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

Queens World Film Festival hits the Beach!!

The Queens World Film Festival & Rockaway Civic Beach Flix

Presents

Indie Night in Rockaway

Friday September 5, 2014

Through the generous support of Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, The Queens World Film Festival partners with the Rockaway Civic Beach Flix to bring a variety of wonderful short films back to the beach in Rockaway.  The roster includes animation, along with live action from international and local filmmakers.  Bring a chair, blanket, enjoy a bite or beverage at the boardwalk concession and enjoy films from around the world and around the corner!

Friday September 5, 2014

on the sand at Beach 106th Street

Rockaway, NY 11694

 ‘Time Travel and Other Unexpected Feelings’
Recursion 2014 (United States, 22 min., Dir.: Sam Buntrock) Recursion is a modern-day time-travel adventure that tells the story of Sherwin, possibly the most unlikely best-man there ever was. Winner: QWFF 2014 Founders’ Choice.

Day 6011 (Belgium, 15 min., Dir.: Raf Wathion) After being alone on guard for more than 6000 days, this robotic soldier encounters his first contact. Things don’t go as planned.

The Rehearsal (United States, 13 min., Dir.: Sammy James, Jr.) Desperate to get his music to the masses, high-strung bandleader Dom demands relentless rehearsing! Between practice and perfect, lies a minefield of egos, ineptitude, and attitude problems.

SHIFT (United States, 6 min., Dir.: Cuban-born, Juan Carlos Zaldívar) SHIFT follows a character who is born from a tree, whose face is stolen by a dog. After wandering the landscape, looking for home, his vision returns in an unsuspecting turn of events. Winner: Best LGBT Short

Unfold (Ireland, 15 min. Dir.:  Steven Daly) Mark is trying to hide his problems from the world around him. His everyday goal is to blend in with society and appear 'normal', while also trying to find himself again and tap into a creativity he once had. Winner QWFF 2014 Best Cinematography Short

El Lado Frio De La  Almohada (The Cold Side of the Pillow) (Spain, 11 min. Dir.: Herminio Cardiel) A couple who just met share a pillow that night. They will discover that the pillow has a side colder than it seems...

NOITE PERDIDA (A Wasted Night) (Brazil, 17 min. Dir.: Filippo Capuzzi Lapietra)
Two friends reunite after a frustrated night with two girls. Both of them lie about the outcome of their dates, these lies are the trigger for a flashback that reveals what really happened that night.

CONTACTS:
Don Cato                                                   Katha Cato
718-429-2579 718-429-2579
dcato@queensworldfilmfestival.com            Kathacato@gmail.com          
www.queensworldfilmfestival.com

It’s In Queens! (June 26 to July 2)

The city’s big Reggae and beach band festivals come to town this week, as do musicians Melba Moore (Disco, R&B), Patti Smith (Punk), Albita (Salsa), Catherine Russell (Jazz), and the Queens Symphonic Orchestra. Other entertainment options include whale-and-dolphin watching, fly-fishing, beer-making and a four-day carnival. Here’s the rundown.

June 26, Whale and Dolphin Watching, noon to roughly 4 pm (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until Aug. 28). Search for these beautiful mammals on an adventurous-yet-relaxing cruise. $45 adults/$35 seniors/$25 children. Rockaway Point Boulevard at Heinzelman Road, Breezy Point, www.americanprincesscruises.com

June 26-29, Astoria Park Festival 2014, times vary. Around 20 rides, games, food, live entertainment and family fun. (June 26, 4 pm to 10 pm; June 27, 4 pm to 11 pm; June 28, noon to 11 pm; June 29, noon to 10 pm.) Free with fees for attractions. Astoria Park Parking Lot, www.centralastoria.org


June 28, Rockstock And Barrels Festival, 10 am to nighttime. Two stages of musical performances, plus beach games and a surf contest at 8 am. Bands include Grim Pickens, Symptom 7, Shipwrecks and Indaculture. Free. Boardwalk at Beach 90th Street, Rockaway Beach, www.rockstocknyc.com

June 28, Disco Inferno, 9 pm. Featuring Melba Moore, Ms. Yvonne Elliman, Maxine Nightingale and more. $20-$75. Resorts World Casino New York City, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., Jamaica, www.rwnewyork.com

June 28, Forgotten NY Tour: Richmond Hill, noon. Explore the borough’s richest collection of high Victorian homes and much more in this three-hour tour. $20. Meet at Jamaica Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, Richmond Hill, www.forgotten-ny.com

June 29, A Jazz Soirée with Catherine Russell, 4 pm. Concert with Grammy-winning vocalist Catherine Russell and the unveiling of rare photographs of Satchmo at the World’s Fair in 1964. Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th St., Corona, www.satchmo.net

June 29, Rockaway! Opening Day, noon to 8 pm. A concert by Patti Smith concludes this launch of a large-scale, free public contemporary art festival that runs from June 29 through Labor Day at Gateway National Recreation Area’s Fort Tilden and at Rockaway Beach Surf Club. The event, which involves existing and new, site-specific works by local and internationally acclaimed artists, celebrates the re-opening of Fort Tilden and the recovery of the Rockaway. For more information, contact joshua_laird@nps.gov

