Opening— Mariscos El Submarino! First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum are back! Plus, Park Slope Celebrates Earth Day.
Also happening this week— a Spring Party at Shahmiri, Art in Dumbo Open Studios, a self defense 101 workshop, and Bricolage turns 10!
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Here’s what’s happening this week:
Opening— the popular Mexican seafood restaurant Mariscos El Submarino, which is based in Jackson Heights (ranked one of the 100 best restaurants in NYC 2024 by The New York Times) and also has a location in Greenpoint, will open at 226 7th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets, in the space previously occupied by Maya Taqueria.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden has reported that the first Kanzan cherries are opening on Cherry Esplanade and Cherry Walk! Keep an eye on their CherryWatch site to plan your visit
First Saturdays return to Brooklyn Museum on May 3rd! On the first Saturday evening of most months, the museum offers free programming to the community, including art, music, dancing, films, talks, readings, & creative outlets. Tickets are free and available here.
First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum The Old Stone House’s monthly “Handwriting the Constitution” event was featured in The New Yorker magazine’s April 21st article “Activism for Introverts! Copying the Constitution”. This monthly gathering invites people from all walks of life to meet in public spaces to handwrite the US Constitution. This art practice was created so that people will know their rights, deepen their understanding of laws created to protect these rights, and to help resist negative thinking. The next event will be held on Monday, May 5th— register here.
The Park Slope 5th Avenue BID is requesting community participation for their 10 minute Streetscape Survey. Whether you live, work, visit, or play on 5th Avenue between Dean and 18th Streets, they want your input! Your feedback will help them better understand and address key concerns, including: Pedestrian and cyclist safety, Business operation challenges, Sidewalk conditions, Greening and beautification, Trash and sanitation, and more.
Prospect Heights restaurant Cafe Mado is among several restaurants incorporating seasonal Magnolias into spring dishes and cocktails [The New York Times].
Special Feature: 15% Off W&P Kitchen Essentials for Earth Month
Spring is here - and so is W&P’s Earth Month Sale! It’s the perfect time to refresh your kitchen for picnics in Prospect Park or breezy brunches at home. W&P offers beautifully designed, eco-friendly products—from reusable Porter bowls and mugs to sleek cocktail kits.
Right now, enjoy 15% off sitewide during their Earth Month Sale - no code needed.
Explore their full collection here and get ready for a stylish, sustainable spring refresh!
Our Top Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!
Thursday, April 24th:
NYC Magic Ensemble @ Young Ethel's, 7pm: Your jaw will hit the floor and your brain will warp as you experience impossible mind-reading and astonishing eye-opening illusions during this one-of-a-kind evening. Adults only. 2 for 1 deal—$8.24.
Weekend Events:
Art in Dumbo Open Studios— April 26th & 27th, 1-6pm: 170+ artists and art organizations in DUMBO will open their doors to the public as a part of DUMBO Open Studios, giving visitors a look into studios and workspaces across the Brooklyn waterfront. Ever dream of wandering into a Brooklyn artist’s loft? Want a non-intimidating way to access New York’s art scene and hit a brunch spot or cocktail in between? Dumbo Open Studios is for you. FREE.
Saturday, April 26th:
Earth Day Spring Civic Sweep @ Old Stone House, 10 am – 2 pm: Join the Park Slope Civic Council for a day of neighborhood cleanup, litter pick-up, tree bed care information, and e-waste recycling with the Lower East Side Ecology Center. This all-ages event will include live music and a kids’ art project from 10am to noon. More info & register to volunteer here.
Celebrate Earth Day @ Pacific Bears Garden (Flatbush Ave & Pacific Street), 11am-3pm: North Flatbush Avenue is celebrating Earth Day with a day full of eco-friendly fun - and what’s a celebration without live music? Catch live performances from @batalanewyork at 11 AM and @theoldgrimes at 12 PM. Come for the music, stay for the workshops, garden activities, book & seed swap, and more! FREE.
Spring Party @ Shahmiri, 12-5pm: Celebrate spring with an abundance of new arrivals and special offerings, plus locally grown florals by Flowers For All, snacks courtesy of Park Slope-based chef Audrey Falk, and drinks by Topo Chico! FREE.
Art on the Bridge @ 4th Street Plaza, 10am-12pm: Join Park Slope 5th Ave BID for Art On the Fences, a community art project open to all. They will be holding public art-making sessions and then installing the art project over the Expressway. The theme is “Brooklyn is My Home.” Supplies and examples will be provided, and then you can create and share your vision! FREE.
Car Free Earth Day @ Atlantic Avenue & Hoyt Street (Boerum Hill), 12-3pm: Join the fun for the 3rd annual Earth Day Celebration! This event kicks off Atlantic Avenue’s annual Open Streets programming and street closure on Hoyt Street every weekend. Drop by for live music with Jenny Marie and the Crew, clothing mending by Expressive Repair, e-waste drop-off, and check out a special art installation & plant giveaway by Natalie Wood created just for our community and Hoyt Street. FREE.
