Friday, March 03, 2006

Astoria Weekend Edition 03.03.06

Well, it's March now, and that means spring is just around the corner, even though it snowed this week. One thing that says spring is on the way to me is St. Patrick's Day (March 17). This holiday is a huge deal here in NYC, with the 5th Avenue parade drawing massive crowds. However, sadly, not everyone who is Irish is allowed to march. The solution? Enter the All Inclusive St. Patrick's Day Parade! On this Sunday, March 5, at 12:30pm the parade will start in Sunnyside, Queens at 43rd and Skillman Avenue and end at 61st Street & Woodside Avenue in Woodside. Each year the parade organizers decide to honor someone, and this year they decided to honor mulptiple people: the McCourt Brothers (Malachy, Frank, Michael & Alfie) and Ellen Duncan. There will be bands, puppets, dancers, and a lot of fun. Come be Irish for a day no matter who you are!

Now, Astoria likes its festivals, too. Recently, there was the Venison Feast at Koliba Restaurant. My friend Jayme tipped me off to the exciting news of another food event - this weekend, the Bohemian Beer Garden steps up the plate with their Three Day Pork Festival! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, come for a three course meal and delicious beer, with seatings at specific times. There will also be live entertainment in the Main Hall. Should be an awesome time. Afterwards, head over to Martha's Country Bakery (36-21 Ditmars Blvd.) where they are now making German Chocolate cupcakes!

Along with parading and filling your belly, take in some cultural manna. The Thalia Spanish Theater presents the musical, Tango and Flamenco Fusion, with original music composed and performed by bandeoneon master Raul Juarena and, direct from Spain, Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer Daniel Casares, and flamenco singer Irene Salas "Chanela." On exhibit at the Fisher Landau Center for Art is a new installation featuring work by Matthew Barney, Lynn Davis, Yinka Shonibare, and Kara Walker, as well as Zoo Story: An Exhibition of Animals in Art. And don't forget that the O'Keeffe/Vaccaro exhibit closes this Sunday at the Art-O-Mat.

More fun, here.

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