Queens County cooks with outdoor excitement for all.
Look around the borough for a plethora of August attractions.

By Helen Klein

To experience not only some of the most exciting moments in sports but also a myriad of cultures from all comers of the globe, you don't need to hop a plane.

You can just head into Queens' neighborhoods and parks, which are showcases of cultural diversity and which will be welcoming visitors throughout the month of August, as the borough gears up for a wide range of special events and attractions.

The borough has "a lot to offer," said Michelle Stoddart, the director of marketing and tourism for the Queens Economic Development Corporation. In general, she said, the borough has a host of attractions centered on Flushing Meadow Corona Park, between cultural and sporting attractions.

But, she added, there's so much more. Neighborhoods across the borough showcase different cultures - Jackson Heights for an Indian flavor, and Astoria for its Greek flair, for example.

In addition, Long Island City attracts the young, hip crowd. "It's the up and coming area right now," Stoddart noted. "There are a lot of boutiques and niche restaurants. It's a fun place to hang out."

With the Discover Queens in August initiative, Stoddart said the intention is, “To get people to come out and do two or more activities in a day or in a weekend. You can go to the zoo and then go to a baseball game, for instance, because they're right next to each other."

Much of the excitement for August, not surprisingly, is centered on the area around Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where a dynamic duo of sporting thrills co-exists during the month.

LATINO FESTIVAL

First up is the Queens Theatre in the Park JP Morgan Chase Latino Cultural Festival, which began in July and will continue through August 5th at the theater in Flushing Meadow Corona Park.

The series of performances - some of which are free - provides an open window on the breadth and drama of Latino and Latin American music and dance, and offers the opportunity to enjoy Spanish-language stars from around the world. The festival, said marketing director Sam Rossi, is, "The largest festival of its kind in the country," drawing between 5,000 and 6,000 people each year to performances that are held, not outdoors, but in a relatively small theater.

In August, the festival - now in its 11th year - will highlight a range of performances.

On August 1st, there will be a free production of a one-woman show, Julia Ahumada Grob's He(R)evolution, which depicts Grob's evolution as a Latino woman in the context of Chile's stormy history. The event, which will begin at 7 p.m., is free. Reservations are required.

Also on August 1st, there will be a performance of Diquis Tiquis, featuring Costa Rican performance artists Aleandro Tosatti and Sandra Trejos. The performance, which begins at 8:30 p.m., is free. Reservations are required.

Thursday, August 2nd, is open mic night, hosted by Sheila Maldonado. Those interested in participating in the performance, which begins at 7 p.m., should send an e-mail to cgodling@ queenstheatre.org. Admission to the performance, which begins at 7 p.m., is free. Reservations are required.

Also on Thursday, August 2nd, beginning at 8:30 p.m., is a jazz performance by trumpet player Diego Urcola and his quintet.

That will be followed by a performance, at 8:30 p.m., by Coba & Claudia Trio, which illustrates the "softer side" of Latin music. Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $20 each; in advance, $15, or $12 apiece when tickets to three or more shows are purchased.

Then, on Friday, August 3rd, at 8 p.m., there will be a performance by Roy Brown, who hails from Puerto Rico. Tickets for his performance cost S35 on the day of the show, $30 in advance, $28 when tickets to three or more shows are purchased.

The afternoon of Saturday,. August 4^th, will be beguiled by two showings of the film, Pirates en el Callao, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The film follows the adventures of a young boy who goes back in time to 17th century Callao. Admission is free but reservations are required.

Also on Saturday, August 4th, at 8 p.m., Colombian folk singer Petrona Martinez will be the featured performer in her New York City-Queens debut. Tickets for her performance are $40 on the day of the show, $35 in advance, $32 if tickets to three or more shows are purchased.

The series finale is on Sunday, Augugst 5th, at 7:30 p.m., when Afro-Peruvian performer Tania Liberdad will wow audiences. Tickets cost $40 on the day of the show, $35 in advance, $32 when tickets to three or more shows are purchased.