Weekend Guide: Ashanti, Robyn, and a Paradise Garage Reunion

By Shawn Setaro

Happy Labor Day! We all know that the actual big event this weekend is outside the scope of our humble column. The annual West Indian Day Parade is returning to Eastern Parkway on Monday, September 7. But there are a ton of related events, official or otherwise, over the preceding days, and we’ve picked out some of the best of them. Plus, if you’re in the mood to do something in addition to all that celebrating, there are plenty of other amazing activities going on. Check it all out in the latest Weekend Guide.

Thursday, September 3

ETHEL – The Cultural Center at St. John’s Opening Night @ St. John’s Lutheran Church
6:30 p.m.

It’s a big deal when the borough gets a new performance venue. The Cultural Center at St. John’s is kicking off tonight. They’re launching with a Chamber Music Series, featuring the Grammy-winning string quartet ETHEL. 

Ken Carson – The Xperimenting Tour @ Barclays Center
7:30 p.m.

Atlanta’s Ken Carson is bringing his Xperimenting Tour to Barclays Center, which means one thing: Energy levels will be stratospheric when the “Fighting My Demons” rapper takes the stage. Xaviersobased, Prettifun, and DJ Moon are also on the bill.

Alfreda’s Cinema, Ten Minutes to Live (1932) w/ Live Vinyl Score @ Lefferts Historic House
8 p.m.

Alfreda’s Cinema continues its incredible run—can we just get them an actual theater already?—with a screening of Oscar Micheaux’s 1932 gem. A live vinyl score will be provided by Kamau Patton.

Sylvan Esso (DJ set), Tama Gucci, Swaya @ Elsewhere
10 p.m.

The electropop duo Sylvan Esso is taking over Elsewhere this weekend, with an album listening event at 7 p.m., followed by a DJ set at 10. Tickets for each are separate (the album listening is free; the DJ set is not), and both are going extremely quickly.

Friday, September 4

Ashanti Live at “Spread Love”: The R&B Festival @ Paradise Coney Island
4 p.m. 

The one and only Ashanti headlines this end-of-summer festival. DJ Ty Boogie, DJ Krue, and DJ AKI will be spinning.

East Coast Sleaze Fest @ Lucky 13 Saloon
6 p.m.

The Anthrax show at the newly reopened St. Vitus tonight is unfortunately sold out. But if you still want to get your Headbangers Ball on, and like your metal glam instead of thrash, Pretty Boy Floyd and a number of other ’80s-style heavy rockers will be on the bill for this one. 

404 Media’s Third Anniversary Party @ Threes Brewing
7 p.m.

404 Media has been doing amazing work for these past three years. It’s time to celebrate with them, and their dedicated readers, at this anniversary party. And if this isn’t enough 404 for ya, there’s a panel the previous night that they’re putting on about resistance to AI data centers.

Robyn – The Sexistential Tour @ Barclays Center
8 p.m.

Robyn’s been releasing music for 30-plus-years and shows no sign of slowing down. Tonight, the Swedish pop star performs the first of two dates at Barclays Center, with Yaeji joining her.

WE LIMIN Carnival Bus Tour @ Lefferts Historic House
9 p.m.

If you want to get a panoramic view of this weekend’s celebrations, this is the way to do it. Get on a bus that stops at a bunch of different camps, to really get the whole Carnival experience. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into making the weekend the huge event that it is.

Saturday, September 5

Lesbian Renaissance: A Medieval Themed Lavender Market @ Boyfriend Co-Op
12 p.m.

Think Ren Fair, but lesbian. This event will feature over a dozen vendors, a chance to make your own crafts, tarot, raffles, games, and even delicious desserts. There’s free entry, but you can also purchase a special VIP ticket that gives you access to special activities and a goodie bag.

Voice & Friends – Live in Brooklyn @ Rum and Music Village, Flushing Ave & Washington Ave
1 p.m.

Aaron “Voice” St. Louis is one of the top soca artists out. So of course he’ll be performing during this biggest of Caribbean weekends. DJs, guest performers, and great food and drink vendors will round out the day. 

New York Panorama @ Brooklyn Museum Carnival Village
7 p.m.

The best steel pan orchestras in the country battle it out in this annual event. If you’ve never been, or even if you have, prepare to be blown away.

David Morales (12 Hour Birthday Set) @ Refuge
10 p.m.

Morales, with decades of important work behind him, is the DJ behind your favorite remix. And with 12  hours to spin, there’s a good chance he’ll play it tonight. 

Sunday, September 6

Who Framed Roger Rabbit @ Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg
11 a.m.

Now that Coyote vs. Acme has finally made it to theaters, it’s time to revisit its best-known predecessor. 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a similar mix of animation and live action, and shares a meta, knowing take on cartoons. It’s also incredibly innovative and still wildly funny.

Agapē Festival @ Industry City
12 p.m.

This festival actually starts on Saturday with a whole day of face-to-face DJ sets. But today, the entire day is taken up by 44 Label Group. Riden, Kobosil, David Löhlein, Future.666, Clara Cuvé, Somewhen, and many more will be spread across two stages. 

Paradise Garage Reunion 2026 @ Xanadu
12 p.m.

Anyone who knows anything at all about dance music history has heard about the legendary Paradise Garage. A number of veterans of that scene—DJs Joey Llanos and David DePino, and even the venue’s light man, Derek Vazquez—will be on hand to give you that old feeling.  

Foul Fiend Theatre Troupe presents Cyrano de Bergerac @ Prospect Park (Parkside Ave. & Parade Pl.)
2 p.m.

Foul Fiend is putting on this “sapphic adaptation” of Cyrano. Megan Boehmcke and Alex Key star as Cyrano and Roxanne, respectively. Sydney Dubitsky directs.

Cue The Record Presents: LISTENING SESSION 030 – Donald Byrd’s Places and Spaces @ Rein Studios
4:30 p.m.

If you’ve never heard Donald Byrd’s 1975 jazz-funk opus, Place and Spaces, first of all, shame on you. But also, maybe dip into this album listening party, held by this roving (and recently Times-approved) record club at a studio space on Johnson Avenue. Tickets (roughly $40 a pop with tax and fees) include two complimentary pours of vino (or bottles of unboozy sparkling water), and entry into a raffle for a copy of the album on vinyl. The event is hosted by DJs and Mustafa Ali-Smith and Bruce Campbell Jr., who will lead a post-listening discussion following the playback.