COMPILED BY CRYSTAL HUDSON
EDITOR’S PICKS
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
Civil War New York Walking Tour
At 1 p.m., visit Fort Totten, located at 212th Street and Cross Island Parkway, for a Civil War New York Walking Tour led by the Urban Park Rangers. Get an up-close view of historical landmarks and learn about the unique role Queens played in shaping our nation. The tour group will meet at the front gate of Fort Totten. Admission is free.
Photo Courtesy of NYC Parks & Recreation
QPAC presents ‘Cinderella’
SUNDAY, MARCH 25
At 3 p.m. the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, located at 222-05 56th Avenue in Bayside, presents the Moscow Festival Ballet performing “Cinderella.” See the classic fairy tale vividly brought to life on stage under the direction of Sergei Radchenko, former principal dancer of the world renowned Bolshoi Ballet. Tickets are $39 to $42.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
At 12 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, presents “Art As Language,” an exhibition of work from the students at J.H.S. 189. Enjoy works of art, including drawings, manuscripts, paintings and quilts, created by some of the boroughs most promising young talents. This event has a suggested donation price of $5.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21 THRU MONDAY, MARCH 26
The Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, located at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike in Uniondale, invites you to experience the magic of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This once in a lifetime event, called DRAGONS, celebrates the Year of the Dragon through astonishing feats and acts of bravery. Tickets range from $20 to $150. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.Ringling.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
At 7 p.m., celebrate Irish Culture at the Bayside Historical Society, located at 208 Totten Avenue in Bayside. Watch a performance of traditional Irish dance by students of the Petri School of Irish Dance, enjoy a dance lesson from an instructor, and sample traditional Irish food. Suggested donation is $10, or $5 for members of the Bayside Historical Society.
FRIDAY, MARCH 23
7 p.m., York College Performing Arts Center, located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica, presents James Spaulding, a jazz saxophonist and flutist who has established himself as a masterful soloist for ensemble performances. Originally from the Indianapolis, Indiana area, Spaulding is a modernist with solid roots in classical jazz. This performance has a suggested donation of $10.
At 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., the Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, presents Tom Wopat, the next installment in the theatre’s Celebrity Series. Wopat, a seasoned stage star whose credits include “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Guys and Dolls,” and television credits include “Dukes of Hazzard” and “Cybill,” will perform a concert of Broadway hits and standards from the 40s and 50s. Regular tickets for this show are $44 and Producer’s Circle tickets are $60.
Photo courtesy of the Queens Theatre
At 7 p.m., Community House, located at 15 Borage Place, presents its annual Casino Night. All funds raised at this event will help finance the upkeep of Community House’s facilities. Companies interested in participating in this event should call 718-268-7710 or visit www.thecommunityhouse.net.
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 THRU FRIDAY, APRIL 13
Visit the Museum of Moving Image, located at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, to see the Three Stooges Matinee film series. Legends of slapstick comedy, the Three Stooges have inspired generations of comedians with films like “False Alarms,” “Gents Without Cents” and “Grips, Grunts, Groans.” Screenings are free with museum admission, which is $12 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and college students (with ID) and $6 for children (ages 3-17).
THURSDAY, MARCH 29 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 30
At 7 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, presents J.H.S. 189’s production of Guys and Dolls JR. Watch as a talented cast of young actors, singers and dancers performs this Broadway classic. Set in New York City, the show tells the story of gamblers and missionaries, love and adventure. This show is free to the public.
SATURDAY, MARCH 31
From 2 to 5 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, presents Celebrate Spring, an interactive arts workshop open for all ages. Make Mexican paper art with skilled artisan, Aurelia Fernandez, who will teach children and adults alike how to create animal hats from paper and found objects. Learn about instruments from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and get a chance to build your very own pentatonic panpipe, called a palla. Juan “Pepe” Santana, a skilled musician, will teach attendees how to play simple Andean melodies on their newly crafted instruments. No previous musical training is necessary.
SATURDAY, MARCH 31 THRU SUNDAY, APRIL 1
From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., join the Queens Botanical Garden for its opening weekend event. Tour the beautiful gardens and enjoy special activities from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Also meet the Garden mascot, Flora. Admission is free.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
At 2 P.M., Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, presents mirror of another world, textiles and costume traditions in early Central Asian photography. Look through scholar Andrew Hale’s archives, the largest private collection of 19th and early 20th century Central Asian images in the United States. Hale will discuss how these photographs document Central Asian costume and textile trends. This event has a suggested donation of $5 for members and is free for students.
SATURDAY, APRIL 7
From 12 to 4 p.m., Queens County Farm Museum, located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park, will host its annual BarnYard Easter Egg Hunt. Join Whiskers the Bunny for an afternoon of family fun with egg tossing, hayrides and more. Admission is $5.
