The 12th Annual Flatfoot Flatbush, festive meals in the neighborhood, and where to celebrate New Year's Eve
Also this week: Learn how to waltz, enjoy free pizza & bouldering, and finally repair that broken lamp of yours!
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Local News:
Closing: Casa Azul announced that they are closing after 7 years on Seventh Avenue. Their final day will be December 31st. They will be missed!
In case you needed another reason to love our community—GoFundMe named Brooklyn the 5th most generous community in their 2025 Year in Help report.
The Brooklyn Museum has acquired nearly 600 new artworks in 2025. The Brooklyn Museum is expanding! The museum has acquired nearly 600 artworks in 2025, including rare paintings, gifts, and sculptures.
$200 million in funding has been secured for 200 Douglass, a 21-story, 276 unit residential building on the bank of the Gowanus Canal.
Blink Fitness has been phased out following its 2024 bankruptcy, with locations rebranded as UK-based PureGym. The transition includes operational changes such as app-based entry and new enclosed security pods for member access.
Amy Schumer has sold her historic Brooklyn Heights townhouse famously used as the exterior of the “Moonstruck” house for $11 million, taking about a $1.25 million loss from what she paid in 2022 after months on the market and price cuts.
What is better than curling up with a good book as the temperatures drop? Luckily for us, the Brooklyn Public Library’s staff and librarians just released a list of their 100 favorite books of 2025. Happy reading!
Coney Island is getting an upgrade! New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the restoration project on Friday, which will upgrade all 2.7 miles of the boardwalk in several phases and include improvements to public facilities, including restrooms, lifeguard stations and shade pavilions.
To keep track of all of the neighborhood holiday happenings, check out our local holiday events guide, recently updated with the latest festivities!
Happy holidays, everyone! We’re taking a two week hiatus and we’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday, January 8th.
Stay warm! ❄️
Mychal
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Thinking About What Comes Next? A Relaxed Real Estate Conversation for Families
Curious about finding more space in Brooklyn or Manhattan-or considering what life beyond the city could look like? Join the agents of Compass’ East Coast Network for a relaxed, info-rich conversation about lifestyle and relocation options (kids welcome!). Meet trusted agents from across the tri-state area, including Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, upstate New York, the Hamptons, and Palm Beach County, Florida. A laid-back gathering where kids play and adults connect.
Friday, Jan 9, 4-6:30PM at Space Club (DUMBO)
Our Top Weekly Picks:
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!
Friday, December 19th:
Free Climb Friday @ Bouldering Project Brooklyn, 6-10pm*: Looking for an engaging physical activity to do with friends? New to climbing or stoked to get on the wall for free? Join BPB for Free Climb Friday — your opportunity to climb socially and experience all that Bouldering Project has to offer. Arc’teryx is sponsoring free rental shoes & chalk! There will also be free pizza and a live DJ. FREE.
Weekend Events:
Reading Resistance: A Christmas Carol @ The Old Stone House, 12pm (Saturday December 20th at 12pm and Sunday December 21st at 7pm): Reading Resistance is a series of plays at the Old Stone House that explore theater as a form of resistance. Listen to classic plays and new works read by world-class actors. Bask in whimsical visuals provided by animation and puppetry! $28.52 adults/ $12.51 ages 7-13.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live @ ShapeShifter Lab (Saturday December 20th and Sunday December 21st at 12pm, 2:30pm, and 5pm): The Wild Oat Theatrical Company is delighted to bring this holiday favorite back to Brooklyn for year 16! The company will perform verbatim, the Charlie Brown Christmas Special accompanied by a live jazz trio playing all of Vince Guaraldi’s classic tunes. So bundle up, come on over we’ll take you back to the very first time you heard Linus say “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown”. The talented performers from this production come from all over the New York theatre world: Broadway, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera House and more. $27.99.
Sunday, December 21st:
Annual Menorah Lighting @ J.J Byrne Park, 3:45-4:30pm: Bring the family for a joyful Chanukah celebration on 5th Ave! Holiday games, donut decorating, crafts, latkes, and a festive menorah lighting- free and open to all. FREE.
Flatfoot Flatbush @ Flatbush Avenue, 1pm: For the twelfth year, the North Flatbush Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) teams up with Make Music New York and Porch Stomp to bring you Flatfoot Flatbush, an exciting year of music and dancing to celebrate community and the winter solstice. Dancers, fiddlers and pickers parade down the sidewalks of the ever-busy Flatbush Avenue in Park Slope/ Prospect Heights (Dean Street to Sterling Place) playing old-time tunes while flatfooting, a form of percussive dancing from Appalachia. The evening begins with a warm up and quick flatfooting workshop hosted by Megan Downes from City Stompers at 1pm. Immediately following, the parade will kick off and traverse Flatbush Avenue stopping along the way at local businesses to bring holiday cheer. FREE.
Annual Holiday Waltz and Contra Ball @ Camp Friendship, 4-8pm: Celebrate the holiday season with a magical dance! Join Brooklyn Contra for live music from Cozy Socks, a waltz lesson at 4:00, and contras called by Chloe Levine! $15.
Tuesday, December 23rd:
Repair Cafe @ Farm.One, 6pm: Repair Cafe is a casual hangout where people come together to diagnose and repair broken things from their life like lamps, chairs, mugs/plates, clothes or anything else you can think of. We help each other fix things, share tools and troubleshoot to prevent our things from going to the landfill. Think small, portable items (please no appliances, bicycles or couches). Please RSVP with info about what you might be bringing! FREE.
