Scott Lynch
Burlesque, books and booze: 14 things to do this weekend
For the fitness-minded among you, there are a couple 5Ks. For the rest of you, a Muppet drinking game. And, of course, holiday markets!
Brooklyn heats up with some holiday kink this weekend. Just three weeks shy of Christmas, Coney Island hosts the Winter Wonderwheel Spectacular, a campy holiday burlesque, on Saturday. Oh, and there’s a yo-yo championship at America’s Playground on Saturday, too. Elsewhere in the borough, there are a few seasonal 5K runs (we’ll pass on those), and an ice skating rink in Industry City (yay).
On Friday, BEM | books & more — a food-centric, Black-owned bookstore — will host their annual holiday pop-up at the BRIC House. And to wrap up the weekend, bring an unwrapped toy to a drive at Memphis Seoul in Crown Heights.
It’s going to be ice-cold this weekend, so bundle up if you stay in, but read on if you need some ideas for your days off.
Friday, December 9
BEM | books & more holiday pop-up
1 to 7 p.m.
BEM | books & more will host their 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.
Industry City Ice Rink
4 to 8 p.m., every Friday thru Sunday until March 10
The IC Ice Rink in Industry City is decorated and open for the holidays, fully equipped with a heating system to keep you toasty. Complete with an outdoor bar serving hot cocoa and snacks, you have until March 10 (!) to enjoy the rink. All tickets are available for single entry at any time on the day of your choice and will grant you access to the rink for one session between 1.5 hours to 2 hours. Industry City Courtyard 5 / 6 at 51 35th Street. Tickets are $10 to $25.
‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ drinking game
7:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
Everyone’s favorite felt misfits made an all time banger of a Christmas movie 30 years ago. Now there’s a drinking game set to “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” and it promises to make the season bright-er. The hosts, A Drinking Game NYC, provide a list of words and phrases from the movie. When you hear one, a bell rings and everybody drinks! (every time a bell rings one of Gonzo’s chickens gets its wing). Tickets are running low so grab yours now. 21+. The Bell House 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of the show.
Party with no pants (for a good cause)
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
If you love parties but hate pants we have the event you’ve been waiting for. Former mayoral candidate Paperboy Love Prince host the Anything but Pants Party, fundraiser and winter clothes drive at a secret location. You can wear skirts, shorts, boxers etc. just no pants, okay? Keep an eye on Paperboy’s Instagram for details like the secret location and performers. We assume it’s 21+? Location TBA. Tickets are $17.
Saturday, December 10
Frosty 5K
8 to 10 a.m.
Did you know there’s a winter running season? I wouldn’t normally endorse such things, but this one’s for a good cause… the New York Road Runners hold their annual Frosty 5K in Prospect Park on Saturday, and entry fees from the adult race help fund free, year-round youth and community programs. Participants ages 2 to 18 of all abilities are invited participate in the free youth run, Rising New York Road Runners Frosty 5K. 95 Prospect Park West.
The New York State Yoyo Contest
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The New York State Yoyo Contest happens at Coney Island’s Sideshows by the Seashore on Saturday. Come see incredible, world class yo-yo performers and contestants from all over the country compete for prizes. According to the event organizers, “Much like in figure skating or gymnastics, timed routines choreographed to music are evaluated by a panel of judges who consider complexity, creativity, and trick execution.” 1208 Surf Avenue. Ticket prices vary for contestants and audiences.
Holiday pop-up by Black-Owned Brooklyn
11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
The Jummy’s Picks by Black-Owned Brooklyn Holiday Pop-Up is transforming a 30,000+ square-foot Atlantic Center storefront to host a holiday pop-up featuring 50 local Black-owned brands. The Holiday Pop-Up takes place from Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18 at the space (previously occupied by Spirit Halloween, across from Barclays) into a boutique experience, featuring a unique selection of businesses, live DJ sets from Donwill, DJ Tara, Run P. and DJ Blue Monday, and family-friendly appearances by “Papa and Mama Soul Santa,” as well as lounge areas for dining and unwinding. Free. 625 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Red Hook Makers Market & Bar Hop
1 to 6 p.m., and the same hours on Sunday
Red Hook makers and creative types will be on hand this Sunday for a market and bar hop. Buy jewelry, knit goods, home decor, metal working, prints, soap, paintings, candles, and more from your neighbors!. Drinks from local joints Keg & Lantern, Widow Jane Distillery, Strong Rope Brewing, and Red Hook Winery will help you sip as you shop. All ages but 21+ to drink. 158 Beard Street. Free.
Christmas in Coney: 6th Annual Winter Wonderwheel Spectacular
8 to 9:30 p.m.
After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the Annual Winter Wonderwheel Spectacular returns to Coney Island on Saturday. This not-for-kids holiday burlesque has everything: death-defying aerial stunts, burlesque dancers and booze. The show stars Miss Poison Ivory, Maggie McMuffin, Vera Safire, Mara the Catbear, and Miss Coney Island 2022 herself, Miss Frankie Eleanor. 18 to enter, 21 to drink. 1208 Surf Avenue. Tickets are $20.
Sunday, December 11
It’s a Wonderful 5K Run/Walk
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Yes, there’s another holiday 5K this weekend! If you can’t make the run on Saturday, the Never Stop Running Foundation has you covered on Sunday. Proceeds from Sunday’s run/walk benefit go to local youth & special needs events. It’s a Wonderful 5K goes through the scenic pedestrian paths of Prospect Park, and when you finish, there’s some merry swag and festive treats waiting for you from All Round Foods. Prospect Park – The Peristyle at Park Side Ave & Parade Place. Registration costs $33.
10th Annual Toy Drive in Crown Heights
12 to 8 p.m.
Ten years ago, a toy drive began along Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights to honor a local mother who died suddenly just before Christmas. The toys are distributed to a women’s and children’s shelter in Brooklyn. Every weekend a new location in Crown Heights hosts a toy drop off for children 0 to 10 years old. And on Sunday, Memphis Seoul invites locals to bring an unwrapped toy until 8 p.m. on Sunday. 569 Lincoln Place.
Hanukkah Arts Festival
1 to 3:30 p.m.
Hanukkah doesn’t start until December 18, but you can get a head start with your little ones this weekend. The greater Brooklyn Jewish community is invited to join the Hannah Senesh Community Day School for their Hanukkah Arts Festival on Sunday. The festival includes an afternoon of art workshops and family fun for children ages 2 to 10. Workshops include building Lego dreidels, Maccabee finger-puppet making, and a Hanukkah music jam. The school is accepting new or used, fiction and non-fiction books geared towards grade K-6, and feature characters of color and/or from diverse backgrounds. 342 Smith Street. Tickets are $5 per child over 2 years old at the door (no charge for parents/caregivers).
Grinchy’s Pop Up at Roberta’s Tiki Bar
2 to 10 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.
See a good movie at BAM
Times vary
Winter movie season is in full swing and BAM Rose Cinemas has a movie for every taste. On Sunday you can see “The Banshees of Inisherin,” about love lost between two Irish friends, “Tár,” about a New York orchestra conductor who ruins her career. There’s also “Decision to Leave,” a South Korean murder mystery, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which needs no introduction. Lastly, there’s “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” about the life and work of renowned photographer and activist Nan Goldin. and “The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg’s ode to childhood wonder and moviegoing. 30 Lafayette Avenue. Ticket prices vary.
