Everyone’s heard war stories, but until you’ve seen the Brooklyn Historical Society’s “In Our Own Words: Portraits of Brooklyn Vietnam Veterans,” which opened on Dec. 14, you haven’t really heard anything. Comment.

Go Fourth

By Chris Varmus

The Brooklyn Paper / Daniel Krieger

Nightlife: Park Slope’s Fourth Avenue may never have been the most pedestrian friendly of the borough’s thoroughfares, but that’s quickly changing. The future boulevard now now boasts more than just gas stations and fast food restaurants. Comments (3).

Where to GO: Editors’ Picks

‘Yippie’

Saturday, December 15: Tonight, the Brooklyn Heights Jewish Film Festival presents “Yippie: A Journey to Jewish Joy.” Organizers say reservations are recommended for this screening of filmmaker Paul Mazursky’s (pictured) documentary about the annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to the Ukraine.

8 pm at Congregation B’nai Avraham (117 Remsen St. at Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights). $5 and reservations are recommended. For information and a complete schedule, call (718) 596-4840.

Jingle jam

Sunday, December 16: Featuring live performances from local acts like the Brooklyn Community Chorus, Spoke the Hub Dance and more, Park Slope’s “Jingle Bell Jamboree” is a chance to give yourself the gift of holiday spirit, some of the best that Brooklyn has to offer.

5 pm at the Old First Reformed Church (729 Carroll St. at Seventh Avenue in Park Slope). $10, $5 kids. For information, call (917) 514-4591.

BBQ blues

Monday, December 17: We would head over to Bar BQ in Greenwood Heights just for the grub, but tonight there’s the added charm of live blues and free bourbon. Yes, free bourbon. Each Monday, Bar BQ offers its bourbon of the week — this week it’s Old Taylor — free of charge. This is as close to a Christmas miracle as we could hope for.

7 pm–9 pm at Bar BQ (689 Sixth Ave. at 20th Street in Greenwood Heights). Free. For information, call (718) 499-4872 or visit www.brooklynbarbq.com.

Swiss mister

Tuesday, December 18: Illustrator Bob Eckstein’s work has appeared in the New Yorker and GQ, but tonight it will adorn the walls of Word bookstore in Greenpoint. Hostess-with-the-mostest Christine Onorati will be on hand, serving spiked hot cocoa (GO Brooklyn loves Word’s adults-only parties!) while Eckstein shares art from his new collection, “History of the Snowman.”

7:30 pm at Word (126 Franklin St. at Milton Street in Greenpoint). Free. For information, call (718) 383-0096 or visit www.wordbrooklyn.com.

‘Star’ power

Friday, December 21: Tonight, check out the gospel musical, “Follow the Star,” at the Kumble Theater. The show, which stars “Chicago” alum Carol Woods (pictured) follows a young girl longing for a holiday visit from her parents, who are stationed in the Middle East.

8 pm at the Kumble Theater (on the Downtown Brooklyn campus of Long Island University, Flatbush Avenue Extension at DeKalb Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn). $30-$100. For information, call (718) 488-1624 or visit www.kumbletheater.org.

View the full nightlife and events calendars.

Mad for madeiras

By Adam Rathe

Dining: Just like Hanukkah gelt and Christmas cookies, madeira wines are a hard-to-resist holiday sweet — as the Greene Grape will demonstrate at an upcoming tasting. Comment.

’Clef’s palate

By Chris Varmus

Music: Former Fugees legend Wyclef Jean popped into the Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg on Dec. 3. Holy Lauryn Hill, Batman! Comment.

Santa claws

By Juliana Bunim

Theater: Much like Santa himself, comic storyteller Mike Daisey is bringing Christmas cheer to Brooklyn for one night only, so you had better not pout and you’d better not cry. Here’s why. Comment.

Captain Picard does the Bard

By Adam Rathe

Waiting in the Wings: Big news, Shakespeare-loving Trekkies: hairless heartthrob Patrick Stewart (aka Captain Picard from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) will take the title role in “MacBeth,” which lands at the BAM Harvey Theater on Feb. 12.Â Comment.

Russian the stage

By Deirdre Donovan

Theater: Why, at the end of her life, did Russians so sorely neglect the poet Marina Tsvetaeva? That question mary well have sparked the new heart-wrenching work, “The Past is Still Ahead.” Comment.