccentric Brooklyn friends and our weird families, your holiday list is likely very diverse this year. Seek out odd, bizarre finds this weekend at the Oddities Flea Market at the Brooklyn Bazaar. With 70+ vendors already committed, plus a smattering of food vendors and winter cocktails, you’ll find something for everyone. Or at least something really fun to try to explain on Christmas Morning. “Well I guess the jock strap with deer antlers spoke to both the beast and beauty within you.” Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm. $5 admission. Info here. 150 Greenpoint Ave.
Party Like It’s 1999: Mariah Carey Edition at the Bell House in Gowanus
Oh come on… don’t act like you haven’t been waiting since December 26th to indulge again in Mariah Carey’s best album ever. Or, at least since Thanksgiving? Maybe? Anyway, let yourself get really fucking merry and come to this holiday kickoff party at the Bell House this weekend. They’ll be partying like it’s 1999 and spinning the hits all night. Sexy santa costumes optional. The event is free, 10pm-midnight, then they’ll proceed playing better tunes. Info here, 149 7th St.
Brooklyn Whiskey Fest at the Expo Center in Greenpoint
You don’t need to get that warm. I’m serious, you don’t. Instead of an entire day of unlimited whiskey tasting, just put on a scarf and go have 2 hot toddies and then get frisky with your lover. Boom. Warm. Or I suppose go to this whiskey fest at the Expo center and get slowly and then agressively warm starting at 2 or 6:30pm. Let this be your chance to explore some rare and exotic whiskeys, or say fuck it because they also have gin and vodka and tequila. So this is just a big bar with booths and vinyl tablecloths. Tickets and info here, 72 Noble St.
Silent Disco at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights
I’m not a big fan of wearing my headphones/earbuds whatever in public. It makes me feel unapproachable, unattractive to constructive workers, and what if someone sneezes nearby and I don’t bless them? Having open ears keeps us connected. So needless to say these “quiet events” are not for me. I do not want to dance near you and not be able seductively whisper in your ear, “Tell me your name.” I don’t want to be bopping around and trying to figure out if we’ve both chosen blue before we try to synchronize. I don’t want to do this. It’s happening at the Brooklyn Museum this Saturday night. Tickets, $20 available here. Or go elsewhere and make some noise. 200 Eastern Parkway.
SUNDAY
A Christmas Market for People Who Don’t Like Christmas Markets at Threes Brewing in Gowanus
Christmas markets are great. But sometimes drifting from booth to booth, perusing over the handmade, passionately crafted goods of someone as you imagine if said good is good enough to give to whoever is on your list feels a bit empty. Best Made, the ax-wielding product company that concentrates on meticulously crafted goods, wants to instead outfit and help prepare you to make your own goods, go on an adventure, and do so much more than peruse. Come see what they’re all about and drink some damn fine beers at Threes Brewing this Sunday. It’s happening from noon-6pm. Info here, 333 Douglass St at Threes Brewing, I’ll try anything thrice!™
Greenpointers Polar Vortex Holiday Market at the Greenpoint Loft in Greenpoint
I’ll give you a pointer… people love things from Brooklyn, especially handmade things from Brooklyn that they can’t get anywhere else. Now I’ll point you directly in the direction of the Greenpointers Polar Vortex Holiday Market, happening this Sunday on West St. Browse through the goods of so many amazing makers and creators and movers and shakers and cross off everyone on your list. No I’m serious, there will be something for everyone. Plus cocktails and foods and tunes for you, whether you’ve been good or bad this year (and we all know the answer to that). all info here, 1-7pm, 67 West St, 5th Floor.
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