13 things to do in Brooklyn this weekend: from Steve Aoki to bunny adoptions

By Daniel Karel

The ancient Egyptians associated this hazy, lazy time of summer with the annual flooding of the Nile; the Greeks with thunderstorms, bad luck, lethargy and fever. But in modern Brooklyn, it signals another weekend of events worth packing into your calendar: emo-themed karaoke nights, sprawling art fairs, Oktoberfest-inspired beer festivals, secret speakeasies and speed dating on our borough’s bridge.

Check the rundown:

Friday, July 23

The Other Art Fair
12 to 10 p.m.
Don’t be fooled by the understated name: The Other Art Fair, which is taking over the Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble Street) this weekend, is filled with some of the best undiscovered and emerging talent in the art world. Friday hours are 12 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. General Entry ticket costs $15. Brooklyn Magazine will be hosting a booth, so swing by and say what up!

Live at the Archway — Miss Tess
5 to 7 p.m.
Miss Tess weaves blues, jazz, rock and roll, and country music into a rousing sonic patchwork, enjoyable for free between 5 and 7 p.m. this Friday under the Archway in Dumbo. This performance is the latest in the Happy Hour Concert Series, curated by Jan Bell of the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival.

Emo Night Karaoke
9 p.m.
Those angsty teenage years belting Taking Back Sunday with your friends was not for naught: showcase your skills at Emo Night Karaoke, starting at 9 p.m. at Bushwick Public House. Tickets are going for $13.50.

Saturday, July 24

Adopt a Bunny Event
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Meet the buns, hun. This rabbit adoption event will go down at 475 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg. See their current roster of hoppy adoptables here.

North Greenpoint Pollinator Pathway Care
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Calling all green thumbs! The Newtown Creek Alliance is hosting their monthly get together to care for the meadows around Manhattan Avenue’s Street End Park (1200 Manhattan Avenue) in Greenpoint. Support and tend to the area’s native plants from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free to attend.

Youth Book Club
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Any young readers in your household? The Youth Book Club, taking place at Brooklyn Community Services (1835 Sterling Place), will gather from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss books and art with children between the ages of 10 and 13. Shoot an email to ms.diamondsbookclub@gmail.com to register.

Yoga with Tracy Balzano at BWAC
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Yoga instructor Tracy Balzano will host this “gentle(ish)” yoga class at the BWAC art studios in Red Hook. The hour-long session, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., is free to attend but a $10 donation is encouraged. Remember to bring your own mats and props!

Desert Hearts at The Brooklyn Mirage
7 p.m.
The popular West Coast house music and techno party is now bicoastal. The two-stage, 12-hour open-air festival is popping up at The Brooklyn Mirage, starting at 7 p.m., and will feature over a dozen artists including Chelina Manuhutu and Francisco Allendes, Dennis Ferrer, Joshua Butler and Lee Reynolds. Tickets start at $40.

Craft Beer Festival in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard
1 to 4:30 p.m. or 6 to 9:30 p.m.
With over 100 styles of beer to sample at the Oktoberfest-inspired Craft Beer Festival, it’s practically guaranteed you’ll leave the Brooklyn Naval Yard feeling a bit wobbly. Book tickets ($15 to $60) for Session 1, between 1 and 4:30 p.m., or Session 2, between 6 to 9:30 p.m. There will be live music, food, and interactive games on-site.

Singles Date Walk on the Brooklyn Bridge
6 to 8 p.m.
Sick of swiping? This “Date Walk” over the Brooklyn Bridge will introduce you to a handful of other available Brooklynites. Groups rotate every 10 minutes or so, making sure everyone gets equal face time. Spots are very limited, and can be booked for $15-20. Geared for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

The Bed-Stuy Annual Art Crawl
1 to 5 p.m.
STooPS 8th annual Bed-Stuy Art Crawl (398 Hancock Street) is more than a block party — it’s a community-building event featuring theater performances, music, visual art, spoken word poetry and workshops. Host Naima Mora, onetime winner of America’s Next Top Model, will be the master of ceremonies. The free-to-attend event runs from 1 to 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 25

Steve Aoki at The Brooklyn Mirage
4 p.m.
Steve Aoki is one of the world’s most popular (and highest paid) DJs for a reason. The living legend will be headlining an event at The Brooklyn Mirage this Sunday, accompanied by Vini Vici, ARMNHMR, Callie Reiff, EXSSV, and HARBER. Doors open at 4p.m., and tickets start at $54.

Awesome ‘80s Secret Speakeasy at The Museum of Interesting Things
7 to 9 p.m.
Miss the 80s? The Museum of Interesting things is hosting this “Awesome ‘80s Secret Speakeasy,” an all-ages event from 7 to 10:30 p.m. The event is less party and more nostalgia trip, stocked with vintage ephemera. Tickets go for $10. Don’t be afraid to bring your pet rock.