What to Do in Astoria This Week: Valentine’s Day, Otakulypse, Mock The Room, 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!

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

FEBRUARY 14-20—Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope you are having a special day today regardless of your coupled or uncoupled status. Love is in the air and that means loving yourself, too. In contemporary parlance, treat yo self.
And if you’re looking for a place to enjoy a delicious Valentine’s, we’ve got you covered.
In a more somber vein, today is the first Sunday of Lent.

We also get to celebrate Abe and George’s birthdays on Monday during Presidents Day. Here’s hoping you get the day off. It’s also Susan B. Anthony Day on the 15th here in NY. Make a wish on a Susan B. Anthony dollar for good luck (yes, I just made that up). Or thank Rep. Carolyn Maloney for introducing the “Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act” (H.R. #655) in 2011. Ladies, we wouldn’t be voting during this crazy election season without her and her fellow suffragettes’s hard work decades ago.

Presidents Day Brunch

Roll out of bed and into an amorous brunch on President’s Day. We’ll be serving the usual eggcellent brunch dishes from 9am-4:45pm.

Monday, February 15, 9am-4:45pm
The Queens Kickshaw | 40-17 Broadway

Learn more, here.

Thwarted Loves of New York City History

Join us on Valentine’s Day for some of the most memorable tales of “love gone wrong” from New York City history. There will be tales of tragic circus stars, Hollywood actors, famous architects, gold diggers, murder, and ghosts, all packaged into a Valentine’s afternoon that aims to make you laugh, cry, and groan.

About your lecturer:

Marie Carter grew up in Scotland near Edinburgh, a city bubbling with ghost stories. Her father was a bus tour guide in Edinburgh and he would often drive her around town quizzing her on historical facts. She now lives in Astoria, Queens and is a tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead. She created and leads the tour “Haunting Histories and Legends of Astoria.” She’s the author of The Trapeze Diaries and the editor Word Jig: New Fiction from Scotland.

Sunday, February 14, 3-4pm
Q.E.D. | 27-16 23rd Avenue
$10.00

Learn more, here.

CUI at The Astor Room: Punch-Drunk Love

Come round, all ye’ cinephile sweethearts and singles! Cinema Under the Influence is proud to partner with The Astor Room for a post-Valentine’s Day presentation of P.T. Anderson’s beloved Punch-Drunk Love. The Astor Room will be mixing up complimentary rum punch and mimosas, and a taste of their delicious menu is also included with your ticket. Cocktail and mingle time begins at 4pm, and around 4:50, we will hold a raffle of goods from local businesses, including The Astoria Bookshop. The film will roll shortly thereafter.

Please join us for this very special post-holiday screening from one of our favorite directors! Perfect for the smitten and the heart-broken, all the same.

Monday, February 15, 4-7pm
The Astor Room | 35-11 35th Avenue
$32.64 (ticketing link)

Learn more, here.

Astoria Drink n Draw

Want to get out of the house or studio and refresh your artistic skills? Looking to meet local creatives, network and exchange ideas? Well, never fear! Q.E.D. is here!

On the first Friday and third Tuesdays of every month, Q.E.D. hosts a social drawing event with focus on figure drawing from a live model.

No need to be a pro, stick figures and hand-turkeys welcome! Bring your friends or enjoy an evening of creative exploration and meeting local artists. Each event will have a unique theme, new models, and plenty to drink!

Bring your own materials. Some materials will be available for purchase.

Tuesday, February 16, 7-8:30pm
Q.E.D. | 27-16 23rd Avenue
$10.00

Learn more, here.

The Brass Owl: We’re Engaged! Now What?!?!

Nicole from The Brass Owl knows that getting engaged is one of the most exciting and scary times for a bride-to-be…she knows because a year ago she was one! She’s invited her Astoria based wedding experts team to The Brass Owl on February 18th for a wedding information workshop. This is a no pressure event, it’s just for you to get the kick off you need to start the planning. In true Brass Owl fashion, wine and cheese will be served! Get all the deets here!

