Spirits, street art and scavenger hunts: 14 things to do this weekend

By Ethan Jakob Craft

We sincerely hope you bought that air conditioner, because it’s going to be another toasty weekend in Brooklyn. But while the temperatures climb, so too does the number of activities that’ll help you to stay cool. This weekend alone, you can sip an ice cold IPA at the Brooklyn Summer Beer, Wine and Spirits Fest, enjoy the breeze while watching a truly amateur regatta in Red Hook, and embark on a nighttime scavenger hunt around Coney Island, just to name a few.

If you’re out and about Thursday night, you won’t want to miss our very special screening of “Crooklyn” at Fort Greene Park as part of our “SHOWTIME® in the Park” film series.

Here’s your weekend to-do list, Brooklyn.

Friday, July 22

Eat the best pizza Williamsburg has to offer
3:30 p.m.
This Friday, you’ll have the opportunity to join a tailored food tour that includes three of the “best” slices in Williamsburg (the organizers are not divulging exactly which slices will be sampled, so proceed at your own risk). Starting from Domino Park, guests will wind roughly 1.5 miles through the neighborhood as their guide explains the history of each pizza parlor, points out stops for photo ops and spills the low-down on “secret recipes and cooking techniques.” Tickets are $50 per person, which includes the cost of the pizza, among other extras.

Take in an outdoor jazz concert
6 p.m.
The SummerStage Jazz Series is back at Bed-Stuy’s Restoration Plaza this Friday, bringing artists including Will Calhoun of Living Color, two-time Grammy nominee Claudia Acuna and Central Brooklyn Jazz together for a night of free jazz in the heart of the city. The concert is free and open to the public, running until 9 p.m. with a number of acclaimed jazz performers on rotation throughout the evening.

Go on a scavenger hunt around Coney Island
7 p.m.
Starting from Nathan’s Famous on Surf Avenue, grab a hot dog and a beer before being split into teammates and rivals for a 75-minute scavenger hunt to find as many clues around Coney Island as possible. You’ll regroup at Ruby’s beachside bar for drinks and a fireworks display. Tickets are $25 each, and both singles and groups are welcome to attend; more information about the event can also be found on the website of New York Social Network, which is hosting it.

See a free screening of “Bend it Like Beckham” on its 20th anniversary
8:30
Bring a chair and enjoy a free movie at the Fourth Street Plaza in Park Slope. There will be snacks, and cold beer, wine and water for purchase. Proceeds from those sales will go back to Fifth Avenue BID, which will be hosting this free screening of “Bend it Like Beckham.” Fourth Street at Fifth Avenue.

Dance the night away, French disco style
10 p.m.
Back by popular demand, Schimanski in Williamsburg is reviving its fan favorite “Daft Disko” event this Friday. It’s an all-night party set to an eclectic mix of French disco and house music inspired by the likes of Daft Punk, Stardust, Breakbot and more, though don’t arrive tired, because this 21-and-over fête is running until 4 a.m. Saturday. Entry is limited, and while the first block of general admission tickets have already sold out, second tier entry is still available for purchase on Schimanski’s website for $15 per person.

Saturday, July 23

Check out a classic car show
10 a.m.
Dubbed the “People’s Choice Show” and showcasing much of esteemed Brooklyn auto enthusiast Lenny Shiller’s 70-vehicle collection, the Antique Automobile Association of Brooklyn is putting on its Classic Car Show in Greenpoint for the first time this Saturday — with sunny (albeit sweltering) weather in the forecast. It’s happening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greenpoint Terminal Market on the banks of the East River, not far from the Greenpoint Avenue subway stop on the G line, with free entry to members of the public.

Trade treasures at the Bushwick Summer Flea Market
12 p.m.
Featuring a swath of Brooklyn-based vendors peddling everything from art prints to vintage clothing to handmade crafts, the Bushwick Summer Flea Market is back this Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., inviting you to browse its dozens of stalls and hopefully take home some new knick-knacks. It’s taking place this weekend at the Bushwick Community Darkroom on Troutman Street, a few blocks away from the Central Avenue M line subway stop. Entry is free for looky-loos and hardcore thrifters alike; or, if you’re interested in being a vendor, you can fill out this application for the market’s August edition.

