100 Totally Free Things to Do in Brooklyn This Summer
So, you know how the best things in life are free? Of course you do! But sometimes it can be hard to find those things, even though they’re actually hiding in plain sight. Case in point? All the amazing free stuff there is to do in Brooklyn (and just beyond, like on Governors Island) this summer. But, hey, we know what it’s like to feel like there’s a million things to do out there in this city of ours, but not really know where to get started because it’s all. so. overwhelming. And so in the spirit of generosity and warmth and sunshine and, you know, just summer in general, here’s a list of the 100 things you can do this summer that will help you enjoy the season to the fullest with the added benefit of not breaking the bank. And we’ve even broken all the events down into nice, handy categories for you, to aid in your enjoyment. Have fun out there. We know we will.
MUSIC and PERFORMANCE
1) Bargemusic
Chamber music on a floating barge at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge—backdropped by the lower Manhattan skyline and the East River—makes for a classy and enchanting Saturday evening outing.
5/2-8/29 on Saturdays 2 Old Fulton Street, DUMBO
2) Rite of Summer Music Festival
Founded in 2011 by pianists Pam Goldberg and Blair McMillen, the music festival has brought contemporary music from some of New York’s greatest soloists and ensembles, in hopes of engaging a younger audience on a larger scale. We look forward to hearing the infectious sounds of House of Waters, among the other performers playing the outdoor festival.
5/31 – 8/1 on Governors Island
3) Celebrate Brooklyn!
We love the performing arts scene and all things free, and can’t wait to soak it all in as we’re sitting outside with a bunch of friends, enjoying what has long been one of our favorite Brooklyn summer outdoor traditions—Prospect Park Bandshell concerts, thanks to Celebrate Brooklyn.
6/3-8/12 at Prospect Park Bandshell, Park Slope
4) BAM R&B Festival
The Brooklyn Academy of Music has a two-decade long tradition of bringing pioneering soul, funk and R&B acts to downtown Brooklyn every summer right on the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle avenues, and this year will be no different. Past acts include legends like Toots and the Maytals and George Clinton, so we recommend checking out this free lunchtime event.
6/4-8/6 on Thursdays Metrotech Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn
5) SummerStage
This summer long performing arts festival brings together artists and performers of an array of disciplines that reflect the diverse cultures and communities across the five boroughs. In its 30th year, the festival has extended the season to October and has pulled out all the stops by bringing in a Swedish circus and legendary artists like The Chi-Lites. With almost 200 artists on the schedule, there’s something there for everyone.
6/4-9/24 at various locations, for more info, visit here
6) The Dysfunctional Collective
Using Governors Island and New York City as their muse, The Dysfunctional Theatre Company has flipped an officer’s home on the island as their playhouse for theatrical performances. Each week there will be new work ranging from art, poetry, dance, theater and song from local New York artists.
6/6-7/27 at Nolan Park on Governors Island
7) BRIC House: B-Side
With Brooklyn being an epicenter for emerging artists to get started and discovered, the minds over at BRIC House present B-Side, a live in-studio music series. Talents like Pegasus Warning do an intimate performance before a small group, followed by an interview. And since it’s 2015, you can live stream the performance from the Stoop at BRIC House or from the comfort home of your home.
Thursdays at BRIC House Studio on 647 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
8) Shakespeare at Sunset
Think of it as Shakespeare in a different park: Check out performances of the Bard’s The Merry Wives of Windsor and Measure for Measure this summer against the beautiful backdrop of the Brooklyn waterfront.
6/12-14 and 8/11-16 334 Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights
9) MoveWorks: ReArrange
Bring your family and friends to see the cast of MoveWorks performers transform a house into wonderland of mystery and intrigue through interactive dance, live music and unconventional clothing.
Saturdays and Sundays from 8/8-23 at Nolan Park on Governors Island
10) Concerts on the Slope
Since its start in 2012, Concerts on the Slope has provided young performers in New York an outlet to practice their art form. As a part of the music program at St. John’s Episcopal Church, the program welcomes all to enjoy the power that music can generate.
Once a month at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Park Slope for more, info visit here
11) Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series
The Met’s summer concert series is the most affordable way to enjoy world-class performances from opera greats like soprano Janai Brugger and baritone Nathan Gunn. Feel free to leave your theater binoculars at home.
6/17, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
12) NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Park
Easily one of the loveliest outdoor events of the year, pack a picnic and grab some friends and enjoy a leisurely night in the grass and under the stars while the music of Berlioz, Ravel, and Stravinsky dances along the summer air.
6/19 Prospect Park
13) Make Music New York
There’s no better way to start off summer than attending (or attempting to attend) 1,200 free concerts all over New York. With eight years under its belt, Make Music New York continues its reign as one of the largest music events in the state. With performances from jazz singers in cafes to string quarters in the parks, no sidewalk, stoop or cemetery is safe from this daylong festival.
6/21 at various locations visit for more info, visit here
14) On Stage at Kingsborough
Don’t miss the current season at On Stage at Kingsborough where world-class performances from talents like the Bria Skonberg Quintet are sure to dazzle.
7/4-7/25 at Kingsborough’s Lighthouse Bandshell on 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Sheepshead Bay
15) Garden Grooves
The New York Restoration Project and Brooklyn Academy of Music teamed up for the second time to bring the arts to various community gardens in Brooklyn, thus the creation of Garden Grooves. Each week presents a different genre and musical style, that ranges from atmosphere indie rock to contemporary Alt-R&B. So throughout the month of August, experience music they way it was intended: outdoors and unaltered.
Wednesdays from 8/5-26 at various locations, visit for more info, visit here
FILM
16) Summerscreen
Williamsburg’s McCarren Park turns into an outdoor movie theater every Wednesday (full disclosure: all thanks to our parent company Northside Media), with food vendors and live music. This summer, check out free screenings of six cult classics: Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer, Dirty Dancing, Dazed and Confused, and Jurassic Park (90s nostalgia is here to stay). Plus: Vote here for audience choice for the final film! (And, duh, do the right thing and vote for Do the Right Thing.)
7/8-8/12 on Wednesdays McCarren Park, Williamsburg
17) Coney Island Flicks on the Beach
We know Coney Island is for riding roller coasters, eating Nathan’s Hot Dogs, and making seaside memories with your baes and besties, but why not chill out and catch a free film series while you’re at it? A humongous 40-foot screen will be showing all sorts of classic films on Monday nights all summer long.
7/7 and Monday nights thereafter until 9/2 West 10th St. Beach, Coney Island
18) SyFy Movies with a View
Have you ever watched Sharknado 2 or Dr. Strangelove with nearly 7,000 other aspiring sci-fi geeks against a backdrop of setting sun and towering skyscrapers? We thought not. Make it down to Brooklyn Bridge park this summer to check out the park’s Syfy Movies With a View series, which will happen without fail every Thursday at 6pm.
7/9-8/27 on Thursdays Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
19) Movies and Booze
What’s better than watching your favorite classics in the theater for the first time? Re-watching them on the big screen for free. Movies like Blade Runner and Pulp Fiction can be enjoyed at People’s Republic of Brooklyn all summer long without having to compete for on-the-ground seating. (I’m looking at you Brooklyn Bridge Park).
6/27- 8/29 on Wednesdays at People’s Republic of Brooklyn, 247 Smith Street, Cobble Hill
20) Plow to Plate Food Series
Dedicated to informing the borough’s food-loving and ethics-having community, the people over at Plow to Plate will be screening documentaries that will make you more conscientious about all the food you’re bound to be putting in your mouth all summer.
Every second Tuesday of every month at the Park Slope Food Coop, 782 Union Street, Park Slope
21) Rooftop Films: Bikes vs. Cars
Join filmmaker Fredrik Gertten in the free screening and Q&A of his film Bikes vs. Cars. Come early to enjoy a short live music set before the film airs.
8/6 at MetroTech Commons at 5 MetroTech Center, Downtown Brooklyn
22) #TBT Movie Night
As a part of Summer@MetroTech, come sit under the stars as giant monitors screen classics like Ghostbusters that will have you saying “THROWBACK” throughout the month of August.
Thursdays from 8/13-27 at MetroTech Commons, Downtown Brooklyn
23) Videology Movie Trivia
Each week expect to put your brain to the test with six rounds of movie trivia that could stump the biggest movie buff. Nothing is off the table. Anticipate anything from scene reenactments to Nicholas Cage quotes. And, of course, the winning team will get a free round of drinks.
