The Weekend Guide | 15-18 February 2018

I miss that feeling of sneakiness that comes with youth. That feeling of risk, of danger, of mischief that inherently comes with sneaking out of the house, from light breaking-and-entering, to from being somewhere you’re not supposed to be and maybe with people you’re not supposed to be with. The necessity to lie about what you’ve been going because the truth wouldn’t be accepted or allowed.
Let me be the catalyst back into the rush and into the excitement. Let me help you find all of those places that you’ll only reluctantly admit to being at. Dress up. Go out. shake it down. Live a little, or a lot. Just come along, let’s get sneaky and freaky and feel alive and free. It’s your weekend, Brooklyn. Get into it.

THURSDAY

Playa del Coco Carnivale Party at House of Yes in Bushwick

Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras both feel a bit contrived when compared to the magic of Carnivale. Live music in the streets, seductive samba dancing, tribal grooves, free spirits, and free love for a week or more. Come embrace that magic at House of Yes this Thursday with Playa Del Coco. They’re teaming up with One Tribe to bring all of the magic, color, and rhythm of Carnivale into your favorite party venue. Expect live drumming, aerialists, massage medicine, a tropical beauty parlor, and tons of surprises you can always (and never) expect from House of Yes. The party is FREE before 11pm with RSVP on Eventbrite, right here. Costumes mandatory. 10pm-5am, 2 Wyckoff Ave.

Hot Dog Boyfriend Pop’s Up at the Diamond in Greenpoint

So maybe you were single this Valentine’s Day. Or maybe you weren’t, but you’re ready to trade in that significant other of yours already. Head to the Thursday night pop-up dinner at the Diamond and get cozy with Hot Dog Boyfriend. They’ll be cooking up some inventive dogs to pair not only with the amazing selection of beers but NOW with liquor too. So go, get tipsy on overly strong drinks before the bartenders get their measurements down to a science, and then meet me in the gondola and tell me all of your secrets. All info here, 6:30-10pm. 43 Franklin St.

FRIDAY

Chinese New Year at MoFaD in Williamsburg

If you didn’t know already, it’s Chinese New Year and we’re finally transitioning from the year of the Rooster, that brought us so much grief and despair and also a huge cock with a tiny penis in the White House, into the year of the Dog, a year of genuine loyalty and indiscriminate tail-wagging and peeing a little bit and often out of excitement, one that may start downward facing but always rises to the sun. Come celebrate it at the Museum of Food and Drink this Friday, with some culinary new-year traditions from the east, including a “high tossed salad”, which isn’t referring to that thing you did last time you were on molly that you didn’t tell anyone about. It’s lettuces, thrown way up high. Anyway, go. Start your year off right (again). Tickets and info here. 62 Bayard St.

Courage, My Love Beer Release at Threes Brewing in Gowanus

The best way to #revelwithacause this weekend. Our good friends at Threes Brewing release their latest happy hoppy pale lager in happy support of the ACLU. Come be among the first to try this new brew and feel good that 10% of all sales from the event and release will go to the ACLU. If you feel like something to accelerate your Friday, try the Don’t Despair cocktail, made with Yola Mezcal,a female-run company dedicated to promoting the economic independence of women in Oaxaca, and feel good while being a little bad. It’s all happening 5-midnight. Info here, 333 Douglass St.

Detriot Love Dance Party at Schimanski’s in Williamsburg

It feels like everyone’s getting into that Detroit love; me, and also other people. and you know, those Brooklynites who have decided to be pioneers. Come get into the spirit that it seems everyone is in to at Schimanskis, that place that you hate to say out loud. Detroit house music stalwarts Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson, and Recloose tear it up and tear it down with much love for the deceased auto industry and with hope towards the post-industrial era and still-tangible soul of the motor city. Go to this party. Tickets, $20 available here. 54 N 11th St.

Science of Sex at Caveat in the Lower East Side of Manhattan

A new kind of foreplay. I’m not touting this as a #reasontocrosstheriverthisweekend, but if you happen to be on the big island anyway, stop by this happy hour dedicated to asking and answering all of your sex questions and see all the weird things that kids in the East Village have been wondering about what happens in the bedroom. I guarantee you’ll leave way more flabbergasted than enlightened, and appreciative that you don’t live, or lay, on the other side of the river. It’s happening at Caveat, that does have some pretty cool events. Info here, 6-8pm, 21 A Clinton Street.

SATURDAY

Therapeutic Pilates at Hosh Yoga in Greenpoint

Start your Saturday by releasing the stresses of the week, the expectations of the one upcoming, and the sins that have been biting at your heels for way too long. Saturday’s workshop will guide you through a therapeutic form of pilates that will have you release the tension of living in New York in winter and prepare your body and soul to be awakened for spring. $25/members, $30/non-members. Sign up here, 3:30-5pm. 657 Meeker Ave.

Then go get a beer at Spritzenhaus to continue releasing tension.

Opening Night of Dyspepsia at 67 West St in Greenpoint

I have absolutely no idea what this is. And that is the exact reason why you should go, Give me fusion cuisine from 7 countries, I find it merely palatable. Give me an after-after party that starts at 2pm but you can only access from midnight the night before, and entry requires physically sitting at the breakfast table with someone’s mom and consuming pancakes, i won’t flinch, I want it all that badly, But this? This has somehow escaped me. It’s performance art, it’s virtual reality, it’s a fine art exhibition, it’s day to day real life, it’s yours and mine, and it’s happening this weekend. More info here (but not much more) just go. And then let me know what the hell is happening there. 67 West St.
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Afterwards head down to West Wine Bar and have a glass of Turkish wine and try to figure out what the hell you just witnessed.

Soul Clap and Dance-Off at Elsewhere in Bushwick

This is the dance party you want to be at this weekend. New York Night Train Soul Clap, the world’s most popular and prolific soul party (I’m not disputing that…) returns to Elswhere with live music by La Luz, Mystery Lights, and Bodega & Jane Church. Djs to follow to keep you shakin’ it all night long. Dance contest with CASH prizes so come ready. Half-price tickets if you arrive before 11pm. Doors open at 7 and won’t close on you until after 4am. All info here, 599 Johnson Ave.

SUNDAY

Tiki Disco at House of Yes in Bushwick

When your favorite party group and your favorite venue/family in Brooklyn get together, you go. And you dance. And you revel in the pure unadulterated joy that you live in a place where events like this exist. Tiki Disco hits House of Yes for their last indoor party of the season before we can all party under the moonlight with them all summer long. Besides tomorrow is president’s day. let’s show respect for that dick bag we have in office and be hungover as shit and completely worthless and still somehow be more productive than he is. Tickets and info here, $15-20. 10pm-4am, 2 Wyckoff

Live Music Planetarium at Nowadays in Ridgewood.

Immerse yourself in this planetarium of sound at Nowadays. You’re invited to spread out, to lay down, to sink in between their custom hi-fi speakers as Josh Dunn DJing and Jason Lindner playing live music not meant for dancing. Transcend into another dimension. Bring a sleeping bag. Save conversations for your time outside the speakers. Reserve a spot online here now. It’s all happening from 6-11pm. More info here, 56-06 Cooper Ave. at Nowadays, where they’re looking forward to getting lost in music with you.