Reader Marie Walnut writes in to share her hair raising experiences as a new mom out in the wilds of Sunnyside playgroundland:
Only recently I found myself venturing into the New York City parks and playgrounds now that I’m a mother. I have always taken walks in Central Park, but it’s really not the same as the local play spaces. Nothing like the play spaces we have here in Sunnyside – Lou Lodati and Noonan playgrounds.
I have spent more hours at Lou Lodati than I care to count on the few warm days we have had so far. I had no idea that I was going to encounter such unfortunate things there. Before I entered for the first time I referred to the rules that are clearly posted on gate. However, after sitting there for a few minutes I started to notice that many of the rules were broken. I noticed dogs, people lying on benches who were not in the company of children, and worst of all cigarette smoke was rampant.
I can forgive most wafting cigarette smoke, but when the blue haze makes way over my newborn’s face I find it totally unacceptable. On one of the first lovely spring days in Sunnyside, the smoke was heavy over at Lou Lodati playground. There were women pushing baby buggies smoking their super 110s. The kids were happily breathing in the thick blue haze when the wind blew in the right direction. Even the park attendant was puffing a butt close to the restroom facilities in plain view of all to see. I had to move to three different benches to save my baby from a lifetime of asthma just from one visit to Lou Lodati.
A few days later I decided that the weather was too nice and I needed to go back for another round of the abusive relationship I have entered into as a park sitter at Lou Lodati. Little did I know that the day would bring some interaction with the local adolescent boys? How does a group of young mothers with little babies get into a verbal altercation with tween boys? Well visit Lou Lodati after school lets out and you will see. After some young punks decided to kick their soccer ball ferociously around four young moms and their babies, one brave mom went to reason with them. They didn’t let up and decided to release as many uses of the F-word they could configure in their broken sentences. No park attendant was to be found though – probably out smoking…
I discovered that hanging out in Sunnyside’s playgrounds is more of a standoff than an enjoyable walk through the park.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Area Mom Fed Up With Parks
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Support for Dolce Vita Withdrawn
See original post. Sorry it took so long to respond to the hue-and-cry in the comments.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The First Annual Jackson Heights Poetry Festival to Take Place this May The Most Culturally Diverse Neighborhood in the U.S. brings togetherCommunity Schools and Organizations to Promote Diversity Appreciation through Poetry From May 15-17, 2008, Jackson Heights will open its doors to both the local community and NYC at large to celebrate the cultural diversity of Queens and the poetic talent of its students. The Jackson Heights Poetry Festival is a 3-day event involving workshops taught by professors and poets, a poetry slam, and a series of readings at an all-day outdoor-poetry-extravaganza. Leading up to the festival, a poetry contest will be held in public and private middle and high schools throughout Queens for students in grades 6 – 12, and winners will be featured at the festival. Events: WORKSHOPS: Thursday May 15, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Garden School 33-16 79th Street, Jackson Heights NY, 11372 POETRY SLAM & OPEN MIC: Friday May 16, 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Restaurant and Lounge Novo 78-23 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY THE OUTDOOR FESTIVAL: Saturday May 17, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The Garden School 33-16 79th Street, Jackson Heights, NY Noted Poets and Educators Taking Part in the JHPF Events: Patrick Rosal, Jai Chakrabati, Richard Marotta, Lee Schlesinger, Michael Dumanis, Bill Zavatsky, and the first woman to be named the Poet Laureate of Queens, New York, Ishle Yi Park. Sponsors/Organizers/Supporters: New York Council for the Humanities Jackson Heights Beautification Group NYS Senator John D. Sabini NYS Assemblyman José R. Peralta NYC Councilman Hiram Monserrate Dime Savings Bank Marina Yoffe, Co-Founder/Director Sarah Heinemann, Co-Founder/Director Contact info: JHPFest@gmail.com or (347) 517-1506 Online Contest submissions are due by Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Finalists will be announced online May 1, 2008. For more information, please visit www.jhpfest.org
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Kite Flight: Plastic Play on Sunday, April 27
KITE FLIGHT: PLASTIC PLAY
Sunday, April 27, 2008 at
Socrates Sculpture Park
11AM - 2PM
Free / Rain or Shine!
Socrates Sculpture Park and The Noguchi Museum are proud to present the sixth annual kite making workshop and flying event. This free hands-on workshop will take place at Socrates Sculpture Park and welcomes children of all ages to participate.