Every Tuesday at Videology, 308 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg
24) SciFi Sundays
Get a kick out of alien invasions, third dimensions, and body snatchers? So do the guys at Videology. Stop by every Sunday to watch your favorite Sci-fi classics that will take you to a world of paranormal and freakishly weird.
Every Sunday at Videology, 308 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg
25) Bric Flix: My Point of View
To commemorate their partnership with ReelAbilities and the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, BRIC Flix will host an evening with New York-based filmmaker, media artist and activist Jason DaSilva. Having been diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis; the artist talk will explore the correlation between disability and identity based on DaSilva’s own perspective and experience. The night will come to a close with DaSilva previewing his latest new work: The Dismantled.
7/14 at BRIC Media House on 647 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
26) FAB Flick: Shake! Otis at Monterey + Jimi Plays Monterey
Fab Flick closes their outdoor screenings with these two concert classics. Besides gorging on food from nearby restaurants and vibing with the deejay of the night, find yourself yearning for a time when the soulful sounds of Otis Redding and the invigorating strumming of Jimi Hendrix graced the radio waves, expect for the insentient wailings of today’s so-called artists like Iggy Azalea that we have to put up with.
6/16 at Putnam Triangle Plaza on 22 Putnam Avenue, Bed-Stuy
27) Bogart and Bacall Movie Night
Curated by BAMcinématek, this movie series pays tribute to Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart during their acting glory days when the then married pair starred in numerous movies together.
Wednesdays from 7/15-8/26 at various locations, for more info, visit here
28) Rooftop Films: A Night w/ Khalik Allah
One of the best-attended film festivals in New York, Rooftop Films turns Brooklyn rooftops into outdoor movie theaters, screening shorts and features, plus live music. Watch Khalik Allah’s film, Field Niggas followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
7/17 at MetroTech Commons on 5 MetroTech Center, Downtown Brooklyn
29 Habana Outpost Outdoor Movies
I know what you’re thinking, “another outdoor moving listing,” but hear me out. Movie tickets aren’t cheap and for the most part, Habana Outpost is screening the best 80s and 90s movies known to humankind. I mean how can you turn down a free screening of The Goonies? You can’t.
Sundays 6/14-10/25 at Habana Outpost on 757 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
FOOD
30) Side Ponytail: Ice cream Edition
Technically, it’s not summer but that doesn’t make a night of free comedy and ice cream is any less sweeter, now does it?
6/15 at Over the Eight on 594 Union Avenue, Williamsburg
31) Bluegrass Brunch: Kitchen Dwellers
Enjoy a huge heaping of the Kitchen Dwellers for brunch as they serenaded you with their bluegrass melodies.
6/28 at Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
32) Nathan’s 2015 Hot Dog Eating Contest
A time-honored Coney Island tradition, Nathan’s hot dog eating contest promises competitive gluttony at its unkosher finest.
7/4 Nathan’s Famous, Coney Island
ART
33) Target First Saturdays
Ok, these happen all year, but there’s more of an outdoor (re: fun) focus in the summer. SO head on over and catch free art and entertainment at the Brooklyn Museum on the first Saturday of every month, plus food and drink at the Michelin-starred Saul restaurant or Counter café. This summer, check out New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Brooklyn queercore band Aye Nako, West Indian Brooklyn-raised rapper Junglepussy, and more.
First Saturday of every month Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Heights
34) Cecile Chong: Time Collision
Located in the Project Room at BRIC House, the exhibit will present more than 20 of Chong’s, a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist, paintings and baby-bundled sculptures made of wax. Her work is a commentary on how some cultures copy and intertwine with one another.
5/21-6/21 at BRIC House on 647 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
35) 2015 New York Electronic Art Festival
A place where technology and art meet to create innovative electric artwork, manifested through various artistic disciplines. Come see how each artist explored and conquered this year’s festival theme: Plausible Worlds.
5/23-7/20 at various locations, for more info visit here
36) Grumpy Bert: Lost in Space
Artists attempt to capture the final frontier—space!—in this exhibition that allows these individuals to explore and conceptualize the uncharted territory.
