KWANZAA CELEBRATION
On Sunday, December 20, at 2 p.m. Bakithi Kumalo: A Kwanzaa Celebration. The Grammy-winning bassist, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, appears at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard. Adults pay $15, members pay $12; children pay $12/$10; call 718-463-7700 Ext. 222 or visit www.FlushingTownHall.org.
WONDERFUL WEEKEND EVENTS
On Saturday December 12 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m. “Rosa Loses her Face” by Kitty Chen is hilarious at The Claire Shulman Playhouse Mainstage, Queens Theatre in the Park. Tickets are $32/$35/$38; seniors pay $2 less; $20 for students; call the box office, 718-760-0064 or visit www.queenstheatre.org.
On Thursday, December 17 and Friday, December 18 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 at 3:30 and 8 p.m., Shakespeare: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” the immortal comedy, will be performed by The Queens Players at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street in Long Island City. Tickets are $15; call 718-392-0722 or visit www.secrettheatre.com or www.thequeensplayers.com.
From Thursday, December 17 through Sunday, December 20 at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Shakespeare: “Titus Andronicus” “a bloody revenge tragedy” and one of his earliest works, will be performed by The Queens Players at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street in Long Island City. Also on Thursday, December 31 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15; call 718-392-0722 or visit www.secrettheatre.com or www.thequeensplayers.com.
On Saturday December 19 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 20 at 3 p.m. “Sweet Karma” by Henry Ong is a powerful and haunting play about life, death and choices, from Communist-ruled Cambodia to the streets of Los Angeles; an Immigrant Theatre Project Production at the Studio Playhouse, Queens Theatre in the Park. Also Wednesday December 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20; $18/seniors, $15/students; call the box office, 718-760-0064 or visit www.queenstheatre.org.
From now through Sunday, January 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Crystal Winter Weekends at the New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 47-01 111th Street in Corona features the Glacier Run Ride; Giant Winter Globe; Puppet Show; Crystal Winter Parade, crafts, fun and more; also daily from December 28 to January 3. General admission; some activities have additional fees; call 718-699-0005 or visit www.nysci.org.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18
At 11 a.m., Hollis Library at 202-05 Hillside Avenue will present Visual Impairment: What You Need to Know – a workshop on the common types and causes of vision loss. For more information, call 718-465-7355.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
At 1 p.m. learn about Wilderness Survival from the Rangers at Forest Park; with winter right around the corner, what better time is there? Call 718-846-2731.
At 1 p.m. Are You Smarter than a Park Ranger? Participants will be put to the test in park history, nature, and other areas of Ranger expertise to see how they size up to their friendly local Park Ranger, at the visitors center of Fort Totten Park, Building 502. Call 718-352-1769.
At 2 p.m., Pomonok Library at 158-21 Jewel Avenue will present a Holiday Canned Food Drive to help feed the needy. Bring in cans of non-perishable food to Queens Library at Pomonok and they will arrange delivery and distribution to the needy in our area. The deadline for donations is Saturday, December 19. Bring a can in that day, and get a lollipop! For more information, call 718-591-4343.
From noon to 5 p.m. bring the kids to the Bowne Park Winter Holiday Festival sponsored by Gardenworks and North Queens United Group to benefit Make a Wish Foundation; at 32nd Avenue between 158th and 159th Streets. Bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and Meet Santa. Live entertainment; refreshments; balloon characters; face painting; candy canes/apples; raffles and prizes.
At 2 p.m., Flushing Library at 41-17 Main Street will present Ebony Hillbillies one of the few black string bands left in America who recreate the stylings of the 18th- and 19th-century African-American fiddlers – who shaped today’s bluegrass and country sounds. For more information, call 718-661-1200.
At 2 p.m., North Forest Park Library at 98-27 Metropolitan Avenue will present Chanukah and Christmas Concert with favorites like “The Dreidel Song” and “White Christmas.” For more information, call 718-261-5512.
At 2:30 p.m., Fresh Meadows Library at 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway will present Linda Ipanema with an international medley of tunes of the season. For more information, call 718-454-7272.
At 2:30 p.m., Maspeth Library at 69-70 Grand Avenue will present soprano Teresa Mazzilli performing international holiday classic such as “The Christmas Song,” “O Holy Night,” “Ave Maria” and “Let It Snow.” For more information, call 718-639-5228.
At 3 p.m., Sunnyside Library at 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue will present actor David Houston in a one-act, solo presentation of an abridged version of Dickens’ timeless Christmas classic A Christmas Carol, complete with all the character voices. For more information, call 718-784-3033.
At 8 p.m. The Queens College Choral Society will have their Winter Concert: “Carmina Burana” by Karl Orff; also featuring dancers and student artwork. Tickets are $20; $18 for seniors, students and alumni; $5 for students with Queens College ID. Call 718-793-8080 or visit www.kupferbergcenter.org.
At 10:30 p.m. Santa’s Secret Burlesque, Starring Anita Cookie; Hard Corey; Fem Appeal and Moana Ramona with comedian Eric Infield as “Stand Up Santa” warms up the season at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street in Long Island City. Tickets are $10; call 718-392-0722 or visit www.secrettheatre.com or www.thequeensplayers.com.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
At 10 a.m. Duck, Duck, Goose; as the weather gets cold, the birding gets hot at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park; meet at Mauro Playground (Park Drive East and 73rd Terrace.) Call 718-846-2731.
At 1 p.m. learn how to identify animal tracks found in and around woodland areas. Make tracks of your own with snow shoes if the weather is right. Meet at Fort Totten Park, Building 502; call 718-352-1769.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21
At 11:30 a.m. Water Color classes with Helen Magrisso at Queens Community House Kew Gardens, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 202; call 718 268-5960, fax 718 268-0295 or email jkeibel@queenscommunityhouse.org.
At 6 p.m., Forest Hills Library at 108-19 71st Avenue will present Russian soprano Anya Yelizarova accompanied by Liya Touch on violin and Inna Leytush on piano for an evening of beautiful music by Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, Prokofiev and others. For more information, call 718-268-7934.
At 6 p.m., Mitchell-Linden Library at 29-42 Union Street will present an Autism Workshop. Learn what you need to know about autism. Learn about signs and symptoms, and also get information on community resources. For more information, call 718-539-2330.
At 6:30 p.m., South Jamaica Library at 108-41 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard will present Richard Lanham singing favorite melodies and Christmas carol classics, from “Winter Wonderland” to “Silent Night.” For more information, call 718-739-4088.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22
At 1 p.m., Forest Hills Library at 108-19 71st Avenue will present AARP Driving Class, a recommended driving class for seniors who wish to reduce insurance rates. For more information, call 718-268-7934.
At 6 p.m. The Bayview Bridge Club, a not-for-profit organization of bridge players, meets at Church of the Resurrection, 100-17 32nd Avenue in East Elmhurst; call club president Ted Harvin at 516-209-7864.
From 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Woman’s Group meets in Forest Hills to talk, and in the process improve their relationships. Members will give and receive support and practice direct communication. The group will be led by a licensed clinical social worker; call Heidi Elias at 718-371-8916.
At 7:30 p.m., The Free Synagogue of Flushing, 41-60 Kissena Boulevard (between Sanford Avenue and Main Street) in Flushing, is offering a Mindfulness Meditation class, Led by Rabbi Michael Weisser. Open to all; appropriate for beginners or experienced in meditation. Free for members; $10 for non-members; free on-site parking available. Call 718-961-0030 or visit www.freesynagogue.org.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23
At 8 p.m. Judaism 101, basic principles and concepts; “Jewish Observance”, by David Bornstein at Young Israel of Sunnyside, 43-01A 46th Street (enter on 43rd Avenue – green canopy); call 718-784-1663.
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., The National Art League of Douglaston, 44-21 Douglaston Parkway, hosts Watercolor Classes with Diane Lieberman, instructor. Beginners welcome, demonstration, instruction and critique at each session. Fee: $20 per class. For more information, call 718-969-1128.
From 8 to 9:30 p.m. the Samuel Field Y at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway has “High Beginner” Line Dancing Classes with instructor Lynn Martino Open dancing between and after classes; free refreshments, snacks and holiday parties. Entry fee $8 per person; call 347-693-8300 for information. Ten-week beginners program (from 6:30 to 8 p.m.) starts soon.
From 11 a.m. to noon, Kew Gardens Community Center, a program of the Queens Community House, located at 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, hosts a history class for enthusiasts led by Al Collins. Call director Bari Goltzman at 718 268-5960, Ext. 223, email bgoltzman@queenscommunityhouse.org or visit www.queenscommunityhouse.org.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24
FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS OF THE MONTH (MEETS 2ND AND 4TH)
A free support group for people suffering from anxiety and depression meets at Zucker Hillside Hospital, 75-59 263rd Street in Glen Oaks, in the Conference Room of the Kaufman Building. Please call group leader, Lori Kalman, at 718-746-3092 before coming; visit www.namiqn.org.
At 11 a.m. Queens Community House Kew Gardens, 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 202 has Meditation with Instructor Ronnie. Call 718 268-5960 or email jkeibel@queenscommunityhouse.org.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m., The Center for the Women of New York’s Women’s Support Group meets in Room 325 at Queensborough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. For information or an interview appointment, call 718-793-0672.
Saint Michael’s Cemetery at 7202 Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst is offering pre-need plans for purchase of memorial property, with payment from three to five years and as little as 10 percent down; monthly billing available, call 718-278-3240.
