Brooklyn Historical Society Calendar

Calendar of Events

All events are held at BHS and are free with museum admission ($6 adults, $4 students/teachers/seniors, free for children under 12) unless otherwise noted. Admission is always free for BHS members.

Spring 2012 Program Series

Click here for past BHS events

February

Wednesday, February 1

Watch & Discuss Vin Diesel’s short film Multi-Facial

7:00 p.m.

Vin Diesel stars in this autobiographical short film about his experiences auditioning in New York. Diesel finds himself at the distinct disadvantage of not being Black enough or Italian enough for the roles for which he auditions. Jen Chau, founder of Swirl, a multi-ethnic, anti-racist organization that promotes cross-cultural dialogue, will lead a discussion on race, physical appearance, mixed-race identity, and typecasting. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP required:

This event is part of Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations, an oral history project and public programming series that examines the history and experiences of mixed-heritage people and families, cultural hybridity, race, ethnicity, and identity. This project is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Humanities, New York Council for the Humanities, Two Trees Management, Brooklyn Brewery, Sweet ’N Low Division of Cumberland Packing, and FHL Bank San Francisco.

Saturday, February 4

BHS Building Tour

2:00 p.m.

Come explore our beautiful landmark building. Designed by architect George Post and built in 1881, Brooklyn Historical Society’s building was ahead of its time. Using the latest technology, Post created a magnificent structure with amazing craftsmanship. On this guided tour you’ll learn not only about the building as an architectural gem, but you’ll also find out the “more than meets the eye” history of one of Brooklyn’s premier cultural institutions. This tour is free with museum admission and open to the public. Admission is always free for BHS members. This tour is part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Saturdays and Sundays, February 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

Brooklyn Navy Yard Tours

12:30 and 3:00 p.m.

As part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks, join Urban Oyster, in collaboration with the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, for public bus tours of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Urban Oyster offers two Navy Yard Tour options: a two-hour comprehensive tour for $30 and a one-hour highlights tour for $18. These tours explore the Yard's transition from one of the nation's foremost naval shipbuilding facilities to a national leader in sustainable urban industrial parks. Tours will begin and end at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG 92. BHS members receive 10% off all tours. For dates, tickets, and more information, please visit www.urbanoyster.com or call Urban Oyster at 347.618.8687.

Tuesday, February 7

Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable

12:00-2:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable is a quarterly luncheon series dedicated to examining, analyzing, reviewing, and predicting the critical issues in Brooklyn real estate. It's the event where Brooklyn's real estate professionals gather to discuss timely and important issues affecting the industry. Attend the Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable and join participants from firms such as Muss Development, Toll Brothers, Thor Equities, Hudson Companies, Brody Group, Forest City Ratner, Two Trees Management, and Douglaston Development. All Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable proceeds benefit the Brooklyn Historical Society. Purchase your tickets today for the 2012 Brooklyn Real Estate Roundtable series. To register by mail, please use our registration form.

Tuesday, February 14

I HEART BK/BX

7:00-10:00 p.m.

Enjoy Tumbador chocolates and Brooklyn Brewery beer in BHS's stunning Othmer Library while storytellers, poets, and baseball historians from Brooklyn and the Bronx explore the legendary rivalry and share their borough love stories. Featuring Brooklyn Dodgers historian Joe Dorinson, Brooklyn storyteller Michele Carlo, Brooklyn poet Knickie D, former Yankees batboy Frank Prudenti, Bronx storyteller Bobby Gonzalez, and Bronx poet Skye Cabrera. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Tickets $15/$10 BHS and The Bronx Museum of the Arts members. Purchase your ticket here.

Wednesday, February 15

Fading Ads of Brooklyn

7:00 p.m.

Join Frank Jump, photographer and author. The Fading Ad Campaign began as a photographic project documenting vintage mural ads on building brickfaces in New York City spanning nearly a century. Of the hundreds of ads Jump has photographed, many have already been covered up, vandalized, or destroyed. But still many silently cling to the walls of buildings, barely noticed by the rushing passersby. Jump’s book The Fading Ads of NYC, which was released this past November, is a collection drawn from thousands of pictures taken throughout the five boroughs. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your ticket here.

Saturday, February 18

Genealogy Workshop with Wilhelmina Kelly

2:00 p.m.

This presentation by renowned genealogist Wilhelmina Kelly will explore the basics of genealogy, with tips on how to research Revolutionary War ancestors and hands-on practice with online resources such as dar.org, ancestry.com, and familysearch.com. Attendees should bring any family information they have already located. Tickets: $50/$30 BHS members. Purchase your tickets here. Space is limited so please sign up as early as possible to reserve your space. This event is part of BHS's spring Library Workshops, a monthly program series that utilizes the collections at BHS to provide hands-on training and research opportunities to explore your family, neighborhood, and borough history.

Sunday, February 19

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy Enviromedia Mobile Celebrates Black History Month at BHS

1:00-4:00 p.m.

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy (UDEC)/ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE, in collaboration with CHE Nautical & Enviro Edutainment, presents this nautical exhibition that explores the living history of Afro-American seafarers. The exhibition features a state-of-the-art living history display that includes reenactors, artifacts, accessories, historic naval armament, and costumes and celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of historic Afro- American maritime figures in celebration of Black History Month. For more info, visit enviromediamobile.blogspot.com.

Thursday, February 23

Talking Fiction, Talking Fact: with Elizabeth Gaffney and Marci Reaven on The End of Wonder

7:00 p.m.

BHS partners with The New York Review of Books for Talking Fiction, Talking Fact, a programming series that pairs notable fiction writers with scholars who have written on similar topics for engaging and thought-provoking dialogue. This month we host Elizabeth Gaffney, author of The End of Wonder and Marci Reaven, Vice-President for History Exhibits at New-York Historical Society, who is currently working on an exhibit titled WWII & NYC. The exhibit will open at N-YHS in October 2012. This series is hosted in BHS’s Othmer Library. Free with museum admission.

Saturday, February 25

Historic Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour with Big Onion

1:00 p.m.

Explore New York City’s first Landmark District on this special tour co-sponsored by Big Onion and BHS. Explore the neighborhood’s agricultural roots, its emergence as the country’s first suburb, and its twentieth century decline and dramatic regeneration. Stops could include: The Hotel St. George, Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, and sites associated with Seth Low, George Washington, Arthur Miller, WEB DuBois, and Gypsy Rose Lee. This tour ends at BHS with a behind-the-scenes tour of the building and free admission to the museum. Adults $18/students, military, seniors $15. BHS members receive $3 off all Big Onion tours. Visit http://bigonion.com/schedule/ for a complete schedule. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Sunday, February 26

BHS Building Tour

2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 29

New York Food Markets Past and Present with Historian Hasia Diner, Culinary Historians Andrew Coe and Annie Hauck-Lawson, and Jonathan Butler, Co-Founder of Brooklyn Flea

7:00 p.m.

Market Image

Join us for an exploration of New York food markets past and present. Panelists include historian Hasia Diner; culinary historians Andrew Coe and Annie Hauck-Lawson; and Jonathan Butler, co-founder of Brooklyn Flea, who will lead us through an exploration of New York food markets past and present. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Free with museum admission. Admission is always free for BHS members. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Throughout February

Big Onion Walking Tours of Brooklyn

Since 1991, Big Onion Walking Tours has led locals and visitors alike on innovative and exciting tours through New York's ethnic neighborhoods and historic districts. Big Onion’s tours of Brooklyn include the Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights, Prospect Park, and DUMBO/Vinegar Hill. Big Onion’s walking tours explore the many layers of history that make up the fabric of our city. BHS members receive $3 off all tours. Visit http://bigonion.com/schedule/ for a complete schedule. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Throughout February

