Only in Queens Festival - Sponsored by The NY Daily News

The NY Daily News is the proud media sponsor of Borough President Melinda Katz's "ONLY IN QUEENS" summer festival 

QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz, in partnership with NYC Parks, NYC & Company Foundation and Delta Air Lines, today announced details of the upcoming “Only in Queens” Summer Festival to take place on Sunday, June 26 from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Admission is free and open to the public.

The “Only in Queens” Summer Festival will feature a SummerStage outdoor concert in partnership with the City Parks Foundation beginning at 4:30 PM at the Festival Site in the park, headlined by R&B singer GINUWINE with performances by hip hop group KID ‘N PLAY, singer/actor TRISTAN “MACK” WILDS of the HBO drama “The Wire” and the CW series “90210”, and music by Queens native DJ CAMILO of Hot 97.

The “Only in Queens” Summer Festival will also offer a wide range of activities for people of all ages, including:

·        Guided tours of the New York State Pavilion’s Tent of Tomorrow, the Queens Library Mobile Unit, the Queens Theatre and the Queens Museum;

·        Family-friendly fun including cultural performances, face painting, inflatable bounce houses, a Delta Air Lines Scavenger Hunt, activities run by the United States Tennis Association, and an appearance by Mr. Met;

·        Food and craft vendors offering a variety of international cuisine and merchandise for sale;

·        Exhibits of memorabilia from the original 1939-40 and 1964-65 World’s Fairs, classic cars and a boat from the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival;

·        Virtual reality demonstrations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the group People for the Pavilion and Queens-based RPGA Studio as part of the international ideas competition<http://www.nyspideas.org/> currently underway to solicit imaginative and creative public input for how the New York State Pavilion can best be adapted for public reuse.

“Music, food and fun in the park are what New York summers are made of, and we’re proud to bring it all together this June at the ‘Only in Queens’ Summer Festival,” said Borough President KATZ. “Bring your entire family and friends to explore some of the very best of ‘The World’s Borough’ right at your fingertips.”

“Flushing Meadows Corona Park is always one of Queens’ most active destinations. This summer we are proud to host a showcase of the best the borough has to offer— from monuments and historic World’s Fair structures, to arts and sports programming,” said NYC Parks Commissioner MITCHELL J. SILVER, FAICP. “I’d like to thank Borough President Katz for her ongoing support of Queens’ parks as spaces to celebrate in, and to be celebrated.”

“At City Parks Foundation, we believe culture should be convenient and affordable for everyone. Our SummerStage festival removes the barriers to culture, bringing world-class artists, topical and popular, to neighborhood parks like Flushing Meadows Corona Park, free of charge,” said HEATHER LUBOV, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation. “We're thrilled to partner with Borough President Katz and NYC Parks to celebrate the rich history of the Park and the thriving community of the borough.”

"Only in Queens celebrates the borough’s energy, sense of community, and diversity – qualities that make Queens a great place to live and visit,” said FRED DIXON, President of the NYC & Company Foundation. “NYC & Company Foundation is proud to support Borough President Katz’s commitment to sharing the best of Queens with the rest of the City, and the rest of the world.”

"We're excited to partner with Borough President Katz, NYC & Company, and NYC Parks to bring neighbors together for what we know will be a fun and enriching community event," said HENRY KUYKENDALL, Vice President New York for Delta Air Lines. "With hubs at JFK and LaGuardia, Delta is committed to the borough of Queens and proud to support great events like this one."

Funding for the SummerStage concert comes from the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Improvement Fund, administered by City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Borough President Katz and NYC Parks.

Additional co-sponsors for the “Only in Queens” Summer Festival include TD Bank, the New York Daily News, Vio/K Marketing Group and Resorts World Casino, New York City.

For more information, go to Queens BP Website

Putting Down Roots - A Benefit for Forestdale April 21,2015

Located in a campus like setting on 3 acres in Forest Hills, Forestdale is committed to providing resources that strengthen underserved communities in Queens. Our mission is to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently. Core services include foster care; comprehensive services to fathers; wrap around programs for pregnant and parenting teens; crisis intervention for system-involved families.

Forestdale provides educational advocacy; access to good jobs that lead to fulfilling careers and state of the art health care.

With a history of service dating back to 1854, Forestdale serves over 1,000 families in high risk neighborhoods throughout Queens.


Our Benefit is a great chance to get to know Forestdale and its people!

See their website for more information:  Forestdale Benefit

LIC Summit Tuesday June 17th

The NY Daily News is proud to be a sponsor of the LIC Summit on Tuesday June 17th 

The LIC Summit has been put together by the LIC Partnership in order to engage city, state and local elected officials with business, civic leaders and members of the community to discuss the changing landscape in Long Island City

   They have recently added another speaker in Jack Rossi from JetBlue as well as a new silver sponsor in Tishman Speyer, some new bronze sponsors are CitiBank, Falchi, And TD Bank 

Stop by the Daily News table for information on marketing to the residents and workers of LIC

Austin Ale House Officially Opens Al Fresco Space

Austin Ale House Website

Austin's Ale House to Officially Re-Open Patio

Queens Hot Spot Officially Opens Al Fresco Space, With a Nod from Queens Constituents

Kew Gardens, Queens, New York (May 19, 2014)-  Austin’s Ale House  announces the expansion of their existing outdoor dining space, and will officially open on May 29th , 2014. Guest speakers will feature Boro President Melinda Katz, Queens Chamber of Commerce President, Jack Friedman and Senator Joseph Addabbo. The al fresco patio features an expanded dining area and a pergola-covered communal seating space. The Owners, Mark Boccia, John Ryan and Tony Truzzolino are local Queens entrepreneurs, who collaborated with Community Board 9 and the MTA, are dedicated to beautifying the neighborhood and maintaining the existing green landscaping.  The expansion offers a unique setting that is best in class for al fresco dining and catering entertaining in the Western Queens perimeter.

The opening event will take place on the newly expanded patio, featuring a special beer tasting from their neighboring boro beer maven, Brooklyn Brewery, and an array of pub bites like Brooklyn Beer Braised Short Rib Sliders and a Mini Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese, created by new appointed Chef Matt Cookson.

Co-Owner, Mark Boccia:

"This expansion is a culmination of many years of discussion and planning with the community board, the Long Island Railroad and the MTA, that has resulted in an outdoor patio expansion and improvement that will serve Kew Gardens and the Queens community for years to come. Upon full completion, it will be an outdoor oasis like no other and we are very proud and excited to provide this space for all to enjoy"


About Austin’s Ale House:  Established in 1991, Austin's has been serving trendy pub-styled comfort food along with a fine selection of spirits and one of the largest selection of domestic and imported beers Queens has to offer.

In addition to their abundant dining, spirits and beer choices, Austin’s also offers private dining for special occasions and business meetings.


Boasting one of the largest beer selections throughout Queens:  Austin’s Ale House currently offers twenty draught, and another forty bottled beers on their current beer menu.  They also offer both domestic and international flights.


With a fancy mix of popular local and USA Craft Beers like Finback (brewed in nearby Maspeth, Queens) Brooklyn Lagers, Red Rocket, Dogfish Head and Southampton, as well as high end imported brews from around the world including Wiehenstephaner Hefeweiss, Smithwicks, Duvel Golden Ale, Chimay, Magners and Kopperberg.  Austin's philosophy is simply to provide you with the widest selection of beers, ales and ciders to meet the most discerning beer palates.


Austin's Ale House Website

World's Flair in today's Daily News

On April 22,1964 the world came to Queens for opening day of the World's Fair that opened in Flushing Meadow Park. 

Here is what that newspaper looked like:

Today we produced a look back at the '64 and '39 fairs and it looks amazing. We have beautiful archival photos and great pieces from our very own Lisa Colangelo, Borough President Melinda Katz, Matthew Silva on why we need to save the NYS Pavilion and Nicholas Hirshon on why the pavilion matters to him.

Daily News World's Flair online

NEWS FROM . . . MELINDA KATZ

QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT

120-55 Queens Boulevard Press Contact:  Michael Scholl

Kew Gardens, New York 11424                           (718) 286-2640 (office) (646)257-0316 (cell)

No. 25-14

FOR RELEASE:  Tuesday, March 25, 2014

 MEDIA ADVISORY: BOROUGH PRESIDENT KATZ,

 ASSEMBLY MEMBER MARKEY              

AND THE WORLD’S FAIR ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE

TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING SLATE OF EVENTS

                                        MARKING ANNIVERSARIES OF 1939 AND 1964 WORLD’S FAIRS

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and state Assembly Member Margaret Markey, the co-chairs of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee, will host a press conference on Friday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m. to announce the scheduling of a six-month series of events to celebrate the 50^th and 75^th anniversaries of the 1964 and 1939 World’s Fairs, which were held in what is now Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.

The press conference will take place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park at the Unisphere, the huge globe erected for the 1964 World’s Fair that has since become a cultural icon known worldwide as a symbol of Queens.

Among the events to be announced on Friday will be an opening ceremony at the New York State Pavilion at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22. That date will be exactly 50 years to the day after the 1964’s World Fair opened to the public.

This year’s opening ceremony will be followed by a rare opportunity for the public to tour the New York State Pavilion. The tours will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22.

     Another event to be announced Friday will be NYC Parks’ “World’s Fair Anniversary Festival,” a day of great food, great rides, live entertainment, World’s Fair memorabilia and more that will be co-sponsored by the Queens Borough President’s Office and held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Sunday, May 18.

A variety of Queens cultural institutions will also be holding World’s Fair Anniversary events this year that will be part of the schedule of festivities to be released at Friday’s press conference.

     Also to be released Friday will be a brochure on World’s Fair Anniversary events produced by the Queens Tourism Council, a division of the Queens Economic Development Corporation and a member of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee. In addition, the Queens Tourism Council will unveil a website Friday offering up-to-date information on World’s Fair Anniversary events.

Borough President Katz and Assembly Member Markey are hosting the press conference in their capacities as co-chairs of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee, an umbrella group that includes elected officials, the City’s Parks Department, the Queens Tourism Council and the participating cultural organizations that will be hosting World’s Fair Anniversary events. Katz and Markey will offer remarks during the press conference along with representatives from NYC Parks, NYC and Company and other members of the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee.

     The additional organizations represented on the World’s Fair Anniversary Committee include theFlushing Meadows-Corona Park Conservancy, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image, the New York Daily News, the New York Hall of Science, the New York Mets, the Noguchi Museum, the Port Authority of NY & NJ, theQueens Botanical Garden, the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens College, the Queens Historical Society,the Queens Museum, the Queens Theatre and the United States Tennis Association.

WHAT: A press conference announcing a slate of events marking the anniversaries of 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs

WHEN:Friday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Parking for the press will be available in the parking lots of the Queens Museum, just steps away from the Unisphere

In case of inclement weather, the press conference will be held in the lobby of the Queens Museumon the same date and time.

Queens Chamber presents Breakfast with the Queens Borough President

The NY Daily News is proud to sponsor the Queens Chamber of Commerce's breakfast with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. It will take place on Tuesday February 11th at the LaGuardia Marriott Hotel located at 102-05 Ditmars Boulevard.

The Queens BP will discuss her vision of Queens, including new developments and economic initiatives all designed to make Queens a better place to work, live and travel around. Buy your tickets today or have your company sponsor a table and network with the people who will help shape Queens over the next couple of years.

Call the Queens Chamber to reserve your spot today 718-898-8500 or email Sophia Ganosis at sganosis@queenschamber.org

Queens Chamber's Website for Registration

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