A night out for Dennis Sheehan

A NIGHT OUT FOR DENNIS SHEEHAN

For Immediate Release

Contact : Chris Donovan cdonovan@nydailynews.com 917-734-6946

High School Classmates Reunite to Help a Friend

Bayside, Queens – On Friday May 11^th at Bourbon Street Archbishop Molloy Class of 1988 Alumni Chris Donovan, Lareto Evangelista, Charles Rabus, and Thomas Tzimorotas, are teaming up to host a cocktail party for their friend and classmate Dennis Sheehan.

In June of 2015 Dennis suffered a severe stroke and was hospitalized for several months. He encountered a host of issues including significant hemorrhaging of the brain, which led to his inability to speak or move.  It was so severe, in fact, that part of his skull was surgically removed in hopes of allowing the swelling to recede without further brain damage. He was ultimately left with Aphasia, a loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.

Dennis is a Culinary Institute of America trained chef and at the time of the stroke Dennis was pulling double duty, first as a nutrition educator at P.S. 76 A.Phillip Randolph school in Harlem, teaching kids about healthy eating and better lifestyle choices as well as working to get his company “Diatize” off the ground. As a classically trained chef and a type 2 diabetic Dennis was using Diatize to bring diabetic friendly alternatives to classic dishes. In order to fund his mission he was selling his own recipe of tomato sauce “New Yawk Tomata Sawse” to friends, family and supporters.

All of this work came to a halt when he was hit with a stroke. Dennis’ positive energy, amazing sense of humor and his core values of helping others have inspired a Go Fund Me campaign and the event at Bourbon Street on May 11^th

We invite press inquiries to help get the word out as we look to assist Dennis and ease the financial burden of therapy and other ongoing medical costs

Buy your tickets here:
Tickets and Donation link

Daily News to Shine Spotlight on Sunnyside

On Tuesday October 7th the NY Daily News will publish a special advertising section that will look at the neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens. Sunnyside has long been a great neighborhood to grow up and raise a family in. The Daily News will rely on the Sunnyside Shines BID to provide its readers with great information about the neighborhood and its charms

NY DAILY NEWS SPECIAL SECTION

If you are a Sunnyside business owner you will have a unique opportunity to have your business featured by advertising in the section. The special edition will appear in the center spread of the NY Daily News on Tuesday October 7th and it will then have an overrun of 5,000 copies that will be hand distributed at major transit hubs in and around Sunnyside.

It will also appear on the Daily News website for 30 days after publication. Feel free to contact Chris Donovan at the NY Daily News for more information. he can be reached at 917-734-6946 or by email at : cdonovan@nydailynews.com

Austin Ale House Presents Fall Beer Tasting Dinner featuring Finback Brewery

Austin's Ale House is a step above the rest when it comes to excellent service and a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Established in 1991, Austin's gives that local home feeling, serving up trendy pub-styled comfort food along with a fine selection of spirits and domestic and imported beers.

FIND THEM

ON THE WEB AT:

http://austinsteakandalehouse.com/

About Finback

Founded in 2011, Finback Brewery is born from a passion for brewing and experimentation. After a long search combing through back streets, along canals, under bridges and industrial no-mans lands, braving collapsing roofs and cardboard box jungles the brewery found a space in Queens in 2013. Armed with a 20 barrel brewhouse, Finback released its first beers brewed in Queens in January 2014. The brewery is proud to call Queens home and become a part of the diverse and rich culture of the borough. We’re excited to be one of NYC’s newest breweries and to make NYC culture even better.

It’s In Queens! Feb. 13 to Feb. 19

It’s Valentine’s Day, and Queens is for lovers. Residents can celebrate romance with everything from tango to Shakespeare to Michael Bolton. There’s also plenty of art and theater, as well as bird-counting, poetry and a gaming extravaganza. Here’s the rundown.

Feb. 13, Coffeed Lab & Roastery, 7 pm. Enjoy modern makers, accessory and fashion designers, installations, original art, music, the spoken word, tasting, wine and an open kitchen. First 10 guests receive a gift bag with goodies from participating vendors, restaurants and local businesses. Every guest gets a complimentary drink. Coffeed, 37-18 Northern Blvd., LIC, www.coffeednyc.com.

Feb. 13, Valentine’s Day Group Show, 2 pm to 9 pm (same times on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15). Queens residents display their work. Free. Gear Art Gallery, 61-08 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, 718-386-2812.

