It's In Queens October 16-20

An extremely busy weekend is on its way with 12 Saturday events and 10 activities on Sunday. As always, the diversity is mind-boggling with jazz, dance, improv, food, film, theater, poetry, a motorcade, a nighttime corn maze, and countless pumpkins. Here’s the rundown:

Oct. 16, Jamaica Center Reading Series, 6:30 pm. 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

Oct. 17, A Piano Fantasy in Jazz, 8 pm. 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 pre-show members lounge at 7 pm. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org

Oct. 17, Natural Grace: Irish Music and Martin Hayes, 7:30 pm. 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.

Oct. 17, Improv: Friend or Foe?, 6 pm. 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

Oct. 17, I Wish I Knew, 7 pm. 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,  Kaufman Arts District, www.movingimage.us

Oct. 17 & 18, Take Root, 8 pm. 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

Oct. 18, Thai Restaurant Popup, noon and 5 pm. Eight dishes, representing all the regional cuisines of Thailand, and cooking demonstrations. $80. Pata Paplean Restaurant, 76-21 Woodside Ave., Elmhurst, 347.366.1169

Oct. 18, Grand Diwali Motorcade 2014, 3 pm (religious ceremony), 5:30 pm (parade), 7:30 pm (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 Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill, www.diwalimotorcade.com

Oct. 18, Shahkar Bineshpajooh, 9 pm. 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. Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org

Oct. 18, Gone with the Wind, 12:30 pm. To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of General Sherman’s “March to the Sea,” the Greater Astoria Historical Society 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

Oct. 18, The Hoarde, 7 pm. 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.
Oct. 18, Fall Harvest Festival, noon to 4 pm. 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

Oct. 18, Amazing Maize Maze by Moonlight, until 9 pm. 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

Oct, 18, Karaoke at the Movies: Cabaret, 7:30 pm. 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 56th Ave., Bayside, www.visitqpac.org

Oct. 18, Music in the Sanctuary, 7 pm. Acoustic vocalist Kelley Suttenfield and her quintet play a diverse repertoire ranging from Brazilian standards to the Beatles. Free. Sunnyside Reformed Church, Skillman Avenue and 48th Street, Sunnyside, 718.426.5997

Oct. 18, Carol Sudhalter’s Astoria Jazz Band: Women Composers, 2 pm. 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

Oct. 18, Picnic Days, noon to 6 pm. 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. OH, 1820 Flushing Ave., Ridgewood, www.onderdonkhouse.org

Oct. 18-21, Taiwan Vegetarian Cuisine Week. Three award-winning chefs from Taiwan serve vegetarian dishes from noon to 3 pm (prix-fixe at $25.95) and 6 pm to 10 pm ($35.95). Deluge Restaurant/Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Ave., Flushing, www.delugerestaurant.com

Oct. 19, World’s Fair Scavenger Hunt, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. 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 Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, www.nycparks.com

Oct. 19, Concert, Special Offers in Park, 10 am to 7:30 pm. 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 carousel rides and a 6 pm outdoor concert featuring the Beatles tribute band Yesterday and Today. More info: www.nycparks.com

Oct. 19, The Pirates of Penzance, 3 pm. 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. $42, $39, $35. QPAC, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, www.visitqpac.org

Oct. 19, Introduction to Arabic Calligraphy, 1 pm. 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

Oct. 19, Fly Guy & Other Stories, 1 pm and 3 pm. 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

Oct. 19, Fertile Ground, 7 pm. This monthly showcase for emerging and established artists produces the work of over 50 choreographers each year. This night features Emergency Escape Window, Elena Light, Eric Bliss Choreography, Kipuka Theater, Katherine Maxwell, and Annie Woller Movement. $10. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC, www.GreenSpaceStudio.org

Oct. 19, Fourth Annual Hip Hop Halloween Celebration, 1 pm to 4 pm. 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

Oct. 19, Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, 3 pm.  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

Oct. 19, Harvest Fest & Pumpkin Patch, 11 am to 6 pm. This fourth annual celebration includes great food, live entertainment, craft vendors, children’s activities, a bird-and-nature walk, and the famous seasonal beer tent. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org

Oct. 19, Storm Sandy Anniversary Planting, 10 am 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

Oct. 20-26, Queens Dance Festival Kick-Off Party, 8 pm 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 pm. $15 advance/$18 at door. The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC, www.queensborodancefestival.com

Oct. 20, Fly Swift My Thoughts: Music of Spanish, English, and Italian Renaissance, 6 pm. 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 wonderful attractions. More info at www.itsinqueens.com

It's in Queens : July 10-16th

Met Opera on the west side, the Lincoln Center symphony orchestra on the east. Such is the upcoming week, which also features the best Beatles cover band, two great R&B acts, ballroom dancing, German classics, and live salsa. Other options include a three-hour tea break, e-waste recycling, yoga, sewing, and a photo exhibit on the Whitestone Bridge.

Here’s the rundown:

July 10, Metropolitan Opera Recital, 7 pm. Produced in association with SummerStage and NYC Parks, this concert features three talented young Met singers performing arias and duets from a variety of operas. Free. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC, www.socratessculpturepark.org

July 10, New York Philharmonic in the Park, 8 pm. The country’s oldest symphony orchestra leaves Lincoln Center to offer an outdoor concert of priceless music. Free. Cunningham Park, 193rd Street near Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, www.nyphil.org

July 10, Strawberry Fields, 7:30 pm. The Central Astoria Local Development Corporation’s 2014 Waterfront Concert Series kicks off with the ultimate Beatles tribute band. Free. Astoria Park Great Lawn, Shore Boulevard between the Hell Gate Bridge and Astoria Pool, www.centralastoria.org

July 11, Finding Samuel Lowe: From Harlem to China, 7 pm. Screening of movie about three successful siblings who discover their heritage by searching for clues about their long-lost Chinese grandfather, Samuel Lowe. The siblings -- including retired NBC Universal executive Paula Williams Madison who will attend the event -- were raised in Harlem by their Chinese-Jamaican mother. Their ancestral journey takes them from Toronto to Jamaica to China, and to an emotional and unforgettable family reunion. www.movingimage.us

July 11, Yoga in the Garden, 7 pm. Bring a mat for a series of poses with Yumcha Yoga Studio during a beautiful sunset, followed by kirtan singing from the Indian bhakti devotional tradition. Suitable for all age and talent levels. $5 suggested admission. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org

July 11, An Evening of Ballroom Dancing, 8 pm. Professionals teach new and classic ballroom dances. $15. Resorts World Casino NYC, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica, www.rwnewyork.com

July 12, Hands-on History: Cup of Tea, noon to 3 pm. There’s nothing like an afternoon tea. Check out Eliza Gracie King’s tea set and get inspired to decorate your own cup. Read a story about tea time. Free. King Manor Museum, 150-3 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org

July 13, Soul Party: Old School R&B, 2 pm. Flushing Town Hall’s free summer concerts series kicks off with an R&B concert with a classic hit list that includes the likes of The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Bill Withers, and Johnnie Taylor performed by groove-heavy Soul Party. Dance lessons at 1 pm. FTH, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org

July 13, Summertime Electronic Waste Event, 10 am to 4 pm. Dispose of unwanted or broken gadgets in an environmentally friendly way. Free. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org

July 13, The Bridge and the Fair. A photo exhibition organized by the Queens Historical Society celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Whitestone Bridge’s opening. This span, as well as the Whitestone Expressway and Flushing Bridge, brought visitors directly and quickly to the 1939 World Fair. Free. Queens Public Library, Whitestone Branch. 151-10 14th Rd

July 13, Taste of Germany, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Enjoy the music, food and culture of Germany and check out the new exhibition, Remembering Yesterday: Queens and Its World’s Fairs, which takes a look at the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs. $15. Queens Historical Society, Kingsland Homestead, Weeping Beech Park, 143-35 37^th Ave., Flushing, www.queenshistoricalsociety.org

July 13, Make It: Sew Cool, 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Learn to sew a sunglass case. Attendees learn how to measure and cut fabric, sew a few different hand stitches, and attach buttons, straps, and other trimmings. Workshops are for children ages 6 and older. $5 per parent/child pair, and register on the day of the event in the admissions area. New York Hall of Science, www.nysci.org

July 15, Queensbridge Summer Concert Series, 7 pm. Ismael Miranda and his band, Orquesta Revelación, recorded “Así se compone un son,” which fueled the 1970s salsa craze. Now known as "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa," Miranda and his band perform the opening act in this series. Free. Queensbridge Park, vicinity of Vernon Boulevard, 41^st Avenue and the East River, Long Island City, www.nycgovparks.org

July 16, Dishcrawl, 7 pm. A delicious dining adventure in Long Island City with chefs of three restaurants. $45, drinks may be purchased separately. For more info, contact Greta Rushion at 917-975-2887 or gretar@dishcrawl.com

July 16, J. Holiday, 7 pm. Laid-back vocalist J. Holiday brings an unexpected edge to R&B music. He bears a street sensibility and bravado normally reserved for hip-hop, but remains inspired by groups such as Boyz II Men and Jodeci. Free. Queensbridge Park, vicinity of Vernon Boulevard, 41^st Avenue and the East River, Long Island City, www.nycgovparks.org

The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s wonderful attractions. More info at www.itsinqueens.com.

Its In Queens- January 9th - 15th

Neither snow, nor sleet, nor ridiculously cold temperatures can stop Queens from being a hot bed of enrichment, entertainment and fun. This week the borough smiles warmly at Mother Nature with plenty of live music, movies galore, an MLK recognition event, polar bears, Japanese art and a fiesta based on recycling electronic waste. Here’s the rundown.

Jan. 9, D.B. Rielly, 9 pm. Award-winning singer/songwriter D.B. Rielly performs a wide range of Americana music, spanning several genres, including Roots, Blues and Country. He promises an “instantaneous cure for all afflictions.” Free. Winegasm, 31-86 37th St., Astoria, www.winegasmeatery.com.

Jan. 10, David Hazeltine Trio, 8 pm. Hazeltine has his own distinctive piano style and musical voice. His trio features drum legend Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington. $15. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org.

