Awwww yeah, now we’re in the good stuff. Long, sunny days; warm, breezy nights; the ability to be outside for hours without losing half your body weight in sweat — this is the weather we dream about the other ~349 days of the year and it feels particularly well-deserved right now, wouldn’t you agree? I was in New Orleans last weekend for a wedding and it was a blast; walking and eating and boogying my way through that town gave me a shot of new motivation to take on Brooklyn with similar gusto, so I’m looking to get into some fun over the next couple of days. The alternative — staying home and ruminating about the recent loss of my utterly beloved dog, Hurley, after 15 years together, not to mention the impending loss of our democracy — is not an option, so, as they say in Nola, laissez les bons temps rouler!
Tonight, I’m meeting some buddies in Prospect Park to celebrate the end of the week with flatbread and dips from this place, and afterwards, who knows? Maybe some Drag Queen Bingo at Industry City to celebrate Brooklyn Pride before the big parade tomorrow? Speaking of Pride, a friend sent me this link about an otherworldly rainbow sponge cake available from Lady Wong and I’ve thought of little else since, so maybe I’ll venture into town to give that a whirl. On Saturday night, Brooklyn Museum is hosting a special Pride event with Papi Juice, a Brooklyn-based art collective that celebrates the lives of queer and trans people of color, but before that you might want to head to Rooftop Reds because it’s apparently National Rosé Day and they’re doing an oyster party!
Saturday marks the opening of For the Birds, a new exhibition dedicated to our feathered neighbors at Brooklyn Botanic Garden that features, among other things, dozens of site specific bird-houses designed by famous artists scattered throughout the grounds. After a stroll through that, you might want to check out the Brooklyn Wine Fest at the Navy Yard or the 7th annual Brooklyn International Music Fest at Jalopy. If anyone is looking for me, I’ll definitely be at the Prospect Park bandshell soaking up the summer sounds of Maxi Priest at his free show at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn and I can’t wait.
The Jazz Age Lawn Party, which has been a summer staple on Governors Island for years, is back this summer for this weekend only, so I suggest you throw together your best flapper-inspired duds and get on over there at some point. On Sunday, Brooklyn Steel is hosting the Cheesemonger Invitational, which gives guests the opportunity to participate in an all-you-can-eat cheese bacchanalia. But I think I might save room to try the newly-reopened Fort Defiance in Red Hook, which recently won a epic battle for a liquor license and has quietly opened for dinner and drinks on Thursday-Sunday for now.
Anyone down for bar trivia? I’d love to get a team together for the weekly Tuesday night Trivia League at Parklife, mostly because I love hanging out in that space (with that queso) when it’s nice out. And if I can possibly find the time this week, I’m very interested in seeing the first solo exhibition of Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuna’s work, Spin Spin Triangulene, which just opened at the Guggenheim.
What kinds of trouble are you all getting up to? I always talk a big game on Friday, but there’s always the real chance I’ll spend a significant chunk of my week finishing up the latest on my list of TV binges (of late, the new seasons of Stranger Things and Hacks) or, if I’m being really honest, putting something like this strawberry and meringue cake front and center for about 4 meals in a row. The point is, there is no pressure. You know how it goes — summertime, the living is easy, and if it’s not, let’s try to make it so at least for the next 48 hours, ok? Have a great weekend all and we’ll see you back here next Friday!