Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Weekend Guide
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-Mar 19, 2026
Weekend Guide: Jon Benjamin, Bloody Mary Fest, The First Day of Spring, and More
Comedians recording jazz albums, a spicy mixed-drink blowout, the first signs of a new season, and all of the parties you'd think might accompany them
Spring is finally here! That means we’ll (slowly) be adding more outdoor events back into our Weekend Guide listings, but it also means we’ve got another excuse to party. After all, a new season only happens four times a year. Whether you want to celebrate by drinking herbal tea in a beautiful meadow or dancing your heart out to some K-pop or putting back a few spicy mixed drinks while the sun still has six or seven hours in the sky, we’ve got you covered below.
Courtesy of Affordable Art Fair
Thursday, March 19
Paid: Affordable Art Fair @ The Starrett-Lehigh Building
12 p.m.
A massive art market where pieces don’t require first, second, or third mortgages, admission is free after 6 p.m. with the donation of art supplies, and it features contributions from some of the most vital and interesting arts orgs in the borough? Yes, absolutely—sign us up.
{Bash} presents: Spencer Zabiela + Guests @ MAD Radio NYC
6 p.m.
Spencer Zabiela’s {Bash} events are always a house-driven great time. Guests tonight are Ardio Zemog, Blvck Truffle, and Oso:Rio.
Paid: David Herskovits’ This is Real @ Target Margin Theater
7:00 p.m.
Created by David Herskovits and a cohort of artists, This is Real brings the transgressive spirit of Jean Genet to life for America in 2026, with the French author and playwright’s obsessions—power, sex, and revolution—at its core. If that sounds like your kind of drama, grab your tickets today.
Ben Hixon and Stonie Blue as Southside Movement @ Dead Letter No. 9
7 p.m.
The Dolfin Records labelmates will be lighting up the backroom at Dead Letter this evening. Anyone looking for a masterclass in what “b2b” is supposed to sound like should pull up and study the duo in the Brooklyn debut of their Southside Movement form.
Jon Benjamin & The Jazz Daredevil Band with Jo Firestone @ Union Pool
7 p.m.
When a celebrated comedian and voice actor develops into a somewhat competent musician (or reveals they may have always been one), it’s usually a good idea to document the moment. And that’s precisely what the star of Archer, Bob’s Burgers, and countless others Fox and Fox-adjacent IP will be doing at this live album recording at the venerable Williamsburg venue.
Immanuel Wilkins Quartet @ Pioneer Works
7:30 p.m.
Wilkins and his band (Micah Thomas on piano, Ryoma Takenaga on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums) are coming to town to celebrate the release of Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 1, the first of three separate albums the Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer has coming out in the next few months.
tour de PR: x3butterfly, Petal Supply, Callie Reiff, Raquel Michel @ Public Records
10:30 p.m.
Callie Reiff and Raquel Michel’s “tour de LES” party jumps the East River and the Gowanus Canal to Public Records this weekend. The lineup is incredible. In addition to the two founders, x3butterfly and Petal Supply will be behind the decks, keeping you dancing until the wee hours.
Courtesy of DROM
Friday, March 20
Palestine ‘36 Advance Screening @ BAM Rose Cinemas
6 p.m.
This film is the only feature to have been shot inside Palestine within the past two years. If that isn’t reason enough to watch this advance screening, featuring a Q&A with director Annemarie Jacir, its subject matter—the Palestinian popular uprising against the British occupation that took up much of the back half of the 1930s—should be.
Don’t Tell Comedy @ Arlo Williamsburg
7:30 p.m.
This comedy night is bound to be good, as both the lineup and the exact location remain secret until after you cop your ticket. Make sure to get there early!
Dessa @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
8 p.m.
Dessa is a whole lot of things: singer, rapper, composer, author, memoirist, podcast host, TED talker, Doomtree collective member. Insanely, she’s quite good at each and every one of them. Come see her show off at least some of those skills in person.
