NYC’s hardest working bands, queens and comedians: 12 things to do this weekend

By Joshua Encinias

Have you kept your resolutions so far? Well, whatever your abstaining from, the weekend approaches and your resolve will be put to the test.

The best (and free) watch party for season 15 of RuPaul’s “Drag Race” is happening at C’mon Everybody on Friday night. Belgian theater collective Ontroerend Goed’s week-long, U.S. palindromic premiere of “Are we not drawn onward to new erA” holds its final performances at BAM from Friday to Sunday. And last year’s off-Broadway hit musical “Shooting Star” extend its residency for Sunday performances at 3 Dollar Bill this month.

There’s a lot going on around Brooklyn this weekend:

Friday, January 6

“Are we not drawn onward to new erA”
Friday through Sunday, various showtimes
The A at the end of “Are we not drawn onward to new erA” isn’t just a quirky accent. Look again — it’s a palindrome. Belgian theater collective Ontroerend Goed’s award-winning show is in the middle of a one-week, U.S. premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and wraps up on Sunday. Taking its concept from Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard’s quote, “Life must be lived forwards, but it can only be understood backward,” the show is presented forwards and backward to illuminate how one person’s destruction is another’s progress. 321 Ashland Pl. Tickets start at $45.

NYC’s Hardest-Working Bands of 2022: Live in Concert
7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
Brooklyn-based Pons is New York’s hardest working band of 2022 (according to Oh My Rockness, anyway) and you can see them and others who made 2022’s list. On Friday, Baby’s All Right welcomes Pons (“a sick post-punk band”), Dreamcrusher (“dark industrial noise”), fellow Brooklyn band Dead Tooth (“dope post-punk-goth-rock”), and more. 21+. 146 Broadway. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the show.

16th Annual 50 First Jokes
7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
50 First Jokes wants you laughing into 2o23. The Bell House welcomes 50 established and up-and-coming comedians to perform the first joke they’ve written this year. Come out for a comedy show that’s called fast, loose, and fun for everyone (and it must be if they’ve been doing it for 16 years!). 21+. 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $30.

“Drag Race” Season 15 Viewing Party
The show airs at 8 p.m.
RuPaul’s little-drag-show-that-could returns on Friday for its 15th season, and C’mon Everybody is your destination for hate-watching or fangirling or however you consume RuPaul’s flagship show. Head over to CE’s front bar/lounge to cheer on New York’s own drag queen Marcia Marcia Marcia! 21+. 325 Franklin Avenue. Free.

Saturday, January 7

Donate your Christmas tree
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If we’re counting, Christmas officially ended on Thursday, so it’s definitely time to ditch your dried-out tree. But wait! Mulchfest is here to help transform your trash into mulch for Prospect Park. Mulchfest 2023 is a city-wide event puts used Christmas trees to good use. Pack away the decorations before dropping off your tree and make the drop at Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue, 3rd Street, or Park Circle. Free.

Winter Tea in Prospect Park
1 to 4 p.m.
If RuPaul didn’t serve enough tea for you on Friday night, the Prospect Park Alliance is here to serve literal Winter Tea at the Prospect Park Boathouse on Saturday. Bundle up for a nature walk with the Alliance staff at 1 p.m., followed by James Nyoraku Schlefer playing the shakuhachi (a Japan bamboo flute) as tea is served at the Boathouse. Bring your own tea bowls and cups and the alliance will provide the tea to boil, steep, and sip. 101 East Drive. Free.

Karaoke Night at BrookLAN
8 p.m.
BrookLAN bills itself as Brooklyn’s home for esports and gaming, and on Saturday, they’re hosting a karaoke night. Bring your favorite nerd and show out with your favorite tune. All ages. 339 Troutman Street. Free.

Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer at The Opera House
5:45 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. show
The Highline String Quartet will perform movie composer Hans Zimmer’s best scores and epic soundtracks at The Opera House under the glow of candlelight on Saturday night. Suites to be performed include those from “Dune,” “Gladiator,” and music from Zimmer’s many collaborations with moviemaker Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Night,” “Dunkirk”). Age requirement: 8 years old or older only, and anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 288 Berry Street. Tickets are $30.

Sunday, January 8

Park Slope’s Down to Earth Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If the winter blues has got you down, head over to Park Slope on Sunday for a dose of Vitamin D and groceries from local farmers and cooks. Brooklyn businesses MOMO Dressing (Handcrafted Japanese salad dressing) and Sixteen Mill Bakeshop (gluten and refined sugar-free, plant-based baked goods) will be among the vendors on hand. 5th Ave at Washington Park & the Old Stone House.

Music of David Bowie for kids
11 a.m. doors, 12 p.m. show
The Rock and Roll Playhouse travel across the country to play classic rock for kids, and on Sunday, they’re coming to Brooklyn Bowl to play from David Bowie’s catalog in celebration of the moonage daydreamer. The show also has games, dancing, stories, and the opportunity for kids to explore their creativity to hit from Bowie. All ages. 61 Wythe Ave. Kids under 1 get in for free and tickets are $15 for everyone else.

Brunch and Sex (in the City)
11 a.m.
Nitehawk Cinema’s OG Williamsburg location has good nosh and brunch screenings, and this Sunday is no different as the “Sex and the City” movie is the flick of the week. Picking up four years after the show’s finale, the girls are back for another round of sex … in the city. And this time around, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) lives in Brooklyn — no doubt laying the groundwork for her upcoming mayoral run. Kids 17 and under are only permitted with an adult. 136 Metropolitan Avenue. Tickets are $14.

“Shooting Star” — A Revealing Musical
5:30 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. show
2022’s off-Broadway hit “Shooting Star” extends its residency at Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill through January 26. Florian Klein, who wrote the book and concept, created the musical based on his experience as an adult performer under the name Hans Berlin. “Shooting Star” is an original and sincere look at the lives of gay adult performers; think “Magic Mike,” but gay. 18+. 260 Meserole Street. Tickets are $45 and up.