Winter Jazz, MLK, Dry Jan: How to do Capricorn season right in Brooklyn

By Paula Henderson

Capricorn is most commonly symbolized in modern Western astrology by the mountain goat ambitiously eyeing the prize at the uppermost reaches of the summit, and nimbly picking out the most prodigious path to the top.

And while ‘tis the season of the goat, in some ways, is also the season of The G.O.A.T.: Capricorn covers topics such as status, accomplishment and respectability, so it’s a great time to honor the classics and all hail the champs and heavyweights (such as Capricorns Muhammad Ali, Dolly Parton, Isaac Asimov and David Bowie).

The sign of Capricorn is associated with containment, and the sun’s transit of this portion of the Zodiac literally contains the beginning and the end of each Gregorian year. It’s therefore fitting that in the days following the winter solstice we tend to look back on the past 12 months and project into those to come, committing to a slew of New Year’s resolutions.

Most of us set intentions with distinctly Capricorn themes this time of year: work harder, eat less, make more money, become more successful, etc. Saturn is the planetary ruler of Capricorn and favors restraint, limitation, and discipline. And modern astrologers take the position that exercising these qualities leads to hard-won rewards and that delayed gratification is the best kind.

Take, for example, Dry January
Inevitably, side by side with the avalanche of intentions around better diet and more exercise, there is a widespread willingness to try giving up the things we love that aren’t good for us — for example drugs and alcohol. This is why it makes astrological sense that Dry January takes place in January.

Fortunately, there are now more options than ever to wet your whistle in Brooklyn without losing your head. for the BYOB crownd, Minus Moonshine at 433 Sterling Place in Prospect Heights offers a myriad of alcohol-free beers, wines, mixers, spirits and seltzers that don’t skimp on flavor. Boisson offers a bevy of beverages that won’t poison you at two locations locations, 177 Court Street in Cobble Hill and 148 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.

If, for you, half the fun of drinking is hanging out in bars but you want to stay on the wagon, try kicking up your heels over mocktails at Club Curious’s Sober Speakeasy on January 10 when they team up with Big Vision for their Dry January Kick Off party at 599 Lorimer Street in Williamsburg. Free with RSVP, 7 to 10 p.m.

Dive into to Winter Jazzfest
While Brooklyn neighborhoods are bursting with festivities through the end of the year, one might expect January to be on the quiet side. In fact, there is plenty going on and the Winter Jazzfest 2024 Calendar boasts more than 100 live music events across Brooklyn between January 4 and 18.

How does this tie into Capricorn season? Let me count the ways: Capricorn encompasses themes such as respectability, institutions, accomplishment, commitment, seriousness. While there is untold top notch entertainment on the menu at this festival in its 20th year, firmly establishing it as a classic, there is a seriousness to these nights out.

Winter Jazzfest 2024 kicks off Wednesday January 4 at Nighthawk Cinema, Williamsburg, with a screening of “The Sun Rises in The East: The Birth, Rise and Legacy of Brooklyn’s Black Nation” and consistently delivers through the closing night event at Brooklyn Steel on Thursday 18, headlined by brand new heavy, Mononeon and friends. In the meantime, the Brooklyn leg of WJF goes hard, showcasing composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey and DJ-broadcaster Gilles Peterson paying homage to Max Roach at Public Records on January 10.

As part of Winter Jazzfest, The Brooklyn Marathon will go the distance on Saturday January 13. Comprising 40 acts performing starting at around 6:30 p.m. and going until the very wee hours at eight venues across Brooklyn. Then, on the 14th, catch jazz G.O.A.T.s Gary Bartz, David Murray, Billy Hart and rising star Shabaka blowing the roof off the Crown Hill Theatre in Bed-Stuy at A Night At The East, an all-star event curated by Marcus J. Moore and Brice Rosenbloom.

Honor the greatest
There are many G.O.A.T.s, but I’m talking about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His birthday, January 15, will be celebrated at The 38th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The keynote speaker is Reginald Dwayne Betts and there will be musical performances by Sing Harlem and Madison McFerrin, a free screening of the movie “Rustin” — about Bayard Rustin, the architect of 1963’s March on Washington — and a schedule of kid friendly events programmed by BAMkids to pass on the teachings of Dr. King to our youngsters.

Eat a goat
For the carnivore who likes to take symbolism literally, Brooklyn may well be the nation’s goat cuisine hotspot. Countless Caribbean holes-in-walls and fine dining establishments offer their respective twists on goat curry, served wrapped in roti or on rice.

Some classics are Ali’s T&T Roti at 1257 Fulton (between Arlington and Nostrand) in Bed-Stuy, Negril BK at 256 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope and De Hot Pot Roti at 1127 Washington Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

For a Haitian version, visit Kombit at 279 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Heights to try the Goat Tassot served with fiery pikil sauce, which can be washed down with Port Au Princess wine.

Goat tacos are on the menu at Taqueria Cocoyoc in Bushwick (211 Wyckoff at Greene) and Xixa, at 241 South Fourth Street in Williamsburg, specializes in goat neck tacos. Tacos El Bronco, at 860 Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park, serves consomme de chivo (goat stew) by the cupful and Leuca’s goat fazoletti is a favorite pick — get yours at 111 North 12th Street in Williamsburg. Vegetarians can get in on the ritual by ordering a goat cheese and honey malawich at Batata Pita Bar at 3021 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Windsor Terrace.

Know more about astrology
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to learn more about yourself, your life and others through the lens of astrology, please consider joining me for a ChartChat. I offer discounted rates for in person consultations in Brooklyn. Sign up for my newsletter to get the skinny or book an online reading. And if you have a Zodiac themed Brooklyn themed question for me, drop it in my mailbag and I’ll answer it in Brooklyn Magazine’s Instagram stories. Meantime, please enjoy my Capricorn themed Zodiac Soundtrack: Are You Committed?

Correction: An earlier version of this article had misstated a couple of the dates and times on Winter JazzFest. Those have all been corrected.