Caring for Street Trees Workshop

This looks like a great community opportunity! Plus you'll learn some good skills in the process.

Caring for Street Trees Workshop
In partnership with the New York Tree Trust

Street trees need our help. Learn how to care for them at this workshop!

When: Monday, February 23, 2009 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Greater Astoria Historical Society, The Quinn Building, Broadway between 35th & 36th Streets on the fourth floor, Astoria, Queens. (In partnership with Green Shores NYC.)
(map)

In this basic workshop, you'll learn to care for young street trees, receive free tools, and get a Parks Volunteer Permit, which will allow you to care for street trees and greenstreets.

Advance registration is required. To register, contact channaly.philipp@parks.nyc.gov or (212) 676-1929 with your name and email and/or phone number. (Workshop does not cover pruning.)

Photo credit: (cc) Meg Cotner

Astorian Weekend Edition 31.07.08

I love summer! There's always so much to do. Here is selection of things for the weekend:

Comedy in Queens: The Secret Theatre and The Queens Players present a festival of original comedy one acts from emerging NYC writers. On the final night (Saturday, August 2) you have a chance to see all the plays back to back. Program 1 starts at 5.30 and then program 2 at 8.30. A double ticket is only $20 and of course the closing night party will feature their famous and FREE BBQ!! The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St. in LIC, 718-392-0304.

Family Day: A free days of crafts, games, face painting, inflatable rides, & more! Saturday August 2, 12:00–4:00 p.m., PS 112/Dutch Kills Playground, off of 37 Avenue in Astoria.

Rock at the Rover: AM Preacher plays on Saturday, August 2 at 10:30 p.m. at the Irish Rover. 37-18 28th Ave in Astoria.

Hellgate Social Happenings: DJ Lo-Fi is on the 1's and 2's with some new wave, old school hip-hop, and electro. Saturday August 2nd. Sunday Night Cinema presents Red Dawn. Patrick Swayze, communists, and World War III - watch out! Hellgate Social, 12-21 Astoria Blvd, 718-204-8313.

Art is the New Black: An art showcase featuring four unique local artists (Chris Hingel, Anne Schellhorn, Raul Morales, Stefany Mohebban). Free! August 1, 8:30-11p.m. at Freeze Peach Cafe. 22-00 29th Street.

New Parks Policy for Bicycles

Bicyclists locking their bikes to trees and their metal fences, beware! According to Streetsblog, Parks and Recreation Department agents are clipping locks and seizing bicycles that they deem "illegally parked". This practice was first caught in Forest Hills Park, but according to a city employee, this is new policy for all 5 boroughs. According to a Streetsblog tipster:

I went to the Parks Department in Flushing Meadows Corona Park where the truck full of confiscated bicycles sat to get the scoop. Here, Captain Kenneth Brown informed me that today began a citywide campaign involving the City Parks and Recreation Department. This time all bikes chained to city trees or to the metal fencing around those trees will be seized in neighborhoods throughout the 5 boroughs. Bikes are then taken by truck to the nearest Parks Department Headquarters where they are held for 2-3 days before being sent to a depot in Long Island. In order to retrieve your bicycle, you must pay a $50 summons - that is if you can find it.
According to the Captain Brown, bicycles are only considered to be parked "legally" to bicycle racks.

I agree with one of the commenters that locking the bike to the tree can be harmful to the tree, but locking the bike to a fence, shouldn't. And the city really should provide more bike racks.

Get Your (free) Yoga On at Socrates

JIA friend Jayme forwarded me this:

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007
From: Monique Schubert

Greetings Friends!

Calling all yogis and yoginis, students, serious practitioners and spiritual seekers! It's that time again - time for yoga in the park!

Yoga classes at Socrates Sculpture Park are starting this Saturday!! Classes will be running from May 12 - September 29 this year!! Still meeting from 11-12noon.

For more info about the park, including directions and a calendar of all the amazing events going on this summer go to:

http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

Hope to see you all there!!
OM Shanti,

Monique