Questlove! 5th Ave Fair! A Design Festival! Short Films @ Green-Wood! Ample Hills' Churn Bike! Giant Puppets! The Zoo is Back and Pride is Coming!
Plus: The Bike Jumble! Clay for a Cause! Paddle the Gowanus Under the Stars!
Welcome back to your Park Slope events newsletter. As always, links to sources are in (parentheses) after each event. Follow our IG for updates as events change.
Book Now
We have a habit of knowing what sells out.
🗣🎶Hip-Hop Is History: Questlove In Conversation With Marc Lamont Hill: “On A 50 Year History Of Hip-HopIn his new book, Hip-Hop Is History—his first to be published under his own AUWA Books imprint—Questlove mixes a scholar’s encyclopedic knowledge, a true fan’s passionate devotion, and an insider’s unparalleled access to illuminate how hip-hop became the cultural force it is today. In an exclusive one-night-only event at BAM, he shares stories with scholar, author, and television personality Marc Lamont Hill.” (8:00 PM, BAM, $54.50)
🏳🌈 A Gay Show For All People Pride Spooktacular on 6/28 & 6/29: The 6/27 show is already sold out! “Hosted By Aaron Jackson & Josh Sharp. Featuring:, Julio Torres, River Ramirez, Sydnee Washington, Garth.” (7:30 PM, The Bell House, $30)
Get Involved
🏺Common Ground Public Ceramics Hoedown And Throwdown @ Gasworks: “Every summer, we offer fellowships to BIPOC ceramicists at three studios in NYC. This summer we are proud to be partnering with @clayspace and @michelle_wen_artist ! Our fellows receive classes, tools and materials, firing fees stipends, mentorship pairings, and community bonding events. Last summer, we were able to support over 25 fellows. We want to expand our public programs and provide even more support. Your fundraiser ticket (starting at $35) gets you two drinks and raffle tickets for amazing prizes. You can also sign up for our first ever throwdown!” (7:00 PM, Gasworks NYC)
Write a Letter to the Mayor in Support of the Brooklyn Library: “After painful mid-year budget cuts, Brooklyn Public Library faces even more cuts in the upcoming fiscal year. Will you sign and send a letter urging city leaders to protect library funding?” (Brooklyn Library Letter Form)
Be a CHiPS Wednesday AM Volunteer: “We are currently seeking a volunteer who can cover our Wednesday morning receptionist shift from 8:15-10:45am on 6/19 and 6/26. Tasks mainly include answering phones and buzzing volunteers into the kitchen. If interested, please email volunteer@chipsonline.org.” (CHiPS Volunteer form)
News and Links
Hochul Signs ‘Sammy’s Law’ at MS 51: “Named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was fatally struck by a van in October 2012 [on Prospect Park West] while retrieving a ball in Brooklyn, the measure signed into law Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul gives city officials the ability to reduce the speed limit after advocates pushed for years, to no avail, to have it passed. ‘This will empower the city of New York to do what I think they should have had the power to do all along,’ Hochul said at the bill signing at Sammy’s old school, Middle School 51.” (The City)
Park Slope Development with 305 New Apartments Approved by City Council: “Park Slope will soon see the addition of two high-rise rentals, bringing more than 300 new apartments to the neighborhood. The City Council last month approved a rezoning application from Stellar Management to construct two new buildings at 341 10th Street, in addition to the existing apartment building on the site the developer already owns. The project includes new 17- and 19-story buildings that would wrap around the subway covering where the F and G trains go below ground, as The Real Deal reported.” (6sqft)
Eater’s Updated List of the Best Gowanus Eats: Korean! Pierogies! Ethiopian! Italian! Bourbon! (Eater NY)
Openings and Closings
🎧Soft Opening for Sterling Records @ Fabulous 5th Ave Fair: “We’ll be open for the 5th Ave Street Fair and hopefully fully open by the end of May. Really looking forward to seeing you all” (10:00 AM, Sterling Record Store)
The Prospect Park Zoo, Closed After Tropical Storm Ophelia, is Re-Opening Memorial Day Weekend! “Have you been porcu-pining for us while we were closed? The wait is finally over, and we're excited to announce that Prospect Park Zoo reopens in time for Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 25. We'll celebrate our reopening with a fun program of special activities, including animal enrichment chats, Turtle Time & Conservation stations, sea lion feedings with narration, and more!” (PPZ Tickets)
Open: 7th Street Burger on 5th Ave and 2nd Street (not 7th): We missed this last month but the reviews are solid. (7th Street Burger IG)
Reported Closed: High Societie Dispensary on 7th Ave in South Slope. If anyone has details, pls email or drop in the comments!
