Weekend Guide: Four Tet, Soul Summit, and a Bad Art Party

By Shawn Setaro

With our most cherished freedoms at risk, our pop culture icons on trial, and nuclear-armed countries on the brink of war, it’s more important than ever to have spaces where we can find community, discover new things, and simply have fun. That’s what we have for you in the latest edition of the Weekend Guide: ways for you to both engage with and escape the world’s problems. From embracing your inner terrible artist to celebrating Halloween five months early, from classic African films to classic industrial bands—whatever you want, Brooklyn’s got it.

Check it all out below.

Thursday, May 15

Haitian Flag Day Selebrasyon! @ Prospect Park Boathouse
5 p.m.
Celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the Haitian flag with live music (from Tabou Combo), dance performances, vendors, and more. The event is put on by Haiti Cultural Exchange in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance.

Cinema with a Cause: Sankofa @ Medgar Evers College
6 p.m.
The Center for Law and Justice at Medgar Evers is putting on this screening of Haile Gerima’s 1993 film Sankofa. The movie is considered one of the best cinematic depictions of slavery and the African diaspora. Now you can watch it in a community of friends, family, and fellow activists. And best of all, it’s free.

Bad Art Party @ pinkFROG cafe
6:30 p.m.
If you’re anything like this writer, you’re absolutely terrible at art—but that doesn’t stop it from being fun. Should that describe you, this is your new home. The whole concept of the Bad Art Party is that art is for the talentless as well as the talented. Show up and draw, paint, make a collage, sculpt something—all the supplies will be there. While you’re making your not-quite-masterpiece, you can eat, drink, and meet some new people who are equally hopeless at the visual arts.

Friday, May 16

Ministry @ Brooklyn Paramount
6:30 p.m.
Industrial music pioneers Ministry are still going at it, almost 45 years after forming in Chicago. You may remember them from their brief flirtation with the mainstream in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. As for this writer, he still swears by their somewhat lesser-known live album from that period, In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Showing Up. But regardless of which era of the group you love, this is your chance to see them do their thing in person.

(Another) 100 Years of Socialism Party @ Umbra
7 p.m.
What do you do when a state agency founded by a disgraced governor currently running for the city’s highest office hits you with the highest fine on record? Well, if you’re the DSA, throw a party, of course. And that’s just what they’ll do this Friday night at Umbro in Bushwick, where you’ll find music provided by a few DJs, a tarot card reader, whatever constitutes socialist art, and appearances from the stars of the roster—including Zohran Mamdani, the only mayoral candidate who might just eek out a win over the aforementioned.

Defector Media presents Ten Minute Quarters: A WNBA Comedy Show @ Littlefield
7:30 p.m.
The WNBA season is about to start, and what better way to celebrate than with…a stand up comedy show? Regardless, this event, which promises “games, giveaways, and special guests,” features awesome talent including Josh Gondelman and Amber Singletary.

AMNESIASCOPE: CYMBELINE (with Michael Almereyda Q&A) @ Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research
8 p.m.
The Shakespeare adaptation Cymbeline starring Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, and Dakota Johnson didn’t make much of a splash when it hit theaters in 2014. But it might be time for a reconsideration. You can judge for yourself, and then ask director Michael Almereyda any questions you might have, at this special screening.

maniFEST25 x SPRING @ Brooklyn Art Haus
9:30 p.m.
This arts fest is a follow-up to a successful iteration back in January. There will be a local arts market (which you can actually browse up to a full hour before the rest of the fun begins); live music; craft cocktails; and to top it all off, a 90s-inspired grunge dance party. Hopefully the slam dancing won’t damage that new painting you just bought.

Saturday, May 17

Open Space with Soul Summit, Mike Nasty, Bridge and More @ Industry City Courtyard 1-2
12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Anyone who’s attended any one or number of Soul Summit spectacle in Fort Greene or abroad knows the DJ collective can keep you on your feet straight through the night if given the opportunity. So a free (all) day party overlooking the East River—complete with makers market, a sundae slinger, and plenty of food to keep you fueled—shouldn’t be passed up this weekend.

The BBB Block Party! @ Banker Street between Calyer Street & Meserole Avenue
1 p.m.
Beyond the Black Box (BBB) is throwing this afternoon-long gathering that advances the organization’s mission to “celebrate, honor, and uplift the Black dance community” by having free dance classes, DJs, a drum circle, and more. But that’s not all: there’s also a vendor market with Black-owned businesses, and special evening performances.

Restoration DanceAfrica Community Day Kickoff @ Restoration Plaza
1 p.m.
If you can’t make it to BBB’s all-day dance celebration, here’s another equally good option. This event kicks off BAM’s DanceAfrica Festival, which offers a ton of programming throughout the remainder of the month. You’ll see performances by The Billie Holiday Theatre’s Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, select Youth Arts Academy students, and special guest artists.

Four Tet & Friends @ Under the K Bridge Park
4 p.m.
Four Tet first tried this weekend festival last year, and it was a huge success. Now he’s back, and he’s bringing two days’ of programming on two different stages with him. Saturday’s show features Champion, Jet Orbison, MPH, and lots more, plus two sets from Four Tet himself.

Halloween in May @ Market Hotel
11 p.m.
It’s never too early to get spooky. To prove that old maxim (that we just made up), you should get your best costume on and come out to this springtime Halloween rave. There are four DJs on the bill and there will be Halloween-themed drinks and decorations to get you into the spirit of the season.

Sunday, May 18

Brooklyn Pop-Up Market @ Brooklyn Museum
10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Yes, this event is weekly. But it’s probably been a while since you rolled through, so consider this a reminder. You can shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade items, eat, and check out live DJ sets, all in a beautiful outdoor space.

Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk (Closing Day)
12 p.m.
This is your very last day to experience this year’s ArtWalk. Stroll down Atlantic Ave. from Fourth Avenue to the water, and you’ll see work from around 125 local artists at 70 different businesses. There will even be a special exhibition of art and letters from children called “Letters to Mom.”

Outside My Insides and Inside My Outsides @ Kunstraum LLC
12-6 p.m.
Sunday marks the opening day for this gallery’s new exhibit. It features four artists (Ilya Fedotov-Fedorov, Simone Kesting, Kimin Kim, and Himeka Murai) whose works “explore the porous boundaries between internal worlds and external forces.” Sculptures, paintings, ceramics, and even mask-making combine to make this interdisciplinary show a total treat.

Academy Records & Friends Record Fair @ Union Pool 
2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Back for its second annual throwdown, The Academy Records Record Fair is gathering some of the borough’s best crate curators at Union Pool in Williamsburg. Expect goods, greats, and grails, rain or shine (praying for the latter), for every strain of collector. Bring your trusty tote—or whatever carrying vessel you prefer—and hit the hell out of the bins.

Carnegie Hall Citywide: Emiliano Messiez @ Central Library, Dweck Center
4 p.m.
Messiez is a Latin Grammy-winning pianist and composer who is one of the top tango players out there. This is your chance to see him for free, and in a relatively intimate setting. Figuring out where in the auditorium you’re going to dance, well, that’s on you.