Upcoming Free & Family Programs At Brooklyn Historical Society

There is a ton going on at the Brooklyn Historical Society in the next couple of weeks, including free programs and events that are half-price if you’re a member of the BHS or our local Green-Wood.

Here are some of our upcoming favorites, and you can check out more happenings here:

Jonathan Lethem in Conversation, Thursday, October 23 at 6:30pm

• With the new musical adaptation of The Fortress of Solitude, award-winning author (and native Brooklynite) Jonathan Lethem takes a look back at one of the original novel’s central characters: the dynamic, racially-charged and rapidly-changing streets of 1970s Brooklyn. $10 admission or $5 for BHS and Green-Wood members. You can buy tickets here.

Brooklyn Family Boogie, Saturday, October 25 from 11am-12pm

• The whole family can move and groove in tune with Brooklyn history at this workshop that will use the borough’s diverse past to inspire movement that everyone from kids to adults will enjoy. During the event, you’ll learn about the “Breuckelen” of long ago, through 13 watercolors of Dutch homesteads and historic landmarks painted by James Ryder Van Brunt, a descendant of Brooklyn’s earliest settlers. The event is free, but you can reserve a spot here.

Book Talk: Sam Roberts, A History of New York in 101 Objects, Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30pm

• Two years ago, prompted by the British Museum and BBC’s acclaimed “History of the World in 100 Objects,” Sam Roberts, urban affairs correspondent for The New York Times, wrote an abridged history of New York in 50 objects. The outpouring of impassioned feedback from readers around the world made it clear that 50 items were simply not enough, and he was inspired to expand his list into 101 objects for his new book, A History of New York in 101 Objects. $5 general admission or free for BHS members. Reserve tickets here.

Brooklyn’s On Fire: Meet the Firehouse Chefs! Thursday, October 30 at 6:30pm

• We’ve all seen firemen in our local supermarkets pushing overloaded shopping carts to the checkout, but what happens when they get back to the station? Brooklyn Magazine food editor Sarah Zorn answers that question through a panel discussion with four local firehouse chefs. Joios.com kicks off the evening with complementary tastings of four-alarm cocktails. This is the first in a four-part thematic series on Brooklyn and fire, presented with Green-Wood Cemetery.

Photo via Jonathan Lethem