The Weekender

Shnikeys, where did fall go? What happened to enjoying a few weeks of nice cool, brisk weather? Why is it so damn cold? Where’s global warming when you need it (I jest folks, I jest) I know it could be colder so I must take advantage of this before, well, it snows. Ack! I used the dreaded s word. I just can’t believe the sudden turn, and right before my favorite holiday of the year, Halloween.

Just a heads up about the train this weekend, since lots of you ghouls and goblins will inevitably have something to do in Manhattan. There is NO N train service from QBP to Ditmars in BOTH directions. There will be shuttle buses provided. Also know that the 7 isn’t running past QBP to Manhattan. So that platform is likely to be mobbed by the shuttle bus flow and the 7 train riders. The R is running normal after a few weekends of zipping past local stops. But I’ve got quite a few activities that can possibly make this an All-Astoria Weekend if you’d just rather not deal with it all.

Running through November 12th, Art-O-Mat presents their new exhibit Sacred Spaces: Altars for Dia de los Muertos (in English, that’s Day of the Dead). Tradionally celebrated in Latin American countries the Dia de los Muertos is an important cultural event where families believe that the souls of the dead are all around them, they gather at the local cemeteries to visit and honor their dead. Four local artists, Luisa Gloria, Sylvia Hernandez, Zoe Morsette and Louise Weinberg offer their interpretations of the altars that some families keep in their homes to remember and honor their dead relatives or saints. From personal homages to political statements, this exhibit sounds very interesting.

Friday night the Astoria Performing Arts Center opens it’s production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin. The play is a hilarious and thoughtful take on what a fictitious meeting between Picasso & Einstein might have been like at the start of the 20th Century.
The show runs: October 27, 28 @8pm
October 29 @6pm
November 3, 4, 10, and 11 @8pm
November 5 and 12 @6pm
Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Students and seniors pay only $12.

Friday night is also Fatty's 4th Annual Costume Ball Extravaganza Halloween Party. At 10pm a $15 cover gets you in to enjoy "Ghoulish Giveaways! Freaky Floating Bottles! Phantasmic Prizes! " with DJ Meatman droppin the funky beats.

Saturday Waltz brings us our monthy dose of the Talk Wine Series with Kevin Rose. But I think Kevin won’t be at this one. So this might be more of a wine and treat appreciation night than it is a learning about wine night. Although its more fun to learn while you drink, it’s still plenty fun sampling 7 wines along with fruit, cheeses, chocolates and live music to accompany them. An RSVP to Waltz is a good thing to do, since the series is becoming quite popular and there’s also a $25 participation fee.

Finally, on Sunday maybe we can go back to enjoying the Beer Garden. You know, hipsters hate the cold so maybe they’ll stay on their side of the Newtown Creek and let us enjoy the Beer Garden’s Halloween Party and the book launch of Queens: What to Do, Where to Go (and How Not to Get Lost) in New York's Undiscovered Borough by Ellen Freudenheim.
Come by between 5 and 8pm dressed as your favorite Queens neighborhood; best costume wins a copy of the book. You’ll be able to purchase the guide, have it signed by the author and enjoy a pitcher…hopefully with NO lines.