What To Look Forward To At LIC Springs – 14 On the 14th

It’s that time again – LIC Springs is back! From noon to 5pm on Saturday, May 14, stroll along Vernon Blvd between 50th and 46th Avenues and partake in activities, art, fitness, food and more (see our reporting from last year’s event). Here are some highlights expected of the day.

ARTS

Materials for the Arts: Create a Web of Re-use Festival

Help create an art installation with the good folks from Materials for the Arts by weaving yarn and re-useable materials into giant frames. This interactive and creative endeavor is open to all participants, and along with being a lot of fun it’s a chance to see and touch the amazing supplies that are always available for free at Materials for the Arts for NYC’s schools, artists, and community centers.

7Train Murals

More collaboration time! Work with your fellow LIC Spring participants to paint a community-made mural. This sort of thing is smack dab in the middle of 7Trian Murals’ wheelhouse—they are “a community-driven mural organization dedicated to beautifying neighborhoods along the 7Train subway in NYC.” And there’s more:

“7Train Murals initiates community beautification projects in neighborhoods all along the 7Train in Queens. We replace vacant or vandalized commercial areas with site-specific, professional mural designs. Our murals are painted entirely by neighborhood volunteers and are sponsored and supported though local business donations and grants. Our murals are neighborhood networking events that build community pride. No painting experience? No problem! All you need to get on-board is an interest in community creativity!”

MoMA PS1 – Paint Your Own Landscape

One of MoMA PS1’s current exhibits features the fantastic work by LA-based artist Rodney McMillian, known for mixed-genre practice. “In celebration of our new Rodney McMillian: Landscape Paintings exhibition, we have prepared a fun activity centered around the show. Rodney McMillian’s works employ found cloth materials from thrift stores as canvas for abstracted landscape paintings. For the LIC Springs! festival we will create a work station and supply the public with paint and cloth material in order to let them recreate an image of a landscape in an imaginative way.”

Get To Know LIC’s Pro Dance Companies

Did you know that LIC is home to some of NYC’s best professional dance companies? You’ll have a chance to see their art in motion—Jessica Lang Dance will be performing, as well as young dancers from Joffrey Queens. You’ll also have a chance to learn about class offerings at the new Jessica Lang Dance Center, play games with their dancers, and win fun prizes!

Queens Book Festival Readings

It’s no secret we’re fans of the Queens Book Festival around here, and are happy to let you know that they are organizing readings with their children’s authors, reading from their own books under the tent. Authors include Michelle Schusterman, Sam Ita. Rita Williams Garcia, and Ama K Yawson. And for those who want to take home any of the featured books, they be available for sale at the Book Festival table. Small giveaways and other activities are also part of the day!

Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center

Stop by the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center booth for some awesome wheel-throwing demonstrations! Also, when you stop by, you can enter to win a free ceramics class.

FOOD

Along with local businesses offering tasty samples during LIC Springs, there will be ample opportunities to do some al fresco dining along Vernon Blvd. Aside from that, though, there’s a couple things of note:

Spaghetti and Gelato Eating Contests

From 3-5pm, stuff your face with pasta and/or gelato at Manducatis Rustica.

Sugarcube Desserts & Coffee Bar Will Print Your Candy in 3D

3D printing is all the rage these days, and the materials used would astonish you; it’s not just plastic. So get ready to witness Sugarcube Desserts print out 3D candy. It’s going to be epic!

ACTIVITY

Moving your body has been a staple activity at all previous LIC Springs, and this year is no different. This year you can:

Join a Latin Dance Party with the LIC YMCA.

Try a fancy new interactive rowing experience with Row New York (rowing is super good for the bod).

Fly, crawl, and run through the gymnastics obstacle course with LIC Kids.

PETS

And we cannot forget our furry friends! And yes, they are family. Activities this year are geared toward the doggies and those who love them.

Doggie Photo Booth

Bring your best friend with you to JD Dog Training, where they are hosting a doggie photo booth.

Dog Training and Donations

Find the folks from Yuruani Olguin Dog Training/LIC Dog Walk offering training tips and demos. Plus, this is a chance for you to donate gently used dog toys, blankets, leashes for shelter dogs, so don’t forget them. Spread the love!

And finally…

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Met from 3-4pm! Can’t really say much more than that, just that it will be awesome.

Hope to see you at LIC Springs on May 14!

LIC Springs
Saturday, May 14
Noon-5pm
Vernon Boulevard between 50th and 46th Avenues
Long Island City
FREE!