Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Summer Fun in Queens
The weather is getting warmer and the tank-tops go by. Here are a few ways to get out and entertain yourself…
Thalia Theatre Outdoor Festival- photo credit Thalia Theatre
Thalia Spanish Theatre– Sunday June 20th join the festival of music and dance at Thalia Spanish Theatre in Sunnyside at Thomson Hill Park. It’s free from 1pm to 2pm.
Make Music New York– Monday June 21st Astoria Music and Arts has done it again. Bringing to you live performances throughout the season for all to enjoy. The show at Athens Park and Athens Triangle (30th Ave & 29th St) will feature about 14 local bands. Kick-off your after-work Monday blues with some free rock’n’roll!
Live at the Gantries– Tuesday June 22nd 7pm sit at the Long Island City waterfront to enjoy an evening of relaxing music and community fun. The Opera Collective will perform music with accessibility in mind, promoting high art and culture for free.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Annual LIC Bike Parade 2010
LIC Bike Parade- photo credit http://www.socratessculpturepark.org
They cycle in droves down Vernon Boulevard; the young, the old, and the beautiful. Get out your wheels to join the fun Saturday for the fourth annual LIC Bike Parade presented by Socrates Sculpture Park. Below is the event’s schedule and a photo I nabbed from the website.
For more information visit www.socratessculpturepark.org
Third Annual LIC BIKE PARADE!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Free / Weather Permitting
10am-1pm: Learn to ride with Bike New York at Hallets Cove Playground on Vernon Boulevard and 30th Avenue
Noon: Registration begins at Socrates Sculpture Park
Noon-3pm: Bike Decorating Workshops
3pm: Parade from Socrates Sculpture Park to Queensbridge Park
3-6pm: Waterfront Celebration at Queensbridge Park
New! Bike Rental in Astoria Ride and Roll
Want to cycle in the hood but don’t have the wheels? I just got wind of a new bike rental place opening up, Ride and Roll Astoria, on Ditmars Boulevard and 35th St. Being an avid cycler, I was rolling with excitement when I received the message. Although I haven’t tried them yet because I have my own bike, I am eager to hear what you think!
Check out the website for more information http://www.rideandrollastoria.com/index.html
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Taste of LIC Benefit for the Chocolate Theater
Eat, drink and be merry all in the name of the Chocolate Theater in Long Island City.
Here is what the press release states about the event:
The Chocolate Factory (www.chocolatefactorytheater.org) is thrilled to present the 5th Annual Taste of LIC, a celebration of Long Island City’s cultural and culinary communities, to benefit The Chocolate Factory’s 2010-11 season of dance, theater, music and multimedia performances. Tickets, which range from $45-$500, may be purchased in advance via theatermania at (212) 352-3101 or on the web @ www.chocolatefactorytheater.org.
Featuring incredible food and beverage tastings by nearly 50 local restaurants; auction and raffle prizes courtesy of 100 LIC businesses; surprise performances organized by dance artist Walter Dundervill; and toasts by New York City Councilmember James Van Bramer and New York State Assembly Member Catherine T. Nolan; the Taste of LIC is the largest event of its kind in Western Queens, highlighting LIC’s constantly evolving culinary landscape, while supporting The Chocolate Factory’s groundbreaking performing arts programming.
Makers Market: Art in the Park Benefit Celebration June 4-6
The Socrates Sculpture Park kicks off the summer with the Makers Market, a fundraising event with local artists’ works that you can purchase. Be one of the first to attend this special event and have your pick at the selected displayed works. The preview event starts Friday June 4th at 5pm for a ticket donation of $50 and goes through Saturday and Sunday for free admission.
Their website describes the event- Collectors and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet approximately 40 American makers and shop a broad selection of skillfully crafted one of kind objects, including: ceramics, turned wood bowls, glassware, motorcycles, knives, tableware, jewelry, furniture, lighting, and more.
a sneak preview of the grass roots project
12 Hours of Nonstop Music From Astoria Music and Arts
I am always looking for people, places and things that make an impact on our borough. Astoria Music and Arts has done just that. For three years they have been creating a viable music scene right here in our neighborhood. From hosting free concerts in the park to promoting the newest local bands. Saturday May 22nd AMA presents AMandA in the Garden at the Bohemian Beer Hall, a benefit for the Astoria Music Now! – the annual free music and arts festival scheduled to be held this year on Saturday, July 24th in Astoria Park. Astoria’s favorite singer/song writer, Jamie Stellini, will host the day’s events. So grab some german sausage and a beer and take a seat to watch this great event!
From the press release:
Performances include bands from Astoria: The Missing Teens, Thunderbang!, Little Creatures, Bliminal, The Jamies, Digamy, Freedomhead, Illimanjaro, Mainline Gypsy, RatTrap Bumpkin and Bad Buka with DJ Sambarella on the decks and MC Stellini hosting the event.
