Courtesy the Hold Steady
Australia Day and Teen Night: 13 things to do this weekend
Plus, The Hold Steady celebrates 20 years together in Williamsburg — or you can throw on your boots for the country music ramble
Lunar New Year celebrations continue on this weekend, along with events for kids, parents, and everyone in between.
Here’s some news you can’t use (but you can drink to it!): Thursday is Australia Day, and Isla & Co. will throw some shrimp on the barbie with drink specials on Friday night in celebration of the land of the long weekend. Saturday brings a bevy of Lunar New Year parties, including Local Roots’ festivities, which will feature a lion dance and culinary delights. And Sunday at the Bell House has gone country: the Brooklyn Ramble features local acts playing original and covers of country tunes.
Check out what’s happening this last weekend of dry January.
Friday, January 27
Ippin Project: Japanese Artisans and Makers Market
12 to 6 p.m.
Fans of Japanese artisan work are in luck, because on Friday and Saturday, the design studio Ippin Project will host their monthly open studio market at Industry City. You can shop for popular Japanese tableware, home décor, miscellaneous design goods, architectural materials, and more. This month, Shino NYC are on hand with their garments designed with zen and zero-waste philosophies in mind. 254 36th Street.
Teen Night at the Brooklyn Museum
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Teens are invited to Teen Night: Art of Imagination at the Brooklyn Museum on Friday. Join in a scavenger hunt based around the museum’s exhibit “Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech,” enjoy some snacks, create self-portrait collages, or design your own hat. The night ends with performances by step team Lady Dragons, rapper Gee.Vee, dance team Soul Fusion, and DJ Bianca Perez, followed by an open mic. 14+. 200 Eastern Parkway at the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion on the 1st Floor. The event is free but registration is required.
Australia Day Party
6 p.m to 12 a.m.
Thursday was Australia Day, but Isla & Co. will celebrate on Friday with an Australian-inspired happy hour menu. Bring along all your best mates and jam out to the Triple J Hottest 100 (that’s Australia’s annual top songs list voted on by listeners) and participate in a charity raffle with all proceeds being donated to Variety the Children’s Charity of New York. Tickets include a complimentary drink. 21+. 107 North 12th Street. Tickets are $10.
“Drag Race” Season 15 Viewing Party
The show airs at 8 p.m.
It’s hard to believe the new season of “Drag Race” has already been on TV for a month. Break up the routine of watching Ru and the girls at home and head over to C’mon Everybody with your favorite queers for a night of lewks and lip filler. Come cheer on New York’s own queen Marcia Marcia Marcia, who, despite lacking that magic touch with makeup, is still in the race! 21+. 325 Franklin Avenue. Free.
Saturday, January 28
Lunar New Year for Kids
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has a Lunar New Year celebration for your little ones this Saturday. Bring the kids to learn about the traditions of Lunar New Year and celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with storytelling, live music, calligraphy workshops, and a rooftop lion dance parade led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions! 145 Brooklyn Avenue. Tickets are $13.
Lunar New Year at City Point
12 to 5 p.m.
You can really plan an entire day around Lunar New Year in Brooklyn, and on Saturday, City Point has festivities for all ages. The kids can color their own Year of the Rabbit calendar in DeKalb Market Hall, followed by traditional Lion Dances and a special Lunar New Year Storytime at McNally Jackson. Later, mom and dad can stock up on the Hall’s red envelope specials. 445 Albee Square West. Free, but registration is required for rabbit calendar coloring.
Local Roots’ Lunar New Year Celebration
2 p.m.
Local Roots is known for its online farmers market and Chinese farm-to-table cafe in Brooklyn, and this weekend, it’ll be known for throwing a great party! Continue your Lunar New Year celebrations with their lion dance (at 2 p.m. sharp!), tasty strawberry mimosas made with NY state strawberry juice, and a special dish: zha jiang served with long noodles to signify longevity for the new year. Put on your favorite red shirt for good luck and party with Local Roots! 398 Court Street. Free with required registration.
The Hold Steady turn 20
7:30 p.m. doors, 8:30 p.m. show
“Same Building. Same Show. 20 Years Later.” That’s how Brooklyn stalwarts The Hold Steady are promoting their 20th-anniversary show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday. Two Dark Birds are opening to celebrate with the Steady, and hell, you should celebrate them too. Throw on your favorite trucker hat and come remember what made 2003 so great. 18+. 66 North 6th Street. Ticket prices vary.
Sunday, January 29
Public Ice Skating at Lakeside
Various session times
Covered and open-air ice skating rinks are open at The LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park until February 28. Grab a hot drink and a snack at Bluestone Cafe then enjoy the rinks. See Lakeside’s website for Bluestone and the rink’s hours. 171 East Drive. Tickets are $9.50 on weekdays and $4 on weekends, with weekend prices in effect through Sunday.
Brooklyn Pop-Up Artisan Market
11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Produced in partnership with The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Pop-Up is kicking off a series of three Sunday Winter Artisan Markets this Sunday. All of them are held inside in the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion and Lobby at the Brooklyn Museum, and feature 40 local vendors and makers. 200 Eastern Parkway, admission is free.
Brooklyn Qawwali Party Fundraiser Concert
12:30 to 3 p.m.
Help raise money for Hindus for Human Rights’ 2023 advocacy work and programming at this concert by Brooklyn Qawwali Party at Barbés. Brooklyn Qawwali Party is an eclectic 10-piece orchestra that pays tribute to one of the world’s great vocalists, the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Best of all, your ticket includes samosas and chai! 376 9th Street. Tickets are $55.
First Signs of Spring Floral Workshop
2 to 4:30 p.m.
It’s never too early for spring … if you’ve got the cash. Shake off the winter blues with this floral workshop, where you create your own floral arrangement, ‘nosh on light bites,’ sip champagne, and browse ethically produced jewelry. Bario Neal (a leader in crafted ethical jewelry) partnered with Sachi Rose Floral for this workshop hosted in Neal’s showroom. One ticket allows entry for two people, and Brooklyn Magazine readers will receive $50 off their ticket with the code: HAPPYNEWYEAR. 155 Grand Street. Tickets range between $325 and $375.
Brooklyn Variety Ramble
7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show
Zip up your Levi’s and come down to The Bell House for a boot-scootin’ boogie this Sunday night. The Brooklyn Variety Ramble is a country music concert series, featuring three musical guests who play classic and original country tunes, led by Nashville singer-songwriter Rick Brantley. The Ramble aims to unite, because despite our differences, “we all have Dolly Parton in common.” 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $25.
