#WeeklyColumn | It’s In Queens!
June starts with an explosion of activities in Queens. Movies? We got dozens. Concerts? We got several dozen. We also have comics, watercolors, carnival rides, Klezmer, and strawberries under a full moon.
June 2, Crooked Shadows, June 4. City Gate Productions presents Shawneen Rowe’s one-woman play inspired by Grandma Rosa, who brought laughter and strength to life despite some tragedies. Shows are June 2 and 3 at 8 pm, and June 4 at 3 pm. Broom Tree Theatre, Astoria First Presbyterian Church, 23-35 Broadway.
June 2, Cosmic Con NYC, June 4. Three days of exhibitions, artists, special guests, actors, illustrators, writers, and general comics lovers. Schedule is Friday, 3 pm to 7:30 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm; and Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. Tangram Center, 133-33 39th Ave., Flushing.
June 2, Do Not Detonate, June 16. This program screens movies that evoke the historical, social, or fantastical milieu of Wes Anderson’s new film Asteroid City. The works feature a desert setting and stand-out performances, and they include Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Elia Kazan’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
June 2, Three Nights of Dance, June 4. The Take Root program presents the danceTactics Performance Group and Alicia Raquel Morales on June 2 and June 3 at 8 pm. The Fertile Ground New Works Showcase provides a venue for emerging artists to show works-in-progress on June 4 at 7 pm. Green Space, 37-24 24th St., Long Island City.
June 3, Queens Rising Celebration, 5 pm. About six hours of music with DJ Greg Caz, the Korean Traditional Music and Dance Center, Irish folk singer Allen Gogarty, The Afro-Latineers, and Jennah Vox to kick off Queens Rising 2023. Queens Night Market, the fields behind the New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
June 3, Art Opening, 1 pm. Displaying artists Violet Baxter, Jason A. Cina, Casey Concelmo, Nancy Gesimondo, Tina Glavan, Dianne Martin, Sheila Ross, and James Seffens discuss and show their pieces. Studio 41, 27-15 41st Ave., Long Island City.
June 3, Jamaica Dance Festival 2023, June 24. This sixth annual extravaganza features professional dance companies on an outdoor stage over four consecutive Saturdays, always at 7 pm. King Manor Museum, 150-29 Jamaica Ave.
June 3, Queensboro Dance Festival Kick Off, 3 pm. Four hours of short performances, dance classes, and special guests to celebrate the beginning of a dance festival that will travel throughout the borough until Sept. 17. Travers Park, vicinity of 34th Avenue and 73rd Street, Jackson Heights.
June 3, Global Mashup: India Meets Mali, 7 pm (dance workshop) + 8 pm (concert). Kiran Ahluwalia sings classics from India and Pakistan. Yacouba Sissoko tells stories and plays the kora. Megha Kalia dances traditional Punjabi choreography. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.
June 3, Dalí Quartet, 7:30 pm. This Latin American quartet specializes in passionate music from the Classical and Romantic eras. The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills.
June 3, Open House, noon. Free, family-friendly activities including movies, storytelling with the Astoria-based collective Malikah, henna tattoos, Egyptian martial arts, a symposium on migrant justice, and an installation. MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City.
June 3, Strawberry Moon, 7 pm. A guided tour, strawberry sampling, and wine pairing along with a full moon. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Glen Oaks.
June 3, Squashed Fairies, 3 pm. Long Island City Ballet presents a whimsical tale of beauty, mystery, and mischievous fairies. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
June 3, Elmhurst Walking Tour, 12:30 pm. Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society Vice President James McMenamin leads a stroll on the Elmhurst section of Queens Boulevard with an emphasis on Newtown Pippin apples, a hidden cemetery, modernist buildings, and secrets. Meet at Newtown Playground, 92nd Street and 56th Avenue.
June 3, Caribbean Blend, 8 pm. The Braata Folk Singers celebrate the music of Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, and the Bahamas. Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave.
June 3, The People of African Descent in New York City Symposium, 2 pm. The Economic Leadership Council presents a formal gathering of scholars, researchers, government employees, and community leaders in recognition of Juneteenth. Greater Nexus, 89-14 Parsons Blvd., Jamaica.
June 3, Puppetry Workshop, 2 pm. Arts professional Tau Bennett leads a three-hour puppeteering workshop for middle and high school students. Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing.
June 3, Queens Pride & Possibility, 1 pm. Learn about queerness in the museum, discuss queer floriography, and paint a rainbow Victorian salt dough ornament. King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave.
June 4, Bell Blvd Food & Music Fest, 1 pm to 6 pm. A restaurant stroll with concerts, volleyball, mini-golf, ping-pong, and other activities. Bell Boulevard between 38th and 43rd avenues, Bayside.
June 4, Ecuadorian Culture, 2 pm. The Ecuadorian American Cultural Center’s Spring Recital includes music, dance, and the first official performance of the group Amawta Roots. Queens Museum, NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
June 6, Watercolor Workshop, 1:30 pm. Helaine Soller teaches the basics of watercolors. This is the first in a series of Tuesday afternoon classes. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing.
June 7, Astoria Park Carnival, June 11. Rides, music, games, and deep-fried treats create an electric atmosphere. Astoria Park Parking Lot, Hoyt Avenue North and 19th Street.
June 8, A Musical Nosh with Klezmer Master Frank London, 4 pm. Queens-based Percussia plays Klezmer music, including a world premiere of Frank London’s composition “Essential Food Group.” Forest Hills Library, 108-91 71st Ave.
Top image: Cosmic Con NYC at Tangram Center;
Bottom image: Bell Blvd Food & Music Fest in Bayside
