1. See something claymazing at the Brooklyn Clay Tour, an artist run borough-wide weekend-long celebration of ceramics and clay related events, exhibits, demonstrations, artist talks, workshops, with over 275 artists. (Fri-Sun, various venues, FREE)
2. Fend off attackers at the Self-Defense Class for Women & Queer Folks and learn effective self-defense techniques and how to avoid and respond to violent situations, from stranger violence to domestic violence. (Friday, Traditional Okinawan Karate, FREE)
3. Watch out for wet paint at The Wall Project, a creative collision of beer, art, and music, with eight live mural painters, live music, street food and a lot of beers to choose from. (Friday, The Well, FREE)
4. Prepare for a battle of the exes at Scott Pilgrim Vs. Burlesque and save up your health points for a no holds barred burlesque tribute about the ultimate Canadian soft boy. (Friday, Bizarre Bar, $10 suggested)
5. Be a part of the rhythm nation at Miss Jackson If You’re Nasty, a one night party celebrating Janet Jackson at the top of her game, spinning all your favorite classic hits and more. (Friday, C’mon Everybody, $5-8)
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6. Dance in the streets during the Gowanus Block Party, part of The Bell House’s 10th Anniversary, which is bringing together local artists and businesses for a day of food, drinks, games, and unique Gowanus experiences. (Saturday, 7th Street, FREE)
7. Wear art on your sleeve at Art of the Tee, a two-day t-shirt art show and market with a variety of handmade t-shirts and other wearable items on display and for sale from various print shops and artists. (Sat-Sun, Bushwick Print Lab, FREE)
8. Support student scholarships at SoulFest, an outdoor and cultural extravaganza flooding the surrounding streets with alluring smells and sounds, arts and crafts and outdoor games. (Saturday, Medgar Evers College, FREE)
9. Pack your sleeping bag for Summer Camp for Creatives, a one-day event geared toward adult artists, creatives, and the general public to mingle, network, create, and celebrate the magic of summer arts in the city. (Saturday, Paradice Palase, FREE w/RSVP, $5 without)
10. Celebrate The First Decade of the Invisible Dog, a series of over 100 hand carved sculptures made of wood and wool, plus a glass house full of mirrors. (Saturday, Invisible Dog Art Center, FREE)
11. See purr-etty art at Cult of Meow, an annual cat appreciation show celebrating feline majesty with the very finest cat themed artwork from over 25 artists. (Saturday, Gristle Tattoo & Art Gallery, FREE)
12. Make sure you cl-app at the Laugh Exchange Live, a new mobile comedy app for comedy fans and performers, with with Ophira Eisenberg, Shalewa Sharpe, Usama Siddiquee and many more to help introduce it. (Saturday, Littlefield, FREE)
13. Pack your lunch for Too Cool For School where all punks, bikers, goths, stoners, juvenile delinquents and slackers of every ilk can come together and party with MC Tanya Solomon as Lunch Lady. (Saturday, Rubulad, $10-20)
14. Get with the fab five at Queer Eye RL, where five queer comedians take one (un)lucky audience member through an on-stage makeover, giving them tips on food & wine, style, grooming, culture, and design that may or may not be helpful or true. (Saturday, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, $20)
15. Drag it out at Bushwig, a queer festival with over 150 performers from around the world, DJs, live music and dancing, local food and vendors area, and ice cold drinks from over six bars. (Sat-Sun, Knockdown Center, $40+)
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16. Put on your Sunday best for the Essence Street Style Festival, a space where the fashion elite, style influencers, and everyday fashionistas can come to celebrate the unique influence black women have on all facets of fashion, style, and beauty during NYFW. (Sunday, Duggal Greenhouse, $20)
17. They say clothes make a woman at Ladies Only Clothing Swap, where you can offload your old, unwanted, never-worn, or always-worn-and-tired-of duds, and then leave with a whole bunch of one-gal’s-trash-is-another-gal’s-fabulous-fashion. (Sunday, Cloud City, FREE)
18. There’s more to cemeteries than death at Alive at Greenwood Cemetery, a walking tour to explore parts of the cemetery’s 478 acres as a public garden and an accredited arboretum, and learn about the natural beauty and wildlife within. (Sunday, Greenwood Cemetery, $15-20)
19. See some different stories told at Queer & Trans Asian Short Films, a tender night of queer and trans Asian short films with two different screening times to accommodate everyone, plus a small pop-up shop and Taiwanese comfort food. (Sunday, Secret Project Robot, FREE)
20. Give an “amen” with Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir, a group of activists-who-sing comprised of 35 radicals and musicians who try to find the borders of culture and “contested space” where the state, or banks, or immigration police, have over-reached. (Sunday, Starr Bar, FREE)
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