Thursday, February 18, 8:00 pm
The Brass Owl | 36-19 Ditmars Blvd
Free

 

Otakulypse

A free comedy show where three comedians make fun of horrible anime. Join your host, Benel Germosen, and his special panel of guests to revel in the insane, inane and borderline offensive Japanese animation. Step through the hyperbolic time-chamber of awfulness and get ready to unleash your best heckling jutsu on these poor, unsuspecting films for a chance to win a free DVD. Jokes will be told. Beers will be drunk. And there’s going to be a whole lot of screaming.

This month’s guests: Jes Tom (Caroline’s,the Disoriented Comedy Tour) and Rebecca Rush (Cinder Block Comedy Festival).”

Thursday, February 18, 9:30pm
Creek and Cave | 10-93 Jackson Avenue
Free

Learn more, here.

“The Room”

Some movies are so bad, they’re good. The Room is such an incoherent piece of trash, it’s now considered a modern cinematic classic. Chris Gersbeck and Freddy G have invited some of New York City’s quickest comedians to riff on Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 marvel during a very special late night screening at QED.

Featuring on the panel:
Frank Conniff (Mystery Science Theater 3000)
Myka Fox (Someecards)
Freddy G (Last Stop Laughs)

Come enjoy this one-night-only event with like-minded masochistic film lovers. Costumes are encouraged!

February 19, 11pm-1am
Q.E.D. | 27-16 23rd Avenue
$5 in advance/ $7 on the day of

Learn more, here.

Live Music – Tosh Sheridan Band

Tosh, a guitarist and composer, earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music in 1998. In 2004, he went on to earn his Masters in Jazz Performance from City College of New York. While at City College, Tosh studied with the world-renowned solo jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini.

Tosh has been performing throughout the tri-state area since the age of 16 when he first started playing guitar. He has had a great deal of experience teaching private lessons, classes and ensembles (National Guitar Workshop, Borough of Manhattan Community College, City College and Trevor Day School).

Tosh has composed music for dance productions and short movies. His latest score is featured in Coleman Hough’s (writer of Stephen Soderbergh’s feature film Full Frontal and Bubble) short movie The Tale of Two.

He has also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many great artists including, Gene Bertoncini, John Stowell, Paul Meyers, Robin McKelle, and Norah Jones.

To hear his music – toshsheridan.com
Friday, February 19, 9-11:30pm
The Queens Kickshaw | 40-17 Broadway
No cover charge

Learn more, here.

Take Root presents LatticeWorks Dance Collective and Katharine Pettit

Take Root presents LatticeWorks Dance Collective and Katharine Pettit LatticeWorks Dance Collective: Artistic Director Becky Allen creates a dance experience blending mythology into the contemporary. Through this work, LWDC explores themes of antiquity, jealously, and the intricacy and trust of female relationships. By unveiling familiar mythos, the five dancer cast weaves a semi-narrative that seeks to alter assumptions and reveal the duality of feminine alliances. LWDC aims to shift perspective for their audiences, their peers, and each other, so that the product will forever be new.

Katharine Pettit: Conceived and choreographed by Katharine Pettit, I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE… tells the story of three sisters and their struggle with addiction. Turmoil and heartbreak ensue, affecting the trio and creating a resounding impact that reverberates through the years. Take a journey, moment to moment, of what it means to love someone afflicted with this disease. Share in the conversation of what we can do to change the stigma attached to addiction and how dance can move us to action!

Friday and Saturday, February 19-20, 8pm
Green Space Studio | 37-24 24th Street, #301
$15

Learn more, here.

Zafeiris Melas, Ft Evdokia

Galaxy Entertainment Chicago Presents: Zaferis Melas along Evdokia
with Evita Sereti

Saturday, February 20, 10:30pm-3am (doors open at 10pm)
Melrose Ballroom | 36-08 33rd Street
$55-125 (ticketing link or call call 718-255-6921)
Minors under 21 must attend with parent or legal guardian

Learn more, here.