Spring Guide 2025 - Queens Chronicle

2025 SPRING GUIDE

SPRING GUIDE 3 2025

QUEENS

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 10, 2025 Page 2

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TABLE OF C ONTENT S • Our great parks, even better ............... 4 • Golf, tennis and pickleball .................... 6 • Good deals at greenmarkets ................ 7 • Amateur theater productions .............. 8

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Take a walk in a Queens park New and improved amenities, events, art and more outdoors this season

by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor

Parks in Queens are always beautiful, but they become especially captivating every time spring returns.

The sun shines and reflects off the water at Long Island City’s Gantry Plaza State Park just a little bit brighter. The rustle of leaves sounds even sweeter when you walk or bike through Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village, feeling the gentle breeze against your face.

And nothing is quite as eye-catching as the colorful flowers that start to pop up when the weather warms. The city Parks Department posted on Instagram March 27 that Okame cherry trees in Flushing Meadows Corona Park have reached peak bloom, and Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees soon will follow suit.

“We actually have a bunch of gorgeous Yoshino cherry trees,” Hunters Point Park Conservancy Executive Director Jessica Sechrist told the Chronicle, adding that the group has replenished the trees lining the park’s Oval over the years.

But natural changes are hardly the only ones to look forward to. As improvement projects come to a close and seasonal programming gears up, Queens folks can have new experiences in familiar parks this spring.

If you haven’t braved the cold for a walk in Forest Park or Highland Park this winter, you’ll be delighted to see that not only has the snow melted, but reconstruction of the pathways and sidewalks there was completed in December. At Alley Pond Park, one might also take a walk on the newly rebuilt pathways at Oakland Lake, which hich were finished in October.

Kissena Park in Flushing ng has been a little bit greener since December, ember, as new inf rast r uct ure hass been installed to capture stormwater. ater.

Visitors to Laurelton Playground can look forwardd to new and improved equippment. The $4 million job, ob, which was slated for complepletion last month, includes es a spray play area, 7-foot swings wings and a space for tots.

Sporty types can have a ball returning to South Jamaica’s Rochdale Park to shoot some hoops on its reconstructed basketball courts, which were completed in February. Mafera Park in Ridgewood is slated to see a new synthetic turf field this month, and the playground, picnic grove and basketball court at Rainey Park in Astoria also are set for completion in April.

Looking to the future, ground was broken on a $4.25 million project at Corona’s William F. Moore Park on March 25. The complete redesign will include a new central plaza space around the flagpole, add a new bocce court, improve lighting and security and add new greenery to the space.

The Bayside Marina is in active construction to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, such as to the fixed pier and floating docks. The project has a projected completion date in June, just in time for summer.

Forest Park’s recently reconstructed pathways give Queens folks the perfect opportunity to take relaxing, scenic walks this spring, and perhaps even spot some birds. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ The Rockaway Beach Boardwalk is ready to go, awaiting only the sunshine. A project including new sidewalks, seating, bike racks, fencing, game tables, water fountains and landscaping along Shore Front Parkway was completed in November.

Along with the season of rebirth will come new and recurring programs and volunteer opportunities.

The Eastern Queens Alliance calls on volunteers to help create a Community Peace Garden outside the Idlewild Environmental unused lot. There are several Center on an unu upcoming upco ming i ddates, ates, and an the full list is available at nycgovparks.org. ny ycc-- govparks April 12, all are welcome to On A Parks’ Stewardship Team at join P Northern Boulevard and 234th North Street in Alley Pond Park to Str help plant trees from 9 a.m. to he 12 p.m. With comfortable, shoes and long clothing you sturdy sh dirty, you can learn don’t mind getting g and bring all the proper planting techniques tec trees to the community. Volbenefits of more tr be accompanied by a unteers under 18 must m is required and may be chaperone. Registration Registra completed at nycgovparks.org.

Several parks citywide will offer free athletic programming organized by Shape Up NYC. From cardio sculpt at Torsney Playground’s athletic courts in Long Island City on April 14 to “intenSati,” a fusion between yoga and kickboxing, at Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South in Forest Park, you’re bound to find a form of joyful movement this spring.

One may see the full list at nycparks.org.

Whether you’re a new or seasoned runner, you may visit Astoria Park on Saturdays at 9 a.m. to partake in a 5K community-led run.

The Urban Park Rangers have declared most students’ spring break as “Kids Week,” with a selection of programs across the five boroughs from April 14 to 18.

Kicking off the series in Queens is an event at Jamaica’s Captain Tilly Park in which attendees will help plant native wildflowers

and learn about their benefits to the park ecosystem.

Kids can head to Archie Spigner Park in St. Albans for a series of nature games the next day, enjoy a nature-themed puppet show at Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park in South Richmond Hill on Wednesday, April 16, and search for bats in Forest Park on Thursday.

The week wraps up with “birding Bingo” in Jackson Heights’ Travers Park on Friday, April 18.

Some parks also will celebrate the planet we call home with Earth Week events. The Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park will host a series of volunteer gatherings between April 12 and 22, at which attendees will participate in cleanups, plantings, mulchings and beautification projects, among other activities. One may access the full list at allianceforfmcp.org.

Arbor Day on April 25 also is a great opportunity to celebrate the ample greenery in Queens parks. Volunteers may mark the occasion at a tree planting event at Kissena Park or show their appreciation at Corona’s Simeone Park, where the Urban Park Rangers will inform attendees about tree health and different species.

On April 26, the Rangers will encourage exploration and curiosity with an Arbor Day scavenger hunt at Forest Park’s Sobelsohn Playground.

The Hunters Point Park Conservancy is ringing in the spring this month by doubling down on environmental education at the Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center.

“It’s easy when you live in New York City to feel disconnected from nature and the environment, so helping people get a sense that they do live in the natural world by living in a huge city is really important to us,” Sechrist said.

On the group’s calendar is a family-friendly birding event on April 10. Afterwards, adults and teens who feel so inspired can even make their own bird-themed zine at a

workshop on April 23, led by scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder. Teens 14 and up are welcome with an adult.

Environmental educators also will inform guests about animal migration, with talks on April 13 and 30. Registration information about the conservancy’s events is available at hunterspointparks.org.

Those who wish to dip their toes into birding, an increasingly popular hobby, may do so in parks throughout Queens. The Rangers on April 20 will take both experienced and beginner birders on a stroll around Powell’s Cove Park in Whitestone to look for spring migrants, from warblers to raptors.

