News From The Queens Tourism Council
An extremely busy weekend is on its way with 12 Saturday events and 10 activities on Sunday. As always, the diversity is mindboggling with jazz, dance, improv, food, film, theater, poetry, a motorcade, a nighttime corn maze, and countless pumpkins.
Here’s the rundown.
– Tonight (Thursday), Oct. 16, Jamaica Center Reading Series, 6:30 p.m. Local writers, poets, and residents participate in these showcases on Thursdays until Dec. 18. Varying locations, this night at Jamaica Market, 90-40 160th St., Jamaica, www.jcbidreadingseries.org.
– Friday, Oct. 17, A Piano Fantasy in Jazz, 8 p.m. NEA Jazz Master pianist Barry Harris and Valerie Capers, a jazz pianist, composer, and Julliard School’s first blind graduate, play together on stage for the first time. New preshow members lounge at 7 p.m. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.
– Friday, Oct. 17, Natural Grace: Irish Music and Martin Hayes, 7:30 p.m. Filmed over two years, this documentary on one of Ireland’s greatest traditional fiddlers explores his journey and Irish music. $11/$8 for students, seniors and unemployed. New York Irish Center, 10-40 Jackson Ave., LIC, www.nyirish.org.
– Friday, Oct. 17, Improv: Friend or Foe?, 6 p.m. An improvisational workshop with Katha Cato, a pioneer of the Herold (or Improv Long) Form. $10, Queens Council on the Arts, 37-11 35th Ave., Astoria, www.queenscouncilarts.org.
– Friday, Oct. 17, I Wish I Knew, 7 p.m. This is the final film of a series on Hou Hsiao-hsien, the leading figure of the Taiwanese New Cinema movement. I Wish I Knew is a subversive documentary that shows the mainland Chinese filmmaker Jia traveling from Shanghai to Hong Kong and Taiwan, tracing the history of the port city on the Yangtze-and, in effect the history of China- through personal reminiscences and cinematic testimonies, restoring information (and images) occluded or censored by the official Party line. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Kaufman Arts District, www.movingimage.us.
– Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 & 18, Take Root, 8 p.m. The monthly Take Root program aids in the development of new dance work. This month features Shan T. Bible of stbdance and Bianca Johnson & Dancers. $15. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC, www.GreenSpaceStudio.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Thai Restaurant Popup, noon and 5 p.m. Eight dishes, representing all the regional cuisines of Thailand, and cooking demonstrations. $80. Pata Paplean Restaurant, 76-21 Woodside Ave., Elmhurst, 347.366.1169.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Grand Diwali Motorcade 2014, 3 p.m. (religious ceremony), 5:30 p.m. (parade), 7:30 p.m (stage show). Decorated floats, colorful clothes, and oil lamps help celebrate the Hindu holiday of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. This annual parade, presented by the Divya Jyoti Association and the Arya Spiritual Center, honors the goddess Lakshmi. Parade kicks off at 133rd Street and LibertyAvenue, Richmond Hill, www.diwalimotorcade.com.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Shahkar Bineshpajooh, 9 p.m. This Iranian poet, songwriter, and singer founded the Fusion Music Concert in Iran, and in 1998, the first and last Pop Music Festival. He was subsequently banned from performing in Iran for five years. $55-$125. Colden Auditorium, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Gone with the Wind, 12:30 p.m. To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of General Sherman’s “March to the Sea,” the Greater Astoria Historical Society (GAHS) presents this movie classic as set against the backdrop of the U.S. Civil War. Free. GAHS, Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, Fourth Floor, LIC, www.astorialic.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, The Hoarde, 7 p.m. A visceral story about love, betrayal, vengeance and redemption as performed by the Vissi Dance Theater. $20/$15 for seniors, students, groups. Milton G. Bassin Performing Arts Center, York College, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, www.yorkpac.com.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Fall Harvest Festival, noon to 4 p.m. Celebrate the harvest with an historic cooking demonstration, apple cider pressing, butter churning, and autumn-themed crafts. Free. King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Amazing Maize Maze by Moonlight, until 9 p.m. Visitors use the starry sky (or flashlights) to find their way out of this three-acre corn labyrinth. $5 child/$9 adult. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Oakdale Gardens, www.queensfarm.org.
– Saturday, Oct, 18, Karaoke at theMovies: Cabaret, 7:30 p.m. One of the most beloved movie musicals of all time screens as part of a one-of-a-kind, interactive, family-oriented film series. Cabaret is based on the eponymous 1966 Broadway musical that uses the decadent and vulgar cabaret as a mirror image of German society sliding toward the Nazis. $5. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56thAve., Bayside, www.visitqpac.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Music in the Sanctuary, 7 p.m. Acoustic vocalist Kelley Suttenfield and her quintet play a diverse repertoire ranging from Brazilian standards to the Beatles. Free. Sunnyside Reformed Church, SkillmanAvenue and 48th Street, Sunnyside, 1-718-426-5997.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Carol Sudhalter’s Astoria Jazz Band: Women Composers, 2 p.m. Expect works by Billie Holiday, Bernice Petkere, Linda Presgrave, Julie Mandel, Carol Sudhalter, and Jutta Hipp. Free. Langston Hughes Library, 100-01 Northern Blvd., Corona, www.queenslibrary.org.
