Music, Art, Ping-Pong and More: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership Announces Fall 2021 Events Lineup

Downtown Brooklyn Presents continues with a fall full of free performances, celebrations, open rehearsals, exercise and dance classes, dance parties, and musical happy hours.

September 09, 2021

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) today announced the fall season of its annual events series, Downtown Brooklyn Presents, which celebrates the people and the plazas of one of the nation’s fastest growing downtowns. The DTBK Presents program provides an opportunity for local organizations and artists to showcase their talents while bringing the neighborhood together to celebrate outdoors.

Crowd favorites that are already in full swing include Zumba classes with Dodge YMCA, Albee Square Happy Hours featuring live music, Afro-Brazilian Capoeira with local studio, Motumbaxé, Chelsea Piers Fitness’ hi-intensity AMP’d classes, and Ping Pong with The Push. Willoughby Walks returns when Willoughby and Pearl Streets are transformed into a car-free oasis with live music, giant games, and a pop-up park where the public can lounge on beach chairs.

“We’re excited to bring our community together with more great events this fall,” said Regina Myer, President of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “DBP brings the best of what our borough has to offer, and this year is no exception. From Capoeira and a Soul Summit dance party, to ping pong and Willoughby Walks, Downtown Brooklyn Presents will have Brooklynites out Downtown, making the most of the autumn weather.”

Special events include the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival, which celebrates the Brooklyn Cultural District by showcasing local arts organizations and artists, as well as Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance Big Band, BAMkids Family Day, and the neighborhood’s original dance party, Soul Summit. Mark Morris Dance Center celebrates its 20^th anniversary with classes and performances and Brooklyn Brujeria brings its magic to Albee Square as part of the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund. The Willoughby Plaza Lunchtime Music series highlights some of the best musicians in the business. As the weather cools, the BKLYN BOO! Halloween celebration and Downtown Brooklyn Gets Lit return to Albee Square.

The Downtown Brooklyn Rehearsal Residency Initiative continues at the Plaza at 300 Ashland through October, offering free outdoor rehearsal space to artists and the opportunity for the public to watch companies in their creative process.

Advanced registration is encouraged for physical activities, and participants must sign a waiver to take part in some events. To keep our events safe for all to enjoy, everyone must follow required health protocols.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PRESENTS 2021
Fall Calendar:

Zumba with Dodge YMCA

Wednesdays through October 27 | 5:30PM-6:30PM
Brooklyn Commons Park
Sweat it out Wednesday evenings with free Zumba classes by the Dodge YMCA with Dodge Y favorite, Natarsha McQueen! Participant waiver required.

Albee Square Happy Hour @ Al B’s

Thursdays, September 9, 16, 30, and October 7 | 5PM-7PM
Albee Square (Rain location: Understudy at DeKalb Market Hall)
Grab a drink at Downtown Brooklyn’s outdoor beer garden at AL B’s accompanied by local musicians at this happy hour music series. Dates:

• 9/9 Mimi and The Podd Bros.
A fresh take on early jazz with classical trimmings and soulful underpinnings, Mimi & The Podd Brothers pride themselves on re-inventing the classics and retrograding the contemporary. Feisty, fun, soulful and honkey-tonk all at once.

• 9/16 Freddy DeBoe Blues Band featuring Billy Aukstik
Known for his soulful blues and rock & roll saxophone sound, Freddy DeBoe has traveled the world with some of the greatest soul singers of our time, including Brooklyn’s own Daptone Records artists James Hunter, Lee Fields, and Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones.

• 9/30 Sweet Megg
Megg is a vocalist from New York City based in Nashville, TN. She studied jazz in Paris and grew her sound performing in jazz clubs around New York City. Her songs are influenced by her years as a jazz singer but also by her love of classic country, early rock n roll, and the folk singers of her hometown NYC. Her most recent record, “I’m in Love Again”, came out in June of 2021 on Turtle Bay Records.

• 10/7 Treya Lam
Treya Lam’s fluent instrumental prowess on guitar, piano and strings recalls Nina Simone and Ani DiFranco. Lam, an active member of the Resistance Revival Chorus, has performed at the Prospect Park Bandshell, MASS MoCA, Greenwood Cemetery, Joe’s Pub, American Museum of Natural History, and Lincoln Center.

Willoughby Plaza Lunchtime Music Series

Tuesdays in September |12-2PM
Willoughby Plaza
NYC’s best musicians provide a backdrop for your lunchtime on the plaza.

