Champagne Tasting, Classical Fusion, Self-Defense & More This Weekend In Ditmas Park

(Photo via artofwjd / instagram)
(Photo via artofwjd / instagram)

The weekend is finally here and we’d like to help you have a great one just blocks from your home. Whether you’re hungry for theater, music, or early morning bird watching — this is your spot for the hottest weekend events in (and around) Ditmas Park. If you have an event to share, email us at editor@ditmasparkcorner.com.

$5 Friday Self-Defense class in Kensington
When: Friday, November 4 at 6:30pm.
Where: Blitz Dojo, 412 Church Avenue between East 3rd and East 4th Streets.
What: There’s no time like the present to start building your self-defense skills at this sample workshop hosted by Victoria Thurau.
How Much: $5

Craig Dreyer & Fiends at Bar Chord
When: Friday, November 4 at 10pm.
Where: Bar Chord, 1008 Cortelyou Road, between Coney Island Avenue and Stratford Road.
What: Catch original soul & funky rock n’ roll with Craig Dreyer & the Fiends.
How Much: Free show, but don’t forget to buy drinks at the bar.

Saturday:

(Photo Credit: Virginia Freire)
(Photo Credit: Virginia Freire)

Lucio’s Retirement Party
When: Saturday, November 5, 11:45am-1:00pm.
Where: Prospect Park Carousel, 95 Prospect Park West.
What: Prospect Park will lose a popular, long-time fixture when Lucio Schiavone retires as carousel manager in December after 26 years of service. Come celebrate Lucio with a ceremony and names a favorite carousel horse “Lucio” in his honor. Free carousel rides will be offered from noon to 1pm.
How much: Free. Please register online.

Flight Quilt Show
When: Saturday, November 5 from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Where: Prospect Park, Lefferts Historic House.
What: Join the Prospect Park Alliance to see the wonderful work of The Brooklyn Quilters’ Guild, featuring original creations range from traditional to contemporary to mixed media fiber art. Try your hand at making your own paper quilt collage or add to our community paper patchwork quilt.
How Much: $3 suggested donation.

Speech & Debate, a thesis show by Stephen Karam
When: Saturday, November 5 at 2pm.
Where: Brooklyn College, the New Workshop Theater Whitman Theater
What: Come see a wickedly dark comedy written by Stephen Karam, whose play The Humans won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. Speech & Debate is a story of students who form a club to deal with a hypocritical culture, prepared to “stay in the closet” by any means necessary while exposing and unraveling their own sexual identities.
How Much: Students $10, General Admission $12

Osso Quartet: Classical and Pop fusion at The Owl Music Parlor
When: Saturday, November 5 at 8pm (doors at 7:30pm).
Where: The Owl Music Parlour, 497 Rogers Avenue between Midwood and Maple Streets.
What: Check out this truly unique quartet that fuses the classical sensibilities of a string quartet with the pulse of pop culture. Osso has spent the past twelve years touring, performing, and recording with artists such as Jay­Z, Kanye West, John Legend, The National, My Brightest Diamond, and Sufjan Stevens.
How Much: $10 suggested donation.

Deseos: Stories of Longing and Desire at Brooklyn College
When: Saturday, November 5 at 8pm.
Where: Brooklyn College Center for the Performing Arts Whitman Theatre, 2900 Avenue H.
What: Tango company Estampas Porteñas presents Deseos: Stories of Longing and Desire told through Argentine Tango and Music, a celebration of tango, malambo of the gauchos, and musical styles that range from the melancholic to celebratory.
How Much: Tickets range between $36-$55.

Sparkling PLG ’16 – A Champagne Tasting Event
When: Saturday, November 5 from 5pm to 9pm.
Where: 492 Flatbush Avenue, between Empire Boulevard and Lefferts Avenue.
What: Meet your neighbors, sip champagne, and taste local food provided by local chef Bryan Lyndsay (Sacred Chef & Company), and dance to live music.
How Much: Free.

Sunday:

Photo via Steven Pisano / flickr
Photo via Steven Pisano / flickr

TCS NYC Marathon
When: Sunday, November 6 (street closures span from 8am to 6:30pm)
Where: Check out local road closures here.
What: The New York City Marathon returns this year. The event attracts about 50,000 runners and more than a million spectators throughout the five boroughs, so expect massive crowds on the roads.
How Much: Free to watch, check out a spectator guide here

Early Morning Bird Walk: Feathered Friends
When: Sunday, November 6 from 8am to 9am.
Where: Prospect Park, Audubon Center.
What: It’s not too late to see feathered friends in the park, including chickadees, Northern Shovelers and species of ducks that spend the winter in the lake. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.
How Much: Free

Uni pop-up Library at the Avenue C Plaza
When: Sunday, November 6, 12pm to 4pm.
Where: The Avenue C Plaza, at the corner of Avenue C and McDonald Avenue.
What: Read, draw and play at Uni Library’s pop-up library and game center at the Avenue C plaza in Kensington.
How Much: Free

Almost Presidential Trolley Tour
When: Sunday, November 6, 2pm to 4pm
Where: Green-Wood Cemetery.
What: Feeling pre-election anxiety? Get some historical perspective on this last Sunday of the 2016 election cycle, Green-Wood provides stories and insight into of the campaigns of yore. Rain or shine!
How Much: $20 for members of Green-Wood, $25 for non-members.