Urban Oyster Tours of Brooklyn

Urban Oyster leads a variety of tours of Brooklyn, including: Brooklyn Navy Yard by Bus or by Bike: take a bus tour or ride a bike and learn the fascinating stories of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's past, present, and future; and Brewed in Brooklyn: discover how the story of the beer brewing industry tells a larger narrative about the neighborhood of Williamsburg, the borough of Brooklyn, and even the country as a whole. Visit the Brooklyn Brewery and sample beers on tap, then step back in time to explore the heart of the old Brewers Row, once a German immigrant area known for its brew houses and beer gardens. Advance ticket purchase is required. Go to www.urbanoyster.com or call 347.599.1842 for specific dates and ticket prices. BHS members receive a 10% discount on Navy Yard and Brewery Tours (contact BHS at 718.222.4111 for code). This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

March

Sunday, March 1
Talking Fiction, Talking Fact: Arthur Phillips and James Shapiro on the Tragedy of Arthur
7:00 p.m.
BHS partners with The New York Review of Books for Talking Fiction, Talking Fact, a programming series that pairs notable fiction writers with scholars who have written on similar topics for engaging and thought-provoking dialogue. This month we host Arthur Phillips, author of The Tragedy of Arthur, and James Shapiro, leading Shakespearean historian. This series is hosted in BHS’s Othmer Library. Free with museum admission.

Saturday, March 10

BHS Building Tour

2:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 11

Watch & Discuss the groundbreaking 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

2:00 p.m.

Starring three Oscar-winning actors, Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? was the first positive representation of interracial marriage in U.S. cinema -- and interracial marriage was still illegal in seventeen states when the film was released. Sociologist Erica Chito-Childs will lead a discussion of interracial images in popular culture. This event is free with museum admission. Admission is always free for BHS members. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Light refreshments will be served.

Thursday, March 15

Brooklyn Boheme with Nelson George

7:00 p.m.
Join author and director Nelson George for a special screening of his latest documentary Brooklyn Boheme, co-directed with Diane Paragas. This film chronicles the African American artistic movements that took place in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn during the 1980’s and 1990’s. The film includes Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, and Saul Williams. A discussion with co-director Nelson George will follow the screening. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your ticket here.

Saturday, March 17

Family Walking Tour of Historic Brooklyn Heights

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Led by the Center for Architecture Foundation, this family workshop is part of BHS’s Brooklyn Walks and Talks series. $20 for family of up to four people / $10 for CFAF Family Members and BHS members; $5 additional guests. Advance registration required at

http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=4649

Sunday, March 18
Historic Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour with Big Onion
11:00 a.m.
Explore New York City’s first Landmark District on this special tour co-sponsored by Big Onion and BHS. Explore the neighborhood’s agricultural roots, its emergence as the country’s first suburb, and its twentieth century decline and dramatic regeneration. Stops could include: The Hotel St. George, Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, and sites associated with Seth Low, George Washington, Arthur Miller, WEB DuBois, and Gypsy Rose Lee. This tour ends at BHS with a behind-the-scenes tour of the building and free admission to the museum. Adults $18/students, military, seniors $15. BHS members receive $3 off all Big Onion tours. Visit http://bigonion.com/schedule/ for a complete schedule. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Thursday, March 22

Jewish Women in Brooklyn Health and Human Services Forum

7:00 p.m.

Join scholars in this panel discussing the role of Jewish women in Brooklyn health and human services. This program is part of Brooklyn Jewish Stories, in partnership with BHS’s Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative. This event is free with museum admission.

Saturday, March 24

Managing a Personal or Family Archive: Why? What? How?

2:00 p.m.

This presentation is an introduction to the issues involved in creating and maintaining an archive of one’s personal or family documents. Archivist Larry Weimer will discuss the considerations you as an archivist of personal papers will face: Why create such a collection? What documents serve that purpose and should be kept? How can the items in the archive be preserved? How can the collection as a whole be preserved over time? The presentation will provide a broad-based overview of collection management and preservation issues principally for paper-based documents, though born-digital documents and digital preservation will also be discussed. (Photographic formats are the subject of a separate workshop and will not be covered in this presentation). This event is part of BHS's spring Library Workshops, a monthly program series that utilizes the collections at BHS to provide hands-on training and research opportunities to explore your family, neighborhood, and borough history. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your tickets here.