Gather to watch a different kind of regatta
1 p.m.
Leave your high-dollar yachting accessories at home, because the annual Red Hook Regatta isn’t a race for fancy catamarans and cutters. Instead, spectators will gather at Valentino Pier on the western edge of Red Hook to watch a fleet of homemade vessels — no longer than two feet in length and made of all sorts of materials — try to navigate the chop of New York Harbor. There are a couple of different races throughout the afternoon, plus food and music on site, but arrive early to guarantee the best viewing experience; the Regatta runs until 5 p.m. and is free to watch from the pier.

Imbibe at a beer, wine and spirits festival
1 p.m.
The Brooklyn Summer Beer, Wine and Spirits Fest is bringing boozy beverages from around the world to the Brooklyn Navy Yard this weekend, giving you an opportunity to beat the heat and pair everything from local craft brews to exotic vintages with live music, tasty food and fun games. Early bird entry is already sold out, though there is a batch of “Last Call General Admission” tickets still up for grabs online for $70 each (souvenir tasting glass included); designated drivers and the otherwise sober can also enter the event for just $15 each (souvenir tasting glass excluded).

See Alvin Ailey in Coney Island
3 p.m.
A 10-day series of outdoor dance performances and hands-on activities is coming to New York this week, and it’s kicking things off in Coney Island on Saturday. Featuring the city’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, the multifaceted event will bring free classes, performances and more to the five boroughs through August 1; Saturday’s agenda includes a 3 p.m. West African dance workshop and 7 p.m. mixed dance performance, and a processional down the Boardwalk to the Amphitheater. A full schedule for Ailey Moves NYC can be found on its website.

Head to the 6th Annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival
4 p.m.
In a bid to bring attention to Greenpoint’s “long-standing environmental burden” and to champion a more sustainable future for Brooklyn as a whole, the Kingsland Wildflowers Festival is back for its sixth year with a slate of eco-friendly activities: think native plant sales and seed giveaways, waterside tours of nearby Newtown Creek, environment-inspired performances and art exhibitions, and more. Entry is free for this all-ages festival, which runs until 8 p.m. at Kingsland’s Green Roof on top of Broadway Stages at 203 Meserole Avenue; a full list of vendors and performers can be found on the festival’s web listing.

Sunday, July 24

Take your kids to a rave
9:30 a.m.
This Sunday, The Muse Brooklyn is bringing back its family-friendly “Kiddie Rave” once again, complete with all the trappings of a 6-year-old’s dream party: arts and crafts, dancing, “circus adventures,” “a ball pit wonderland” and more… All followed by what’ll be a much-needed afternoon nap. The rave in question is taking place at The Muse’s Moffat Avenue space in Bushwick, right on the edge of Trinity Cemetery, until 12:30 p.m.; tickets are available online with a suggested donation of between $12 and $20.

Appreciate some of Bushwick’s finest street art
12 p.m.
Bushwick is New York’s undisputed top spot for street art, though passersby aren’t always privy to the backstories, inspirations and technical styles of any given mural — something that the Street Art Pilgrimage aims to change. Crafted as an intimate 90-minute tour, attendees will be able to discuss a handful of Bushwick murals as a group, all while learning the histories of both the art and the area. If you’re not able to attend the pilgrimage on Sunday, though, don’t worry; organizers have released their fall 2022 schedule with at least two tours slated for nearly every weekend until December 18. Tickets are $35.

Listen to a live podcast recording
7 p.m.
“Bothering the Band” is a podcast dedicated to asking musicians about the minutiae of their lives to see what makes them tick. Check out a live taping in Brooklyn on Sunday night, with guests including Keanan Duffty, Lily Mao and comedian David Cross,  followed by performances by the Power Violets, Almost Sex and Seán Barna. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 at Littlefield, an event venue in Gowanus; tickets are $10 each and strictly 21-and-over.