Sister Nancy, Red Hook Holiday Market, a Giant Menorah Lighting, and 16 More Things to Do This Weekend

By Shawn Setaro

It’s (almost) winter, which means the temperatures are dropping as quickly as our inhibitions after some spiked apple cider or hot toddies. So we’ve got plenty of activities to keep you warm: Dancing, watching people dance, seeing some great music, running, and, yes, even some shopping. So check out the Weekend Guide below, and while you’re out, make sure to dap up Styles P, who will be at multiple events.

Courtesy of LargeUp

Thursday, December 11

IND Album Release Party @ Studio 45
7 p.m.
IND (I’ll Never Die) is a great rap collective readying the release of their album Genesis. To celebrate, they’re putting on one hell of an event, hosted by music critic extraordinaire Dylan “Cinemasai” Green. There will be DJ sets from Mark Saunders and Reg Mason. And after the show, join the group for a video shoot.

LargeUp and SevenHouse Present: Sister Nancy, Styles P, Renée Neufville, and Melanie Charles @ The Brooklyn Monarch
7 p.m.
This evening rightfully bills itself as “a legendary night of music and culture.” It’ll be hosted by Video Music Box icon “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels. And yes, Styles P, Melanie Charles, and Renée Neufville of Zhané fame will, no doubt, be incredible. But even more than that, how can you possibly turn down a chance to see Sister Nancy, the one and only “Bam Bam” singer herself, performing classics along with selections from her new album Armageddon?

Hannibal Buress Presents: The Cool Kids Live @ Baby’s All Right
7 p.m.
The Blog Era rap icons are still going strong. Get ready to relive the late-aughts in the best possible way with a night hosted by Hannibal Buress, down the street from his club.

Children in Conflict Benefit Concert with John Oliver, Common, Natasha Bedingfield, and more @ Brooklyn Paramount
7 p.m.
Part rally, part concert, wholly a good cause and time, this benefit show at Brooklyn Paramount is hosted by the irreverent and hilarious John Oliver and features an elite line-up, including Common, Natasha Bedingfield, and Mon Rovia.

Off the Record—A no phones party @ Jade
10 p.m.
It’s not just a name—they’re serious about not pulling out your phone. Finally, you can get a night focused on fun, dancing, and connections, rather than content capture and doing anything for the Gram. Behind the decks will be Chery, Miss Vee, Samantha DaSilva, Coco Prosecco, and Steen.

Courtesy of Standing on The Corner

Friday, December 12

Sustainable Holiday Night Market @ Brooklyn Roots Collective
5 p.m.
Zero Waste NYC is putting on a holiday market you can feel good about. Thrifted clothing, reclaimed, sustainable, and upcycled jewelry, art made out of single-use plastic bottles, vegan baked goods, and a whole lot more await you. Won’t it be nice to shop without guilt for once?

Fire Island Invasion: Day of Independence with Anderson Zaca @ Library for Arts & Culture
6:30 p.m.
It took photographer Anderson Zaca 18 years to create his photography book celebrating Fire Island’s annual Invasion of the Pines event. Now you can see how he did it with this special behind-the-scenes event, at which the author will present ​​test prints, book samples, editing mockups, and more to give you a full picture of the scope of this accomplishment.

A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary @ Kings Theatre
7:30 p.m.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means, of course, that it’s Home Alone season. Celebrate in the best possible way: by watching the movie in a beautiful theater, and then watching a Q&A with Kevin McCallister himself, Macaulay Culkin. Relatedly, if you’re in the mood for more Macaulay, there’s a moving interview of the actor in the new documentary John Candy: I Like Me, reflecting on his experience shooting Uncle Buck with the beloved late comic and actor.

Standing On The Corner’s “Winter Hustler’s Ball” @ Sugar Hill Restaurant & Supper Club
9 p.m.
The band Standing On The Corner has a long history of working with rappers, so it’s no surprise that their winter showcase would feature a performance by (for the second time this weekend!) Styles P, as well as a set by the “mixtape queen,” DJ Lazy K, with SOTC closing out the night’s bill.

Courtesy of Xanadu

Saturday, December 13

A.B. Uniform’s Holiday Gift Market @ 455 Carroll Street
11 a.m.
Holiday markets don’t have to be drab, corny, or littered with tchotchkes. This one, from the A.B. Uniform team, is for the holiday shopper with discerning buying habits and a fierce fit for all occasions. Pull up to comb through quality books, photos, jewelry, cookies, clothes, glasses, chocolate, and who knows what else.

Brooklyn Pop-Up x Red Hook Holiday Market @ Hook Studio Dikeman Street
12 p.m.
You don’t expect to get all your shopping done at a single holiday market, do you? This one will have tons of local artists, DJs, and activities suitable for whichever kids you have to drag along.

Die Hard Holiday Spectacular! @ NYCResistor
6:30 p.m.
The folks at NYCResister attempt to settle the age-old is-it-a-Christmas-movie debate once and for all with a Die Hard-themed holiday party. Action movies will be showing, DJs will be spinning, and hopefully, things will end better here than they did for folks at that one office party in Nakatomi Plaza.

Louie Vega & Friends @ Xanadu
7 p.m.
Louie Vega, a house music dignitary and pioneer with decades upon decades of flipping dance floors into sweaty, dissociative playpens, is bringing the heat to a borough in desperate need of it on Saturday night. He’ll be joined by Karizma, Anané, Willy Soul, and more at the Bushwick rollerskating rink.

Girls Gotta Eat Holiday Spectacular @ BAM
8 p.m.
The hugely popular dating, sex, and relationships podcast Girls Gotta Eat is continuing its annual holiday tradition. This wild show with dance performances, crowd participation, special guests, and more cannot be missed if you’re a fan.

Paul de Jong with Beth Daunis @ Issue Project Room
8 p.m.
Paul de Jong is best known as a member of the duo The Books. But he’s also a composer and a collector who owns a mind-blowing media archive of antique film footage, sound recordings, vernacular photography, and typographic fragments. He’s teaming up with violinist and composer Daunis to share a new work-in-progress that brings together all of these talents, called Light of Day. Following the performance, there will be a party to celebrate the end of Issue Project Room’s 2025 season.

Courtesy of Littlefield

Sunday, December 14

NYC Holiday Half, 10k, 5k @ Fort Hamilton
9 a.m.
It’s not often you have a chance to run through an actual, operating military base, never mind one with a history that goes back to the early 19th century. Choose between the “scenic” 5k, the “challenging” 10k, and a half-marathon that explores whatever’s on the other side of challenging.

Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah Lighting: Kickoff Concert Event @ Grand Army Plaza
4 p.m.
If you’ve been anywhere near Grand Army Plaza during Chanukah, you’ve surely seen the giant menorah put up by Chabad of Park Slope. This year, it’s celebrating the lighting with a kickoff concert by Pumpidisa.

Grand Kyiv Ballet: Nutcracker @ Oceana Theater
5 p.m.
Not only will you get to see a world-famous ballet company perform one of the most famous ballets of all time; you also get to feel good about it. Part of the cost of your ticket will go to restoring the Main Ballet Academy of Ukraine and repairing the children’s dorm.

Charlene Kaye Presents Golden Hour Fest: A Festival Celebrating Asian Musicians @ Littlefield
7:30 p.m.
Kaye is the rising star responsible for those “Every [Famous Pop Artist] Song” videos that you’ve surely seen by now. This festival is, like it says, uplifting musicians of AAPI descent. On the bill is the all-female Radiohead tribute act Labiahead (featuring Kaye herself), Party Foul, Gushes, Emergency Tiara, Chanel Ali, and Henry Bae.