Bright Eyes, a half marathon and the ‘Nutcracker’: 12 things to do this weekend

By Joshua Encinias

It’s arguably the last weekend before Christmas marketing takes over everything. Soon, out of office emails will say they’ll respond in the New Year and we’ll all be saying, “wasn’t it just 2020?” Now’s the time to enjoy fall, indoors or out, as Brooklyn celebrates the spoils of the season.

If you’re missing your college partying days, head over to TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar on Sunday evening for a night of heated cabanas, hot toddies, and beats by AarnxBrwn and DJ DearlyBeloved. The tailgate-throwback goes until 1 in the morning. Or, at Brooklyn Steel, indie rocker Alex G plays his second of three shows with opener Hatchie. In our book, it’s the hottest ticket in town — who else writes pop symphonies from their dog’s point of view?

There are cute events for families, too. The Brooklyn Academy of Music is showing kid-friendly movies with a craft your kiddo can make before or after the show. The Brooklyn Museum’s 16th annual children’s book fair is free and features local authors and illustrators for a morning of engaging readings. And for the adults, scroll down to find out how C’mon Everybody is gonna make you sweat tonight…

If you’re feeling left out from the New York Marathon because the cartilage in your knees aren’t what they used to be, fear not, the Brooklyn Half Marathon is on Sunday morning. Not up for that either? There are also 10K and 5K options. Lastly, on Sunday afternoon, “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” rolls into town at the Kings Theatre for, frankly, one of the better Christmas traditions: rats dancing to Tchaikovsky.

There’s a whole lot more happening in Brooklyn this weekend. Read on:

Friday, November 11

Alex G at Brooklyn Steel
8 p.m.
Indie music stalwart Alex G. plays a second show at Brooklyn Steel tonight and caps off his stop in Brooklyn tomorrow night. Known for his unpretentious lyrics and sound, Alex Giannascoli released his new album “God Save the Animals” in September. Songs about animals are some of his favorite to write, and with the new album, G created a bedroom pop symphony to God (from a dog’s-eye view). Hatchie opens for Giannascoli both nights. 16+. 319 Frost St. Tickets are $35.

The Questionable Cabaret
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The Questionable Cabaret is the wildest variety show you can see at House Of Yes. Friday’s lineup includes comedians, circus performers, dancers, aerialists, burlesque superstars, magicians and more, all contributing to a great cause. A portion of the night’s profits will benefit The Ali Forney Center, the largest LGBTQ+ community center helping queer homeless youth. So show up and show out to make a difference! 21+. 2 Wyckoff Avenue. Ticket prices begin at $52.17.

Saturday, November 12

Best of BAMkids Film Festival: Joyful Adventures
11 a.m.
Some of the most popular films for kids ages 3 to 5 are playing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Saturday. Selected from this year’s BAMkids Film Festival, movies with vibrant animation, adventurous animals, and toe-tapping tunes are coming to Brooklyn. Come early, or stay after the screening, to create your own paper sculptures. All ages. 30 Lafayette Ave. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for children.

Sixteenth Annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Brooklyn Museum’s annual free Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair returns this weekend! The entire family is invited to read storybooks, picture books, and graphic novels — including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry — for book lovers from preschool to middle school. Forty Brooklyn authors and illustrators will be at the fair to meet their audience, sign books, and maybe even make some drawings right then and there. All ages. 200 Eastern Pkwy.

A fall flea market in a beer garden
2 to 7 p.m.
Shop small and local! Get an early jump on holiday shopping — or pick up a gift for your Thanksgiving gathering — by perusing an array of local artisans, artists and apothecaries while you sample from a massive beer list. Building Black Bed Stuy will be curating some of the vendors; Brooklyn Magazine will have its own table; there will be live music, and the venue, Greenwood Park, is ready for any weather. 555 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope. Free to enter.

Melissa Villaseñor: Whoops… Tour!
Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.
Fresh off six seasons at SNL, comedian Melissa Villaseñor is happy to end her time at the show and move onto other creative projects like standup. She told The Daily Beast recently, “I always felt like I was on the edge of a cliff every week. And I was like, I don’t want to be doing that to myself anymore.” On Saturday, Villaseñor brings “Whoops… Tour!” to the Bell House as part of the New York Comedy Festival. 21+. 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $18.54.

Bright Eyes at Kings Theatre
Doors at 6:30 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.
Bright Eyes were one of the most revered bands of the early internet days of message board fandom. After calling it quits in 2011, the band reunited in 2020 (before the pandemic stopped concert going) and released the album “Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was.” Bright Eyes are finally able to tour the new album, and they’re bring the show to Kings Theatre tonight. 1027 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets begin at $46.40.

Dance the night away at Thirst Trap
10:30 p.m.
Do you want to party like 2019? C’mon Everybody has just the pre-Covid sweat box event for you. Come and dance yourself into a frenzy at Thirst Trap. The party starts late and goes early into Sunday morning. Beats by ADAIR and Funky Reggae House Party. 21+. 325 Franklin Ave.

Sunday, November 13

Brooklyn Fall Half Marathon
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
On Sunday, thousands will gather at The Peristyle in Prospect Park with three courses to choose from. You can run four loops for the half marathon, two loops for the 10K and one loop for the 5K. Funds from the half marathon are going to the Memorial Fund for Milo Kessler, an active member of Brooklyn’s athletic scene until he died of a rare bone cancer earlier this year. Registration comes with free high quality pictures available on Smugmug, a finisher commemorative medal, commemorative bib, water and sports drinks, along with awards for the winners. Entrance at Parkside Avenue and Ocean Avenue. Tickets begin at $50.

Big Brooklyn Backyard BBQ
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Williamsburg’s Crest Hardware & Urban Garden Center partners with The Meat Hook on Sunday for a BBQ of Biblical proportions. The Garden Center transforms into a fall getaway with Meats and vegetables cooked over a fire, bourbon cocktails, and local beers aplenty. After stuffing yourself silly in their botanical getaway, you can kick back around a fire or play games to work off those meat sweats. 21+. 558 Metropolitan Avenue. Tickets are $65+ tax & fees. Your ticket includes all you can eat BBQ with 2 drink tickets.

‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet’ 
3 p.m.
Kings Theatre goes from Bright Eyes on Saturday night to creepy-stare Nutcracker eyes on Sunday night. The national tour of “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” lands in Brooklyn tonight for a show of kid-friendly dancing rats and Russian ballet, that despite how many times you see it, never fails to entertain (and usher in the Christmas season). 1027 Flatbush Avenue. Tickets begin at $46.

TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar’s Fall Harvest Market
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar will host a fall harvest market today and next Friday, November 18. Bring your pup and grab a spot in one of their cozy, heated cabanas for a night of seasonal drinks and food. Vendors will be on hand selling holiday gifts, or you can throw the pig skin around and play a round of cornhole. With music by hosts AarnxBrwn and DJ DearlyBeloved, TailGate’s fall market has everything you need for a college throwback. 86 N 11th St.