Things To Do In Ditmas Park This Weekend

This weekend will be a busy one, full of local music, art, and performances, plus neighbors’ events outside of the area. Add lemonade and sun screen, then enjoy.

Thursday, June 20

• Preschool story time is at the Cortelyou Library, 10:30am.
• 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.
• Shayna Steele and David Cook play the PS 217 Spring Concert Series (inside the school auditorium, where the aisles are great for dancing, if it rains), 6-7pm.
• Celebrate Brooklyn! continues with Blackalicious, Phony Ppl and D-Nice at the Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30pm.
• Sign up for Open Mic night at Shenanigans, 8pm.
• Sign up to perform at Open Mic night from 8-8:30 pm, or just watch starting at 9pm at 773 Lounge.
• See John Dyer at Bar Chord, 9pm.
• Ditmas Park-based band The Watch and Wait play at The Way Station, (683 Washington Ave. between Prospect Pl. and St. Marks Ave.), 10pm.

Friday, June 21

• Watch live performances around the neighborhood by the PS 139 4th Grade Band, the PS 214 Chorus, and other local artists during Make Music New York, starting at 10am.
• 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.
• 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.
• Teens are invited to a writing workshop at the Cortelyou Library, 3-4pm.
• Babes and Beer Happy Hour is at Lark, 4-5:30pm.
• Take a special Sound Meditation Class at Jaya Yoga East, 7-8:30pm.
• Amadou & Miriam and Bombino play Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30pm.
• Mike Fiorito and Mish Mash do some improv at 773 Lounge, 10pm.

Saturday, June 22

• Attend a Polynesian Canoe Race organized by DP resident April Cantor and New York Outrigger, Pier 26 in Hudson River Park, 8am-5pm.
• 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 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.
• Pre-register to help Prospect Park’s Weekend Woodland Corps, meeting at the Picnic House parking lot, 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.
• See local theater company Brave New World perform Elmer Rice’s “Street Scene” in Park Slope, with performances at 1 and 5pm.
• Learn about 19th Century life at the Lefferts 2nd Floor Tours, Lefferts Historic House, Saturdays and Sundays 1pm-3:30pm (tours every half hour).
• 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.
• Join W.I.L.D. for a shoreline cleanup at Prospect Park, meeting at the Audubon Center, 2-4pm.
• See short film extravaganza Tropfest in Prospect Park’s Nethermead, 3-11pm.
• “Honey, Dear” Vintage Jazz is on at Lark, 4-5pm.
• Jen Waller and Stephen Jacobs play Bar Chord, 9pm.
• The Lori Behrman Band plays 773 Lounge, 10pm.

Sunday, June 23

• Toddlers can play and sing at Toddler Time with Mary Jo, Lark, 10-10:30am.
• Bring friends and family to the South Brooklyn Queers Summer BBQ at the Prospect Park Peristyle, 12-4pm.
• The Pop-Up Audubon is open again from 12-5pm.
• Party and play at Midwood Mardi Gras, Avenue M between Ocean Ave. and E 13th St., 12-6pm.
• Sit zazen at Third Root, 6:45-7:15pm.
• Attend the Cortelyou Road Sunday Jazz Jam with Michael Vitale, Bar Chord, 9pm.

Photo via Jen Waller