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17 Things To Do in New York City's Neighborhoods This Week

By DNAinfo Staff | January 10, 2016 4:56pm 

 BRIC Arts Media will be hosting a poetry slam and open mic night for Brooklyn-based artists on Tuesday, January 12. Performance poet and playwright Eboni Hogan will be the guest host. The event is free and open to the public.
BRIC Arts Media will be hosting a poetry slam and open mic night for Brooklyn-based artists on Tuesday, January 12. Performance poet and playwright Eboni Hogan will be the guest host. The event is free and open to the public.
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BRIC Arts Media

Monday, Jan. 11

Free Soca Dance Fitness Class

Where: 214 Stuyvesant Ave., Bed-Stuy
When: 7 to 8 p.m.

Get toned Carnival-style at this free dance fitness class in Bed-Stuy. Learn different styles of Afro-Caribbean movement with choreography and build some stamina. 

An Evening of Comedy With Two People Whose Faces Look Weird As One Face

Where: Union Hall, 702 Union St., Park Slope
When: Doors at 7:30 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.

Aparna Nancherla, a comedian who's appeared on “Conan,” and Josh Gondelman, a writer for "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” face off for an evening of comedy hosted by Naomi Ekperigin.

Book Culture Book Club Discussion of Graham Greene’s "Brighton Rock"

Where: Book Culture, 450 Columbus Ave. Upper West Side 
When: 7 p.m.

The 90-minute monthly book club meeting will convene to discuss Graham Greene’s "Brighton Rock." Those interested in joining should email themesinliterature@bookculture.com.

Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul

Where: Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St., Union Square 
When: 7 p.m.

Join author and Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. for a discussion of his book, which deals with what he describes as the myth of a post-racial society and the ways in which race still has an impact on people’s lives in the United States.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

City Lives Exhibit 

Where: Shirley Fiterman Art Center, 81 Barclay St., TriBeCa 
When: Noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, through Jan. 16

The exhibit features paintings, sculptures, videos and multimedia pieces from 23 artists — with each work inspired by life in New York City.

Is It Trash or Is It Treasure?

Where: NYPL Roosevelt Island Branch, 524 Main St., Roosevelt Island
When: 6:30 p.m.

Urban archaeologist Joan H. Geismar will discuss how garbage is a treasure trove of information, using the 175 Water St. block in lower Manhattan as an example, where the collected debris included a merchant ship and 350,000 other artifacts.

Bette Adriaanse Presents Her Debut Novel "Rus Like Everyone Else"

Where: Word Bookstores, 126 Franklin St., Greenpoint 
When: 7 p.m.

Writer and artist Bette Adriaanse will talk about her debut novel, "Rus Like Everyone Else," which tells the tale of a man named Rus who’s forced to “get a job and pay taxes, like everyone else,” when he suddenly realizes his inherited apartment is illegal and he owes thousands in unpaid taxes. Adriaanse explores the vibrant inner lives of seemingly humdrum characters through their daily interactions with Rus.

Brooklyn Poetry Slam

Where: BRIC House, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene
When: 7 to 9 p.m.

Brooklyn-based poets take on the city’s cultural issues at the BRIC House poetry slam and open mic. Performance poet and playwright Eboni Hogan from the Bronx will be the guest poet. The event will be hosted by Mahogany L. Browne and will feature music by DJ Jive Poetic. The poetry slam is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Jeremy Udden’s Plainville: Record Preview Show

Where: Brooklyn Ibeam, 168 Seventh St., Gowanus
When: 9 p.m.

Hear Jeremy Udden’s Plainville jazz band play new songs from their third album as well as Neil Young and Mississippi John Hurt covers. A $15 donation is suggested.

New York Jewish Film Festival: Lamb

Where: Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St., Upper West Side
When: 3:30 and 8 p.m.

Kick off the Jewish Film Festival with the opening night’s film "Lamb," about a young boy named Ephraim, who loses his mother and must live with distant relatives. When his uncle decides to use his beloved lamb for the next religious feast, Ephraim will do anything to save the animal. This was the first film from Ethiopia to be included in the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival and the country’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar. This is its U.S. premiere.

Lil' Studio: Arts and Crafts for Children

Where: The Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 W. 125th St., Central Harlem 
When: 11 a.m. to noon

A free event for children ages 2 1/2 to 4, this arts and crafts event will help kid create red flubber to teach them the idea of transformation. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

The Expatriates: A Novel

Where: Barnes & Noble, E. 86th St., Upper East Side
When: 7 p.m.

Janice Y.K. Lee, a New York Times bestselling author, will read from her new novel, "The Expatriates," which weaves the stories of three American women living in Hong Kong. After the reading there will be a discussion and book signing.

Mid-Week After-Work Ice-Skating at the Standard High Line

Where: The Standard High Line, 848 Washington St., Meatpacking District 
When: Noon to midnight

The Standard’s ice-skating rink is open for the season, offering all-day and late-night ice-skating all week long. What better way to get over hump day than with a post-workday skating adventure? Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for kids, and skate rentals are $3 for everyone. Locker rentals are available, and refreshments include hot ciders, spiked hot toddys and two kinds of hot chocolate, as well as piping hot doughnuts and waffles. For those who are new to the ice, the Standard promises “cute Standard skaters” who can get you cruising in no time.

Thursday, Jan. 14

Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival

Where: Village East Cinema, 181-189 Second Ave., East Village 
When: Various times through Jan. 17

The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival kicks off its fourth year with a series of independent short films at 6 p.m., followed by a Q&A with filmmakers. The festival, which runs throughout the weekend, honors the author’s legacy with movies adapted or inspired by his novels and short stories. Tickets and the event’s program is available on its website.

New Year, New Stories!

Where: Inwood Library, 4790 Broadway, Inwood
When: 4 p.m.

Children ages 3 to 7 can celebrate the new year by enjoying some new books! The library is sharing some of the books from the NYPL’s 100 Children's Books list, as well as singing songs, playing games, and creating some crafts. 

Question of the Day with "Freakonomics" author Stephen Dubner and host James Altucher

Where: The Bell House, 149 7th St., Gowanus
When: Doors at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.

Authors and popular podcast hosts Stephen Dubner and James Altucher will bring their new podcast “Question of the Day” to a live audience at the Bell House. Dubner is most widely known for his "Freakomonics" books and radio show. Altucher hosts three successful podcasts and has written dozens of books, including "The Power of No" and "The Rich Employee." Tickets are priced at $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Creative Visualization Meditation

Where: EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center, 206-20 Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights
When: 2 to 3 p.m.

Feeling a little stressed out lately? Learn how to meditate in just a few simple steps during this free session at EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Center. Meditation can make your life more peaceful and help you relax by reducing anxiety and quieting your mind.

These listings were compiled by DNAinfo's reporters Camille Bautista, Leslie Albrecht, Emily Frost, Noah Hurowitz, Gwynne Hogan, Alexandra Leon, Shaye Weaver, Irene Plagianos, Gustavo Solis, Danielle Tcholakian, Lisha Arino, Nikhita Venugopal, and Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska.