LIC Space - In Memoriam: AGhost

Walter Carpenter Honored In Art Exhibit

May 8, 2010 / LIC Long Island City / Queens Buzz. Last night I attended the LIC Space first Friday reception entitled AGhost. This month they paid tribute to Walter Carpenter who passed away unexpectedly late last year. Walter was a Baltimore artist who oftentimes visited Queens and lived for a short spell in Astoria. Walter was an accomplished artitst, commissioned by the city of Baltimore to beautify the city with his creativity and art. He also was deeply involved in the artistic community of Baltimore. Today his work still enhances and helps beautify some of the public spaces in Baltimore.

Click here to view the rest of the story including a slide show of Walter Carpenter's AGhost art exhibit at LIC Space in LIC.

The Tempest In Queens

Shakespeare's Last Solo Play To Run Another Week

LIC / April 26, 2010. This past weekend I saw The Tempest at the Secret Theatre in LIC. I found myself drawn into director Kelly Johnston's portrayal of the Shakespearean comedy, as well as the performances by the cast - which included the Queens Players and Secret Theatre founder Richard Mazda.

The Tempest is believed to have been the last play written in its entirety by Shakespeare alone. This rendition of the play appeared to emphasize the comedic themes of the work, in lieu of the romantic ones. And it seems this comedic focus was done to good effect, as many in the audience enjoyed the humor of a play written exactly 400 years ago [about 1610 - 1611 AD].

Click here for a brief review of The Tempest at Secret Theatre in LIC which includes a slide show of one of the spirit dancers twirling around in the background.

Three Sisters Vanishing

Queens Director Updates A Chekhov Classic

April 18, 2010 / Long Island City LIC / Queens Buzz. Three Sisters Vanishing is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play entitled Three Sisters by Queens playwright / director Handan Ozbilgin Bromley of the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center.

Adaptation Of Chekhov's Three Sisters - At LPAC

The story is about three sisters living in the Russian countryside who, following their father’s death, long to return to the bright lights and sophistication of Moscow. Moscow, in the Chekhov story, is analogous to the sisters’ dreams and aspirations. The play progresses through four acts, with the sisters’ hope of returning to Moscow fading along with their dreams, as they come to grips with the realities of their lives. Click here to view the rest of the review of Three Sisters Vanishing at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in LIC.

Famous Photographers Convene

April 14, 2010 / Long Island City LIC / Queens Buzz. Yesterday at Manducatis Rustica on Vernon Blvd, I had occasion to bump into two well known photographers. Tony Vaccaro [left], who photographed for the Sunday edition of the Stars & Stripes, and Life and Look magazines and is well known for WWII photos and photographic sketches of famous people. Standing next to him is Mauro Presutti [right], who is an Italian photographer who currently photographs a variety of Italian subjects on black and white film. I found them sitting at 'Tony's Table' chatting with each other while a number of friends and acquaintances casually came and left. Both men have fairly recent published works which they are holding in the photograph on your left. Tony's book is entitled 'La Mia Italia' which translated means 'My Italy' and Mario's in entitled 'Il Teatro Involuntario' which loosely translated is 'Involuntary Theater'.

LIC Jazz Festival Finds Its Rhythm

March 28, 2010 / LIC / Queens Buzz. I just returned from the first LIC Jazz Festival. It was a cold, dreary, drizzly day as I arrived at the Secret Theatre's entrance.

Outside the theater, atop the loading dock, there was a smoking barbeque. People were milling around, engaged in casual conversations about music and musicians: Miles Davis, Jimmy Hendrix, Bix. Many were musicians themselves, and there were also artists, actors, actresses, and of course quite a number of people like the rest of us who were there to take in some good music.

This was the first LIC Jazz Festival, and the first jazz festival in Queens in the 21st century. The Long Island City event producers and promoters had signed up talent from around the borough to play througout the entire day. Click here to read more about the LIC Jazz Festival, including numerous photos.

Performance Art - The Geometry

Melange of Music, Sound, Light & Theater @ The Chocolate Factory

March 25, 2010 / LIC / Queens Buzz. Last night at the Chocolate Factory Theater in LIC, I watched the dress rehearsal of Object Collection's production entitled The Geometry. It was a fun and very interesting mind stimulator. A sort of sensory overload, of different actors engaged in their own worlds, but somehow operating as an organic whole.

But the acting was just one layer of the production, as music and sound were woven into the performance fabric. The music a medley of instruments and objects, with an overlay of voices and vocals by the actors and musicians. The costumes and lighting complemented the mental food feast - feting the senses beyond their capacity. And the words were a sort of subconscious philosophical chaos which washed the daily mental garbage right out of my mind.

Click here to read a full review of The Geometry at the Chocolate Factory Theater in LIC.

LIC Real Estate Appraisal Given At LICBDC Breakfast

Real Estate Prices & Availability In LIC Queens

Long Island City LIC / Queens / May 19, 2010. I attended a breakfast hosted by the Long Island City Business Development Corporation [LICBDC] which focused on real estate.  They had a panel of four knowledgeable speakers, all of whom presented differing perspectives on the current and long term prospects for real estate in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens.

Click here to read our report on real estate prices and inventory in Long Island City LIC.