Puppet shows and drag dinners: 12 things to do this holiday weekend

By Joshua Encinias

Christmas time is here and Brooklyn Magazine wishes you only happiness and cheer. The first day of Christmas and the final night of Hanukkah is this Sunday, and we can already feel the entire borough slowing to an icy crawl. But! We found the best things going on around the borough this weekend for everyone still left in town.

During the day on Friday, there’s a holiday puppet show at Puppetworks in Park Slope. Saturday evening brings a Christmas Eve Family Style Thai Feast to KRU Brooklyn. St. Ann & The Holy Trinity in Brooklyn Heights have Christmas services on Saturday and Sunday, and Chabad of Park Slope lights Brooklyn’s largest menorah one last time.

Merry Christmas (and Happy Hanukkah), ya filthy animals.

Friday, December 23

Holiday puppet show
12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Park Slope’s Puppetworks was founded in 1980, and Friday is this season’s final performance of a Brooklyn holiday tradition: “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” about a one-legged toy solider who falls in love with a paper ballerina, and “Nutcracker Sweets,” based on E.T A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” which inspired “The Nutcracker” ballet. The show is suggested for ages 2 and up and lasts 55 minutes. Registration is strongly suggested as walk-in admission is not guaranteed. Email them here. 338 Sixth Avenue (at 4th Street). Tickets are $10 for children and $11 for adults.

BEM | books & more holiday pop-up
1 to 7 p.m.
Today is the final day you can visit BEM | books & more’s second annual holiday pop-up at BRIC House. BEM is a digital literary home for the intersection of Black cultures and food, and their pop-up bookstore will come to life IRL through sharing food and stories, meeting fellow readers of the site, and teaching the histories and horizons of Black food. 647 Fulton Street. Free.

Grinchy’s Pop Up at Roberta’s Tiki Bar
5 to 11 p.m.
Grinchy’s Pop Up at the tiki bar in Roberta’s Bushwick location becomes Whoville with its over-the-top Christmas décor. Grinchy’s holiday menu includes Grinchy’s Old Fashioned, Double Dog Dare hot buttered rum, and Cousin Eddy frozen eggnog. Then you can nosh on some spiced nuts, popcorn, cookie plates, and house made pretzels with beer cheese. Keep an eye on Roberta’s Instagram for festive programming to keep the holiday vibes rolling. 263 Moore Street.

Feast of the Seven Fishes
Various times
Roman’s is serving the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes this weekend. While usually served on Christmas Eve (those reservations are sold out), you can enjoy the Feast here on Friday night. The multi-course meal includes shared antipasti, pasta with entree, followed by dessert. Wines, handcrafted cocktails, and other seasonal beverages will be available to enjoy alongside the traditional meal. Make your reservations today. 243 Dekalb Avenue. Reservations are $135 per person.

Parents’ Night Out
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Brooklyn’s Preschool of Business has you and your little one in mind this December with parents’ night out on Friday. Drop your kids off for a party including a movie, puppet show, playtime, pizza, and popcorn! This is a drop-off event for ages 2 through 8. Kids not enrolled in the preschool program will need to upload a medical form. 260 Jefferson Ave. $30.

“Two Wise Women”: A holiday drag and dinner experience
6 p.m.
Drag queens Emi Grate and Nancy NoGood invite you to a holiday drag dinner at the Dromedary Urban Tiki Bar. “Two Wise Women” is a night of holiday revelry and lewks to make your season bright. You can order dinner and a drink from their special holiday menu. There’s no cover charge but reservations are required. 266 Irving Ave.

Bucks v. Nets at Barclays Center
7 p.m.
The Milwaukee Bucks come to Barclays on Friday to play the Nets. They sit at No. 1 in the Eastern league and the Nets at No. 4, but Brooklyn won their last five games. Friday’s game should be a good one, so come out if you need a break from the holiday cheer. 620 Atlantic Ave. Ticket prices vary.

House of Yes presents: Misfit Xmas
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
House of Yes is throwing a party for the misfits this Christmas. Open to all Snowbabes, Nutcrackers, Sugarplums, and Sugardaddies, “Misfit Xmas” unites New Yorkers on the dancefloor this weekend with a sexy Santa costume contest, beauty bar glam station, a chance to sit on Santa’s lap, oat milk & cookies, eggnog, and Christmas cards. Spend the early hours of Christmas Eve at House of Yes this weekend. 21+. 2 Wyckoff Avenue. Ticket prices range from free to $18.

Saturday, December 24

Holiday Origami Ornament Making
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Urban Park Rangers have a fun holiday activity for the kids on Christmas Eve: teaching kids how to make holiday origami at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center at 11 a.m. on Saturday. You’ll make paper evergreen trees and animal-themed tree ornaments. Materials and lessons will be provided. Enter at Willoughby Avenue and Washington Park. Free.

Christmas at St. Ann & The Holy Trinity
Various times
If you’re looking for traditional Christmas church services without a conservative slant, check out St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, there’s a children’s holiday pageant of the Christmas story at 4:30 p.m., followed by community caroling at 8 p.m., and a festival Holy Eucharist with Choir to usher in the holiday at 8:30 p.m. Or join on Sunday for a Holy Eucharist service at 10:30 a.m. 157 Montague St.

Christmas Eve Family Style Thai Feast
Various times
Selected as one of America’s best new restaurants by Esquire, KRU Brooklyn is offering a family-style Thai feast this Christmas Eve. Boasting a menu of six savory dishes followed by dessert, you’ll be served plates like “Ma Hor,” a historical Thai feast appetizer, lobster and purple sweet potato tarts, and “Kanom Farang,” a dessert-inspired fruitcake. You’ll have to make reservations first. 190 N 14th Street. Tickets are $65 per person.

Saturday, December 25

Final night of lighting Brooklyn’s largest menorah
5 to 6 p.m.
Chabad of Park Slope will light Brooklyn’s largest menorah on the final night of Hanukkah this Sunday. Enjoy the end of the season with live music, hot latkes, and gifts for the kids. All ages. Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park.