What they’re saying: live arts in Brooklyn this week, May 28
A roundup of Brooklyn’s cultural offerings this week, from comedy to theater to music to art, and what critics are saying about them.
Catching a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle, in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo: Mary Frost, Brooklyn Eagle
Drenched @ The Water Tower
Comedy, Community
The Water Tower Bar, Arlo Williamsburg, 96 Wythe Ave, Williamsburg
Wednesdays @ 7:00pm
The Water Tower Bar at Arlo Williamsburg will host a comedy event series titled “DRENCHED!” on Wednesdays through May, June and July. Esteemed hosts Caroline Baniewicz of Barstool Sports, Nina Barnett of Buy Me Dinner First and Jenny Gorelick of Comedy Central will present some of New York City’s finest comedic talent.
Tickets are priced at $13 per person and this week’s guests include the musical comedy team Business Casual, as well as comedians Maggie Crane, Rebecca Weiser and Kate Willett.
“Two sisters, Caroline and Meg Baniewicz, recently went viral on Twitter with a video clip of them parodying alpha male finance podcasters and it’s hilarious.” – Komal Banchhor, Upworthy
“When Arlo Williamsburg opened last year in the space formerly occupied by The Williamsburg Hotel, it didn’t waste time becoming a neighborhood fixture, and in the warmer months, hotel guests and locals alike flock to the Water Tower Bar. DJs encourage dancing and mingling, while dramatic views of Manhattan mesmerize patrons sipping Arlo’s espresso martini … or a non-alcoholic beverage called Match Me.” – Stacey Lastoe, Brooklyn Magazine
Kayaking @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
Outdoors, Exercise, Nature, Community
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Wednesday and Thursday evenings 5 to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday afternoons
This summer and fall, enjoy complimentary public kayaking in Brooklyn’s protected bay, courtesy of a partnership with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse.
Free kayaking sessions are available throughout the summer on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons until September. The program welcomes participants of all skill levels, including beginners. All necessary equipment, including life vests, will be provided, and instruction is available. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.
“Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy are offering a wide variety of free and low-cost summer programming at Brooklyn Bridge Park that includes music concerts, dance parties, kayaking, and more!” – I Love NY
“Now is the time to take a kayak out in the majestic shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. On the East River … kayakers can paddle off Pier 4 Beach for 20 minutes with stunning views of the NYC skyline. They’ll provide the boats, paddles, and life vests; you do the paddling.” – Rossilynne Skyna Culgan, Time Out
Brooklyn Film Festival
Film, Talks, Q&A
Windmill Studios, 300 Kingsland Ave, Greenpoint and Wythe Hotel Cinema in Williamsburg
May 31 to June 9
The Brooklyn Film Festival will take place both at select physical venues and online this year. A total of 159 films will compete for 30 awards, with even the smallest festival film eligible for the top prize, “The Grand Chameleon.”
Brooklyn Film Festival is an international competitive festival featuring films in six categories: Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation. Additionally, KidsFilmFest will be presented with 2 programs, available exclusively online.
“Brooklyn Film Festival has announced the film lineup for its 27th edition, Immersion. The 2024 edition will feature 36 World Premieres, 16 US premieres, 24 east coast debuts, and 43 first-time screenings in NY.” – A.A. Cristi, Broadway World
“Since 1998, the Brooklyn Film Festival’s organizers have been putting on competitive, international film festivals. The mission of BFF is to promote artistic excellence and the unrestricted creative freedom of artists, encourage the rights of Brooklyn residents to witness the power of independent filmmaking, and offer a public forum in Brooklyn to advance public interest in films and indie production.” – Kennedy Joseph, NY Music
Morning Wellness: Pick Your Practitioner
Yoga, Wellness
Central Lawn, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Sunday, June 2 @ 8:30 a.m.
Begin your Sunday with invigorating morning wellness sessions designed to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. These 8:30 a.m. morning classes will feature a rotation of fitness and wellness practitioners, with specific details and schedules to be announced for each date.
Advanced registration and a signed waiver are required. Registration will open at the beginning of each month for all classes.
