Here is What's Happening This Weekend:SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th: Annual Shoreline Cleanup in Astoria Park 1:00pm – 3:30pm It’s Your Waterfront! H

   
GSNYC Shoreline Cleanup

Here is What's Happening This Weekend:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th:

SHORELINE CLEANUP 2010 PIC

Annual Shoreline Cleanup in Astoria Park

1:00pm – 3:30pm

It’s Your Waterfront!
Help keep it clean and beautiful!

Join us in cleaning the shoreline in Astoria Park at the Annual Shoreline Cleanup!

Meet just south of the War Memorial on Shore Blvd
(Btwn Ditmars Blvd & Astoria Park South)

All are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Volunteers are urged to wear old clothes (long pants-no shorts) and sturdy shoes or boots (sandals are not allowed).

The Shoreline Cleanup is in conjunction with the American Littoral Society’s International Cleanup Day.

Our partners in the cleanup are the Astoria Park Alliance, Partnerships for Parks and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.

The Shoreline Cleanup is RAIN or SHINE but will
be canceled in the event of thunderstorms.

Email mail@greenshoresnyc.org for more information.

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Gardening at Gantry

10am – 12pm

Gantry Plaza State Park
48th Avenue and Center Blvd
Hunters Point, Queens

Join the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy in caring for the gardens at Gantry Plaza State Park.

More info: www.friendsofgantry.org

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Photo by Mitch Waxman

13 Steps Around Newtown Creek Walking Tour

11am – 2pm

In 13 steps, Newtown Creek Alliance Historian Mitch Waxman will be showing you the then and now of Dutch Kills tributary, once known as the "workshop of the United States."

A central maritime artery of Long Island City, Dutch Kills is surrounded by hundreds of factory buildings, titan rail yards, and crossed by century old bridges - and it's found just a few blocks away from Queens Plaza. During this three hour tour, we will cover three miles of Brooklyn and Queens to see where the industrial revolution actually happened. Bring your camera, as the tour will be revealing an incredible landscape along this section of the troubled Newtown Creek Watershed.

The tour will begin promptly at 11, please be on time.
Meetup will be at the Albert E. Short Triangle park found at the corner of Jackson Avenue and 23rd
Street in Long Island City, Queens. This is the Court Square MTA station, and served by the 7, G, and M lines. Additionally, the Q39 and B62 buses have nearby stops. Check MTA.info as ongoing construction at Queens Plaza often causes delays and interruptions.

Drivers are encouraged to leave their vehicles near the Pulaski Bridge in either Greenpoint or Long Island City.

Tickets are $20/per person

More info and tickets here:
http://www.atlasobscura.com/events/obscura-society-nyc-13-steps-around-dutch-kills-4

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Paddle with the LIC Community Boathouse

Various Times

Spend your Saturday on the water with the LIC Community Boathouse on a circumnavigation paddle around Manhattan Island!

Registration is REQUIRED.

For additional information and to register, visit:
http://www.licboathouse.org/index.php/calendar/

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SkowheganPerforms at Socrates Sculpture Park

1pm – 5pm

Socrates Sculpture Park
Broadway at Vernon Blvd
Ravenswood, Queens

The Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, in conjunction with Socrates Sculpture Park, is pleased to announce the fourth year of SkowheganPERFORMS, an innovative, annual performance event that will use the EAF14: 2014 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition as its setting.

http://socratessculpturepark.org/program/skowheganperforms-2/

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Queens Art Intervention Day Installation

LEVITATE

On the Pedestrian Walkway of the Pulaski Bridge

Levitate will be on view from sunrise on Saturday, September 27 to sunrise on Sunday, September 28.

Artists Kate Bonsted and Hannah Wnorowski are excited to build Levitate, a public art piece that runs along the pedestrian walkway of the Pulaski Bridge. The installation is inspired by sentiments of journey, breath, and the passing moment. It will uplift commuters traveling between Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th:

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Paddle to City Island

9am

Enjoy this early fall weather on a trip to City Island with the LIC Boathouse!