Disco Turco with Serhan Aydemir @ DROM
10:30 p.m.
With Ramadan in the rearview, Aydemir is curating a night of psychedelic Turkish music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and that sounds like a damn-good reason for a trip to Alphabet City for the evening.
BTS Album Release Dance Party @ Brooklyn Bowl
11 p.m.
We’re all ecstatic that BTS is making a comeback with their first album in almost six years. What better way to celebrate than by dancing your K-pop-loving heart out to their new album alongside other fans (and bowlers!)?
Courtesy of Selva
Saturday, March 21
The 8th Annual Bloody Mary Festival
11 a.m.
If you’ve ever had the thought to blast a Saturday into the highest of gears with spicy mixed drinks and bites from more than a dozen local restaurants and vendors, the Bloody Mary Festival’s return is as good an excuse as you’ll get. And don’t worry: should you prefer the booze-less variant of anything on offer, they’ve got you covered.
Catalina Tuca’s “Body Omens” Opening Reception @ Tiger Strikes Asteroid
3 p.m.
“Body Omens” is a fascinating exhibit that turns everyday detritus—chewing gum, used soap bars—into modern-day oracles. You can check it out before anyone else and bring the divination system back to your friends.
Kelly is a much-loved music writer who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late last year. Her community has rallied around her to help. This benefit, headlined by the guitar duo of Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and Michael Vallera, is a part of that effort.
Vernal Equinox Celebration @ the Naval Cemetery Landscape
5 p.m.
Spring is finally here! You can celebrate in the best nature-filled way by attending this free event. It includes a guided walk through the NCL, Qi Gong, and a celebration featuring a seasonal herbal tea made by clinical herbalist Elizabeth DeCoursey. The event is BYOM—that’s Bring Your Own Mug.
Discolocas 4th Anniversary Party @ Selva
5 p.m.
The Latine music collective is celebrating a fourth cycle of existence with one helluva party Saturday night. A block over from Maria Hernandez and just around the corner from the Jefferson L stop, you’ll find them spinning, drinking, broadcasting, launching a new issue of their zine, and sharing photography and coffee with all in attendance from early evening until early morning.
BCK All-Gender Beauty Pageant @ Warsaw
7 p.m.
Brooklyn Community Kitchen is putting on its second annual all-gender beauty pageant. Watching it won’t only be fun, it’ll also help BCK keep going in its mission to provide delicious, healthy meals.
Courtesy of Finals
Sunday, March 22
The Music of Harold Budd @ Coffey Street Studio
3 p.m.
You might know minimalist composer Harold Budd’s music from his collaborations with Brian Eno or the Cocteau Twins. Or from his seminal solo work in the ‘70s. Or, most recently, from the score of the miniseries I Know This Much Is True. But no matter what part of his canon you’re aware of, all of it is worth experiencing. David Nagler, Nick Hallett, and Stuart Bogie are teaming up to bring it to you.
The Lunch Room—A Spades Tournament: Live Finals @ Aunts et Uncles
5 p.m.
By the time you’re reading this, it’s too late to enter this spades tournament yourself. But the finals should be quite a sight to see. There will be music, curated food and drinks, and, of course, some very intense gameplay.
1300SAINT @ Baby’s All Right
6:30 p.m.
1300SAINT is a signee to Young Thug’s YSL Records, and he’s definitely in the Thug-inspired lineage of bizarre melodic rap. He’s been building quite a buzz lately, so this NYC show should be the place to be tonight.
Desi Comedy Fest @ The Bell House
7:30 p.m.
One of the continent’s biggest South Asian comedy fests is coming to town. The bill includes Hari Kondabolu, Maddy Kelly, Shafi Hossain, and many more.
The borough’s most consistent and reliable assembly of excellent DJs and producers with excellent taste is back this weekend for another run in the best record store/natural wine bar in town. Post up and pour a few in honor of its one-year anniversary.
