The air is going to be poison tonight! No, this isn’t the usual doomsaying I throw at you on your average Wednesday, I really mean it: the city is dumping poison from the sky so they can kill mosquitoes who’d otherwise spread the dreaded West Nile virus. Despite that, you should still run from your home or job to one of these fantastic goings on tonight, as found on the Brokelyn Event Calendar. Then, once safely ensconced at a bar or venue, buy enough drinks until you feel brave enough to face the outside world again.
STAND UP AND SING
Usually you go see a stand up comic and you expect to laugh with them, because come on, who goes to a comedy show they think will be bad just to laugh at people in a mean fashion? Tonight you might be laughing AT the comics though, because even though this show has some good ones like Aparna Nancherla and Michelle Buteau, they’ll be doing karaoke in addition to comedy. Watching people who were never meant to sing have to song is always funny.
8:30pm, Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Park Slope, $10
NYRP AND BAM PRESENTS: TAKE BALLET TO THE STREETS
Sometimes, between all the comedy and the concerts and the free movies, you might find yourself yearning for a little high-falootin’ culture. The big block for that is usually it costs a bit more to enjoy, but for one night only, you can enjoy ballet for free when BAM and the New York Restoration Project bring the Brooklyn Ballet Company to perform as part of a ballet/hip-hop dance evening in a garden. Free outdoor dance performance? Summer still lives!
5pm, Garden of Hope, 392 Hancock Street, Bed-Suy, FREE
BEER GEEK TRIVIA FEATURING THIRD RAIL BEER
If you consider yourself Brooklyn’s top beer geek, there’s only one way to definitively prove it. No, not by winning a chugging competition at the old abandoned quarry. Instead, get yourself to Beer Geek Trivia, where you’ll be challenged to answer questions about NYC beer history, in pursuit of glory and swag from local beer mavens Third Rail Brewery, who’ll also have some specially priced brews on hand.
8pm, Glorietta Baldy, 502 Franklin Avenue, Bed-Stuy FREE
DEVOUR HOUR – LATE REGISTRATION EDITION
The fastest way into any brokester’s heart is hosting a free event that also has free food. Once you clear those two hurdles, the entertainment options being offered up don’t even have to be that good. That’s why Devour Hour is one of our favorite comedy nights, because in addition to hosting great comics like Julio Torres and Blair Socci, they’ve also got free food for you. Tonight, it’s a veritable feast of back to school fare like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so get in the mood by listening to “Lunchlady Land” and make sure to eat a light lunch.
8pm, Hank’s Saloon, 46 3rd Avenue, Boerum Hill, FREE
LIT: A MUSIC AND READING SERIES
Beyond being our next president, Kanye West is a generation-defining musician who’s redefined hip-hop and in the process has earned himself legions of fans. Some of those fans happen to be able to write really well, so check out freelancer and Dad Magazine contributor Jaya Saxena, New York Magazine and McSweeney’s writer Vinson Cunningham and more reading their poetry, fiction and non-fiction about Mr. West.
8pm, Friends and Lovers, 641 Classon Avenye, Crown Heights, FREE