Persona Performa - Ming Wong At MOMI

Museum of the Moving Image Steps Out In Astoria

January 21, 2012 / Astoria / Film in Queens / Queens Buzz. People were lined up outside of the Museum of the Moving Image [MOMI] on both Thursday and Friday nights. They were waiting to see Ming Wong’s performance art production entitled Persona Performa. The production title tidily summed up its essence – an art performance based on an Ingmar Bergman film entitled Persona, which was being performed for Performa 11, the fourth biennial visual arts festival in NYC.

Artistic director, Ming Wong, developed the piece during his residency at MOMI in 2011. He told us that the inspiration for the production came from the minimalist architecture of the museum and an Ingmar Bergman film, Persona, which is generally believed to be one of the ten best works of cinematic art.

Click here to read our report of Ming Wong Persona Performa at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.

Queens Greeks Give Thanks By Sharing

Greek Homeowners Association Feeds Thousands

November 24, 2011 / Queens Buzz. On Thanksgiving Day I was the witness to an event I had wanted to attend for years - the Greek Homeowners Thanksgiving Lunch. Every year, since 1989, the Greek Homeowners Association has been feeding hundreds and then growing to thousands on Thanksgiving Day. I had heard about this event numerous times, and I had been wanting to attend for years.

The Greek Homeowners Association is located along 31st Street just north of 30th Avenue in Astoria. Their quarters are in a modest two story building, which one could normally walk by without noticing, but not on Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving Day, outside the Association, there were people milling about, as well as many coming and going ...

You can see a some of the action in the photo above left. Click here to view our report including a photo slide show of the Greek Homeowners Association Thanksgiving Day lunch in Astoria Queens.

Tony Vaccaro WTC Photos In Astoria

September 30, 2011 / Astoria Neighborhood / Art Galleries In Queens / Queens Buzz. Tony Vaccaro, Life Magazine photographer, has a photography exhibit covering the birth, the life and the death of the twin towers of the World Trade Center on display at the Buzzeo Building in Astoria. I went to the opening and this is what I heard.

Tony got his start photographing the action of World War II as a young lad. His photos landed him a job at Life Magazine, providing him with opportunities to photograph famous people and places out of reach to most photographers. Tony photographed famous artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollack, as well as famous architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright and La Corbusier. His interest and work photographing people, art and architecture lead him more deeply into that world.

Click here to read the rest of our story about the exhibit and story as told by Tony Vaccaro through his photos of the twin towers of the World Trade Center covering the period from 1957 - 2001.

Columbus Day Parade - FIAO

The Federation Of Italian Americans In Queens

October 11, 2011 / Astoria Neighborhood / Ethnic & Religious Culture / Queens Buzz. I attended the Columbus Day Parade in Astoria on Saturday. The parade is organized by the Federation of Italian Americans or FIAO in Queens, an organization that celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

There were about 1,500 people who marched in the parade which is one of the biggest parades in Queens. As I covered the parade, many of the folks watched the pageantry from along Steinway Street and from cafés along 30th Avenue. It was a sunny, spectacular Indian summer day, with temperatures in the low 80’s and little humidity.

Click here to read our account of the Columbus Day Parade in Astoria Queens, including a photographic slide show and an account of two Italians [Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci] contributions to the discovery of the Americas.

Rock Concert Dampened By Weather

… but the music played on …

August 21, 2011 / Astoria / Live Music / Queens Buzz. The Astoria Music Now venue had to be changed early Sunday morning due to weather forecast predicting severe thundershowers similar to what we saw a week ago. To make matters worse, it didn’t rain Sunday until after 4 pm, and even then it was only a quick light shower … but for those who followed the Astoria Music Now musicians into the Astoria performance venues around the neighborhood ... the music played on.

Given that the venues were dispersed around Astoria, we saw far fewer performances than in prior years, so we’ll link back to prior reports to give you a flavor of the concert musicians because there were a number of returning bands this year.

We started at the Quays where we saw two new comers to the festival: The Sorely Missed and Jon Christopher who performed with two new accompanists - Jason playing bass guitar and Ben Nathan percussionist [see photo above]. Click here to read more about the Astoria Music Now - rock concert in Queens.

Astoria Park Fireworks - Photos

4th Of July Fireworks In Queens NY

June 30, 2011 / Astoria Neighborhood / Parks & Sports / Queens Buzz. I just returned from the Astoria Park Fireworks display - easily one of the best fireworks displays you'll find in the country. The Astoria Park fireworks are done by the world famous Grucci Fireworks company, which is a family run business that has been in the fireworks business for over a century. While the highlight of the evening was the fireworks, it's worth mentioning that thousands sat comfortably on the Great Lawn of Astoria Park and were treated to an array of beautiful music performed by the Astoria Symphony.

Click here to read our report and view dozens of photos of the Astoria Park Fireworks 2011.

Astoria’s Greek Radio Station

Astoria Radio Station Adding AM Band In Queens

January 4, 2011 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I just returned from a visit to a local, primarily Greek speaking, radio station in Astoria. The station is called Nexus Productions Radio, which is broadcast over the internet, as well as through the airwaves on the AM band.

I had been invited to participate as a guest on one of the station’s English-speaking programs entitled Innovative Business Discussions. The weekly show has been on the air for just over a month, and it’s dedicated to talking about issues associated with running a small business in Queens.

Click here to read the rest of this report, including numerous photos of the Greek speaking radio station in Astoria.

Astoria Leaf Fest 2010

December 4, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. Leaf Fest 2010 is the annual harvest of fallen tree leaves in Queens parks along the western shorefront. Thanks to environmental activist and Leaf Fest correspondent, Jules Corkery, we have a full report about the Leaf Fest 2010 effort in Astoria Park, along with a couple of photos she provided.

Click here to read the report and view the second photo about the Leaf Fest 2010 in Astoria Park.

NYC Musical Saw Festival

8th Annual Festival Held At The Hellenic Cultural Center In Astoria

August 7, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. The 8th annual Musical Saw Festival was held at the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria. This fine art dates back to 17th century when woodcutting musicians around the world simultaneously began developing the saw as a musical instrument. In time a number of companies started manufacturing saws to cater to this part of the market.

The art form emerged in places as far away as Sweden, France and Japan; but we understand that America has emerged as the center of the art form. The Musical Saw Festival held in Astoria is the world's largest and the following report captures some of its flavor.

Click here to view a short report on the NYC Musical Saw Festival in Astoria. The photo to the left was taken by Pat Merino.

Cool Breeze & Music Attracts Thousands

Bands Beat The Heat @ Astoria Music Now

July 24, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. Dire predictions of hot & humid were about the only ones who didn't show on Saturday at the Astoria Music Now rock festival in Astoria Park. A cool dry breeze wafted in off the river making it feel more like the low 80's and dry. You can see this for yourself in the photos we took that show few people, if anyone, actually sweating it out.

Twenty-nine bands, mostly local, came out to play and thousands came out to watch and listen. Click here to view a slide show and report with photos of Astoria Music Now 2010.