Openings— Slope Comics & Collectibles, The Historian, The Bird; NYC Restaurant Week, MLK Day, Dinner in Provence Cooking Class, Garden Planning Workshop, Bluegrass Wednesdays, & Fundraisers for LA
Park Slope's first weekly newsletter since 2021!
Welcome to Park Slope’s weekly newsletter, Park Slope Pulse. We spend hours curating the most important news and events each week ✨ for free ✨ to save you time sifting through listings and articles! Park Slope Pulse gives you the first insights to make plans or start conversations.
Here’s what’s happening this week:
Openings: Slope Comics & Collectibles, by the team behind Little Things Toy Store, will open at 151 7th Avenue between Garfield Pl and Carroll Streets. The Historian, a speakeasy-style bar under Cajun restaurant The Boil, has opened at 242 Flatbush Avenue between Bergen Street and St Marks Avenue. MyssTic Rooms has announced the opening of The Bird, a new immersive- theatrical escape room experience. Swing by 794 Union Street between 3-6pm this Friday, January 17th, for hot cider and pastries to celebrate and receive a 10% discount code to give The Bird a try!
The Starbucks on 166 7th Ave will be closing at the end of this month after being in operation for two decades. The location unionized in October [Brooklyn Paper].
At a public land use hearing last week, Coney Island Residents spoke out against a proposal that would transform five acres of the boardwalk into a casino, hotel, convention center, and a music venue [Brooklyn Magazine].
Cases of the flu, norovirus, and Covid-19 are rising in NYC. A little good news— RSV cases appear to have peaked [Brooklyn Eagle]. Stay well!
Plus, head to our “Business Buzz” section to see local businesses that are aiding in LA wildfire relief efforts.
— Mychal
Special Feature: Is 2025 Your Year for Home Ownership?
This week we’re excited to welcome Nikki Thomas, a Park Slope local and Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Corcoran. Nikki specializes in helping first-time buyers navigate the journey to finding their dream home. Recently, her work and her happy clients in Park Slope were highlighted in The New York Times’ column, The Hunt.
Curious to read the NYT article and learn more about the First Time Buyer Bootcamp?: Click here to read the full article [SPONSORED]
[To get featured here as a Sponsor, email info@parkslopeliving for more info]
Our Top Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out- reserve tickets early!
Thursday, January 16th (Today):
Dinner in Provence Cooking Class @ The Common Brooklyn, 6-9pm: Join The Common for a gourmet Brooklyn-foodie event including three hours of hands-on cooking and baking under Chef instruction in a professional restaurant kitchen. This event is perfect for beginners and seasoned home cooks alike. Includes a complimentary glass of Prosecco, one glass of wine or beer during the class, and two glasses of wine or beer with dinner. You will enjoy a delicious spread of hors d'oeuvres, the final dinner course, and coffee or tea to end the meal. $109.
Playwrights in Process @ Old Stone House, 7-9pm: Are you an actor, writer, or story maker? Join Piper Theatre for this informal and supportive monthly series held at the Old Stone House. Contact Rachel Wood at pip@pipertheatre.org and arrange to bring 10 - 20 pages of work that you’d like to hear read and get a bit of feedback. FREE— RSVP recommended.
Saturday, January 18th:
Introduction to Birdwatching Outings @ Prospect Park Audubon Center, 10am-12pm: Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory outing is for you! Every Saturday, join Prospect Park Alliance and a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club on an introductory walk to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons. This outing is at a leisurely pace with lots of stops to observe birds. FREE.
Garden Planning Workshop @ The Old Stone House, 12-2pm*: Learn about how to optimize your garden spaces all year long with The Old Stone House Garden Coordinator. Regardless of space, work backwards from the vision you have for your garden, to what and when to plant and how you'll care for your garden. Participants will get some fun hacks for growing indoors or in small spaces, ideas for building raised beds, and taking advantage of vertical space. In addition, participants will gain a basic understanding of the difference between perennials and annuals, when to prune, and some core gardening basics. $28.52.
Show of Hands @ Wild East Brewing Co, 7:30pm: After a successful debut in August, this multidisciplinary art and talent show is back for a second round and will showcase painters, collage artists, musicians, essayists, clowns, magicians, and more. The gallery opens at 7:30 and the performance starts at 8. FREE- RSVP recommended.
