Photo by Scott Lynch
Weekend Guide: Gowanus Open Studios, The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and More
Plus: Open Mike Eagle at The Sultan Room, a pumpkin carving contest at Alphaville, a flea market at a Bed-Stuy wine bar, and tons more
We’re now full-on in the middle of spooky season, so this week we’ve got our share of scares, including ghosts popping up in photographs and demons from hell. But if horror isn’t your thing, don’t worry. We’re still far away enough from All Hallows’ Eve that much more is on tap. Speaking of “tap,” this weekend you can go to a flea market at a brewery (or another at a wine bar), or, if you’d rather walk around and see the sights, there’s a tour of Bed-Stuy’s gorgeous brownstones and the return of Gowanus’ massive open studios exploration. If sitting tight and catching a movie (or 50) is the vibe, we’ve got a pair of film festivals for you. And, as always, there’s plenty of amazing music to experience.
Check it all, plus a lot more, in the latest edition of the Weekend Guide.
Courtesy of Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
Thursday, October 15
Brooklyn Horror Film Festival @ Various Locations
Check schedule
As noted, the borough isn’t waiting for Fright Night proper to get into the spooky spirit. And there probably isn’t a better or more thorough warm-up than this week-long film festival, back for its 11th run on Thursday night with 50 screenings of classic and cult horror films at a handful of theaters (though mostly at Nitehawk’s Williamsburg location). It kicks off with Nick Murphy’s I Love Paris and a launch party at Lo-Res in Williamsburg.
The Wisdom Bar: “Spirits of Photography: Did the Victorians Capture Ghosts?” @ Fabrik DUMBO
6:30 p.m.
Back in the 1860s, photographers claimed they could capture the spirits of dead people. It was a hoax, as P.T. Barnum, one of the main campaigners against the practice, recognized at the time. But the Spiritualism movement was powerful in ways that are often forgotten today. JR Pepper, an expert in all things photography and all things Victorian, will be speaking about the history of “spirit photography.”
Exit Envy: BLM, MAGA, and the Continuing Crisis of Longevity @ e-flux
7 p.m.
Charles Mudede, a veteran writer, filmmaker, and cultural critic, has taken on everything from policing to hip-hop to tombstones. Tonight, he’ll be discussing longevity, capitalism, and what the interaction between the two has to do with both President Trump’s movement and Black Lives Matter.
A Joyful Noise is a live event put on Brooklyn-based producer, DJ, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and label owner JKriv. He’s been doing it at Public Records for the past several years with a cast of affiliated musicians, and they’ve finally made a record of the experience. Celebrate the release and hear the group perform live, all on the same night.
Courtesy of Open Mike Eagle
Friday, October 16
5th Annual Bed-Stuy Film Festival Opening Night Film and Reception @ The Billie Holiday Theatre
6 p.m.
The neighborhood’s best film festival runs all weekend. But it’s best to show up on opening night for the festival’s sole feature, The NextShift. The screening will be followed by a cocktail reception. Check out the festival’s website for the rest of the programming.
Open Mike Eagle @ The Sultan Room
7 p.m.
Open Mike Eagle will be performing with producer Kenny Segal, with whom he made his most recent album, DOOMED!. Eagle always puts on an incredible, smart, fun, and gripping live show, and tonight will surely be no different.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II @ Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn
7 p.m.
This screening of the Clive Barker classic is being put on to promote the release of the Hellraiser: Revival video game. But whether gaming is your thing or not, there’s no reason on earth (or any other dimension you might visit) to miss this screening of arguably the best movie in the Hellraiser series. If you need any more enticement, there will be a special “Ceno-bites” menu for the occasion.
Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds: Mutiny for the Masses 2026 Tour @ Barclays Center
8 p.m.
Don’t let the name fool you. This is country star Sturgill Simpson in a new guise. He’s supporting his new record Mutiny After Midnight. Whatever name he uses, you’re going to hear a night of killer songs.
Courtesy of Merchants of Smith Street
Saturday, October 17
The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant’s 48th Annual House Tour @ Boys & Girls High School
9 a.m.
Everyone loves the brownstones in Bed-Stuy. Now you have an actual excuse to look at them to your heart’s content during this self-guided tour.
