Maybe it’s the time of year [it's definitely the time of year] but it’s starting to feel like there are so many cool things going on that it would be impossible to get to them all. Doesn’t mean I won’t try! Here are the picks for this weekend:
Thursday December 6
• This week’s Brooklyn by the Book event brings author and happiness experimenter Gretchen Rubin to talk about her latest book, Happier at Home, with Jodi Kantor (author of The Obamas and New York Times correspondent). Ideas on the pursuit of happiness are having a bit of a moment these days (see: the documentary Happy and Rubin’s own blog-turned-book, The Happiness Project). Come see what Rubin has to say about making her home a happier place within one school year. CBE is located at 274 Garfield Place at 8th Avenue, 7:30-9:30pm, $10 (free for CBE members), tickets and book-preorders here.
• Powerhouse on 8th celebrates the opening of Daniel Paterna‘s photo show Prospect Arbor. The Brooklyn-born photographer’s images of “sparsely inhabited environments” and “large-scale panoramas” will be on display through January 6. This is his first local show. POWERHOUSE on 8th is located at 1111 8th Avenue (between 11th & 12th Streets), 6:00-8:00pm, RSVPs appreciated, email here.
Friday December 7
• Stop by Union Hall for their infamous late-night karaoke dance party Karaoke Killed the Cat. The raucous event promises to win over even the strongest karaoke haters, mixing sing-alongs with ”crowd surfing, choreography and feats of strength.” Tip: Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” makes the crowd go wild. Union Hall is located at 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue, midnight, free.
Saturday December 8
• Don’t forget to start your day with some puppies at the park at FIDO’s Bark the Herald Angels Sing.
• Check out the first Gowanus Night Market, a pop-up indoor night market held at Film Biz Recycling on the second Saturday of the winter months. The DJ-ed event will feature vendors selling a mix of local, freshly made beverages, desserts and pastries, as well as handmade goods. Film Biz Recycling is located at 540 President Street (between 3rd & 4th Avenues), 7:00pm-midnight, free with RSVP.
• Take in some local theatre at Brooklyn Lyceum with this live-action performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas. New York theatre company Pig Brooch Inc. has been presenting a verbatim performance of the holiday classic at the Lyceum yearly since 2008 and they’re back to continue the tradition. The show opens this weekend and continues through the rest of the month. Brooklyn Lyceum is located at 227 4th Avenue (between Union and President Streets), showings at 1:00pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm, tickets $11 available here.
Sunday December 9
• Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather with some outdoor bread- and muffin-baking at the Old Stone House Hearth. Bring some dough and join neighbor Jace Harker and Four Pounds Flour‘s Sarah Lohman (who will be testing a prehistoric bread recipe) for some conversation and baking by the wood-fired oven. Old Stone House is located at 336 3rd Street (between 4th & 5th Avenues), 1:00-4:00pm, free.
• You can help the animal rescue cause– even if you can’t take a pet home with you– and you can have some fun doing it. Stop by Littlefield for this Sean Casey Animal Rescue benefit, Concert & Comedy for Sandy Animals. The event features a star-studded line-up, with comedy by Michael Showalter and Jena Friedman, and live music by Supercute, Casey Shea, and The National Reserve. The multimedia evening will also include videos and art by Colleen Pelletier and Rawan Rihani, as well as some raffles and gift bags. All proceeds go to Sean Casey! Littlefield is located at 622 Degraw Street (between 3rd & 4th Aves.), 8:00pm (doors at 7:00), tickets $12-45, available here.
• Local favorite Mike Birbiglia (whose film Sleepwalk With Me was just named one of the top 10 independent movies of 2012) is returning to Union Hall for his comedy show Working it Out. If you like comedy at all, you should check it out. And if you do, come say hi! I just bought my ticket. Union Hall is located at 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue, 10:00pm, tickets $15 available here, 21+.