– Saturday, Oct. 18, Picnic Days, noon to 6 p.m. Enjoy the Onderdonk House, gardens and picnic area, which features tables and five grills (first come, first served). Visitors supply charcoal, food, supplies, additional chairs, additional tables, blankets, portable grills, umbrellas, pop up shelters. (No alcohol). Tours included. $5/Free for children age 12 and under. Onderdonk House, 1820 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood, www.onderdonkhouse.org.
– Saturday through Tuesday, Oct. 18-21, Taiwan Vegetarian Cuisine Week. Three awardwinning chefs from Taiwan serve vegetarian dishes from noon to 3 p.m (prix-fixe at $25.95) and 6 p.m to 10 p.m ($35.95). Deluge Restaurant/Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Ave., Flushing, www.delugerestaurant.com.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, World’s Fair Scavenger Hunt, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Teams of two-to-six people receive maps of Flushing Meadows Corona Park and a list of clues that direct them to various cultural institutions and other locations in the area. At each location, each team gets a token to prove it was there. The team with the most tokens by 5:30 p.m. receives valuable prizes, as will the top runners-up. Start at Queens Theatre, 14 United NationsAve. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, www.nycparks.com.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Concert, Special Offers in Park, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. As part of a World’s Fair closing ceremony, the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Museum, the Queens Zoo and the Queens Botanical Garden offer specials, plus tours of the New York State Pavilion, 50-cent carouselridesanda6p.m.outdoor concert featuring the Beatles tribute band Yesterday and Today. More info: www.nycparks.com.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, The Pirates of Penzance, 3 p.m. Now in its fourth decade of operation, America’s preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, brings this comedic opera in two acts to the Queensborough Performing Arts Center (QPAC). $42, $39, $35. QPAC, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, www.visitqpac.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy, 1 p.m. Calligrapher Majed Seif teaches the different styles of Arabic calligraphy. Participants can have their names rendered in calligraphic script and then decorate their paper with Arabesque designs. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Fly Guy & Other Stories, 1 and 3 p.m. A musical revue based on the eponymous children’s book series which follows Fly Guy, his pet Buzz, and other characters on exciting adventures. $14, with Family Flex Pass of $100 for 10 tickets. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, www.queenstheatre.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Fertile Ground, 7 p.m. This monthly showcase for emerging and established artists produces the work of over 50 choreographers each year. This night features Emergency EscapeWindow, Elena Light, Eric Bliss Choreography, Kipuka Theater, Katherine Maxwell, and Annie Woller Movement. $10. Green Space, 37- 24 24th St., LIC, www.GreenSpaceStudio.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Fourth Annual Hip Hop Halloween Celebration, 1 to 4 p.m. Celebrate Halloween with the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance by taking part in painting a pumpkin, face painting and festive food. Free. Hip Hop Community Garden, Beach 59th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, The Rockaways, www.rwalliance.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, 3 p.m. The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning launches this program with Aurora Flores and Zon Del and their Puerto Rican-influenced music. The series features a monthly concert with a broad spectrum of music from Broadway, Cabaret, Classical, Jazz, Gospel, Caribbean, African, Reggae, etc. $15/$12 for seniors and students. Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., www.jcal.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Harvest Fest and Pumpkin Patch, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This fourth annual celebration includes great food, live entertainment, craft vendors, children’s activities, a bird-andnature walk, and the famous seasonal beer tent. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.
– Sunday, Oct. 19, Storm Sandy Anniversary Planting, 10 a.m. to noon. People of all ages are welcome to participate in dune restoration planting. Students can receive community service hours. Free. Firehouse 59, Beach 59th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard, The Rockaways, www.rwalliance.org.
– Monday through Sunday, Oct. 20-26, Queens Dance Festival Kick-Off Party, 8 p.m. shows. This inaugural festival features 22 borough-based choreographers presenting over seven evenings. Kick-off party for choreographers and public to mingle on Oct. 20, 7 p.m. $15 advance/$18 at door. The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC, www.queensborodancefestival.co m.
– Monday, Oct. 20, Fly Swift My Thoughts: Music of Spanish, English, and Italian Renaissance, 6 p.m. Acclaimed European duo Cantar Alla Viola makes its U.S. debut. $25/$15 for seniors and students (includes light dinner). Samuel Field Y, 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy., Little Neck, www.sfy.org.
The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s many attractions. More info available online at www.itsinqueens.com.