12 hours of music, 11 bands all for only 10 dollars.
To learn more about Astoria Music and Arts and for artist links please visit:
http://www.astoriamusicandarts.org
Indonesian Food Bazaar in Astoria
Tipped off by the fabulous Eating in Translation blog post on food related events, my dining companion and I decided to try the once a month Indonesian Food Bazaar. We hopped on our bikes and pedaled as fast as we could, arriving just in time to catch the last half hour of this delicious event. Situated in the parking lot of the Masjid Al-Hikmah mosque, this party takes place every second Sunday during the spring and summer months. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy, all you need is a big empty stomach. For lack of choice in Indonesian restaurants, this is a place in which people can go to enjoy the food of their native land while socializing with others. Everyone was extremely friendly and willing to share their culture, friendship and food with us. Striking up conversations with the locals was easy. Here are some of our photos of the bazaar. I hope to return next month. Some things we ate- soy dumplings with peanut sauce, pork and chicken kebabs, a hot ginger/coffee type drink, colorful fruity concoctions with tapioca, rice and beef wrapped in banana leaves and indonesian empanadas.
Indonesian Food Bazaar Masjid Al-Hikmah, 48-01 31st Ave., Astoria, Queens
enjoying sweets
dumplings, banana leaf and green tapioca drink
kebabs and more
Local718 Update-May Blossoms Puppetry, Crafts, Fashion and Music in Queens
After a harrowing trip to India, inspired partly by Jackson Heights (one of my favorite places in Queens) I have returned to the comfort of my lovely borough. I normally do not write posts about my personal affairs, but my lack of keeping up with the blog in a timely manner warrants an excuse. A good excuse. I won’t go into detail about the challenges we faced when traveling through this magnificent country, but I will tell you that it is a place of extreme beauty and extreme ugliness all at once. Wealth and opulence like you have never seen and poverty you would never want to imagine. Here is a photo I took that displays communication without words, some of the locals listening to our guided audio tour of the Amber Palace as they are (presumably) also making fun of us in our tourist clothes (you know, just like we NYers make fun of those crazy midwesterners with their fanny packs and mom jeans).
Thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend in Queens! Here are some great things you won’t want to miss!
Step into Summer in style with he help of Kristees Boutique in Astoria. Join her for the Summer Warm-Up Thursday May 13. There will be music, her new collection, and live sketching of guests by NYC artist Mieko Anekawa.
Waltz Astoria is hosting their second Ultimate Singer Song Writer Competition that starts May 13th. Like an Astorian version of American Idol, the performances will go on throughout the weekend until Sunday, when the audience votes for the winners. Join and play for prizes or just watch and vote.
Local Astoria artist and friend of mine Pam Bertini is using her free time to create some fantastically creative cards and sculptures, and she is telling you all about it in her new Seventh Life blog site. She explains what inspires her and how she makes her beautiful crafts- if you’re into DIY this is a must see! Purchase her one-of-a-kind items on Etsy.
Flushing Town Hall is hosting Puppetry Workshops throughout May and here’s what they say about it: “Puppetry Workshop 2: Tasty Puppets Saturday, May 15, 2010, 2 p.m. Maximum 30 participants.Food is a great way to explore and celebrate the different cultures in our neighborhoods. Don’t be surprised if you end up making a talking hamburger, taco or dumpling in this workshop! Puppetry Workshop 3: The Puppet Next Door Saturday, May 22, 2010, 2 p.m. Cities and neighborhoods need people. In this final workshop, participants can make a local neighbor or hero/heroine. It could be your teacher or coach, a parent or shopkeeper, an artist, friend, or even yourself” For more information on how you can take part www.flushingtownhall.org, or call the Box Office: (718) 463-7700, ext. 222
Queens County Farm hosts Farm Fest May 16 Sunday 11:00 a. m. – 4:00 p.m. “Celebrate the return of spring with a visit to the farm! Sheep shearing demonstrations, cultural exhibits and spring plant sale. Country Western Band, Hayrides, historic house and greenhouse tours, food, pony rides and petting zoo.” ADMISSION: $3.00 per person
Coming up: Saturday May 22 Astoria Music and Arts will host AMandA in the Garden- an all day fundraising event for Astoria Music Now with music, local artists and bloggers, June 3 Blogger BBQ from Queens Council on the Arts, WNYC presents Battle of the Boroughs featuring Queens bands in June and Ornella Trattoria owner will soon host Italian cooking classes in his upstate farm.
Thanks for reading! Want to make a suggestion, contribution or list your event, email me at local718queens@yahoo.com
Yours Truly,
-C.Smith
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