Sunday, March 25

BHS Building Tour

2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28

Coney Island: Photographs, Facts, and Fun with Photographer Harvey Stein, Historian John Manbeck, and Coney Island Insider Lola Star

7:00 p.m.

As part of BHS’s Inventing Brooklyn series, join photographer Harvey Stein, whose recent book Coney Island 40 Years documents the people, events and changing scene at Coney Island. Stein, historian John Manbeck, and collector, Coney Island insider, the founder of the Save Coney Island Organization, and the owner of the Coney Island boardwalk store Lola Star Boutique, Lola Star explore the role of Coney Island in shaping Brooklyn’s identity, using Stein’s breathtaking photographs as the starting point for the conversation. This event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 29

Born to Giglio with Fulbright Scholar Stephanie Trudeau and Danny Vecchiano, leader of the Vecchiano Festival Band

7:00 p.m.

Join Fulbright scholar Stephanie Trudeau and Danny Vecchiano, leader of the Vecchiano Festival Band, for an exploration of the roots and traditions of Brooklyn’s Giglio Festival. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your ticket here.

Throughout March

Big Onion Walking Tours of Brooklyn

Throughout March

Urban Oyster Tours of Brooklyn

April

Sunday, April 1

Talking Fiction with Colm Tóibín and Mick Moloney on Brooklyn

2:00 p.m.

BHS partners with The New York Review of Books for Talking Fiction, Talking Fact, a programming series that pairs notable fiction writers with scholars who have written on similar topics for engaging and thought-provoking dialogue. This month we host Colm Tóibín, author of Brooklyn and Mick Moloney, Irish folklorist and musician. This series is hosted in BHS’s Othmer Library. Free with museum admission.

Wednesday, April 4

Bridging the Gap: Poetry Showcase with Tara Betts, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Adrienne Lyric (A. Lyric), and Nichole Acosta

7:00 p.m.

Featuring four award-winning poets who have graced the stage at HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Nuyorican Poets Café, and poetry slams around the country: poet Tara Betts (Arc and Hue), Chinese Taiwanese American spoken word artist Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai (Yellowgurl.com), writer and singer Adrienne Lyric (Love In All Its Shades), and Chirishican diabetic foodie spoken word poet, Nichole Acosta. $7/$4 students and BHS members. Purchase your ticket here.

Saturday, April 7

BHS Building Tour

2:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 12

Heavy D- The Overweight Lover to Notorious B.I.G.
7:00 p.m.
Rap pioneer Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011.The 44-year-old rapper had a wide-reaching impact on Hip-Hop and his presence reverberated from Marley Marl's raw sample science to Puff Daddy's pop reign.To shed light on the full impact of Waterbed Hev, this event features a panel of candid conversations. Participants include: Pete Rock and Marley Marl.

The Brooklyn Bodega joins BHS for a discussion on rapper Heavy D and his influence on the hip hop community. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your ticket here.

Saturday, April 14

Identity and Oral History

2:00 p.m.

BHS partners with Brooklyn Museum and its Question Bridge: Black Males exhibit programming to bring you this story-sharing workshop. BHS’s Director of Oral History Sady Sullivan and members of the Crossing Borders oral history interview team will lead this oral history workshop. Learn how to preserve family and personal stories about identity, race, ethnicity, and gender. Meet in the Brooklyn Museum lobby at 2:00 p.m. This program is free with museum admission.

Saturday, April 21

Historic Brooklyn Heights Walking Tour with Big Onion

11:00 a.m.

Sunday, April 22

Brooklyn Women in Traditional Performance: Keeping Boundaries/Breaking Barriers

2:00 p.m.

