THURSDAY: Beer n’ Chips
The Atlantic Ave. branch of the British eatery Chip Shop is devoting five of its many taps to Kelso of Brooklyn’s beers (including one of our favorites, the brewery’s Chocolate Lager). Kelly Taylor, Kelso’s founder and brewmaster, will be on hand, knocking back a few while answering your brew-related questions. The beer starts flowing at 6pm.

New York, Je T’Aime
“I love New York” is only a cliche because, well, we all do. Why else would we put up with all the indignities of city life? Share your personal reasons for staying in the city and your favorite “only in New York” stories Thursday at WORD. Anyone who’s willing to share their experiences, or who’s just interested in listening, is welcome to show up at the Greenpoint bookstore; props and other such visual aids are encouraged.

Life Story
In 2009, actor and gay rights activist Bette Bourne and playwright and journalist Mark Ravenhill reenacted, onstage at the Edinburgh Fringe arts festival, private conversations they had previously had about Bourne’s life. The play touches on Bourne’s transformative period during the 1970s with the Gay Liberation Front, when he became a drag artist and changed his name from Peter to Bette, and his creation of the OBIE Award-winning Bloolips cabaret troupe and his solo stage performances that later followed. They titled the performance A Life in Three Acts, and it won the festival’s prestigious Fringe First Award. Bourne and Ravenhill are now staging their play at St. Ann’s Warehouse, where it will run through March 28. Get tickets.

FRIDAY: Deep-Fried Desserts
Our friends at FIPS have put together an end-of-the-week dessert extravaganza at Union Hall: They’re taking already delicious cupcakes from Robicelli’s and going one better by deep-frying them, as part of what they’re calling Cupcakegate 2K10: The Resolution (find out why). Fried sweets not your thing? Robicelli’s will have regular (yet still delicious) cupcakes on hand as well. The cupcakes start frying at 5pm.

Superfine Hoedown
Country, bluegrass, and old-timey fiddle music take over Superfine for the weekend, as the DUMBO restaurant plays host to the Sixth Annual Brooklyn Winter Hoedown. Twelve artists and bands will perform over the three days; highlights include Greg Garing, a bluegrass artist who learned from genre legend Bill Monroe, and Alex Battles, a mainstay of the Brooklyn country music scene.

Disco Ball Dance Moves
Brooklynites Heloise and the Savoir Faire always put on a good show; their disco-inspired post-punk-pop provides an unholy, glittery link between Peaches and Lady GaGa. Tonight, start your weekend off right with their performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and come prepared ready to take inspiration from the spandex-clad backup dancers.

On Site
The live art scene is alive and well in Bushwick, and this weekend’s second annual SITE Fest–a featured Brooklyn event of Armory Arts Week is a celebration of performance in all its forms. Arts in Bushwick and many North Brooklyn cohorts have put together 60 dance, music, performance art, and theater pieces at venues around the neighborhood (Chez Bushwick, 3rd Ward, and Grace Exhibition Space being the main ones). Highlights include a late-night, BYOB, circus-themed party at House of Yes and poetry readings at Cafe Orwell. Most events have a five dollar suggested donation, but day and weekend passes are also available. The fun kicks off on Friday night with a dance party at Beauty Bar, and the arty stuff begins at the hangover-friendly hour of 1pm on Saturday, running through Sunday night. The full schedule is here.

SATURDAY: Crafternoon
If you’re like us and you have bags full of craft supplies bought with good intentions of completed projects and handmade gifts, but nary a finished product, then artist Sabrina Gschwandtner’s, Not Knots, is for you. The free workshop from 2-4pm on Saturday includes consultation on any stalled knitting, crochet, embroidery, and sewing project that needs a little nudge along, with pretzel knots and wine to fuel your creativity. Cabinet, 300 Nevins Street, Gowanus, (718) 222-8434.

SUNDAY: Pancake Breakfast!
Sarah Lohman loves to serve up historically accurate recipes, and this weekend she’s cooking up pancakes. The New York Nineteenth Century Society presents this free event, which features pumpkin cornmeal, apple and sour milk, and clove and rosewater pancakes, at the Old Stone House in Park Slope from 11am-1pm on Sunday.

MONDAY: Pigeon Crusade
It’s the birthday of the Open City Dialogue curator, and to celebrate, he’s giving this week’s lecture. The topic? Lorimer Street between Meserole and Calyer, what he calls a “filthy bird slum.” He’ll delve deep into the rundown alleyway filled with pigeons using a PowerPoint presentation, investigating who’s been feeding the vermin and why such a “bird favela” is allowed to continue. We’re pretty sure his outrage is partially for laughs, but come check it out–and enjoy birthday refreshments to boot. Pete’s Candy Store, 7:30pm.

Party Bus
Sick of winter and looking to mix things up a bit? Get a crew together and head to Bedford and North 7th at 8pm or 10pm to hitch a ride on a party bus to the nautical-themed bar The Rusty Knot in the West Village. Enjoy free beer and dance music during the one hour ride (there’s an additional pick up at 8:30 and 10:30pm at 1st and 1st in the city). It’s like a little field trip, with a bit of the club scene thrown in. Definitely not your typical night out in Brooklyn.

Sent by Chrysanthe, Casey, and Nina. Photos courtesy of Cupcakes take the Cake and Romana Klee.