Author Archives: Rob MacKay

#PickoftheWeek | Kermit the Frog + the Muppet Babies Take Queens

Kermit the Frog is the world’s most famous amphibian. He’s all over Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Hollywood movies, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and his fans sing his songs, laugh at his stories, and feel awkward watching his romance with Miss Piggy. But does anybody know what Kermit was like before his fame? Was…

InTheLoop | Free Shakespeare! The Public Theater Offers ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in Three Queens Venues

Things were pretty good in 16th century Sicily until some soldiers returned from battle. Romance soon filled the air, and gossip ensued — along with hilarity and double-crossing. The Public is offering Much Ado About Nothing 25 times this summer. The five-borough tour includes stops at A.R.R.O.W. Field House on June 20; Queens Night Market…

#InTheLoop | Tom Cruise Marathon Starts in Queens on June 20

Have you ever heard of Thomas C. Mapother II? He’s a Syracuse native who spent part of his childhood in Canada. He bounced around a lot, actually, attending 15 schools in 14 years. After graduating from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey, he did a stint as a busboy in New York City before…

#Newsflash | Instagrammable Community Mural in LIC Park Keeps Growing

Breath-taking views of the East River and Midtown Manhattan. Fresh hamburgers at Ottomanelli By The Water. Pick-up soccer games, outdoor aerobics, and picnics. There are countless reasons to hang out in Hunter’s Point State Park these days. Here’s the latest. Frank Ottomanelli recently added some new art to the Hunter’s Point South Park Mural that…

#InTheLoop | The Queens Jazz Trail Concert Series Begins on June 19

Wayne Tucker is a high-energy composer, arranger, violinist, vocalist, and Grammy-nominated trumpeter who has performed with everyone from Kurt Elling to Taylor Swift. His New York-based band, The Bad Mothas, and he offer their signature blend of Jazz, R&B, and Pop in Astoria Park on Thursday, June 19, at 7 pm. The free concert is…

#Newflash | Metropolitan Opera Presents Free Concert at Socrates Sculpture Park on June 15

Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! The Metropolitan Opera’s 2025 Summer Recital Series returns to Socrates Sculpture Park on Sunday, June 15, at 6:30 pm. Okay, okay, nobody is going to sing “Figaro,” but this 16th annual presentation will showcase four rising stars from the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program in a beautiful outdoor space. The show,…

#Newsflash | NYC’s Best Ballers Compete in Sport They’ve Never Played at Maspeth Squash on Saturday

Forget the argument about whether basketball or handball is “The City Game.” Here comes a brand new sport that’s about to take over the Big Apple…and as usual, Queens is leading the way. The first-ever – but hopefully not the last – Maspeth Steel Big Ball Squash 57 6K Invitational will unfold over various hours…

#InTheLoop | The Jackson Heights Historic Weekend Is on June 14 and June 15

It’s the first planned garden-and-cooperative community in the United States and the second one in the entire world. It’s where the term “garden apartment” was first coined, and it features a mix of brick houses and apartment buildings in such revival styles as Georgian, Italianate, Mediterranean, and Tudor. Learn more during the Jackson Heights Historic…

#InTheLoop | Celebrate Juneteenth in Queens

There are so many Juneteenth activities in Queens this year that it’s hard to believe that the date became a national holiday only four years ago. The World’s Most Diverse Borough is ready to host live performances, screenings, workshops, and community conversations between June 14 and June 21. A chronologic schedule follows. (The list will…

#PickoftheWeek | Flag Day Ceremony Features New Book, Exhibition + WW II Veteran’s Presence

Get ready for an unforgettable remembrance. On Flag Day (Saturday, June 14), Maple Grove Cemetery presents a unique and heartfelt event that combines art, history, literature and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. To take place at Celebration Hall, the activities start at noon with the unveiling of an exhibition of authentic uniforms…