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Brooklyn’s winter weather has got me in the mood for picking up new hobbies. What’s better than the satisfaction of mastering new skills while in a cozy cafe, wine bar or workshop?
If you’re looking to pick up something new — like filmmaking, wine tasting, cooking, or crafts — look no further! This week, we’ve got a roundup of workshops and events that promise to break your winter plateau and make the season more stimulating.
—Mandie-Beth Chau
The New Year Ritual That Sets the Tone for Energy and Glow ✨
January calls for rituals that actually make you feel amazing—and Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha is mine. It delivers clean, focused energy with zero jitters, supports glowing skin and gentle detox, and feels deeply grounding. Smooth, ceremonial-grade, and crave-worthy, it’s the easiest way to start your day clear, energized, and glowing from the inside out.
Mulchfest returns this weekend! Recycle your Christmas trees with NYC Parks on Saturday, Jan. 10, and Sunday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at several locations.
“Butch Night Out” at Bushwick’s favorite lesbian bar, The Bush, will raise funds for the Lesbian Herstory Archives on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. The theme is leather and lace.
Liz’s Book Bar in Carroll Gardens hosts Wine 101, a wine tasting workshop for beginners, on Friday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.
The Twisted Spine in Williamsburg hosts a horror writer meetup on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 3:30 p.m. The event is open to horror writers of all types and levels.
The Script Club hosts several events this month for actors and theater enthusiasts, including an original stage play reading on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Doots Cafe in Park Slope.
Sips and Stories hosts its first meeting of the year at Miss Barb’s in Bed-Stuy on Sunday, Jan. 11. Enjoy wine, mingling and a discussion of this month’s book, “Sky Full of Elephants” by Cebo Campbell.
As You Like in Williamsburg hosts an onigiri workshop on Sunday, Jan. 11. Learn to prepare Japanese food while sipping and snacking.
Harajuku Market comes to Industry City’s Japan Village on Saturday, Jan. 31. The event promises vendors, artists and Japanese fashion enthusiasts.
Photo: Ridge Runners
Thousands ‘brrr-ought’ in the new year at the 123rd annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club Plunge on Thursday, Jan.1, despite it being the coldest edition of the event in years.
The tradition challenges brave souls to take a dip into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean off of Coney Island to celebrate the new year and raise money to support local nonprofit organizations.
This year, temperatures were as low as 23 degrees, but it didn’t stop swimmers from having a great time ringing in the new year. Read about the event and see photos of the New Year’s Day tradition.
In conjunction with its “Monet and Venice” exhibition, the Brooklyn Museum will host a poetry workshop on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m. Poet, author and activist Brad Vogel draws a parallel between Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal and Venice’s waterways to prompt a session of original writing on the museum’s fifth floor.
Tickets include admission to “Monet and Venice” and are discounted for members. Find more information here.
Nonprofit arts organization Coney Island USA announced the launch of its first film school, with classes beginning Jan. 25. Enrollment is open now, and students will have the opportunity to be taught by cult movie and music video director Dylan Mars Greenberg. The classes are available for students as young as 12 years old.
“I’m really excited to teach film as an experimental and collaborative medium,” said Greenberg. “It’s something that a lot of people find very elusive, but I began making feature films out of experimenting and playing with friends and I want to show that making your own movie isn’t something reserved for big studios.”
This newsletter is written by Mandie-Beth Chau. Email [email protected] with any questions or comments.