Gowanus Open Studios, BRIC’s JazzFest — and beer! 13 things to do this weekend

By Joshua Encinias

With highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s this weekend, what are you doing still reading this? Go outside and do something. Here’s some ideas:

You can visit Gowanus Open Studios for its 26th year to peruse and buy pieces directly from over 300 artists; take the kids to the Fall Fest at the Atlantic Terminal Mall; or spend the brunch hours exploring Prospect Park with the Prospect Park Alliance.

For more grown-up fare, there’s Brooktoberfest at Greenwood Park beer garden on Saturday, featuring stein-holding and pretzel-on-a-string contests and other beer-related competitions; and then head to BRIC’s JazzFest kickoff concert. And if you’re not too hungover from all of that on Monday, be sure to swing by Industry City for the Chamber of Commerce’s all day food and beverage conference. Details here.

Here’s what else is happening this weekend:

Friday, October 14

The Steve Keene 30 Year Retrospective Art Book (closing day)
Closing Party from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Brooklyn artist Steve Keene is considered one of the most prolific painters of all time with over 300,000 paintings to his name. Keene gained attention in the mid-’90s with his album covers for Pavement, Silver Jews, and today his bright and colorful paintings can be seen across the globe. Thankfully for us, we don’t have to go very far to see his work. But! Today is literally the last day you can see work directly from the recently-published “The Steve Keene Art Book,” with tonight’s closing party.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Seasonal Highlights Tour
Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m., through November 29
The brilliant Botanical Garden at our backdoor is lush with colorful fall foliage, fruits, and flowers this time of year. Thankfully, BBG offers garden-wide guided tour (free with admission) to enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of the season. Just meet the tour guides by the building steps at Magnolia Plaza. FYI, these tours can be canceled due to inclement weather, so check this page before you head out.

The 60th New York Film Festival Closing Night screening, “The Inspection”
Shows at 6 and 9 p.m.
Brooklyn-based photographer and filmmaker Elegance Bratton made the Viceland series “My House” directly out of Vice’s offices, so his new movie “The Inspection” being the closing night movie at the New York Film Festival is a big deal for our borough. An A24 release (we love those), Bratton’s film is a nuanced portrait of American masculinity and evocation of the military during the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell era, as well as a forceful, electric work of autobiography. You’ll have to cross the river for this one, though, as it’s only screening at Lincoln Center.

Macy Rodman stars in “The Blonde Show”
8 p.m.
We don’t know if this show was in the works before Netflix’s movie “Blonde” blew up our news feeds a few weeks ago, but it’s great timing either way. Multihyphenate Macy Rodman stars in this all new cabaret spectacular, described as “Beautiful…Brazen…Brassy!” Featuring epic, fictional retellings of the factual events that led to the demise of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe, the cabaret also includes the songs of iconic blondes throughout history. With piano accompaniment by Peter Striga, the show is definitely not kid-friendly, because adults need things too. The show is 21+ at C’mon Everybody, 325 Franklin Avenue.

The Smashing Pumpkins
6:30 p.m.
The Smashing Pumpkins are back! Well, they’ve been back for four years. But they’re back in Brooklyn! Okay, they’re playing the UBS Arena in Elmont and that’s in Queens, but it’s close enough. A few weeks back, the Pumpkins recorded a video for their new song “Beguiled,” live, and streamed to TikTok. It shows their taste for the fantastic and surreal hasn’t dulled with age. And the tune rips. See the band Friday with their pals Jane’s Addiction. 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont.

Saturday, October 15

Weekend Nature Exploration
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Since some cool, crisp air decided to visit this weekend, an afternoon with the Prospect Park Alliance for their nature education programs could be the perfect ticket. Every Saturday and Sunday through November 27, the Prospect Park Audubon Center has Discovery Packs filled with nature activities and exploration tools available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It’s perfect for families and kids to explore the park. Experience the Animal Encounter from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., where you’ll learn more about the animals in the Audubon Center’s collection. The program starts promptly at 11 am. And if you have a green thumb, help clean up the lakeshore with Nature’s Helpers from 12 to 1 p.m. All cleaning materials are provided and the group departs from the Audubon Center promptly at 12 p.m.