June 29, The Louis Armstrong International Music Festival, 1 pm to 7 pm. Multi Grammy-winning Cuban salsa singer Albita headlines the show. Other scheduled performers are the Jon Faddis Quartet, led by trumpeter Jon Faddis; Junoon with Salman Ahmad; and David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band. Free. Parade Grounds near the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, www.kupferbergcenter.org

June 29, Groovin’ in the Park, noon. Reggae hit machine Beres Hammond joins Australian soft pop duo Air Supply as headline acts. $59.99. Roy Wilkins Park, 177-01 Baisley Blvd., Jamaica, www.groovininthepark.com

June 29, A Pint of the Past: Beer & Home Brewing in 19th Century New York, 3 pm. In this 90-minute, interactive program, Mark and Tess Szamatulski explain how to brew and appreciate beer. They also discuss beer styles and local beer history. Learn everything from beer ingredients, such as hops, grain, water and yeast, to the brewing process, including fermentation and sanitization. Free, but reservations required via programs@kingmanor.org or  King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org

June 29, Flying Fish 101, 10 am to noon. Learn the secrets of fly fishing -- equipment, casting, knots, and rigging -- from a seasoned veteran. Pre-register by calling 718-229-4000. $21 adults/$7 children ages 8-12. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston, www.alleypond.com

June 29, Sunday to Remember, 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Francisco Cantilo plays Latin American music on piano during an afternoon of dance in a welcoming environment. Free. El Paraiso Tropical, 102-11 42nd Ave., Corona, www.laccq.org

June 30, Central Astoria LDC Independence Day Celebration. The Central Astoria LDC presents a concert and fireworks show made possible with funds from NYC Council Members Costa Constantides and Jimmy Van Bramer
Free. Shore Boulevard between Hell Gate Bridge and the Pool,
Performance by the Queens Symphony Orchestra
www.queenssymphony.org

Grucci Fireworks show

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! (Dec. 5 to Dec. 11)

Holiday season magic is in the air. So are classic concerts, Irish ballads, the Marimba, doo woop and the Boston Pops. In addition to the wonderful sounds, Queens hosts a brand new play, various throwback movies, a historic house tour, tree lightings and the opportunity to edit Wikipedia entries about the borough. Here’s the rundown.

Dec. 6, The Dublin City Ramblers, 7:30 pm. This Irish band has thrilled audiences worldwide with ballads, folk, humor and foot-tapping music for over 35 years. $15 to $27. New York Irish Center, 10-40 Jackson Ave., LIC, www.newyorkirishcenter.org.

Dec. 6, Performances by Judith Sloan and Warren Lehrer, 7 pm. Famous for their award-winning book on Queens Crossing the Boulevard, Sloan and Lehrer’s performance fuses theatre, radio and poetry. A Q&A follows. $5. Queens Council on the Arts, 37-11 35th Ave., Astoria, www.queenscouncilarts.org.

Dec. 6, Boogie Woogie, Ragtime & Stride Piano, 8 pm. Multi-instrumentalist Ayodele Maakheru & The Windsong String Ensemble perform an ode to Ragtime, Boogie Woogie and Stride. $15/$10 students. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, www.flushingtownhall.org.

Dec. 6, Help Queens Library Enrich Topics on Wikipedia, 10 am to 7 pm. Drop in at any time to write and edit Wiki entries about Queens for accuracy and style. Free. Queens Library-Central, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org.

Dec. 6, Bach & Brew, 6 pm. Pianist Dongsok Shin performs on King Manor’s fortepiano with accompaniment by violinist Leah Nelson. The program includes Johann Christian Bach and Muzio Clementi. Sample craft beer similar to what would have been enjoyed during Rufus King’s lifetime. KM, King Manor Park, Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org.

Dec. 6, Routes: The Spiritual Odyssey of Chinese American Artists, 5 pm to 8 pm. Noguchi Museum screens two episodes of the 12-part documentary Routes, featuring interviews with Shen Ruijin and Zheng Lianjie, taking the audience through each China-born artist’s working process. Free. NM, 9-01 33rd Rd., LIC, www.noguchi.org.

Dec. 6, Sweet Smell of Success, 7 pm. Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing series See It Big! presents 22 films on a huge screen. One of the great New York movies of the 1950s, Sweet Smell of Success, pits Burt Lancaster’s ruthless columnist J. J. Hunsecker against Tony Curtis’s desperate publicist Sidney Falco in a noirish morality play. MMI, 36-01 35^th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Dec. 6, The Re-Gift of the Magi (Opening), 8 pm. This comedic play reveals why the Wise Men made their perilous journey. Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar give Joshua an education in the shul of real life. Shows run until Dec. 21. $10. The Chain Theatre, 21-28 45th Rd., LIC, www.chain-theatre.org.

Dec. 6, Maspeth’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6 pm. A huge tree, a visit from Santa, entertainment by local musicians and a free raffle for a bicycle. Free. Maspeth Memorial Plaza, 69th Street and Grand Avenue, Maspeth, www.maspethchamberofcommerce.org.

