Jazz: Brooklyn's Beat Returns to Prospect Heights

Ah June. For Prospect Heighters it means strawberries at the farmer’s market, roses at the Botanic Garden and open-air jazz all over the neighborhood.

This last neighborhood perk is courtesy of Jazz: Brooklyn’s Beat, an annual series of concerts that takes place at the , ,, , Prospect Park and the .

The six-concert event was started in 2007 by , a partnership of the six cultural institutions listed above, and the radio station WBGO.

This year’s events began last weekend at the , where .

It continues on Saturday, June 9, with at the Prospect Park Zoo from noon to 2 p.m.

Will Beebe and Stella, the zoo’s veteran fountain swimmers really dance? 

Sort of, said Denise McClean, Prospect Park Zoo’s director. Back in 2007, the pair spent a month studying the classic art of Samba.

“They rock from one flipper to the other, a happy behavior that looks like dancing,” McClean said. “They seem to like it a lot.”

Here’s the rest of the month’s line-up:

Saturday, June 9 – 12:00pm

Free with Admission ($8 adults, $6 seniors 65+, $5 for children ages 3–12)

Saturday, June 16 – 1:30pm

Free with Admission ($7.50)

Wednesday, June 20 – 7:00pm (swing dance lessons at 6:30pm)

Free

Saturday, June 23 – 4:00-7:00pm

Free

Thursday, June 28 – 7:00pm

Free with Admission ($12 adults, $8 students and senior citizens, suggested)