5/29-6/21 at Grumpy Bert on 82 Bond Street, Boerum Hill
37) DIY Classes with Brooklyn ARTery
Win your friends approval by learning how to make them paper cranes or custom jewelry at one of the numerous free DIY classes hosted by Brooklyn ARTery this summer. And while you’re at it, we’ll take 50 paper swans here at Northside. Thanks.
6/6-7/25 at Nolan Park on Governors Island
38) River to River
Since its creation in 2002, this annual arts festival has been providing New Yorkers an alternative way to view their surroundings. With an artistic lens and 60 free events to discover in the course of 11 days, you will grow appreciation for the Lower Manhattan culture. Now technically this is a Lower Manhattan festival, but why shouldn’t we reap the free rewards as well? I mean it is just across the river.
6/18-28 on Governors Island and various other locations, for more info, visit here
39) Afros: A Celebration of Natural Hair
We have admiration for anyone who goes against the grain or is willing to challenge the ideals of what is deemed beautiful in this country. So naturally, pun intend, we were thrilled when we heard Brooklyn-born photographer Michael July’s photo exhibit that celebrates the beauty of natural hair was coming into town.
6/20- 8/1 at the House of Art Gallery on 408 Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Bed-Stuy
40) 2015 Next Wave Art
With summer coming into a close, carryout the festivities with BAM’s three-month art showcase as it enters its 14th season. If this list taught you anything, it’s that the arts, in every medium and form, must be explored and viewed with an open mind.
8/16-12/20, for more info, visit here
CHILD-FRIENDLY
41) Family Bowl
Bring your children, in-laws, third cousin twice removed and whoever is in your clique for some wholesome family bowling with DJ Uncle Mike at Brooklyn Bowl.
Every Saturdays at Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
42) Brooklyn Children’s Museum Free Hours
Your children can know enjoy an afternoon at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum every Thursday for free during the designated hours courtesy of the folks at Popular Community Bank and Astoria Savings Bank for picking up the tab.
Every Thursday at Brooklyn’s Children’s Museum on 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Crown Heights
43) Double Dutch
All can now appreciate this 3+ game, once designated to girls, as instructors from Double Dutch Empire breakdown the jump rope game in a block party style setting. Our only wish is that Frankie Smith’s “Double Dutch Bus” plays in the background, along with covers, but especially the Raven-Symoné’s version. It’s a perfect mood setter.
6/24-8/26 at Pier 2 Play Turf, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights
44) Catalyst Community Festival
Presented by the community development program, Cataylst, this festival will provide recreational games, arts and crafts, educational programs, and resources to Kaiser Park with the intention of showing residents how they can be a “catalyst” of change in their neighborhood.
6/27 at Kaiser Park on Neptune Avenue, Coney Island
45) The Makery’s Island Makeground
Known for creating pop up spaces where both the young and old can discover, tinker, learn and experiment with technology, The Makery has found itself back on Governors Island this summer. Come visit Nolan Park has they transform a historic house into a wonderland where the public can explore interactive exhibits and other digital events.
7/25-9/20 at Nolan Park on Governors Island
46) Family Day: Magmanus
This Swedish circus company will dazzle audience in a three day performance where Franco-Norwegian duo Manu Tiger and Magnus Bjoru will combine the excitement of acrobatics with the foolishness of circus comedy in their act.
6/27-6/29 at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Harbor View Lawn on Pier 1
47) BK Block Party Series
You don’t have to search far to find a kid-friendly block party. With music ranging from Caribbean beats to bluegrass, it’s a lot of fun for the entire family.
Every first Thursday of the month at Albee Square, Downtown Brooklyn
48) Pier 2 Family Field Day
It’s summer and your kids are home. Instead of letting them mope around playing video games or watching TV, round up the entire family for a day of games and races on the pier.
7/19 at Pier 2 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
49) Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
Watch bombs burst in air over the East River, set off from the Brooklyn Bridge and barges below. Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, and river-adjacent rooftops have the best views in the city.
7/4 various good vantage points throughout Brooklyn
50) Coney Island Fourth of July Fireworks
Uh, you can also watch bombs burst over Coney Island. Who needs the East River anyway? Not us. Plus, Coney’s fireworks display leads to an atmosphere that is both more festive and less cramped than what you’ll find crowded along the Brooklyn Heights promenade.
