What to Do in Astoria This Week: Halloween, Republican Debate Watch Party, Wine Tasting, and More

Each week we bring you highlights and ideas for what to do in Astoria for the week through our What to Do This Week Series.  Got suggestions of your own? Share in the comments! Our Ultimate List of Things to Do in Astoria post is still packed with fun ideas as summer turns to fall.

Want your event included? Submit it here: weheartastoria.com/share-a-scoop

OCTOBER 25 to 31 – Happy Halloween!

Get our big Halloween event roundup and plan your weekend early!

Sunday Sessions: Ta-ku LIVE with Basenji, Charles Murdoch, and Future Classic DJs at MoMA PS1

Listen to Ta-ku (Regan Matthews) present Songs to Make Up To in his North American debut. His inaugural live performance will include guest vocalists and visuals by Sam Naik. Ta-ku has remixed work by Flume, Childish Gambino, and Justin Timberlake, and collaborated with Jaden Smith.

Sunday, October 25, 4-8pm
MoMA PS1 | 22-25 Jackson Avenue

Learn more, here.

Seniors Fitness – Tennis – Astoria Park

We welcome all New Yorkers, ages 60 and over, to participate in free tennis lessons, yoga instruction, and fitness walking in parks across the city. Activities in this eight-week fitness program take place twice a week. Seniors Fitness offers free tennis lessons, yoga instruction, and fitness walking in 14 parks across the city. We look forward to seeing our returning seniors and meeting some new faces.

Monday, October 26, 10am-noon
Astoria Park | 21st St & Hoyt Ave S
Free

Learn more here.

New Release Day with Christian Finnegan

Groundbreaking, paradigm-shifting artistry doesn’t appear out of thin air, folks. Every great joke or character or song starts somewhere and on the 4th Monday of every month, that ‘somewhere’ is QED! Join host Christian Finnegan (“Are We There Yet?”, “Chappelle’s Show” & “Best Week Ever”) as he invites a few big time pros to try out new material before it’s unleashed on the general public.

This month features: David Feldman (3-time Emmy winner), Keith Alberstadt (Late Night with Seth Meyers) with more to come!
*Lineups subject to change

Monday, October 26, 8:30-10pm
Q.E.D. | 27-16 23rd Ave
­Tickets: $6

Learn more, here.

Astoria Park Traffic Planning Session

On Wednesday, October 28th, everyone will have the opportunity to collaborate on ideas for better traffic safety along the streets leading up to and surrounding Astoria Park. All are invited to our Public Planning Session with the NYC Department of Transportation and Assemblymember Aravella Simotas. Audience members will break into working groups to voice their ideas about traffic safety in the neighborhood. Let’s work together to make this area safe for all families to enjoy. If you are planning to attend, RSVP to mcorbett@council.nyc.gov.

Wednesday, October 28, 7pm
Bohemian Hall | 29-19 24th Ave

Learn more, here.

Republican Debate Watch Party

On Wednesday, October 28, Q.E.D. will be hosting watch parties to take in the absurdity of our country’s political debates. In the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000 comedians and political commentators will be adding to the hilarity. The first two installments of the Republican Debates both sold out in a matter of days. Commentators include Frank Conniff, Myka Fox, and John Fugelsang. Doors will open at 6PM for the early Republican Debate. People can come early and mingle, discuss and get ready for the main event. The night will be part show, part watch party and all fun! Tickets can be purchased at the Q.E.D. box office or online at QEDAstoria.com.

Wednesday, October 28, Doors @ 6:00pm/Show @ 7:30pm
Q.E.D. | 27-16 23rd Ave
­Tickets: $8

Learn more, here.

Author event: Julia Markus, Lady Byron and Her Daughters

Join author and professor, Julia Markus, as she reads from her new book, Lady Byron and Her Daughters, where she strips bare the marriage of Lady and Lord Byron and delves into the fascinating life Lady Byron led outside of her husband’s shadow.

Wednesday, October 28, 7-8pm
Astoria Bookshop | 31-29 31st Street
Free

Learn more, here.

Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Zoning Amendment Public Meeting

On September 21, 2015, the NYC Department of City Planning Commission referred for public review two proposed text amendments to the NYC zoning resolution relating to zoning for quality and affordability (n160049zry) and mandatory inclusionary housing (N160051ZRY). Each is intended to encourage better buildings and accommodate the affordable housing needs of NYC residents of mixed-income levels. This public review process, known as a uniform land use review procedure, runs for 60 days from the referral date.

Representatives of the NYC Department of City Planning and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development will present and discuss the proposed zoning changes, how they may affect residential real estate development in NYC, particularly the potential impacts and effects on Community Board 2.

Wednesday, October 28, 6:30pm
IS/HS404 Hunters Point Campus Auditorium, 1-50 51st Ave
Free

Learn more, here.

