Kite flying, The Fabulous 5th Ave Fair, & chocolate chip cookies galore.
Plus, Mahjong at lunchtime, Industry City Open Studios, MTA-themed cocktails, the Park Slope Sustainable House Tour, and Rooftop Films opens their season!
Here’s what’s happening this week:
Happy National Chocolate Chip Day! 🍪 To celebrate, Whisk & Whiskey is giving away a free cookie to their first 100 guests today, May 15th.
Bike to Work Day is tomorrow, May 16th. 🚴 Stop by the corner of Bergen St and Flatbush from 8-10am and enjoy free coffee from Joe Coffee Company, juice from Brooklyn Crepe, and info on bike registration and sustainable transit, hosted by the North Flatbush Avenue BID.
Mayor Adams announces that the city will be investing $32 million toward an effort to keep NYC Parks cleaner on the weekends. Prospect Park will see additional staff on Thursday through Monday, and bathrooms will stay open longer [BK Reader].
The NYC Hospitality Alliance released recent survey results that share the top concerns facing local restaurants and bars. 60% of bars and restaurants responded that Q1 business sales were less than expected, and 45% reported feeling pessimistic about Q2. 69% of respondents cited main business concern as inflation and tariffs.
Park Slope restaurant Terre is featured in The New York Times’ article “Wines by the Glass: How Some Restaurants Do It Right, and Why.” Terre’s wine list features more than 100 natural wines served by the glass!
A 18 year old high school student recently opened popular taco spot Tacos Del Barrio. He works 12 hours a day while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in high school! Check them out at 67 6th Avenue between Bergen St and St Marks Ave.
Our Top Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!
Thursday, May 15th:
Glow & Grow: Beauty Business Essentials - Digital Marketing 101 for the Beauty Industry @ Brooklyn Public Library (VIRTUAL), 4-6pm: With 4.5 billion people spending their time online, having a strong digital presence is no longer optional—especially in the fast-paced beauty industry. But knowing where to start, and how to stand out, can be overwhelming for beauty brands. In this session, learn: the fundamentals of digital marketing, what SEO is and how drives more clients to your business, and introduction to social media, and more! FREE—registration required.
Intro to Hydroponics @ Farm.One, 6:30-8pm: Learn how to grow herbs, greens, micros & flowers indoors with hydroponics in a controlled environment and artificial light. Farm.One in Prospect Heights grows hundreds of rare herbs, edible flowers, and microgreens for the best chefs in New York. Your entire class will be held inside the farm - there is no other hydroponic learning space like this! $164.
Thrive in 2025 @ Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store, 7-8:30pm: Join Annie’s for a salon-style evening with Claudia Mahler, host of the podcast "Shift Happens,” and take part in a conversation around the topic of "How to Keep Inner Peace in Uncertain Times." This months's event will take place in the backyard (weather permitting). Price of admission includes drinks, snacks and good vibes. $25.
Friday, May 16th:
Ah! Mahjong Lunch Break @ Nin Hao, 12-3pm: Join Veronica Chan, the founder of Soft Side Social Club, for a midday mahjong lunch break at Fujianese restaurant Nin Hao to learn mahjong and connect with new friends and neighbors all while savoring a three-course Fujianese lunch set and tea. Escape your routine and immerse yourself in this captivating game during your lunch break. No prior knowledge needed - our workshop is designed for beginners, though experienced players are welcome to join and refine and refresh their skills. $40.
Rooftop Films Presents: Short Films—Opening Night 2025 @ Green-Wood, 7:45-11:30pm*: Kick the summer off right with one of Rooftop’s biggest and best short film programs of the season! Doors open at 7:45pm. Live Music by Gold Casio at 8:15, and a series of eight short films begin at 8. After the films, there will be a Q & A with filmmakers and an after party. $22.15.
Saturday, May 17th:
Kite Festival @ Brooklyn Bridge Park, 11am-3pm: Head to Pier 5 for a day full of family fun— the one day each year when kite flying is open to the public in the park! Bring your own kite, purchase, or make one on site. Get help with assembly from Charles Stewart of Let's Fly Kites, and watch professional kite flyer Glenn Davidson masterfully soar his kites above the skyline! Craft, art, and S.T.E.A.M. science projects, live music, bubbles, lawn games, and more. FREE.
Open Studios @ Industry City, 12pm- 6pm: Industry City invites you to go behind the scenes at Open Studios! Explore the workspaces of more than 60 artists, designers, and creators who bring energy and imagination to the IC campus every day. This annual event offers a rare opportunity to meet the innovators who call Industry City home and experience firsthand the creativity that fuels the community. FREE.
Spring Carnival @ PS 321 (180 7th Ave), 10am-4pm: Adventure and fun for the whole family await, including a 70-foot obstacle course, bounce houses and slides, axe throwing (the inflatable kind), cotton candy, popcorn, pizza, delicious food from local businesses, face painting, used book sale, carnival games and prizes…and more! FREE.
