48 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • APRIL 13, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM buzz George Clinton & Met Opera to play Queens ‘SummerStage’ shows BY ANGELA MATUA [email protected] @AngelaMatua It’s almost time to break out the sun screen and the dancing shoes because Queens parks will play host to tons of concerts this summer as part of the Only in Queens festival. Hosted by SummerStage, New York City’s largest free performing Whitestone’s Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices kicks off a sweet new season BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI [email protected] @smont76 Warmer weather and sunshine means business at this popular Whitestone sweet shop. Jessica Taylor and her mother, Marybeth Morgenbesser, have owned and operated Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices of Whitestone at 12-48B Clintonville St. for nine years. “My mom has built such a good relationship with the community,” Taylor said. “She asks everyone who comes in where they’re from. She lets the kids go in the back and take a look at all of the fl avors and colors. It’s just a good experience for the entire family.” Operating seasonally, the spot opened up for the 2017 season on March 3. According to Taylor, people from all over the borough, and even as far as Brooklyn, travel to the Whitestone shop for their selection of water and creme ices, ice cream, drinks and sundaes. With the recent departure of Ralph’s of Bayside, as well as Ralph’s of College Point, Taylor said there has been an infl ux of customers from those areas looking for their sugar fi x. In fact, she believes the Whitestone location may be the only one left in Queens. “We’ve had so many people come from the Bayside one, and the College Point one, as well,” Taylor said. “I think it’s good Bayside has another Ralph’s to go to ’cause I don’t think there’s another one around.” Morgenbesser, who is good friends with the owners of the Bayside location, was one of many dismayed to hear of the closing. Looking to do something for the disappointed Bayside community, Taylor explained that her mother approached the Bayside owners and asked if the Whitestone location could honor the Bayside “VIP punch cards,” which grants a free sweet treat to customers aft er purchasing 10. “When my mom went to the store she asked if we could honor theirs cards, and of course, they said yes,” Taylor said. “We felt it was good for the community.” Customers can fi nd an expansive selection of confections at the location, including the Bubble Gum and Blue Hawaii ices, which are popular with kids, as well as soft serve and Cookie Monster ice cream, a favorite with adults. New this season is a colorful cotton candy ice cream, which can come in a cup or a cone. “It’s pink and blue,” Taylor said. “Th e kids love it; it looks so pretty.” Th e Whitestone spot is also known for throwing community events, including birthday parties and activities for children. Morgenbesser and Taylor also work with the American Society for The exterior of Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices of Whitestone. the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to bring a mobile adoption center outside of the store, where people can interact with or adopt a small furry friend in need of a home. Look for one of these events in the coming weeks, Taylor said. Th e duo will also bring Ralph’s signature sweets directly to the customer during the annual Saint Luke’s carnival, Photos provided by Jessica Taylor which takes place the fi rst weekend in June. “We bring our most popular fl avors,” Taylor said. “On such a hot summer day, it cools people down while they go to the fair and go on all the rides.” Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices of Whitestone can be reached at 718-746- 1456. For store hours or more information, visit the shop’s Facebook page. arts festival, Queens residents will be treated to music and performances of all genres from June to July. Th e festival will kick off on June 11 with a performance at Flushing Meadows Corona Park by George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. Th e Rock & Roll Hall of Fame frontman and his group will perform with a host of hip-hop artists including Main Source and Long Island City native DJ Marley Marl from 5 to 8 p.m. On June 23, Metropolitan Opera stars will perform pieces from opera’s most beloved works at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City. Th e free event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. In the mood to watch some talented dancers? On July 5 at Springfi eld Park in Springfi eld Gardens, Just Sole! Street Dance Th eater Company will perform aft er giving a free hip-hop dance workshop at 7 p.m. Pretty BIG Movement, a dance company specializing in several genres such as hip-hop, jazz, African and modern dance will also perform. Th e next day, Jamaica native and trumpeter Tom “Jamaica Funk” Browne will perform at Springfi eld Park aft er the Mobile Mondays! DJ-led dance party. Th e event will start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. Springfi eld Park will welcome several artists that week with Slick Rick the Ruler, GrandWizzard Th eodore, Th e Jimmy Heath Big Band, Ohio Players and Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue all performing at the park. Queensbridge Park in Long Island City will honor the women in music and dance with a number of performances ranging from a dance workshop and performance from Ladies of Hip-Hop, a female-fronted dance crew on July 12, a performance from dance-club hit maker Judy Torres on July 13 and a concert featuring hip-hop staples Mr. Cheeks and Large Professor on July 14. On July 15, SKYY will perform their soulful hits at Queensbridge Park aft er a workshop with Scratch Academy. Th e event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. To close out the festival, Capone-n-Noreaga (also known as CNN) will perform their hits. Growing up in the Queensbridge Houses and LeFrak City, the Queens natives will come back to their hometown to perform from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 16. For a full list of shows, visit the www.cityparksfoundation. org/SummerStage. Photos by Zerline Alvarez Queens parks will play host to several concerts this summer.
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