There are 8 million stories in the Naked City, and here’s the chance to learn a few of them.
Jane’s Walk – an annual, five-borough event featuring volunteer guides leading free tours – runs from Friday, May 3, through Sunday, May 5.
Focusing on such topics as history, culture, architecture, and demographics, these treks place all around New York City. However, this column shares information about the ones in Queens only. (Remember: Coke doesn’t sell Pepsi.) Plus, the best ones are in the World’s Borough, as always. (What a surprise!)
The schedule follows. Click on the highlighted links for details and please notice that some events repeat.
Friday, May 3
World’s Fair History in Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 11 am, two hours.
Ed Perlmutter jaunts through Flushing Meadows Corona Park and discusses the 1939-40 and 1964-65 World’s Fairs and the structures that still exist.
Queen Anne Architecture in Richmond Hill at 11 am, one hour.
William Gati marvels at the Queen Anne architecture in Richmond Hill, especially the intricate facades, stained glass, and ornate details of homes nestled among tree-lined streets. Then, he enjoys Forest Park’s lush greenery, a testament to thoughtful urban planning and a natural oasis for city dwellers.
On the Revolutionary War Trail with Kings in Queens at 11 am, two hours.
Donna Hrusovsky and Michael Brady uncover the hidden history of Middleburgh, which then became Newtown and is now Elmhurst. The itinerary includes pre-Revolutionary era churches and cemeteries, a famous apple, and the inspiration for America’s most famous poem about jolly old St. Nicholas.
A Real Renaissance Man: Lewis Howard Latimer at 1 pm, one hour.
Francie and Eileen Scanlon share the story of Lewis Latimer, an African-American child of slaves who helped Thomas Alva Edison with the light bulb and Alexander Graham Bell with the telephone. He also had an invention-full solo career.
A Walk in the Park(ing lot): Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 1 pm, two hours.
Cody Herrmann and Rebecca Pryor from Guardians of Flushing Bay explore local history, current development proposals, and connectivity between different parts of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Starting at David Dinkins Circle, they go north over the Passarelle pedestrian bridge towards Citi Field and end at the Flushing Bay waterfront.
Saturday, May 4
Philippine Culture Blending in NYC at 9 am, one hour.
Gerardo Dupingay from Pro/Bibak NY strolls along Vanderbilt Parkway, a newly renovated pathway in Fresh Meadows. Some participants are Filipinos from the Igorot tribe who want to share their cultural history.
A as in Aquaduct: South Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill at 9 am, two hours.
Melanie Denzer traverses Little Guyana from the 88th Street A train station to Lefferts Boulevard. She talks about the area’s evolution, name, famous residents, and what it’s like to live there today.
An Anti-Connoisseur’s Guide to the Parking Lots of Astoria at 11 am, one hour.
Dan Miller from Open New York leads a 1.2 mile trek from the Food Bazaar at Northern Boulevard and 42nd Street, which is suburban in format and auto-oriented. From there, the group goes north on Steinway Street and along the commercial strip on 30th Avenue before ending at the Key Foods at 33rd Street.
Hidden Bel-Gems of the 1964-65 World’s Fair at 11 am, 90 minutes.
Katie Anderson visits the Garden of Meditation, the Westinghouse time capsules, and lesser known remnants of the 1964-65 World Fair. She also touches on the historical significance of sites whose pavilions were torn down.
Connecting the Borough: QueensLink at 11 am, two hours.
Noelle Hunter and Andrew Lynch take a 3.5-mile look at where the QueensLink corridor would be and talk about their vision for each section. QueensLink is a project to transform the abandoned Rockaway Beach train line into public green space.
Alley Pond Stroll at 11 am, 30 minutes.
Emily Albines from the Alley Pond Environmental Center explores the marsh land around Alley Creek.
On the Revolutionary War Trail with Kings in Queens at 11 am, two hours, repeat.
Donna Hrusovsky and Michael Brady uncover the hidden history of Middleburgh, which then became Newtown and is now Elmhurst. The itinerary includes pre-Revolutionary era churches and cemeteries, a famous apple, and the inspiration for America’s most famous poem about jolly old St. Nicholas.
Queen Anne Architecture in Richmond Hill at 11 am, one hour, repeat.
William Gati marvels at the Queen Anne architecture in Richmond Hill, especially the intricate facades, stained glass, and ornate details of homes nestled among tree-lined streets. Then, he enjoys Forest Park’s lush greenery, a testament to thoughtful urban planning and a natural oasis for city dwellers.
Elmhurst: 1652 to Present Center of Diversity at 1 pm, 90 minutes.
James McMenamin and Marialena Giampino traverse Judge Street, Whitney Avenue, 43rd Avenue, Corona Avenue and Broadway. Elmhurst has the third oldest history in Queens, known for its place during the revolution, cemeteries, and businesses.
A Walk in the Historic Churchyard of Zion Episcopal Church at 1 pm, one hour.
Douglaston/Little Neck Historical Society Board Members Kevin Wolfe and Victor Dadras tour a church cemetery dating back to the 19th century. The beautiful old trees and historic monuments, including a Native American burial site, create an oasis of meditative calm in a busy city.
Hidden Bel-Gems of the 1964-65 World’s Fair at 1 pm, 90 minutes, repeat.
Katie Anderson visits the Garden of Meditation, the Westinghouse time capsules, and lesser known remnants of the 1964-65 World Fair. She also touches on the historical significance of sites whose pavilions were torn down.
An Anti-Connoisseur’s Guide to the Parking Lots of Astoria at 1 pm, one hour, repeat.
Dan Miller from Open New York leads a 1.2 mile trek from the Food Bazaar at Northern Boulevard and 42nd Street, which is suburban in format and auto-oriented. From there, the group goes north on Steinway Street and along the commercial strip on 30th Avenue before ending at the Key Foods at 33rd Street.
A as in Aquaduct: South Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill at 3 pm, two hours.
Melanie Denzer explores Little Guyana from the 88th Street A train station to Lefferts Boulevard. She talks about the area’s evolution, name, famous residents, and what it’s like to live there today.
Hidden Bel-Gems of the 1964-65 World’s Fair at 3 pm, 90 minutes.
Katie Anderson visits the Garden of Meditation, the Westinghouse time capsules, and lesser known remnants of the 1964-65 World Fair. She also touches on the historical significance of sites whose pavilions were torn down.
May 5
A as in Aquaduct: South Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill at 9 am, two hours, repeat.
Melanie Denzer traverses Little Guyana from the 88th Street A train station to Lefferts Boulevard. She talks about the area’s evolution, name, famous residents (living and deceased), and what it’s like to live there today.
On the Revolutionary War Trail with Kings in Queens at 11 am, two hours, repeat.
Donna Hrusovsky and Michael Brady uncover the hidden history of Middleburgh, which then became Newtown and is now Elmhurst. The itinerary includes pre-Revolutionary era churches and cemeteries, a famous apple, and the inspiration for America’s most famous poem about jolly old St. Nicholas.
Queen Anne Architecture in Richmond Hill at 11 am, one hour, repeat.
William Gati marvels at the Queen Anne architecture in Richmond Hill, especially the intricate facades, stained glass, and ornate details of homes nestled among tree-lined streets. Then, he enjoys Forest Park’s lush greenery, a testament to thoughtful urban planning and a natural oasis for city dwellers.
Millstones to Murals in Long Island City at noon, 90 minutes.
Greater Astoria Historical Society Executive Director Bob Singleton starts at the Dutch Kills Millstones, the last remnant from the era when tide mills transformed a failed colony into a jewel on the crown. Then, he crosses Queens Plaza into a hushed neighborhood which echoes the last remnants of residential 19th century Long Island City. Then, it’s on to 21st Street to admire the Metro Tech Building – covered in murals – and said to be artists’ testament to the gone but not forgotten Flux Factory.
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the World’s Fair at 1 pm, two hours.
Author and professional tour guide Adrienne Onofri tours Flushing Meadows Corona Park to see what was left behind, from the Unisphere to specially commissioned artwork to lesser-known relics. Discover natural, recreational, historical, and cultural gems.
Elmhurst: 1652 to Present Center of Diversity at 3 pm, 90 minutes, repeat.
James McMenamin and Marialena Giampino traverse Judge Street, Whitney Avenue, 43rd Avenue, Corona Avenue and Broadway. Elmhurst has the third oldest history in Queens, known for its place during the revolution, cemeteries, and businesses.
Bonus (Virtual)
Jane’s Block: The Sidewalk Ballet along Astoria’s Steinway Street on demand.
The weekend’s namesake, Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), was an urban activist who led the successful opposition to an expressway plan for Greenwich Village. Taking place over the first weekend in May to coincide with her May 4 birthday, the event began with a few programs in 2011 and spread to more than 200 cities around the world. The Municipal Art Society of New York is a main organizer.