• 9/14 Willie Martinez Trio
Willie Martinez is one of the most sought-after drummers in the Latin Jazz scene. A gifted arranger, composer, and vocalist, his unique rhythmic and vocal styling has contributed to groups performing everything from Gothic Funk in New York rock clubs to Afro Cuban jazz at Carnegie Hall. He has performed and recorded with artists as varied as the classic Cuban bandleader Chico O’Farrill to contemporary Pop divas Jewel, Faith Hill, and Brandy.

• 9/21 Wayne Tucker
Wayne Tucker is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, violinist, and vocalist who has performed, toured, and recorded with many of today’s stars including Taylor Swift, David Crosby, Elvis Costello, Kurt Elling, Al Foster, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ne-Yo, and Jidenna. Wayne wrote the soundtrack for and co-stars in the short film Hotel Bleu, has released four albums, and has performed at clubs and festivals on five continents.

• 9/28 Ricardo Jerome
Hailing from the twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, RICARDO JEROME is a steel pan drummer, educator, and entertainer who has been playing in New York for over 20 years. Mr. Jerome is currently the resident steel drum performer for the Antigua / Barbuda Tourism Board in NYC and has also worked for the Trinidad & Tobago mission to the United Nations and the Jamaica Council General.

Ping Pong Happy Hours

Tuesdays through September 28 | 4:30PM-Dusk
Brooklyn Commons Park
School is back in session and ping pong returns! DJs set the soundtrack on Tuesday evenings while you enjoy friendly ping pong games with The Push. A tournament with prizes will be held on September 21st!

NYC Ska Orchestra

Saturdays, September 11 and 25 | 5PM-8PM | Albee Square
Saturday, September 18 | 5PM-8PM | Willoughby Plaza
An 18-piece big band consisting of a “who’s-who” of top New York musicians, playing original compositions and arrangements of popular songs across reggae, ska, rock steady, and jazz.

Chelsea Piers Fitness AMP’D

Mondays, September 13 - October 25 | 6PM (No class on 10/11)
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
Start your week with Chelsea Piers Fitness! Hit the pavement and push your body to new limits in this class that combines bodyweight strength and cardio, challenging both your energy systems and motor control. This class is open to all levels. Participant waiver required.

Rooftop Films

Wednesdays, September 15, 22, 29, and October 6 | 8PM
Brooklyn Commons Park
Rooftop Films returns with four screenings from their “Featured Film” program. Bring a friend, grab a chair, and enjoy a movie under the stars! Presented by Brookfield Properties.

• 9/15 We Are The Thousand. Fabio wants to convince the Foo Fighters to perform in his little village in Italy. To do that he gathers 1000 musicians to play their song.

• 9/23 Stop and Go. Two directionless sisters brave a cross-country road trip to rescue their grandmother from a COVID outbreak at her nursing home.

• 9/29 The Last Days of Gilda. Gilda loves cooking, men, and life. But for her religious neighbors, this self-confident, independent woman is a thorn in the flesh.

• 10/6 TBA

Mark Morris Dance Center: 20 Years in Brooklyn

Saturday, September 18 | 10AM-4PM
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
Join the Mark Morris Dance Group as they kick off the 20th anniversary of the Mark Morris Dance Center with a day of free activities, including performances by the Dance Group, classes, a meet and greet with staff and faculty, and more! Full schedule TBA.

Shine Shrine Intention Walk presented by Brooklyn Brujeria

Saturday, September 18 | 12PM-7PM
Albee Square
The finale of Brooklyn Brujeria’s Shine Shrine Intention Walk is at Albee Square with a vintage market, tarot readings, and DJs, including Geko Jones, Jorly Flores, Xtina Starr, and additional invited guests.

Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival

Wednesday, September 22 – Saturday, September 25
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
Downtown Brooklyn’s annual celebration returns, honoring the cultural community and the artists, writers, and performers who inspire the borough’s creative spirit. Visit www.dbartsfestival.org soon for more information.

Brews at Brooklyn Commons

Thursdays, September 23, 30, and October 7 | 4PM-8PM
Brooklyn Commons Park
Presented by Brookfield Properties, Brews at Brooklyn Commons encourages friends and family to share a toast with a variety of beers on tap from the best local breweries around. Relax under the canopy of trees and lights while enjoying beverages, tasty snacks, groovy tracks, and spirited lawn games. Please note: no fee for entry; beer and food priced as listed. Open to all ages but those under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.

