By Ivan Pereira
With the summer season just around the corner, Queens’ business leaders are beginning to make the push to entice seasonal tourists and stay-at-home vacationers to see what the borough has to offer.
The Queens Economic Development Corp. unveiled this year’s “Discover Queens” campaign Tuesday at Citi Field and touted some of the season’s most anticipated events. From Mets games to free concerts all over the borough, there are enough venues to make any summer lover excited, according to QEDC Director of Marketing & Tourism Michelle Stoddart.
“We want people to know there is a lot in Queens,” she said.
The campaign, now in its third year, will use advertising in print, television and the Web to inform people about the events. Stoddart said her group has made a new partnership with some of the borough’s art houses and cultural groups to help celebrate the diversity of Queens.
The borough has been home to many jazz greats, such as Louis Armstrong, and venues such as Flushing Town Hall will be giving free concerts and shows throughout the summer. Betsy Enright, the director of external affairs for Flushing Town Hall, said the arts center will have four outdoor concerts as part of its garden concert series with a diverse group of musical genres including American folk, jazz, Caribbean and 1960s.
“The shows draw a capacity crowd,” she said.
Borough President Helen Marshall noted Flushing Meadows Corona Park is home to the summer’s biggest sporting events at Citi Field and the US Tennis Association’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Daniel Zausner, managing director of the USTA National Tennis Center, said there is more going on at the stadiums than just the US Open games at the end of August.
In addition to upcoming blood and health drives, there will be several tennis camps and clinics where interested athletes and amateurs can go to improve their game.
“Our camps are open to everyone — kids, adults and teens,” he said.
Marshall also reminded those present that the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is always an engaging event to watch. This year the Asian-themed races celebrate their 20th year on the weekend of Aug. 7 in Flushing Meadows and Henry Wan, chairman of the event’s committee, said the spotlight from “Discover Queens” will bring in thousands from all over the world.
“We are very fortunate to have all of this support,” he said.
For more information, log on to discoverqueens.info.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