Baseball, a Classic Concert, & a Silent Film Screening @ The Old Stone House, 4-9pm: The Brooklyn Dodgers—known as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms from 1888-1898—used to play Major League Baseball at Washington Park and use the Old Stone House as the team clubhouse. This weekend, the Bridegrooms will travel through time to play modern baseball against local sandlot team FUMBL (Formerly Unemployed Musicians Baseball League) on their home turf. After the game, FUMBL will play live scores to early 20th century baseball-themed silent films. This event blends athleticism, improvisation, and cinematic nostalgia in a celebration of community and creativity. Game is FREE/ Concert & Film Screening is $25 (includes drink).
A Drinking Game NYC: Clueless @ The Bell House, 7pm: In the "A Drinking Game" series, talented actors perform a live staged reading of cult classics from the 80s and 90s. Each movie comes with a list of buzzwords and phrases—when you hear one, a bell rings and everybody drinks! The actors are in on the fun, too. Plus, when someone says a name, the actor playing that character has to drink. As the evening progresses, theshow's bound to get a little wacky. 21+. $25.05.
Sunday, May 18th:
2025 Fabulous 5th Ave Fair @ 5th Avenue from Sterling Pl to 12th Streets, 10am-6pm: This Park Slope tradition is sponsored by 5th Ave Park Slope BID and spans 18 blocks! Check out local vendors, live music, performances, and more! FREE.
The Fabulous 5th Ave Fair (Photo credit: Brooklyn Paper) Plant Sale & Family Farm Day @ Brooklyn Grange (Sunset Park), 10am-3pm: Head over to Brooklyn Grange’s rooftop farm for seedlings & indoor plants, local vendors, sliding-scale farm tours, yoga, free family activities, compost education, yummy tacos, drinks, and more! FREE entry.
Free Flow Rope Seminar @ JukeBox NYC Boxing Club, 10:15am: Discover the art of flow rope—a dynamic movement practice using a rope to improve coordination, rhythm, mobility, and full-body awareness. It’s fun, low-impact, and great for all fitness levels! FREE—registration required.
Park Slope Sustainable House Tour, 11am-3pm*: Hosted by the Park Slope Civic Council, The Annual House Tour began in 1959 and last year, for the first time, focused on next-generation sustainable technology. This year, they have an array of homes lined up that are both beautiful and environmentally friendly. See how Park Slopers upgrade their homes with innovating & sustainable technologies, including solar energy, heat pumps, and eco-friendly appliances. Proceeds from the House Tour support grants to up and coming neighborhood arts and cultural organizations. $50.
Queer Sticker Print Meet-Up @ Principles Gi Coffee House, 2-5pm: Queer BK hosts this cozy afternoon of sticker-making, community, and connection. Design your own custom sticker sheets using Canva (a free and beginner-friendly app), and they’ll be printed for you on high-quality sticker paper. Whether you’re an artist or just here for the vibes, this event is about self-expression, making something fun, and building up our community. All materials included & a portion of each ticket helps fund the Queer BK Mutual Aid Rolling Fund, supporting marginalized community members including Black trans folks, disabled queers, and unhoused members. $15.
Sip & Paint @ Brooklyn Kura (Industry City), 3pm: Enjoy a guided experience painting a seasonal greeting card while sipping sake with art educator and master sake sommelier Kanako Iwaki. Join Brooklyn Kura in the taproom for a fun and creative night and paint your own Etegami" (絵手紙). Etegami is a traditional art form involving creating simple, colorful hand-painted drawings and a few words on postcards to express personal emotions and share them with friends and loved ones. Ticket includes materials & welcome glass of sake. $83.83.
Wednesday, May 21st:
Gowanus Business Improvement District Public Meeting @ Van Alen Institute, 6pm: Join the Gowanus BID Formation Effort for a meeting about the creation of a Business Improvement District. The evening will include a presentation on how a BID functions, the specific scope of services and cost, a Q & A, and a discussion with neighbors, Steering Committee members, City Agency representatives, and business owners. FREE.
BIPOC Climb Night @ Brooklyn Bouldering Project (Gowanus), 7-9pm: This BIPOC climbing meetup for ages 18 is a safe space to mingle, climb, and make fun memories with community! $0 for members/ $22 for non-members.
Book ahead for these popular events:
Bike Day in Prospect Park— Saturday May 31st, 2-5pm: This first-ever, family-friendly Bike Day in Prospect Park will include giveaways, resources, bike tune-ups and minor repairs, and workshops for all ages promoting bike safety and fun. There will be a Children’s Learn-To-Ride workshop, and a group ride for adults. Some workshops will fill up quickly, so register early! FREE—registration recommended.
✨Local Business Buzz ✨
The Dram Shop is celebrating 18 years in Park Slope! Visit them Friday May 16th and Saturday May 17th for giveaways, tastings, live music, and drink & food specials.
Boerum Hill’s Grand Army Bar rolls out new MTA-themed cocktail menu in honor of their 10th anniversary.
After new landlords acquired their building and raised the rent, VF Design has announced they are closing and is holding a closing sale (online sales and pop-ups will continue). Visit in-store for 50% off rugs, 20% off pillows, discounted vintage silks and floor cushions covers, and more. Check them out at 458 Bergen Street.
On May 14th, Medusa The Greek introduced “Medusa After Dark”. Expect belly dancing, cocktails, late-night bites, and Mykonos energy on Wednesdays from 9pm-close!
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