BKLYNER Weekend Events Spotlight: December 30-January 2
New Year’s Eve events are the name of the game this weekend. Be safe, enjoy, and we wish you a tremendous 2017. If you have an event to share, email us at editor@bklyner.com.
THE SLOPE | GOWANUS | CARROLL GARDENS | DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
Nightly Menorah Lighting at Grand Army Plaza
When: Nightly through December 31 (check site for times)
Where: Corner of 3rd Street and Prospect Park
What: The premiere Largest Menorah lighting of Brooklyn has been happening every Chanukah for over 25 years. Each night of Chanukah enjoy live music, hot latkes, and gifts for the children.
Karaoke Tremendous
When: Friday, December 30 at 12am
Where: Union Hall 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue
What: Check out the newest incarnation of the supportive and energetic karaoke dance party with Jeremy (Sir Jarlsberg) Gibson and Lord Easy.
How much: Free
Run-in the New Year: Brooklyn Road Runner’s Fun Run
When: Saturday, December 31 at 11:15pm (Check in and late registration begins at 8pm)
Where: Prospect Park entrance at 9th Street & Prospect Park West
What: Join the Brooklyn Road Runners for their 21st annual 3 mile (5K) run to ring in the new year, complete with a champagne toast, hot chocolate, t-shirts, glowsticks, and great views of the Prospect Park fireworks.
How much: $35, register online here.
See You Never, 2016! A Benefit for The Brooklyn Community Pride Center organized by Dr. Medicine
When: Friday, December 31, 8pm
Where: Jalopy, 315 Columbia Street (Between Hamilton and Woodhull), Carroll Gardens
What: 2016 was all sorts of weird– let’s say goodbye and bring in the new year with killer music and vibes! All proceeds benefit the LGBTQ+ community and The Brooklyn Community Pride Center.
How much: $10, purchase tickets online.
Party at your park: NYE Fireworks in Prospect Park: 150 Year anniversary
When: Saturday, December 31 from 11pm–12:30am
Where: Grand Army Plaza (also see fireworks at the Park’s West Drive, and on Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street).
What: Celebrate NYE in your favorite Brooklyn park, which also happens to be celebrating its 150th anniversary. This Prospect Park fireworks show comes with free hot chocolate and live DJ music, sponsored by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams & the Prospect Park Alliance. RSVP here.
How much: Free
New Year’s Ice Menorah Lighting
When: Friday, December 31 at 12:15am following the fireworks
Where: Grand Army Plaza
What: If you are going out to the park for the New Year’s fireworks, be sure to check out the Ice Menorah lighting just after midnight (following the fireworks) at the corner of 3rd St. and Prospect Park West. Ring in the New Year with hot drinks, a cold Menorah and a Midnight Chanukah experience.
Drop it Like It’s Hot: Awesome Aughts dance party at Union Hall
When: Saturday, December 31 at 10pm (doors at 8:30pm)
Where: Union Hall, 702 Union Street.
What: Feeling nostalgic for a simpler time (or perhaps a time who’s problems you’ve suppressed, ALA Veep?) Join DJ Steve Reynolds for a night of the best pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, and dance music from the first half of the 2000s.
How much: $5 tickets at the door
Dance Party of the Year: The RUB NYE dance party
When: Saturday, December 31 at 10pm.
Where: The Bell House, 149 7th Street.
What: Dance your heart out with music by DJ Eleven, DJ Ayres, & special guests, and toast with free champagne at midnight.
How much: $60.00, or $20 after 1am (space permitting).
Deck the Walls: Gifts by Artists
When: On view through January 1, 2017
Where: Ground Floor Gallery, 343 5th Street near 5th Avenue
What: A holiday show of gifts, made by local artists.
How much: Handmade gifts, mostly under $100.
Downtown Brooklyn Legends Art Gallery
When: Through December 31, regular hours listed here.
Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street at Clinton Street
What: They say you can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been. No matter the era, Downtown Brooklyn has always been at the center of Brooklyn’s renaissance, as it evolved from a turn-of-the-century shopping destination to a mecca for hip hop culture, and now, the most famous borough in the world. This Downtown Brooklyn Legends Popup Gallery helps to tell the rich history of the area in a way that speaks to people’s hearts as much as their minds. The hardworking Brooklynites of the past made this borough what it is today, and through the work of these 21 artists, we are telling key stories as Brooklyn speeds into the future. Brought to you by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in collaboration with Grumpy Bert Gallery and the Brooklyn Historical Society.