Events
Events with a 🔥 emoji are going fast.
Thursday, 5/16
🍺Factory Tour Of Wild East Brewing: “Looking for a behind-the-scenes tour of our production space? Then we’ve got good news: We teamed up with @madeinnewyorkcity & @sbidc__ to offer a three part Gowanus factory tour tomorrow from 3-6pm. The tour starts with @powerhouse_arts and @workspace11, then concludes at our brewery starting at 5pm." (3:00 PM, Wild East Brewing)
🌈’Angelic Troublemakers, Tactical Deviants’ Gallery Opening Reception: “This new series of mixed media works was inspired by LGBTQIA+ figures from history who were crucial in acquiring freedom, property, and power within and for their communities. Incorporating hybrid imagery drawn from historical etchings, political cartoons, children's coloring books and pop culture, these “unportraits” serve as conduits for imagined histories, reflecting how the body interprets and transforms historical memory." (6:00 PM, Old Stone House)
💀Death Cafe @ Green-Wood: “The Death Cafe is a simple concept. Bring strangers together to discuss one of the great universal truths: death. With thousands of chapters in over 25 countries around the world, Death Cafes are informal gatherings that aim to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” (6:00 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
🧑🎨️The Other Art Fair Brooklyn Opening Night: “Get first dibs on thousands of affordable, original works by 120+ artists. The night will be filled with the unique sounds from DJ Sunny Cheeba.”(6:00 PM, Zero Space in Gowanus)
📕Lisa Ko & Lisa Hsiao Chen In Conversation: “In her new novel, Memory Piece, Lisa Ko, the award-winning author of The Leavers, offers a visionary novel of friendship, art, and ambition that asks: What is the value of a meaningful life? Ko will be in conversation with friend and fellow novelist, Lisa Hsiao Chen, author of Activities of Daily Living." (7:00 PM, Central Library)
🔥🤣Legally Blonde Entirely From Memory: “Performers will attempt (and most likely fail) to recreate "Legally Blonde'', without the aid of scripts, rehearsals, or sobriety. All they will have will be their memory, a recent viewing of the film, and a lot of wigs.”(8:00 PM, Littlefield, $12)
🤣Landline Comedy At Wild East Brewing: “Past guests have appeared on the Tonight Show, Comedy Central, Netflix, Hulu, the Late Show, Conan, and comedy festivals around the country. There is usually a food pop up the night of the show as well. On May 16th Andre Medrano hosts an exciting line up including:”(8:00 PM, Wild East Brewing)
🍿'Carrie' with Pre-Show Drag Performance: “Pre-Show Performance by Miss Malice & special guests God Complex, Fem Appeal and Nyx Nocturne. Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, this “absolutely spellbinding horror movie” (Roger Ebert) has become a pervasive, pop-culture touchstone for anyone who’s ever wanted to get even.”(8:30 PM, Nitehawk)
🪦🎺Phantom Waves: Gelsey Bell And Erin Rogers: “Phantom Waves is an innovative music series crafted for the distinctive acoustic spaces of Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel and Catacombs. Headlined by musicians making waves with experimental approaches to voice, instrumentation, and composition, the series offers immersive sonic journeys that blur the line between the living and the spectral.”(8:30 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery, $40)
Friday, 5/17
📷Street Photography Class @ Central Library: “Dive into the dynamic world of street photography in this engaging class designed for photographers of all skill levels, whether you’re shooting with a DSLR or a smartphone. Taught by a seasoned street photographer, this class offers a blend of historical insight and practical skills.”(2:30 PM, Central Library)
🤠Hopalong Andrew @ Park Slope Library: “An American Western and Folk music singer and humorist who revisions classic cowboy and folk songs to playfully reflect city life for urban cowpokes.”(4:00 PM, Park Slope Library)
🎨Teen Night @ Brooklyn Museum: Power And Presence. “Don’t miss our popular teen-led program centered on art and activism. The May edition features art-making, performances, and much more inspired by Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.”(5:00 PM, Brooklyn Museum)
