Festivals this weekend (and good ones at that)
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Williamsburg Walks 2009 photo © Credits Maggi Machado
Williamsburg Walks
Take a walk on a car-free Bedford Ave during Williamsburg Walks and check out Bedford’s great boutiques, cafes and fashion-savvy dwellers. On Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27, the street will be filled with local artists, craftsmen, kids activities, walking tours, sidewalk cafés, music, and a giant picnic from 1 to 7 pm. Spacecraft (my favorite craft store) and Rug Bug Music have helped to curate the kids block with a ton of activities so that you can stay there all day with the kids.
Thanks to a generous machine donation/sponsorship by Singer, you can head to the huge blue tent on the “skill share block” for some machine sewing workshops. All activities are FREE and will change throughout the day and on each day so you won’t see the same thing twice.
Details: June 26, 27th from 1-7 pm. Bedford Ave between N. 4th and N. 9th Streets. (Williamsburg)
Northside Festival
Williamsburg has a grown-up festival this week and weekend: Northside, created by The L Magazine, incorporates music, art and rooftop films. This year The L Magazine has reached out to more than 30 NYC-based record labels, blogs, independent show promoters, radio stations and other industry professionals to curate showcases, bringing together over 250 bands to the Williamsburg/Greenpoint neighborhoods during a four-day span. And, if you want to rock out and then see some art, the Williamsburg Gallery Association has highlighted over 25 artist exhibitions at the most respected galleries in the area. I can’t say that any of these are family-friendly shows, but I thought I would mention it as a great date night option.
Details: June 24th- June 27th, various times. You can buy badges or individual tickets to events. The full lineup is here.
Summer Streets in Brooklyn (Vanderbilt Ave)
Vanderbilt Avenue between Dean Street and Park Place will trade cars for pedestrians, and honking horns for dancing beats. Presented by the Vanderbilt Avenue Merchants District and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, 2010 will mark the second annual Summer Streets on Vanderbilt.
From streetsblog.com: Vanderbilt Avenue, gaining popularity as a Brooklyn mecca for good food and hot trends, may be going car-free for Summer Streets, but expect buzzling traffic as local regulars and first-time visitors gather for outdoor dining, live music, people watching and recreation. Whether pint-sized, or of pint drinking age, there will be attractions for the entire family. Expect an inflatable soccer shooter and Fuse Ball games to the World Cup screening, face painting and henna art, hula hoop contests, African dance, capoiera, and hip hop tutorials, cooking demonstrations and even a kids fashion show. While local bands and DJs take center stage, restaurants will flood into the streets as passersby stop to sample the complimentary local cuisine or sit to enjoy an outdoor dining experience. Daring reiterates the emphasis on family-fun at Summer Streets, “all activities are designed to strengthen the community and bring our children together.”
Details: June 27th: 10:30 am- 5 pm. Vanderbilt Ave btw. Dean St and Park Place (Prospect Heights)
FAB Fest on Fulton Street
This is the last weekend for FABfest, a month-long three-block street festival: and this one is intended as a tribute to Michael Jackson! You know what that means, great music all day. We will be there handing out balloons – so please come by and say “hi”.
Here is their schedule of events:
• Salsa Dance Party & Dance Lessons
• BK Misses MJ: community dance party featuring DJ Reborn
• Readings and prizes from Brooklyn literary magazines A Public Space, Armchair/Shotgun, BOMB, and Electric Literature hosted by Greenlight Bookstore
• Literary trivia contest
• Dogs on Parade presented by Fort Greene PUPS and Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Clinic, plus Pet CPR and First Aid classes and Ask the Trainer sessions for pet owners
• Crafts, activities and giveaways for kids all day
• Streetside Mad Libs game for all ages
• 3-on-3 Soccer Games for Kids hosted by Ft. Greene Soccer
• SONYA Collaborative Action Mural with Ellie Balk – participatory painting allowing residents to make their mark on a collective community image
• Environmental demos and activities presented by Habana Outpost
Details: June 27th: 12- 6 pm. 650 Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY, 11217 (Ft. Greene)