The quest for warblers will continue at the Forest Park Overlook on May 4, and those who dare might head to the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on May 18 in the hopes of a hawk sighting.

The conservancy also welcomes all to appreciate the beauty of Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City on a series of spring nature walks on April 26, May 10 and May 17.

Environmental educator Gabriel Willow will give a tour focusing on the park’s ecosystem, its natural functions and its history.

One also may join the Rangers to learn more about the cherry trees at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on April 13. On April 27, the Shape Up NYC Flushing Meadows Corona Park Walking Group welcomes you to admire Okame cherry blossoms through the lens of the iconic Unisphere and New York State Pavilion.

Artsy folks who have not yet made the trip to see the exhibits on view in Queens parks will have one more chance to do so, in some locations.

Leonard Ursachi’s “Peace Like a River” installation, on view at Hunter’s Point South through April 26, depicts several models of the same sculpture in different, vibrant colors.

Other sites, including Long Island City’s Queensbridge Park and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, also will offer limited-time displays to explore this spring.

“Grateful as we are to have a proper winter and as helpful as it’s been for controlling some of the weeds in the park, it’s nice to see people coming back out into the community,” Q Sechrist said.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park’s cherry trees PHOTO VIA INSTAGRAM / @NYCPARKS are in bloom.

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Get ready to spring into action Courts and greens in Queens to help you stay active this season

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

As the days grow longer and the temperatures warm up, spring is the perfect time to hit the courts and lush golf courses. Whether you’re perfecting your swing on the links, practicing your backhand on a tennis court or enjoying the fastpaced action of pickleball, those sports offer a great way to get outside and stay active And not only do they improve your physical health, they also boost mental well-being.

Golf is known to be a wonderful stress reliever and great for mindfulness. The American Heart Association has said that studies have shown that spending time outdoors and engaging in physical activity like golf can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.

GolfNYC offers four large golf courses in the World’s Borough.

The rates vary at each, but they all offer differentt weekday and weekend pricing. g. Early bird, t w ilig ht, sen ior a nd junior rates are also available.

Infor mation n on all of the courses rses can be fou ndd at golfnyc.com.

The Clear view Park k Golf Course is the busiest 18-hole course on the East Coast, according ing to Golf NYC. Located at the foot of the Throggs Neck Bridge, at 202-12 Willets Point Blvd. in Bayside, Clearview plays at 6,328 yards and is a par 70.

According to the city Parks Department’s website, landscape architect Willie Tucker designed the course, which lies on gently rolling terrain. It’s aptly named for its views of the East River and the

Long Island Sound.

The Douglaston Golf Course, formerly known as the North Hills Country Club, became a municipal course in the early 1960s. With picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline, the course is considered the second-most popular amongst all of the city’s courses, per GolfNYC. It is located at 6320 Marathon Pkwy.

The Parks Department said the course is designed for players with beginner to intermediate skill levels. The fairways are wide, treelined and sloping, and the course has a par of 67.

The Kissena Golf Course, at 164-15 Booth Memorial Ave. in Fresh Meadows, spans only 4,665 yards but is still considered challenging for the average golfer. It has a par of 64. Designed in 1933, the 18-hole course is a favorite for those in the area looking for a shorter outing.

Located just off the Robinson ParkJackie R the way in Woodhaven, W Fo r e s t P a r k G o l f Course, at 101 ForCour Park Dr., was est P originally designed origin Bendelo in 1896

by Tom Be in but later redesigned r Stephen Kay. It 11999 19 99 by Ste oopened op ened in 1901 as a nine-hole course, but expanded to 18 by 1905.

18-hole The tree-lined fairway fa course, with elevated elevat greens and three water holes, spans 6,053 yards and has a par of 70. The Parks Department said several holes at the course in 1916 had to be moved to “eliminate f r iction between residents of this section and the golf players.”

Also operated by Golf NYC, Flushing Meadows Pitch and Putt,

The Clearview Park Golf Course in Bayside is true to its name with sights to PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / CLEARVIEW PARK GOLF COURSE / FILE behold.

Commonpoint Tennis and Athletic Center, located in Alley Pond Park, offers both tennis and pickleball for all ages in PHOTO COURTESY COMMONPOINT its facilities. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, located next to Citi Field and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, consists of an 18-hole pitchand-putt course and a modern mini-golf course with waterfalls, bridges and streams. Both courses are fully lighted for night play.

A great destination for golfers of all skill levels, the 18 holes range from 40 to 80 yards and allow experienced golfers to sharpen up their skills while introducing beginners to the game.

Also in Douglaston is the Alley Pond Golf Center, at 232-01 Northern Blvd. The center offers a driving range to keep your swing at its best, and mini golf for a lighter experience.

The center is open daily, with the range operating from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and the mini golf course from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The center also has an indoor golf simulator that replicates different PGA courses and offers lessons from the pros. Prices vary for all experiences. More information can be found on alleypondgolf.com or by calling (718) 225-9187.

Tennis is said to be among the healthiest sports. A 2018 study conducted by the United States Tennis Association analyzed survey data from more than 10,000 USTA league players.

Out of those surveyed, 97.7 percent of participants reported that playing tennis helps manage their health.

The spor t may also foster

healthy habits off the court — of the respondents, only 1.4 percent of participants said they smoked cigarettes.

Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, is also gaining steam in recent years, proving to be popular for those of all ages.

Many organizations in Queens offer both tennis and pickleball.

For those shaping up to be the next Serena Williams or Pete Sampras, there are plenty of options beyond even the tennis and pickleball courts available at parks across the city, which can be found online at nycgovparks.org.

Commonpoint Tennis and Athletic Center at Alley Pond, at 79-20 Winchester Blvd., boasts courts for both pickleball and tennis. The indoor section, the “bubble,” is perfect for the colder months, and there are outdoor pickleball and tennis courts as well.

Reservations for the courts must be made up to two days in advance, and the rates vary. For more information, call (718) 255-2127 or visit commonpoint.org.

The organization also boasts different classes, events and challenges — and even has juniors tennis and pickleball, with classes in different age groups, from 5 to 17.

“Commonpoint Tennis and Athletic Center is more than just a club — it’s a home away from home,” Dean Won, the senior director of operations for the center, told the Chronicle. “We foster a welcoming

community for our members, staying true to Commonpoint’s mission: ‘Community happens here.’”

Though the Active Pickleball and Tennis Center, at 153rd Street and Reeves Avenue, is located within the Queens College campus, it’s open to the public.

