Astoria, Queens - The Pilot

The New York Television Festival starts Monday and goes through the rest of this week, showcasing new modern and independent television programs, panel discussions, and other events that celebrate television as an art form.

One of the pilots premiering this week is called Astoria, Queens - "Inspired by the Wizard of Oz, four Kansas City twenty-somethings navigate their new lives in the scary, but exciting Emerald City of New York. After a day hanging with a Lindsay Lohan impersonator, shirtless male models, and a half-naked "stranger" who's not sure who he slept with the night before, the roomates question: "Did we do the right thing by moving here."

Here's the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxXTvGxLBww

You could attend the free screening during the following dates and times:

9/24 and 9/26 at 5:00 p.m.

340 West 50th Street (btw 8th and 9th Avenue), New York, NY

Free Yoga in Gantry Park on Sunday!

Free Yoga! Sweet words, oh yes. When, you ask?

Sunday, July 26th
9-10:15 a.m.

Come and join staff from The Yoga Room for a free, fun class at newly expanded Gantry State Park. You'll need to bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing (it may be warm this weekend). Be sure to get there before 9 a.m., as class starts right at 9.

Class will be held at Pier 1 at the Park. The Yoga Room is located 2 blocks away from the park. After class feel free to head over there and check it out.

For more information you can call 718-786-7962 or check the website. Gantry State Park is located here:

Free Bike Helmets at Queensbridge Park!

Just read on astorians.com about free bike helmets being offered in LIC this weekend:

DOT Offers Free Bike Helmets at Queensbridge Park, Long Island City - July 11

The Department of Transportation will give away free bike helmets while supplies last on Saturday, July 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Queensbridge Park in Long Island City in partnership with Partnerships for Parks and Bike New York.

You must be present to get a helmet, and you must learn how to properly fit and wear a helmet before you receive it. A parent or legal guardian must be present to sign a waiver for children under age 18. Adults over age 18 receiving a helmet must sign a waiver.

Check the events calendar on the DOT Web site for other bike helmet events. Or, you can schedule a fitting for an NYC helmet at one of the DOT's Safety City locations in the five boroughs by calling 311. Safety City locations can be found at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/safety/safecity.shtml.

For additional information, call (212) 839-2200.

Breast Cancer Screenings at Little or No Cost

This came through my inbox this week, and though some of you would find it helpful:

Mobile Mammography Unit
Queens Library HealthLink, a federally funded collaboration among Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society’s Queens office, Queens Library, and the Queens Cancer Center of Queens Hospital, was developed to place libraries at the center of an innovative new effort to help medically underserved communities in Queens access free cancer information, early detection screenings, cancer treatment resources, and other life-saving services.

A mobile mammography van will be making convenient stops at several Queens Libraries to enable women ages 18 and older to get an overview of breast cancer and early detection with screening services on the van. Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 to schedule a mammogram. All are invited to visit the mobile unit to receive educational information and referral for services, and to stop inside the following libraries for cancer-related information while the unit is parked outside. Cancer information workshops will be presented in languages appropriate to Queens Library customers served in these neighborhoods. Plans are being made to add pap smears to the services offered in the mobile unit in coming months.

Upcoming HealthLink mammogram van visits:

October 24 starting @ 10 a.m., Queens Library at Astoria,
14-01 Astoria Boulevard

October 27 starting @ 11 a.m., Queens Library at Long Island City
37-44 21 Street

If you have health insurance that will pay for this service, it will be billed. If the insurance requires a co-payment, you will be responsible for this co-payment. If you don't have health insurance, there is no cost to you.

For my nerd brethren ;)

Tomorrow (Saturday April 28th) is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!!! Yes, you heard me right- you can get score yourself a freebie right here. The lovely and local folks over at SILVER AGE COMICS are participating in the annual event. Step right up and get a chance to discover some great graphic novels. You can find them in their tricky little location on the 2nd floor next to the exit from the Ditmars subway station @ 22-55 31st St. (718) 721-9691. Happy reading!