There's nothing like Brooklyn in the Fall.
You can almost feel the energy of the borough change with the season.
And one thing you should note: there is no time to waste in autumn.
New Yorkers usually feel the winter creeping up on them in the first few days of October, so the eagerness is real.
Make sure to run out and enjoy all that Brooklyn has to offer while you can!
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1. Get fit
That super hot bod you acquired this summer? Yeah, let's keep that going.
Running gives you an adrenaline rush like no other. If you're looking to challenge yourself this fall and sign up for a 5k, you should totally register for The Global Run 2017 happening in Prospect Park. You can run/walk individually or on a team. The best part? Donations and ticket profits will go toward high school scholarships for girls in Kenya. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7th!
There are a serious amount of yogis residing in Brooklyn. Join them at their last Saturday public yoga class at Fort Greene Park, October 14th. What sets this one apart from normal yoga classes is the park's art collab. The featured piece is "Circadia" by Blythe Cain, "an interactive luminescent sculpture and seating system made from concrete and glow sand, which acts as a guide to the park entrance".
Running and yoga are cool, but learning how to choke someone out might just be cooler. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is gaining more and more recognition and it's easy to see why. Check it out for yourself in a free trial class at Renzo Gracie Academy. Who knows, you may fall in love with the sport and become a grappler yourself! P.S. This is a great date idea, for obvious reasons...
2. Drink like a fish
Whether they're a hipster, yuppie, or transplant, almost every Brooklynite loves to drink.
And without a doubt, they love their craft beer. On October 14th, Jameson’s Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest– in support of the New York Restoration Project, will bring together 16 craft breweries and celebrate the diversity of local neighborhoods. A ticket purchase gets you a tasting glass to sample all of the beer vendors, try some unique neighborhood bites, a complimentary water taxi to and from Manhattan, and a lot more. Don't miss this one!
One of the biggest drinking nights is coming up, guys. RSVP and don your best costume to get in to the "Monster Ball" for free at Milk River, Saturday, October 28th. DJ Norie from Power 105 will be headlining, as well as a couple other cool artists.
If you winos are looking to pregame for your Halloween outings October 28th, look no further than Brooklyn Wine Fest. Tickets include a 5 oz cup that you can fill with unlimited samples of wine. Yes, unlimited. #Blessed
3. Jam out
Brooklyn is home to a dope music scene that'll never leave you bored.
Summer may be music fest season, but EDM fans rave all year round. Catch the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival at venues all over Brooklyn from October 12-14th. Some of the headliners include Bicep, DJ Marky, and Gorgon City.
If EDM isn't your thing, no worries. For the jazz cats, Fulton Ale House in Bed-Stuy hosts Jazz Jam Sundays every week. Sit and listen or sign up to play!
For the classical buffs, Bargemusic hosts shows every weekend until December. But hold up, this isn't just your average concerto. Situated by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Barge sways with the waves of East River. You might find yourself occasionally knocking out while you gently rock and listen to those beautiful compositions.
4. Eat your heart out
With the summer over and no need to worry about fitting in a bikini, it only makes sense to pig out at all of the food festivals your wallet can afford.
If you've got a pair of balls (literal or metaphorical), you've gotta get down to Brooklyn Botanic Garden for NYC's hottest food fest. We're talking about the 25th Annual Chile Pepper Festival. On Sunday, October 1st, you'll be able to sample some fiery creations and jam out to a bunch of scorching hot bands.
When was the last time you had African food? Nvm, it doesn't matter because you're about to embark on a culinary journey across Africa at the New York African Restaurant Week Festival. Going down Sunday, October 8th in Industry City, you'll be joining 5,000+ foodies as you sample bites from over 25 vendors.
Ever cook a waffle over an open fire? Ever wanted to? Historic Gastronomist Sarah Loman will help you do all of that with a traditional Dutch recipe. The Open Hearth Waffle Making event goes down Saturday, October 21st, but be sure to get there early for the free demonstration and before they run out of FREE WAFFLES.
5. Get cultured
There's no shortage of awesome art exhibitions and galleries in this borough.
Brooklyn Art Cluster's upcoming exhibition will be featured from October 7th to the 29th. Curated by Matthew Garrison, the exhibit is showcasing artists Alex Golden, Lauren Gohara, Ashley Hope, and more. Titled Fact or Fiction, this should be a good one.
Black & White Gallery / Project Space in Bushwick features two alternating exhibitions in one space. In both the indoor and outdoor space, Joanne Carson's "Dreamcatchers" will be featured. The installation is "devoted to the artist’s recent paintings that envision a world of animated and abstracted flower forms". Catch the exhibit through October 15th.
Situated in DUMBO between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge, Minus Space specializes in abstract and reductive art. From November 4th to December 23rd you can stop by to see Roberta Allen's solo exhibit. The highly acclaimed visual artist and writer's exhibit is much anticipated by the art community.
6. Cheer on your home team
September marks the beginning of both basketball and hockey season.
And whether you love em' or hate em', the Brooklyn Nets and the NY Islanders call the Barclays Center home.
Catch the Nets' first home game against the Miami Heat on October 5th. It's gonna be an awesome match up for sure.
We know, we know. A lot of New Yorkers are Rangers fans, but that doesn't mean our Islanders can't get some love. Longtime rivals with the Philadelphia Flyers, this home game is gonna be wild no matter who wins.
7. Go on a few adventures
Brooklyn is a huge playland to take advantage of.
If you've never been to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, you're missing out, fam. For 165 years, the Brooklyn Navy Yard was a leading naval shipyard, but today the Yard is a city-owned industrial park, home to over 330 industrial and creative businesses, creating thousands of jobs for New Yorkers. Needless to say, there's a lot of history to take in here. Schedule a guided tour any Sunday throughout the season and get exploring!
Brooklyn is home to one of the best rock climbing gyms around. Brooklyn Boulders has world-renowned climbers visit regularly and features state of the art free climbing and bouldering walls. Bringing a friend or date here and snagging a day pass is never a bad idea.
If you'd rather your adventures stay on the ground, a bit of record-digging is always fun year round. The Thing, a record store situated in Greenpoint, is considered "vinyl heaven" by many. The spot is completely disorganized in the best of ways. You may or may not find what you're looking for, but the journey will be fun in the end anyway.
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]