🎭Ironweed: An Evening Of Art & Humanity (SOLD OUT) “Four-time Academy Award nominee Mark Ruffalo and two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht star in an innovative mix of live performance and recorded sound directed by Jodie Markell and produced by Brad Gilbert, based on a new play adapted from William Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.”(7:30 PM, BAM, $35)
🔥🤣Nataly Aukar: “Aukar is a Lebanese born and raised writer and performer based in NYC. As a stand-up comic, Nataly has toured the world, opening for comedians such as Ramy Youssef (Ramy), Mo Amer (Mo, Black Adam), and Gad El Maleh (Huge in France) and was featured on Don’t Tell Comedy, and in the Netflix is a Joke Festival.”(7:30 PM, The Bell House, $30)
🔥🍿This is What We Mean by Short Films: Opening Night 2024: “Kick off the summer right with one of Rooftop’s biggest and best short film programs of the season! Tunnel through life with us, under the stars at Green-Wood Cemetery, and bathe in absurdist worlds made up of pennies, car washes, and personality tests. Watch as siblings’ bonds get tested and artists confront their self doubts in imagined gardens.” (7:45 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery, $20)
Saturday, 5/18
🚲Brooklyn Bike Jumble: “Fulfill all your cycling needs for the summer! Get yourself a new or used bike, new and used accessories, clothing, collectibles, artwork, overstocks, and bargains galore." (10:00 AM, Old Stone House)
🪲🐛🪦Bugging Out! @ Green-Wood: “Join us for an eye-opening afternoon of insect watching! In the same spirit as bird watching, we’ll observe those tiny invertebrates that your favorite birds eat and that pollinate the flowers around us.”(10:00 AM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
📷The L.E.N.S. Method: A Five-Week Creative Photography Workshop For Adults: “Use your smartphone camera to explore the five pillars of emotional resilience: mindfulness, self-awareness, self-care, positive relationships, and purpose. Over the course of five weeks, participants will take photos using Carey Kirkella's L.E.N.S. (Light, Empathy, Now and Storytelling) Method, then share the photos in a group setting." (10:30 AM, Park Slope Library)
🐡🍿🔥'Ponyo' @ Nitehawk: “During a forbidden excursion to see the surface world, a goldfish princess encounters a human boy named Sosuke, who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to become human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more humanlike. Ponyo’s father brings her back to their ocean kingdom, but so strong is Ponyo’s wish to live on the surface that she breaks free, and in the process, spills a collection of magical elixirs that endanger Sosuke’s village.”(11:00 AM, Nitehawk)
🚒Touch A Truck @ PS 295: “Brooklyn’s favorite family street fair returns to PS295! Explore emergency trucks, service vehicles, construction equipment, vintage vehicles, and more! Plus, enjoy bouncy houses, music, food trucks, and activities.”(11:00 AM, PS 295)
🧑🎨️Open Studios @ Industry City: “Open Studios coincides with Industry City Design Festival on May 18 + 19, and is a celebration of the hundreds of artists, makers, and artisans #UpstairsAtIC. Members of the public are invited to visit, explore, and meet the diverse array of small business owners making and creating at IC. This is a rare peek inside the studios that are usually closed to the public.” (12:00 PM, Industry City)
💃Dance Africa: Community Day @ BAM: “DanceAfrica 2024 gets started with our annual Restoration DanceAfrica Community Day Kickoff. This year’s program celebrates The Billie Holiday Theatre's Youth Arts Academy's 27th year participating in DanceAfrica. The event includes performances by special guest artists, current Youth Arts Academy students and Pre-Professional Training Program members, and more!”(1:00 PM, BAM)
🧑💻️IC Design Festival Talks | Let's Talk About Art: Gallery Culture Hosted By Tanya Weddemire Gallery: “In a dynamic and thought-provoking panel discussion, led by the vibrant moderator Tatianna Mack, three distinguished voices converge to delve deep into the transformative power wielded by Black women within the realm of art.” (2:00 PM, Industry City)
