Highlights for the final weekend of 2024 include Sandra Bernhard kicking off the newest edition of her longtime Joe’s Pub residency, Kendrell Bowman’s “Soul Train”-inspired musical revue and Felix Hernandez‘s old-school R&B dance party.
Plus, the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show and Brooklyn Children’s Museum free Kwanzaa celebration.
Music
Sandra Bernhard’s show ‘Shapes and Forms’ runs from December 26-31. (Brian Ziegler; Maro Hagopian)
Sandra Bernhard: Shapes and Forms
Joe’s Pub — 425 Lafayette St., Manhattan (East Village)
Through Dec. 31. 7 p.m, 9:30 p.m.
The bold performer known for her fierce comedy, take-no-prisoners political views, no-holds-barred singing style and acclaimed acting chops (“The King of Comedy,” “Roseanne”) is returning to the Public Theater’s downtown cabaret for the 19th year of her residency.
For this year’s Joe’s Pub show, the “Without You I’m Nothing” star will perform brand new material with the Sandyland Squad Band in a show named for her late mother’s Arizona art studio. Fans can expect music from the songbooks of Lionel Richie, Cat Stevens, Lana Del Rey and Stevie Nicks, to name a few, for the 6-night, 11-show run.
Bernhard will also share anecdotes from recent “exotic adventures around the globe.” On last week’s episode of her “Sandyland” show on SiriusXM, the 69-year-old funnywoman announced that, after the Joe’s Pub performances, she’s taking a “little hiatus in January for some personal things” before joking that she was having her vagina rejuvenated. Catch her while you can.
Tickets start at $95 (with food and drink minimum).
Theater
‘A Soulful Christmas: A Groovy Revue’ plays from Dec. 15 to Dec. 30. (A Soulful Christmas)
“A Soulful Christmas: A Groovy Revue”
The Actor’s Temple — 339 West 47th St., Manhattan (Hell’s Kitchen)
Sun. Dec. 29. 3 p.m., 7 p.m.
Kendrell Bowman, creator of Off-Broadway bio-musicals based on the life of disco trailblazer Sylvester and late R&B chanteuse Phyllis Hyman, is ringing in the new year with the return of his “Soul Train”-inspired revue celebrating disco, R&B, pop and soul.
Transporting audiences to the set of the 1970’s TV taping of a “Groovy Wonderland” dance show hosted by “Ron Cornelius” (played by Denzel Fields), the show — in its seventh year — is packed with singing, dancing, a “Soul Train” line and a raffle for dinner at a Harlem soul food eatery.
This campy, fun and threadbare production features a line-up of lively performances by acts with tongue-in-cheek monikers like Tiana Ross, The Sensations, Claretha Franklin, Marvin Slay and The Harlem 5 singing classics such as “My Favorite Things,” “Silent Night,” “Rock Steady” and “I Want You Back.”
Tickets start at $91.50.
Family
Model trains pass by plant-based replicas of New York landmarks at the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Holiday Train Show. (NYBG)
Holiday Train Show
New York for Botanical Garden — 2900 Southern Blvd., the Bronx (Bedford Park)
Through Jan. 20. Various times.
There’s still time to catch the craftsmanship of artist Laura Busse Dolan of Applied Imagination for this year’s show, featuring 25 intricate model trains of different eras traversing a tiny New York City scene constructed of natural materials.
The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge and Radio City Music Hall are among the more than 200 New York City landmarks that have been miniaturized, lit with twinkling lights and surrounded by lush greenery for the show’s 33rd season. There are also nighttime viewings available for the 21+ crowd.
Tickets are $39 with discounts available.
Comedy
Roy Wood Jr. (Nicol Bisek)
Roy Wood, Jr.
The Second City New York — 64 North 9th St., Brooklyn (Williamsburg)
Sun. Dec. 29. 7 p.m.
Fresh from hosting the Root 100 at The Apollo earlier this month, Roy Wood, Jr. is back to his own roots with a standup show that will put 2024 on full blast.
The “Daily Show” alum will hit the Mainstage with a few fellow comedians to “reflect on the madness of this past year.”
Tickets start at $20.
Film
The futuristic San Francisco of Asif Kapadia’s “2073”. (Neon)
“2073”
IFC Center — 323 Sixth Ave., Manhattan (Greenwich Village)
Opens Dec. 27. Various times.
British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, who scored BAFTA, Grammy and Oscar awards for his 2015 Amy Winehouse documentary, ventured into speculative nonfiction with his latest work self-described as a “warning” about a possible dystopian future five decades away — and everything that led to a global catastrophe.
Inspired by Chris Marker’s 1962 time-traveling short “La Jetée,” the “Mindhunter” director assembled acclaimed English actors Samantha Morton, Hector Hewer and Naomi Ackie for acting performances intercut with “archival” footage of world events from the present day, interviews with real-world figures such as 2021 Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa and former Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States Ben Rhodes.
Tickets are $19.95, with discounts available.
Party
Felix Hernandez. (Courtesy Felix Hernandez)
“Felix Navidad”
Crown Hill Theater — 750 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Sat. Dec. 28. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Marking 38 years since “Rhythm Revue” began broadcasting on WBGO (88.3), the popular radio program’s creator, Felix Hernandez, has a reason to celebrate this holiday season. The day before his big anniversary show airs on the Newark-based public radio station, he plans to host one of his legendary dance parties at the multipurpose cultural center that opened in Crown Heights last year.
It’s Hernandez’s second time producing an event at the space and it won’t be his last. “We’re excited about forming a long term relationship with this venue and making it our Brooklyn home since it’s in the heart of Brooklyn, where the majority of my listeners live and work,” the DJ — who ruled the roost at Roseland Ballroom and other notable venues for years — told The Daily News this week.
Tickets start at $32.
Free
The annual Kwanzaa celebration at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. (Winston Williams / Brooklyn Children’s Museum)
Kwanzaa Celebration
Brooklyn Children’s Museum — 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Thurs. Dec. 26 through Mon. Dec. 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With Thursday being the start of Kwanzaa — the seven-day holiday honoring African heritage — the venue is kicking off what it considers the city’s “largest family Kwanzaa celebration” with a five-day festival where everyone is welcomed.
For its 17th year, event organizers partnered with the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, to feature live performances, drumming workshops, and art activities in the museum’s ColorLab.
There will also be daily candle-lighting rituals led by Chinua Baraka Payne, a young actor whose credits include “The Wonder Years,” “Rise” and “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Free.
If you have an upcoming weekend event you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming roundup, please email: [email protected] with the details. Consideration does not guarantee inclusion.