Weekend Art Events: Dec. 21-23 (Carols, Opera, Salsa & More)
The weekend before Christmas is on the quieter side, but you can still celebrate the winter solstice, sing along to your favorite carols, or salsa and merengue at Grand Prospect Hall.
Check the BKLYNER Calendar for more events happening around town or to list one of your own.
Make Music Winter
When: Friday, December 21 at 12pm and 4:32pm
Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Avenue, Crown Heights; 354 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Heights
What: Celebrate the winter solstice with Winterize, a participatory performance of Franz Schubert’s 1828 song cycle, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden at noon, then join the North Flatbush BID at sunset (4:32pm) for the 5th Annual Flatfoot Flatbush. Learn more about both events here.
Winter Solstice Singalong
When: Friday, December 21, 5:30pm
Where: Kensington Plaza (Beverly Road & Church Avenue), Kensington
What: To greet the Winter Solstice, The Kensington Stewards will host a singalong led by Kensington singer/songwriter/composer Jen Jane, playing amplified guitar, accompanied by Herb Harris on keyboards and percussion. The music will include a mix of popular holiday and yule songs with nods to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The singing will begin at 5:30pm and along with lyric sheets, free hot chocolate and candy will be provided for those who arrive early.
Brooklyn Opera Works’ 3rd Annual Art Song Recital “Serenade to Brooklyn”
When: Friday, December 21, 7:30pm
Where: Brooklyn Music School Theater, 126 Saint Felix Street, Fort Greene
What: Brooklyn Opera Works’ 3rd annual Art Song Recital “Serenade to Brooklyn” features new works by Brooklyn composers that celebrate the unique and personal perspectives of artists from around the world. Hosted by BMS’s Artistic Advisory Board member Christopher Cerrone, the program will include work by Iranian composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh, Mexican composer Pamela Martinez, Israeli composer Alon Nechushtan, and songs by Tajikistani composer Alisher Latif-Zade.
How Much: Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at door; BMS students/parents $5 in advance, $8 at door
Holiday Gala Dance
When: Friday, December 21, 8pm
Where: The Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue, Park Slope
What: Grand Prospect Hall hosts one of NYC’s largest Latino holiday gala dance parties featuring salsa, merengue, bachata, and more. Performers include Grammy-nominated producer DJ Ralphie Mercado, Luisito Rosario, Don Sonero, Pete Nater, Christina Piedra, Eddie Maldonado & Klave Mayor, and more.
How Much: Tickets $40
Shop The Holiday Market at Flatbush Caton Market (Sponsored)
When: Saturday, December 22, 12pm to 6pm
Where: Flatbush Caton Market, 2184 Clarendon Road, Flatbush
What: Flatbush Caton Market is ringing in the holiday season with great holiday shopping events and even better gift ideas! Join the market this Saturday, Dec. 22 for holiday fun perfect for the entire family!
“It’s About Damn Time” Holiday Comedy Show (Sponsored)
When: Saturday, December 22, 8pm (doors open at 7pm)
Where: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush
What: Get ready New York City—finally the most anticipated comedy show is here! Starring New York’s King/Gangsta of Comedy Capone complemented by Brooklyn’s King of Comedy Ray DeJon for the “It’s About Damn Time” Holiday Comedy Show. Come join us as we make history at Kings Theatre.
How Much: Tickets start at $40
FABFulton Holiday Caroling
When: Saturday, December 22, 12pm to 2pm
Where: Fowler Square (at Fulton Street & Lafayette Avenue), Fort Greene
What: Sing along with the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble and the Lafayette Youth Choir as they perform holiday classics. Sheet music will be provided to follow along as well as seasonal treats including hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and more. Bring a gently-worn winter coat to donate to the New York Cares Coat Drive.
Gowanus Holiday Flea
When: Saturdays in December, 12pm to 4:30pm
Where: Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse, 165 2nd Street, Gowanus
What: Find unique gifts and support the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club and Seeds in The Middle.
Hip Hop Nutcracker (Sponsored)
When: Sunday, December 23, 6pm (doors open at 5pm)
Where: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush
What: The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, celebrates its 5 year anniversary and hits the road to play Kings Theatre on December 23. The Hip Hop Nutcracker will feature MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, opening the show with a short set before rapping the introduction.
How Much: Tickets $65
The Hard Nut
When: Performances through Sunday, December 23
Where: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene
What: Mark Morris Dance Group’s retro-modern interpretation of The Nutcracker returns to BAM for the holidays. Based on the comic book art of Charles Burns and featuring Tchaikovsky’s complete original score, The Hard Nut is performed by the 53 members of the MMDG Music Ensemble.