Feb. 13, Opening Reception: Art Faculty, 5:30 pm. Twenty members of Queens College’s Department of Art display painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, installation and conceptual art. Panel discussions on March 7, 2:30 pm, and March 19, 5:30 pm. Free. Godwin-Ternbach Museum, 405 Klapper Hall, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, www.qc.cuny.edu/godwin_ternbach.

Feb. 14, Twelfth Night, 2 pm (Feb. 15 at 2 pm and 8 pm; Feb. 16 at 3 pm). Aquila Theatre’s superb cast presents Shakespeare’s timeless comedy with never-before-seen innovation, theatricality and modernity. $42 for Friday/$49 for Saturday and Sunday/$25 for rear side seating for all performances. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Avenue South, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.queenstheatre.org.

Feb. 14, Love is Good Concert, 8 pm. Enjoy a Valentine’s Day concert with Christine Andreas and Martin Silvestri, masters of the romantic ballad. Andreas and Silvestri entertain with antics and a touch of humor. $38-$59. LeFrak Concert Hall, vicinity of Horace Harding Expressway and Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org. (Use code “valentine” for $5 off tickets.)

Feb. 14–16, Indiecade East, hours vary. East Coast edition of the nation’s premier independent video game festival features talks and panels headlined by gamemakers, academics, artists and journalists; seminars and workshops; the Show & Tell showcase; and cutting-edge platforms and new games. Festival passes are $125 public ($100 student/senior/museum member). Feb. 14, passes are $45 ($35 discounted); Feb. 15 passes (including access to Night Games) are $55 ($45 discounted); and Feb. 16 passes are $45 ($35 discounted). Admission for children (ages 3–12) is $10 per day. 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Feb. 14, Valentine’s Tango and Milango Special, 8 pm. Thalia Spanish Theatre presents the most popular tango and milango classics in music, song and dance. Plus, special champagne reception with the performers after the show. $50. TSH, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, www.thaliatheatre.org.

Feb. 14, HurlyBurly Opening (runs through March 1). This rare New York City revival of David Rabe’s two-act version of a chilling comedy set in the cocaine-and-sex-infused Hollywood Hills of the mid-1980s. Four men are caught in a world of parties, backbiting, lies and self-obsession, but a string of encounters convinces one of them to dig beneath the surface to discover his soul. The Chain Theatre, 21-28 45^th Road, LIC, www.chain-theatre.org.

Feb. 14, The Wizard of Oz, 7 pm (and Feb. 15 at 1 pm). Classic play presented by the St. Stan’s Players. $8-$5. St. Stanislaus Kostka School, 61-17 Grand Ave., Maspeth, 718-326-1585.

Feb. 14, Blaze Craze/Open Mic Series, 7:30 pm. Poets, rappers, singers and community people take the microphone. Free. Afrikan Poetry Theatre, 176-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.afrikanpoetrytheatre.org.

Feb. 15, Great Backyard Bird Count, 11 am. Queens Botanical Garden staffer and birding enthusiast Shari Romar leads participants in this family-friendly event that is part of an annual, national effort. The count provides data on how winter snowfall and temperatures affect bird populations, migration patterns and bird diversity. Free. QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org.

Feb. 15, Hands-on History: Tiny Valentine, noon to 3 pm. Create a miniature self-portrait inside a locket necklace and other 19^th century-inspired valentines. Free. King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.kingmanor.org.

Feb. 15, Amazing Grace from the Auction to the White House, 7 pm (and Feb. 16 at 4:30 pm.) This performance takes the audience on a journey through the African American experience from the auction steps of slavery to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. $20. Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.jamaica-performingartscenter.org.

Feb. 16, Quakers: An Ethic of Tolerance and Respect, 2:30 pm. Cheshire Frager, a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) of Flushing, discusses Quaker principles such as tolerance and inclusion. Free. Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing, www.queenshistoricalsociety.org.

Feb. 16, Creative Writing Workshop with Emily Herzlin, 11 am. Open to writers of all experience levels, this workshop is a place to create and share writing. This day’s topic is the body and how to write about body image, physical pain, touch, etc. $5-$10 suggested contribution. Astoria Bookshop,  Astoria, www.astoriabookshop.com.

Feb. 17, The Muppet Show, 1 pm (every day through Feb. 21). The Museum of the Moving Image presents four days of screenings of The Muppet Show during NYC public school recess. Free with admission. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us.

Feb. 17 Engineering Week Kick Off (through Feb. 21). Opening day features activities and tables run by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Each day covers different engineering concepts—from nano to mechanical, accompanied by activities and challenges to put those ideas into practice. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, www.nysci.org.