Registration is REQUIRED.

For additional information and to register, visit:
http://www.licboathouse.org/index.php/calendar/

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Photo by Mitch Waxman

The Poison Cauldron of Newtown Creek - A Walking Tour

10am – 1pm

Join Mitch Waxman for a three hour exploration of the petroleum and waste transfer districts of the Newtown Creek watershed in North Brooklyn. This fascinating tour covers about three miles of the heart of the Greenpoint Oil Spill. We will be heading for the thrice damned Kosciuszko Bridge, which is scheduled for a demolition and replacement project starting soon.

Be prepared for rough terrain and possible heavy truck traffic. Dress and pack appropriately for hiking and whatever the weather may bring. Closed-toe shoes are highly recommended. Bathroom opportunities will be found only at the start of the walk.

Meetup at the corner of Kingsland and Norman Avenues in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Drivers, leave your cars in the vicinity of McGolrick Park in Greenpoint.

Tickets are $25/per person

More info and tickets:
http://brooklynbrainery.com/courses/the-poison-cauldron-of-the-newtown-creek

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ONGOING EVENTS:

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Waterfront Greenmarket

Saturdays from 8am to 4pm

Socrates Sculpture Park
Vernon Blvd & Broadway
Long Island City, Queens

Alongside the Park's workshops, yoga classes, sculpture exhibitions and stunning views, the GrowNYC Greenmarket at Socrates Sculpture Park is a great place to spend a Saturday morning. Shoppers will find a bountiful selection of seasonal produce from the Black Dirt region of Orange County, Mexican specialty produce from Richmond County, orchard fruit and juice, meat, poultry and eggs and multi-ethnic artisan breads.

Free cooking demonstrations are held weekly featuring seasonal items from the market, and family friendly activities take place throughout the season.

To learn more about GrowNYC's Greenmarket program, visit www.growNYC.org.

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EAF

Daily through March 22, 2015

Socrates Sculpture Park
Vernon Blvd at Broadway
Ravenswood, Queens

The annual Emerging Artist Fellowship (EAF) Exhibition is a cornerstone of Socrates Sculpture Park’s visual arts programming and is widely acclaimed for the ambition, breadth, and innovation of the works on view. Featuring fifteen artists, EAF14 is a survey of the compelling and diverse state of sculpture today.

More info HERE.

NYC Compost Project Hosted by Build it Green! NYC, is a community-scale composting network, that works to increase capacity for, acceptance of, and participation in composting in western Queens. We serve the public by hosting weekly and event-specific food scrap drop-offs, training community members in urban composting best practices, and providing high-quality compost to amend our city’s soils. The finished compost is used in community gardens, on street trees, and in public beautification projects.

Instead of adding your food scraps to the landfill, you can drop them off at one of NYC Compost Project Hosted by BIG! drop off locations:

24 / 7:

Long Island City CSA, Hour Children

Open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

The bin is located in the parking lot on

11th Street between 36th and 37th Avenues

Long Island City, Queens

Sunday:

9am to 1pm

Jackson Heights Greenmarket

34th Ave at 77th Street

Jackson Heights, Queens

10am to 12pm

Forest Hills Greenmarket

South Side of Queens Blvd at 70th Avenue

Forest Hills, Queens

Monday:

8-11am

Queens Library Steinway Branch

21-45 31st Street

Astoria, Queens

8-11 am

Commuter Composting in Hunters Point

Located near the Vernon/Jackson 7Train Stop

On the North Corner of Vernon Mall

Vernon Blvd & 50th Avenue

Hunters Point, Queens

Tuesday:

8-10am

Commuter Composting

At the parking lot near the southeast corner of N/Q train

Astoria, Queens

More info: www.bignyc.org/compost

Saturday:

10am-1pm

(May 10 - December 20, 2014)

Sunnyside Greenmarket

Skillman Ave between 42 and 43 Streets

10am-1pm

(June 7 - November 22, 2014)