Vintage Vibez @ Littlefield’s, 11pm: Come enjoy the best reggae & dancehall from the 80s, 90s, and Early 2000s! Go back in time to when the music was most important and dance the night away! $22.79.
Monday, January 20th:
39th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr @ Brooklyn Academy of Music, 10:30am-12:30pm*: BAM honors the life and legacy of Dr. King at this vital Brooklyn tradition, featuring a very special solo presentation by Ailey II, vibrant music with The Fire Ensemble led by Troy Anthony, and more. Ring in the New Year with friends, neighbors, artists, and civic leaders in a day of activism, music, and family-friendly activities. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis at 8am day-of. FREE.
DJ Party Fundraiser for Advocates for Trans Equality @ Ginger’s Bar, 7-11pm: Join and support community this MLK day as Ginger’s throws a fundraiser dance party for @transequalitynow. Gingers hoodies will be raffled off to raise money and @allagashbrewing will giving out some beers. FREE entry (donations encouraged).
Tuesday, January 21st:
Bonsai Bar @ Farm.One, 6:30pm: Come make your own bonsai tree! You'll get your own tree, pot, and tons of hands-on teaching from one of Bonsai Bar's incredible instructors. $90.
Wednesday, January 22nd:
Death Cafe @ Green-Wood Cemetery, 6-8pm: Death Cafe brings people together to discuss one of life’s greatest truths—death. With thousands of chapters in over 90 countries, Death Cafes are informal gatherings designed to “increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their lives.” There’s no set agenda, but conversations might explore topics like burial vs. cremation, green burials, planning funerals and celebrations of life, or personal experiences with grief. Meet in the Cemetery’s Modern Chapel to share your thoughts, hopes, and questions in a safe, welcoming space over tea and pastries. FREE— registration required.
Bluegrass Wednesdays @ Mathilde, 8-11pm: Head to this community-oriented South Slope bar for a weekly Bluegrass series, which debuts this week. The show will feature fiddler Melody Allegra & her band. FREE.
Book ahead for this popular event:
NYC Restaurant Week is January 21st- February 9th!
Here are some local restaurants participating: Chela, The Dram Shop, Fleur, Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ, Palo Santo, Alta Calidad, Pasta Louise, Lore, Masalawa & Sons, & Flatiron Steakhouse.
Book ahead to reserve your table! For a full list of participating restaurants, click here.
Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!
Note that a limited number of events are selected for this newsletter, and event listing promotions are available to guarantee the inclusion of your event (email us for more info).
Looking for more family-friendly events in Brooklyn? Sign up to our new newsletter Brooklyn Events for Families.
Did we miss anything? Add in comments below. 👇
Slope Steals of the Week 💰:
Store-Wide Sale @ Slope Vintage— shoes, clothes, handbags, and accessories are on sale!
Local Business Buzz ✨
Through this Sunday, January 19th, Time Out Market NY in Dumbo is offering two drink specials that will help aid fire relief efforts in LA. The drinks are available at all three of the market’s bars and 100% of proceeds will be donated [Time Out].
Christine Alcalay will host Mend for Los Angeles on January 25th. 100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser workshop will go directly to Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles. Learn how to mend, repair, resew, restitch, hand hem, patch, & restore! Bring one article of clothing you want to mend. Together we can stitch hope back into the futures of those who have lost so much. $50.
On January 27th, The Bell House will present an evening of comedy and music to benefit the League Of California Community Foundation Palisades and Eaton WildFire Recovery and Relief Funds, World Central Kitchen Southern California Meal Support Efforts, and additional organizations raising money to support displaced individuals impacted by the LA Fires. Tickets start at $30.75.
If you know of any other neighborhood fundraisers happening to benefit LA fire relief efforts, please add in the comments below! 👇
Weekly Ways to Give Back🎗️
Men’s Cold Weather Clothing Drive @ Rider Gifts (through Sunday, January 19th): Help support local shelters by giving the gift of warmth!
Working in collaboration with Park Slope Community Outreach Group, Rider Gifts is doing a Cold Weather Clothing Drive specifically to gather Men’s Coats, Boots/All Weather Shoes. Hats, gloves and scarves are also accepted.
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Seed drive for LA in Clinton Hill thus Sunday 11-2 at Prima Brooklyn (run by Park Slope florist - Flowers For All) https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0-E6Gtk4N/?igsh=NGkxN3J2d2N5cm92