News From The Queens Tourism Council
Two gardening events, two carnival events and a beach clean-up demonstrate that winter is fleeting. The borough also hosts a disability film festival, dragons, symphonies, dance, art and a group that claims to be the world’s best Beatles tribute band.
Here’s the rundown.
– Today (Thursday), Mar. 6, The Act of Killing, 7:30 p.m. The Queens World Film Festival screens the world premiere of the 159-minute director’s cut of The Act of Killing. Director Joshua Oppenheimer will be on hand for a special Q&A session. P.S. 69, 77-02 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, www.queensworldfilmfestival.com.
– Thursday, Mar. 6, Cha-Cha-Cha Lessons, 7 p.m. Dance instruction for all ages and levels with renowned instructor Paul Ru Bao of Farrington Ballroom Dance School. After an hour lesson there is an hour of open dance. $10 single class/$45 for five classes. Skip the class and join open dance at 8 p.m for $5. Queens Theatre in the Park, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, www.queenstheatre.org.
– Friday through Sunday, Mar. 7- 9, New York Disability Film Festival, times vary. This annual festival promotes awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Among the films showing is Cinemability, a documentary on representations of disability in film with interviews with Ben Affleck and Jamie Foxx. Photography exhibit and movies at Central Queens Y, 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills, www.cqy.org and movies at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.
– Friday, Mar. 7, Amy Marshall Dance Company, 8 p.m. AMDC’s new dance “Kadogo” responds to how children across the world are being stripped of their childhood and moral psyche and handed guns. $15 advance/$20/$10. LaGuardia Community College Main Stage Theatre, 31-10 Thomson Ave., LIC, www.laguardia.edu/LPAC.
– Friday, Mar. 7, Carnival Party: A Tribute to Harry Belafonte, 8 p.m. Jeff Zúñiga and his band play a tribute concert to Harry Belafonte, whose songs include “Matilda,” “The Banana Boat Song” and “Day-O.” $15 members/$10 students. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.
– Friday, Mar. 7, Opening Night: Uncertain Worlds, 6 to 10 p.m. French artist Philippe Boissonnet’s art encompasses drawing, photography, sculpture, holography, video and digital imagery. After the opening, his work is on display Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m to 6 p.m or by appointment until May 3. Holocenter @ the Clock Tower of LIC, 29-27 41st Ave., Queens Plaza North, www.holocenter.org.
– Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 8-9, Hotels on Film, times vary. The Museum of the Moving Image (MMI) screens six features and two shorts set in hotels: Barton Fink (1991) preceded by Hotel Chevalier (2007), The Silence (1963), Lost in Translation (2003) preceded by Life without Zoe (1989), Grand Hotel (1932), Beware of a Holy Whore (1971) and The Shining (1980). MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Caribbean Carnival Celebration for Families, 1 p.m. Learn about the festivity, create cool masks, and dance to steel drums as you march around Queens Museum in true Carnival style. Free. Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.queensmuseum.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, The Fab Faux, 8 p.m. Join the Fab Faux as they celebrate “The Beatles on Ed Sullivan” and perform a mixed set of favorites. They will be joined by Creme Tangerine Strings and Hogshead Horn. $45-$65. Kupferberg Center at Queens College, Kissena Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Wilderness Survival, 11 a.m. Do you know how to build a shelter or start a fire without matches? Do you have what it takes to survive in the wild? On these fun, family friendly programs you learn tips and tricks that enhance your knowledge of the natural world and might just save your life. Free. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Oakland Gardens, www.alleypond.com.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Start Your Summer Veggies Indoors, noon. Queen Botanical Garden Director of Education Emeritus Fred Gerber teaches an introductory workshop on starting summer vegetables indoors. $6, advance registration and payment required at education@ queensbotanical.org or 1-718-886- 3800 Ext. 230. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Storybook Discovery Day, 11 a.m. In the cozy parlor setting, Karyn Mooney makes reading fun. Suggested for children six and under, the session includes an art or nature discovery activity. Suggested donation $5 per family. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing, www.vomuseum.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, The Love Affair Showcase, 1 to 5 p.m. Brides and potential brides can enjoy an afternoon of performance, tastings, and networking with top trend-setters in bridal fashion, accessories, planning, floral design, decor and entertainment. Renaissance Event Hall, 27-34 21st St., LIC, https://bit.ly/1dh8PNu.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Intergenerational Garden Open House, 10 a.m. Queens Botanical Garden launches its intergenerational garden. At this open house, gardeners learn more about the program, walk through the facility, and meet coordinator Maureen Regan. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.
– Saturday, Mar. 8, Cinema En Español: Innocent Voices, 7 p.m. A Better Jamaica presents a film on the bloody civil war which tore apart El Salvador in the 1980s. Free. Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.jcal.org.
– Sunday, Mar. 9, Forest Hills Symphony Orchestra, 2 p.m. This talented group plays Weber, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Dvorak. $12 adults/$10 seniors and students/free children under 13. Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Blvd., www.fhjc.org.
– Sunday, Mar. 9, Imagine Dragons, 1 p.m. WT McRae and Tiny Giraffe Theater collaborate with Flushing Town Hall to develop a new play, Dragon Story. These workshops are an opportunity for students to meet and play with writer, director, and performers, and help them shape the world of dragons that will be created in Dragon story. Free, but ticket required. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.
– Monday, Mar. 10, Moveable Feast Artist Dinner Series, 6:30 p.m. With performing artist Emily Berry and chef Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, diners will enjoy a multi-course meal with dancers, a violinist and a chef. Funds raised support scholarships for students in the Queens Council on the Arts High School to Art School Portfolio Development Program. $150. Manducatis Rustica Restaurant, 46-33 Vernon Blvd., LIC, www.queenscouncilarts.org.
– Monday, Mar. 10, Rockaway Community Park Coastal Clean-Up, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remove debris from the shoreline with Natural Areas Volunteers. This work will protect Jamaica Bay’s natural habitat. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes and warm clothing. Registration is required at 1-212-360-3318 or nav@parks.nyc.gov. Free. Meet the NAV technical leader at the corner of Almeda Avenue and Beach 58th Street, Rockaway Community Park, Far Rockaway.
“It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s attractions.