Join BHS and Brooklyn Arts Council for the Opening Symposium of Half the Sky: Brooklyn Women in Traditional Performance, a six week festival running through June 9, 2012, which includes performances, workshops, and panels exploring gender and traditional performance. This symposium, Brooklyn Women in Traditional Performance: Keeping Boundaries/Breaking Barriers will present a lecture and demonstrations with diverse artists performing and discussing various aspects of women- centered arts practices, including dance, material culture, and song. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people who have influenced Brooklyn and highlights cultural trends rooted in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. This event is free and open to the public.

Sunday, April 25

Knish History

7:00 p.m.

What is a knish? Perhaps you've encountered the square fried version at a street cart, or come across the baked, round kind at one of New York's surviving knisheries. Join journalist and food expert Laura Silver in exploring this wrapped potato pastry of Eastern European Jewish origin through legends, songs, and tastings. Knish enthusiasts, knish veterans and the knish curious are all warmly invited to join this interactive exploration. We'll explore the history of this storied food on American shores. From the Knish Wars of Rivington Street to Mayor Rudy Guiliani's 1990s regulation of oven temperatures in the city's sidewalk food carts, the potato pocket is inextricably linked to the history of New York City. We'll conclude the class with a knish tasting. Bring your questions and memories. Tickets $10/$8 BHS members. Purchase your ticket here. This program is part of Brooklyn Jewish stories, in partnership with BHS’s Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative.

Throughout April

Big Onion Walking Tours of Brooklyn

Throughout April

Urban Oyster Tours of Brooklyn

Ongoing

Select Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays

Brewed in Brooklyn Tours

Urban Oyster helps you discover how the story of the beer brewing industry tells a larger narrative about the neighborhood of Williamsburg, the borough of Brooklyn, and even the country as a whole. On this tour, you visit the Brooklyn Brewery and sample beers on tap, then step back in time to explore the heart of the old Brewers Row, once a German immigrant area known for its brew houses and beer gardens. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Saturdays, Ongoing

Immigrant Foodways Tours
Based on oral histories with residents and business owners in East Williamsburg, this tour explores the history of Brooklyn's "Avenue of Puerto Rico" - once the heart of a Jewish community - and takes an in-depth look at the Moore Street Market, built in 1941 to mark the end of the pushcart era and today a centerpiece of the Spanish-speaking community. By the end of the tour, you'll be equipped with new knowledge about Latin American ingredients and a booklet of traditional recipes to help you recreate the tastes and smells of the market in your own home. Tickets: $39/person (10% off for BHS members - contact BHS at 718.222.4111 x250 for discount code). Advance ticket purchase is required. Go to www.urbanoyster.com or call 347.618.8687 to book public or private tours. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Saturdays, Ongoing
The Brooklyn Bridge & Brownstone Brooklyn with Pizza Tour

Inside Out Tours will help you discover Brooklyn Heights, where you'll explore the neighborhood of Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Mae West, and Walt Whitman. View an American abolitionist church that was visited by Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. End your tour with a slice of Brooklyn pizza. $55 for non-members. BHS members receive a special discount by calling 1.800.258.7359 or e-mailing info@insideouttours.com. Purchase your ticket here. Advance ticket purchase is required. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Dates Vary

Brooklyn Navy Yard by Bus or by Bike

Take a bus tour or ride a bike with Urban Oyster and learn the fascinating stories of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's past, present, and future. Advance ticket purchase is required. Go to www.urbanoyster.com or call 347.599.1842 for specific dates, ticket prices and information on other tours.10% Discount for BHS members on Navy Yard and Brewery Tours: (contact BHS at 718.222.4111 x250 for code). This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Dates Vary

Cultural, Faith-based and African American Heritage Tours of Brooklyn

Inside Out Tours allows visitors and local residents to find the ultimate cultural experience "off the beaten path." On our tours, you do not simply observe from a distance but you can meet the locals, taste the food, hear local music, view artwork from artisans and see historically significant sites, fully engaging your senses in Brooklyn's vibrant and diverse neighborhoods. $5 Discount for BHS members on Inside Out Tours. Call 1.800.258.7359 to book your tour. This tour partnership is offered as part of BHS's Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.


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