What They’re Saying: live arts in Brooklyn this week, Aug. 20

August 20, 2024 Evan Rosen

Photo: Dean Cox/AP

Movies with a View: The American President

Film, Community

Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Thursday, Aug. 22 @ 5 p.m.

Movies with a View, presented by Pluto TV, is back for its 24th season and will run on Thursdays until Aug. 28. This week showcases “The American President” (1995), a PG-13 political romantic drama starring Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox.

The lawn opens at 5 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, and the movie begins at sunset. All movies are free to attend, and guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets or purchase one on-site.

“‘As one of our most popular programs, Movies WIth A View has become an iconic and beloved summer to-do,’ shared Nancy Webster, executive director of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. ‘There’s nothing else quite like it, and it’s such a special experience for all to enjoy a gorgeous summer sunset and free outdoor film on the waterfront.’” — ILoveNY

“Brooklyn Bridge Park has one of the best views in the entire city — making it the perfect place for some outdoor movie nights! Enjoy a glittering view of Manhattan and a weekly movie every Thursday night during July and August. The park will offer family-friendly movies on five nights starting on July 18 with “Past Lives.” The summer’s lineup also includes “Pulp Fiction,” “Mean Girls” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.’” — Kirstyn Brendlen, Brooklyn Paper

Instagram will load in the frontend.

Kayaking @ Brooklyn Bridge Park

Outdoors, Exercise, Nature, Community

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 2 Dock

Wednesday and Thursday evenings 5-7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday afternoons

Instagram will load in the frontend.

This summer and fall, enjoy complimentary public kayaking in Brooklyn’s protected bay, courtesy of a partnership with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse.

Free kayaking sessions are available throughout the summer on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons, until September. The program welcomes participants of all skill levels, including beginners. All necessary equipment (including life vests) will be provided, and instruction is available. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

“Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy are offering a wide variety of free and low-cost summer programming at Brooklyn Bridge Park that includes music concerts, dance parties, kayaking and more!” — I Love NY

“Now is the time to take a kayak out in the majestic shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. On the East River… kayakers can paddle off Pier 4 Beach for 20 minutes with stunning views of the NYC skyline. They’ll provide the boats, paddles and life vests; you do the paddling.” — Rossilynne Skyna Culgan, Time Out

Bachelor Island: An Improvised Musical @ BCC

Comedy, Sketch Comedy

Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Eris Mainstage, 167 Graham Ave., Williamsburg

Saturday, Aug. 24 @ 7 p.m.

Bachelor Island, an improvised musical dating show inspired by the drama and excitement of reality TV, lets the audience play the role of casting director, creating contestants ranging from Ashley P., a model/actor from Los Angeles, to Bingus Bungus, a cotton candy inspector from the moon.

With music and lyrics improvised on the spot, this show is performed by the group Hey, Handsome, featuring comedians Jackie Ferro, Paddy Boroughs, Max Feldman and Jenny Shaw.

“[Philip] Markle is the owner and artistic director at the four-year-old comedy theater in East Williamsburg. According to Markle, BCC splits proceeds from ticket sales with performers, which he calls a rare chance for amateur and emerging performers to actually make money from their comedy.” — Will McDonald, Bushwick Daily

“It’s just a beautiful place where you can be recognized for your talent and have your creativity supported without … [the pressure] to ascend an invisible hierarchy and prove you deserve the opportunity to perform,” — Maggie Olmsted, Paste Magazine

Instagram will load in the frontend.

Pop-Up Talks @ Brooklyn Museum

Art, Culture, Tours

Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights

Wednesday through Sunday, weekly (free with museum admission)

Instagram will load in the frontend.

Pop-Up Talks offers a free, brief conversation led by a Brooklyn Museum A.R.T. Guide. These art-loving volunteers will help you explore various works throughout the Museum, with discussions repeated every 15 minutes.

Current exhibitions include Nico Williams: Aaniin, I See Your Light – Outdoor Installations; Brooklyn Abstraction: Four Artists, Four Walls; Growing Up Tutankhamun; and Sakimatwemtwe: A Century of Reflection on the Arts of Africa.

“There’s no time like the present to visit the Brooklyn Museum’s ‘Porcelains in the Mist: The Kondo Family of Ceramicists,’ which focuses on a proprietary glazing technique that uses silver droplets.” — Will Heinrich, New York Times

“Brooklyn’s premier institution is a less-crowded alternative to Manhattan’s bigger-name spaces, though the innovative and impactful items found inside are just as important as anything you’ll find in the city. The museum, found on the edge of the sprawling Prospect Park, has a large holding of Egyptian art as well as the famous feminist piece, The Dinner Party, by Judy Chicago.” — Time Out

Azure Day Party at the Arlo Williamsburg Rooftop

Dance, Music, Party

Arlo Williamsburg, 96 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg

Sunday, Aug. 25 @ 3 p.m.

Instagram will load in the frontend.

Bring your best dance moves to the Azure Day Party, held every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., through September. Start your week at the rooftop bar ART Williamsburg, the premier weekend destination offering an exciting evening cocktail lounge with top DJs spinning all night.

With breathtaking NYC views, alfresco dining and delicious cocktails, you can lounge, dance and celebrate by the poolside in an electrifying atmosphere. Tickets start at $75.

“When Arlo Williamsburg opened last year in the space formerly occupied by The Williamsburg Hotel, it didn’t waste time becoming a neighborhood fixture, and in the warmer months, hotel guests and locals alike flock to the Water Tower Bar. DJs encourage dancing and mingling, while dramatic views of Manhattan mesmerize patrons sipping Arlo’s espresso martini … or a non-alcoholic beverage called Match Me.” — Stacey Lastoe, Brooklyn Magazine

“The Arlo Williamsburg is a reasonably priced hotel in the heart of Brooklyn’s buzziest neighborhood. Lavish in convenience, the property is a short walk away to the Bedford Avenue subway stop, the vast and lively McCarren Park, and close to the border of the ever-evolving Greenpoint neighborhood.” — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler