Hey Brooklyn. We’re all in this together, somehow. Let’s find each other and find hope and find joy this weekend, in our communities and that virtual space where we all exist now. Get to it, below. I’ll see you out there, and in there, and everywhere, Brooklyn.
Party From Home
I mean this is kind of the best kind of weekend partying… You can commit to a number of plans, and then do them all a little bit while not wearing pants, and then just fall right into bed without having to decide whether or not you deserve to take an Uber home. And best of all, most of these parties are actually benefitting some group or business, so #revelwithacause all weekend. Get to it.
Mister Sunday Wants to Come Over
Starting this Sunday, Mister Sunday will be broadcasted from Nowadays Yeah, I know… it doesn’t feel like summer if we can’t dance and drink and sweat with all of our friends right up against us. And, you know… this whole beach thing. But Nowadays is going to help us feel it as much as possible starting this weekend. They’ll be broadcasting Mister Sunday weekly, so tune in Sunday and make your Memorial Day Weekend feel a little more real.
Disco Isn’t Dead, it’s just… in Outerspace.
Jupiter Disco is here to take you and everyone you love to the moon and back and then way way far beyond this Friday night. Your favorite groovy little Bushwick disco paradise will be streaming a live intergalactic party so get movin’ and grooving’ by following along with their instagram. See you out there, and in there, Brooklyn.
Feel Better with Good Room
Make your living room a little bit good-er with Good Room, this weekend. They’re refusing to let you get down by making sure you get down with @fixed_nyc’s JDH at 5pm, and more amazing talent all weekend. Check in with them here and see how good it feels to be bad. Oh and look for me in the feed- I just got a disco ball.
Get Cultured.
There is more available at our fingertips right now than ever before, and I don’t mean whatever stockpile of filtered images influencers have scheduled to roll out to you this month. Check out my favorites below and learn something while you’re “stuck inside”.
All of this, from the MoMA this Weekend.
why don’t you talk about art with Steve Martin, or learn to cook with Anicka Yi, or dive into the literature that will define this very specific time in history, or hear about the beautiful experiments that author Saidya Hartman knows will pull us all through this mess. It’s all coming at ya from the MoMA, so get cultured and feel better, this weekend, right here.
Believe in Magic, at home!
I fucking love magic. And while there are a lot of things that seem like magic right now (the memory of hugging a friend! getting sick of being around your parents! Airplane food!) magician Karan Singh wants to bring the real thingh into your home. Yep. It’s a magic show just for you, or for your zoom! Send a message here to set up a time and be prepared to not believe your screen.
At-Home Chef
We have all been cooking. A lot. And there is nothing more lovely than exploring a new recipe and sharing it with loved ones, or even the roommates that you really pissed off earlier and this is the only way you can think of to say “I’m sorry for being an asshole. I’m losing it.” Here are a few of my pics. Get cookin’, good lookin’.
Paella, because… why not?
Now is the time to try out that very complicated paella recipe. Why? Because El Born is open for delivery and pick-up so that when your attempt at socarrat becomes a big black coat of shame over the past 3 hours you’ve spent in the kitchen, they can swoop in and save the day (with cocktails, too!) Just keep this link handy and of course, good luck.
Because you’ll still never get into Carbone…
Yeah, like not even if you line up now hoping they’ll reopen midsummer. But the good news is, the good people at X-rated Eats have brought us their famous SPicy Rigatoni recipe to make at home. So throw a white table cloth (or sheet) over that kitchen table. Put on a nice dress. Light some candles. Wine and dine yourself. Tell Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick that they’ve got nothin’ on YOU. (I mean, don’t do that… but do be damn proud of yourself.) Follow along here and don’t forget to get a damn good wine recommendation from Anthony at Duke’s Liquor Box!
Have Your Cupcake and Eat It Too
What better way to finish off an at-home knockoff of a New York classic dish than with another knockoff of a classic dessert? The New York Times has finally The NY Times finally shared Magnolia Bakery’s cupcake recipe.
Get a Move On
Because “shelter in place” doesn’t mean being completely stagnant. You can responsibly keep yourself moving in some very creative ways.
Let’s have some Good Times, Brooklyn
Daily yoga from your favorite little Williamsburg studio that will help you shape up and be a little less rigid during this time of boundaries and rules and limitations. Proceeds go to support their amazing staff, so feel good while you have a good time. Schedule here.
Yoga + Meditation with New Love City
Get your mind off of things and your body into things this weekend with meditation and yoga. Because we’re never going to get through this without going nuts and gaining the COVID 19 if we don’t try, with intention. Follow along here for the schedule and let’s make ourselves better.
Pilatesbklyn Wants to Help you Shape Up
Let’s all lengthen and strengthen our quarantine bodies so that we can all look good while looking longingly at the beach this summer. Pilates Brooklyn is offering free sessions this weekend to make you look and feel better. Choose a class and tune in via the link in their Instagram here.
Get Out (safely!)
