1.Mix swing and square dancing at Contra Dancing, where you’ll dance with a partner to the sounds of Cake Jam. Twirl around to traditional tunes on twin fiddles and rhythmic piano. (Friday, Camp Friendship, $15)
2. Bust out a huge laugh at Mid Riff Comedy Show, with funny jokes told by Rosebud Baker, Lucas Connolly, Connor Creegan and others. Plus wear a crop top to win a free drink. (Friday, Precious Metal, FREE)
3. Celebrate art at the Greenpoint Open Studios Launch Party. Kick off the weekend’s open studios with tons of art, music, wall projections, food and booze, with performances by Jules & The Jinks, Calvin Play, and DJ sets from Hongo1_. (Friday, Java Studios, FREE)
4. Hear some Ethio-Jazz from Anbessa Orchestra, a 7 piece band that draws inspiration from the diverse musical culture of Ethiopia by combining unique sounds with the more western sounds of funk, jazz, R&B, and rock. (Friday, Barbes, $10)
5. Transport yourself with international beats at Jook Jam for its six-month anniversary, which provides dancers with an eclectic conglomeration of music by celebrating international sounds and cultures, with special guest DJs Magreen (Brazil) and Shift (Miami). (Friday, The Emerson, FREE)
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6. Discover veteran and emerging artists at Greenpoint Open Studios, where hundreds of artists and designers open up their studios to the public to showcase work in a wide range of mediums, from paintings, sculptures, film, photography, weaving/textiles, ceramics, and more. (Sat-Sun, Greenpoint, FREE)
7. It’s easy being green at Go Green! Brooklyn Festival. Learn about local sustainability initiatives while sampling local food, eco-art, and music, plus fitness workshops, Greencycle Swap, volunteer park clean ups, and more. (Saturday, McCarren Park, FREE)
8. Support local sellers at Colored Girls Hustle Marketplace, a curated shopping experience featuring women of color artists and makers selling jewelry, clothing, accessories, head wraps, skin care products, hair care products, herb infused beverages, and more. (Saturday, New Women Space, FREE)
9. You’ll rule at the 7th Annual Bushwick Collective Block Party, which will have you dancing in the streets to headliner Ja Rule while watching live street art, peeping into studios, eating from food trucks, and enjoying the neighborhood. (Saturday, The Bushwick Collective, FREE)
10. Immerse yourself in the worlds of LGBTQ+ poets, artists, activists, and performers at First Saturday: Queer Words, Queer Worlds, with the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, queer zines, drink and draw, the Trans Oral History Project, and much more. (Saturday, Brooklyn Museum, FREE)
11. Choose your own adventure at Give Rise: JunXion 4 Year Anniversary, with various parties to choose from including a dance party during the day at the new bus stop, House of Words with theater and magic and a rooftop bar, and ending in a nautical celebration on an actual boat. (Saturday, various locations, $20+)
12. Grab your picnic blanket for Stargazing: A Grassy Knoll, A Starry Sky, Balloons, and You and I, with multiple telescopes for planets and stargazing; an LED-lit balloon chain installation, and world renowned scientists and chefs discussing the vagaries of cooking, eating, and staying alive in outer space. (Saturday, Brooklyn Bridge Park, FREE)
13. Make a splash (or plop) at Uh-Oh: Stories From People Who Pooped Their Pants, where comedians bare their souls (and their butts) about the time they didn’t make it, featuring Reformed Whores, Omar Capra, Jordan Jensen, and more. (Saturday, Pine Box Rock Shop, FREE)
14. Plant yourself at The Secret Life of Plants, with live music by Sxip Shirey, Simone White, Funkrust Brass Band, MC by Tanya Solomon, with plant-based nutrients being served. (Saturday, Rubulad, $10-15)
15. Wear the item in your closet with the most ruffles to Twist & Shout: Prom, an evening of burlesque by performers Beezlebabe, Holly Ween, Hoodoo Hussy, and more, with prom attire encouraged for the photo booth. (Saturday, Bluebird Brooklyn, $10)
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16. Work it out at Performance as Healing Workshop. Explore ideas of self, family, home, and community through guided meditation, a series of games, theater exercises, and art therapy practices to help gain a greater awareness of your body, mind, and relationship with others. (Sunday, The Old Stone House, FREE)
17. The salsa is picante at Bushwick Salsa, celebrating Latin music and culture while you eat, drink, mingle, and dance all evening long to live performances by the legendary Tito Puente Jr., Soundboy Cartagena, New York Salsa Band, DJ Woody, and more. (Sunday, Brooklyn Mirage, FREE)
18. See artists embracing artists at Artist Curated Cinema, which highlights emerging artist Georgi Georgiev and a screening of the fantasy/crime film Delicatessen (by Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet). (Sunday, Paradice Palase, $5)
19. Enjoy buddy cops at Police Pals Live, an absurdist police procedural starring comedians Eliza Hurwitz and Joe Rumrill as two childlike do-gooders who also happen to be the only two cops in all of NYC. (Sunday, Union Hall, $5-8)
20. Bare your soul at NYNT Sunday Soul Scream and dance on the roof to vinyl soul tracks, see bands Straw Pipes and Escape-Ism, and DJ Ian F Svenonius while sipping on frozen cocktails. (Sunday, Our Wicked Lady, $10 suggested)
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