By Bill Parry
With the holiday season in full swing there are three unique events in western Queens this weekend that promise fun for families and shoppers. During visits to area malls last year, state Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-East Elmhurst) was shocked at the high cost of taking a photo with Santa.
He was upset that some children wanted to meet Santa Claus, but after their parents heard how much it cost they were forced to say no to their child. For the second year in a row, DenDekker will host Santa Claus at his district office from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday so children can have their photo taken for free at 75-35 31st Ave., Suite 206B.
“I am very excited to have Santa Claus come to my office to take photos with children,” DenDekker said. “Parents who are unable to afford the high costs of a photo with Santa Claus are able to do so at my office for free.”
In Long Island City, Local Project will host its first Art and Handmade Winter Market Sale Saturday from noon to 12 a.m. The non-profit organization, which has been doing community projects since 2003, will bring dozens of artists and vendors from around the city to its gallery at 11-27 44th Road to support the arts and buy local.
“Our in-house artists will open their studios and create new artworks to be available — it’s very exciting,” Local Project Co-founder Carolina Penafiel said. “I’m always open to trying new things and if all goes well, this will become a new Local Project holiday tradition in Long Island City.”
Local Project is a nonprofit artists’ collective that provides a “creative harbor” for up-and-coming artists and newcomers to New York City.
Queens Museum will host its second annual Winter Holiday Market Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in partnership with Queens International Night Market, which finished its third season in October, and Lockwood, the lifestyle store with branches in Astoria, Jackson Heights, and the Queens Museum’s gift shop. The free event will take place in the museum’s main atrium and provide a platform for area artists and artisans to sell original handmade and designed objects or prepared foods.
More than 50 vendors will be on hand offering everything from scented candles to healthy doughnuts to spicy bites.
Queens Museum is located alongside the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
