Activism, Literary Cocktails, 3D Film Fests, Live Music & More This Weekend

Get out and explore your favorite boro this weekend with our event guide from Ditmas Park to Marine Park. If you have an event to share, email us at

For a list of arts events in the Park Slope area, see our northern BK weekend guide here. If you have an event to share, email us at editor@bklyner.com.

Looking to join in with community activists tonight?

Kensington May Day Rally and Speak-out
When: Friday, April 28 from 6pm to 7pm
Where: Kensington Plaza, Church Avenue and Beverley Road at the Walgreens
What: Speak out on workers’ rights, climate change, healthcare reform, immigration reform, and any other pressing issues of the day at Occupy Kensington‘s May Day Rally and Speak-out.
How Much: Free

Ditmas Unity Night #3
When: Friday, April 28 from 5:30pm to 8pm
Where: P.S. 139 at 330 Rugby Road
What: Join PS 139, IS 62, and PS 217 for workshops on housing, immigrant rights, and coalition building. Reps from Legal Aid, ACLU, DRUM, The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, COPO, and more will be there. The event includes a free potluck dinner and childcare, with interpretation available in Bengali, Urdu, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
How much: Free, and bring a dish to shareLooking to kick back and hear some great music tonight?

Salsa music at Bar Chord
When: Friday, April 28 at 10pm
Where: Bar Chord, 1008 Cortelyou Road
What: Illegal Mezcal music series returns tonight with Grupo Descarillao playing salsa at your favorite neighborhood bar.
How much: Free but don’t forget drinks at the bar and tips for the musicians

Global music at The Owl
When: Friday, April 28 at 8pm (doors at 7:30)
Where: The Owl Music Parlor, 497 Rogers Avenue between Midwood and Maple Streets.
What: Check out the Persian Music Ensemble for global music infused with the lyrical poetry; Grammy-nominated guitarist Camila Celin; and tabla master Roshni Samlal.
How Much: $10 suggested donation.

Looking to get out of the house and explore the boro on Saturday?

Independent Bookstore day events
When: Saturday, April 29 10am to 9pm
Where: Greenlight Bookstore PLG, 632 Flatbush Avenue at Fenimore Street
What: Several family events throughout the day capped off by a literary cocktail party with authors as guest bartenders. Authors will be behind the bar serving their signature drink to partygoers, as well as chatting and signing books, for a party to cap off Independent Bookstore Day, featuring Hannah Tinti, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro and Garnette Cadogan.
How Much: Free

Sakura Matsuri | Cherry Blossom Festival
When: Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30, 10am to 6pm
Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 150 Eastern Parkway, 455 Flatbush Avenue, 990 Washington Avenue, Crown Heights
What: The popular annual event features the beautiful cherry blossoms at peak bloom along with more than 60 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture.
How Much: Tickets $30

Historic Coney Island walking tour
When: Saturday, April 29 at 1pm to 3pm (also May 13)
Where: Meet at Grimaldi’s, 1215 Surf Ave, but sign up first here
What: Join New York Local Tours and the Brooklyn Brainery to explore the Coney Island you’ve never seen, from the time of Sodom by the Sea, to the Nickel Empire, to the men and women working today to preserve Coney’s magical history.
How much: $25

VHS 3D Movie Festival in Coney Island
When: Saturday, April 29 at 8pm
Where: Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Avenue at West 12th Street
What: The Museum of Interesting Things screens excerpts from the coolest and cheesiest movies of all time on 3D VHS. Witness antiques from the history of 3D, too!
How much: $10

Here Lie The Secrets Of The Visitors Of Green-Wood Cemetery
When: Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30, 12pm to 5pm
Where: Green-Wood Cemetery, 25th Street & 5th Avenue entrance, Sunset Park
What: The launch of world-renowned French multi-media artist Sophie Calle’s 25-year installation where she invites visitors to write their secrets onto a slip of paper and insert them into a marble obelisk she designed. She will return every few years for the next quarter century to collect the secrets and cremate them in a ceremonial bonfire.
How Much: Free

Dia Circus Celebration in Brighton Beach
When: Saturday, April 29 at 3:30pm
Where: Brighton Beach Public Library, 16 Brighton First at Brightwater Court
What: Celebrate Día with Clowns Arkasha and Natasha from Russia performing fantastic feats of juggling and magic, from the Moscow Circus to the Brighton Beach Library!
How much: Free

Soup & Sound – Jason Kao Hwang SING HOUSE CD release
When: Saturday, April 29 at 8pm
Where: 292 Lefferts Avenue between Nostrand & Rogers Avenues
What: Check out accomplished violinist Jason Kao Hwang’s CD release featuring Hwang on violin/viola, Steve Swell on trombone, Chris Forbes on piano, Ken Filiano on bass, and Andrew Drury on drums.
How Much: $20 suggested donation, soup offered at no extra charge (while supplies last). Feel free to bring some food or drink to share (BYOB).

In The Heat Of The Night
When: Saturday, April 29, 8pm
Where: Kingsborough Community College, Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Manhattan Beach
What: Adapted from the award-winning book, the play examines racial tensions in a small Alabama town in 1962. A discussion with the artists will follow the performance.
How Much: Tickets $32 – $37