Things to Do in Bushwick
Things to Do in Bushwick this week
- TUE OCT 13 · 7:30PM
Halloween Shibari Figure Drawing
Lovejoys · $25–35
Sketch Halloween-themed floor ties with Jay and Bats at Lovejoys; materials are included, with $25 early-bird tickets if available and $35 standard admission.
- TUE OCT 13 · 7:30PM
Jack Fox Baum: Magic & Mentalism
Honey's · $21
Jack Fox Baum brings magic and mentalism to Honey’s, with a 7:30PM show start confirmed in the organizer’s caption.
- WED OCT 14
Hart Bar Brooklyn · FREE
Start with comedy and stay for karaoke at Hart Bar’s free Wednesday night for ages 21 and up; check with the venue for the start time.
- WED OCT 14 · 7:30PM
Japanese Calligraphy for Beginners
Kato Sake Works · $28.52
Try Japanese brush-and-ink calligraphy over a glass of sake at Kato Sake Works, with no experience needed.
- WED OCT 14 · 7PM
Selva · FREE
Watch Colombian horror classic Pura Sangre and short film Corte in Spanish with English subtitles, then stay for DJ Cobretti’s farewell party.
- WED OCT 14 · 8PM
Xanadu · $18.54
Roll into Xanadu for a 21+ skate night with Dream Supreme; admission is $18.54, skate rental costs extra, and the earlier Skaterobics class requires a separate ticket.
- THU OCT 15 · 7PM
Lalin's · FREE
Cut up magazines and make something new at Lalin’s free collage night, with materials and music provided.
- THU OCT 15 · 7PM
StashMaster · FREE
Meet outside StashMaster at 7PM for a volunteer cleanup with supplies provided, followed by a free dinner for helpers at Cafe Mia at 9PM.
- FRI OCT 16 · 3PM
Bushwick Ceramics · $90
Make an animal-shaped ceramic wall hook with Ruby Jagel in a $90 beginner-friendly workshop, with materials, glazing and firing included.
- FRI OCT 16 · 6PM
Town Studio NYC · FREE
Check out Town Studio’s new space with games, bites, drinks, Polaroids, a digital photo booth and studio-hour giveaways.
- FRI OCT 16 · 6PM
Starr Bar · FREE
Meet filmmakers and artists over short films, DJ sets and drinks at Films of the Future NYC’s Starr Bar hangout.
- FRI OCT 16 · 9:20PM
The Red Pavilion · FROM $32.54
Hannah Gill and her band soundtrack a jazz-and-burlesque séance; general admission is $32.54 with fees, tables have a two-drink minimum, and doors open at 9PM.
- OCT 16–18 · 12–6PM
Studios near Morgan L · FREE
Explore tattoo studios around the Morgan L from October 16–18, collecting map stamps for a raffle alongside tattoos, art, merch and pop-ups.
- SAT OCT 17
Secret Coffee · FREE
London roaster KillBean takes over Secret Coffee’s bar with drip_presso brewing and pouring; check the organizer’s post for hours.
If you are hunting for things to do in Bushwick, the short version is that you have more options than any one weekend can hold. This is one of the best neighborhoods in New York City for actually going out, not just talking about going out. The scene runs on old factories turned into venues, backyards that double as bars, and a calendar that never really slows down. What follows is the stuff worth leaving your apartment for.
Nightlife and warehouse parties
Bushwick is where a lot of Brooklyn's late-night energy lives now. The nightlife here spans immersive spots like House of Yes, low-key backyard bars, and warehouse rooms that do not really get going until the trains are running less often. Dress codes are loose, cover charges are honest, and the walk home is usually short. Go with a plan or go with none.
Live music
On any given night there is a band, a DJ, or a producer set happening within a few blocks of the L. The live music scene skews independent and genre-agnostic, from punk basements to synth nights to jazz in a room that seats forty people. Tickets are cheap, the sound is loud, and you will hear something you cannot name yet.
Comedy
Cheap shows, weird lineups, and rooms where the comedian can see your face. Bushwick comedy is stand-up, storytelling, and the occasional experiment that should not work but does. Many nights are free or close to it, which makes it a low-risk way to fill a Tuesday.
Art and galleries
The neighborhood has been a working artist district for a long time, and it shows. The art and galleries circuit ranges from the Bushwick Collective murals around Troutman St and St Nicholas Ave to small storefront spaces and studio buildings you would never find without a tip. Once a year the whole thing spills open for Bushwick Open Studios, when hundreds of artists let strangers wander through their workspaces.
Markets, vintage and flea
Sunday plans sort themselves out here. The markets and vintage scene covers secondhand racks, flea tables, record bins, and food vendors, usually in a lot or a warehouse with a coffee line out front. Come early for the good stuff, come late for the deals.
Food and drink
Bushwick eats well and drinks better. Roberta's put the neighborhood on the map for a lot of people, but the range now runs from taquerias to natural wine bars to whatever just opened in a former garage. Rooftops, backyards, and no-frills counters all coexist. You can spend a lot or almost nothing and eat well either way.
Parks and daytime
Not everything happens after dark. Maria Hernandez Park is the neighborhood's living room, good for a slow morning, a picnic, or watching a pickup game. Daytime here is for wandering, murals, coffee, and the free things to do that fill the gaps between the paid ones. If you only have an afternoon, that is plenty.
Getting to Bushwick
The L train is the spine of the neighborhood, with stops at Jefferson St, Morgan Ave, and DeKalb Ave that drop you into different pockets of the scene. The M and J trains serve the Myrtle side, and the Myrtle-Wyckoff hub connects the L and the M if you are coming from deeper in Brooklyn or from Queens. Most of what you want is walkable once you are off the train, so pick a stop and start from there.
What's on right now
The scene changes weekly, which is the whole point. If you want the short list of what is actually worth your time, check what's on this weekend or get it in your inbox every week. See what's on this week and stop scrolling for something to do.
FAQ
What is Bushwick known for?
Bushwick is known for its art scene, its nightlife, and its converted-warehouse energy. Between the Bushwick Collective murals, the independent music and comedy venues, and a food and bar scene that keeps growing, it has become one of the most active going-out neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
What is there to do in Bushwick at night?
At night Bushwick runs on warehouse parties, live music, immersive clubs like House of Yes, comedy shows, and a deep bench of bars and backyards. Most of it clusters near the L train, so you can hop between a few spots in one evening without a long walk.
How do I get to Bushwick?
Take the L train to Jefferson St, Morgan Ave, or DeKalb Ave for the heart of the scene, or the M and J trains to the Myrtle side. The Myrtle-Wyckoff hub connects the L and M lines and is an easy transfer point from other parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
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