Cosplay is one of the highlights of annual Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
900 Washington Ave. at Eastern Parkway
Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, $15-$20 (children under twelve free)
718-623-7200
www.bbg.org
Last weekend, we were in Washington, DC, where we were delighted to see that the cherry trees were in bloom, filling the streets with their beautiful pink and white blossoms, even though it was still unseasonably cold down there. The weather should be a whole lot milder this weekend for the annual Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with temperatures nearing seventy for the always charming Cherry Blossom Festival. Over the course of two days, there will be workshops, live music and dance, martial arts demonstrations, flower arranging, arts & crafts, food tastings, art exhibits, comedy, book signings, origami lessons, manga drawing, games, museum tours, and more. Below are only some of the highlights of one of the most enjoyable, though usually extremely crowded, festivals of the year; most programs are held both days.
Saturday
Bonsai Basics for Home Gardeners, Steinhardt Conservatory, 10:00 – 5:00
Ikebana Flower Arrangements with students of master Fumiko Allinder, Rotunda, 10:00 – 5:00
Vintage Kimonos: YokoDana Kimono, Magnolia Plaza, 11:00 – 5:00
Wagashi Japanese Sweet Shop: Minamoto Kitchoan, Magnolia Plaza, 11:00 – 5:00
Uncle Yo: Anime Stand-up Comedy, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 12 noon
Manga Drawing and Book Signing with Misako Rocks, Osborne Garden, 12 noon – 4:45
Nihon Buyo classical dance: Dancejapan with Sachiyo Ito, Cherry Esplanade Stage, 1:00
Shogi: Japanese Chess, with New York Shogi Club, Osborne Garden, 1:00– 5:00
All-female marching band: Zakuro Chindon Band featuring vocalist Maiko, Cherry Esplanade Stage, 3:00
Traditional Tea Ceremony: Urasenke Chanoyu Center, Auditorium, 3:00
The BBG Parasol Society Games, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 4:30 (preregistration required 2:00 – 4:00)
Sunday
Hana Kanzashi Hair Ornaments, Magnolia Plaza, 11:00 – 5:00
DJ Saiko Mikan’s Tokyo Teleport Station, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 11:00 – 5:30
Harie Paper Collage Exhibit, with artist Junko Yamada, Members’ Room Annex, 1:00 – 5:00
Meet Puzzle Craftsman Maki Kaji, Osborne Garden, 1:00 – 5:00
Kuni Mikami and East of the Sun: Jazz-inspired renditions of traditional folk songs, Cherry Esplanade Stage, 2:00
Moku Hanga Woodblock Printing Demonstration with April Vollmer, Steinhardt Conservatory, 2:00
Ukiyo-e Illustration with Jed Henry, Osborne Garden, 3:00
Samurai Sword Soul, Cherry Esplanade Stage, 3:45
Magician Rich Kameda, J-Lounge Stage at Osborne Garden, 4:00