Events

Step back in time and explore how Brooklyn Heights transformed from quiet farmland to one of New York’s most desirable and historic neighborhoods. On Brooklyn Heights: From Farms to Brownstones, you’ll uncover the rich history of this storied neighborhood, from its Indigenous roots and Dutch settlement, through the Revolutionary War, and into its golden age as New York’s first suburb.

Walk the picturesque streets where poets, abolitionists, and socialites once lived, and learn how the arrival of ferries, brownstone architecture, and a thriving merchant class shaped the Heights into a hub of culture, commerce, and charm. We’ll also trace the neighborhood’s role in preserving historic architecture and evolving into the modern-day jewel overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Please join the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) and Coney Island USA on Thursday, January 29th at the Freak Bar from 5:00pm-7:00 PM for an Enduring Culture Spotlight event. This event will celebrate the kitschy pop of Coney Island and the care and community organizing necessary to keep it alive. As we gather at the Freak Bar, check out the Tchotchke Wall, and mascot, Sideshow Cat, and reflect on the hordes of iconoclasts that have shared a laugh here. Through a short talk by members of Coney Island USA, the Coney Island Museum, and the NYS Gaming Commission, we will discuss how to build cultural resiliency in a changing city and support the unique small business that keep our communities funky. Refreshments will be provided.

Speakers include Adam Rinn, Artistic Director, Coney Island USA and Marissa Solomon, Community Advisory Committee for The NYS Gaming Commission, & docent for the Coney Island Museum

This event is part of MAS’ Enduring Culture Initiative, a multi-year effort that aims to expand New York City’s approach to preservation; to protect and celebrate more of the places, cultural activities, and histories that make our neighborhoods and communities unique.

Email us at events@mas.org with any questions.