Stoop stories and secret jazz: 10 things to do the weekend of Sept 17

By Mags Chmielarczyk

Go stargazing in Bushwick, immerse yourself in opera for trees, or party with emerging jazz talent at a mystery location.

Here’s the roundup:

Friday, September 17

Bushwick Open Studios 2021
6 to 10 p.m.
Bushwick Open Studios, a yearly multi-media artist festival produced by Arts In Bushwick, is opening this weekend. Download the BOS app to access an interactive map of film screenings, art exhibitions, and independent vendors. The official opening celebration is at 49 Wyckoff Ave on Friday with a $10 admission, and the festival continues throughout the weekend.

Mr, Eazi with Bembona and AJO
6 p.m.
BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival wraps up this weekend with Afrobeat superstar Mr Eazi at the Prospect Park Bandshell. According to BRIC, “his charisma will light the Bandshell on fire.” This free event is first come, first serve and capacity is limited.

Autumn Starfest 2021
7 to 10 p.m.
Join the Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) of New York at their annual Fall Starfest, an evening of free public stargazing at The Evergreens Cemetery in Bushwick. AAA members will share views through their telescopes of planets, star clusters, double stars, and more! Register beforehand for a chance to win free raffle prizes.

Afterlife New York: Tale Of Us, Stephan Bodzin, Chris Liebing & More
9 p.m.
The ethereal sounds of Afterlife return to The Brooklyn Mirage + Avant Gardner this Friday. With Tale Of Us showcasing their uniquely transcendent techno, the label’s return to New York City is not to be missed. Tickets start at $69 and are selling fast.

Saturday, September 18

The Last Stand: An Experimental Opera for Trees
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Prospect Park unveils artist Kamala Sankaram’s first public artwork, “The Last Stand,” an experimental opera and sound installation for trees. This immersive exhibit tracks the life of a tree from acorn to death and invites audiences to consider the complex life cycle of one of our most vital natural resources. The Last Stand is located in Nethermead meadow and on view through October 10th.

Stoop Stories: City Kids Photoville Festival 2021
2 to 6 p.m.
Stoop Stories is a documentary storytelling project that shares the personal experiences of New Yorkers through imagery and first-person narratives, straight from their stoops. As an extension to their Brooklyn Children’s Museum exhibit, Stoop Stories is presenting an outdoor companion piece for Photoville Festival 2021—a celebration of city kids and stoop play. This free, family-focused community event will be held in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Pier 1’s Harborview Lawn.

The Brooklyn Americana Music Festival
3 to 7 p.m.
The Brooklyn Americana Music Festival returns in-person this weekend at Pier 6 Liberty Lawn. Featured musicians span a range of genres, including country, folk, blues, old time, bluegrass, and jazz. This event is free and open to the public! Learn more about the lineup.

Sunday, September 19

BWAC Fall Exhibition Opening
1 to 6 p.m.
Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC), located in a massive warehouse in Redhook, is hosting an opening reception for three new exhibitions: “Threads That Bind” (When the Fabric of Social Culture Unravels), “Recycle 2021,” and “Hello, Brooklyn!” Free and open to the public.

The Jazz Exchange Secret Show
5 to 8 p.m.
Looking to add a little mystique to your weekend? The Jazz Exchange is hosting a secret show in Brooklyn with performances from two mystery artists: a talented trombonist and award-winning singer. The exact address is revealed 24 hours before the show once you have purchased your tickets ($35).

Comedy at the Knit
8 p.m.
Originally started by Hannibal Buress, The Knitting Factory’s Sunday comedy show is now hosted by a trio of some of the fastest rising comics in the city: Sydnee Washington, Marie Faustin and Aminah Imani. Lineups change weekly with frequent surprise drop-ins from comedy’s biggest stars. Tickets are $10