Waterfront Greenmarket at Socrates Sculpture Park

Vernon Blvd & Broadway, Long Island City

1-3pm

Queens Library Broadway Branch

40-20 Broadway

Astoria, Queens

To learn more about BIG! Compost and to get involved, email: compost@bignyc.org

Times and schedule are subject to change. For up-to-date information, visit: http://bignyc.org/drop-sites

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Saturday Yoga

9:30-10:30AM

11am to NOON

Socrates Sculpture Park
Vernon Blvd at Broadway
Astoria, Queens

SATURDAYS, MAY 10 – SEPT 27, 2014 | 9:30 – 10:30 AM & 11 AM – 12 PM

Yoga classes are free and designed for all experience levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and, for yoga, bring a mat or a towel.

Kripalu Yoga is a system of Hatha Yoga that integrates body postures, breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation. Taught by Monique Schubert and Yojaida Estrella, participants are encouraged to integrate their yoga practices with this very special waterfront environment of nature and art.

FREE. NO RSVP REQUIRED.

www.socratessculpturepark.org

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LIC Flea & Food

SATURDAY

10am to 6pm

5-25 46th Avenue (the large parking lot)
Hunters Point, Queens

Enjoy some great eats, find a hidden treasure in the market, discover new artists and great local vendors all while taking in breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.

Just blocks from the 7, E, M and G trains as well as the East River Ferry and parking across the street.

More info HERE.

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Sunday Yoga

10-11am

Socrates Sculpture Park
Vernon Blvd at Broadway
Astoria, Queens

SUNDAYS, MAY 11 – SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 | 10 – 11 AM

Yoga classes are free and designed for all experience levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and, for yoga, bring a mat or a towel.

Kripalu Yoga is a system of Hatha Yoga that integrates body postures, breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation. Sunday classes are led by Yojaida Estrella, while participants are encouraged to integrate their yoga practices with this very special waterfront environment of nature and art.

FREE. NO RSVP REQUIRED.

www.socratessculpturepark.org

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Sunday Tai Chi

11am to Noon

Socrates Sculpture Park
Broadway at Vernon Blvd
Astoria, Queens

SUNDAYS, MAY 11 – SEPT 28, 2014 | 11 AM – 12 PM

Led by certified instructors from the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA, these classes offer the opportunity to learn Taoist Tai Chi, improve one’s health, relax, and exercise in an outdoor setting among changing exhibitions of contemporary sculpture.

FREE. NO RSVP REQUIRED.

www.socratessculpturepark.org

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NEWS:

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THANK YOU to Dutch Kills Centraal for being gracious hosts and to everyone that joined us and put the HAPPY in our Bridging the Creek Happy Hour on Thursday, July 31st!

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On Saturday, July 26th, we biked the Creek with two dozen of our newest friends and event partners Recycle A Bicycle, Willis Elkins from Newtown Creek Alliance and Rich Melinick from the Greater Astoria Historical Society.

Willis and Rich led the two hour tour through the Creek-side neighborhoods of Hunters Point, Dutch Kills, Blissville and Greenpoint.

If you missed this tour, stay tuned for our next bike tour scheduled for Sunday, September 21st.

Questions, email: mail@greenshoresnyc.org

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City of Water Day in OUR Neighborhood! At the Information Table with Clare, Ilana, Victor and BT. (left to right)

The community turned out in large numbers for the First Annual City of Water Day at Gantry Plaza State Park on Saturday, July 12th to enjoy paddling off of newly accessible Pier 4, play games on the plaza, read and borrow books at the pop-up library and care for the gardens of Gantry Park.

MANY thanks to our volunteers and event partners:
New York State Parks, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, Queens Library, Friends of Queens Library at Hunters Point and the LIC Community Boathouse.

We received a grant for $500 for our participation at the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance’s City of Water Day presented by the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. This grant was provided by the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program and the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.

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Caring for the gardens in the park. (Photo by Kent Cozad)

 
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Kayaking off of Pier 4.

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NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Queensborough Parks Commissioner, Dorothy Lewandowski addresses the audience.