Gowanus Open Studios
12 to 6 p.m.; same hours on Sunday
Gowanus Open Studios returns for its 26th year this weekend! Over 300 artists, businesses, and venues in Gowanus will open their doors, giving the public a rare glimpse inside studio buildings, former factories, and warehouses of this vibrant neighborhood. Artists will be present to discuss their work, showcase their latest projects, and sell directly to the public. Online and printed maps will offer background on artists, as well as self-guided tours curated by curators, artists, and community leaders, including Brooklyn Magazine editor Brian Braiker; The weekend will culminate with a closing party held at the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse featuring music, food, drinks, and a few surprises.

Brooktoberfest
2 to 7 p.m.
Greenwood Park’s 13,000 square foot indoor and outdoor beer garden, created out of an old gas station and mechanic shop, transforms into Little Germany on Saturday. Come show your strength at the stein holding competition, eat a pretzel on a string — if you can — and play trivia. Drink some local seasonal beer specials and enjoy treats from the kitchen. Make table reservations at Resy because it’s likely to fill up! 555 Seventh Avenue.

Fall Fest at the Atlantic Terminal Mall
12 to 3 p.m.
The Atlantic Terminal Mall and Brooklyn Bridge Parents are hosting a family festival with what they call “Brooklyn’s first spooky touch-a-truck line-up,” which is one way of saying they decorated trucks with Halloween stuff. Your kids can build a skeleton train (??) and take photos in front of the spooky vehicles. So, if your kiddo is into climbing trucks and honking horns to the delight of neighbors, this is the festival for you! More traditional fall festival fare like arts and crafts and pumpkin painting takes place on the outdoor plaza. The festival is free but RSVP’s are encouraged. 139 Flatbush Avenue.

BRIC JazzFest kickoff concert
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Kick off this year’s BRIC JazzFest with a free concert by Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber, a sprawling band of musicians whose prodigious personnel allows them to play within a wide swath of the experimental soul-jazz-hip hop spectrum. Come early to catch a set by the great DJ Spinna at the pre-show, all at The Plaza at 300 Ashland Place. Best of all? It’s free.

Sunday, October 16

Weekend Family Matinees at Time Out Market NY
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Time Out Market New York will show “Raya and the Last Dragon” on the fifth floor and provide materials for a fun arts and crafts activity (coloring, watercolors) during the screening. Tickets are two-tier: $15 per person, which includes a $10 event card to use towards the purchase of a meal at any concession and $20 per person, which includes a $15 event card to use towards the purchase of Breakfast from Ess-A-Bagel or any other concession in the market. $20 tickets will also get you complimentary access to the nearby Jane’s carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park. 55 Water Street.

Building Black Bed-Stuy Block Party
12 to 5 p.m.
Building Black Bed-Stuy’s mission is to protect and preserve the Black community in Bedstuy, and beyond, by providing financial relief for black-owned businesses and organizations. Earlier this week, BBB co-founder Kai Avent-deLeon was a guest on “Brooklyn Magazine: The Podcast,” where she discussed fostering dialogue and uplifting her community. BBB’s annual block party is one way they’re furthering the mission. Taking place this Sunday, the block party will feature music by Marcus Logan and Akili, and celebrate two-and-a-half years of furthering Black economic independence and liberation. 343 Tompkins Avenue.

The New York Film Festival: Best of the Fest
Various times, Saturday and Sunday
Although the 60th New York Film Festial wraps-up on Friday, this weekend you can see some of the best movies at this year’s edition. Limited tickets are available to Anthony Hopin’s new movie “Armageddon Time,” Tilda Swinton’s “The Eternal Daughter,” and Martin Scorsese’s new documentary “Personality Crisis: One Night Only,” about The New York Dolls’ singer David Johansen. Check out our Brooklyn-centric picks here.