This year, children and their families will find an excellent new use for plastic bags by transforming this durable, and light weight material into beautiful recycled kites! Kite designs are provided by artists Miwa Koizumi and Marco Scoffier who will draw inspiration from the Park's fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline. Participants will have the opportunity to build and decorate their kites, then fly them in the Park.
Advance registration is not required, but space is limited, so come early! The workshops are free and will be held - rain or shine - under a tent in the education area at Socrates Sculpture Park; all materials and supplies will be provided.
Friday, April 11, 2008
THALIA SPANISH THEATRE presents its SPRING session
BILINGUAL THEATRE WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG AND BEGINNING ACTORS.
Experience an intensive theoretical-practical acting workshop at Thalia Spanish Theatre, taught by the prestigious Ecuadorian actor and director Franco Galecio. The class will culminate with a special performance for invited guests, including industry professionals.
The fee for the entire twelve-week session is $150. The classes are on Mondays, from 6pm to 9pm. The workshops begin April 7 and continue through June 23, with the final performance for the general public, critics, and industry professionals, on June 25.
For more information and to register, call 718-729-3880, or visit the theatre’s website: www.thaliatheatre.org.
Sponsored by Citibank, Con Edison, Independence Community Foundation, The New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs, and New York State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
THALIA SPANISH THEATRE
41-17 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside (Queens)
Subway # 7 Local to 40th St. Station. Buses Q60, Q32 to Queens Blvd & 41st St.
THALIA SPANISH THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS BILINGUAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN WORKSHOP/TALLER DE TEATRO PARA NIÑOS
Thalia Spanish Theatre is proud to announce the return by popular demand of its BILINGUAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN WORKSHOP, directed by award-winning actress, Soledad Lopez incorporating mime, masks, puppetry, and theatre, to explore our children's diverse cultural backgrounds.
The class will be taught by bilingual actresses/instructors Angelica Ayala and Mariana Buoninconti. It will accommodate both Spanish and English-speaking children.
Classes are Saturdays mornings from April 5 to June 21, 2008 (12 classes) from 10am to 12pm. The workshop concludes with a performance for the community of a unique multi-disciplinary piece performed by the children, at Thalia Spanish Theatre. The theatre is a professional, fully-equipped space, wheelchair-accessible and centrally located.
The fee is $150 total; there is a discount for families who enroll several children. The age group is from 5-14 years old.
ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED. For information and reservations contact Soledad López or Kathryn Giaimo at (718) 729-3880, or visit the website at: www.thaliatheatre.org
Thalia Spanish Theatre is located at 41-17 Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens.
The Theatre for Children Workshop is sponsored by Citibank, Con Edison, Independence Community Foundation, The New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs, New York State Senator George Onorato, and New York State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
WORLD PREMIERE Flamenco Musical at Thalia Spanish Theatre
THALIA SPANISH THEATRE, celebrating its 30th anniversary, presents
The BILINGUAL WORLD PREMIERE of
a FLAMENCO musical
PICASSO FLAMENCOunt of Orgaz
Written by the Spanish artist
PABLO PICASSO
ENGLISH version by JEROME ROTHENBERG
Flamenco music, singing and dance fuse with Picasso’s poetic text, projections of his paintings, and Picasso-inspired masks, to create an unforgettable “total theatre” experience.
Original Music by BASILIO GEORGES
Choreography by AURORA REYES
Associate Director HECTOR LUIS RIVERA
Audiovisual RUBEN DARIO CRUZ Masks by JANE STEIN
Designed, Produced & Directed by ANGEL GIL ORRIOS
with AURORA REYES, ERIKA DE JULIA, SILVIA SILLER,
KATHY TEJADA, ANGELA PEREZ,
WALTER GUZMAN, HECTOR LUIS RIVERA
and the special collaboration of dancer
YLOY YBARRA as PICASSO.
Guitarists: BASILIO GEORGES and JED MILEY
Keyboard: OCTAVIO BRUNETTI Percussion-Bass: SEAN KUPISZ
SIX WEEKS ONLY! APRIL 18 to MAY 25, 2008
alternating performances in ENGLISH and SPANISH
IN ENGLISH: FRIDAYS at 8 PM & SATURDAYS at 3 PM
IN SPANISH: SATURDAYS at 8 PM & SUNDAYS at 4 PM
TICKETS $30 STUDENTS & SENIORS $27; Special group rates
At THALIA SPANISH THEATRE
41-17 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside (Queens)
Subway # 7 Local to 40th St. Station. Buses Q60, Q32 to Queens Blvd & 41st St.
INFORMATION & TICKETS (718) 729-3880