The Dear Neighbor Project: Mural Walk & Art Workshop @ Van Alen Institute (Gowanus), 1-4pm: Join the Van Alen Institute for a creative afternoon with artist Tiffany Baker, creator of The Dear Neighbor Project — a public art and storytelling initiative that shares the voices of Gowanus residents impacted by flooding and environmental change. Tiffany leads a mural walk and art-making workshop that explores the themes in her installation. Open to ages 12 and up; no artistic experience required. FREE.
Empowerment Self Defense 101 (Part 2) @ PS 321 (180 7th Avenue), 2:45-4:30pm: This introductory physical self-defense training presented by The Center for Anti-Violence Education will teach you fundamental blocks and strikes to get away safely. You will learn practical ways to manage distance while using footwork and complete exercises and drills to improve your muscle memory when responding to sudden physical attacks. FREE—registration required.
Sunday, April 27th:
Green Adventure For Families @ Green-Wood Cemetery, 10am-1pm: Join Green-Wood and Genspace for a day of family-friendly nature adventures! Expert naturalists will be leading walks to collect data on birds, insects, fungi, and plants at the Cemetery for the City Nature Challenge.* Genspace, New York’s community bio lab, will bring the fun of science exploration through interactive performances. FREE—registration recommended.
Brooklyn Half Marathon Kegger @Farm.One, 12pm: Running the BK Half Marathon? Ready for darty season? If one or both answers are yes, come join Farm.One for a post-race KEGGER at the farm. There will be pizza, pong and special edition souvenir cups for unlimited Farm.One keg beer. Oh, and bring your medal for a free draft to celebrate 13.1! FREE.
Hot Gossip Comedy Show @ The Bell House, 7pm: Local gossip Jonathan van Halem (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) pauses his perpetual gab-sesh to discuss audience-generated gossip, as well as host an evening of stand-up comedy. Featuring Jaboukie Young-White (Big Mouth), Catherine Cohen (Netflix), Hotel Art Thief (Vulture), and more. $25.65.
Monday, April 28th:
Yoga @ Brooklyn Public Library (Park Slope Branch), 4-5pm: Share in the benefits of yoga. Park Slope Library invites you to join this free group yoga class. Led by a certified instructor who has practiced yoga for 20 years, this class is designed to be accessible to all levels of ability and experience. The instructor is known for her warm and welcoming teaching style, and for creating a safe and supportive environment for her students to explore their own practice. FREE.
Tuesday, April 29th:
Brooklyn Artists Ball After Party @ Brooklyn Museum— 9pm-midnight*: Brooklyn Museum’s biggest night is back! Join the scene at this fundraising event, hosted by the Brooklyn Museum’s Young Leadership Council. Dance to a live DJ set by Swizz Beatz, enjoy a curated cocktail menu, explore the galleries after hours, and experience one-night-only artist activations—all while supporting the Museum’s mission to bring people together through art. Admission is included with tickets to the Brooklyn Artists Ball, or available separately. $150.
Wednesday, April 30th:
Jenny Hagel Gives Advice @ Union Hall, 7:30pm: In her limited run at Union Hall, Emmy-nominated writer/performer Jenny Hagel (Late Night with Seth Meyers) invites the audience to submit written questions about their relationships, careers, and finances. Then Jenny and a special guest give their best, most professional (not professional at all) life advice. At the end, Jenny invites a real therapist on stage to tell her and her guest star if they did a good job - or if the audience should totally ignore all of the advice they heard over the past hour. This is more than just a comedy show - it's a hilarious, interactive way to watch a skilled comedian fix and/or ruin a bunch of strangers' lives! $15.64.
Book ahead for these popular events:
The Pasta Rose Scholarship Auction & Gala @ Bar Louise—Thursday, May 1st, 6-9pm: Join Bar Louise for a dazzling night of drinking and eating at Bar Louise, all for a great cause! It's their first annual Pasta Rose Scholarship Benefit Gala, and it's going to be a night to remember. Ticket includes unlimited wine, cocktails and delicious food! All ticket proceeds go toward the scholarship, which is awarded to Brooklyn students who have lost a parent to cancer. $95.
✨Local Business Buzz ✨
Bricolage is turning 10! Join them on Wednesday, April 30th to celebrate with a special tasting menu alongside their regular favorites—plus a complimentary glass of champagne to toast the occasion.
Saturday, April 26th is Independent Bookstore Day, and The Ripped Bodice is celebrating by offering a free friendship bracelet tote to customers who spend $100!
Windsor Terrace Design Studio & Furniture Showroom Steppe is collaborating with Gowanus-based landscape design firm Fieldform to host a plant sale on Saturday, April 26th from 11am-4pm! They’ll have indoor and outdoor plants, planters, ceramics, and a potting station. RSVP for a free beer! Details here.
🎗️Weekly Way to Give Back 🎗️
Miguel & Elsa, owners of the family-run El Nopal restaurant, had their Grubhub account hacked and money stolen. Their account is currently frozen so they can’t accept orders. Donate to their GoFundMe here.
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