7/4 Coney Island Boardwalk, Coney Island
GAMES AND COMPETITION
51) Tuesday Night Trivia
With the help of Stump Trivia, The Grand National brings a weekly night of trivia where you can test your memory with general-knowledge questions that range from pop culture to science, in hopes of snagging some free shots and prizes.
Tuesdays at The Grand National, 524 Grand Street, Williamsburg
52) Arrested Development Bingo
We can’t think of anything better than watching episodes of Arrested Development in an effort to win a frozen banana (or a free drink) in a game of Bingo. Videology hosts a weekly bingo night set to combine the simplicity of board games with the complexity of the Bluth family. You can spice up the night by channeling your inner Tobias and coming as a never nude (topless and jean cutoffs, women are allowed bikini tops) while claiming a drink and frozen banana for free. Just remember, there’s always money in the banana stand.
Every Wednesday at Videology, 308 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg
53) I Fucked Bingo
Join Brooklyn drag queen Merrie Cherry for a weekly night of booze, bingo and hopefully a lot of shade.
Every Thursday at This n’ That, 108 North 6th Street, Williamsburg
54) The Williamsburg Spelling Bee
Even though the Scripps National Spelling Bee has passed that doesn’t mean you can’t get your O-R-T-H-O-G-R-A-P-H-Y kick in this monthly spelling bee hosted by Bobby Blue and Jen Dziura. Show your friends and a group of strangers what 12 years of schooling got you. #mamawemadeit
First Monday of the month at Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg
55) Brunch Bingo
The three B’s to a successful summer: Brunch, Bingo and Beer. Our folks over at The Grand National bar embrace these essentials by hosting a free weekly Sunday bingo where winners can walk away with all sorts of prizes including more booze.
Sundays at The Grand National, 524 Grand Street, Williamsburg
56) Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz
Not to be confused with a trivia night, this weekly pub quiz is an Anglo-Irish tradition whose aim is to encourage social drinking and competition in eight rounds, each with their own unique theme.
Every Wednesday at The Rock Shop on 249 Fourth Avenue, Park Slope
57) Drunk Debates
DC Comics vs. Marvel. Miller vs. Coors. Star Wars vs. Star Trek. It’s a tournament of drunken debates where there isn’t a correct answer, just a better arguer. Expect in the case of Star Wars, which is obviously the superior film series, minus the prequels.
6/19 & 6/26 at Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Park Slope
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES
58) Free Bike Mornings
Bring your bike or rent a cruiser bike for free at Colonels Row, and bike miles of car-free paths on the island each morning. It’s the ultimate summer activity to start off the day.
Weekdays at Colonels Row on Governors Island
59) Shape Up NYC
Getting in shape for summer has gotten a lot easier and fun thanks to Shape Up NYC offering free fitness classes across all five boroughs. Programs range from yoga to self-defense, so feel free to mix and match your programs. It’s all the freedom of having a gym membership, without the fees, pressure, and permanency.
Various dates and locations for info visit here
60) Sports on the Commons
Just because you’re at work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to watch your favorite teams or players play. Sneak out in 10-minute increments or during your lunch break, and watch sporting events like the US Open broadcasted on the big screen.
All summer long at Metrotech Commons, Downtown Brooklyn
61) Waterfront Workouts
The warm, summer air is ideal for shedding layers and pounds against breathtaking outdoor settings. Join fellow Brooklynites as they loosen their limbers with free fitness classes taught by top-notch instructors across different workout disciplines.
Between June and September. Various dates and locations, for more info, visit here
62) Kukuwa: African Dance Workout
Swahili for “grow,” Kukuwa is a cardio workout created by Kukuwa Nuamah that incorporates the rhythmic drumming of the djembe, an African drum, with that of tradition African dance moves. Its basically appropriation meets yoga pants and jazz shoes, but harmless.
6/24, 7/8 & 7/22 at Target Brooklyn Community Garden on 933 Bedford Avenue, Bed-Stuy
63) City of Water Day
This festival draws in people throughout New York-New Jersey region for an all day celebration of water. Take part in the cardboard kayak race, where competitors must build their boat and race, or sit back and enjoy a boat tour. There’s truly something for everyone to do.
7/18 at various locations, for more info, visit here
64) Kayaking in Prospect Park
Conquer the East River this summer by heading over to Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse and renting a kayak. Try to avoid capsizing as you glide across the water.
