1. Bring your multi-pass to Mirage Cinema: The Fifth Element, transforming the massive courtyard into an outdoor theater with 360 degree visuals and a huge screen, plus an ice cream social dance party after the movie. (Friday, Brooklyn Mirage, $14+)
2. Settle in to some poetry at the Featured Poet & Open Mic for the start of season 4 of the reading series, with 15 slots where readers can showcase one of their poems for up to three minutes, with Tai Allen as this month’s featured poet. (Friday, Halyards, FREE)
3. Have your voice heard at Afropunk Battle of the Bands Final where 4 bands compete to win a coveted slot on this year’s Afropunk festival. Vote for your favorite between Ari Chi, Aria Nadège, Jules & The Jinks, and Starve Marve: King Negus.(Friday, Knitting Factory, $5-7)
4. Plunge into the intersection of money, sex, and power at Blood Money, an intimately interactive art show by sex workers that will feature artworks mounted on male submissives, and interactive experiences only to be explored in person, and once you enter, you’ll find yourself implicated in unexpected ways. (Fri-Sat, Lucas Lucas, $10)
5. Get Into the Groove at Cruel Summer: 80s + 90s Dance Party, an All Night Long dance party set to the soundtracks of the 80s and 90s, with 80s anthems performed by a 10-piece cover band, music video sing-alongs by SecretFormula, and more. (Friday, The Bell House, $5 in advance with promo code “Bananarama”, otherwise $10)
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6. Get ready to shred at the 2nd annual Fear The Riff Expo, an exhibition packed full of boutique guitar accessories where you’ll find the latest and greatest in stompboxes, amps, and plenty of guitars and basses. (Saturday, Brooklyn Expo Center, $10+)
7. Uke it out at the New York Ukulele Festival, an intimate event where you can come early and learn a basic song on the ukulele, followed by artists performing, and closing with an open mic where anyone can showcase their skills. (Saturday, Rubulad, $10)
8. Stay hydrated at Lemonade: An R&B and Trap Day Party, a poppin’ day party with what it sounds like when Beyonce meets Gucci Mane, as DJs spin the best of Ms. 3rd Ward, Mr. Zone 6 and all of your favorite trap and R&B bops in between. (Saturday, Our Wicked Lady, $5)
9. Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge at the NYPD Vs. New Yorkers Dodgeball Tournament, and register to play against North Brooklyn PD in the evening, or just hang out during the day for live music and food vendors with proceeds going to a good cause. (Saturday, McCarren Park, FREE-$25)
10. Rock out at The Breeders / Speedy Ortiz as part of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, The Breeders are anchored by the deadpan vocals and vicious guitars of Kim and Kelley Deal, plus alternative rockers Speedy Ortiz. (Saturday, Prospect Park, FREE)
11. An outfit isn’t complete without a hat at Headpiece Heaven where you can make your own headpiece if you don’t have your own, plus live music from Common Ancestors, Batala New York, new art by Darrel Thorne, tarot readings, and more. (Saturday, Rubulad, $10-15)
12. Come on feel the noise at Summa Slam and see legendary electronic/noise and No Wave pioneer Ikue Mori, Peter Evans’ new ensemble “Being & Becoming,” and other vocalists and noise artists. (Saturday, Areté Venue and Gallery, $15)
13. See something new at Switch ‘N Play: Moxie, a night of drag, burlesque and queer performance creating space for performers to workshop acts, debut new performance personas, and explore gender performance in a supportive environment. (Saturday, Branded Saloon, $7-20)
14. Sail out to sea (figuratively) at Voyage 3: Dream Ship, a night of bands, dancing, DJs, interactive workshops and performances, elixirs, and much more on a (docked) hidden ship. (Saturday, secret location, $25-30)
15. Go to an era of two twin beds for couples at It’s A Wonderful Everything, where Kelly Cooper and Thomas Fricilone present an hour of brand-new sketches, songs, and dance for a night of 1950’s-style sketch comedy. (Saturday, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, $5)
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16. Taste the rainbow at the Beer Tasting Workshop and join New York’s first female certified cicerone with an afternoon of bagel bites, beer flights, and tasting insight. Try out five different beer styles with a focus on local breweries. (Sunday, St. Gambrinus Beer Shoppe, $20)
17. We all scream for kimchi at Kimchipalooza VIII where you can participate in making your own kimchi, enter a spicy kimchi eating contest, and of course sample various kimchis with drink specials and while bands play. (Sunday, Arrogant Swine, FREE)
18. Zone out at Elixir & Color which combines the healing power of plant medicine in the form of plant medicine brews along with the power of creativity in coloring in pages from the Real Art Therapists of NY coloring book. (Sunday, Ambrosia Elixirs, $15)
19. Be drawn into sensual observance at Déviante Drawing Salon: Shibari Boudoir where a model will be aesthetically arranged as she is suspended by ropes and knots in different poses, plus a live performance by Miriam Elhajli. (Sunday, The Chanda Lair, $20)
20. He won’t be there, but still see the The Macaulay Culkin Show: 5th Annual Summer Comedy Fest, a marathon show with 20+ of the best NYC comedy performers presenting their funniest or most insane 5-minute sets in one of the show’s most stacked lineups yet. (Sunday, H0L0, $5)
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