Things to Do in Bushwick
Things to Do in Bushwick this week
- TUE SEP 22 · 6:30PM
Chama Mama · $30
Build a dreamy hanging mobile sculpture with all supplies, a glass of wine, and khachapuri thrown in.
- TUE SEP 22 · 8:30PM
Bushwick Comedy Club · $5
NYC's biggest weekly stand-up competition, where the crowd's favorite comic walks off with the cash.
- TUE SEP 22 · 8PM
Pine Box Rock Shop · FREE
A screening of HOLES with drinking games, prizes, and maybe even trivia at Pine Box.
- WED SEP 23 · 5PM
Impact Arcade + Skate for the Planet
Xanadu Roller Arts · FREE
Climate Week kicks off with arcade games, skaterobics, and a skate session where every rental pulls plastic from the ocean.
- WED SEP 23 · 7PM
Hive Mind Books · FREE
A poetry reading and open mic lifting marginalized voices, this month raising funds for the Norwood library.
- THU SEP 24 · 12PM
Bushwick Community Blood Drive
NYPD PSA 3 Muster Room · FREE
Give blood at the PSA 3 muster room; bring photo ID and drink water beforehand.
- THU SEP 24 · 6:30PM
House of Yes · $36
House of Yes's legendary sideshow church returns after two and a half years of poetic clowns, sinful acrobats, and glorious chaos.
- THU SEP 24 · 6PM
Cherry on Top · FREE
Acoustic rooftop sets, craft supplies, and homemade cake send off Warmly Zine's third issue at Cherry on Top.
- SAT SEP 26 · 10AM
242 Cooper St · FREE
Weed, aerate, and compost Bushwick's street trees with Big Reuse; all supplies provided.
- SAT SEP 26 · 11AM
Til Death x Bar Milagro · $15+
Pop-up psychic and tarot readings over coffee at Til Death x Bar Milagro; walk-ins welcome.
- SAT SEP 26 · 1PM
Online · FREE
An online class on making generative poster art in TouchDesigner and prepping it for Riso printing.
- SAT SEP 26 · 4PM
Talon Bar · FREE
A day of cosplay contests, craft vendors, tarot, tattoos, dice games, and live music at Talon Bar.
- SUN SEP 27 · 2PM
Cafe Mia · FREE
A J-fashion walk winding from Cafe Mia through the Bushwick Collective to Maria Hernandez Park, with photos for Tenple magazine.
- SUN SEP 27 · 3PM
The Tiny Cupboard · $10
A community jam and open mic of art and live music; bring an instrument or a backing track.
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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