Thursday and Saturdays from June to August at Pier 2 Dock, Prospect Park
65) Free Outdoor Swimming
The bitterness of winter is gone, and so are those “Sorry we’re closed signs” all over New York’s outdoor pools. Soak up the sun and that pee-infused chlorine water while you can, because winter is inevitably coming.
All summer long starting 6/27 at various locations, for more info, visit here
COMMUNITY FESTIVALS
66) North Brooklyn Pride
It started as an attempt to host the first annual North Brooklyn Pride Festival that would help spread awareness to the LGBTQ youth in the community, but after failing to reach their Kickstarter goal, the crew switched gears to host a equally valuable block party.
6/20 on N 11th Street, Williamsburg
67) STooPS Bed-Stuy
What do Emmy-nominated filmmaker Yamin Mistry, rapper Ishmael Islam, and muralist Paul DEO have in common, besides having ties to Bed-Stuy? They’re all presenting at STooPS Bed-Stuy festival this summer. As a community-building event, STooPS gets Bed-Stuy homeowners and businesses to collaborate with local artists to host mini concerts and art shows right at the steps of homes.
6/26 at various locations, for more, info visit here
68) Bastille Day Celebration
Commemorate the beginning of the French Revolution with a daylong celebration at MetroTech Commons. Though French National Day, as it commonly known in France, is celebrated on July 14, Brooklynites can still enjoy free food, live music, and a Pétanque Tournament courtesy of La Defense Bakery and Bistro.
7/18 at La Defense Bakery and Bistro in MetroTech Commons, Downtown Brooklyn
69) French Culture: Films on the Green
Since we’re not all living in our very own Brooklyn version of Amelie, we have the distinct pleasure of living out our wildest Francophile dreams when the Films on the Green Festival shows classic French films La Dérive and La Collectionneuse at Transmitter Park this July.
7/24 & 31, Transmitter Park, Greenpoint
70) Hindu Aarti Lamp Ceremony
Brooklyn-based dancer Aeilushi Mistry is ready to bring peace and harmony to Brooklyn’s shoreline as she performs the traditional Hindu Aarti Lamp Ceremony in the park. You can participate by painting areca palm leaf boats that will be lit by candles and set afloat in the East River.
8/1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
71) The Annual Brighton Jubilee Festival
Brighton Beach is alive with the sound of music and celebration as nearly 125,000 people descend on its streets for the annual Brighton Beach Jubilee Festival.
8/30 for info, visit here
72) West Indian Carnival
The streets of Crown Heights are transformed into a raucous celebration of Caribbean culture each Labor Day, when the food, dance, music and art of the West Indies reign supreme along Eastern Parkway. There will be jerk chicken and vibrant dress and thumping drums all over town. Prepare to dance.
9/7 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights
Muchmore’s via Facebook
COMEDY
73) Muchmore’s Free Comedy Open Mic
Are you itching for some stage time to show off your comedic skills? Take on Muchmore’s Open Mic and show us what you got. We are still longing for someone to fill the hole Dave Chappelle made 10 years ago. Make sure to reserve a spot at muchmorecomedy@gmail.com beforehand.
Every Monday at Muchmore’s on 2 Havemeyer Street, Williamsburg
74) Black Light Comedy Show
Whoever said women aren’t funny never attended a Black Light Comedy Show or ever talked to a woman in general. Whatever the case may be, these women will have your rolling in laughter.
6/15 & 7/20 at Brooklyn Moon Café on 745 Fulton Street, Fort Greene
75) NaneyFest
Comedian Nick Naney is turning 30, so in celebration of his journey into manhood he has pitted several of his friends against each other to make short films that must be no more than five minutes long and must feature him in it. Brooklyn-based producer and fellow comedian Jo Firestone is one of many presenting at the event.
7/3 at Littlefield at 622 Degraw Street, Gowanus
FOR LIT LOVERS
76) Writing on It All
Deviating from conventional writing practices, this collaborative writing series brings in artists, writers and the public for its third year of using the surfaces of out-of-use homes, specifically the Governors Island house, as a canvas for their writing. No surface will go unscathed as participants explore a theme on the walls, pipes, windows and floorboards, until the end of the sessions when these surfaces will be cleansed from such blemishes.