It’s (virtually) a Block Party, Brooklyn!
Because we all realize just how important and connected our local blocks are right now (especially at 7pm!), let’s have a good old fashioned block party, reimagined, this Memorial Day weekend. Because if there shall be no cookouts, let their at least be a. Gang of all your local favorites there to help you celebrate and feel more together, while we’re apart. They’re bringing you bites and sips from Oddfellow’s Ice Cream, KahKow, Lemons and Olives, Kings County Distillery, and Duke’s Liquor Box- Plus the Greenpoint-Williamsburg CSA will be at Duke’s, so you and pick up a box and a few bottles at the same time. They’ll have Fashion + Art from Alkemic, Brooklyn Charm (and more!) Plus the connection and community we could all use right now. Tune in, order, pick up, pick yourself up, show your support, and feel better.
Brooklyn History Bike Ride
This amazing, historic bike ride from the NY Times piece Because all of our hearts are hurting that our city has been completely shaken by this pandemic, it’s a good time to be reminded of all of the things we love about it, and to be enveloped by it, on two wheels. Read this amazing piece that walks you through the amazing history surrounding our magical little borough.
Beer and Pizza with Barano + Domino Park
Make those socially-distanced circles into a very intimate party this weekend with Barano’s new midday beer + pizza deal. Every day, 2-5pm, you can get a hot gonna slice and any beer on tap for $9. Then grab your quarantine buddy and claim your circle at the park and make everyone noticeably jealous of your late lunch decision. Keep up with all of their amazing specials right here.
Celebrate Memorial Day with your (corn)Dog in the Park
‘There will be corn dogs at Five Leaves, and watermelon margaritas. So dig out that USA bandana and wrap it around your face and get yourself a dog and a marg and go to McCarren and recognize that this is as close to a cookout as we’re gonna get, and it’s not that bad. I’m willing to bet they’ll sell out, so get your ass up early. Info here.
Or, be a Polish American this Memorial Day
Visit Dziupla in Greenpoint for AMAZING pierogis, just like grandma used to make (?) and get a FREE soup which let me tell you- their borscht is unbelievable. As in, I think about it often… and I like to think it thinks of me too. Plus, they have frozen margaritas so you can have an official, not too American spread in your socially-distanced area of McCarren Park. Info here.
The Last Humboldt + Jackson Burger is available TODAY only.
In case you missed it, Humboldt and Jackson closed just before the entire city shut down. Which is sad, but the space will reopen to The Meat Hook’s first official restaurant, when the city opens again! While we wait, head to H&J’s burger pop-up TODAY- it’s your last chance to get their famous burger and to mourn the passing of this amazing Williamsburg institution with some double-pattied saucy goodness in your hands. And if you stain your shirt (you likely will) consider it a little piece of history you can keep with you, always.
Come have Brunch with Me!
Say whaaat? Yeah, you know I hate brunch. But what I do like is that during this time of social distancing, I get to spend a few hours in a charming little window on Manhattan Avenue and make people happy. And I’ll be doing just that this Saturday. Come, get a Bloody Mary. Get an Aperol Spritz. Get a damn delicious burger, or some carbonara. Get whatever the hell you want, just come keep me company! I’ll make you happy!
Show Your Support
One of the most important ways we can spend our time and hard-earned government paychecks is by funneling that money back into our communities and supporting local businesses. Don’t let them shudder once we all decide to “open back up”.
Buy Art that Feeds People
Make your home renovations mean something by adding some fresh art to those walls, art that says “I love my community” and “I also give a damn.” Local artist @stevewasterval is selling prints of (mostly) Greenpoint scenes and with the sale of each print, one meal is donated to the North Brooklyn Angels. Order through his instagram and let’s make North Brooklyn (and our walls) a better place.
Help Seniors through Umbrella
We all too often ignore the most valuable members of our society, the seniors that contain within them so much history and wisdom that may go unseen and unheard. And now they’re suffering at disproportionate numbers. Show them that you care by volunteering to help a senior through Umbrella. Even simple tasks can be impossible to execute when you’re trapped in a high-risk nursing home, or simply unable to get out because of fear. Sign up here and show them you haven’t forgotten.
Feed Your Community
Because you’re never going to eat those Vienna sausages. You aren’t. And you’ll be embarrassed if anyone sees them in your cabinet and therefore assumes this is a snack you consume often. Donate your unwanted food and new food you buy at the supermarket just for this cause and that money that you’re still getting either from your employer or Donald J Trump himself (i.e. your own tax money) to local food banks. They desperately need help. Learn more here.
And here’s a little hope for you.
Yankee Stadium parking lot may become a drive-in movie theater this summer!!! Because if we can’t have baseball, at least we can have movies about baseball outside of a very historic stadium! They’ve announced partnering with Uptown Drive-In to convert that unused lot into a theater and food market, so now’s the time to start sucking up to that friend you have with a car.
And for a super-extensive, ongoing list of what’s going on, check in here.
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