Weekday Events: Money And Politics, Tennessee Williams, John Lewis, And More
Here’s this week’s roundup of neighborhood events taking place through Friday morning.
We’ll have your weekend schedule guide on Friday and as always, let us know if there’s anything we’re missing by emailing editor@bklyner.com!
MONDAY, APRIL 6
Open Books: John Lahr
When: Monday, April 6 at 7pm
Where: Polonsky Shakespeare Center at 262 Ashland Place
What: John Lahr’s latest book, Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh sheds a light on the great playwright’s warring family, his lobotomized sister, his guilt, his plays, his turbulent homosexual life, his misreported death, even the shenanigans of his estate. An unforgettable portrait, it is as much a biography of the man who created A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as it is a trenchant exploration of Williams’s plays and the tortured process of bringing them to stage and screen.
How much: FREE | RSVP requested
Dance Fitness
When: Monday, April 6 from 7-8pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Free and no registration or prior experience necessary.
Book Talk: Mario Marazziti and Paul Elie
When: Monday, April 6 at 7:30pm
Where: Greenlight Bookstore at 686 Fulton Street
What: Italian journalist and legislator Mario Marazziti, co-founder of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, writes about the death penalty that takes on this weightiest of subjects in a charming and intimate way. Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Death Penalty brings home the vast numbers of people impacted and why the stakes are high, not only for those on Death Row but for us all. Marazziti talks with Fort Greene neighbor Paul Elie (author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Reinventing Bach), who also wrote the book’s stirring afterword.
How much: Free | $18,95 for the book
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
Babies & Books: Read, Play, Grow!
When: Tuesday, April 7 from 10:30-11:30am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Hear stories, sing songs, play with toys and meet new friends! For Babies (0-18 months) and their caregivers.
How much: Free
Free Movie: “Red Tent”
When: Tuesday, April 7 from 1pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Starring Minnie Driver, Morena Buccarin, Rebecca Ferguson, Debra Winger, Iain Glen.
Resume and Career Help/Resume Writing
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 5:30pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Free resume writing help.
Free Yoga for Adults
When: Tuesday, April 7 from 6:30-7:45pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Practice yoga with local yoga instructor, Jenine Osbon. All levels welcome. Limit of 10-12 per class.
Stoop Series: Brooklyn Queer Indie Folk – Songwriter’s Circle
When: Tuesday, April 7 from 7-9pm
Where: BRIC House Stoop at 647 Fulton Street
What: Join Julia Weldon and friends for a free night of Brooklyn queer Indie music. Julia is an out and proud, queer and genderqueer, nationally touring Indie-Folk Pop artist who derives lyrical and musical inspiration from the rooftops of Brooklyn as well as the vast expanses of middle-America. She’s invited a few other talented Brooklyn artists to share their songs and stories with you. Come out for an intimate and interactive night of music on the stoop.
Created In Brooklyn: Design Craft
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 7pm
Where: Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, Dweck Center
What: Photographer Randy Duchaine turns his lens on Brooklynites whose commitments to creativity and innovation embody Brooklyn’s expressive spirit. Duchaine discusses the power of storytelling and design with Elliot Schwartz from Studio EIS, Steve Powers of Icy Signs, and Brooklyn Quilt Girl Sylvia Hernandez.
Cardio Sculpt
When: Tuesday, April 7 from 7-8pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Free fitness class.
Book Talk: Jeffrey Rotter and John Wray
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30pm
Where: Greenlight Bookstore at 686 Fulton Street
What: The Only Words That Are Worth Remembering, a darkly comic, wildly original novel from Greenlight neighbor Jeffrey Rotter, welcomes you to the dystopian world, with the story of a family in flight from the law (but with their sights on the stars), set in a near‐future America. Rotter talks at Greenlight with Wray, author of the novel Lowboy, about his work and the craft of fiction.
How much: Free | $26 for the books
in Concert: Fatoumata Diawara
When: Tuesday, April 7 at 8pm
Where: BRIC House at 647 Fulton Street
What: Born in Côte d’Ivoire to Malian parents, the strikingly beautiful and talented Fatoumata Diawara moved to France to pursue acting, appearing in several films and in the internationally renowned street theatre troupe Royal de Luxe. She later took up the guitar, writing songs that blend Wassalou traditions of southern Mali with international influences.
How much: $18 in advance/$22 at the door
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
AARP Free Tax Help and Preparation
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 1-4pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: For low and middle income taxpayers. First come, first served. To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms. For a list of documents you may need to bring, visit the AARP website.
After-School Homework Help
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 3-6pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Free homework help for grades K-8.
Teen Tech Time
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 4-6pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Play on the Wii with neighbors.
Dance Fitness
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 6:45-7:45pm
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Free fitness class.
Town Hall: Big Money and Politics: Can Your Voice Count?
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 7-9pm
Where: BRIC House Ballroom at 647 Fulton Street
What: This town hall will take a look at the inequality created when wealth holds the power to make policies that affect us all. From Sheldon Silver to Michael Grimm, political corruption is becoming so commonplace that it’s hard for voters to feel they have a voice compared to funding from big donors and corporations. Is there a way for the average citizen to have a say in a pay to play system? How do we approach changing the policies that pit community voice against big money? Speakers include Letitia James, Dick Dadey, Zephyr Teachout, Al Vann, Doug Henwood, and Ted Alexandro.
How much: FREE
Congressmember John Lewis: “March” Trilogy
When: Wednesday, April 8 at 7pm
Where: Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, Dweck Center
What: Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the Civil Rights Movement, continues March, his award-winning graphic novel trilogy, with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell. The authors will discuss the movement, the books, and more at Brooklyn Public Library, and will sign copies of their most recent volume of the trilogy.
