Events In Queens - September 2008

Member Events / August Events / October Events - TBD

Art

PS1 Exhibits in Long Island City Queens

Through Mid September – PS1 is running four exhibitions which run through mid September. They are: 1) Arctic Hysteria: New Art From Finland, 2) Olafur Eliasson, 3) That Was Then … This Is Now and 4) an PF1 [Public Farm One]. PS1 is an extension of MOMA and any one of these exhibits are definitely worth the visit. PS1 is located at 22-25 Jackson Avenue [@ 46th Avenue] and their website is www.ps1.org. 718.784.2084. There’s an admission fee. Their hours are 12 – 6 pm, but they are closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Use the search engine to find our coverage of these exhibitions.

Crane Street Studios / 5 Pointz in Long Island City LIC Queens

Saturdays and Sunday in September – Painting season is here! From 12 noon – 7 pm. 5 Pointz is located on Jackson Avenue and Davis Streets [23rd Street] in LIC. Their website is www.5ptz.com. Contact meresone@aol.com for permission and / or contributions.

Queens Museum Of Art In Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Starting September 28th - Reason's Clue. Reason's Clue is an exhibit by four Taiwanese and four main land Chinese artists. The theme relates to the teachings of Lao Tzu who was the leading figure in Taoist thought. The core teaching of Taoist thought is yin and yang which is the duality of opposites. The work of each contemporary artist explores what it means to be here now, and they relate now to the past and to the future. They also relate being here in the United States, to having grown up in China or Taiwan. A story on this interesting artistic exploration of how modern day and ancient Chinese culture relates to western culture and the US today, will follow on Sunday, September 28th, opening day. For further info visit the Queens Museum Of Art website.

Comedy

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden In Astoria

Tuesdays – Comedy Land which is a series of stand up comedy acts at 9 pm. Free. This event is held downstairs next to the dining room every Tuesday at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden which is located at 29-19 24th Avenue [at 33rd Street] and being co-sponsored by Pilsner Urquell and the Czech Center of NY. The Beer Garden website is www.bohemianhall.com.

Dining

Jackson Heights Food and Film Festival

September 13 / Saturday. Jackson Heights Food and Film Festival. Food by some of the finest restaurants in the neighborhood will be served between noon - 4 pm in the Garden School Courtyard at 33-16 79th Street [between 34th Avenue and Northern Blvd] in Jackson Heights. The ethnicities include Indian, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Cuban, Greek, Italian and from many countries throughout Latin America. This one comes highly recommended by the Buzz. For more info and ticket information see the Jackson Heights Food and Film Festival website. There's also a street fair in Jackson Heights on the same day [see below].

Restaurant Week In Queens

September 15 - 18 and September 22 - 25 [Monday - Thursday both weeks]. This is could become a Dougie Heffernan favorite. As the saying goes, "Eat Like A King In Queens". Here's the deal - three courses on special menus for $25 at lunch and $35 at dinner at participating restaurants.

Film / Movies

LaGuardia Performing Arts Center In Long Island City

Friday, September 12 - Operation Filmmaker is being hosted by Nina Davenport who will host this segment of the World Cinema Showcase series. This series is presented by The Museum Of The Moving Image of Astoria Queens at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at 31-10 Thompson Avenue in the M Building in LIC.

Jackson Heights Film and Food Festival

September 18 - 21 / Thursday - Sunday. This four day affair has been growing in popularity as it is an interesting and cosmopolitan affair. The movies are from all over the world, including here in the U.S. All screenings are held at the Eagle Theater at 73-07 37th Road [between Broadway and Roosevelt] in Jackson Heights. You may obtain more info and tickets online via the Jackson Heights Food and Film Festival website.

Music

PS1 Warm Up Party - End Of Summer Finale

September 6 / Saturday. PS1 Warm Up from 3 pm – 9 pm. In conjunction with their new exhibit from Finland titled ‘Artic Hysteria: New Art From Finland, a number of Finnish groups are performing including Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu,
Op:L Bastards,
DJ Poodlecannon,
Michael Evans' Swirling Lotus Blossom Bandits Band. PS1 is located at 22-25 Jackson Avenue [@ 46th Avenue] and their website is www.ps1.org. 718.784.2084. The cost is the price of admission which is $10.

Kingland Homestead - Queens Historical Society

September 14 / Sunday. The Astoria Jazz Band plays from 2.30 - 4.30 pm in Weeping Beech Park [on the homestead grounds]. This event features Carol Sudhalter who is an internationally renowned Saxaphonist / Flutist / Baritone and Elena Camerin who is a jazz singer with the Venice Gospel Ensemble. The event is free with Kingsland Homestead admission. The Homestead is located at 143-35 37th Avenue in Flushing. Tel 718.939.0647. Free parking at Temple Gates of Prayer at 38-20 Parsons Blvd and the rain location is the Benenson Pavilion at 36-17 Parsons Blvd. Click Queens Historical Society to see their website.

Socrates Sculpture Park

September 23 / Tuesday. Sharon Jones and The DAP-Kings live in concert. This concert is included along with a sunset cocktail buffet dinner which begins at 6.30 - 8.30 pm, during which Alan Hampton will be playing. And the Sharon Jones concert follows from 8.30 - 10 pm. This benefit event is being held at the Socrates Sculpture Park is located at Broadway and Vernon Blvd in LIC. Ticket options run anywhere from $150 to $10,000 [remember it's a benefit]. Their website is socratessculpturepark.