• September 23: Circa Brewing Co. + Threes Brewing
• September 30: Interboro Spirits & Ales + Wild East Brewing Co.
• October 7: Evil Twin Brewing NYC + Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC)

Downtown Brooklyn Rehearsal Residency Initiative

Through October 7 | 12PM-6PM
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
The Downtown Brooklyn Rehearsal Residency Initiative was created during the lockdown in 2020 to provide free outdoor rehearsal space to artists and arts organizations. Enjoy seeing artists immersed in their process.

Schedule:
• Mondays | 12-3PM Lavy
• Tuesdays | 12-3PM Dancers Unlimited
• Tuesdays | 3-6PM Chaery Moon
• Wednesdays | 12-3PM Beatriz Castro
• Wednesdays | 3-6PM Project.KB
• Thursdays | 12-3PM Hivewild
• Thursdays | 3-6PM JKing Dance Company (9/16-10/7)
• Saturdays | 12-4PM Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet (except 9/18 and 9/24)
• Sundays | 12-3PM BodyRa Movement (through 9/12)
• Sundays | 12-3PM Monét Movement Productions: The Collective (9/19-10/2)
• Sundays | 12-3PM ZCO/DANCEPROJECT

BAMkids Family Day

Saturday, September 25 (Rain Date: September 26) | 10AM-4PM
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
A day of performances, interactive workshops, and showcases of local talent, celebrating the resilience of community and the power of the arts. Featuring Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats!, Feet of Rhythm Kids, Brooklyn United, and Brown Rice Family, the festivities are emceed by BAM teaching artists Kimani Fowlin and Farai Malianga.

Willoughby Walks

Wednesdays, September 29 and October 6 | 12PM-6:30PM
Willoughby Street @ Pearl St. (near Willoughby Plaza)
For two consecutive Wednesdays, lounge in our beach chairs on car-free streets! DBP transforms the streets with games, fun activities, classes, and performances. Visit www.downtownbrooklyn.com/events for updates.

Capoeira Classes in collaboration with Motumbaxé

Tuesdays, October 5, 12, and 19 | 5PM-6PM
Albee Square
Back by popular demand! Local martial arts studio Motumbaxé makes Albee Square the home of the Afro-Brazilian martial art form, capoeira. Combining self-defense, acrobatics, dance, music, and song, the art form is derived from traditions brought across the Atlantic Ocean by enslaved Africans and fueled by the desire for freedom. Taught by Mestre Lampréia, the class will build confidence, focus, and community. All levels welcome!

Brooklyn Book Festival

• Saturday, October 2 | 11AM-4PM Brooklyn Commons Park
• Sunday, October 3 | 10AM-5PM Columbus Park
Enjoy a weekend of readings, workshops, performances, book signings, and more with favorite authors and illustrators. More info at www.brooklynbookfestival.org

BKLYN BOO!

Saturday, Oct 30 | 2PM-5PM
Albee Square
Join us in Albee Square for an early Halloween celebration with music, performances, and treats. More TBA at www.downtownbrooklyn.com/events.

NYRR NYC Marathon Cheering Station

Sunday, November 7 | 10AM-1:30PM
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
Did you know that Mile 8 of the NYC Marathon is at the Plaza at 300 Ashland? Join us to cheer on the brave souls taking on the 26.2-mile challenge with music and free coffee! Grab a signature Downtown Brooklyn cowbell to make some (extra) noise!

DTBK Gets Lit: Holiday Lighting Party!

Thursday, November 18 | 5PM-6PM
Albee Square
Our annual holiday season kickoff – Downtown Brooklyn style. Join us at Albee Square for special guest performances and the countdown to holiday lights ON!

Holiday Party on the Plaza

Saturday, December 4 | 11AM-12PM
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
Join the Mark Morris Dance Center for caroling and holiday cheer! MMDG Music Director, Colin Fowler, will lead the singing and there will be a short performance by the MMDG Student Company inspired by The Hard Nut

About Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. Working together with the three business improvement districts (BID) that it manages – the MetroTech BID, Fulton Mall Improvement Association, and Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn BID – the Partnership’s diverse activities include attracting new businesses and improving the environment for existing companies; facilitating the construction of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community; supporting and promoting Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural assets; and encouraging a unified sense of place and an engaged civic community. For more information, visit www.downtownbrooklyn.com.