Sage General Store Wine Pairing Event at SquareWine

NOTE: TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
For the first time in neighbor history we will host a three course wine pairing with Sage General Store. This delightful pairing will be the work of Sage’s new Executive Chef, Matt Bernero & General Manager Nicole Biscardi. Sage General Store prepares both traditional and contemporary American food, using the freshest, naturally-grown produce, meats and poultry. They seek out small, family-run farms and purveyors to bring you food full of authentic flavors. This evening will be a relaxing and fun look at how satisfying, easy and unpretentious wine and food pairings can really be.

The fourth course will be a delightful dessert course (and wine pairing) from our friends at Bonne Fette Baking here in LIC.

Thursday, October 29, 7:30-9:00pm
SquareWine | 24-20 Jackson Avenue
Tickets: $46.45 (plus $3.54 Eventbrite fee)

Learn more, here.

Exclusively Pinot Noir: A look at Pinot Noir from around the world

This presentation will explore Pinot Noir by comparing 5 different expressions from around the world. It will be a journey starting from Pinot’s Old World home in Burgundy, traveling through amusing detours in Switzerland, Italy, Volcanic regions in France, and culminating in cutting edge vineyards of Oregon. Not only will this class study what makes Pinot so universally enjoyed, it will also present an opportunity to scratch the surface of that most mysterious of wine concepts: terroir. Using 5 wines as our control, we will be able to understand how time, place and style affect the wine in your glass.

Friday, October 30, 7:30-9pm
SquareWine | 24-20 Jackson Avenue
Tickets: $22.76 (plus $2.24 Eventbrite fee)

Learn more, here.

Author event: Forrest Pritchard, Growing Tomorrow

Join us and Forrest Pritchard, an author and seventh generation farmer from Virginia, as he discusses his newest book: Growing Tomorrow: A Farm-to-Table Journey in Photos and Recipes. In Growing Tomorrow, see portraits of several visionary farmers as they share their livelihood and the recipes they have found to best cook the produce that they work so hard to grow.

Thursday, October 29, 7-8pm
Astoria Bookshop | 31-29 31st Street
Free

Learn more, here.

Adderesound Live (Celebration for El Dia De Los Muertos)

We are very proud to announce the October concert featuring Adderesound. This amazing band is back on the stage of Sunnyside Community Concert Series to perform a special concert for the celebration of the Dia de Los Muertos. It’s going to be great!

Friday, October 30, 7pm
Sunnyside Community Concert Series | 43-12 46th Street
Free

Learn more, here.

The Chain Theatre presents Wait Until Dark

Following the success of critically acclaimed productions of THE PILLOWMAN, NYIT Outstanding Revival Nominee 2015 TALK RADIO, and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST; Variations Theatre Group will present a newly adapted version of the classic thriller, WAIT UNTIL DARK, never before seen within the five boroughs of New York City, opening on October 30, 2015 at The Chain Theatre.

Forty-seven years after WAIT UNTIL DARK premiered on Broadway, Jeffery Hatcher has adapted Frederick Knott’s 1966 original, giving it a new setting. In 1944 Greenwich Village, Susan Hendrix, a blind, yet capable woman, is imperiled by a trio of men in her own apartment, tormentors who will stop at nothing to get what they want. As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she and her tormenters must wait until dark to play out this classic thriller’s shattering conclusion.

Friday, October 30 and 31, 8pm
The Chain Theatre | 21-28 45th Road
$15 (Seniors, Students, LIC Residents), $18 (General)

Learn more, here.

Live Music Series – Snehasish Mozumder & SOM

Snehasish Mozumder, an exploratory string virtuoso, expands the boundaries of the mandolin instrument. His double-neck mandolin is at the center of a band SOM, that swings it North Indian style mashed up with jazz and classical music. His talent comes from the sublime human voice he coaxes from his instrument—be it an Indian melody, a haunting Celtic rendering or something completely different.

He, together with his guest accompanists, improvises on North Indian classical style ragas shaped around harmonious melodies. His bassy North Indian vocal phrasings elevate his music beyond global boundaries. A highlight of Snehasish’s career includes sharing the stage with musicians such as Eric Clapton while in Ravi Shankar’s Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall Concert For George Harrsion in 2002.

Friday, October 30, 9-11pm
The Queens Kickshaw | 40-17 Broadway
Free

Learn more, here.

New York Road Runners Open Run: Run for Life – Astoria Park

Open Run is a new community-based initiative that launched in St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx on National Running Day, June 3, 2015. Through this initiative, New York Road Runners is empowering local volunteers to bring free weekly runs to local neighborhood parks all over NYC.

All runs are directed by volunteers and are free to all participants. The finish line is open until the last person is done. The course is between 2.5-3 miles. Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the run and to leave their valuables at home – bag check is not provided. No need to do anything before the run, just show up. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, dogs: All are welcome!

Saturday, October 31, 8-9am
Astoria Park, between running track and comfort station
Free

Learn more, here.

Yokohama International School Japanese Music Ensemble

Under the direction of Curtis Patterson, the YIS High School Japanese Music Ensemble returns to the Noguchi Museum for two special performances in the galleries. Performances will include a selection of four contrasting late 20th century ensemble works for koto and bass koto

Saturday, October 31, 11am-noon and 1-2pm
Noguchi Museum | 9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard)
Free with museum admission

Learn more, here.