The Queensbridge Park Waterfront is Officially Open!

This afternoon, the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation led a press conference/ribbon cutting to open the the Queensbridge Waterfront and Esplanade after 14 months of construction and over a decade of inaccessibility.

The Friends of Queensbridge Park and Green Shores NYC are grateful to Council Member Van Bramer, Congresswoman Maloney, State Senator Gianaris, Assemblywoman Nolan, NYC Parks Commissioner Silver, Queensborough Commissioner Lewandowski and others for listening to the community and making this day possible.

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Thank you to Mitch Waxman and Mai Armstrong of the Newtown Creek Alliance for leading our three Bridging the Creek Walking Tours on June 8, 15 and 22, 2014.

Dozens of participants learned about the history, present and potential future for Newtown Creek.

Stay tuned for a full schedule of tours and workshops!

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Photos by Mitch Waxman

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BIG THANKS to the Astoria Park Alliance, Citylights Church, City Parks Foundation, New York Cares, IBEW3DYC, Council Member Constantinides, Partnerships for Parks, the NY Knicks and Chase for making It's My Park Day in Astoria Park on Saturday, June 21st a success! Pictured: Larry Johnson (NY Knicks Organization) and Nichole Henderson-Roy (Partnerships for Parks)

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The Long Island City High School Marching Band performs at Queensbridge Park after leading the Annual LIC Bike Parade down Vernon Blvd on Saturday, June 7, 2014.

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Thanks to Jorge from Parks, Sharon and the TransCanada team for helping to clean up after Friday's heavy rain at It's My Park Day in Queensbridge Park on Saturday, May 17th!

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Thank you to the dozens of volunteers that joined in the RIVERKEEPER SWEEP along our waterfront on Saturday, May 10th!

Volunteers mulched, swept and picked up garbage along our waterfront spaces on Anable Basin, Hallets Cove and Astoria Park.

SPECIAL THANKS to dedicated volunteers, NY Cares, Cornel Alumni Network and our partners in the Sweep:
Riverkeeper, LIC Boathouse, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, NY State Parks and Plaxall.

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Green Shores NYC is recognized by MWA as a 2014 Hero of the Harbor!

On Thursday, April 24th, Green Shores NYC was awarded the Hero of the Harbor award at the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance's 2014 Waterfront Conference.

It was an honor for us to be recognized for our Waterfront Vision Plan for Astoria & Long Island City, Queens.

The Vision Plan was the culmination of almost two years of work with the community members of Astoria & Long Island City, Queens with input from our member organizations, local electeds, City agencies and through support and partnership with the Trust for Public Land.

Also recognized with the award were other waterfront advocates: Harlem River Working Group, Fund for a Better Waterfront, Rockaway Waterfront Alliance and Ironbound Community Corporation.

Special thanks to our member organizations and our volunteers that worked tirelessly to bring the Vision Plan to life.

We dedicate our award to the residents of Astoria & Long Island City!

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Waterfront Vision Plan for Astoria & Long Island City, Queens

GSNYC   TPL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN IMAGE

The Waterfront Vision Plan was created for the community and by the community with Green Shores NYC & The Trust for Public Land.

In the summer and fall of 2010, hundreds of Western Queens residents came together to participate in seven neighborhood listening sessions, two area-wide brainstorming sessions and a waterfront bus tour generating more than a thousand comments, ideas and solutions for creating a more connected, useful and beautiful waterfront.

You can view the Waterfront Vision Plan by visiting: www.greenshoresnyc.org

To request a copy of the plan by mail or for more information, email: mail@greenshoresnyc.org.

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IT'S YOUR WATERFRONT!

Green Shores NYC works to enliven the Astoria-Long Island City waterfront by caring for and advocating for safe public parks, green spaces, street trees, waterways and a waterfront greenway. Visit us online at: www.greenshoresnyc.org

To include your event on our updates and calendar, please email: mail@greenshoresnyc.org 
and put "EVENTS" in the subject line.

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