a tranquil garden that hosts everything from free concerts to
yoga classes to drumming circles.
It’s also a beautiful Romanesque Revival building that has been
on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972. Built in
1862, Civil War conscripts were sworn into the Union Army in
the upstairs assembly hall. In the late 19th century, an extension
was added and the venue started hosting opera and traveling
theater. For a time, the legendary P.T. Barnum was its impresario
and Tom Thumb was its star performer. From 1902 until the early
1960s, Flushing Town Hall functioned primarily as a courthouse
and a jail. For many of these years a bank operated in the lobby.
Inside scoop: The Monthly Jazz Jam happens on the first
Wednesday of the month. It’s simple, musicians gather and play
under the direction of saxophone legend Carol Sudhalter. Don’t
play? Come and listen.
Address: 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, and
www.flushingtownhall.org.
FOREST HILLS STADIUM
Built in 1923 to host the U.S. Open’s center court tennis 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, but the
Beatles played two consecutive sold-out shows there in 1964.
The Doors and Simon & Garfunkel (Forest Hills High School
graduates) 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. (The U.S. Open
moved to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 1978.)
Forest Hills Stadium lay dormant for almost two decades until
a 2013 renovation that included a 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, F, M, and
R subway lines as well as a Long Island Rail Road stop. Because
it’s in a residential neighborhood, public transportation is
definitely the best way to go as parking is very limited.
Address: One Tennis Place, Forest Hills, and
www.foresthillsstadium.com.
56 QUEENS IN YOUR POCKET • www.its inqueens .com
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