Welcome to Brooklyn Beat — your twice-weekly dose of events, stories, and secrets from across the borough. From block parties to Borough Hall, we bring you the rhythm of Brooklyn life, straight to your inbox.
🎶 Stage & Sound
Your guide to music, theater, and nightlife.
Secret Jazz in a Brownstone Basement: The word-of-mouth series "Jazz Underground" is back this Friday and Saturday in a Crown Heights brownstone. No social media, no flashy ads. Just pure, intimate vibes. Don't be late.
Indie Rock at TV Eye: Catch rising Bushwick band "The Static Disco" headlining at this Ridgewood venue known for its killer sound system. Thursday, 8 PM. $15.
🍴 Bodega Gold
The best cheap eats and quirky finds.
This week’s gold star goes to Sunset Park Deli on 5th Ave for their undisputed champion: the "Cuchifrito Breakfast Sandwich." Fried egg, cheese, and crispy pork chunks on a toasted hero. It’s a masterpiece of greasy, glorious perfection for $7.50. You’re welcome.
📜 Back in the Day
A dive into Brooklyn's weird and wonderful past.
You think Coney Island is weird now? In 1885, it was home to the Elephant Hotel—a seven-story, elephant-shaped building you could actually sleep inside. Designed by architect James V. Lafferty, "The Elephant" was built to attract tourists and potential real estate buyers. Its legs served as stairwells, its eyes as windows, and its howdah (the carriage on its back) as a luxury suite with a panoramic view of the Atlantic.
For a quarter, visitors could tour the bizarre structure, which functioned as a hotel, concert hall, and cigar shop before eventually becoming a brothel. It stood for over 25 years before tragically burning down in 1896. It was the inspiration for Lucy the Elephant in Margate, NJ, but Brooklyn’s pachyderm was the original—a true symbol of the borough’s endless capacity for spectacle.
📍 The Lineup
Your curated event picks for the weekend.
FRIDAY: Bushwick Film Festival Kickoff Party at The Keep. Rub elbows with local filmmakers.
SATURDAY: Prospect Park Fall Harvest Festival. Apple cider, local crafts, and live bluegrass from 12-5 PM.
SUNDAY: Open Streets on Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Heights. Street performers, food vendors, and room to roam.
That’s the Beat. Stay tuned, Brooklyn.