All Weekend
Where: Bizarre Bushwick, 12 Jefferson St., Bushwick
When: Saturday at 10 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The Smutcracker will put an erotic spin on a classic holiday tale with stilts, fire-twirling drag queens, acrobatics and dance. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Sunday’s matinee tickets are donation-based.
► “Unto Us a Child is Born,” A Modern-Day Nativity Story
Where: Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 212 Tompkins Ave., Bed-Stuy
When: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m.
It’s a new spin on the nativity story, asking the question, “What if Jesus was born today in New York City?” “Unto Us a Child is Born,” also known as U2U, is a musical rendition of the classic Bible story with a teenage Virgin Mary living in Brooklyn and dealing with backlash following her pregnancy. Check out the show’s website for details and showtimes, tickets cost $20.
Where: Corner of Fulton Street and Spencer Place, Bed-Stuy
When: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stop by this holiday market from the owners of Akichi Flea Market and Akichi Night Bazaar. Check off some items from your shopping list with a selection of vintage goods and wares from local vendors.
► AHAlife Best of New York Pop Up
Where: 147 Front St., DUMBO
When: Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doing some last-minute holiday shopping? Head over to AHAlife’s “Best of New York” pop-up shop in DUMBO, which will feature more than 25 local fashion and lifestyle brands. Gift wrap designers will be on hand to make your holiday shopping even easier. To RSVP, email rsvp@ahalife.com.
Where: 505 ½ Waverly Ave., Clinton Hill
When: Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.
A three-day “piano overload,” JACK’s Four Pianos Festival features local improvising pianists playing simultaneously on four pianos. Curated by pianist Ron Stabinsky, the festival will include pianists Cory Smythe, Craig Taborn, members of ICE, Sylvie Courvoisier, Brian Marsella, Stabinsky and others. Each set starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20.
Where: Brooklyn Colony, 274 Fourth Ave., Gowanus
When: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Take photos with Santa, taste whisky from Breuckelen Distillery and shop for locally made goods, including jewelry, ceramics from Bulls Ferry Studio, and items from the newly-opened Gowanus Souvenir Shop.
Friday, Dec. 18
Where: Union Hall, 702 Union St., Park Slope
When: 9:30 p.m.
See if your pipes can match the likes of Mariah Carey, The Muppets, Christina Aguilera and Run DMC at this sing-along, featuring Christmas music videos by pop stars through the decades. Tickets are $10 and include free milk and cookies.
► The Naughty List at Littlefield
Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw St., Gowanus
When: 10 p.m.
This dance party with DJs Night Doll, Roze Royze and more is for “naughty” people who want to celebrate the season with “all the queerdos of New York City,” according to Littlefield’s website. Admission is $5.
Saturday, Dec. 19
► “Posada” Traditional Mexican Christmas Party and Taste of Sunset Park
Where: Industry City, 241 37th St., Sunset Park
When: Posada: 2 to 5 p.m.; Taste of Sunset Park: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunset Park will be celebrating the holidays with a traditional Mexican Christmas party at Industry City on Saturday with tons of entertainment for kids, including crafts, face-painting and a magician.
At the same time, Industry City will be hosting a pop-up market with an array of artisanal wood and leather wares, as well as food vendors, including Maria’s Bistro Mexicano and Kofte Piyaz, which serves Turkish cuisine. Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg will continue alongside these events.
Where: Bread Love, 1933 Fulton St., Bed-Stuy
When: 1 to 3:30 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m.
Get in the holiday spirit with some do-it-yourself decorations and treats at Bread Love. A DJ will spin holiday and house tunes during the crafty festivities, but make sure to RSVP to secure your spot in the two sessions. Participants pay $25 per gingerbread house.
► Booze, Bubbles and Fried Chicken Part Two at Bed-Vyne
Where: Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits, 370 Tompkins Ave., Bed-Stuy
When: 3 to 7 p.m.
Drink up and chow down at this free event at Bed-Vyne Wine. The second tasting at the Tompkins Avenue store celebrates the opening of the brand’s spirit annex. Sample some selections and pick up a gift for the holidays on your way out.
► Gingerbread Party at Building on Bond
Where: 112 Bond St., Boerum Hill
When: 4 to 7 p.m.
The holidays don’t taste quite the same without a good ol’ fashioned gingerbread house. Head to Building on Bond for its annual decorating party for kids with pre-assembled gingerbread houses and tons of candy. There will be specials like $3 hot chocolate and cider for younger drinkers and $7 mulled wine or spiked hot cider for older ones. All ages are welcome.
► Brooklyn Music School’s Holiday Spectacular Review
Where: Brooklyn Music School, 126 St. Felix St., Fort Greene
When: 5 p.m.
Sing along with Santa over hot cocoa and other holiday treats at the Brooklyn Music School’s “Holiday Spectacular Review.” The event will feature music from a variety of traditions, including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa with performances of classic Christmas carols, African drumming and jazz and rock renditions of holiday favorites and dance pieces. Admission is $5.
Where: Five Myles Gallery, 558 St. Johns Place, Crown Heights
When: 6 p.m.
Join the group Art Music People and host Alia Pierre for a pre-holiday night of spoken word and live music at Five Myles Gallery. Drinks will be served at the free event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the music begins at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20
► George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” at Concord Baptist Church
Where: The Concord Baptist Church of Christ, 833 Gardner C. Taylor Blvd., Bed-Stuy
When: 4 p.m.
Don’t miss a free holiday performance at one of Bed-Stuy’s oldest churches. The Concord music ministry, guest choirs, and an orchestra put on their rendition of Handel’s “Messiah.”
► Charity Event For Homeless Children at Robert
Where: 104 Bond St., Boerum Hill
When: 6 p.m.
Cocktail bar Robert is giving back for the holidays with a silent auction that will benefit the Coalition For The Homeless. The items auctioned will be local products from New York distillers. Drink specials will be available as well.
► Christmas Concert and Sing-A-Long
Where: St. Agnes Church, Corner of Hoyt and Sackett streets, Carroll Gardens
When: 4 p.m.
A multi-lingual Christmas concert will be hosted at St. Agnes Church this weekend with vocalists Juliana Fazzone and Christian Lee Branch. Songs will be in English, French and Spanish. The event is free.
Where: 65 Fen, 65 Fenimore St., Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
When: 7 p.m.
A monthly reading series founded in Prospect Heights has moved to Prospect-Lefferts Gardens wine bar 65 Fen, kicking off this weekend with three Brooklyn-based poets. The event is free and open to the public; wine is available at the event.
These listings were compiled by DNAinfo's Brooklyn reporters Camille Bautista, Rachel Holliday Smith, Leslie Albrecht, Nikhita Venugopal, Alexandra Leon and Gwynne Hogan.
