friday
October 16
Vile art
Heroes and villains are two sides of the same coin — at least that’s what Two-Face says. The “Heroic Villainy” show opening tonight at Grumpy Bert embraces both sides, with playful paintings of cheerful champions of virtue and stone-cold chillin’ villains like Venom (pictured). Drop by tonight to meet artists Stanley Kubik and TMO Plater, but the show is up until Nov. 8.
7–9 pm at Grumpy Bert [82 Bond St. between Atlantic Avenue and State Street in Boerum Hill, (347) 855–4849 www.grump
Saturday
October 17
Get high
Brooklyn once had its own fire department, housed in a handsome Romanesque building Downtown. Recently restored to its original 1888 glory, the Jay Street Firehouse will open its six-story tower to visitors this afternoon, so you can peer over the city like a 19th century firefighter. The event is part of the Open House New York weekend — other notable spots flinging open the doors include the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Kings Theatre.
Noon–4 pm at Jay Street Firehouse (365 Jay St. between Willoughby Street and MetroTech Center Downtown, www.ohny.org). Free.
Sunday
October 18
Beat it
The Honk NYC festival of street marching bands winds down today by setting down the brass and picking up the drums. The Brooklyn United Drumline gives a free performance this afternoon in Dumbo, alongside local group of Balkan music players Zlatne Uste. A drum workshop will help out audience members who feel inspired to join in.
2 pm at Pearl Street Triangle (Pearl Street at Anchorage Place in Dumbo, www.honkn
Tuesday
October 20
Alter space
Slip into the glamorous Hollywood of an alternate 1920, where black-and-white cameras film the lush jungles of Venus and movie premieres happen on the moon. Fantasy author Catherynne Valente reads from her “decopunk alt-history space opera mystery” novel “Radiance” tonight, presented with short films inspired by the book and cocktails inspired by its pre-Prohibition Martian saloons.
7 pm at Word [126 Franklin St. at Milton Street in Greenpoint, (718) 383–0096, www.wordb
Wednesday
October 21
Goth music
Creepy surreal videos and images (like the one pictured) will surround visitors to the new immersive chamber opera “American Gothic,” featuring bass-baritone singer Davone Tines and the Canité Quartet, performing four original compositions about prisoners, the mentally ill, artists, and other American outsiders.
8 pm at Pioneer Works [159 Pioneer St. between Imlay and Conover streets in Red Hook, (718) 596–3001, www.pione
