Sigur Rós and Summer Nights on Myrtle Avenue: 16 things to do this weekend

By Joshua Encinias

Only two weeks until pumpkin spice lattes make their ceremonial return, a harbinger of impending fall. Get your fill of pure summer vibes this weekend while you still can.

Friday brings August’s edition of Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights with artisans and business owners on Myrtle Avenue Plaza for an evening of family-friendly fun. Sigur Rós also performs in Flatbush at Kings Theatre that night.

Black Girl Book Fest happens on Saturday and John Cale (of The Velvet Underground) plays BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park. Bring the weekend to a close on Sunday night at our own screening of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in McCarren Park.

Here are 16 things to do this weekend.

Friday, August 18

Brooklyn Beats 2: A Celebration of Brooklyn’s Street Sounds
3 to 7 p.m.
Brooklyn Beats returns for a second edition of the free, all-day music festival showcasing some of Central Brooklyn’s best street bands at Herbert Von King Park. This year’s lineup includes Brooklyn United (youth marching drum corp), Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra (Trinidadian pan steel), HONK Family Band (HONK NYC’s eclectic community band) and Mambembe (Afro-Brazilian samba reggae). 670 Lafayette Avenue. Free.

Launch of the ‘Little Caribbean Passport’
5 p.m. until late
On Friday night, I AM Caribbeing | Little Caribbean HQ will launch the “Little Caribbean Passport,” a curated guide to the best places to eat and shop in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean. With more than 100 business listings, the directory provides a list of Black-owned businesses that celebrate the culturally diverse neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Light refreshments will be served from award-winning Tastee Pattee, Allans Bakery and Mr. P’s. 1399 Nostrand Ave. Free

Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights
5 to 8 p.m.
Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights happen one Friday a month all summer long. Join local business owners and artisans along the avenue for activities for kids and adults. Myrtle Avenue Plaza is your hub for most events including crafts, games, caricature drawing, tarot card reading, wine tastings, raffles and DJs each playing songs from different decades. 536 Myrtle Avenue. Free.

Sigur Rós at Kings Theatre
8 p.m.
Vibe like it’s 2004. Iceland’s Sigur Rós plays at Kings Theatre on August 18 in a brand-new show with the 41-piece Wordless Music Orchestra. Drawing from their seven albums as well as new songs, the band promises the orchestra will take their music to new musical heights. 1027 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets start at $167.

Red Lantern District all-Asian drag show
10 p.m. until late
The Red Pavillion introduces an all-new, all-Asian Drag Night on Friday. Red Lantern District is hosted by Brooklyn’s baddest Asian drag queens, Kanika Peach, Felicia Oh and Kekoa in an evening created by and for queer people of color, where sex positivity is celebrated and everyone is welcome. 1241 Flushing Avenue. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Saturday, August 19

Farmhouse Family Day: Clay leaf printing
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Family and friends are invited to decorate and accessorize their own clay leaf prints at Wyckoff’s August Farmhouse Family Day. You’ll scavenge around the farm to find the perfect flowers and leaves to make your very own clay leaf print. Paints, beads and strings will be provided. Stick around to check out their historic farmhouse, visit the farm stand, drop off food scraps for compost, and enjoy colonial-era toys and games. 5816 Clarendon Road. Free.

Renegade Craft Summer Market
Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Greenpoint Terminal welcomes the Renegade Craft Summer Market to Brooklyn both days this weekend. Renegade Craft is a leader in showcasing the best of indie craft and design, having first brought their market to Brooklyn in 2005. This year, they’re stationed with a gorgeous waterfront view of the city from Greenpoint Terminal and the newest trendsetting goods for summer 2023.

Gold Dust Open Air Fair
Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Make it a one-two punch and cross the street from Renegade for Open Air Fair’s last weekend of the summer. Reducing, reusing, and recycling is more prevalent than ever (particularly thanks to the near-constant reminders of climate change), and in honor of that fact, this weekend’s Open Air Fair is celebrating pre-loved goodies, cars and more at 2 Noble St. Free.

Black Girl Book Fest
1 to 5 p.m.
Black Girl Book Fest is coming to the Weeksville Heritage Center on Saturday afternoon. The fest is a multi-city festival aimed to amplify Black women & Black non-binary folks in literature, and host locally owned businesses in vendor booths. Expect a DJ, food vendors and a wellness station sponsored by Obé Fitness and LIFE WTR with a guided yoga and meditation session. Stick around until the end of the day for a spoken word performance. 158 Buffalo Avenue.

Brooklyn Summer Beer, Wine & More Festival
Session 1 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and Session 2 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Summer Fest is your all-access pass to sample beer, wine and spirits from around the world. Enjoy one of two sessions at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s building 77 backlot with your favorite local brew or exotic wine. Guests are welcome to enjoy the festival’s live entertainment, food and interactive games as well. 141 Flushing Avenue. Tickets are $19.

Found Footage Festival Vol. 10
7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show
Take a guided visual tour through a hilarious trove of VHS finds at the Bell House. Some of the random stuff the Found Footage Festival will show includes Pizza Hut training videos from the ’90s, a striptease tape from 1985 called “Males In Motion” and a mysterious New Age video called “Elimination: The First Step.” 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $25.

John Cale at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show
The legendary Velvet Underground founding member is performing one of the non-benefit (read: pay-what-you-will … read: free) concerts at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park. The Welsh musician has had an endlessly fascinating career stretching the five and a half decades since he parted ways with V.U. A can’t-miss show, with folk singer Tomberlin opening. Ninth Street & Prospect Park West.

Sunday, August 20

Brooklyn Nets and Ticketmaster Plaza Party
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Brooklyn Nets and Ticketmaster are throwing a Plaza Party on Sunday to mark the team’s schedule release with Nets fans and the local community. Join Brooklyn Nets players Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead, and Jalen Wilson, alumni Albert King and Buck Williams, along with hosts MC Mel and DJ Funk Flex. There will also be musical performances by Lola Brooke, HDBEENDOPE and Boi Angel, along with the Nets’ Drumline & Hype Team. 620 Atlantic Ave. Free.

David Bowie’s music for kids
12 p.m. doors, 12:30 p.m. show
The Rock and Roll Playhouse will play the music of David Bowie on Sunday at Brooklyn Bowl. There are also games, dancing, stories and the opportunity for kids to explore their creativity. All ages. 61 Wythe Avenue. Kids under 1 get in for free, and tickets are $16 for everyone else.

Fool’s Gold 15th Anniversary with A-Trak, Mark Ronson and friends
3 p.m.
Brooklyn music label Fool’s Gold celebrates its 15th anniversary at Public Records’ Nursery on Sunday. For this end-of-summer edition, the party is hitting the newly minted outdoor Nursery with an unbelievable lineup: legendary New York selector Mark Ronson (his first time playing Public Records), label honcho A-Trak, Alabama’s prolific Byron The Aquarius (championed by Theo Parrish and Dekmantel), nightlife visionary Venus X and buzzing deejay Dwells. 233 Butler Street. Tickets are $43.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in McCarren Park
6 to 10 p.m.
Get ready for a special cinematic experience under the stars at McCarren Park. Join us for “Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn,” a four-week outdoor series launching this Sunday. A collaboration between Paramount+ and Brooklyn Magazine, we’ll be bringing you a mix of beloved classics and exciting new releases. Sunday’s movie is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Find the inspiration you need to call in “sick” Monday. 776 Lorimer Street Brooklyn. Free.