#WeeklyColumn | It’s In Queens! Nov. 15 to Nov. 21
BY QEDC It's In Queens
What’s in the letter “s”? The world’s best Queen tribute band will rock Queens this weekend. The raucous show will include plenty of chants of “We Will Rock You” and “Momma Mia!” Five NEA jazz masters will also be in town, as well as Peaches & Herb, a documentary on Jihad, new dance works, and competing cooking demos.
Nov. 15, Improvisers of a Certain Age, 7:15 pm + 9 pm. This inter-generational, multi-racial improv group responds to the audience’s suggestions. No holds barred. Artefix, 38-02 61st St., Woodside.
Nov. 16, Speaking in the Language of Jazz, 8 pm. Five NEA Jazz Masters — Slide Hampton, Barry Harris, Jimmy Cobb, Jimmy Heath, and Jimmy Owens — jam with veteran bassist Paul West. This annual concert showcases the love and friendship between men who have devoted their lives to jazz. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.
Nov. 16, Peaches & Herb, 11 pm. Herb Fame has remained as “Herb” since the duo was created in 1966, but seven different women have filled the role of “Peaches,” most notably Francine Hurd Barker, who died on Aug. 13, 2005. Expect hits like “Shake Your Groove Thing (1978)” and “Reunited (1979).” Resorts World Casino New York City, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., South Jamaica.
Nov. 16, Of Fathers and Sons, Dec. 2. Talal Derki gained the trust of a radical Islamist family in Syria, sharing their daily life for more than two years. This documentary provides insight into growing up with a father who dreams of establishing an Islamic caliphate. One son seems ready for jihad, but the other wants to get an education. Shows are Nov. 16, 7:30 pm; Nov. 17, 1 pm; Nov. 17, 7 pm; Nov. 18, 3 pm; Nov. 18, 7 pm; Nov. 21, 3 pm; Nov. 23, 5 pm; Nov. 24, 1 pm; Nov. 25, 1 pm ; and Dec. 2, 7 pm. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
Nov. 16, Take Root, Nov. 17. Dancers present experimental and developing work at 8 pm both nights. Catey Ott Dance Collective’s “Effervescence” embodies the spirit of positive energy within an external world of chaos. David Appel’s new, as-yet-untitled piece, looks at the existence and activity of three people in a space. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC.
Nov. 17, Killer Queen, 8 pm. Touring since 1993, this Queen tribute band captures the essence of Freddie Mercury and company. Get ready for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” Colden Auditorium, Queens College, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing.
Nov. 17, Double Feature Live Event, 5 pm. Two Thai movies with the director, Anocha Suwichakornpong, in person. “Mundane History” is about a paralyzed filmmaker and the male nurse who tends to him. It takes on astronomy, Buddhism, and politics. “By the Time It Gets Dark” is about a young filmmaker writing and directing a movie about the 1976 Thammasat University massacre. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
Nov. 17, Zero-Waste Thanksgiving, 1 pm. The NYC Compost Project presents a special guest from All.Things.Cooked who offers kitchen tips for a zero-waste Thanksgiving, from carrots to turkey bone. This includes demo-delicious and eco-friendly recipes. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing.
Nov. 17, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Nov. 30. The Parkside Players presents a musical comedy about an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents competing for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Grace Lutheran Church, 103-15 Union Tpke., Forest Hills.
Nov. 17, Cooking Demo, 10 am. Hugue Dufour, chef at M Wells, prepares a dish from the greenmarket’s bounty with samples for all. LIC Youth Market, 46th Avenue and Center Boulevard.
Nov. 17, ¡CORÓNATE!, 11 am to 4:15 pm. An afternoon with Danza Azteca, Mariachi Tapatío de Alvaro Paulino, Ecuadorian dance and music with Sisa Pakari, Storytime in Spanish, Cuban performer Yesenia Selier, and Los Cumpleaños, which plays tropical rhythms from Colombia washed in psychedelic soundscapes. Plus, origami, piñata-making, crochet, embroidery, hula hoops, handmade Mexican clothes, and jewelry. Corona Plaza, 40-04 National St.
Nov. 17, Wearable Art Workshop: Designing Totes, 1 pm. Professional designer Phyllis Ger teaches how to decorate tote bags. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th St., Flushing.
Nov. 18, Mystic India: A Bollywood Dance Spectacular!, 3 pm. This show tells the story of India’s transition to modernity through dance. It’s an explosion of colors and energy and a stunning visual display that fuses dance, theater, and special effects. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside.
Nov. 18, Amanda Monaco Quartet, 2 pm. This saxophone-guitar-Hammond organ-drums ensemble blends 1960s hard bop/boogaloo with a modern harmonic sensibility. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.
Nov. 18, Invisible Structures, 3:30 pm. In conjunction with the current exhibition “Complicated Territory,” curator and scholar Kathy Battista interviews artist Alex McQuilkin about her work, which includes painting, video, and sculptural installations that deal with female psychology. Dorsky Gallery, 11-03 45th Ave., LIC.
Nov. 18, Printmaking, 1 pm. Spend time examining the surface textures and shapes of Isamu Noguchi’s sculptures in the permanent collection and the special exhibition “Akari: Sculpture by Other Means.” Then, learn basic linocut printmaking techniques using ink and linoleum blocks. Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Rd., LIC.
Nov. 18, Fertile Ground, 7 pm. This monthly new works series is for emerging choreographers and experimenting, established professionals. It usually includes five or six artists presenting a work-in-progress with a post-performance discussion with wine. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., LIC.
Top image: Killer Queen bottom image: Improvisers of a Certain Age Seeking Center Stage
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