News From The Queens Tourism Council
Queens breaks another record as the country’s largest Phagwah parade will take place this week. Find out more about Phagwah at the parade.
Plus, there are at least five Easter egg hunts at such iconic borough establishments as the Queens Botanical Garden, Queens County Farm Museum and the Queens Zoo, as well as a Japanese flute concert, lectures on Nazis and Greeks and a disco blowout.
Here’s the rundown.
– Tonight (Thursday), Mar. 28, Professor Discusses Book on Family Friend Who Was a Nazi Functionary, 1:30 p.m. Mary Fulbrook’s new book, A Small Town Near Auschwitz, describes finding out that neighbor and family friend Udo Klausa was a Nazi functionary who aided the extermination of 85,000 Jews. The book explores the role played by ordinary men without whose diligent cooperation the Holocaust could not have been so fully realized. $6 suggested donation. Central Queens Y, 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills, www.cqy.org, 1-718-268-5011.
– Thursday, Mar. 28, APEC’s World of Animals, 10 a.m. Travel around the world and never leave Alley Pond Environmental Center as educators introduce animals from Australia, South America, North America and Africa. Touch live animals, make animal crafts and learn about creatures of the world. $16 for adult-child pair/$10 members. Preregistration required. APEC, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, www.alleypond.org, 1-718-229-4000.
– Thursday, Mar. 28, Greeks in Queens, 2:30 p.m. Astoria is home to the largest Greek community outside of Athens. Join author Christina Rozeas as she traces her immigrant journey. $8/$5 members, plus books will be available for purchase, signing. Queens Historical Society, 143- 35 37th Ave., Flushing, www.queenshistoricalsociety.org, 1- 718-939-0647 ext 17.
– Friday, Mar. 29, Disco Inferno II, 8 p.m. Due to popular demand, Disco Inferno is back. Resorts World will boogie down memory lane with a live concert by Tavares, Bonnie Pointer, Cory Daye and Disco Unlimited. $30. Buy tickets via www.rwnewyork.com or at the casino’s first floor coat check, or redeem 1,500 Genting Rewards points. RW, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., South Jamaica, 1-718-214-2943.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, My Childhood in Bayside vs. What’s There Now, 10:50 a.m. To mark his 70th birthday, official Queens historian Jack Eichenbaum will lead a walk through Bayside, where he lived from 1943-1958. Meet in front of the Post Office on the south side of the LIRR station on 42nd Avenue, just west of Bell Boulevard. Sponsored by the Queens Historical Society and the Bayside Historical Society as a fundraiser for QHS. $15/$12 for QHS and BHS members.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Phagwah Parade, noon. Phagwah is a Hindu celebration of the new year that is very popular in the Indian-Caribbean community. Now in its 25th year, the biggest Phagwah parade in the U.S. takes place in Richmond Hill, attracting roughly 25,000 revelers. It includes great floats, colorful clothes, fantastic food, music and other cultural performances and plenty of colored talcum powder. The route goes from Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street to the Smokey Oval Park at 125th Street. 1-718-558-5665.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Half Married, 2 p.m. A staged reading of a play that follows two St. Thomas taxi drivers as they meet a young lady and become involved in a story of romance, deception and greed. The reading will be followed by a discussion of the play. Free. Queens Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Japanese Traditional Bamboo Flute Live, 7 p.m. Kunihiro Hashimoto brings his healing music to New York. This two-time winner of the popular shakuhachi award plays Japanese music and American pop songs such as “Moon River.” The concert will also feature special guest Mika Mimura, a well known and accomplished vibraphone player. Donations suggested. Reservations required. Resobox, 41-26 27th St., LIC, www.resobox.com, yumeshakuhachiny@gmail.com, 1-718- 784-3680.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Spring Egg Hunt at Queens Botanical Garden, 11 a.m. QBG will celebrate spring with its first ever egg hunt. Children can bring baskets and search for eggs hidden in the crabapple orchard and arboretum. The fun continues with crafts activities, old-fashioned games, seed plantings, free face painting and a special visit from Flora the Flower, QBG’s mascot. Weather permitting. $5 and the park- ing garden will be open at $5 per vehicle, QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org or rforlenza@queensbotanical.org, 1- 718-886-3800, ext. 204.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Barnyard Easter Egg Hunt, noon. The Queens County Farm Museum will hold its annual egg hunt in the orchard throughout the day. Whiskers (the bunny) will be hopping around the farm to greet children and pose for pictures. Dance the Bunny Hop, play egg toss and egg rolling games on the farmhouse lawn, visit farm animals and take a hayride! $5. QCFM, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks, www.queensfarm.org, 1-718-347- 3276.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, Easter Egg Hunt/Party, noon. All are invited to this event, hosted by the Rochdale Youth Planning/Rochdale Village Social Services Youth Council/YLI. Free. Rochdale Village Community Center, 169-65 137th Ave., Rochdale Village, Melody at 1-516-724-1741 or melliejoi@msn.com.
– Saturday, Mar. 30, St. Albans Park Easter Egg Hunt, noon. Activities include free candy, bead art, coloring contests, live performances, NY Knicks Groove Truck, Healthplex dental screenings, amusement rides and a special appearance by Rex, Affinity’s mascot. Hosted by WBLS personality Dr. Bob Lee. All children must be accompanied by a parent. Free. St. Albans Park, Merrick Boulevard at Sayres Avenue, St. Albans, 1-888-543-9070.
– Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 30- 31, Spring Eggstravaganza! 11 a.m. Take part in an egg hunt, meet the Easter Bunny and some Flemish giant rabbits, and enjoy a variety of spring-themed activities. Free with admission. Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, visit www.wcs.org, email qzeducation@wcs.org, 1-718-271-7361.
– Sunday, Mar. 31, Tony Little Makers: Paint Party, 10:30 a.m. Create colorful paintings using liquid watercolor, bouncy balls and shaving cream in this drop-in workshop. Sometimes creativity can get messy, so dress in old clothing that can be splattered with things like paint and ink. $8 per family, plus NYSCI admission ($5 per family for members). Preregistration is recommended. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.nysci.org.
– Sunday, Mar. 31, Women’s History Month Celebration, 3 p.m. The Latin American Cultural Center of Queens and the Latin American Women’s Council will host the 27th Annual Celebration of Women’s History Month. This event honors women from Latin American history and recognizes women who are making history today. Free. John F. Kennedy School, 45-12 94th St., Corona. 1-718-261-7664.
The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s attractions.
