Brooklyn Museum of Art

There’s never a shortage of things to do in the city - unless you’re on a budget. If you do find yourself strapped for cash, looking for some quality entertainment, keep your calendars marked for Target First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum. The first Saturday of each month the museum is open from 11 am to 11 pm, and the best part? It’s free after 5 pm – no one even pushes for donations.

Coming out of the subway exit the grand glass entrance of the museum beckons from just a short dash away. Immediately inside music is the first thing you hear – set up right in the entrance – we were treated with a hip-hop jazz fusion – and the list of free events are posted and on fliers ranging from talks, screenings, tours and performance. This past Saturday featured hands-on art where participants got to create their own “wearable art,” two documentary screenings (one featuring Haitian music in honor of the recent catastrophe), a curator talk, youth activists presenting their own theater, dance and poetry and much more. Many of these scheduled events require tickets, that though free, do run out – so be sure to check what time the tickets become available so you can snag one or a couple.

If you’re running late or you don’t plan on arriving early, no need to worry – there’s no entertainment shortage. Most of the five floors of exhibition rooms are free for perusal. Take your time mingling with the crowd and pick up some snacks or a drink at the cash bars set up especially for the event. Take a trip around Asia on the second floor; up again to immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt and survey some European Paintings. Continue on up for Judy Chicago’s popular The Dinner Party  (triangular table with 39 place settings which represent important women throughout history who are particularly important to her) as well as Decorative artwork and Period rooms that shouldn’t be missed. The final floor, mostly taken up with American Identities, adds the final flourish.

There is something for everyone at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The only danger comes from being overwhelmed by the massive collection (and at times a little too eclectic organization – Period rooms interspersed with Contemporary art and 19th or 20th Century Decorative Arts). Just take it slow and save some for next month. Better yet, dance it off with the final event: a two-hour dance party on the second floor in the Beaux-Arts Court.

For Directions and more information (and to check out next month’s events) go to:

-contributing blogger: Kelsey Shaeffer