Recession Education: Attend “Class” in a Brooklyn Bar

What: Alert Education’s useless lecture series presents “Year in Review”

Where: Union Hall, Park Slope

When: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 8 pm (doors at 7:30)

Why: It’s the beginning of January, so New Year’s resolutions are still in full swing. Brooklyn-based monthly multimedia lecture producer Adult Education looks back at 2008 and hits two of the most common resolutions: You’ll “have more fun” while “learning something new.” Bet you didn’t know “Reboot” will be the buzzword of ’09 or that pizza made technological advances in ’08. (Not that we did.)

Granted, at the uber-cool Union Hall, with its killer all-American-with-a-twist menu and great beers and wine, you’re likely to break that whole, “drink/eat less” mantra. But hey, who really intends to keep those? Plus, with two bocce courts (exercise more, check), a cozy library lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and an antique globe, you’re bound to leave a little more enlightened, even if Joe Garden’s look at the year in vampires isn’t what you’d call highbrow. And, holy smokes, entrance is only $5 so you’re ahead of the game on that “spend less” promise. 2009 is looking good.

Cost: $5 cover

How to get there: The R Train stops Union St., then walk east toward 5th Ave, or take the Q, 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Atlantic Ave and walk south on 5th Ave for 10 blocks, then turn left at Union St.; the B71 stops in front of Union Hall and the B63 stops around the corner at 5th Ave and Union St. (Union Hall, 702 Union St. @ 5th Ave, unionhallny.com)

Photos: Courtesy Union Hall