Say it ain’t so! The Brooklyn Museum decided to end the dance party at “Target First Saturdays” after a year of neighbors complaining of heavy foot traffic and noise.
A staple in New York, First Saturdays attracted upwards of 20,000 people every first Saturday of the month. Now, instead of hearing iconic deejays in Beaux-Arts Court, the space will be turned into a lounge area featuring a range of activities from an interactive mural (more of the same!), a photo booth (I’m sure that will be just as fun. Please note sarcasm) and dance classes.
…The DJs and dancing were the event’s main draw. Others accused the museum of pandering to gentrifiers.
“As debt-fueled gentrification makes further inroads into Brooklyn goes something as fundamental to communities of color as music and dance — the kind that is NOT cultivated in liberal arts schools — the inextinguishable debt for which is now punishing a good proportion of graduates, even more so in the arts,” one commenter wrote.
“Replacing the Beaux-Arts (or the Summer parking lot) dance events with more vicarious entertainment makes as much sense as dismissing this huge draw and revenue stream for the Museum.”
Last year after coming home from a late night at the movies I was totally pissed to see dozens and dozens of people still milling about. It was well after midnight and there were no police to be found. I’ve lived in Prospect Heights for over 15 years. What is so annoying is that I watch the neighborhood change and gentrify I prided myself as being one of those hold outs who refuses to move because it’s clear the neighborhood is changing and not changing for ME.
I don’t get the behavior of young people today. They obviously have nothing better to do than hang out in a residential neighborhood well over an hour or two after a FREE event has ended. What was a lovely idea in the beginning turned into the largest and cheapest pick up spot in NYC. I mean when chicks are showing up in 4-5 inch heels to the museum you know what’s up. It’s a sad commentary that people want to be seen but won’t spend the money to go to a real club to do that.
BMA turned into that outlet and so the parents with their children and married couples like myself and hubby could not stroll the museum with out dodging throughs of club wear crews mill about hoping to be seen. I for one never had to dress it up to get that kind of attention but these new chicks coming up don’t have a sense of self and so this is what happens.
I suspect that at some point something would have happened. A free event should not be a free for all. BMA was left with no choice because at some point they would be held liable for some altercation that spills over from there event. And in this age of “I”m going to sue everybody!” this is a real problem waiting to happen. Sorry to see it go but it was inevitable.
by Sabrina