APTC offers a wide array of services and programming, including tennis and pickleball court rentals, leagues, and groups and private lessons for both adults and children. A family run business with more than 30 years of experience, the staff includes certified professionals.

The center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on weekends from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call APTC at (718) 264-2600 or visit aptcnyc.com.

Gotham Pickleball, at 5-25 46 Ave. in Long Island City, has four courts available for play. You can opt to book one online for yourself and some friends, or join with others in open play. Beginners and experts alike are welcome. More infor mation can be fou nd at gotham-pickleball.com.

Amateur pickleballers can book a lesson or clinic based on curriculum developed by the Racket Professional Organization.

Gotham Pickleball is open daily, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Prices vary for open play and clinics, and the facility offers a membership program for those who will play more often, as well as a smartphone Q application for easy booking.

Greenmarkets offer locally grown and cultivated goods

by Kristen Guglielmo Editor

Imagine walking through a bustling market, where the air smells like ripe produce and freshly baked bread, the colors of vibrant veggies surround you — and you can even chat directly with the farmers who grew your food.

That’s the magic off a green g een market. gr GrowNYC, a community-driven ty-driven marketplace that’s been serving rvii ng New Yorkers since 1976, boasts sts locations throughout the cityy that t hat offer fresh, locally grown row wn products.

The organization sugggests visiting its market et locator, at grownyc.org/ourur-markets, to find your nearest neaa rest location alongside a list off farmers that will be there on any given venn day. d ay ay. All All localoca lo cations accept SNAP/EBT, and debit and credit cards.

There are three Queens locations open all year, and a handful more will open in late spring and early summer.

The Forest Hills Greenmarket, on the south side of Queens Boulevard at 70th Avenue, is open Sundays year-round, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market, which is in front

of the Forest Hills Post Office, boasts a variety of locally grown and fresh products.

Though the options vary weekly, shoppers can expect offerings from area vendors such as Mushroom Queens, which offers fungi cultivated in the World’s Borough, and American Pride Seafood, which sells wildcaught fish and shellfish from Suffolk County, County y, LI. The Forest Fore Hills Greenmarket also offerss a compost program in partnership ners shi with Big Reuse. And if you u hhave unwanted clothes to donate, you can bring those d on for for collection from 9:30 a.m. to to 12:30 p.m., a service provided in partnership with Wearable Collections.

Collection Greenmarket is Thee Sunnyside S located on Sk ill ma n Avenue, between betw be twee een 442nd and 43rd streets, and January to April, the open Saturdays. From F operating hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from May to December, the market closes instead at 3 p.m.

GrowNYC says the Sunnyside Greenmarket, near Lou Lodati Park, is a thriving community center for the neighborhood.

Shoppers will find a fantastic selection of vegetables grown in the famed Black Dirt

region of Orange County, specialty Mexican produce and herbs, eggs, seasonal fruit, cider, baked goods and fresh-caught fish.

Other offerings include cheese, pickled vegetables, grass-fed beef and wine pressed from locally grown grapes.

The location also offers clothing collection from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In one of the most diverse neighborhoods of the city, the Jackson Heights Greenmarket has plenty to offer. Located on 34th Avenue between 79th and 80th streets, the market is open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from January through May. From June to December, the market closes at 3 p.m.

GrowNYC says the site draws a crowd of families, longtime residents and young couples. The market offers a broad selection of vegetables, fruit, eggs, fish, honey, chicken and specialty Mexican produce.

Wearable Collections also accepts clothing donations there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Elmhurst Greenmarket, on 41st Avenue between 80th and 81st streets, will open on June 10, according to the GrowNYC website, and close Nov. 25. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays only.

On June 13, the Corona Greenmarket, at Roosevelt Avenue and 103rd Street, will begin service. It will be open on Fridays,

Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 10, 2025

Farm fresh in the World’s Borough

The Jackson Heights Greenmarket is one of GrowNYC’s three popular Queens locations for fresh produce and other locally grown and culPHOTO COURTESY GROWNYC tivated offerings. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., through Nov. 21.

The Flushing Greenmarket, at Sanford Avenue and Union Street, is set to open July 16. Its operating hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays through Nov. 26.

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This theater season has everything Love and violence, merry musicals, shorts and shows by and for children

by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

An unusually varied spring season is in store for local theater devotees, who will be able to see a classic play, a time-tested musical comedy, a more recent musical aimed at the younger set, and no fewer than three productions featuring original works, including one that gives budding young thespians a chance to strut their stuff.

And it all takes place during the merry month of May! Kicking things off is Douglaston Community Theatre’s rendering of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge,” opening May 1.

Written in 1955, the play is set in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.

Originally created as a one-act verse drama, it was revised and expanded

by Miller to its current (and more familiar) form.

The play centers around longshoreman Eddie Carbone (to be played by Angeloo DiBiase), his warm and caring wife, Beatrice (Cathy ( athyy Chi(C menti), and his orphaned niece, Catherine (Jaime ime Nicole Riggs), after whom om Eddie secretly lusts. Other major roles include lude a lawyer who doubles bles as a kind of narrarator (Michael Chihimenti), and two of Beatrice’s cousins sins (Giovanni Marine rine and Steven Gregory). ory).

The production, tion, half of DCT’s season ason devoted to Miller (the other play, “Death of a Salesman,” will be presented in the fall), is directed by Daniel Higgins.

Opening night will include a free wine and cheese reception.

Performances at Zion Episcopal Church (243-20 Church St., Douglaston) are set for May 1, 2, 9, 10 and 17 at 8 p.m. and May 10 and 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22; $20 for students and seniors. For further information,

visit dctonline.org or call (718) 885-4785.

A total change of pace comes with the arrival on May 10 of the St. Mary’s Drama Guild production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” a lighthearted romp based on Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” and set in a medieval kingdom where music, romance and laughter reign supreme.

The show’s tuneful music is by Mary Rodgers, the lyrics are by Marshall Barer and the book was devised by Barer, Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller.

Under the direction of Claire Spinetti, who doubles as choreographer, the cast is headed by Ilana Sasson as the unconventional and spirited Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, a role that catapulted Carol Burnett to fame early in her career.

Among the other performers with plenty of stage time are Landon Browne as her suitor, Prince Dauntless; Rena Hershberger as the aptly Hershb named Queen and Robert Q een Aggravain; Qu Aggg Gold, as the ne nearly silent King Sextimus.

Sextimu Musical direction is Mus provided by Kerryclare provid Gleason.