Dance Fitness
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 7:15-8:16pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Free and no registration or prior experience necessary.
Book Talk: Helen Macdonald and Lev Grossman
When: Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30pm
Where: Greenlight Bookstore at 686 Fulton Street
What: Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk is on one level the truly remarkable story of one woman’s resolve to raise and train the most bloodthirsty of birds: the goshawk. But it is also a heart-wrenching account of Macdonald’s grief at the sudden death of her father; a literary meditation on The Sword and the Stone author T.H. White (a writer who also sought to fill a void through training a goshawk); and a gripping piece of nature writing that the New York Times calls “beautiful and nearly feral,” which transports both writer and reader to the edge of humanity and back.
How much: Free | $26 for the book
Trivia Night
When: Wednesday, April 8 from 8-11pm
Where: Putnam’s Pub at 419 Myrtle Avenue
What: Weekly trivia competition to win gift cards of $100 to Putnam’s. Beer specials all night.
How much: Free
Trivia Wednesdays
When: Wednesday, April 8 at 9pm
Where: Moot Bar at 579 Myrtle Avenue
What: Inaugural trivia night! Five rounds of 10 questions each on variety of subject matter from cereal box characters to physics. Winning team gets $50 off their bar tab.
How much: Free
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
Toddler Time: Read, Play, Grow!
When: Thursday, April 9 from 10:30-11:30am
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Hear stories, sing songs, play with toys and meet new friends! For toddlers aged 18-36 months and their caregivers.
Reading is Fundamental
When: Thursday, April 9 from 3:30-4:30pm
Where: Bedford Library at 496 Franklin Avenue
What: Kids and teens can earn FREE books by borrowing and returning books with their library card.
Vertical Thursday Wine Tasting
When: Thursday, April 9 from 5:30-8pm
Where: Corkscrew Wines at 489 Myrtle Avenue
What: Free weekly wine tasting. Educational and casual tasting to explore specific grapes or a region. Discover what makes your favorite wines unique. You are the expert of what works for you, Corkscrew is here for you to discover what that is.
Gallery Tour: “Women in the Visual Arts”
When: Thursday, April 9 at 6pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum, Rubin Lobby at 200 Eastern Parkway
What: In conjunction with a screening and discussion of the documentary A Butterfly for Brooklyn, this free tour explores women in art across the museum’s collections.
Film and Discussion: Judy Chicago: “A Butterfly for Brooklyn”
When: Thursday, April 9 at 7pm
Where: Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway
What: This event showcases the making of Chicago’s spectacular 2014 fireworks piece in Prospect Park, which was applauded by more than 12,000 viewers. Immediately after the screening, Glenn Adamson, director of MAD, will moderate a discussion with Chicago, Amend, Donald Woodman, and fireworks producer Chris Souza. The following evening, MAD will host a conversation with Chicago and MAD curator Elissa Auther recounting the artist’s history with fireworks.
How much: Free with admission
Dance Fitness
When: Thursday, April 9 from 7-8pm
Where: Ingersoll Community Center at 177 Myrtle Avenue
What: Free and no registration or prior experience necessary.
B-Side: Superhuman Happiness
When: Thursday, April 9 from 7:30-9pm
Where: BRIC House Studio at 647 Fulton Street
What: Join Brooklyn Independent Media for a free live in-studio performance and interview with Superhuman Happiness. Movement becomes contagious listening to Superhuman Happiness whose joyful sound has been dubbed “physical cinematic dance rock.” The relentlessly creative band became known for ecstatic dance parties at Zebulon in Brooklyn.
Comedy Thursdays
When: Thursday, April 9 from 7:30-10pm
Where: Splitty at 415 Myrtle Avenue
What: Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy (Bob’s Burgers) host this weekly comedy show featuring a curated night of stand-up, characters, and the unexpected.
How much: $5 cover
Function Thursdays Live Music
When: Thursday, April 9 at 9pm
Where: Putnam’s Pub at 419 Myrtle Avenue
What: Jessica Mahasin and DJs Jeff Haze/Asen James.
How much: Free
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Toddler Time
When: Friday, April 10 at 10am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come hear stories, sing songs, play with toys, and meet new friends! For toddlers (aged 18-36 months) and their care-givers.
Babies and Books
When: Friday, April 10 at 11:15am
Where: Clinton Hill Library at 380 Washington Avenue
What: Come hear stories, sing songs, play with toys, and meet new friends! For toddlers (aged 0-18 months) and their care-givers.
Stations of the Cross Exhibit
When: Through Friday, April 16
Where: Episcopal Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew at 520 Clinton Avenue
What: The 14 stations of the cross are presented by 14 Brooklyn-based artists, each working with only one restriction: uniform size. This project resurrects a connection between the church as patron of the arts and the artists as instruments of bringing the litany to the lay population. These works are created by artists of broad ethnic and religious backgrounds including Buddhists, Catholics, Jews, and even Agnostics. As “ambassadors,” this diverse collective presents an open dialogue, with respectful interpretations of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
How much: Free
Mapping Brooklyn
When: Through May 3 from 10am-8pm daily, except Mondays
Where: BRIC House Gallery at 647 Fulton Street
What: The exhibition Mapping Brooklyn will juxtapose the work of contemporary artists working with maps and cartography, alongside actual historic maps. The historic maps in the exhibition will all be drawn from the Brooklyn Historical Society’s collection; there are demographic maps, fire insurance maps and more.
How much: Free