Dec. 7, Making Music with the Marimba, 7:30 pm. International percussion virtuoso and Queens resident Makoto Nakura plays with violinist Jesse Mills and pianist Barbara Podgurski. The program includes Nakura’s own transcriptions of Bach’s Solo Partita in E major and Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso; the pyrotechnic display of Paganini’s Caprice no. 24 and Stravinsky’s Three Movements from Petrushka; and more recent works by Japanese composers Toshi Ichiyanagi and Toshio Mashima. $20 adults/$15 seniors/$10 students/free children under 12. The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, www.musicareginae.org.

Dec. 7, Jay & the Americans, 8 pm. A nostalgic evening with the icons of the 1950s and 1960s, starring Jay & the Americans, The Brooklyn Bridge, Vito Picone & the Elegants and the Del Satins. $35, $45 and $55. Queens College Colden Center, Kissena Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org.

Dec. 7, La Collectionneuse, 1:30 pm; My Night at Maud’s (Ma Nuit Chez Maud), 3:30 pm; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 6 pm. Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing series See It Big! presents 22 films on a huge screen. La Collectionneuse mixes the ethical and erotic dilemmas of two male friends from the avant-garde art world who try to resist the charms of a bikini-clad young “collector” of men in St. Tropez. In My Night at Maud’s, a pious Catholic finds his beliefs challenged when a beautiful divorcee invites him to spend a platonic night in her apartment. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a reinvention of the Western genre with Casey Affleck as an awkward young acolyte whose life becomes dramatically intertwined with a charismatic criminal played by Brad Pitt. MMI, 36-01 35^th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Dec. 7, Cabaret Night, 8 pm. Community theater and indy film actress and singer Jean Ann Kump and singer, impressionist and actor Barry Feterman mix charm, wit and velvet tunes in an intimate cabaret club-like setting. $22 to $25. Bay Terrace Jewish Center, 13-00 209th St., Bayside, www.theatrebythebayny.com.

Dec. 7, Queens World Film Festival Goes to Queens Museum, 6 pm. Two films — Way by Elizabeth Pasieczny and Welcome to Nowhere (Bullet Hole Road) by William Cusick (Founder’s Choice QWFF 2013). QM, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.queensmuseum.org.

Dec. 7, Taste of Rockaway Beach, 9 am to 11 pm. Ten restaurants — Irish Circle, 101 Deli, Playland Motel & Pizza, Veggie Island, Surfside Bagels, UMA’s, Elegante Pizza, Sayra’s Wine Bar, Thai Rock and Bungalow Bar — participate. $10, Rockaway Beach, www.rockawaybeachheart.org.

Dec. 7, Gifted 2013. The Rockaway Artists Alliance’s final show of 2013 is a juried exhibition including drawing, mixed media, photography, painting, watercolor, video, textile work and sculpture. Show runs until Jan. 19, 2014. Fort Tilden, www.rockawayartistsalliance.org.

Dec. 8, Holiday Historic House Tour, 1 pm to 5 pm. Visit seven landmarked properties in the Flushing area — Kingsland Homestead, Voelker Orth Museum, Lewis H. Latimer House Museum, Friends Meeting House, Flushing Town Hall, Bowne House and Louis Armstrong House Museum. Each one will offer special activities, refreshments and a glimpse at what life was once like during the holidays. $10. For more information, try www.queenshistoricalsociety.org or 718-939-0647.

Dec. 8, Holiday Pops with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, 7:30 pm. Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops perform their signature Sleigh Ride, other classics and new arrangements of seasonal favorites. Santa Claus makes a guest appearance during the finale followed by the traditional sing-a-long. , Colden Auditorium, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org.

Dec. 8, Winter Solstice Celebration, 12:30 pm to 5 pm. Live musical performances, botanical craft workshops, photos with Santa, seasonal refreshments, a garden tour, special sales and a tree lighting. Free. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.

Dec. 8, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and Tribute to “Faz” Fazakas and Diana Birkenfield, 1 pm. Screening of TV special about Ma Otter and her son, Emmet, who secretly enter a talent contest to win money for each other’s Christmas presents. This program includes Kermit the Frog segments, rare outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage and tributes to two Jim Henson colleagues who died in the past year: puppeteer and special effects designer Franz “Faz” Fazakas; and Diana Birkenfield, whose work with Henson dates to The Jimmy Dean Show. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Dec. 8, Holiday Market, 9 am to 4 pm. Local food artisans and crafters sell their products. Plus, the organizers participate in the Sandy Claus Project, collecting new, unwrapped toys for children affected by Hurricane Sandy. St. Francis of Assisi School, 46th Street and Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria.

Dec. 8, The Marriage of Maria Braun, 4pm; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 7 pm. Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing series See It Big! presents 22 films on a huge screen. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a reinvention of the Western genre with Casey Affleck as an awkward young acolyte whose life becomes dramatically intertwined with a charismatic criminal played by Brad Pitt. The Marriage of Maria Braun stars the commanding Hannah Schygulla in her signature performance as an ambitious woman in devastated postwar Germany. MMI, 36-01 35^th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

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.