performing and visual arts programs, including theater, jazz,
classical and world music, dance, puppetry arts, exhibitions and
family programs with interactive workshops. Visitors can step
into a stunning 308-seat concert hall and theater, gallery, gift
shop and classroom, and explore a tranquil garden that hosts
everything from free concerts to yoga classes.
Inside scoop: There is a former jail cell backstage that now
serves as a dressing room.
Address: 137-35 Northern Blvd. and www.flushingtownhall.org.
FOREST HILLS STADIUM
Built in 1923 to host the U.S. Open’s center court matches in
conjunction with the nearby West Side Tennis Club, Forest
Hills Stadium had its first heyday in the 1960s and 1970s,
when it was also an iconic concert venue. Not only did Arthur
Ashe and Chris Evert win Grand Slam tennis championships
there, but the Beatles played two consecutive sold-out shows
there in 1964. The Doors and Simon & Garfunkel, graduates
of Forest Hills High School, did a double bill in 1967. Even
Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Diana Ross performed
there before the venue shut down in the mid 1990s due to
financial concerns.
As West Side Tennis Club continued operation, Forest Hills
Stadium lay dormant until undergoing a roughly $3 million
renovation in 2013 that included a complete structural overhaul,
seat replacement, and the installation of a state-of-the-art stage.
The site re-opened in August of that year with a concert by
British rock band Mumford & Sons. Since then, it’s attracted
a wide range of musical performers, including The Who, Van
Morrison, and Carlos Santana.
Inside scoop: The stadium is located right off the E, M, F, R
subway lines as well as a Long Island Rail Road stop. Public
transportation is definitely the best way to get there as parking in
the area is very limited.
Address: One Tennis Pl., Forest Hills, and www.
foresthillsstadium.com.
GREEK CULTURAL CENTER
The Greek Cultural Center is the stage for music, theater, dance,
puppetry, and educational workshops. Founded in 1974, it strives
to bring the wonders of Greek and Greek-American culture to
audiences.
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