📗Read With A Therapy Dog @ Central Library: “Our certified therapy dog Flash Gordon loves to be read to. Kids can make enormous strides in building self-esteem and confidence while acquiring a love of books by reading to a therapy dog. ”(2:00 PM”Central Library)
🍦Ample Hills Bike Churn Party: “Take a turn on the ice cream churning bike, try our arts & crafts projects, and compete for prizes in ice cream trivia. One lucky attendee will even win a free 2-hour party for up to 20 guests. And, of course, everyone will get plenty of ice cream samples. Space is limited, and you must “purchase” a free ticket here to be eligible to win a free party.” (2:00 PM, Industry City)
Saturday Night
🔥🤣A Drinking Game NYC: ‘Shrek’ “Each movie comes with a list of buzzwords and phrases–when you hear one, a bell rings and everybody drinks! The actors are in on the fun, too. Plus, when someone says a name, the actor playing that character has to drink. So as the evening progresses, the show's bound to get a little wacky."”(7:00 PM, The Bell House, $25.15)
🏺Common Ground Public Ceramics Hoedown And Throwdown @ Gasworks: See Get Involved above. (7:00 PM, Gasworks NYC)
Sunday, 5/19
Note: Libraries are closed Sunday due to city budget cuts.
🏷Fabulous 5th Avenue Fair: “Between Sterling and 12th Street. Music! Local food and drinks! Art! Great local shopping! Rides! Vintage cars! Other stuff worthy of exclamation points!” (10:00 AM, Sterling to 12th Streets on #theother5th)
🎧Fabulous 5th Avenue Fair: Sterling Record Opening: See Opening and Closings above. (10:00 AM, Sterling Record Store)
🪲🐛🪦Bugging Out! Walk For Kids @ Green-Wood: “Join expert guide Matthew Wills for a family-friendly afternoon of insect watching! In the same spirit as bird watching, we’ll observe those tiny invertebrates that your favorite birds eat and that pollinate the flowers around us.This event is recommended for children, ages 4-12. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult, and adult ticket holders MUST be accompanied by a child. Adults and children (ages 4 and older) are required to purchase tickets.”(10:00 AM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
🧶Brooklyn Pop-Up Market @ Brooklyn Museum: “Stop by our market to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade items from local artisans. This weekly event features more than 20 vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more.”(10:30 AM, Brooklyn Museum)
🌞Right Of Spring 2024: Migration Song: “Come see a costumed performance with handmade masks, larger-than-life puppets, live music and a parade of flowers. The main story is “Migration Song.” A tale of traveling animals stopped at a bureaucratic border. The puppet pageant is for all ages and features live, get-a-move-on music.” (11:00 AM, Old Stone House)
🧑💻️IC Design Festival Talks | Gurls Talk X Groundswell: Celebration Of Mental Health Awareness And Art: “The focus of the event is promoting community and belonging to support mental health. Our event will feature a dynamic panel conversation followed by a collaborative mural painting activity. Panelists include: Naomi Cohen-Thompson, and more.”(1:00 PM, Industry City)
🎻Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra @ Brooklyn Museum: “The Museum’s orchestra in residence. This month’s performance features Charles Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio with Guilherme Andreas (flute), Hyungjin Choi (piano), Cherina Mastrantones (bass), and Ivan Rodriguez (drums).” (2:00 PM, Brooklyn Museum)
🎨Weekend Art @ Brooklyn Museum: Sunday Art Hang: “Bring the family to explore our galleries and exhibitions, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary artworks. At this free drop-in program, formerly known as Sunday Art, you’ll look closely at an object and create art inspired by the work.”(2:00 PM, Brooklyn Museum)
🎷Concerts On The Slope: Woodwind Trip: “This month, Nanci Belmont brings another splendid woodwind program, this time featuring trios for clarinet, oboe, and bassoon! Come get a taste of something a little different this month, with works by Ibert, Zaheri, Françaix, and Beethoven!”(3:00 PM, St. John's Episcopal Church, $25)
