Park Slope Weekday Events Spotlight: December 14-16

goths - morbid anatomy
Talk Goth Subculture at Morbid Anatomy Museum, Monday at 8pm. (Photo courtesy of Morbid Anatomy Museum)

Christmas is approaching! This is one of the busiest times of the year, and you should take advantage of these great events. Our picks include a free Star Wars viewing (of course), gothic art and fashion, and comedy to cure your holiday anxiety! Below are some of our favorite events from around the area.

For even more things to do around Brooklyn, and to add your own upcoming events (some of which we’ll feature in this roundup in the future!), check out our calendar.

A Desire for Dramaticism: Semiotics of the 1980s Goth Subculture, An Illustrated Lecture with Andi Harriman
When: Monday, December 14, 8:00pm
Where: Morbid Anatomy Museum, 424 3rd Avenue (at 7th Street)
What: Through art and fashion, certain cues were constructed and designed to communicate the goth subculture to the public eye based on visuals alone. These cues, or semiotics, were essential factors in the 1980s goth community — a bricolage of dark elements that created powerful symbols and indicators of the movement. Goth’s steadfast dedication to macabre and gloomy aesthetics proved to be a profound devotion of its members, reflecting in their makeup, clothing, accessories, and artwork such as album covers or flyers. This discussion will be a visual journey through the beginnings of goth up to the early 1990s, a dramatic assemblage of the beautiful and the grotesque.
How much: $12, tickets available in advance.

Tango Dance Classes
When: Monday, December 14, 8:30-11:00pm
Where: Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West, between 1st and 2nd Streets.
What: Come join us, keep warm, dance and share our community table! With Malevaje Tango and Friends of Argentina Tango.
How much: $15 for full session / class & practica, $10 Class only, $10 Practica only.

Halyards Cinemateque – Star Wars, Episode VI, Return of the Jedi
When: Tuesday, December 15, 8:00pm
Where: Halyard’s, 406 3rd Avenue at 6th Street
What: Get ready for the new Stars Wars release in December by re-watching the previous films in the series. With free popcorn, and $8 Dark and Stormy cocktails.
How much: Free.

Music for Brass and Strings
When: Tuesday, December 15, 7:00pm
Where: ShapeShifter Lab, 18 Whitwell Place (between 1st and Carroll Streets)
What: Bands include Nadje Noorduis Quintet (7:00pm), Josh Deutsch’s Pannonia (8:15pm), and the Andy Clausen’s Shutter Project (9:30pm).
How much: $10, at the door.

TinyRhino: Holiday Hangover
When: Tuesday, October 27, 7:30pm (doors), 8:00pm (show)
Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues)
What: TinyRhino is a Theatrical Drinking Game. It is also UglyRhino’s take on the ten-minute play festival. Every month they commission six playwrights to write new plays, each including the same five dramatic elements. If you join them for TinyRhino, you’ll be given a list of these elements. They might show up at any time, in any order, and with any frequency. When they do show up, do you know what that means?! DRINK!! Every TinyRhino also features music, drink specials, and a cocktail hour following the performance.
How much: $10 in advance.

NIME: New Interfaces for Musical Expression
When: Wednesday, December 15, 7:00pm (Doors) and 8:00 (Show)
Where: The Bell House, 149 7th Street (at 2nd Avenue)
What: New Interfaces for Musical Expression, also known as NIME, is an international conference dedicated to scientific research on the development of new technologies for musical expression and artistic performance. ITP NIME is a graduate course at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program following the spirit of the conference. In ITP’s fourteenth annual NIME show, performers will play a series of newly invented instruments that reimagine the creation and performance of digital music.
How much: $10. Tickets available here.

Grand Army Plaza Tree Lighting
When: Wednesday, December 16, 4-5pm
Where: Grand Army Plaza
What: Still haven’t gotten your fill of Christmas tree lightings? Join Our Lady of Refuge Church and the Catholic Churches of Brooklyn as they officially light the Grand Army Plaza tree.
How much: Free.