Arts & Culture

Queens College Choral Society to perform “Carmina Burana”

Dan Rose

Chorus_2

At Queens College’s 79th annual Winter Concert on December 14 at 8 p.m., the QC Choral Society will perform the celebrated cantana “Carmina Burana.”

The performance will take place in the Colden Auditorium.

Based on medieval texts, “Carmina Burana” is one of the most popular choral works of all time. Its opening chorus, “O Fortuna,” has permeated pop culture as background music for movies such as “The Doors,” “The Messenger,” “The Hunt for Red October” and “Excalibur.”

The performance will feature pianists Max Midroit and Sarang Kim, percussion students from the Aaron Copland School of Music, professional soloists Stefanie Izzo (soprano), Sungwon Jin (tenor) and Sidney Outlaw (baritone).

James John, a professor of conducting at the Aaron Copland School of Music and music director of the choral society, will conduct.

For more details, including ticket information, see here.

Nancy Shannon joins Queens Botanical Garden board

Dan Rose
Portrait of Nancy Shannon. Photographed on April, 3, 2019 at 4 Irving Place
Portrait of Nancy Shannon. Photographed on April, 3, 2019 at 4 Irving Place

Queens Botanical Garden’s Board of Trustees has welcomed a new member.

Nancy Shannon, the vice president of human resources at Con Edison, joined the board this month.

A Queens resident, Shannon has over 30 years of managerial and leadership experience in human resources, environment, health and safety and customer operations.

She will play a big role in helping QBG advance its mission during her three-year term.

“The QBG is one of our city’s treasures because of its wonderful educational programs and dedicated environmental stewardship,” Shannon said. “I am honored, delighted and eager to help carry on such great work.”

Two international restaurant chains coming to Flushing

Dan Rose

3Two internationally-popular restaurant brands are coming to Tangram, Flushing’s 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use development.

Last week, Tangram’s developers announced that it has signed 10-year leases with Ju Qi, a restaurant specializing in authentic Beijing cuisine, and Meet Fresh, a Taiwan-based dessert bar.

This is Ju Qi’s first location in the U.S., and the second New York location for Meet Fresh. Both are slated to open in 2020.

Altogether, Tangram will include two residential towers, a food hall, a beer garden, curated office space and other amenities. Earlier this year, Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot also signed a 10-year lease at Tangram.

Ju Qi, which is headquartered in Beijing, has 20 locations across China and one in Sydney. It has signature dishes like creative mashed potato, special fried rice, Peking duck, barbecue lamb and more.

Meet Fresh, which also has a location in the East Village, is originally from Taiwan. It has more than 1,000 stores across Asia, New Zealand and Australia. It offers fresh, natural and Instagrammable treats like taro balls, herbal grass jelly, mochi, mango shaved ice, boba tofu pudding, green tea with whipped cream and more.

CUNY Pridefest at Queens College set for June 20

Dan Rose

pridefest program raindate

Let’s hope the weather is good on June 20!

Queens College will host the second annual CUNY Pridefest on the quad that Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.

The original event was planned for June 13, but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Pridefest will feature a presentation on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a campus Pride match, a community expo, student musical and dance performances, games and more.

The event is not just limited for CUNY students – it’s free and open to the public.

In the event of inclement weather, Pridefest will be held inside the college’s main dining hall.

For more information on CUNY Pridefest, see the announcement here.

Flushing Town Hall seeks donors to match pledged $35,000 gift

Dan Rose

Last week, we received this letter from Flushing Town Hall Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek calling for donations to match a pledged $35,000 from an anonymous donor. Here is her letter:

Dear Editor:

Flushing Town Hall has been presented with a significant challenge this season, one that I hope your readers will help us meet. It’s not every day that an institutional supporter presents such an offer to us.

An anonymous donor – a supporter of the arts – recently approached us through one of our board members. The donor’s offer: if our nonprofit can raise $35,000 in new donations by February 2015, the donor will contribute another $35,000.

The donor’s hope is that this challenge will motivate others to open their wallets and hearts, thereby enabling our gem to be brighter than ever, enriching the culture of this diverse community.

This is a challenge we’re excited to take on. I invite – no, encourage – your readers to help us by visiting flushingtownhall.org/35challenge to contribute. Every dollar will help preserve the work of the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts, which has been part of the fabric of the borough for 35 years (thus the “35” in the challenge).

Each year, FCCA presents an array of high quality arts and educational programs at Flushing Town Hall with a focus on global arts for a global community. The contributions we receive this season are vital to preserve not only our operations and programs but our role in preserving our historic landmark building, dating to 1862.

We’re confident that people – from Queens and beyond – who have enjoyed Flushing Town Hall over the years will step up to the plate and pitch in.

Sincerely,

Ellen Kodadek

Executive and Artistic Director

Flushing Town Hall

[Queens Examiner]

Gone with the Wind celebrates 75th anniversary

Dan Rose

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of classic, 10-time Oscar-winning film Gone with the Wind, College Point Multiplex Theaters will by screening the film on Mon., September 28 and Wed., October 1.

The screenings will be part of a nationwide celebration in more than 650 movie theaters, hosted by Turner Classic Movies, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Fathom Events.

For the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. showings on both days, the film will be screened in its original 1:37 aspect ratio, and will be preceded by a special introduction by TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne.

IMI hosting Immigrant Artist Legal Clinic

Dan Rose

UnLocalIn partnership with the Queens Museum‘s Open A.I.R. Artist Services program, Immigrant Movement International (IMI) will host a legal clinic for immigrant artists on Sat., September 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The event will be facilitated by Unlocal: Community Immigration Legal Services.

Topics of discussion will include how to apply for an O-1, or artists visa, and how to apply for permanent status once an O-1 visa is secured.

All who wish to attend must RSVP.

 

Jazz Up in the Sky at Flushing House

Dan Rose

This Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., Flushing House is combining two of New York’s favorite pastimes – jazz music and hanging out on rooftops – with its Jazz Up In The Sky event at

Cost of entry is $100, or $150 for couples, and proceeds of the night will benefit the 300 senior residents of the Flushing House through the Flushing House endowment fund.

For the price, guests can expect a gourmet dinner, wine and beer, world-class musical performances and an open-air dance floor with uninterrupted skyline views.

Musicians of the night include Hernan Romero, Michael Feinberg and Isamu McGregor.

QEDC offering $10,000 grants to new startups

Dan Rose

Thanks to a generous donation by the Citi Foundation, the Queens Economic Development Group is offering $10,000 grants to new businesses in the borough.

The QEDC will be hosting an information session for its new StartUP! program, which is funding the grants, at the Flushing branch of the Queens Library from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mon., September 15.

At the session, attendees will learn the ins and outs of the Startup Business Plan Competition, which will decide who the grant winners will be.

Click here to RSVP

Queens Museum exhibit Sacred Waters opens today

Dan Rose

Queems Museum Sacred WatersAs part of the Queens Museum‘s Community Partnership Exhibition Program series, the Sadhana Coalition of Progressive Hindus presents Sacred Waters: A Collection of Hindu Offerings from Jamaica Bay, a new exhibition that opens today.

The opening reception will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., and features items discovered through Sadhana’s Project Prithvi, a green initiative that aims to honor the Hindu tradition of Ganja puja, which worships the waters, while at the same time promoting contemporary environmental justice. As part of its real-world environmental efforts, Sadhana hosts monthly cleanups of Jamaica Bay.

The exhibit will be on display through September 28.