MOSS, aka Merchants of Smith Street, is bringing an all-day fair to Carroll Gardens this weekend. It includes local food, drink, and merchant vendors, as well as a Brooklyn Bridge Parents Kids Zone, live music from Fogo Azul Drumming, and a Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade, in partnership with Pupstarz. It all culminates with a dance party at night with a DJ spinning at the closing ceremonies.
Brooklyn Pop-Up + OSH Fall Artisans Bazaar +Traditional Makers Fair @ Old Stone House of Brooklyn
10 a.m.
You get two markets in one today. There’s the Traditional Makers Fair, which focuses on hand-crafted products in glass-blowing, ceramics, woodworking, and more. Then there’s the Fall Holiday Bazaar, which brings together Brooklyn’s best local makers, designers, and independent businesses.
Wheels NYC’s Fall Edition with Cory Townse and Soulection @ Aggerfish Warehouse
Noon
The highly curated car show is back in Brooklyn this weekend with a wild line-up, including DJ sets from local spinner Cory Townes and the Soulection collective, but also drinks, food, merch, activities for the kids, and a market of collectibles.
Gowanus Open Studios @ Various locations
Noon
Gowanus’ reliably great annual art crawl returns this weekend for its 30th year with two days of free and open exploration of the canal-adjacent creative community’s workspaces and galleries. This one’s an all-day affair, running from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and will absolutely require a map, 10,000 of which will be distributed across the neighborhood.
Chris Gethard and Dave Ross Leave For Fest @ Union Hall
7:30 p.m.
The two comics are headed to a punk festival in Gainesville, doing shows along the way. Before they leave, they’re going to do one big performance at Union Hall to say goodbye (and to make sure their material works!)
The House of Vibes @ The House on Locust
8 p.m.
Six DJs on two levels will be spinning the best house music all night. Behind the decks will be Jihad Muhammad, Quentin, Harris Sabine Blaizin, Antonio Ocasio, Soni Withaneye, and Tré Hunter.
Courtesy of The Broadway
Sunday, October 18
Threes Flea Market: Fall Edition @ Threes Brewing Greenpoint
Noon
Books, records, vintage clothes, and art will all be featured at this flea market curated by Fig Shop. There will also be a DJ on hand to provide a soundtrack to your shopping. And of course, because it’s at Threes Brewing, there will be fantastic beer on hand.
Party Under the Shuttle with Shuttle Friends @ Prospect Place Between Franklin Ave. and Classon Ave.
Noon
Celebrate the S train with this block party. There will be music, food, art, kid-appropriate activities — and, best of all, lots of information and history about the shuttle train. The event is free and open to everyone.
Flea @ Frog Wine Bar
1 p.m.
The Bed-Stuy wine bar is debuting a monthly flea market on Sunday, because the only shopping experience better than thrifting is doing it with a glass or two of something piercing, light, and/or orange.
DOTCONNECTOR and Oh Boy! Present: Homecoming
1 p.m.
Expect plenty of “autumnal vibes” and, of course, sandwiches, at this Sunday throwdown in Williamsburg. The menu’s by SAMICH, the music’s courtesy Grabba Ranks and Alex Benitez, and the surprises are allegedly myriad. Pull up hungry and ready to party.
Jack-O-Lantern Carving Contest @ Alphaville
6 p.m.
Looking to strut your sculptural stuff? Well, you can put it to the test at Alphaville on Sunday, where pumpkins will be provided and a contestants can duke it out for a $50 bar tab as horror movies play in the background all night long.
The Sus One @ Flop House Comedy Club
8 p.m.
This combination of a comedy show and a live dating show has a truly original premise. Both real couples and fake couples will be asked questions about their relationships onstage, and it’s up to the audience to figure out which ones are the real deal and which ones are making up their answers on the spot.
thisHOLY rodeo! @ The Broadway
8 p.m.
tHr is a rocking, arty, political band who are as likely to perform a mock-Bible sermon as to play an entire set as the Talking Heads. Come see them headline, with all profits going to help people stuck in ICE’s horrific Delaney Hall Detention Facility. Proofreader, Heavy Feather & The Magic Word, and Reanimators open up.