Glea Performances at St. Mary’s auditoriSt um (70-20 47 Ave., Woodside) Woodside are on May 10 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. and May 11 and 18 at 3:30 p.m. p. Tickets are $25 reserved; $22 ggeneral admission; $15 children 12 and under. For information, visit stmarysdramaguinformation ild.org or call (347) 450-6184.

The recently formed North Broadway Players are ready to join the theater scene with their inaugural production, an evening of short plays, to be presented at The Church on the Hill in Flushing on May 16 and 17.

According to one of the group’s founders, Peter Carrozzo, the plays, ranging in length from 10 to 25 minutes and written mostly by the cre-

ative team of Dany Stravino, Emilia Horn, Amy Callahan and Carrozzo, share a common theme: suburban life. The same quartet also share directorial credit.

One piece, “The Audience,” is about, yes, an audience ... that is said to be “distracted.” Another, “The Community Meeting,” centers on the origins of a community theater; and “Karen-itis” is described in the group’s promotions as “a play that may be painfully familiar to anyone dealing with society today.”

Another piece, “The Sapiens,” is set some 30,000 years ago. Yet another, “T.V. Wars,” is the product of a children’s playwriting workshop conducted by Horn and Callahan.

The cast, numbering around 40, includes the church’s pastor, the Rev. Amanda Meisenheimer, who, in a prime example of typecasting, makes a special appearance as a pastor!

Performances at The Church on the Hill (167-07 35 Ave., Flushing) are on May 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. A donation of $20 is suggested for either performance. For information, visit churchonthehill.org or call (718) 358-3671.

Lights will be bright on stages across the borough on May 17, as no fewer than three shows will mark their opening performances.

It’s the sole performance date for a short-play festival put on by The Woodside Players of Queens, set for the Queens Library in Astoria.

According to Johnny Culver, who is organizing the event, it will run approximately one hour and will feature five or six short pieces, mostly written by him, with one contribution from his mother, Peggy Terry. Her piece, “Martha Washington,” was written in the late 1970s and is based on a popular television series of the prior decade, “Peyton Place.”

Culver’s own pieces include “Welcome Wagon,” “Across the Lake,” “In Swirly Letters” and “Chester’s Broadcast Day.”

At left, the new North Broadway Players rehearse one of their upcoming shows, “The Community Meeting,” while at right, young Isaac, Lydian, Luke, James and Jack perform as the Hairsomes, in the Gardens Players’ 2019 rendition PHOTOS BY AMY CALLAHAN, LEFT, AND JACQUI HEMMERDINGER of their “Magic It Up,” which will be staged again this spring.

Douglaston Community Theatre will present “A View From the Bridge,” featuring Michael Chimenti, left, Jaime Nicole Riggs, Cathy Chimenti, Angelo DiBiPHOTO BY NICK SARNELLI ase, Giovanni Marine and Steven Gregory.

He describes the works as “lighthearted, silly comedies, like ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ and suitable for all ages.” Audiences should feel a sense of nostalgia over the many pop culture references throughout the pieces, he added.

In all, 16 actors are participating.

The performance takes place May 17 at 1 p.m. at the library (14-01 Astoria Blvd. in Astoria). Admission is free and reservations are not required. For information, call the library at (718) 278-2220.

Opening a four-performance run on May 17 will be The Garden Players in an original musical, “Magic It Up.” The hour-long show, featuring a book by Gwynne Watkins, music by Sunny Knable and lyrics by Betina Hershey, who also directs, centers around a group of kids on a quest filled with discovery to reunite mythical forest creatures.

Choreography is devised by Nola Powell.

According to Hershey, an estimated 120 youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 14, will hit the stage, though not all at the same time. Two distinct casts will perform the show, each giving a pair of performances.

They are all part of The Garden Players Musical Theater for Kids, with Hershey serving as artistic direc-

tor. Many of them are from Forest Hills, the group’s home base, as well as from other parts of the borough.

Hershey describes the show as a family musical, “fun for all ages.”

Performances at The Community House (15 Borage Place, Forest Hills) take place on May 17 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and May 18 at 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the main section or, for the house front, $25. For information, visit gardenplayerstheater.com.

Also opening on May 17 is “James and the Giant Peach,” courtesy of Parkside Players in Forest Hills.

The show, with music by Justin Paul and lyrics by Benj Pasek, creators of “Dear Evan Hansen,” has a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, based on a 1961 novel by Roald Dahl.

It follows “the loneliest boy who ever lived,” a recent orphan, through a series of events, including his climb inside a giant peach where he meets new friends in the shape of life-size talking insects.

The show is directed by David Thomas Cronin, though no casting information was made available as of press time.

Performances at Grace Lutheran Church (103-15 Union Tpke., Forest Hills) run from May 17 through June 1. Tickets are $25; $22 for students and seniors. For information, visit Q parksideplayers.com.

Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 10, 2025

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The trends springing up this year Pastels, graphic tees, jean shorts galore on the shelves this season

by Stephanie G. Meditz Associate Editor

Whether you’re happy about it or not, the season for scarves and cozy sweaters has officially ended.

Spring has sprung in Queens, and with it comes fashion trends marked by breezier fabrics and brighter colors, plus some breathable layers to protect against the last of the chill.

Just as the evenings have been a bit brighter lately, lighter shades are back in style. From pink, blue, purple and green to the ever-popular “butter yellow,” pastels are all the rage for both men and women.

Described by Vogue as “a soft twist on your typical neutral,” the latter is less intense than a standard pastel yellow, but still adds a touch of color to any outfit. Some women have even taken to painting their nails in that shade.

A sundress in butter yellow paired with simple heels or sandals could be a perfect, trendy ensemble for a picnic inn the park or an outdoor party. Popular opular women’s footwear is generally minimalistic, said Andres Ng of Flushlushing, who works at a Glendale Forever er 21. No design is more elaborate than han a simple st rap,, Ng said, and it is common mmon to see heels andd sandals in neutral tones. nes.

Morgan Copas, s, an employee at Other People’s Clothes Cloth thes in i n RidgeRidd geRi wood, said long, flowy dresses and skirts are flying off the shelves this season in anticipation of the warmer weather.

“I would say the long, f lowy, kind of Bohemian kind of style and trend really calls to me during the summer,” Copas said. “Because I

feel like it’s easy, comfortable, I think anyone can do it.”

