64 THE QUEENS COURIER • SUMMER FUN • JUNE 28, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
svuamlenmteinr efu’s nday
Katz Concert Series celebrates the classics
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
Enjoy free outdoor concerts across
Queens all summer long during the
fourth annual Katz Concert Series.
Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz has announced the lineup for Katz
Concert Series. Brought in partnership
with Kupferberg Center for the Arts and
NYC Parks, free outdoor concerts will
take place throughout the borough all
summer.
“Summers are all about free concerts in
the parks,” Borough President Katz said.
“We’re delighted to continue the partnership
Celebrate the Fourth of July early in Astoria with fireworks show tonight
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
The rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting
in air will light up the skies over Queens
tonight (Thursday) as the borough celebrates
Independence Day early.
Head over to Astoria Park on Thursday
night, June 28, for the 2018 Independence
Day celebration hosted by the Central
Astoria Local Development Corporation.
The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. on the Great
Lawn at Astoria Park, on Shore Boulevard
between the Hell Gate Bridge and Astoria
Pool, with a special performance from the
Patriot Brass Ensemble. Then, soon after the
sunsets, Grucci Fireworks will light up the
summer skies with a fireworks extravaganza.
Those heading to Astoria Park should
bring blankets and lawn chairs with them.
Sponsors of the extravaganza include
Councilmen Costa Constantinides and
Jimmy Van Bramer, NRG, Kaufman Astoria
Studios, Thomas M. Quinn & Sons Funeral
Home, Atlantic Bank, Dunkin’ Donuts,
Mount Sinai Queens, NYC Ferry, The Durst
Organization and BNB Bank.
Visit centralastoria.nyc or call 718-728-
7820 for more information.
Of course, the granddaddy of all
Independence Day fireworks shows will
take place at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday
night, July 4, with the Macy’s Fourth of July
Fireworks Extravaganza. As in past years,
Long Island City’s Gantry Plaza State Park is
one of the most popular places in the city to
view the pyrotechnics. If you’re planning on
going, get their early and use public transit.
The NYPD reminds everyone that the sale,
possession or personal use of fireworks in
New York City is illegal, and punishable by
a fine and/or jail time. Residents should call
911 if they witness fireworks being illegally
used or call 311 if they have information
about someone selling fireworks.
and bring this concert series back for
the families of Queens.”
All concerts will take place rain or
shine and are free to attend. Attendees
are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or
blankets to these outdoor events.
Here is the complete lineup for the
2018 Katz Concert Series:
Alive N’ Kickin’
Sunday, July 8, 6 p.m. – Rockaway
Beach, Beach 94th Street and Shore Front
Parkway, the Rockaways
Sunday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m. – Fort Totten,
Totten Avenue at Cross Island Parkway,
Bayside
Step back in time and enjoy the best hits
going as far back as the 1960s with Alive
N’ Kickin’! They will be putting on two
shows this summer in Rockaway Beach
and in Bayside, so if you miss one, you
haven’t missed your chance to see them!
Dr. K’s Motown Revue
Sunday, July 22, 6 p.m. – Springfield Park,
Springfield Boulevard between 146th and
147th avenues, Springfield Gardens
Sunday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. – O’Donohue
Park, Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 17th
Street, Far Rockaway
People of all ages can’t help dancing to Dr.
K’s Motown Revue. They have kept true to
the Motown sound roots, and every performance
transports listeners back to another
era.
Queens Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday, July 24, 7 p.m. – St. John’s
University (Great Lawn), 8000 Utopia
Pkwy., Jamaica
Founded in 1953 by Katz’s father, David
Katz, Queens Symphony Orchestra’s (QSO)
goal is to serve the diverse community in
Queens. The borough’s only professional
orchestra, their professional musicians have
performed on Broadway and with the New
York City Ballet, guaranteeing a night of
incredible music.
Tramps Like Us
Thursday, July 29 – MacNeil Park,
Poppenhusen Avenue and 119th Street,
College Point
Get ready, Springsteen-lovers: Tramps
Like Us, a Bruce Springsteen cover band, is
coming to rock the night away with songs
from the Boss himself. With over 2,000 concerts
under their belt, Tramps Like Us will
make you feel as though you have spent the
evening at a Bruce Springsteen show without
paying the high ticket prices.
Lady and the Vamps
Sunday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m. – Crocheron Park,
35th Avenue between Corbett Road and
Cross Island Parkway, Bayside
This extraordinary pop/rock cover band
uses their unique sound to cover a variety
of tunes. From jazz to pop and everything in
between, their technical abilities, improvisational
skills and musical versatility bring the
songs to life on the stage.
“Queens College is honored to continue
its partnership with Borough President
Melinda Katz and NYC Parks to present
another great roster of artists in the Katz
Concert Series,” said Felix Matos Rodriguez,
President of Queens College. “This program
fulfills the goals of the Kupferberg Center for
the Arts @Queens College, “to provide cultural
programs borough-wide in the neighborhoods
where our students and their families
live and work.”
Enjoy July 4
night market
at LIC Flea
The LIC Flea & Food,
located at the outdoor lot
by the waterfront at the corner
of Fifth Street and 46th
Avenue, will be open on and
rocking on the Fourth of July
this Wednesday, from 2 to
11:30 p.m.
The Macy’s 4th of July
fireworks display will take
place that evening from the
East River and Police expect
more than 50,000 spectators
to head to the Long Island
City waterfront for a view of
the show.
LIC Flea and Food offers
craft goods, art, antiques and
a range of global foods from
more than 70 vendors. The
Flea also has an all-Queens
beer garden with local craft
beer from local breweries on
tap.
Grab a spot for the viewing
and enjoy a Karaage cone
from Tojo’s Kitchen. Oaxaca
Taqueria will be offering
their tacos and Kings
Kolache will have sweet and
savory buns. Get a bite from
the many other food vendors
that will be onsite on July 4,
including amazing desserts
from Baked By Dawn, nitrogen
ice-cream from Cryo
Cream and vegan delights
from Vega’N Sweets!
There is no place better
to celebrate the holiday and
shop unique vendors than
at the LIC Flea & Food
Market. You can also shop
for hand-crafted mugs from
Potter Aguero, soy candles
from Pure Bellisimo and one
of a kind dresses from Yanzi
Lama and more!
The LIC Flea & Food
Market will also be open
Saturday and Sunday, July
7-8, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
each day. For more details,
visit licflea.com.
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo by Josef Pinlac
Fireworks over Astoria
link
link