“Join Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for free outdoor Waterfront Workouts led by top notch fitness instructors all summer long! Zumba with Dodge YMCA on Monday evenings, Sunset Yoga with Abhaya Yoga on Tuesday evenings, Amp’d with Chelsea Piers Fitness on Wednesday evenings, as well as Pilates with Dodge YMCA and rotating series.” – NYC Parks
“Opening in phases since 2010, Brooklyn Bridge Park was officially completed in 2021. In between, it endured a superstorm event, lawsuits over adjacent real estate development, and a global pandemic. Now the 1.3-mile-long (2.1 kilometer) waterfront park has settled in as both an essential escape from city life and an urban destination, drawing an estimated 5 million people annually — well above early expectations.” – Mark Byrnes, Bloomberg
Elsewhere X Eastern Margins Present: Tohji, Fifi Zhang and others
Music, Hip-Hop
Elsewhere, The Hall, 599 Johnson Ave, East Williamsburg
Friday, May 31 @ 7:30 p.m., other concerts on select dates
Elsewhere, a music venue focused on promoting inclusivity, joy, and creativity, is hosting the rapper Tohji this Friday evening, May 31. Born Yuki Ihara, in London in 1996, Tohji moved to Japan at the age of three and was later introduced to hip-hop as a teen. In 2017, while studying at Musashino Art University, Ihara began creating music under the name Tohji and founded the hip-hop collective Mall Boyz with his friend gummyboy and others.
Elsewhere’s “The Hall” space is the ideal location for live performance of DJs or electronic acts and offers a memorable, immersive experience.
There is a specific strain of energy that exudes from the world that Tohji has built around himself. Through his music, his videos, his very being, the young rapper seems to be in constant motion; fueled by a chaotic spirit that both welcomes and mystifies.” – Chris Thomas, Office Magazine
“The 24,000-square-foot venue features five rooms, including a rooftop terrace that boasts sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, making it perfect for watching the sunset on summer nights. The music hotspot is also known to bring in everyone from ravers to rockstars, vinyl nerds, punks, rappers, metalheads, folk singers, old-school house audiophiles, baile funk fans, hyperpop producers and more.” – Lisa Kocay, Forbes, “Inside Elsewhere”
Good People Comedy
Comedy, Stand-Up
Somethin’ Else, Dekalb Market, 445 Albee Square W, Downtown Brooklyn
Shows every Tuesday @ 8pm
Some of New York’s best young comedians are flocking to the new comedy show in Dekalb Market’s hidden back-area bar every other Tuesday.
The room is an up-scale lounge space, with couches instead of front-row seats, the space has the new-age aesthetics and positive vibes that are reshaping the city’s comedy scene in Brooklyn’s image. This week’s set is headlined by comedian Harris Alterman of Comedy Central, and is hosted by Mackenzie Graves.
“Head to Somethin’ Else for an evening filled with laughter at Good People Comedy, located in the basement of Dekalb Market (on the opposite side of the building as Trader Joe’s). Get ready to be entertained by some of the best comedians in New York as they take the stage.” – Downtown Brooklyn
“After spending much of my adult life around stand ups, I finally realized there’s a real negativity that hangs around the scene. I decided to make this show to have a space for comedy where we’re not complaining about everything being horrible.” – Sam Poznak, Founder of GPC.
Kaiju Brooklyn
Art, Culture, Cosplay, Comics, Film
Tom Kane Theatre, Industry City, 51 35th Street, Building 5, Sunset Park
Friday, May 31 to Saturday, June 1
Kaiju, a Japanese term, refers to a subgenre of science fiction associated with giant monsters. This weekend, at Industry City, Kaiju Brooklyn is offering people of all ages a chance to celebrate the best of Kaiju in a fun and unique environment.
On Friday, at Sake distillery Brooklyn Kura, a VIP kickoff party with DJ and drinks will conclude with a screening of “Mega Monster Battle Ultra Galaxy: The Movie” at 8pm. Then, on Saturday, The main convention returns with 20+ vendors, artists and cosplayers, and concludes with a screening of “Return of Godzilla,” at 8pm.
“Both American and Japanese studios are still making Godzilla films. Just last year, Toho Studios released Godzilla Minus One. Godzilla movies have gone through different eras and directors. However, all the films feature Godzilla, a kaiju or “strange creature” in Japanese, as he attacks cities, fights other monsters, and sometimes even raises a son. – Rosa Escandon, Forbes
“Industry City is Brooklyn’s arts and entertainment destination located on the waterfront in Sunset Park. Developed from 16 historic manufacturing buildings, it is a walkable campus that hosts over 30 food vendors, including a Japanese food hall and market.” – TripAdvisor
