13 things to do in Brooklyn this weekend

By Daniel Karel

Let’s be honest, the biggest Pride events of the weekend will be popping off in the borough across the river. That said, there is plenty to do in Brooklyn this weekend (just like every weekend). This weekend’s highlights include art exhibitions, an underground cabaret, comedy shows, activities in Prospect Park, flea markets and a special outdoor screening of 1920s cartoons.

The full rundown:

Friday, June 25

“We are Nature,” a Pride Eco-Party
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A climate-conscious Pride party, “We are Nature” will feature drag queens, a queer “eco-comedy” performance, and music by the Pinc Louds. The event is taking place at 520 Kingsland Avenue in Greenpoint, and runs from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. $20 tickets must be purchased in advance.

Apollo’s Gayze
6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
There’s a little bit of everything at Apollo’s Gayze [sic], a Pride art gallery slash dance party: live model drawing, beats by the DJ duo Nostrovia, a handful of LGBTQ+ artists showing their work, and a performance by drag queen Gina Tonic. The party kicks off at 6 p.m. and runs all the way until 4 a.m. Tickets start at $20 and jump to $30 after midnight. Bring your dancing shoes.

Friday Night Bites
5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday Night Bites sets up camp once a week at 426 President Street, right on the edge of the Gowanus Canal. More than 10 food trucks roll onto the site, which features live music, adult carnival games, a bonfire, and a bouncy house for the little ones. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and tickets go for only $10. BYOB.

Saturday, June 26

Tai Chi & QiGong at Prospect Park with Qi Tao of Brooklyn
9:30 to 10:40 a.m.
Work off that hangover and ground yourself with a restorative tai chi and qigong session at Prospect Park, hosted by Qi Tao of Brooklyn. These ancient Chinese practices are associated with a host of physical and mental health benefits. Tap in for $10, between 9:30 and 10:40 a.m.

BK Queer Flea at Time Out Market New York
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
All weekend long, BK Queer Flea will be taking over the first floor of Time Out Market New York, located at 55 Water Street in Dumbo. On Saturday, Jodi Foster (a duo of DJs—sadly, not the actress) and DJ Muumuse will be playing bops, and the long list of vendors includes Aliens of Brooklyn, Bella Chadwick, But Is She A Friend Tho, and Felix III. The Market is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ukuladies at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse
5 to 8:30 p.m.
Are you really going to miss a show by a band called the Ukuladies? This Saturday, the folk music four-piece will be plucking away at ukes and fiddles at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club boathouse from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The event is part of Creekers Jamboree, an ongoing celebration of Roots and Americana music, taking place on the final Saturday of every month this Summer. There’s no cover charge or entrance free, but don’t be stingy — donations are encouraged.

The Underground Cabaret at DeKalb Market Hall
7:30 to 10 p.m.
Craving cabaret? Get your fix at The Underground Cabaret this Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at DeKalb Market Hall. The show will feature flying aerialists, marquee burlesque performers, circus stars and variety acts. Tickets run for $135, and come with a 3-course Mediterranean dinner, courtesy of Miznon NYC.

Pride Roller Disco Party at The LeFrak Center, Prospect Park
8 to 11 p.m.
Lace up your skates for what’s being called the “gay roller disco of your dreams.” This Saturday, Pride Roller Disco Party will take place at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park from 8-11 p.m. Tickets are going for $22.50 and selling fast, but a limited number will be available at the door if they sell out. DJ Robinette will be spinning disco bangers, and the open-air venue will feature a full bar with a food menu.

Top Five Comedy Show hosted by Grant Sheffield at Thee Knitting Factory
8 to 10 p.m.
New York-based comedian Grant Sheffield rounded up five top-tier comics for “a night full of laughs and good vibes.” The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn, where Fumi Abe, Atheer Yacoub, Michael Rowland, Jay Jurden, JJ Matise, and two special guests will take turns rocking the mic. Tickets are only $20, which makes this an excellent date night option.

Sunday, June 27

Prospect Park Super Hike
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
How familiar are you, really, with Prospect Park? Over the course of this two hour “moderate” intensity hike, Urban Park Ranger guides will give you a crash course on the park’s history and ecological minutia. The meet-up spot is Park Circle at 10 a.m. If you have questions, give the NYC Parks Department a call at (646) 398-1479. Free to attend.

Brooklyn Flea
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Vintage clothes, antiques, trinkets, collectibles, delicious food—the Brooklyn Flea is back and it still has it all, which is why it’s been running strong for 13 years (with the exception of a pandemic blip). Find it by the Manhattan Bridge Archway at 80 Pearl St, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. Up to 50 vendors will be on-site.

The Slipstream: Reflection, Resilience, and Resistance in the Art of Our Time
11 a.m.
This exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum is aimed at helping viewers find catharsis after “the profound disruption that occurred in 2020.” More than 60 artworks are on display, many by artists of color, focusing on themes ranging from family ties to collective power. Tickets are being sold in 15-minute increments, and prices range from $16 for adults to free for humans under 19.

Cartoon Carnival at The City Reliquary
7 p.m.
Classic cartoons from the 1920s through the 40s, screened in retro 16mm film, will play in the backyard of The City Reliquary on Sunday night. The show will be preceded by a happy hour, starting at 7 p.m.. Cartoons start rolling at 8:15. With a tip of the hat to Pride Month, some of the shorts will feature “brief cameos from queer-coded characters.” Tickets are being sold for $15.