Jan. 10, Little Feet and Old Moon, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image’s First Look series shows inventive new cinema. In Little Feet, director Alexandre Rockwell’s children star as siblings who are barely cared for by their widowed father who dresses in an animal suit for a living and collapses drunk at night. When a pet goldfish dies, they set off to find a new mate for the fish. Rockwell and his children will be at screening. The short Old Moon, directed by a student of Rockwell and filmed in Puerto Rico, shows first, and a reception follows. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Jan. 11, Irish Music Concert, 7:30 pm. Siusan O’Rourke and Zig Zeitler, who were nominated as Top Duo by the Irish Music Association, perform with Donie Carroll, a singer/songwriter, and John Nolan, a button accordion maestro (1982 All Ireland Champion). $22/$11, seniors, students and unemployed. New York Irish Center, 10-40 Jackson Ave., LIC, www.newyorkirishcenter.org

Jan. 11, Songs of Freedom, 3 pm. Robbi K and Friends commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with a performance of protest and freedom songs, a slide presentation and stories. Free. Queens Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org

Jan. 11, Storybook Discovery Day, 11 am. In a cozy parlor, Karyn Mooney welcomes the Year of the Horse by reading about Chinese New Year celebrations and making horse puppets. Suggested donation $5 per family. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing, www.vomuseum.org

Jan. 11, Rohmer in Paris, 2 pm; The Inner Jungle, 4:15 pm; and Vic + Flo Saw a Bear, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image’s First Look series shows inventive new cinema. Director Richard Misek’s Rohmer in Paris is an ode to the Nouvelle Vague master Eric Rohmer and his beloved Paris. In director Juan Barrero’s autobiographical film The Inner Jungle, he returns from the Galapagos Islands to find his girlfriend is pregnant. The film expresses the combination of terror and amazement surrounding romance and pregnancy. Vic + Flo Saw a Bear is set in director Denis Côté’s native northern Québéc. It follows a pair of lesbian lovers and ex-cellmates after their release from prison. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us

Jan. 12, Electronic Waste Recycling, 10 am to 4 pm. Drop off unwanted or broken electronics, and the Queens Botanical Garden will dispose of them. From 1 pm to 3 pm, QBG hosts children’s crafts workshops using recycled and repurposed items. Free. QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org

Jan. 12, Twilight Concert by Con Brio Ensemble, 4:30 pm. Critically acclaimed violinist Alexander Meshibovsky and pianist Diana Mittler perform Respighi-Violin Sonata, Bloch-Baal Shem Suite and Sarasate-Introduction and Tarantella. Alan Hollander presents works for oboe and piano by Telemann, Ravel and Saint-Saens. Baritone Darian Worrell performs the Four Serious Songs by Brahms. $10 and $12. The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, www.thecitg.org

Jan. 12, Isamu Noguchi and Qi Baishi: Beijing 1930, 3 pm. Noguchi Museum’s Amy Hau and former Assistant Director Alexandra Snyder May discuss the new exhibit, which includes works given by Sotokichi Katsuizumi, a Japanese businessman and Chinese painting collector who introduced Isamu Noguchi to the Chinese ink painter Qi Baishi. Free with admission. NM, 9-01 33rd Rd., LIC, www.noguchi.org

Jan. 12, Classical Music: Trio Cavatina, 3 pm. Five Boroughs Music Festival presents Trio Cavatina, winners of the 2009 Naumburg International Chamber Music Competition, in a program featuring works by Beethoven and Brahms, as well as an NYC premiere by Douglas Boyce. $25/$20 Queens residents/$15 students. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., www.flushingtownhall.org

Jan. 12, Open Mic Sunday, 2 pm. The event features poet, essayist and translator Claire Van Winkle, who teaches undergraduate writing and literature at Queens College. Free. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org

Jan. 12, Adventure Hour: Polar Bears, 1:30 pm. This class offers toddlers an opportunity to socialize and learn about nature in a relaxed environment. Activities include live animals, art project, outdoor play, trail walks and music. Pre-registration required at 718.229.4000. $16. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, www.alleypond.com

Jan. 12, Visitors, 2 pm; The Quispe Girls, 5 pm; The Summer of Flying Fish, 8 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image’s First Look series shows inventive new cinema. Visitors consists of 74 black-and-white shots, taking viewers to the moon and back, while examining the human species and a gorilla from the Bronx Zoo. In the remote Chilean mountains in 1974, three goat-herding sisters survive after the death of a fourth sister in The Quispe Girls. Chilean documentarian Marcela Said’s debut feature The Summer of Flying Fish is coming-of-age story in the expansive terrains of southern Chile near Patagonia, as bright-eyed teenager Manena vacations with her family in their summer lake house, meets new friends, and finds her first love. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us

Jan. 13, Oratorio Society of Queens Auditions, 7:45 pm. Experience the joy of choral singing. Reservations are required, call 718.279.3006. Temple Beth Sholom, 171-39 Northern Blvd., Flushing, www.queensoratorio.org

The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s wonderful attractions. More info at www.itsinqueens.com