Feb. 17, Michael Bolton, 8 pm. Michael Bolton has sold more than 53 million albums and singles. He has won two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance, six American Music Awards and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. $65-$55. Queensborough Community College 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, www.visitqpac.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! (Feb. 6 to Feb. 12)

Okay, Mr. Snow, make room for Bill Cosby, Alvin Ailey, the Beatles and the Frog Prince. This week, the borough also welcomes Lunar New Year celebrations, Black History Month events, art, poetry and plenty of dance and film. Here’s the rundown.

Feb. 6, Bill Cosby & Frank Savage, 6 pm. Comedian Bill Cosby and financier Frank Savage discuss their new books. Free. York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd., Jamaica, www.york.cuny.edu.

Feb. 6, Opening Reception for John Smalls, 6 pm. Smalls is an artist and a student of the martial arts. He showcases his passion for Jiu-Jitsu and its influence on his painting, illustrating, drawing, murals and digital design. Show runs through Feb. 28. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., 29-09 39th Ave., LIC, www.spacegallerylic.com.

Feb. 6, Author Talk Urban Affairs Correspondent for The New York Times, 6:30 pm. Sam Roberts, who hosts the weekly NY1 program The New York Times Close Up, has a new book on NYC. Free. Queens Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, www.queenslibrary.org.

Feb. 7, Black History Month w/Mr. Chris’ Musical Experience, 10:30 am. Mr. Chris presents a 45 minute hip hop performance celebrating two African Americans — Thurgood Marshall and Debbie Allen — along with various inventors. Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., www.jamaica-performingartscenter.org.

Feb. 7, Beatles Anniversary, 11:30 am. The Port Authority marks the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival at JFK Airport on Feb. 7, 1964 with an unveiling, food and the best faux Fab Four band. TWA Flight Center, JFK’s Central Terminal Area, adjacent to JetBlue’s Terminal 5. RSVP to the Port Authority’s Media Relations Office at 212-435-7777 is required.

Feb. 7, The Wiz, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image presents the See It Big: Musicals series featuring films with singing and dancing extravaganzas. A Harlem school teacher is transported to Oz in The Wiz, a Motown co-production with a cast headed by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us

Feb. 7, Lab 201: Survey, 8 pm. In this play, Tom Lawrence hosts a popular entertainment news show and has a great life until his fiancée calls off their engagement and leaves him. Tom then struggles to understand his mistakes and turns to the unlikeliest sources. $10/$15. LaGuardia Community College Little Theatre, M Building, Thomson Avenue, between Van Dam and 30th streets, LIC, www.lagcc.cuny.edu

Feb. 7, Take Root with Teresa Fellion & Teddy Tedholm, 8 pm (and on Feb. 8). In this once-a-month series for choreographers, Fellion investigates reactions to sound and explores dualities through movement. Then Tedholm retrofits new ideas into old molds to create something new through explosive, meticulous movement. $15. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC, www.greenspacestudio.org

Feb. 8, Ballet Hispánico, 8 pm (and Feb. 9 at 3 pm). Ballet Hispánico fuses classical, Latin and contemporary dance with a theatricality and passion that audiences of all ages enjoy. $29-$49 (Use code “ballet” for $5 off tickets). Goldstein Theatre at Kupferberg Center for the Arts, vicinity of Kissena Boulevard and Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, www.kupferbergcenter.org

Feb. 8, Lunar New Year Celebration, 1 pm to 4 pm. Queens Botanical Garden hosts such festivities as a tea workshop and a performance by the New York Chinese Chorus. Free with fees for certain activities. QBG, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, www.queensbotanical.org

Feb. 8, Storybook Discovery Day, 11 am. In a 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

Feb. 8, Democracy, 2 pm. This New York Council for the Humanities Conversations with Kids event focuses on democracy. Karyn Mooney reads and discusses the book I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White. In this story, Morris shows how one girl’s courage helps her obtain the right to vote for women in Wyoming Territory. Free. Queens Historical Society at Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing, www.queenshistoricalsociety.org

Feb. 8, Like Water for Chocolate, 7 pm. A Better Jamaica’s new film series, Cinema en Español, begins with this Mexican gem (English subtitles). Free. Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., www.jcal.org

Feb. 9, The Frog Prince & Peter and the Wolf, 3 pm. The Queens Symphony Orchestra brings these two classic tales to life. LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College, vicinity of Horace Harding Expressway and Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, www.queenssymphony.org

Feb. 9, Con Brio Ensemble, 4:30 pm. This Astoria-based group plays works by Brahms, Schumann and Schubert. $12 adults/$10 seniors & students/free for children under 13. The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, www.thecitg.org

Feb. 9, Swingtime Big Band, 3 pm. A fun-filled afternoon of music, dancing and food with an authentic swing band. $30, includes pasta and meatball dinner and dessert. Queens of Angels Church Auditorium, 44-04 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside, 718-392-0011.

Feb. 9, Second Sundays, 3 pm. As part of Noguchi Museum’s monthly “Second Sundays” program, Leslie Gat from the Art Conservation Group and Noguchi's curatorial team present a combination of pending, in progress, and recently completed conservation and reconstruction projects. Objects to be discussed and displayed included a broken column (c. 1957-58) from Noguchi’s unexecuted plans for Idlewild Airport (now JFK International Airport) and Sky Mirror (1982-83), a galvanized steel sculpture damaged during Hurricane Sandy. Free with admission. NM, 9-01 33^rd Rd., LIC, www.noguchi.org

Feb. 9, Beatles Party, 6 pm. It’s the 50^th anniversary of the Fab Four’s first trip to the U.S. To mark the occasion, director and screenwriter Celeste Balducci hosts music, dancing and the world premiere of Lovely Lilly, an independent short film set in Jackson Heights on the historic weekend of Feb. 8-9, 1964. Elmhurst Hospital Center Auditorium, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, www.thelovelylily.com

Feb. 9, George Edward Tait: The Poet Laureate of Harlem, 3 pm. The Afrikan Poetry Theatre and the World Afrikan Diaspora Union present a poetry reading and workshop featuring Tait. $10. APT, 176-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, www.afrikanpoetrytheatre.org

Feb. 9, Fertile Ground, 7 pm. This non-curated performance event features five-to-six choreographers and a post-performance discussion with wine and cheese moderated by Green Space Artistic Director Valerie Green. $10. GS, 37-24 24th St., LIC, www.greenspacestudio.org

Feb. 10, Ailey II, 11 am. This is an artistic workshop, and tickets are only available for groups of five or more. $15 (five-ticket minimum). Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., www.jamaica-performingartscenter.org

Feb. 11, Entrepreneur Space Third Anniversary, 6 pm to 8 pm. Celebrate the E-Space and its clients. As a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 World’s Fair, the celebration will include Belgian waffles, which were introduced to the U.S. in 1964. Mariepaule Vermersch, who left Belgium to serve these waffles, will be on hand. Free. E-Space, 36-46-37^th St., LIC, www.queensny.org

Feb. 12, Forgotten Queens, 7 pm. Author Kevin Walsh and Rich Melnick of the Greater Astoria Historical Society discuss their new book of local history, Forgotten Queens. Astoria Bookshop, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.., Astoria, www.astoriabookshop.com

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.

NYS Pavilion Documentary to launch kickstarter

If you have ever driven past Flushing Meadows Park on the Grand Central Parkway you undoubtedly seen the NY State Pavilion from the highway. What you probably didn't know where it came from. It was originally built for the 1964-65 Worlds Fair and has a great back story

This is what it looked like then:

This is what it looks like now

As you can see its fallen on hard times, but there is a documentary filmmaker looking to raise awareness and also hopefully come up with some ideas on how to save it and or repurpose it. Check out his kickstarter page below :

Kickstarter for the NY State Pavillion Documentary

Melinda Katz sworn in as Queens Borough President

On Thursday January 9th Melinda Katz was sworn in as Queens Borough President by New York City mayor Bill DeBlasio at Queens College. Our colleague Renetta Fitzgerald was in attendance as well as several prominent Queens lawmakers. 

Our own Lisa Colangelo was there as well and filed this report:

Daily News article

Queens has a history of electing strong women - Melinda Katz

It’s In Queens! (Dec. 19 to Dec. 25)

Surprise, surprise. Many upcoming events -- including an art show, various concerts, a wreath workshop and a special screening -- have Christmas themes. Other options include an FBI demonstration, comedy and an adventure with a pirate. Here’s the rundown.

Dec. 19, O Sole Trio, 7 pm. David Shenton, Erin Shields and Giuseppe Spoletini perform a wide range of music. Shenton is a very talented piano and violin player. Shields has tremendous vocal versatility and has performed leading roles for many reputable music festivals and opera companies. Spoletini is a baritone who performs opera and other genres. Free with donations accepted. Sunnyside Reformed Church, 48-03 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside,

SunnysideReformedChurch

Dec. 19, New Sounds of East and West, 7 pm. Project Hansori presents original music centered on Asian-infused jazz. Donations accepted. All Saints Church, 43-12 46th St., Sunnyside, www.nysunnysaints.org.

Dec. 20, The David Leonhardt Trio: A Winter Holiday Jazz Concert, 8 pm. This internationally acclaimed jazz group will have fingers snapping and toes tapping as they present a winter holiday concert of cool jazz and hot rhythms. $15. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, www.flushingtownhall.org.

Dec. 20, Christmas Art Show, 2 pm to 9 pm (show runs until Dec. 26). Archana Santra’s art depicts movement from place to place and relationship to relationship, searching for depth and meaning, sometimes struck by the intensity of change, sometimes awed by the experience of learning. Free. Gear Art Gallery, 61-08 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, 718-386-2812

Dec. 20, Children of Men, 7 pm. Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing series See It Big! presents films on a huge screen. Emmanuel Lubezki lends some of his virtuoso camerawork to Alfonso Cuarón’s tale of future dystopia in Children of Men. Clive Owen is a bureaucrat tasked with escorting the world’s last pregnant woman to safety amid a devastating civil war. MMI, 36-01 35^th Ave., Astoria, www.movingimage.us

Dec. 21, The 5th Annual Jackson Heights Winter Holiday Sing-A-Long, 7 pm. Sing winter and holiday songs from all faiths, languages and cultures as a group, while walking through Jackson Heights. Small, acoustic, portable instruments are welcome. Meet on the corner of 31st Avenue and 75th Street, in front of Cassidy’s Ale House. Free, www.facebook.com/holiday.carol.9?fref=ts.

Dec. 21, History Roundtable: The FBI, 1 pm. Watch rare footage of the FBI in action, explore the agency’s history, and hear from agents who share personal experiences. Then participate in a roundtable discussion on the latest controversies surrounding the FBI’s domestic surveillance. Greater Astoria Historical Society, Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor, Astoria, www.astorialic.org.

Dec. 21, Christmas Workshop: Season of Giving, 1 pm. Create beautiful Christmas wreaths with up-cycled fabrics, beads and ribbons. The wreaths will be donated to local senior centers. Free. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, www.flushingtownhall.org.

Dec. 21, Pirate Pete’s Parrot, 11 am. In the tradition of the English pantomime shows from the 1700s, this play promises music, mischief and for children and adults starring Pirate Pete, a lovable rogue on a mission to find his beloved runaway parrot, Polly, who prefers pancakes to birdseed. $10-$40. The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC, www.secrettheatre.com

Dec. 21, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas: Part of Jim Henson’s World, 1 pm. The screening of a beloved TV special about Ma Otter and her son, Emmet, who both secretly enter a talent contest to win money to buy each other’s Christmas presents. The screening includes Kermit the Frog’s segments, rare outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave., LIC, www.movingimage.us

Dec. 21, Kwanzaa Workshop: African Adornment, 3 pm. Honor the values of African cultures and celebrate Kwanzaa in style. Experts talk about the importance of dress and personal style as per the Kwanzaa principle of Kujichagulia or Self-Determination. Free. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, www.flushingtownhall.org

Dec. 22, Oratorio Society of Queens Holiday Concert, 4 pm. The society, which has a 125-plus member chorus under the direction of Maestro David Close, performs portions of Handel’s “Messiah,” as well as traditional Christmas and Hanukkah favorites. $30/$25 seniors and students with ID. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, www.queensoratorio.org

Dec. 22, Laughing Devil Presents, 8 pm. This show features a rotating cast of comedians with a healthy mix of celebrities and the next-big-thing. There is always something new, and you never know who is going to show up. $10. The Laughing Devil, 47-38 Vernon Blvd., LIC, www.laughingdevil.com

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.

This Week At Bourbon Street

This upcoming week at Bourbon Street located at 40-12 Bell Boulevard in Bayside is a busy one. Bourbon Street always has something going on and is a warm and friendly place to have a drink or two and a quality meal. 

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.

Cyber Monday Deal

Use the code CYBER40 for 40% discount on tickets to the Queens Theatre in the Park

Queens Theatre Website

ITS IN QUEENS - From the Queens Tourism Council

It’s In Queens! (Nov. 21 to Nov. 27)

Live music, improvisational theater, politicians making fun of themselves and the season’s first holiday tree lighting are among upcoming activities. Here’s the rundown:

Nov. 22, The Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet, 8 pm. Harmonica and Vibraharp virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens and his jazz quartet play Brazilian jazz by such great composers as Djavan, Gal Costa and Lenny Andrade. $15. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing,
Read about them here
Purchase Tickets Here

Nov. 22, 3rd Space, 7 pm. 3rd Space is a spot where the artistic and cultural communities come together to talk shop, attend workshops, network and share works. The next 3rd Space features a presentation of Neural: Cleave, a work in progress by Queens-based sound artist Michelle Jaffé. A conversation with Jaffé, performance artist Marta Jovanovic and the public will follow. $5. Queens Council on the Arts, 37-11 35th Ave., Astoria
Read About it Here
Get tickets here

Nov. 22, The Conformist, 7 pm. The Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing series See It Big! presents classic and contemporary films on the big screen. In The Conformist, every scene boasts eye-popping camera movement, angles, colors, and lighting. The plot is about an assassin who is desperate to join the Fascist party as it is rising to power, and who is hired to kill a former teacher. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
Museum of the Moving Image Website

Nov. 23, Legislative Acts, 7 pm. Borough politicians perform a musical comedy to benefit two Queens College initiatives: Big Buddy, which pairs homeless children with college-student mentors; and Women and Work, which prepares victims of domestic violence, single mothers, immigrants, displaced homemakers, and downsized workers to secure sustainable employment. $100. Queens College, LeFrak Concert Hall, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing
Kupferberg Center's Website

Nov. 23, Book Extravaganza Fundraiser, 10 am to 4 pm. Peruse a large selection of new and used books and Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside t-shirts. Free. Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, Astoria
Greater Astoria Historical Society's Website

Nov. 23, Scientifically Speaking, 1 pm. Ever wonder what makes a popcorn kernel pop? Join some hands-on experiments and get a brief history of popcorn. $24. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston
Alley Pond Park's Website

Nov. 23, Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5 pm. A live DJ, stilt walkers, carolers, giveaways and Santa Claus arrives around 5:50 pm. Free. The Shops at Atlas Park, 80-00 Cooper Ave., Glendale
The Shops At Atlas Park's Website

Nov. 23, Astoria, 11 am. Official Queens historian Jack Eichenbaum leads a walk through this demographically changing neighborhood. Italians and Greeks are being replaced by Arabs, Bosnians, Brazilians, Mexicans and yuppies. The walk goes through Astoria’s important transportation arteries: Steinway Street (a former trolley route), 31st Street (under the elevated train), the Grand Central Parkway which bisected the neighborhood 70 years ago, and 30th Avenue.
Register at www.mas.org/tours


Nov. 23 & 24, FIDMarseille Carte Blanche: A Weekend with Programmer Jean-Pierre Rehm, times vary. The Museum of the Moving Image presents more than a dozen films from established stars of world cinema such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Tsai Ming-liang, as well as emerging talents Mati Diop, Marie Voignier and Salomé Lamas. MMI, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria
Museum of the Moving Image Website


Nov. 24, The Little Engine That Could, 1 pm and 3 pm. Adapted from the famous children’s book, this musical follows The Little Blue Engine, who dreams of pulling the Piney Vale Express just like her best friend Rusty. Little Blue seems too small to make it up the big hill, but when the train’s fate suddenly depends on her, she finds out how much she can accomplish with a little self-confidence. $14. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows-Corona Park,
Queens Theatre in the Park's Website

Nov. 24, Broadway’s Next H!t Musical!, 3 pm. In this fully improvised musical comedy, every lyric, melody and “jazz hand” choreography is made up on the spot to create a show that is spot-on, energetic and absolutely hilarious. $25. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside,
QPAC's Website

Nov. 24, Book Talk, Signing, 2:30 pm. Sabrina Jones, who has illustrated many graphic novels about history and contemporary social justice issues, discusses her new book, Social Justice According to the Gospels. Free, but RSVP to 718.939.0647 as seating is limited. Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing
Queens Historical Society's Website


Nov. 26, Classical Music Concert, 11 am. The Tuesday Morning Music Club of Douglaston presents a program with live piano, guitar and voice, followed by a sandwich lunch and dessert. Douglaston Community Church, 39-15, Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston, 516-466-4034.

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 QEDC's Website

Skate Rental

Did you know the Pavilion in Flushing Meadow Corona Park was a roller skating rink? Taryn Sacramone from Queens Theatre In The Park was kind enough to show us inside and model one of the roller skates from back in the day.

Check out their schedule of amazing upcoming shows

Queens Theatre in the Park