Although the growth of Brooklyn event venues has been more subdued than that of its restaurant scene, the selection continues to evolve in areas like Dumbo, Fort Greene, and Williamsburg. For planners looking to host events in the borough, here's a look at some of the newer locations.
1. Just a stop across the water from Manhattan, Dumbo has come a long way from its manufacturing past, and with the redevelopment of the waterfront—the first section of Brooklyn Bridge Park opened in March—the neighborhood is set to attract even more residents, offices, and cultural organizations. Lured by more square footage and lower rent, Galapagos Art Space moved into the area in 2008 and opened an eco-conscious 250-seat performance venue complete with a 1,600-square-foot pool of water beneath four central seating areas.
2. Nearby, the home of Powerhouse Books allows the indie book publisher to host external events in addition to its own. The site, dubbed Powerhouse Arena, comprises two spaces: a 5,200-square-foot ground-floor gallery and a 560-square-foot mezzanine.
3. Sitting to the east of Dumbo is the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where film production facility Steiner Studios resides along with the Abigail Kirsch-managed Stage 6. With a 10,650-square-foot ballroom, 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace, and 100-seat screening room, the expansive venue was designed as a one-stop shop.
4. Farther inland, in Fort Greene, is Skylight One Hanson. Inside the old Williamsburg Savings Bank and developed solely for events by the owner of Skylight in SoHo, the multilevel site has more than 20,000 square feet of space, soaring 63-foot ceilings, and original marble floors and teller windows.
5. Other planned development for this area centers around the neighboring Brooklyn Academy of Music, which embarked on an ambitious expansion project in January last year. In the works are a 263-seat theater—in a building designed by H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture and named for Richard B. Fisher—a second cinematic complex with three screens and a gallery for exhibitions, and an upgrade to the existing Harvey Theater.
6. Also designed by architect Hugh Hardy is the new home of the Theatre for a New Audience, which is expected to begin construction at the end of this year. The 30,000-square-foot, 299-seat facility is a key component of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s effort to create a new cultural district that also includes the renovation of the Strand Theater and a public plaza for arts programming.
7. For live music, Williamsburg has no shortage of concert halls, the newest of which combines a performance area with bowling lanes and a Blue Ribbon restaurant. The brainchild of Charley Ryan and Peter Shapiro, Brooklyn Bowl holds 600 people and can be used for film screenings, teambuilding events, and large-scale cocktail parties.
8-9. Events and live music are also the realm of the Music Hall of Williamsburg and the latest location of the Knitting Factory. The former, which replaced Northsix, is run by concert promotion company Bowery Presents and is spread across three levels, with room for 550 people in lounges, balconies, and the main floor. The Knitting Factory is divided into two spaces; a bar in the front and performance area with a 400-square-foot stage in the rear.
10. To update its space, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum enlisted Rafael Viñoly, the architect responsible for the design of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Built to encourage activity inside and around the neighborhood, Viñoly’s additions include an 18,000-square-foot rooftop plaza for events and cultural programming.
11. Among the many cultural projects in the works for the borough, the $70 million rehabilitation of Loew’s Kings Theater is one of the biggest. Texas-based ACE Theatrical Group was selected to restore the French Renaissance-style structure, the largest indoor theater in Brooklyn, and operate it as a place for concerts, plays, and events. The opening is projected for 2014.