Of course, a simple, flowy dress can be an easy wardrobe solution for those hot days when you just don’t know what to wear. But even on cooler days, a midi skirt with a light sweater and heeled boots can make a perfect office outfit for women.

The trend applies for young girls, too. Pastel, floral dresses with cap sleeves can be found at stores such as The Children’s Place in Ridgewood, just in time for the warmer months. Gingham also is a popular print, specifically with white and a bright, fun color, such as pink.

Many adult women seeking a sleek, classic spring look may opt for a vintage slip dress with lace detail, which Copas said are in demand.

Button-downs are all the rage for both men and boys. A dressier look for a youngster might include a vibrant or plaid shirt with khaki pants. Men may opt for a darker or more neutral neutra color palette, but you can never go wrong with slacks and a dress dres shirt or a polo.

But buttondowns have startdo ed to ease their way int into more casual wear, too.

“We’re kind of looking away f rom busi ness ccasu al but ton downs,” Copas said. sai “The typical stiff collar ... is not really selling the r best for us.”

On for men and On trend trendd right riight ht now n women are casual, loose-fitting button downs, typically worn over a layering piece such as a tee or tank.

With a classic pair of jeans or shorts, a casual button down can pull together a relaxed, yet stylish spring look. Women might even pair the shirts with a stylish mono-

Long, flowy dresses in neutrals, pastels or floral prints, such as these above from Forever 21, are trending this season.

Colorful short-sleeve shirts can be dressed up or down for a trendy look. Though the above display showcases offerings at The Children’s Place in Ridgewood, they are a wardrobe staple for men of all ages. PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE G. MEDITZ chrome miniskirt and a pair of knee-high boots.

Also for casual wear, you can never go wrong with a graphic tee.

A timeless wardrobe staple, they allow wearers to express parts of themselves, whether they choose to represent their favorite band or sports team.

Kids’ graphic tees this spring are as vibrant as ever — the display at The Children’s Place in Ridgewood included bright selections that allow kids to show off their hobbies, from sports to video games. Copas said vintage tees are among the current bestsellers at Other People’s Clothes, too.

As always, denim is a staple.

Among this year’s trends for jeans are baggy, straight and flared legs and low- and mid-rise fits.

Ng said more fashion-forward types may opt to wear dark wash skinny jeans with plenty of pockets.

For warmer weather, loose-fitting shorts are all the rage.

“Cargo shorts are always popular,” Ng said. “You can never go wrong with more pockets.”

Caliyah, who works at a Glendale Foot Locker and declined to share her last name, said jean shorts also are stylish nowadays, especially paired with Timberland boots and a white T-shirt.

She added that New Balance and Nike Air Force are big names in the world of trendy sneakers.

But any clean white shoe can elevate your look. Trending on social media now is the “sandwich” outfit

formula, or a look that pairs shoes and a shirt of the same hue with a differently colored bottom. For instance, a white shirt with blue jeans and white sneakers would make for a clean, timeless look.

Layering never goes out of style, either, as even the spring has its chilly days. Ng said letterman jackets are especially trendy, and they might be worn over a basic tee.

Women may opt for a neutral knit cardigan, a denim jacket or even a blazer, as some do still opt for business casual attire outside of professional settings.

Cosmopolitan also includes trench coats in its list of spring trends, perfect for those unseasonably cold days that are warmer than January’s single-digit temperatures but still too cool for shorts. One may opt for a beige camel coat and pair it with dark jeans, a lightweight sweater and boots for a neat ensemble with just enough reprieve from the chill.

Or, those who like the look of a winter coat may opt for a lighter, perhaps brightly colored puffer jacket, paired well with jeans or a laid back “athleisure” outfit. Flare leggings are all the rage for women, and men’s joggers are always a comfortable classic.

“Something that’s been trending lately is these net-style shirts, like knit shirts that look like a fishnet,” Ng said, referring to light, airy crocheted shirts usually worn toward the end of spring and into the summer.

Typically short-sleeved buttondown shirts in white or beige, they also may have stripes or other basic prints. Other transparent netted pieces may even be worn over a bathing suit for a trip to the beach, as crocheted dresses and shorts also are trending for women.

At the end of the day, fashion is deeply personal. The most stylishlooking people appear that way not because they followed a list of rules, but because they are comfortable and confident.

This year, try considering your favorite spring activities, whether it’s an outdoor morning run or a sunset dinner party, and go with the pieces that best equip you to enjoy the season to its fullest Q extent.

Graphic tees are always a spring classic.

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Visit our galleries and museums This season of renewal includes art exhibitions and events boroughwide

by Marlee Wollman Chronicle Contributor

As the march of time brings about a change of scenery, evidence of transformation is all around us.

From the days growing longer to the vivid daisies and cosmos popping up in the peripheries of sidewalks, the evolution of renewal is omnipresent.

Yet equally palpable is a sense of familiarity, the nostalgia that stirs when we recognize the patterns of years past. As we experience another beautiful cycle of our surroundings metamorphosing, everything that is old is new again.

This spring, a substantial array of spellbinding exhibits and events will commence and continue across Queens; some of which electrify us with their revolutionary transfigurations and others that allow us to appreciate and inter nalize the enduring permanency of our lovely planet. From compelling elling studies of ancient sculptures too conversations in generative contemporary temporary technology, there is something for everyonee to indulge in this springg in Queens, whether we wish to honor longstanding traditions or savor the everfleeting present. Here ere is just some of what hat awaits us.

Originating on the westernmost edge of Queens, the multiday, multivenue LIC Arts Open welcomes the public to delve into a grand tour of more than 60 studios, galleries and performance spaces across Long Island City.

It all starts with a free kickoff party on May 15 at Flux IV, located at 56-21 Second St., at 6:30 p.m.

Visitors to the festival, running May 14 to 18, can explore an incredi-

bly vast range of vibrant exhibits and events and participate in their own creative pursuits as well, such as fashioning their own light puppets and parading along the waterfront.

Just some highlights: “Kaleido Femina: Women in Bloom,” a celebration of female creativity, is on view at Zaruma Gold Coffee from May 15 to 31. “Ofrenda Fest” is highlighting indigenous ShipiboConibo art and culture with weekend events starting May 18 at 5-11 47 Ave. Over at Culture Lab LIC, at 5-25 46 Ave., “Synchronicity,” curated by Adrien Marçais, features dynamic contemporary works starting May 15.

The LIC Arts Open promises an opulent and expansive offering of the Queens’ thriving art scene. Multidisciplinary artists from across the borough will be displayed at studios such as Brick House, the Rockrose Building, Diego Salazar and Studio many others. Learn 34 — among m more at a licartsopen.com.

Culture Lab, along has Cu its own impressive lineo up going on this spring.

The T internationally u n i f y i n g “A r t Exchange: Italy & E America” America is a great place to start. This two-part two-p exhibition pays homage to the deep artistic traditions of both nnations, showcasing Italian artists in Queens before American works travel to Italy. It will continue through April 20, on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 9 p.m.

The next exhibition, “Threads of Resilience,” focusing on mental health, will open April 24 and run through June 1.

Culture Lab is at 5-25 46 Ave. and is online at culturelablic.org.

Just a mile and a half north at the Museum of the Moving Image, at 36-01 35 Ave., we will find “Compositions in Code: The Art of Processing and p5.js,” an exhibit exploring code as an art form — specifically how artists use Processing and p5.js, two open-source programming tools.

The exhibit highlights how these applications create visual artwork and present an open-source, artistfriendly programming environment, making code-based art less daunting.

In its 25th year, this library allows artists to explore innovative, interactive and algorithmic practices and for viewers to contemplate how code has evolved into a dynamic artistic tool. The exhibition will be on view through Aug. 23. Learn more at movingimage.org.

Setting out deeper into the borough, we arrive at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where two exciting and distinct exhibits are underway. “CityWorks” at the New York Hall of Science, a groundbreaking participatory experience opening on May 3, delves into the ordinarily concealed mechanisms that power the urban environment. Museum

Among the pieces being shown at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College are “Scenes from the Book of the Dead,” a sarcophagus fragment from Ancient Egypt, and “Crouching Jaguar Devouring a Hare on a Rocky Base” (“Jaguar tenant un lièvre”) by Antoine-Louis Barye (1796-1876).

“Hot Wheels,” above, by Aaron Cobbett, and “Ms. Diagnosed,” left, by Rim the Artist, are two of the works now on display at the Jamaica Center for Arts PHOTOS BY MARLEE WOLLMAN and Learning. goers are granted the opportunity to explore the elaborate networks and infrastructure engineering that allow cities to operate, develop and prosper. By immersing themselves in this interactive exhibit, attendees will gain a foundational understanding of urban planning.

The museum is at 47-01 111 St. and is online at nysci.org.

Just a stone’s throw away, the spirit of history engages us further with a tribute to the 60th anniversary of the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, which drew 50 million visitors during its two-year span. Centrally situated at the Queens Museum, “A Billion Dollar Dream” reexamines this landmark event through environmental, social and political lenses, offering a fresh perspective on its lasting impact. By weaving together artifacts from the Queens Museum’s collection with the broader backdrop of contemporary domestic issues, global politics and cultural movements, the exhibit uncovers new dimensions on the Fair’s immortal inf luence on American society.

Don’t be fooled by the “Billion Dollar” title — this fascinating exhibit is just $8 for adults and free for children under 12. Find out more at queensmuseum.org.

Two stops on the 7 train will bring us to Flushing Town Hall, where legacy and transformation formidably co-conspire. The group

show “Resonance x 4” is the culmination of a longstanding partnership among four artists — lifelong colleagues and friends. Resonance, in physics, occurs when an external force matches an object’s frequency which generates a higher amplitude.

However, this definition takes on a more robust meaning than the physical one in the artistic pursuit of “Resonance x 4,” in which climate change, social justice and cultural identity are addressed with the appropriate meaningful weight assigned. The artists take on pressing issues of threatened ecosystems, vanishing forests, social justice, police brutality, and the intersections of mythology and mysticism, all while building on their shared history and contributing to a legacy that challenges and transforms these matters. Guests can feel the vibe at 137-35 Northern Blvd. at no cost; they can RSVP and receive free admission by going to f lushingtownhall.org/resonance-x-4.

Next, our journey takes a scholastic turn as we approach GodwinTernbach Museum at Queens College, for its prolific exhibition titled “Exploring the Language of Form.”

Legacy takes on its final form here at 65-30 Kissena Blvd. in Flushing, with artworks and artifacts procured in the span of 5,000 years of human life. This seminal demonstration of continued on next page

continued from previous page human existence throughout millenia focuses on sculptural forms across assorted materials — ceramic, wood, metal, glass, stone and more. Many of these artifacts are being displayed for the first time. The exhibit includes pieces by renowned artists such as Andrea della Robbia, Robert Wilson, Louise Nevelson, Roy Lichtenstein and Chaim Gross, alongside anonymous folk and self-taught outsider artists.

As we head south to the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning for “Free Your Mind: The Expansion,” we are invited to step outside of conventional norms and limiting boundaries.

Curator Shenna Vaughn explains that the exhibition explores “the common thread of confronting a universal struggle: the mental blocks, doubts, and distractions that hinder the creative process. These works speak directly to the resilience of the creative spirit—the courage to push through uncertainty, release negative thinking, and embrace the flow of uninhibited expression. They remind us that the greatest breakthroughs happen when we challenge the invisible forces that hold us back.”

This transformative energy is unmistakable in the fierce works on display at 161-04 Jamaica Ave. The exhibit remains on view through May 3, with a free closing reception from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening. Learn more or RSVP via jcal.org.

Our final destination takes us back north and farthest east to the Garage Art Center in Bayside, where Jackie Shatz’s solo exhibit “View Finder” will be on view from April 12 to May 11.

This collection of ceramic-based wall sculptures expands painting into threedimensional space, capturing figures in states of transformation. Shatz’s work reflects motion and static, with gestures that signal anticipation, hesitation and liberation. By weaving together human, animal and botanical forms, she constructs stratified renderings that draw from mythology, history, and personal memory.

The exhibit’s opening reception is on April 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the gallery, at 26-01 Corporal Kennedy St. Learn more at garageartcenter.org.

As spring revitalizes the Queens atmosphere and nature gradually awakens, a bounty of exhibitions remind us of art’s ever-evolving discourse with history, memory, progression and transformation.

Whether commemorating past generations, taking in the present or dreaming up the future, each showcase is a unique lens through which to experience the world. In every direction we advance through, the borough is alive with creativity, requesting to be explored. As spring unfolds, we can take the opportunity to wander, reflect, and immerse ourselves in the abundant local Q arts emerging around us.

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Earth Day, week and month events Cleanups, seed sharing, climate festivals, hikes, beekeeping and more

by Naeisha Rose Editor

Whether one celebrates Earth Day, Earth Week or Earth Month, there are numerous ways to learn more about protecting the environment while having eco-friendly fun this month in the World’s Borough.

April is Earth Month, and Earth Week kicks off on April 19 and ends the 26, but most events culminate on Earth Day, April 22.

The first Earth Day was held in April 1970. U.S. S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin nsin led the way in creating Earth Day to address the toxic smoke from factories and wanted to make the environment a national agenda. More re than 20 million Amerimericans from differferent cities throughout the he country demonnstrated in different erent ways to supportt the elected off icial’s ial’s initiative. In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy will have a preEarth Day weekend of events.

There is Earth & Sun: A Cosmic Connection, a free solar observation event held at the Arverne East Nature Preserve, located at 190 Beach 44 St., with NYC’s Amateur Astronomers Association on April 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. AAA will have telescopes set up with safe solar filters to view sunspots, flares and more.

A volunteer cleanup event will be held at Broad Channel Ameri-

can Park on West 22nd Road, on April 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The meeting place is by the flagpoles.

JBRPC, which will be joined by Fishing the Atlantic, an angling community, is hosting the event, in which volunteers will help remove trash and debris from the shoreline and surrounding public spaces.

Sponsors include City Council Speaker Ad r ien ne Adams (D-Jamaica), Majority Whip SelveBrooks-Powers (D-Laurelton), na Brooks-Powe Cou ncilwoma n Joa n n A r iola Park), state Sen. Rox(R-Ozone Park) a n n e Pe r s a u d ( D - Br o ok ly n , Queens), AssemblywomQueens Stacey Pheffer-Amaan Sta to (D (D-Howard Beach), other oth officials outside Queens and various Qu organizations. or Visit jbr pc.org / V events or the group’s social media accounts in i case the event is canceled due to cloudy weather or rain, and to RSVP to the cleanup.

“Jamaica Bay Ba — New York City’s largest tidal estuary — is home to vital wetlands, grasslands, and maritime forests that support wildlife, safeguard our shoreline, and offer open space for millions of New Yorkers,” said Elizabeth Stoehr, deputy director of the JBRPC. There will be a free Earth Month celebration at Socrates Sculpture Park, located at 32-01 Vernon Blvd. in Astoria. The park will be partnering with Start:Empowerment, a Black, indigenous, people of colorled nonprofit and the Dandelions Assembly, also a nonprofit, for Earth Month Convergence 2025.

On April 19, from 12 to 4 p.m.,

Two people volunteer at a 2024 cleanup at Broad Channel American Park via the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Another JBRPC cleanup will PHOTO COURTESY JBRPC be held on April 19.

Children learn about sustainabililty as they sift through compost at the Queens Botanical Garden’s 2023 Climate PHOTO BY MANIKA TOLENTINO Arts Festival. QBG’s next festival is on April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will workshops, political education, youth activities, vendors, art making, seed sharing, food and indigenous guests from Latin America. On April 26, from 12 to 7 p.m., there will be an indigenous ceremony, queer performances and more. To RSVP, use this link: bit. ly/earth.convergence.

To mark the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, the Queens Farm, located at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Floral Park, will host a free Bee-APollinator day of service on April 22, from 12 to 4 p.m. Donations of $15 are suggested and walk-in volunteers are welcome if capacity permits. To register for the event, use this link: shorturl.at/MMM2D. For more information, email hello@ queensfarm.org. Visitors may assist with cleaning the Children’s Garden, a farm-wide cleanup, garden bed prep, sifting compost and more.

They will also get to enjoy a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle book swap, Eco Scavenger Hunt and the Con Edison Reading Room.

There will be a tree care and compost event at the Smiling Hogshead Ranch, located at 25-30 Skillman Ave. in Long Island City, on April 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. The event will cover care for both street trees and trees in the edible forest at the ranch. Guests should dress comfortably for the event and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

To register, go online to shorturl. at/S5w2w.

The Queens Botanical Garden, located at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing, will have its annual Climate

Arts Festival on April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, visit feverup.com/m/326523. Tickets for adults are $6; seniors, youths, 13 to 17, with student IDS or people with disabilities $4; children, 4 to 12 $2; toddlers and younger, along with QBG members get in for free. There will be a reggae and dub set, bilingual Spanish family music, mesmerizing climate-themed storytelling and a samba reggae parade. “[W]e’re bringing together artists, environmentalists, and community members to explore the intersectionality of creativity and sustainability,” said Evie Hantzopoulos, QBG’s executive director.

The Parks Department is hosting six free City Nature Challenge walks at four Queens sites from April 25 to April 27.

Meet at the Alley Pond Environmental Center’s Adventure Course Parking Lot, at 229-10 Northern Blvd. in Douglaston, and explore the spring wildflowers at the park on April 25, from 5 to 6 p.m.. On April 26, there will be a second Alley Pond walk, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. People can check out the biodiversity at Idlewild Park, located at 149th Avenue and Springfield Lane in Springfield Gardens, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; or the beach of Vernam Barbadoes Preserve on Amstel Boulevard by Jamaica Bay in Rockaway, from 12 to 3 p.m.

On April 27, there will be a third APEC walk from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and people can learn about Forest Park’s plants on April 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., meeting at Myrtle

Avenue and Park Lane South in Richmond Hill.

To register, visit nycgovparks. org/events/city-nature-challenge.

More than 400 cities across the globe collaborate on the annual event with the goals of making the most observations of nature, finding the most species and engaging the most people, according to the Parks Department.

APEC will also have an environmental program on April 27, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., for children 3 to 5 and at least one parent chaperone, for $26 each pair. To register, use this link: shorturl.at/ W6S60. The event includes crafting with recycled materials, meeting live animals and a colorful book about Earth.

Hop on over to An Earth Day & Easter Celebration at Queens Place mall, located at 88-01 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst, on April 19, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of free family-friendly events that blends music and sustainability with arts and crafts and an interactive musical performance by Musiquita, a bilingual educational group.

Register at shorturl.at/lh3cc.

The Shops at Skyview, located at 40-24 College Point Blvd. in Flushing, will have an event on April 22, from 5 to 7 p.m., to draw attention to the role bees play in a thriving ecosystem. There will be beekeeping and beeswax candle workshops, a performance, giveaways and more. To learn more, visit the Q shopsatskyviewny.com.

Arts, festivals, food and history — and one really impressive bridge

by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor

A couple looks down the Hudson Valley from the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie, the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the country, a major tourist attraction and a center of culPHOTOS BY RAPHAEL BERETTA tural events and activities. river, allowing a 360-degree view of the Hudson Valley stretching for miles. Access is free most days during regular operating hours, though there may be charges for parking, group tours and some special events. It is open seven days a week, weather permitting. Bike rentals are nearby and trams are scheduled for people with mobility difficulties. The website walkway.org has information on operating hours. hour ho urs. s.

The first major event at the Walkway this year is the t Pride in the Sky celebrafrom 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, tion fro May 17, 1 a prelude to Pride Month in June.

Ju The Mayfest Farmers and Makers Market will take M Memorial Day weekend, noon place M to 5 p.m. May M 24 to 26. More than 190 vendors offering tthe best of the Hudson Valley’s finest farms, distilleries, breweries, wineries, restaurants, artists, artisans, and more the Hudson River beneath the on the banks of th Walkway Over the Hudson. There will be live music and other entertainment. Children’s activities will include meeting a new furry friend, engaging with hands-on art and more.

Tickets are $5 and kids up to 12 get in free.

The annual La Guelaguetza festival, at Waryas Park on the waterfront from 1 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 4, is a daylong celebration of the culture from the Mexican city of Oaxaca, showcasing Oaxacan culture and traditions, including dances and costumes, artwork, crafts, live music, kids’ activities — and, of course, food.

And, with Queens being one of the earliest centers of the jazz community, the annual Jazz in the Valley concert on Aug. 17 could attract a good many residents from downstate.

It also will be at Waryas Park. More information is available by calling (845) 943-2900 or emailing info@jazzinthevalleyny.com.

A popular attraction for families with children is the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum at

75 North Water St. Exhibits include the Early Learning Junction for children up to age 4. Science Revealed has numerous hands-on experiments involving testing things ranging from geometry and magnetism to the physics of wind, waves and liquids. There also are a Children’s Garden and age-appropriate activities encouraging young minds to embrace and cultivate an interest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines.

There is even an age-appropriate rockclimbing wall to encourage thinking, creativity and teamwork. Admission is $14.50 with children under 1 admitted free.

The Destination Dutchess website does not even pretend to be modest about the number and variety of food and beverage purveyors: “Fine dining? Check. Casual eateries?

Check. Road-side barbecue, wi-fi coffee shops, sushi joints and chrome-coated diners?

Yes! Dining in Dutchess Country is as varied as your culinary curiosity.”

The La Guelaguetza festival, left, celebrates the culture and traditions of Oaxaca, a city in Mexico. The Bardavon 1869 Opera House still fills the house on Main Street.

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Just under 90 miles from New York City, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, is a place where American history was created and where a family can get away for recreation, arts and cultural activities that either can be a new adventure or will make Queens residents feel right at home.

There’s even a drive-in movie theater that reopens every spring, and the country’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, which has spanned the Hudson since 1889.

Throw in a number and variety of restaurants and pubs to satisfy even the most discerning resident of the World’s Borough and you have Poughkeepsie.

Information on things to do and places to see is available at destinationdutchess.com.

Located in upstate Dutchess County, what becme Poughkepsie saw its first European settlements established in the 1680s.

Dur ing the A mer ican Revolution it became the second capital of New York in October 1777, after 1,200 British troops burned nearby Kingston, overwhelming a unit of 150 Colonial militiamen, according to the website battlefields.org.

But that happenstance made it the location of the state’s Ratification Convention for the United States Constitution, which took place at the Market Street Courthouse on July 26, 1788.

“It’s no longer there,” said Melaine Rottkamp, president and CEO O of Dutchess Tourism, Inc. “But a plaque is.””

Just to the north at Hyde yde Park is the home of President Franklinn Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, along ong with his presidential library. y. All around nearby in the Hudson udson Valley are the mansions off the Vanderbilt and Astor famimilies, and that of Poughkeeppsie native Samuel B. Morse, se, inventor of the telegraph.

Tech giant IBM still hass a huge footprint in Poughhkeepsie. And Smith Brothers ers cough drops, with iconic logo featuring WilWil liam and Andrew Smith and their beards, were manufactured there for more than a century.

And today?

“There’s so much to see and do here,” Rottkamp said. “There are a lot of cool things here. And a lot of people don’t know about it.”

The Walkway Over the Hudson is central to lots of visitors’ itineraries and many festivals and events.

It opened in 1889 as the PoughkeepsieHighland Railroad Bridge, with Highland being on the opposite bank. It carried trains until 1974 when a massive fire rendered it unusable. It sat unused for more than a quarter century before a grassroots community effort resulted in recreating it as a pedestrian bridge.

It now is part of both the Empire State Trail and Dutchess Rails Trail networks.

According to the Dutchess Tourism website, the bridge is 1.28 miles long from gate to gate and the center of the span is 212 feet above the

There is also a Dutchess Tourism Taste Finder mobile passport to sample local craft beer, wine, cider, mead and other spirits.

Information can be found at the appropriately named link destinationdutchess.com/go/ places-to-eat-and-drink.

For theater and live entertainment there is the MJN Convention Center. Just down Market Street is the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, the oldest continuously operating theater in New York State. Schedules and ticket information for the venues are available at midhudsonciviccenter.org and bardavon.org, respectively.

There also is the Vassar Powerhouse Theater on the campus of the famed college.

Schedules and other information are available at vassar.edu/powerhouse.

Not to be outdone, New York Stage and Film at Marist University will have its 40th season from June through August. Information is available at newyorkstageandfilm.org.

For those nostalgic for the days of drive-in movies, the Overlook Theatre offers theatrical entertainment in a less formal setting. Mondays, according to its website, are $10 double feature evenings. It also is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as specially scheduled Premier Thursdays.

It still has not opened for the spring season, according to a voice message on its phone system, but callers can check for updates at (845) 452-3445 after 7 p.m.

The website overlookdrivein.com says it was founded in 1955, becoming the second theater owned by independent owners Sidney and Ida Cohen. Along with the Hyde Park Drive-In to the north, it is still owned by the same family.

It has been digital since 2013, when the film industry ended releasing pictures on actual film. It can accommodate 750 cars and has a full service concession stand. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, while recording devices and fires are banned.

If your passion is art, the Art League of Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie has a guide to area museums, art galleries and notable Q murals at tinyurl.com/ynr8fz8b.

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 10, 2025

Poughkeepsie comes calling

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 10, 2025 Page 16

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