Parties and pop-ups: 10 things to do in Brooklyn this weekend

December 12, 2019 Scott Enman

Elrow, one of the biggest parties in the world, returns to Brooklyn this weekend. Photo: Elrow

1. Celebrate 2019

At Elrow, it’s all about the costumes. Photo: Elrow

Elrow, one of the most extravagant dance parties in the world, is triumphantly returning to The Brooklyn Mirage this weekend. The theatrical event is like no other. It offers not only an incredible lineup of DJs featuring Paco Osuna, Eats Everything and Andrea Olivia, but it also has production value second-to-none.

“New Yorkers have welcomed Elrow into their hearts for 3 years now, and the party just continues to grow strong,” said Michael Julian, head of Elrow North America. We could not agree more. Each edition of this party seems to get crazier and crazier. For this weekend’s event, expect costumes, mascots and a whole lot of confetti. Rest up for this 9.5-hour affair, as it’s going well into the morning.

Saturday from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. at Avant Gardner. From $30. More info here.

2. Eat with friends

Chef Ivy Stark is hosting a tamale-making workshop in honor of “Las Posadas,” a Mexican holiday where loved ones come together to make tamales and drink champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate) and spiced Mexican cider. At the two-hour class at Time Out Market, you’ll learn how to make meat, vegan and sweet tamales.

Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Time Out Market New York. $60. More info here.

3. Shop for loved ones

Prospect Park. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Hopefully you’ve got most of your holiday shopping done already, but if you’re in need of some last-minute presents, head down to the Brooklyn Pop-Up Holiday Fair at Lakeside where you can buy handmade local sustainable goods from more than 15 vendors. There will also be ice-skating, hot chocolate and a pop-up bar to keep you warm.

Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Prospect Park. Free. More info here.

4. Celebrate Kwanzaa

Weeksville Heritage Center is close to raising enough money to begin building an emergency cash reserve. Eagle photo by Lore Croghan — Weeksville Heritage Center. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Weeksville Heritage Center will be celebrating Kwanzaa for the first time since 1974, and they’re pulling out all the stops for it. There will be a waist bead-making class, a drum class, a calypso class, as well as arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting and a DJ.

Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at Weeksville Heritage Center. $10 suggested donation. More info here.

5. Celebrate the Brooklyn way

Kings Theatre was derelict and abandoned for decades; now it’s in great shape. Eagle photo by Lore Croghan — Kings Theatre. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Head down to the famous Kings Theatre for The Brooklyn Nutcracker, a must-see hip-hop rendition of the classic performance from the Brooklyn Ballet. “From the landscape of the old Dutch Brooklyn to the iconic Flatbush Avenue, the production is fresh and full of virtuosity and celebrates the borough we call home,” the event page says.

Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Kings Theatre. From $30. More info here.

6. Eat with family

Cobble Hill is primarily known for its quiet streets lined with brownstones, but it should also be recognized for the world-class dining and cozy haunts scattered around the neighborhood. With so many great options, we’ve put together a guide with five of the area’s top restaurants (chosen by a lifelong resident of the neighborhood).

Any day and time in Cobble Hill. More info here.

7. Celebrate Hanukkah

Head down to On Stage At Kingsborough for “Hanukkah on the Roof!” The performance will feature MusicTalks host Elad Kabilio, 12th Night Klezmer and Yiddish theatre star Daniella Rabbani for a “joyous evening of the beautiful music, great passion, and unique humor that makes the Shtetl such a unique place for a big celebration.”

Michael Einav, a vocalist from the original cast of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish, will also be making a special appearance, and you can meet the artists after the show.

Sunday at 3 p.m. at Kingsborough Community College. From $34. More info here.

8. Root for the home team

Garrett Temple (left) and Spencer Dinwiddie. AP Photo by John Amis.

The Nets are on a roll, having won seven of their last 10 games, so why not spend your Sunday at Barclays Center watching Brooklyn hopefully beat their rival Philadelphia 76ers? Wilson Chandler should also be returning to the lineup from injury.

Sunday at 6 p.m. at Barclays Center. Prices vary. More info here.

9. Party till the morning

Resolute, New York’s number one underground party is celebrating its 12th anniversary in proper Resolute fashion. Expect a gritty venue with a lineup of heavy hitters, including Thomas Melchior, Ion Ludwig and Nicolas Lutz. This party will be one for the books, but don’t take our word. Resident Advisor says, “This could be one of the best parties in Resolute history.”

Saturday from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. at TBA. From $30. More info here.

10. Go for a wintry stroll

On a walk down Gates Avenue, you can see a nice slice of Central Brooklyn brownstones and rowhouses. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle

Put on your down jacket and heavy boots, because Eye on Brooklyn’s latest walking tour brings you down Gates Avenue, a thoroughfare named after American Revolutionary War General Horatio Gates. You’ll see historic brownstones and rowhouses in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill, as well as beautiful churches.

Any day and time on Gates Avenue. Free. More info here.

Follow reporter Scott Enman on Twitter.