❤️Naming The Lost Memorials Activation Ceremony: “NAMING THE LOST Memorials (NTLM) is a small team of artists, activists, and folklorists that has been curating memorial sites in New York City to name and remember victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask the public to join us for the dedication and activation of the memorial in front of Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel. The ceremony will bring together the NTLM team and community partners for an evening that will include a procession, second line, traditional singers, and a participatory ritual of remembrance." (4:00 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
Monday, 5/20
🎤️Cheryl Pepsii Riley's Black Velvet Mondays Experience: “Chart-topping R&B vocalist Cheryl Pepsii Riley created a sensation with Black Velvet Mondays, the warm, welcoming weeknight concerts and jam sessions she initially launched in Greenwich Village. Now, she’s bringing it all back home to Brooklyn, the borough where she was born and raised, with a new series serving up free live music.”(8:00 PM, BAM)
🔥🤣Aaron & Josh Do Improv (SOLD OUT): “Jackson (Sandino) and Sharp (Women & Men) shamefully return to their improv roots for a 45 minute set featuring Jinkx Monsoon.”(9:00 PM, The Bell House, $14.63)
Tuesday, 5/21
🎶Stomp, Clap & Sing With Rolie Polie Guacamole: “Brooklyn’s kindie titans Rolie Polie Guacamole, have been perfecting their show over the last decade scooping up several Parents’ Choice awards along the way. Their shows incorporate fun, fresh and smart lyrics in a style appealing to kids and adults alike." (10:30 AM, Central Library)
🧑💻️Media Addiction And Our Children, A Conversation With Julie Scelfo: “Julie is a former New York Times staff writer, media ecologist, and Brooklyn mother of three. Concerned about the effects social media and other addictive technologies are having on our children, she recently founded MAMA and was quickly joined by hundreds of parents across the country." (6:30 PM, PS 321)
📕Colm Tóibín Discusses 'Long Island.' “Join BPL Presents and the beloved, critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Colm Tóibín as he returns to Brooklyn Public Library to discuss his spectacularly moving and intense novel of secrecy, misunderstanding, and love, the story of Eilis Lacey, the complex and enigmatic heroine of Brooklyn, his most popular work twenty years later.”(7:00 PM, Central Library)
🔥🤣Fumi Abe Live! “Abe headlines Bell House for the FIRST TIME! What a time to be alive!Fumi Abe is a Japanese-American stand-up comedian/writer based in Los Angeles who was recently named Vulture’s Comedians You Should and Will Know in 2023 and was part of the 2023 Just For Laughs New Faces.”(7:30 PM, The Bell House, $25)
Wednesday, 5/22
🪴Teen Time: Gardening @ Park Slope Library: “Join us to grow herbs and wildflowers! We will have 3 sessions beginning in May and through the summer." (4:00 PM, Park Slope Library)
📷Lens & Pen: An Adventure In Photo Journaling: “With our guidance, you'll find the perfect words to describe what you see and feel. We’ll provide classic photos for exercises, but feel free to bring your own favorite photos to write about or compare. Great for anyone interested in photography or writing, this workshop offers hands-on practice and expert tips to help you craft a personal photo journal." (6:00 PM, Central Library)
⚔️🍿🔥'Kill Bill' Double Feature @ Nitehawk: “Welcome to the Kill Bill Double Feature! To be specific, this is not “The Whole Bloody Affair” edit, rather we will be screening both Vols. 1 & 2 of Kill Bill back to back! Your ticket grants you admission to both films, including a twenty minute intermission in between and other surprises in store” (7:15 PM, Nitehawk)
🚣Full Moon Gowanus Voyage : “Join our Crew on a full-moon guided adventure!! More romantic than a candlelit dinner, the magic of canoeing the Gowanus Canal under a full moon will leave you in awe. Meet at the the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, at the end of 19th St / off 3rd Ave, 11232 – NOT our 2nd St. boathouse.”(7:30 PM, Gowanus Dredgers)
Thursday, 5/23
🔥🤣Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk To Drink: “Scotland’s queen of comedy Fern Brady (Taskmaster, Live At The Apollo, Roast Battle, Russell Howard, The Last Leg) is back in New York with a brand new show.”(10:00 PM, The Bell House, $40)
Did we miss an event? Are you doing a stoop sale? Put in the comments!