Libraries & Museums

Queens Museum

All September. A Watershed Moment: Celebrating The Homecoming Of The New York City Water Supply Model. In 1937 in preparation for the 1939 World's Fair which was held in Flushing Queens, forerunner to the DEP [Department of Environmental Protection] built a relief map measuring almost 700 square feet and weighing over 10,000 lbs which traced the city's water supply system from the upstream tributaries of the Delaware River to sea level at the Nassau County line. Due to space limitations the model was never exhibited in its entirety until this year. The Queens Museum is located in Flushing Corona Meadows Park. For more info see the Queens Museum website. It's worth noting that the museum is also the location for the Panorama Of The City Of New York. This was commissioned by Robert Moses for the 1964 World's Fair and is the largest architectural scale model in the world at 9,335 square feet including 895,000 buildings and covering the 325 square miles of the city.

History Related Events

September 8 / Monday. The Enchanted Cottage: Photo Exhibit of Marion Duckworth Smith. This exhibit starts at 6 pm. The Astoria Historical Society is located in the Quinn Building 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor in Long Island City. Tel 718.278.0700. For more info see the Greater Astoria Historical Society.

September 13 / Saturday. Grand tour of the historic Lent-Riker-Smith homestead. This is the last privately owned Dutch colonial farm house in Queens. This tour is hosted by Marion Smith the owner and it begins at 3 pm and lasts two hours. The tour meets at the Riker Homestead at 78-03 19th Road [at 78th Street] in Jackson Heights. The tour fee is $15 in advance and $20 on the premises. For more information see the Queens Historical Society.

Queens Library Gallery

Through September 14th / Sunday. Voices In Cloth: Story Quilts is an exhibition at the Queens Library Gallery at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica. To find details visit their website is www.queenslibrary.org/gallery.

Outdoor Markets

Farmers Markets / Greenmarkets In Queens

These outdoor markets are sponsored by the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation and the Council on the Environment of NYC. They open through November [Atlas Park through December] and their website is www.cenyc.org.

Astoria

WEDNESDAYS on 14th Street just south of 31st Avenue between 8 am – 5 pm.

Jackson Heights

SUNDAYS on 34th Avenue just east of 77th Street between 8 am – 3 pm.

Long Island City

48th Avenue just south of Vernon Blvd on Saturday between 8 am and 3 pm.

Sunnyside

Skillman Avenue just west of 43rd Street on Saturday between 8 am – 4 pm.

Atlas Park

Cooper Avenue and 80th Street on Saturday between 8 am – 4 pm.

Sporting Activities And Events

U.S. Open

August 25 – September 7 – U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Times vary. Check your tickets. The U.S. Open website is www.usopen.org. he U.S. This NYC website will provide directions on how to find the stadium http://www.nyc.gov/html/sports/html/usta-access.html.

Bicycling Event

There's a bicycling event this Saturday, September 6th. More info to follow.

Breeders Cup Challenge Horse Race

September 27 at Belmont Race Track. The Breeders Cup Challenge is held at many of the premier race tracks, the winners of which compete in the $25 million Breeders Cup in October in California. The park opens its gates at 10.45 am and the stadium opens at 11 am. Proper attire is required. The race track is located off the Cross Island Parkway at the Hempstead Turnpike. It can be reached via public transit by taking the E or F and then taking the #2 or #110 buses. The NYRA may be reached by telephone at 516.488.6000 or you can click to the Belmont Races website for further info.

Last Mets Games At Shea Stadium

Saturday and Sunday September 27 and 28 are the last games at Shea Stadium. The Mets play the Marlins in an effort to secure the wildcard berth for the Playoffs. For tickets and location info click to the Mets website.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Every Sunday weather permitting from the Socrates Park shores [Hallets Cove] from 1 pm - 5 pm. Socrates Sculpture Park is located at Broadway and Vernon Blvd in LIC. Their website is socratessculpturepark. For more info see the LIC Boathouse website.

NY Parks Indoor Swimming - TBD

Indoor Swimming - Indoor pools in Queens are sponsored by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Entrance is free?, but they have rules, the most notable of which is to bring a padlock for a locker as they have guidelines on what you can bring into the pool area. Their website is www.nycgovparks.org.

The Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a new Olympic sized pool and is located at xyz plus telephone number.
More pool info to follow.

Street Fairs and Festivals

Astoria

September 1 / Monday. 30th Avenue Business Association hosts a street fair. The fair will run along 30th Avenue between 29th and 41st Streets from 11 am - 6 pm. For more information see Central Astoria LDC or call them at 718.728.7820.

September 6 / Saturday. Dutch Kills Civic Association hosts a street fair. 36th Avenue between 29th and 35th Streets from 11 am - 6 pm. For more information see Central Astoria LDC or call them at 718.728.7820.

September 28 / Sunday. Broadway - Astoria Mechants and Professionals host a street fair. The fair will run along Broadway from Crescent to Steinway from 11 am - 6 pm. For more information see Central Astoria LDC or call them at 718.728.7820.

OCTOBERFEST at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden. September 27 and 28 / Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 10 pm. Live entertainment and Czech specialties. Admission $10. The Beer Hall is located at 29-19 24th Street in Astoria. For further info go to the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden.

Jackson Heights

September 13 / Saturday. Kiwanis Club Street Fair runs along 37th Avenue from 83rd to 90th Streets in Jackson Heights from 11 am - 6 pm. Sorry, we have little additional information on the sponsor, but I hear through the grapevine that it's a pretty good street fair and you could also catch the Jackson Heights Food Festival [see above]

Woodside

September 20 / Saturday. Woodside Festival on Woodside Avenue between 63rd Street and Roosevelt Avenue from 11 am - 6 pm. Sorry, there appears to be very little information available about this street fair. We'll update this space here as information becomes available.

Theater

Our next update will include Queens Theatre In The Park and Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning programs.