Just two weeks ago, the Mark Morris Dance Group continued its 45th anniversary season at BAM, where the group first performed in 1984. The program featured two New York premieres for “Moon” and “Via Dolorosa,” along with the return of “V.”
In a conversation with the Brooklyn Eagle, founder Mark Morris and Board Chair Judith Fishman discussed the influence of dance in Brooklyn and how to sustain an arts institution long-term.
Read on to see more artists shaping the borough through their work, along with Earth Day events and more.
—Mandie-Beth Chau
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Arts and culture news:
Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade nears its fundraising goal, securing the continuation of the beloved summer event.
Two Brooklyn seniors were featured in Apple’s new iPhone campaign, and they spoke to the Brooklyn Eagle about the experience, which includes a billboard in Williamsburg. “Next stop is Hollywood,” one woman joked.
Lindsay Lohan, Kit Harington and Shailene Woodley were spotted filming a Hulu series in Brooklyn Heights this week. See photos of the filming and learn more about the upcoming show.
Artist Paul Pfeiffer, known for his manipulations of mass-media sports imagery, will serve as the first artist-in-residence at the Barclays Center arena starting in May.
Following the closures of several bookstores in Manhattan, the Bureau of General Services — Queer Division nearly met its end. Luckily, Bushwick’s Hive Mind Books stepped in and saved the space.
Williamsburg’s Pies ‘n’ Thighs opened a second Brooklyn outpost last week at 244 Flatbush Ave. in the former Pecking House space.
Events:
Brooklyn Public Library hosts several free Earth Day events throughout the month, including repair workshops, “seed bomb” making, plant swaps and more.
BAM hosts a weeklong film series on movies filmed at Hoyt-Schermerhorn, including “The Warriors” and “Coming to America,” from Thursday, April 9, to Thursday, April 16.
BAM hosts its 2026 BAM Ball on Wednesday, April 29, where it will honor playwright and director Robert Wilson and BAM Endowment Trust Chair Gabriel Pizzi.
The Center for Brooklyn History hosts a three-part lecture series on climate change and denial starting Thursday, April 30.
What is happening with the Interborough Express? The New York City Transit Museum hosts a discussion on Thursday, April 16, with a panel of some of the planners of the much-anticipated transit line.
MoMA PS1 hosts its 50th anniversary block party on Saturday, April 18. The event features notable DJs, artist demonstrations, exhibitions, screenings and workshops.
Registration is open for the 15th annual I Love My Park Day on Saturday, May 2, at state parks, historic sites and public lands across New York.
BAM announced the 49th annual DanceAfrica, the nation’s largest festival of African dance and culture, which takes place May 22 to 28 at the Howard Gilman Opera House.
Flower Bed Stuy takes place on Saturday, May 2, with neighborhood events to rejuvenate public space, including planting and clean-ups.
Photo: Julie Thompson
The Center for Brooklyn History hosted a screening followed by a panel discussion on Liza Donnelly and Kathleen Hughes’ 2025 documentary “Women Laughing.”
The film explores how the New Yorker cartoon section has been shaped by women, and how women in male-dominated fields such as comedy and cartoons have persevered.
The movie is set at the famous Algonquin Hotel with a roundtable of female cartoonists who have worked or currently work with The New Yorker. It was inspired by Donnelly’s book “Very Funny Ladies,” which looks at the history of female cartoonists at the magazine from 1925 to 2022.
A series of street signs featuring handwritten messages and colorful drawings has taken center stage in Columbus Park, next to the Kings County Supreme Court building in Downtown Brooklyn.
The exhibition, “Public Address,” conceived by artist Alex Strada, is part of a citywide public art series featuring handwritten reflections by people impacted by homelessness. The messages were the result of writing workshops Strada held for hundreds of residents and staff at the city’s shelters.
During the run of the exhibition, five installations, one per borough, will rotate through city parks. The Columbus Park exhibition is on display until summer.
Photo: Mary Frost
A sure sign of spring, Brooklyn’s cherry blossom trees bloomed across the borough. To celebrate, several Brooklyn parks and conservancy groups held cherry blossom events.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s full blooms will be celebrated throughout the month alongside its Earth Day programs and the return of Bargemusic. Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts “Hanami Nights” in its Cherry Esplanade nightly from April 21 to April 24.
In Marine Park, nearly 200 attendees celebrated cherry blossom season with the Brooklyn-based Taiko Masala Thunder Drumming troupe, which played selections of traditional Japanese percussion. The Marine Park Alliance also added five new trees to its cherry tree grove.
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This newsletter is written by Mandie-Beth Chau. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments.