#WeeklyColumn | It’s In Queens! | April 19 to April 25
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Queens does its part for Earth Day and Spring Break with special kiddie workshops, green events for all ages, and eco-films for families. Heck there are even activities for trees, bunnies, and bees. The Queens Marathon –yes, we have one, and it’s great — is also on the docket.
April 19, Painted Alice, April 28. A musical adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” in an immersive style with the audience among works of art. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8 pm. The Plaxall Gallery, 5-25 46th Ave., LIC.
April 19, New Release: Black Mother from Khalik Allah, April 21. This documentary takes viewers on a spiritual journey through Jamaica, the Island in the Sun. Screenings: April 19 at 7:30 pm; April 20 at 1 pm and 5 pm; and April 21 at 3 pm and 7 pm. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
April 19, Spring Recess Family Activities, April 28. Drop in for green-themed activities from 11 am to 4 pm. They include a green-screen stage where kids can “sing in the rain” against a background of their choice and create claymation movies and characters based on the Wallace & Gromit movie “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” which screens daily at noon. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
April 20, Sakura Matsuri Festival, 11 am. A live Taiko drum performance with dance and a tea ceremony. Cherry Grove near NYS Pavilion, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
April 20, Earth Day and Arbor Day, 9:30 am. A volunteer spring cleanup with mulching and planting, followed by a walking tour to visit portions of the former 300-acre 17th and 18th century Bowne House Farm and the 19th century Parsons Nursery. The Bowne House, 37-01 Bowne St., Flushing.
April 20, Barnyard Egg Hunt, 11 am. Hayrides and hunts throughout the day with Whiskers the Bunny on site. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks.
April 20, Botanical Immigrants Tour, 11 am. A guided tour to learn about the global origins of plants and how they’re used in different cultures. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing.
April 21, Queens Marathon, 8 am. Run 26.2 miles via a looping course in this qualifier for next year’s Boston Marathon. Meet near Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
April 22, Sustainable Spring Break, April 26. Five days of installations, prototypes, workshops, and experiences related to sustainable life. Enjoy the new exhibit, “Solar Cat,” created by Designer-in-Residence Krystal Persaud with her Explainer partners. The Gazillion Bubble Show makes a special appearance on April 25. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
April 22, Earthly Legends, 6 pm. An Earth Day event featuring an early evening walk through nature trails, followed by interactive stories around the fire circle. Marshmallows, orange slices, and tomatoes included. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston.
April 22, Bee A Pollinator, noon. In celebration of Earth Day and in collaboration with the American Chestnut Foundation’s New York Chapter, the farm transplants six American Chestnut Trees to reintroduce them to their native habitat. Program includes beeswax candle-making, a seed ball project, bee talks, and a tractor-drawn hayride. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks.
April 22, Easter Egg Hunt, 3:30 pm. Event suggested for children under the age of nine. Lewis Latimer House Museum, 34-41 137th St., Flushing.
April 24, Spring Break Fun, noon. Canvas painting, Jackson Pollock splatter painting, face painting, balloon art, a spring-themed interactive children’s puppet show, an interactive children’s musical performance, a magic show, and popcorn giveaway. Rainey Park, Vernon Boulevard and 34th Avenue, Astoria.
April 24, Earth Day Drop, Swap, and Shop, 1 pm. Drop off gently used, clean and functional children’s toys, games, puzzles and books. Grab a complimentary reusable bag and let the fun begin. Each participant is limited to bring and take one box or bag of donations. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston.
April 24, “What If?” Spring 2019 Film Series, 2 pm. In conjunction with the “Mundos Alternos” exhibition, this eight-week series screens films on the possibilities of altered time and space. Each film is introduced by Mark Ethan Toporek, who also leads a post-screening discussion. The April 24 event focuses on “The Truman Show,” which stars Jim Carrey as a good-natured man unaware that his life is being managed and chronicled by a reality show. Queens Museum, NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
April 25, Earth Day Presentation, 7 pm. Peggy Kurtz, the Director of Cultural Arts & Jewish Heritage Programs at Commonpoint Queens, talks about the environment and a recent UN Climate Report. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston.
April 25, Green Garden/Green Planet, 1:30 pm. Recycle and let nature and natural materials inspire the artist within in recognition of Earth Day and spring break. Using materials gathered from the garden, participants create multidimensional animals or collages. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing.
Continued from the previous week
Babylon, until April 21. Because of its controversial nature, this film was never released in the U.S. It follows a young dancehall deejay who battles fiercely against racism and xenophobia in South London. Three remaining shows are April 20 at 3 pm and April 21 at 1 pm and 5 pm. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
Flushing Cherry Blossom, until April 21. Free admission to a garden of cherry trees during regular hours, noon to 5 pm. Lewis H. Latimer House Museum, 34-41 137th St., Flushing.
And Then There Were None, until April 28. Watch Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit unfold and unravel. Shows are at 7:30 pm on April 18-21 and 24-27 and at 3 pm on April 20 and 28. The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., LIC.
Mariana Valencia: Bouquet, until April 27. This performance piece contemplates authorship within the premise of transmission, relation, alliance, and ensemble. Valencia uses her body as the main archive as she quotes dances by legends. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm. The Chocolate Factory Theater, 5-49 49th Ave., LIC.
Images: Queens Farm (banner); NYC Parks Department (top); and Calpulli Dance Company (top); Queens Botanical Garden/Anne Tan Detchkov (bottom)
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