Madagascar Institute

The Madagascar Institute has struck quite a balance of danger, art and partying, kind of a tri-fecta in Brooklyn.

Since a little before 2000, the Institute has been throwing parties to help fund their art collective, often focused on large-scale installations and mechanical devices. The rogue operation has had parties shut down by the police, created a jet-powered merry-go-round and accidentally exploded a confetti-gun into their director's face. (The accident was quite serious.) Yet everything they do is tinged with a sense of wonderment and creation, and a backdrop of partying that makes them such a joyous and unique Brooklyn establishment.

They regularly hold events as well as classes for those hoping to hone their own skills as an mad scientist-artist-pirate.