Whiskey comedy, ‘Swiftogeddon’ and Zoom opera: 12 things to do this weekend

By Ethan Jakob Craft

The breadth of weekend activities in Brooklyn is almost shocking. From this Friday through Sunday alone, locals can partake in everything from linoleum block printing to whiskey-based comedy to literal do-it-yourself genome editing. And that’s all while Covid-19 is still hindering our return to a pre-pandemic “normal,” not to mention the bitter January cold putting the kibosh on a lot of outdoor activities.

It’s a beautiful and bizarre borough, so get out there and make the most of what it has to offer. Here is your weekend to-do list:

Friday, January 21

Go get a Covid-19 test
Right now, maybe?
Huzzah! Covid-19 cases are finally on the downswing in New York, but we’re not out of the woods, or wave, just yet. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of the virus or believe you’ve been in close contact with a positive case, get tested so we can all wrap up this whole pandemic thing. Use this map to find Covid-19 testing locations throughout Brooklyn or text “COVID TEST” to 85548, and don’t forget that as of Tuesday, the government is sending free at-home tests to your door.

Pair rare whiskies with comedy
7:30 p.m.
If you’re a whiskey connoisseur, either certified or self-styled, here’s your opportunity to enjoy a raft of top-shelf hooch with an evening of tastings—and comedy. Presented by Whiskey Stories, this event includes four flights of premium whiskey and all the knowledge needed to understand them, plus gourmet food pairings and a set of comedy routines that are inspired by each scotch bottle’s label. At $110 a pop, this indulgent experience is taking place at 161 Stockholm Street in Bushwick.

Take in the opera … on Zoom
7:30 p.m.
Out of the soul-crushing “Zoom happy hour” cringefests that punctuated March 2020 came an endless series of virtual events, including—from Friday night through January 29—opera. Based on Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Der Schulmeister,” this month’s performance of “Lesson Plan” is a lighthearted, operatic, and very meta take on the trials of online school, starring Brooklyn’s very own soprano Laquita Mitchell. Tickets for the e-shindig are $30 per device.

Yuck it up at an improv show
8:30 p.m.
Pick a random number from a hat, and tell an improvised monologue about your life when you were that age: that’s the premise for this weekend’s Age of Improv comedy show, with a line-up featuring a handful of New York’s top improv-ers and a musical interlude courtesy of Brooklynite comedian and songwriter Tim Platt. The show’s going down on Friday night at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective’s space in Williamsburg, with tickets starting at just $7.

Saturday, January 22

Get out with ‘NYC Winter Outing’
Times vary
Billed as a “bundle of offers to get you off the couch and living it up at attractions, restaurants, hotels and Broadway shows,” this city-sanctioned event is running through mid-February and offers plenty of Brooklyn options, from indulging in this month’s Restaurant Week deals to discounted behind-the-scenes tours of the city’s most famous landmarks. Check out our complete rundown of the various “NYC Winter Outing” happenings that can be found in the borough here.

Twerk out!
11 a.m.
Billed as a “Twerkout Workout Class,” this LGBTQ+ exercise program is offered to everyone regardless of their fitness level, and guarantees a host of fun ways to move your body and get in shape. It’s happening at trans-owned OutBox Gym on Meeker Avenue in Williamsburg, with tickets starting at just $15.

Disney on Ice
11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Disney on Ice’s “Let’s Celebrate” performance is traveling to Barclays Center this weekend, so gather the family for this all-ages variety act that includes beloved Disney characters from the likes of “Aladdin,” “Frozen,” “The Lion King” and more. The show is running all weekend, including three performances on Saturday; tickets start at just $20 for the 7 p.m. performance, or $30 for the earlier two.

Edit some genomes, because why not?
2 p.m.
Maybe Disney’s not for you. For a cool $490, or slightly less if you’re an educator or student, you can head into the lab at Sunset Park’s Genspace and get an intensive, hands-on crash course in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, transforming yeast DNA with the same revolutionary tools that scientists say can eliminate unwanted genes in humans. The only prerequisite here, other than having a bunch of liquid cash, is that you must have a base familiarity with lab protocols like pipetting and gel electrophoresis.

Unleash your inner Swiftie
11:55 p.m.
Whether you’re attempting to hex Jake Gyllenhall, or just emotionally reeling from the recent re-release of “Red (Taylor’s Version),” then this is the event for you. Dubbed “Swiftogeddon,” this late-night party at the Knitting Factory on Metropolitan Avenue is dedicated to all things Taylor with a soundtrack encompassing everything from the artist’s No. 1 hits to her most intimate deep cuts. Attendees must be 18 years or older; remaining tickets are $15 each.

Sunday, January 23

Try linocut printmaking
11 a.m.
Join Brooklyn artist Assata González for the first of three Sunday sessions this weekend to learn about—and attempt—linoleum cut block printing. Over the course of three weekends, guests will create, carve, and print their own unique designs with the end result being a zine that includes copies of everyone’s artwork. Advertised as appropriate for ages 12 and up, this $80 series of classes is taking place at Futureworks Makerspace in the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

Enjoy an outdoor ecology walk
1 p.m.
It’s going to be gorgeous on Sunday … Well, partly sunny and a bit above freezing, but we’ll take what we can get? Take advantage of the half-decent weather by joining the city’s Urban Park Rangers for a guided nature and history walk around Ridgewood Reservoir. (OK, fine, technically the reservoir itself is in Queens, but the closest subway stop is the Norwood Avenue J and Z line station in Cypress Hills, and the free walk takes place mere feet beyond our borough’s border.)

Brian Bahe: Reading From My Phone
5 p.m.
If you’re looking for a less traditional comedy act, check out indigenous comedian and self-styled “edgelord” Brian Bahe’s latest routine: one hour of stand-up about his phone and “all the dumb, wholesome, horny, stupid, crazy, sexy, cool things in it,” as well as, as the show’s title suggests, a good bit of reading directly from it. This 21-and-over show is taking place at Union Hall in Park Slope; general admission tickets are $10, with the event listing recommending an early arrival (doors open at 4:30 p.m.) to snag the best seats.