How Much: Tickets start at $25
Looking ahead…
Kwanzaa Fest BK
When: Saturday, December 29, 7pm (doors open at 6pm)
Where: National Sawdust, 80 N 6th Street, Williamsburg
What: This modern approach to celebrating the festival of Kwanzaa and its principles features an art exhibit (by Cody Jordan), a film screening (by Aristotle Bam), musical performances, and an afterparty! Performers include Shokanni, 86 Supreme, James Rouse & The Buttered Biscuits, Sonny Step, Chris Turner, Kendra Foster, and TSN.
How Much: Tickets $20 early bird, $23 general admission
2018 Coney Island New Year’s Eve Celebration
When: Monday, December 31, 9pm to 12am
Where: Steeplechase Plaza (Boardwalk & West 19th Street), Coney Island
What: This New Year’s Eve party will feature karaoke from from 9pm to 10pm, musical performances, free rides on the B & B Carousell (9pm until midnight), and a countdown to the New Year with a spectacular fireworks show at midnight.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Prospect Park
When: Monday, December 31, 10:30pm to 12:30am
Where: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
What: Join Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the Prospect Park Alliance for the 39th annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Celebration at Prospect Park’s iconic Grand Army Plaza. There will be live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist, followed by fireworks at the stroke of midnight.
How Much: Free, RSVP here
Urban Adolescence: Photographs by Sam Mackey
When: Exhibition on view Friday, December 7 through Friday, December 21
Where: Bushwick Community Darkroom, 110 Troutman Street, Bushwick
What: This exhibition showcases work by photojournalism student and Bushwick Community Darkroom intern, Samantha Mackey, that examines “urban youth backed by notions of self-sufficiency and an everlasting sense of freedom.”
Marlene Weisman | Old Faves + New Raves
When: Exhibition on view Friday, November 2 through Saturday, December 22
Where: South Slope Local/Uptown Roasters, 355 7th Avenue (between 10th & 11th Streets), Park Slope
What: Brooklyn-based artist Marlene Weisman exhibits a mini-retrospective of her popular collages as well as a selection of new work. Learn more about Weisman here.
The Grit and The Glam
When: Exhibition on view Thursday, November 29 through Monday, December 31
Where: 3rd Ethos Gallery, 154 Knickerbocker Avenue, #1R, Bushwick
What: The first joint exhibition of two NYC street artists and frequent collaborators, Lexi Bella and Danielle Mastrion, features new works that explore the juxtaposition of the grit and the glamour they encounter while creating art across the city.
Reclamation: Ruddy Roye & Curtis Talwst Santiago
When: Exhibition on view through Sunday, January 6, 2019
Where: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
What: This joint exhibition of photographs by Radcliffe “Ruddy” Roye and sculptures by Curtis Talwst Santiago focuses on the Black experience, “contrasting the realism of contemporary inequality and structural racism with the positive force of cultural resistance.” The double meaning behind the exhibit’s name references salvaging or reclaiming material and reasserting rights. Santiago’s Infinity Series features jewelry boxes repurposed into mini dioramas illustrating contemporary life and folkloric imagery that examine mass migration, incarceration, slavery, African religion and myth. Roye’s ongoing photo project When Living Is a Protest addresses issues of police brutality, racism, and social protest.
Penelope Umbrico: Monument
When: Exhibition on view Thursday, November 29 through Sunday, January 20, 2019
Where: Gallery at BRIC House, 647 Fulton Street (enter on Rockwell Place), Fort Greene
What: Umbrico’s exhibit explores technologies in terms of their obsolescence, beginning with the idea that all technologies are “‘black boxes’ whose contents are largely incomprehensible to end users.” The center of the exhibition consists of a wall displaying broken and semi-functional TV and computer monitors showing the news. Behind the wall is a “knolling table,” where visitors are invited to contribute their unwanted screen-based electronic devices to be disassembled and arranged for an overhead photograph that will be shared on social media.
Tom Bennett: Paintings and Master Prints
When: Exhibition on view Sunday, December 9 through Saturday, February 9, 2019
Where: Tabla Rasa Gallery, 224 48th Street (between 2nd & 3rd Avenues), Sunset Park
What: Bennett’s artwork features “impassioned brushwork, bold compositions, and rich subject matter” including bucking horses and classical nudes.
Processing
When: Exhibition on view Saturday, October 20 through Friday, February 15, 2019 (Fridays 3pm to 6pm, or by appointment)
Where: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd Street (between 4th & 5th Avenues), Park Slope
What: The Old Stone House presents an exhibition of current work by the members of the Gowanus Swim Society artist collective. The eight artists manipulated their art materials through “intentional, systematic procedures that sometimes incorporate[d] chance,” producing work that borders on representation and abstraction while showing “the evolution of most artists’ work processes.”