Ongoing Events:
Celebrate Kwanzaa @ Brooklyn Children’s Museum (December 26th-30th): NYC’s largest Kwanzaa festival returns for its 18th year—a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture. Join daily candle lightings, watch youth performances, and take part in dance, drumming, and art workshops inspired by Kwanzaa’s seven principles. Free with museum admission ($15).
Lightscape @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden (through January 4th): Now in its fifth year, Lightscape has dazzled visitors with light-splashed landscapes and luminous installations highlighting the beauty of the Garden in winter. Stroll through a glittering winter trail and be transported to an enchanted forest—right in the heart of Brooklyn. An all-new experience awaits with fresh and reimagined art, music, and special attractions. Make your plans now to experience NYC’s newest holiday classic! Tickets start at $15 for kids/$29 for adults.
Book ahead for these popular events:
Winter Tea @ Prospect Park Boathouse (January 3rd, 2-5pm)*: Join Tea Arts & Culture and Prospect Park Alliance to appreciate tea and nature this winter in Brooklyn’s Backyard. This Winter Tea offers an afternoon dedicated to connection and beauty, experienced through the elements of tea, nature, art, and community. Created by our beloved community members and artists, it is a shared moment to reflect on the vastness of the world and find reassurance that the small moments we share together will endure through time. FREE.
Mulchfest 2026 @ Prospect Park (January 10th and 11th): Bring your holiday tree to Prospect Park to be transformed into environment-friendly mulch that will help nourish the park. Plus, you can even take some home for your own use! Register here.
Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.
Neighborhood Job Board
Jobs are reviewed/updated daily, and each week we create a new job board link with the latest local listings! Sign up for Park Slope Pulse to get the latest job board delivered to your inbox.
This week: Multiple roles (Food & Beverage Manager, Technical Design Manager, Associate Curator) at a state-of-the-art creative hub, Operations Manager at a local European home furnishings store
List a job for free
Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Neighborhood
Fireworks @ Prospect Park, 10pm: This 45-year tradition of celebrating the new year in Prospect Park will include live entertainment by Quintessential Playlist starting at 10 pm. Fireworks will begin at midnight to light up the skies above Brooklyn’s Backyard. FREE.
New Year’s Eve Midnight Disco @ Threes Brewing Gowanus, 8pm-late: Join this 21+ late-night NYE MIDNIGHT DISCO PARTY with free entry, drink specials, and a complimentary beer toast at midnight! Grand Army South will keep you fed in Gowanus with DJ Ruggy bringing disco night to life! Bring your friends, make some new ones, and let’s ring in 2026 together. FREE.
New Year’s Eve @ Bar Louise, 10pm-1am: Enjoy an open bar with specialty cocktails, sparkling wines, mocktails and more! Plus, bites passed around all night, a “choose Your fate” mystery wall with dares and prizes, and a polaroid Station! $165.
New Year’s Eve @ Ginger’s Bar, 8pm-4am*: Join Ginger’s this December 31st as they count down the final seconds of a head spinning 2025 and blast off into a glittery, loving queer as hell 2026! They’re throwing the best queer New Year’s Eve party with the right vibes of love and respect — packed with music by Next Rave that’ll keep you sweating on the dance floor, midnight treats, and all the sparkle your queer soul deserves. Midnight toast included. Queer magic guaranteed. $23.18.
New Year’s Eve Time Machine @ Union Hall, 10pm-3:30am: Drink and dance your way into the future! With DJ Cowboy. Tickets only available at the door. $5.
ABBA Lang Syne- New Year’s @ The Bell House, 10:30pm: Ring in 2026 with everyone’s favorite ABBA cover band. $37.
Keep up to date with neighborhood NYE happenings here.
Festive Meals in the Neighborhood 🥂
Hanukkah @ Miriam (Dec 14-22nd): Miriam is going big for Hanukkah this year, serving their beloved gluten-free Chickpea Latkes - extra-crispy thanks to chickpea flour, a trick passed down from Chef/Owner Rafael “Rafi” Hasid’s mother - plus House-made Raspberry Sufganiyot dusted generously in powdered sugar (holiday uniform, no complaints). Latkes are DIY-style, with topping add-ons like labneh, smoked salmon, salmon roe, applesauce, and crudités to build your perfect plate. The specials will be available from Dec 14- 22nd and are available at the restaurants or as a takeaway platter for Hanukkah celebrations at home.
Feast of the Seven Fishes @ Cafe Mars (Dec 17-21st): For the last week of the year, this “unusual” Italian-American restaurant creates their own signature version of the Italian tradition, consisting of a 7-course family-style (ish) tasting menu with 12 different servings and over 20 products pulled from the sea! Every month this year, Café Mars had one weekend a month dedicated to celebrating different regional Italian cuisines and cultures for their “Global Italian” series spanning from Chicago to Argentina to Japan. This year’s Feast of Seven Fishes is the crescendo of this effort, and should be a fun and special neighborhood holiday event. Reservations are still available on OpenTable.
Bklyn Larder is taking catering orders for Hanukkah and Christmas, and their menu offers a wide array of options including latkes, cheese platters, glazed ham, sides, and more.
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