How much: Admission rates are listed here.
Wonderland, an exhibition
When: Through Friday, December 30. Special Gallery Hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 12pm-7pm; Sundays, 12pm-5pm
Where: The Invisible Dog, 51 Bergen Street, between Boerum Place and Smith Street
What: Wonderland brings together more than 20 of our favorite artists that you know and love, artists we’ve recently discovered.Much like the rabbit hole, there is no telling what you will discover—paintings, photographs, sculptures, and illustrations—but we are sure you’ll find something to take home with you.
How much: Free.
Winter Flea Holiday Market
When: Saturday and Sundays through March 2017, 10am-6pm
Where: One Hanson Place, Fort Greene
What: Brooklyn Flea moves indoors for the Winter Flea + Holiday Market with 75 vintage/antique/other vendors plus 25 Smorgasburg vendors selling food every Saturday + Sunday, 10am-6pm. The 2016/2017 market is open at Skylight One Hanson in Fort Greene. $1 admission, children under 16 get in free.
DITMAS PARK:
The Crimson Ragdolls, & Eva Salina and Peter Stan at the Owl
When: Friday, December 30 at 8pm.
Where: The Owl Music Parlor, 497 Rogers Avenue between Midwood and Maple Streets.
What: Enjoy a pre-NYE party with the old-timey stylings of the Crimson Ragdolls followed by Balkan and Romanian-inspired musicians Eva Salina and Peter Stan.
How much: $10 suggested donation.
NYE party with Alegba & Friends at Bar Chord
When: Saturday, December 31 at 10:40pm.
Where: Bar Chord, 1008 Cortelyou Road between Coney Island Avenue and Stratford Road.
What: Looking for an awesome show that won’t leave you broke this NYE? Join the Afro/Caribbean New Year’s Eve Party complete with a champagne toast, hats, noisemakers, and of course, great tunes.
How much: No cover charge — even on New Year’s Eve!
NYE Fireworks in Prospect Park
When: Saturday, December 31 at 11pm.
Where: Prospect Park Grand Army Plaza
What: Join the Prospect Park Alliance and Borough President Eric Adams for a fireworks celebration featuring free hot chocolate, and live DJ music. For more borough-wide NYE events, see our full party list here.
How much: Free
CONEY ISLAND:
Brew Year’s Eve at Coney Island Brewery
When: Saturday, December 31 from 9pm–2am
Where: Coney Island Brewery, 1904 Surf Avenue
What: Sample craft beer and delicious eats from local legends at Gargiulo’s, and get a first taste of the brewery’s exclusive New Years brew, ‘Never Sleeps’ – alongside their 7 seasonal styles.
How much: $75 includes 4 Beer tokens, food from Gargiulo’s, a gift bag, and 1/2 price pints until midnight
Coney Island NYE Fireworks & Party
When: Saturday, December 31, family events begin at 6pm, performances start at 10pm.
Where: Coney Island’s Riegelmann Boardwalk
What: Coney Island’s famous NYE party (sponsored by Borough President Eric Adams and Coney Island Alliance) features free ice skating; free rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel and the Thunderbolt; live music and performances; a parachute jump; the ball drop; and fireworks over the beach.
How much: Free
Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge
When: Sunday, January 1 at 1pm sharp (arrive early)
Where: Boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island.
What: Join costumed characters, oddballs, thrill-seekers, bearded hipsters, lunatics, and veteran cold-water swimmers in this 113-year-old tradition of jumping into the Atlantic ocean on New Year’s Day. Read a first-hand account of taking the plunge here. Bring warm clothes and a towel!
How much: Free to plunge, but the Polar Bear Club asks participants to make a $40 suggested donation to benefit Camp Sunshine. Comes with free MCU parking and aquarium admission.
BENSONHURST:
Saturday Storytime: Noon Year’s Eve Party for kids
When: Saturday, December 31 at 11:30am
Where: New Utrecht Library at 1743 86th Street
What: Looking for a way to celebrate NYE with your kids (who might not be able to stay awake until midnight?) Check out this special version of Saturday Storytime at the library, featuring books, songs, and a countdown to 12 o’clock…noon!
How much: Free
NYE Party at the Owl’s Head
When: Saturday, December 31 from 5pm to 1am
Where: The Owl’s Head Bar at 479 74th Street
What: Enjoy wine, beer, bites and the countdown projected on the wall, pls all the silly hats and streamers to make this the best send off to 2016.
How much: FREE, no cover!