SUNDAY, APRIL 15
From 2 to 5 p.m., Flushing Town Hall, located at 137-35 Northern Boulevard, presents Celebrate Spring, an interactive arts workshop open for all ages. Felipe Rengel will lead a fascinating workshop on the Puerto Rican tradition of Vejidante, a celebration using masks. Attendees will be allowed to create their very own masks as well as learn about the history behind them. There will also be a demonstration on colorful Mexican flowers and paper banners, typically used in weddings, holidays and other celebrations. This event is $10 for non-members and free for members.
MONDAY, APRIL 16
From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., visit St. Sebastian School, located at 39-76 58th Street in Woodside to shop at the first annual Spring Craft Fair. Buy jewelry, clothes, gifts and more with all proceeds benefitting the St. Sebastian School. Visit ssscraftfair.blogspot.com for more information or to apply to be a vendor.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
At 7:30 p.m., The Zucker Hillside Hospital’s Sloman Auditorium, located at 266th Street and 76th Avenue in Glen Oaks, presents “Planning for Exceptional Families,” in conjunction with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Queens/Nassau. This program will teach attendees about how to care for a loved one who has special needs, touching on the sensitive subject of a family member’s care after you pass. This forum will help put those facing these challenges at ease and provide them with the necessary information to make good choices now for the future. Ellen Victor, an attorney specializing in elder law and estate planning, will be in attendance to provide advice and support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Queens/Nassau is a non-profit organization that provides support, education and advocacy for families of residents suffering from mental illness. For more information, call 718-347-7284.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20
At 7 p.m., York College Performing Arts Center, located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica, presents Dr. April Lynn James, a mezzo-soprano wonder hailed by the New York Times as a “flash of beauty and inspiration” with a PhD in Music from Harvard University. James specialized in music from the 18th century and she has earned several awards, such as the Urban Artists Initiative/NYC Fellowship and a Queens Council on the Arts Individual Artist Grant.
At 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., the Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, presents Janis Ian, the next installment in the theatre’s Celebrity Series. Ian is a Grammy Award-winning folk music legend and the genius behind “At Seventeen,” “Society’s Child,” “Stars” and “Jesse.” She will perform several of her greatest hits as well as a bevy of other classic tunes. Regular tickets for this show are $44 and Producer’s Circle tickets are $60.
Photo courtesy of Peter Cunningham
At 6 p.m., the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), located at 22806 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, presents the Friend of the Environment Earth Day Reception. This celebration will honor Central Veterinary Associates who have provided care for all of APEC’s animals for over 15 years. Admission for this event is $25 per person.
At 8 p.m., the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), located at 22806 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, presents the John Flynn Earth Day Concert – Folk Music For the Earth. Listen to the music of legendary folk singer John Flynn, performing his hits as well as country and love songs. Admission for this event is $25 per person.
SUNDAY, APRIL 22
At 10 a.m., the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), located at 22806 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, will host their Earth Day Walk for APEC. Join APEC on a fun, leisurely walk along Little Neck Bay and help raise funds for its cause. Trainers from Bayside’s Bell Plaza Sports Club will be on site to lead stretches and warm-ups just before the walk. This activity has a fee of $10 per person.
FRIDAY APRIL 27 THROUGH SUNDAY MAY 6
Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., the Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, presents SPENT. Straight from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes the U.S. premier of this hilarious, witty and quick political satire about the greed and corruption that started the worldwide financial crisis. The show features two actors playing 20 different characters, each from different parts of the world. SPENT won Toronto’s Dora Award for Best Performance. Tickets for this show are $25.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
At 7 p.m., York College Performing Arts Center, located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Jamaica, presents the Clifton Anderson Quintet. Anderson, who began playing the trombone at age seven, attended the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, studied with Simon Karasick and Dave Schechter at Stony Brook University, and graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 1978. He has performed with a diverse group of musical talents, including Stevie Wonder, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Simon, Muhal Richard Abrams, WyClef Jean, and Dionne Warwick. Anderson racked up several Broadway credits during his career, including “Dreamgirls” and “Nine.” Tickets for this show are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
At 3 p.m. visit the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, located at 222-05 56th Avenue in Bayside to see Wayne Newton. For more than 20 years, the singing legend has entertained Las Vegas audiences, and now he brings his storied act right here to the heart of Queens. Stop by and say “Danke Schoen” to Mr. Las Vegas. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased online at www.qcc.cuny.edu/qpac or by phone at 718-631-6311.
THURSDAY, MAY 3 THROUGH SUNDAY MAY 20
At 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. on Sundays, the Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, presents The Jack Cole Project, a dance spectacular and tribute to the father of theatrical jazz dance, Jack Cole. Cole’s work became well known through various Broadway sensations, most famously, “Fosse.” See the incredible dance stylings of this legend come to life, on stage at the world premier of this event at the Queens Theatre. Tickets for this show are $49.
MAY 7 THRU SEPTEMBER 25
On Saturdays and Sundays, at the Socrates Sculpture Park, located at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, join the summer fitness classes. Learn yoga, capoeira, pilates and tai chi all while enjoying the summer sun. Classes are open to novices and experts alike. Wear comfortable workout attire and bring a mat or towel for yoga. For full class schedule, visit www.socratessculpturepark.org. All classes are free.
