Things To Do In Ditmas Park This Weekend

No matter what the weather gets up to this weekend, there are still oodles of fantastic events in and around Ditmas Park. Do some yoga, buy a book on botany, watch live music, or browse local art–whatever you do, just relax and have fun.

Thursday, June 6

• It’s the all-ages Summer Reading Kickoff at the Cortelyou Library, 2pm.
• Kids can make nature journals and learn how to use binoculars and field guides at Prospect Park’s Blooming Naturalists, Audubon Center, 2-3pm Thursdays and Fridays.
• Nature on the Go! is on next at the Prospect Park Audubon Center, Thursdays and Fridays, 3-4pm.
• … and stick around to learn about park wildlife at Animal Encounter, at the Audubon Center Thursdays and Fridays, 4-4:30pm.
• Sustainable Flatbush’s Healing Herb Garden open hours continue at 2103 Kenmore Terrace, Thursdays and Fridays from 4-6pm.
• Neighbor Robert Franca‘s paintings will be featured at Valentine Gallery, 464 Seneca Ave. (between Harman and Himrod Sts.) in Ridgewood, Queens, 1-6pm Fridays-Sundays until June 23.
• Attend public hearings at the CB14 District Office, 810 E 16th St. by Ave. H, 7pm.
• Pandam Swing is at Bar Chord, 8pm.
• Sign up to perform at Open Mic night from 8-8:30 pm, or just watch starting at 9pm at 773 Lounge.

Friday, June 7

• Get your dog or cat fixed and vaccinated for less at the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic in front of Petland Discounts Flatbush (968 Flatbush Ave. between Albemarle Rd. and Snyder Ave.), 7am.
• Get a freebie from DD or visit Lark and John’s Bakery for your National Donut Day donut, whenever you want!
• Shape Up NYC hosts a free introductory pilates class, Prospect Park Audubon Center, 12-1pm.
• Meet fellow parents at the New Parent Meet-Up, Lark, 1-2pm.
• Teens are invited to a writing workshop at the Cortelyou Library, 3-4pm.
• Attend “Roy & Lloyd’s Happy Hour” live jazz series, Lark, 5:45pm.
• Keep on Bluesin’ is at 773 Lounge, 9pm.
• DJ Slim Hug is back for First Fridays! Bust a move at “Fantasic Romantic,” Sycamore, 9pm-1am.
• Neighbor Damon Maulucci’s movie Detonator is at indieScreen for the Brooklyn Film Festival, 10:30pm.

Saturday, June 8

• Get some deals at the Ditmas Park Association yard sale, from subway tracks to Ocean Ave. and Dorchester to Newkirk Ave.
• Play a song on the Sing for Hope piano at the Prospect Park Carousel until June 16.
• Get focused for nothing at Free Meditation with Kathleen, Midwood Martial Arts, 8:30-9am.
• The Lavender Blues Singalong is at Lark, 10-11am.
• Attend Love a Library Day at the Cortelyou Library from 10-4pm, and make celebratory arts and crafts from 11am-12pm.
• Attend an all-levels donation-based yoga class with Spring Into Yoga at the Prospect Park Peristyle, starting at 10am Saturdays and 1pm Sundays. See the full schedule of classes on their website.
• Local author Clay McLeod Chapman teams up with the Cortelyou Library Friends group to read from his latest YA novel at the Cortelyou Library, 3pm.
• Help the Woodland Corps keep Prospect Park clean and green by the Picnic House, 10am-2pm.
• Learn avian basics at Introduction to Birdwatching, Prospect Park Pop-Up Audubon, 12pm, and hang out after until 5pm.
• Sustainable Flatbush’s Healing Herb Garden Saturday open hours are at 2103 Kenmore Terrace, 10am-2pm (with compost open hours 10am-12pm).
• See Alex Levin and guests play jazz at Purple Yam, 12-2:30pm.
• Learn about 19th Century life at the Lefferts 2nd Floor Tours, Lefferts Historic House, Saturdays and Sundays 1pm-3:30pm (tours every half hour).
• See neighbor Eric Pesso‘s work at the BWAC Spring Show, 499 Van Brunt St. in Red Hook, 1-6pm until June 16.
• Kids can learn about making cloth at History in Your Hands: Flax to Linen, also at the Lefferts Historic House, Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4pm.
• Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (for kids) with Wynton Marsalis continues Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Bandshell, 4pm.
• Bring the family for a musical performance of Pinocchio at PS 217, 5pm.
• “Honey, Dear” Vintage Jazz is on at Lark, 4-5pm.
• The Milkman plays Bar Chord, 8pm.
• Singer/songwriter Stanley John Mitchell plays rockabilly and blues at 773 Lounge, 9pm.
• Names You Can Trust is back for their weekly party at Sycamore, 10pm.

Sunday, June 9

• Beverley Square West, Beverley Square East, Ditmas Park West, and Foster Arms will all be having yard sales. See post for locations.
• Toddlers can play and sing at Toddler Time with Mary Jo, Lark, 10-10:30am.
• Come hungry to the Cortelyou Greenmarket Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, 10:30am.
• Support the effort to landmark Victorian Flatbush at a press conference with Councilmember Jumaane Williams, 2684 Bedford Ave. between Foster Ave. and Farragut Rd., 12 pm.
• The Pop-Up Audubon is open again from 12-5pm.
• Attend the FDC’s Victorian House Tour, starting at Temple Beth Emeth (83 Marlborough Rd. on the corner of Church Ave.) at 1pm.
• Check out jewelry, stoneware and more at the “In the Garden” Craft Fair, 690 East 18th Street (between Glenwood and Foster Aves.), 1-6pm.
• Get some reading material, a cocktail, and a bouquet at The Drunken Botanist book signing at Stems, 2pm.
• Prospective members can attend the Temple Beth Emeth BBQ at 225 Argyle Road (between Cortelyou and Beverley Rds.), 3-6pm.
• Sit zazen at Third Root, 6:45-7:15pm.

Photo of Names You Can Trust by Elliott Negron Jr