Park Slope Planner: The Best Events April 30-May 3
It’s a weekend packed with fun events in the neighborhood, from Independent Bookstore Day to citizen-guided walking tours, from art openings to not one but two crawfish boils, and more — get the full details below!
Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Check out our children’s events listing!
Art Reception: True Colors
When: Thursday, April 30, 6-9pm
Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw Street
What: What you see isn’t always what you get, which is a concept explored in this exhibition by two Brooklyn artists, Natale Adgnot and Edward Granger.
How much: Free!
Shape Up NYC: Cardio Toning
When: Friday, May 1, 12pm
Where: Audubon Center, Prospect Park
What: Shape up your core with a free cardio class in Prospect Park that will combine strength, balance, and toning exercises. No reservation is required, but it is recommended that you bring a workout mat.
How much: Free!
Jane’s Walks
When: Friday, May 1-Sunday, May 3, various times
Where: Various locations — see the map here
What: Awesome, citizen-led walking tours honoring the spirit of Jane Jacobs. We’ve got a few in our area, including at the Central Library, Prospect Park, and through Gowanus.
How much: Free!
Fat Boy Reception
When: Friday, May 1, 5-7pm
Where: Lawn near PPW and 5th Street
What: Celebrate the instillation of Leonard Ursachi’s sculpture Fat Boy, on display through November 2015, with an opening reception. If you’re bringing the kids, make sure they don’t climb all over the artwork.
How much: Free!
Coffee Bark
When: Saturday, May 2, 7-9am
Where: Meadow beside the Picnic House (Enter at PPW and 3rd Street)
What: Saturday is supposed to be a sunny 64 degrees, so bring the pups out for a little fun in Prospect Park. FIDO will be out there with treats for dogs (and their owners), as well as information on off-leash activities. Additionally, this month North Slope Veterinary‘s practice owner/veterinarian Dr. Chris Gaylord will host an “Ask the Vet” Q&A session to answer any questions people may have about their dogs (and cats!).
How much: Free!
Independent Bookstore Day
When: Saturday, May 2, 9am-8pm
Where: Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue
What: You love Community Bookstore, so show it on this awesome day! Stop in throughout the day when they’ll be offering bagels and prizes (9am), storytime (9:30am), a Mad Scientist Party with Jon Scieszka for kids ages 8-12 (11am), and then Felix Harr in discussion with Paul Auster and William Corbett (7pm). There will also be free Sixpoint beer available all day — but don’t get too tipsy and forget to buy some books!
How much: Free!
Get Fit Or Be Hacking
When: Saturday, May 2, 2-7pm
Where: CrossFit South Brooklyn, 597 Degraw Street
What: Join a hybrid fitness and coding competition to raise money for the New York City Foundation for Computer Science.
How much: $20 registration fee.
Kentucky Derby Party
When: Saturday, May 2, 2pm
Where: Union Hall, 702 Union Street
What: Start the day with some races showing beginning at 2pm, then the big one at 6pm. They’ll have mint juleps, of course, plus and specialty whiskey cocktails, plus giveaways, corn-hole toss, and bocce, and $100 cash money to the best hat and best suite respectively!
How much: No cover.
Cinco De Mayo 5k Run
When: Sunday, May 3, 11am
Where: Prospect Park
What: The 18th annual run benefits indigenous children in Mexico, and aims to promote fitness and keeping active.
How much: $30 registration fee; children 14 and under run for free.
Food Truck Rally
When: Sunday, May 3, 11am-5pm
Where: Grand Army Plaza
What: Have the munchies? Stop by Prospect Park on Sunday, and nosh on goodies from some of the city’s best food trucks.
Gifted Mom Pop-Up
When: Sunday, May 3, 12-5pm
Where: Taro’s Origami Studio, 95 7th Avenue
What: Find a Mother’s Day gift (or something for yourself from among these eco-friendly, Brooklyn-made, organic, and natural products. Plus there’s a raffle, with proceeds going to the local non-profit CHiPS, in which you can win a basket of goodies for $250.
How much: No cover.
Crawfish Boil
When: Sunday, May 3, 1-7pm
Where: Threes Brewing, 333 Douglass Street
What: It’s a tale of two crawfish boils this weekend (in which everyone’s a winner, because you’ll be full of crawfish). First up is the first annual edition at the new brewery, where $25 gets you a bucket of crawfish and a pint of beer, with seatings at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm, and NOLA style brass from 2-7pm.
How much: $25, tickets available in advance.
Crawfish Boil
When: Sunday, May 3, 2-6pm
Where: Mission Dolores, 249 4th Avenue
What: In their second-annual event, they”ll be cooking up those tasty crawdads New Orleans-style in the courtyard, and will have a slew of beers from Abita to go with them.
How much: No cover, and pay as you eat/drink.