6/6-6/28 on Governors Island, for more info, visit here
77) Father’s Day Reading
Pete’s Reading Co-Host Brain Gresko is hosting an all-star reading series about fathers and fatherhood in spirit of the holiday as told by Brooklyn-based authors, including Gresko himself. The evenings reading will then lead into a panel discussion. You should attend if you’re a writer, a father or have a father.
6/19 at BookCourt on 163 Court Street, Cobble Hill
78) Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” Marathon
Pay homage to Walt Whitman by contributing or observing fellow New Yorkers recite—through dramatic or musical interpretations—Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself.” The 52-section, self-love poem will be led by poet Martín Espada, against a brilliant backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York Harbor.
6/21 at Granite Prospect, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
79) Books Beneath the Bridge
Since the series beginning in 2012, Books Beneath the Bridge has captured the attention of thousands of people who are eager to hear authors, representing six of Brooklyn’s independent bookstores, read their latest works while sitting against a New York skyline.
Mondays 7/6-8/10 under the Brooklyn Bridge Park at Granite Prospect
80) NYC Poetry Festival
Head out to Governors Island as 250 different poets from across the five boroughs meet up to mingle, share ideas, and read their work.
7/25-26 Governor’s Island
81) The Brooklyn Book Festival
If you haven’t already, save the date for the Brooklyn Book Festival. It’s celebrating its 10th anniversary. The two-day festival will be split into a Children’s Day on the 19th and the Adult Festival on the 20th. Check their site for more information as it continues to be updated.
8/19-20, for more info, visit here
GET ON STAGE
82) Story-Telling Night
Modeled after The Moth, a showcase where storytellers explore a theme by sharing their experiences to a crowd, People’s Republic of Brooklyn invites all to recount a personal story from their life. The only conditions: Keep it under 10 minutes, no notes, and have fun.
Sundays at People’s Republic of Brooklyn on 247 Smith Street, Cobble Hill
83) Open Mic Night at Jalopy
Got the chops to hold a crowd and not get booed off the stage? Try your luck and perform your latest bit, song or poem at Jalopy in South Brooklyn.
Every Tuesday at Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, 315 Columbia Street, Columbia Street Waterfront District
84) Karaoke on the Boardwalk
Singing the National Anthem with fireworks illuminating the sky as your backdrop, has been a luxury only given to celebrities at sporting events but thanks to the crew over at Deno’s Wonder Wheel, you can align yourself with the elite at Coney Island’s own Friday night karaoke—no matter how off-key you are.
Fridays all summer long in front of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park on Boardwalk and West 12th Street, Coney Island
85) Sing for Hope Pianos
Throughout New York are 50 vividly painted pianos waiting for anyone and everyone to play them. These pieces of art—each painted by artists, healthcare centers, notable New Yorkers who are dedicated to the arts—are meant to get people, especially children into music. Randomized performances by both novice and professionals will occur throughout the festival.
6/5-6/21 at various locations, for more info, visit here
86) Kings of Karaoke
Kings of Karaoke is like American Idol, except there’s no judges, no pressure and hopefully your inebriated. With a cue of songs that have been growing for more than 10 years, and deejays filling the dead time between each karaoke performance with a mixture of indie, punk, 80s and other genres, each week is expected to be one giant party.
Every Thursday at The Rock Shop on 249 Fourth Avenue, Park Slope
87) BRIC: How to Get Your Own TV Show
Everybody has a story to tell, and with the help of BRIC Media you can share yours to 550,000 households and worldwide. Just bring your ideas and they will help with rest.
Sign up for an orientation here
AND EVERYTHING ELSE
88) It’s My Park
Each year, New Yorkers celebrate their communities by volunteering with It’s My Park to help beautify the parks and public spaces in various communal projects across the boroughs.
6/6-7/6 at various Brooklyn parks, for more info, visit here
89) Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Pop-Ups
Renegade Craft Fair Pop-Ups brings Brooklyn’s finest independent makers to Williamsburg’s East River State Park, where they hawk their handmade wares, from jewelry to bespoke clothing, natural beauty products, lighting and furniture, housewares, and affordable art. Sure, it’s not free to buy stuff, but browsing is just as much fun sometimes.
