Friday, November 23
PARTY: Father's Day 2 at Steel Drums
Sweat out the tryptophan at this warehouse techno rave hosted by Ladyfag with a back-to-back set by L-Vis 1990 and Jam City (both of the Night Slugs label) as well as Parenthood, the joint project of Michael Magnan and Physical Therapy. Expect lasers and smoke.
Steel Drums, 35 Beadel Street, Brooklyn. 11 p.m. $7
MUSIC: Peelander-Z at the Knitting Factory
This summer, Peelander-Z described their style to us as "Ramones and Devo meets the Power Rangers playing pretty music on the stage -- plus human bowling." Tonight they perform with Japanese compatriots Electric Eel Shock and local synth-rockers Infinity Shred.
Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, (347) 529-6696. 8:30 p.m. $12.
FILM: Black Christmas at Nitehawk Cinema
For those who miss Halloween, are over the warm fuzziness of Thanksgiving, but are having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, Nitehawk Cinema will be hosting a 35mm Black Friday screening of arguably the original holiday-themed horror film, Bob Clark's cult classic Black Christmas. The landmark slasher, featuring a crazed killer who terrorizes a sorority house over Christmas break, debuted four years before John Carpenter made his mark on the same territory with Halloween. It features early performances by the likes of Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and Andrea Martin. You won't listen to "Carol of the Bells" the same way again, ever.
Nitehawk Cinema, 136 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn. (718) 384-3980. Friday and Saturday at 12:15 a.m. $11.
Saturday, November 24
SHOPPING: Gifted at Skylight One Hanson
The Brooklyn Flea's holiday market returns with new vendors including Blue Hill Market and Big Sur Bakery (serving German-style stollen fruitcake), as well as Brooklyn's first dessert-cocktail bar.
One Hanson Place, Brooklyn. Every Saturday and Sunday through Christmas, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
MUSIC: Personality Crisis at Shea Stadium
Local punks SHAPES have been hosting this monthly all-ages blowout for the past four years. For their last show before an indefinite hiatus, they're joined by Life Size Maps, Slonk Donkerson and Butter the Children.
Shea Stadium, 20 Meadow Street, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. $8.
FILM: George Méliès at Anthology Film Archives
See the classic "Voyage to the Moon" and four other silent shorts from the inventor of special FX.
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue, (212) 505-5181. 5 p.m. $8
Sunday, November 25
FILM: The Central Park Five at the Maysles Cinema
The latest documentary from Ken Burns (in collaboration with his daughter Sarah and with David McMahon) takes up one of New York City's most famous trials, which brought five wrongful rape convictions. The convictions were vacated in 2002, but the fight for redress drags on: city lawyers have just subpoenaed the film's outtakes. Tonight's screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Sarah Burns, David McMahon, and four members of the Central Park Five: Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, and Korey Wise.
Oberia D. Dempsey Auditorium, 127 West 127th Street. 4 p.m. $10 (suggested).
COMEDY: Pretty Good Friends at the Bell House
The supreme comedy show Pretty Good Friends will be relocating from its usual spot at Union Hall for a special collaboration with the Bell House to benefit the Brooklyn Recovery Fund. Regular Eugene Mirman will be hosting, with a line-up of top-notch funnymen including Sleepwalk With Me's Mike Birbiglia, Parks and Rec's Jon Glaser, The Daily Show's Wyatt Cenac and up-and-comer Michael Che.
The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn. (718) 643-6510. 8 p.m. $30
MUSIC: The Festival of the Unknown at Public Assembly
Secaucus-based metal promoters Signature Riff are hosting this event with a surprise line-up. Our money's on the Beatles.
Public Assembly, 70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, (718) 384-4586. 7 p.m. $15