He's cute! Whiskey Rebel Alex Battles.
If you’re still in town, one of our favorite free local traditions is Target First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum (we like it so much we don’t mind name-checking the corporate sponsor). Since this month’s party happens on July 4, the Museum is offering limited public access to their roof—one of the highest views (of what, we’ll see) in the borough. The line up is called America Remix, with an emphasis on the remix.Live bands include the jump blues/rock and roll of Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion, Guinean music from the Mandingo Ambassadors, and The Shondes, our favorite new klezmer-inflected retro-punk rock band. (In Yiddish, a shonde translates roughly as a disgrace). Event is from 5 p.m. to 11, but get there early, especially this Saturday. Full details are here.
For some other Brokelyn-approved festivities on, and around, the 4th:
If you’re missing out on your sight lines for the formerly Brooklyn-visible Macy’s fireworks show, head to Coney Island on July 3rd for the borough’s own mid-air display. A special edition of Coney Island’s weekly Friday night fireworks will commence tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. (Coney Island boardwalk).Then come back (or stay around) for the much-touted, nationally-broadcast, Nathan’s Famous Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Stillwell Ave. & Surf Ave.). And if you haven’t quite had your fill of Coney Island for the weekend, you can take a seat at the AVP (Association of Volleybal Professionals) Crocs Tour that hits the beach tonight, bringing elite-level beach volleyball to our little patch of sand. Tickets are on the high end of the Brokelyn scale ($10 general admission, $25 courtside and $5 for kids), but isn’t it worth it to do something so… sunny for a couple of hours?
And for some festivities away from the shore, there are these two worthy events:
The International African Arts Festival kicks off tonight in Commodore Barry Park. Established in 1971, the festival features four days of dance, music, clothing and an African Marketplace filled with traditional arts and crafts. Commodore Barry Park, Park Avenue and Navy Street, on the border of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene), July 2-5, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
In Gowanus, Littlefield’s 1st Annual Super Festive 4th of July Gowanus Scavenger Hunt and BBQ is still registering teams and individuals for this Saturday’s event. Sign up now at hey@littlefieldnyc.com. The hunt starts at 2 p.m. and the party is said to go all night. A scavenger hunt with prizes, BBQ, a DJ, and free booze: Enough said.