6/6-27 on Saturdays East River State Park, Williamsburg
90) This is Brooklyn!
Whether you’re a tourist or native Brooklynite, learning the history of the borough inside of New York’s own local landmark, the Brooklyn Historical Society building, is an ingenious way to educate yourself before exploring the rest of the area. Not a tourist? A refresher course can help reaffirm your love of Brooklyn.
Sundays 6/7-7/26 at Brooklyn Historical Society on 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn Heights (free with museum admission)
91) Sincerity NYC
Start summer off by shaking away the last lingering traces of winter with Brooklyn-based roaming party, Sincerity NYC.
6/20 at Over the Eight on 594 Union Avenue, Williamsburg
92) Seeing Double at the Seashore, 1860 -1920
As part of the Coney Island History Project, visitors will have the ultimate case of #throwbackthursdays on a Saturday when reminiscing of the good ol’ days when Coney Island was once considered the “Playground of the World.” Check out photos of amusement park in its heyday, peer through a pair of vintage stereo-viewers, and even get your picture taken with a Steeplechase horse, from the infamous ride that resulted in the naming of Steeplechase Park.
Saturdays until 7/20 on Coney Island on 3059 West 12th Street, Coney Island
93) The Art of the Pitch: How to Pitch Your Product
Having a good product is only part of getting investors to buy into your brand. With the help of HappyFunCorp, a Brooklyn-based software engineering firm offers a few pointers to help strengthen your sorry pitch game.
6/17 at HappyFunCorp on 80 John Street, Vinegar Hill
94) Crazy Since Da 90s
We are all about paying homage to the 90s, because who doesn’t like a white dude covering Oasis’s “Wonderwall” at a party? And, after all, the 90s were the decade when Will Smith revolutionized the airwaves with his totally underappreciated album, Big Willie Style, which produced great hits like “Miami” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” It was a great time to be alive, you know? And thanks to Union Hall we can relive it all again for free. Talk about good vibrations. You must RSVP before 11 p.m. on the day of the event for it to be free.
6/20 at Union Hall on 702 Union Street, Park Slope
95) The Mermaid Parade
This summer kick-off tradition, started in 1983 and is named for Coney Island’s Mermaid Street, has grown into the nation’s largest art parade. The boardwalk gets overtaken by 1,500 merpeople dancing on floats. Neon wigs and glittery body paint go well with Nathan’s hot dogs.
6/20 Coney Island Boardwalk, Coney Island
96) Friends with Benefits
Grumpy Bert presents the collaborative work of Brandon Sines and Ramiro Davaro-Comas, local Brooklyn artists, where the two joined forces to introduce their characters, Frank Ape (Sines) and Davaro-Comas’ numerous creatures. The exhibit will showcase the characters in a series of mischievous antics as they travel through Brooklyn creating havoc.
6/27-7/19 at Grumpy Bert on 82 Bond Street, Boerum Hill
97) FIDO Coffee Bark
Finally an activity for your four-legged animal. FIDO in Prospect Park encourages fellow dog owners to bring your pups for free goodies and maybe even some wet dog kisses.
7/11 at Long Meadow in Prospect Park
98) Party Like It’s 1999: 25 Years Since Ghost Edition
To mark the release of Ghost, a movie that probably inspired many clay molding first dates, The Bell House is throwing 90s dance party. Though they can’t promise that you’ll be able to use a pottery wheel, but expect a blast to the past with the best of 90s tracks and of course, The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.”
7/11 at The Bell House on 49 7th Street, Park Slope
99) MCA Day 2015: Celebrating the Life of Adam Yauch
Beastie Boy and hip-hop fans alike should come and celebrate the legacy and life of our own Brooklynite, Adam “MCA” Yauch. In its fourth year since MCA’s death, Littlefield will continue to pay tribute to the legendary Beastie Boy co-founder. So throw on your favorite Beastie Boy shirt, recite your favorite MCA lyric, and vibe to the daylong celebration of life.
8/8 at Littlefield on 622 Degraw Street, Gowanus
100) Kite Festival
There’s nothing like flying a kite high in a crystal clear blue sky, and that’s just what you’ll get to do at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Kite Festival late this summer. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the festival if you haven’t flown one since the third grade.
9/13 Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO
