The Art Farm in the City hosts all sorts of fun activities for kids that include dancing, singing, arts and crafts, cooking, and real live animals! You can sign up for weekly classes, play groups, weekend programs, and even summer camp. The best deal: the Part-Time Pet program, where your kid can finally get the bunny or lizard he or she has been begging for, without you having to clean up the cage.
Birthdays are meant to make you feel like a world-famous celebrity. With Red Carpet Kids, your child and friends get a full day of stardom, including filming their own green screen movie with special effects, props, make-up, and costumes, and a paparazzi photo shoot down the red carpet for the movie premiere (popcorn included).
The Slipper Room Show is every Friday night at 10pm ($15) and guarantees oohs and aahs, with performances by Tigger!, the Original Godfather of Boylesk (pictured) and other tantalizing characters like professional hula-hooper Pinkie Special and "Nerdlesque" performar Dangrr Doll.
Whoever’s brilliant idea it was to combine The Smiths with Valentine’s Day, we thank you. For the ultimate anti-Valentine’s party, check out Unloveable: A Smiths & Morrissey Valentine’s Day on February 14th at 9pm ($12-$15). The Sons & Heirs will be playing covers of Morrissey and The Smiths all night long. Special guest Dan Neustadt will start off the night with a Smiths-themed cabaret performance, followed by stand-up by David Hill.
Despite its name, BAM is not just about music. It also hosts a number of literary events, including Unbound, a new program launched with the Greenlight Bookstore. Get tickets for the Gary Shteyngart Roast on November 20th at 7 p.m. ($20) for a night of literary hilarity.
Is the word that tripped you up in the school spelling bee still haunting you? The Slurring Bee at Last Exit is your chance to reclaim your spot in spelling bee fame. You still have to spel the wordz corecitly...but you get to enjoy a drink or two while you spell. The nicest partt? You are not spelling in front of a group of judgmental middle schoolers (talk about scary); you are in front of fellow tipplers who probably can't tell if you're spelling something correctly anyway.
Every third Tuesday of the month at 8:30pm.
Head to KTCHN restaurant in the Out Hotel this Sunday for brunch and enjoy a hysterical performance by drag duo Haus of Mimosa. These drag dames play two gossiping gals from Long Island who break into song and dance while you break into your thick-cut french toast with berry compote, fresh ricotta, and spiced-vanilla Vermont maple syrup. Bonus: there's a DIY Bloody Mary Bar. Sundays, noon-3pm
Didn't you hear? Sunday is the new Saturday. So join Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin at their Mister Sundays dance parties where you'll dance all day long on a poplar-shaded dance floor while sipping on homemade sangria and eating tacos all summer long.
Comic Strip Live is one of the most important spots in the history of comedy, kicking off the careers of such legends as Eddie Murphy, Sarah Silverman, and Louis C.K. The always popular comedy club has shows every night of the week ($15) for a guaranteed gut-busting. You never know, you might just see the next Dane Cook.
"Spanking the Lower East Side" is hostess Calamity Chang's self-described "fetish-y and S&M-y" burlesque show extraordinaire. The show teases you with Go Go dancing (tips accepted in bustiers and panty lines), and then finally gives you what you've been waiting for: the sexy/cheeky performances by the Southern belle Cherry Brown and the Asian Sexsation herself, Miss Calamity Chang (pictured).
As the venue for New York City's first slam ever, the Nuyorican is known for its slam competitions and open mics, but also for its hip hop, jazz, and combination-of-everything performances. This is where you can witness Hip Hop, Jazz, and Poetry showcases and open-mics that have welcomed the likes of The Roots, Erykah Badu, and Mos Def.
Dumbo Comedy is bringing you a monthly dose of stand-up straight to your neighborhood. Longtime host Aaron Kominos-Smith is a DUMBO resident, and he and fellow stand-up comedian Meghan Hanley present some of New York’s top-notch comics who have appeared on Comedy Central, HBO, and MTV. Join Dumbo Comedy at their new location, Aegir Boardworks, for an intimate, free night of hilarity on the second Thursday of every month at 8:30 p.m.
The Iridium jazz club is hosting Rocktober Fest on October 28th. Go and catch performances by Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper), Blue Coupe, the Steve Marshall Band, and more. 8pm & 10pm; tickets are $20. [rockin' deets]
Finally, a movie worth going out to see. The Master is Paul Thomas Anderson's rendition of the L. Ron Hubbard story, the founder of that super-scary pseudo-religion, Scientology. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, The Master is already being tipped as genius filmmaking.
Robert Moy, master balloon-folder, isn’t going to make you just another balloon dog. He’ll make you a wearable Darth Vader helmet with a light saber or wearable butterfly wings. He’ll make you an adult-size T-Rex if you give him half an hour. Needless to say, he’s a hit at kid’s parties.
It may be time for a new Wednesday night tradition to liven up your week. Shaken & Stirred is a burlesque dance extravaganza hosted by the famously vivacious Miss Runaround Sue, and with DJ Jess spinning new wave, disco, and rock n' roll. And the shows are free, so your money goes towards more drinks (on top of the free shots that are doled out after select sets).
Valentine’s Day is basically all about buying Hallmark cards and reminding us that we’re lonely, which is why there is The Rejection Show Valentine’s Day Heartbreak Haven. The show includes hilarious stories and performances all about love gone wrong and culminates in a live concert and party where you can commiserate with your fellow singles.
February 14th at 8:30pm ($10-$12)
One of my favorite bookstores, the Powerhouse Arena, suffered extensive damages due to Sandy. Visit the store to get some of your Christmas presents early, and attend their Sandy Hates Books Fundraiser on Saturday, November 17th, from 12-8 p.m.
Swing 64 Jazz and Supper Club should really be called Swing 64 Jazz, Supper, and Dance Club. The George Gee Swing Orchestra plays every Tuesday night and some Thursdays from 8:30-11:30 p.m., and you can even take dance lessons provided by professional dance schools to learn some swing moves (or just make up your own!).
There’s a reason Greenlight Bookstore is a neighborhood (if not Brooklyn-wide) favorite. Not only do they offer an extensive selection of books, they also host literary events for all ages. Join the Greenlight Fiction Book Club on the third Tuesday of every month. Also stop by and pick up the next book on your list and celebrate Greenlight’s 3rd birthday on October 20th and 21st with 20% off all weekend!
