Queens Chronicle - Spring Guide 2021 04-15-21 by Queens Chronicle

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What’s new in Queens parks? Latest additions across the boro to check out this spring by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor Spring is finally here: The warm weather has arrived and city residents are flocking to their nearest parks and green spaces once again. There are several new attractions at parks across Queens to check out this spring. The Parks Department completed an abundance of projects within the last year, many at spots that had been closed to the public for years during constructions. Here’s just some of what’s fresh for this season — for more information or to see a complete list of all things new to Queens parks, visit nycgovparks.org. Bayside Crocheron and John Golden parks have several baseball fields, but the one at 35th Avenue and 214th Lane received some major upgrades last July. The field and mound were replaced, and two bullpens were installed alongside the foul lines. The existing spectators’ bleacher remains, but a 1964-style World’s Fair bench was erected next to it. The dugouts were repaved and had new benches installed, along with water bottle filling stations.

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Corona/Flushing The iconic Reflecting Pool, also known as the Fountain of the Fairs, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park was reconstructed in October for an adaptive reuse. The project restored the fountain, which had been damaged in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy. Specialized jets were installed to create a cooling cloud to refresh visitors on hot days. There is also new seating, a drinking fountain and pavement designed to reflect the Art Deco style of 1930s New York. The original 1964 imprint remains at the

bottom of the pool. One of Flushing Meadows Corona Pa rk’s ent ra nces was a lso revamped last year — the Henry Hudson Entrance, located at 111th Street between 53rd and 56th avenues, was widened for easier public access. The new layout includes 1964 World’s Fair benches, an A DA- c om pl i a nt r a m p, s p e e d bumps in the parking lot and plenty of new trees. The Park of the Americas’ sports field was relaid with fresh synthetic turf. The promenade that separates the field from the playground was repaved, and safety surfaces were installed in the play area. Elmhurst There’s a lot that was packed into the tiny space of Clement Clarke Moore Homestead Playground, but Parks left plenty of open space for events. The new and improved Elmhurst green space includes a spray shower between the toddler play area and the older kids’ playground, ping-pong tables and basketball, volleyball and handball courts. There is a plethora of bike racks, and a garden entrance at the Broadway and 45th Avenue corner. Fresh Meadows Redwood Playground, nestled in the southwest corner of Cunningham Park, had been under construction for almost two years before it was reopened last April. The reconstructed playground now has a concrete spray area for cooling off on hot days, safety surfaces for younger children and an ADA-compliant ramp. The playground is geared toward young parkgoers and has designated equipment for those aged 2 to 5 as well as for 5 to 12. There are also swings, but those can be used by park lovers of all ages.

The Crocheron Park baseball field on the corner of 35th Avenue and 214th Lane was reopened last summer with a new mound, bullpens and more.

Redwood Playground at Cunningham Park was reopened last April after nearly two years of construction. The equipment is divided into two sections: one for older children between 5 and 12, above, as well an area for younger PHOTOS BY KATHERINE DONLEVY kids, though both are supplied with plenty of green safety surfaces. Hollis Plenty of adult fitness equipment was installed at Haggerty Park in Hollis last year right beside the existing basketball and volleyball courts. Visitors now have access to push-up, sit-up and step-around stations, a cross-training rack and plyometric boxes. There are also chin-up and triple parallel bars, a balance beam and roman and captain’s chair squats. Similar adult fitness stations were also erected in Montb el l ier Pa rk i n Springfield Gardens and Cambria Playground in Cambria Heights, though wit h va r ying station equipment.

for adults, but the second area, lying on the opposite side of the site, is equipped to accommodate senior parkgoers. There are additional fitness circuits in the middle of the campus, surrounded by a painted walking path. Kew Gardens The Forest Park Overlook Dog Run, located right between Forest Park Drive and the Forest Park Drive sidewalk, was outfitted with new fencing last October. Also lovingly called the Forest Park Barking Lot Dog Park, the dog run was connected to the sidewalk by an asphalt path leading toward the Overlook Building, but a double gate blocks the pooches from escaping.

Parks

Jackson Heights T he Tr aver s Pa rk Tot L ot received a few additions last year; most notable is the “quiet corner.” The lowkey climber equipment is just a few feet away from the main play unit and a set of log balance beams. A spray area and swing set lie on the opposite side of the park from the picnic area and play houses. The play ramp and the comfort station were also refurbished. Jamaica Not only were four new half-basketball courts installed at the Norelli-Hargreaves Playground multipurpose field, but so were two adult fitness areas. One lies on the south corner of the 106th Avenue and 142nd Street park and is designed

Linden Hill General Hart Playground was completely revamped in November with various play equipment, sports courts and landscaping upgrades. The 37th Avenue and 65th Street space now has two separate playground spaces for 2- to 5-year-olds and 5- to 12-year-olds. There’s a spray shower for hotter days, a runaround area, badminton and Ecuadorian volleyball courts, a half-size basketball court and full-size basketball court. The swing set even has ADA-compliant straps, and water bottle filler stations are scattered throughout the space.

Long Island City The field house at Queensbridge Park had laid empty for nearly 30 years, so the Parks Department demolished the dilapidated building for a new, energy-efficient house and comfort station. Opened last March, it includes a community room, Parks office space and storage for maintenance equipment. The public restrooms were designed with green plumbing fixtures to reduce water use and include energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems. Rockaway The Rockaway Beach Skate Park, bookended by Beach 91st and Beach 92nd streets, was left in disarray after Superstorm Sandy, but was finally reopened last summer. A snake run and street plaza were added to the skating area, and were configured to eliminate cross traffic or collisions between users even on crowded days. Fences were erected around the pavement and between the boardwalk and beach for safety, and a tree shading area was installed for visitors to hide from the hot beach sun. Just a few blocks away, the handball facility on Beach 105th Street was revamped last year. What had been decimated by Sandy was refurbished and upgraded — there are now eight handball courts sandwiched between a game table space and a fitness area. The Rockaway Handball Court Facility itself lies between the boardwalk and Shorefront Parkway.

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A spring nature walk for every interest From forest therapy to a foraging guide, lovers of the outdoors have their pick by Max Parrott

ing materials. APEC has a walk for kids 6 to 8 on Earth Day itself, at 3:45 p.m. April 22, where an educator will take the children on the trail of “One Earth” by Eileen Spinelli, which they will read along the way. Each child will get a copy of the book as they leave the event. All hikes require preregistration. The two-hour hike and forest bathing walk cost $15. The sunset hike is only $5. The children’s book hike will cost $25. To register or learn more, visit alleypond.org.

Associate Editor Spring has arrived, and with it a number of nature walks and opportunities to explore the great outdoors for adults and their families. After staying indoors more than usual this past winter, restless nature lovers will probably want to get out as much as possible this spring. Queens parks and green spaces are offering plenty of unique programming that caters to a variety of experiences, from the laidback family excursion to the more environmentally focused lessons and even a walk that will teach you how to pick your own dinner. The Chronicle has organized a look at what’s available.

May Wildman Steve Brill is a vegan Queens native who has gained renown over decades of teaching city dwellers how to find edible plant life in urban parks. Now he has passed on his trade of April In April, natural areas across the bor- Violet and Steve Brill lead a group of young nature enthusiasts on a foraging walk, where they help them leading foraging walks to his daughter, ough will be bustling with activity, and identify edible mushrooms, herbs and other plants. FILE PHOTO COURTESY STEVE BRILL Violet Brill, who will be in charge of the only scheduled walk the wildman has the Parks Department is one of the most ter is hosting a series of nature walks in celebra- organized in Queens this spring. for an enhanced experience. active organizers of events in this arena. Steve Brill describes Forest Park as “one of April 23 will see two tree-planting events tion of Earth Day. On April 18, it will host a But before listing some of the events, it’s important to note that Parks has said that atten- in different eastern Queens locations. Cun- two-hour hike starting at 1:30 p.m., where Jun- the best places for foragers in mid-spring.” He dance will be limited for many, so check online ningham Park in Fresh Meadows and Idlewild gle Jake, one of the center’s seasoned educators, will teach participants how to distinguish the registration before attending. It also asks any- Park in Brookville are both hosting plantings will lead the group down through the trails to gourmet plants from the deadly ones. The park’s large, mature forests, Brill said, overone who is feeling sick to stay home, for attend- from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day, where look at some of the park’s creeks. At 10:30 a.m. April 20, forest therapy guide flow with wild plants, and Violet will teach ees to maintain 6 feet of physical distance volunteers will help each park’s Stewardship Linda Lombardo will lead a “for- participants how to identify, harvest ecologibetween households, wear a face covering and Team plant trees in the forest secest bathing” walk guiding adult cally and eat dozens of them, including root wash their hands. Additionally, the department tion. Participants should come participants to reconnect with the vegetables like burdock; medicinal and cookencourages participants to bring their own hand dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, natural world. “On that walk you’ll ing herbs like garlic mustard flowers and saslong pants and clothing that can sanitizer to the programs. wander through the trails and just safrass; and if luck will have it, maybe some Parks will host Blooming Tree Identification get dirty. All volunteers should be slow down,” said Karen Donahue, mid-spring mushrooms. starting at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows sure to bring their own water bot“Once you see the plants a few times, A PEC’s a d u lt p r og r a m m i ng Corona Park from 11 a.m. to noon April 17, tle. Those u nder 18 must be you’re going to start seeing them everywhere coordinator. where participants will learn how to identify accompanied by a chaperone. The center will also host a sun- like in front of your doorstep and the side of Sunset Cove at West 22nd Road trees by their bark, buds and other distinctive and Shade Creek Road in Broad Channel will set urban ecosystem walk at 6:30 p.m. April the street and you won’t be able to miss them,” characteristics as they roam the park. Powell’s Cove Park at 130th Street and host a birding event focused on shorebirds 20, led by Herbalists Without Borders mem- Violet said. She recommended that participants bring a 11th Avenue in College Point will host a from 2 to 3 p.m. April 24. The event will give ber Jocelyn Perez, which is open to adults, plastic bag and container to store some of their Birding: Spring Migration program from 10 participants a chance to learn about sandpip- children — and dogs. “She’ll be discussing the roles of parks in cit- findings along the way. Violet will lead the a.m. to 11 a.m. April 18. Urban Park Rangers ers, oystercatchers and stilts. Urban Park ies, the relationships between plants and ani- expedition through Forest Park’s woodland trail will guide participants to scenic birding Rangers will lead the session. Participants will need to bring their own mals and touch a little bit on invasive plants that starting at 11:45 a.m. May 1 at the stone wall at spots in the waterfront park looking over a have been growing, and the effect they have on Forest Park Drive and Park Lane in Kew Garbay with sizable wetlands and undeveloped binoculars. Aside from the Parks Department’s pro- our environment,” Donahue said. Perez encour- dens, near the Overlook Building. uplands. Parks encourages all interested The cost of the four-hour foraging tour birders to bring field guides and binoculars gramming, the Alley Pond Environmental Cen- ages participants to bring a camera or note-takentails a suggested donation of $20 per adult, or $10 per child under 12. Those interested may call (914) 835-2153 at least 24 hours ahead to reserve a place. To learn more, visit wildmanstevebrill.com. The Queens Botanical Garden will also host a walking tour on the same day, May 1. Entitled “Intro to Citizen Science,” the tour will see the garden partnering with Genspace to explore urban biodiversity around the Flushing green space. The event will entail a City Nature Challenge, a worldwide event that is aimed at getting people to observe and identify the biodiversity where they live. It costs $10 for nonmembers, $8 for members and is free with an Urban Advantage Student +3 Voucher. Registration is required and includes general garden admission. To lear n more about the event, visit Flushing Meadows Park, left, will host a tree identification walk on April 17. The Alley Pond Environmental Center is hosting a series of nature queensbotanical.org. FILE PHOTOS BY RICK MAIMAN, LEFT, AND VICTORIA ZUNITCH walks during the week leading up to Earth Day, April 22.

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Nature Walks

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Queens blossoms for spring cyclists Pandemic-driven street alterations open up a bevy of exciting bike routes by Max Parrott Associate Editor Although the per capita level of car ownership may be higher in Queens than any borough other than Staten Island, its reputation as carcentric shouldn’t whitewash its rewarding cycling possibilities. Across the city, the pandemic has only underscored New Yorkers’ desire to bike. Bike riding has spiked over the past year, according to Citibike data and the Department of Transportation. As of December, Mayor de Blasio heralded the DOT’s construction of 28.6 lane miles of new protected bike lanes across all five boroughs in 2020 alongside 83 miles of car-free Open Streets. Despite the criticism from safe-streets advocates and cyclists that the mayor did not do enough to support the “tremendous shift towards cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic” that his acting DOT commissioner described in December, car-free areas that opened up over the past year do give them a starting point to explore new certain corners of the borough more safely than in the past. Whether you’re just learning to bike, or a seasoned cyclist looking for new experiences, Queens has a mix of everything this spring. Below are a number of areas that could serve as a good hub to start planning bike adventures. For each of these ideas, we advise traveling with GPS on a smartphone or mapping out a street-by-street route beforehand.

standard of what the Open Streets program can accomplish. Juan Restrepo, the Queens organizer of Transportation Alternatives, said the st reet is a perfect f it for the bike-uninitiated. “If we’re talking like beginners, like baby legs, everyone keeps saying that it’s easier to learn how to bike on the new 34th Avenue Open Street than it is on many other streets, just because of the very tame car traffic, the fact that it’s like a mile and a half long and there are other people there,” Restrepo said. Those traveling from eastern Queens can connect to the 34th Avenue open street from the painted bike lane on 108th Street, which connects to the protected Queens Waterfront Greenway in the north. On the west side of the open streets stretch, a series of painted bike lanes on 75th Street and “sharrows,” the painted signs reminding cars that the roadway is to be shared with bikes, can take cyclists down the Sunnyside stretch of the Queen Boulevard protected bike lane.

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Baby steps on 34th Avenue Spanning over a mile, Jackson Heights’ 34th Avenue is the gold

East River views in Astoria A route that’s one step up in terms of difficulty revolves around Shore Boulevard in Astoria Park, which closed to vehicular traffic last April to accommodate more socially distanced outdoor activity. One way to expand an Astoria Park trip into a safe ride with some waterfront views would be to start farther south down in Queensbridge Park and bike along the western Queens section of the Queens Waterfront Greenway. “Along the way you can take a dip into Roosevelt Island, and you can do a lap. And again, it’s another very

A young cyclist practiced his bike tricks last spring on a stretch of open street in the Woodhaven section of Forest PHOTOS BY MAX PARROTT Park. low-stress, relatively car-free strip that you can kind of add some mileage through,” said Restrepo. Cyclists can ride over the bike lane on the Roosevelt Island Bridge to get to the island. The only tricky part of the ride is on the Hallets Point-adjacent section of Vernon Boulevard, where the protected bike lane drops off for a few blocks south of the Shore Boulevard entrance to the park. Southern Flushing Meadows Two changes in Flushing Meadows Corona Park have made the park more accessible to bikes over the past year. Last spring, the city closed off 1.5 miles of roadway to cars from Meadow Lake Drive between the Model Airplane Field and Meadow Lake Bridge Parking Lot, creating a

great loop for cyclists to cruise around in the park’s southern half. The state has also made it easier to enter the park along the southern tip of Meadow Lake from the east by building raised bike lanes that connect to another painted bike lane network in Kew Gardens Hills on the eastern side of the park along Jewell Avenue. Entering that section of the park from Forest Hills to west of the park on 69th Road or Jewell Avenue still involves several blocks with no bike lanes between the end of the protected bike lane on Queens Boulevard and the park. Eastern greenway leapfrog At the end of October, the city began a “Destination: Greenways!” plan to identify the various gaps in what the Parks Department describes

Two cyclists stop for some water in Kissena Corridor Park in Fresh Meadows, left. A gate blocks off vehicular traffic from Jackson Heights’ 34th Avenue open street, a great success of the citywide initiative.

as the Eastern Queens Greenway, a stretch of nearly continuous parks extending from Flushing Meadows to Kissena Park and Alley Pond Park. Although the parks don’t form a seamless ride, if cyclists are willing to walk over several borders between the parks that don’t contain bike lanes or have difficult terrain, cycling can be a great way to explore several parks in one afternoon. For beginning cyclists, it may be advisable to start a route in Kissena Park at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Kissena Boulevard and follow the bike path signs in the park to Underhill Avenue to protected bike lanes extending through Cunningham Park and ending in Alley Pond, for a ride that extends around at least 6 miles. Meander in Forest Park When the city closed off over a mile of roadway in Forest Park to cars near the outset of the pandemic, it unlocked a continuous 3-mile path through the park. Cyclists who start in the Dry Harbor Playground in the western section of the park in Glendale can travel around the path skirting the Forest Park Golf Course, then cross Woodhaven Boulevard and follow a paved path that will spit them out in Forest Hills. The route along the western side of the park contains the Forest Park Carousel, as well as some scenic elevated views of South Queens. On the Forest Hills side of the park, cyclists can lock up to explore several heavily wooded hiking trails.

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If you could walk with the animals ... From the Queens Zoo to the New York Aquarium, the boros can be wild by Michael Gannon Editor If you live in Queens and you’re still feeling cooped up with the calendar having turned to spring, you only need a short ride by car or public transportation to place yourself in a majestic mountain river valley in New England; the plains of the old West; the California coast; or the Andes in South America. The Queens Zoo, located at 53-51 111 St. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, lets anyone be a kid again. The animal trail has all the regulars, from big cats like a puma and lynx to Nicole and Bouba, a pair of Andean bears. The crowd favorite sea lions can be seen swimming in their pool but the timed public feedings are not taking place at this time. The trail right now is one-way only. The aviary, a large dome with multiple levels for bird-watching, has residents from throughout the Western Hemisphere. There’s also a domestic animal section for children, with sheep, cows, Texas longhorns and some of the biggest bunnies you’ve ever seen. Through Nov. 6 the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays. Tickets cost $9.95 for people 13 and over; $6.95 for children ages 3 to 12; and $7.95 for seniors 65 and older. Tickets for the Queens Zoo, and all the locations in this story, must be purchased on their websites in advance for specific dates and times. Social distancing and masks still are required. Ticket buyers can arrive within one hour of the start time on their tickets; for example, a 10 a.m. ticket will allow admission any time between 10 and 11 a.m. Once inside guests may remain as long as they like. Tickets and information are available at queenszoo.com.

Thick-billed parrots enjoy some leafy greens in their enclosure at the Queens Zoo. The zoo has PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON made accommodations for social distancing, but is open for visitors. The Queens Zoo is operated by the World Conservation Society, which also operates its more famous cousins — the Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo — as well as the Prospect Park Zoo and New York Aquarium in Brooklyn.

Bronx Zoo The website of the Bronx Zoo boasts of more than 9,000 animals from across the globe in habitats and exhibits that cover 265 acres at 2300 Southern Blvd. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays through Nov. 6. Animal exhibits are shut down 30 minutes before the zoo closes. Some paths are temporarily one-way only. Tickets must be purchased at bronxzoo.com. All-inclusive tickets, allowing park admission plus access to all special attractions, rides and features, are $39.95 for ages 13 and over; $34.95 for seniors 65 and over; and $29.95 for children 3 to 12. Children 2 and under are free. Limited admission tickets allow access to all regular zoo facilities, but also require a $6 charge per person for special attractions. They cost $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for senors and $16.95 for children. Paid parking is available on site. The zoo also an be reached by MetroNorth, the Q44 bus and the No. 2 subway line. Strollers can be rented, as can electronic convenience vehicles. Wheelchairs are free but require a A puma stealthily emerges to greet the zoo’s guests refundable deposit.

New York Aquarium The Coney Island boardwalk has the beach, the Cyclone roller coaster, Mets minor league baseball and Nathan’s hot dogs. But it also has the New York Aquarium at 602 Surf Ave. The website, nyaquarium.com, shows numerous exhibits and experiences, from playful-looking creatures such as sea lions, otters, penguins and seals, to Conservation Hall, where one can see the colorful and abundant marine life on the Glover’s Reef display. And, yes, there are sharks — plus turtles and rays with an environment of their own. Through June 18, aquarium hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends and holidays. Tickets must be bought online, and once a person leaves the site the ticket does not grant re-entry that day. Hours will change to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between June 19 and Sept. 6. The cost from Monday to Thursday is $26.95 for those 13 and over; $24.95 for seniors 65 and over; and $22.95 for children 3 to 13. Tickets from Friday through Sunday are $29.95, $26.95 and $24.95, respectively. Paid parking is available but mass transit is recommended. Take the F or Q train to the West 8th Street station on Coney Island, or take the N or D to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, then walk two blocks east on Surf Avenue. The station is handicapped accessible for the F, Q, N, D trains. The aquarium also can be reached by the B36 or B68 bus.

Zoos

Central Park Zoo Located near the southeast corner of Central Park near Fifth Avenue and 64th Street, the Central Park Zoo is a fun, family-friendly

oasis in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. A map available at centralparkzoo.com has visitors greeted by the sea lions before they head indoors to visit with the birds and critters of the tropical rain forest. Back outside one can try and steal a glance of a red panda, snow monkeys or a snow leopard. And unless they’re still in hibernation, it would be very tough to miss the grizzly bears. Public feeding sessions for the seals and penguins have been put on hold, but you can still see them, along with other seabirds. Just across 65th Street to the north is the Tisch Children’s Zoo with all kinds of animals, including “the only cow in Manhattan.” Total experience tickets, which include admission to the 4-D theater, are $19.95 for ages 13 and over; $14.95 for children 3 to 12; and $16.95 for seniors 65 and over. General admission tickets are $13.95, $8.95 and $10.95, respectivey. They can be purchased at centralparkzoo.com. By subway, take the N, R or W trains to the Fifth Avenue/59th Street station in Manhattan, and walk north to 64th Street; or take the Lexington Avenue No. 6 train to the 68th Street/ Hunter College station, walk west 3 blocks to Fifth Avenue, then take a left and walk four blocks south. The zoo also is accessible by the Q32 bus. . Prospect Park Zoo Located on Flatbush Avenue, the Prospect Park Zoo’s exhibits range from the big, friendly alpacas, sheep and pigs at the Barn, to the Hall of Animals where one of the tiniest is the poison dart frog. Probably the most popular, according to prospectparkzoo.com, is the Sea Lion Court. But the Discovery Trail also has deer, river otters and prairie dogs joined by dingos and emus from Down Under in Australia. Tickets are $9.95 for those 13 and older; $7.95 for seniors 65 and over; and $6.95 for children 3 to 12. Hours through Nov. 6 are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and until 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Take the B or Q subway or the Franklin Avenue Shuttle to Prospect Park Station. Exit at Flatbush Avenue/Ocean Avenue and walk north on Flatbush. By bus take the B41 local to the entrance on Flatbush or the B47 to the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Empire Boulevard. At the bus stop, walk north on Q Flatbush.

Some members of a small herd of bison relaxes in the sun.

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Spring fashion is a little bit of everything Trends borrow from previous decades but add new twists by Katherine Donlevy Associate Editor The Covid-19 pandemic has influenced a lot in our daily lives over the past year: the way we interact with others, the way we work and even the way we dress. Fashion trends have completed a full pendulum swing in the year we’ve been locked up and shuttered up. Muted colors and minimalistic patterns were trendy in the days before we were boarded up inside our homes, but now bright neons, f lashy jewelry and commanding graphics are in style. “Color and fashion have a lot to do with how we feel,” said Anna McFillin, a journalism and fashion studies student at St. John’s University. “We have overcome something pivotal in our lives and we’re ready to step out this summer. Everyone with a vaccine is ready to put on their own fashion show. Quarantine has been a time to experiment with their styles.” The theme for springtime fashion this year is hard to pin down, and could only be described as abundant. Clothing trends are sprouting in many forms this year and bursting out the gate, much like the way people are finally bursting out of their homes. Despite the stylish madness, McFillin did notice that most of the trendy outfits she’s come across this season have pulled inspiration from the decades that preceded this one — perhaps the 2020s were off to such a terrible start that people want to transplant themselves back in time to the eras before Covid-19 ever existed. “That’s what’s really cool about

Shopping at thrift stores and giving new life to clothing are very trendy this year as the general population becomes PEXEL.COM increasingly environmentally conscious. fashion — it always comes back around,” she said, adding that clothing has the ability to carry nostalgia in its folds. “People are clinging onto the good things, especially after what we’ve been through. [They want] something light and joyful.” That means you might be seeing some ’80s-style shoulder pads, aviator sunglasses, oversized blazers and matching sets. The ’90s are also very in, and so are their tiny rectangle-framed sunglasses, baby tees and miniskirts. Though not as far back in memory, the aughts are back in a big way. Low-rise and flared jeans, triangle tops, sparkly hair extensions and kitten heels are just some of the Y2K looks to make it back in 2021. Though this year pulls inspiration

Fashion student Anna McFillin wears a monochromatic lime green outfit. In her closet, she has plenty of colorful, vintage printed dresses, some from PHOTOS BY ANNA MCFILLIN the ’80s.

from decades past, it is not merely a replication of previous trends, McFillin said. It’s a conglomeration of what made old trends great. “Fringe and vintage denim have been around forever, but it’s how people are making their spin on it now — pairing it with slip dresses,” she said as one example. Giving new life to average fabrics is gaining popularity, McFillin added. Using scarfs as halter tops and tank tops as skirts are two of the many ways individuals are flaunting their creativity this spring, and are a symptom of the increasingly popular thrifting craze. Sustainability is at the forefront of many people’s minds these days, especially today’s youth. Even in a time when fast fashion is available at our fingertips, many are turning toward looking to repurpose old clothing and reduce their carbon footprint. “The pandemic has put the world on a tilt. The sustainability issue across the board was happening but at a low burner. The pandemic made people think about the way they live their lives and the services they use,” said Dr. Andrea Licari, the director of The Fashion Institute at St. John’s The Collins College of Professional Studies. Licari, who bought her first Chanel suit from a consignment store in the 1980s, said that the “upcycling” trend is a marriage between a universal love for vintage and for a growing environmental consciousness.

“There is so much fast fashion that is in the spoils of the Earth that is weighing us down from an environmental perspective,” Licari said. “It speaks to you, there’s something authentic about it.” Many larger fashion corporations have recognized the demand for ethically sourced materials and have implemented a collection policy that recycles old clothes — chains like Zara, Uniqlo and H&M h ave prog r a m s t h at either turn old garments into new ones or donate them to those in need. Clothing items themselves need to be crafted more ethically, Licari said, and designers need to be well-versed in providing quality content. After years of advocating, she and her colleagues successf ully introduced a Fashion Sustainability minor in the college. The curriculum studies the ways in which fashion can be produced while safeguarding resources, reducing waste and recycling fabric. In a way, sustainability has become a trend of its own, but Licari thinks it’s one that’s here to stay. “If you’re being conscious and buying products consciously and it makes you feel good, is feeling good a temporary feeling that you want? If people are doing the right thing, is that trendy?” she said, emphasizing that trends center on how they make us feel. “It’s how genuine the feeling is when you buy something.” Nick Reyes, the store manager of Bode in Manhattan, agreed that trends follow what makes people

Fashion

feel good. While experimentation has played a big role in styles this spring, he’s also seen a rise in brand T-shirts from local eateries, gas stations and other mom-and-pops. “It’s about the idea of repping New York in a certain way,” said Reyes, a Queens College graduate. “It’s about wearing something that — on a microlevel — revels where I’m from. Why would I not want to rep it?” In addition to revealing parts of who we are, Reyes said the phenomenon could also be related to the growing support for small businesses that struggled tremendously during the pandemic. A T-shirt not only provides a few dollars to a business in need, but also serves as a form of free advertising. What surprised Reyes the most about this year’s spring trends is the evolvement of men’s fashion. Though not new to the world, crop tops, jewelry and makeup have been more popular for men this year, including for Reyes himself. “I’ve been wearing rings recently. Before I would never do that,” he said. “Guys are getting out of traditional menswear into more feminine, which was normally what men wouldn’t be wearing ... it shows a lot of men are stepping out of their comfort zone.” Reyes said Harry Styles and other pop culture icons are to thank for the progress in men’s fashion. Styles gained plenty of media attention over the past year for wearing dresses and feather boas, which gained some condemnation, but mostly applause. The overall trend for spring 2021, Reyes said, could be simply defined Q as a little bit of everything.

Harry Styles leads the way in menswear, which is leaning toward an era of femininity. BODE PHOTO / INSTAGRAM

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Plants that evolved here are easier to care for, better for birds and bees by Peter C. Mastrosimone Editor-in-Chief As nurseries and chain stores fill up with outdoor plants and gardeners arrive to begin the beloved spring ritual of buying more than they have room for, an alternative approach is gaining currency among the green of thumb. More and more are opting to turn some, or even all, of their garden over to native plants. There are several reasons to grow flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees that are native to the region, according to Gennadyi Gurman, the head of inter pretation at the Queens Botanical Garden, whose deg ree is i n env i ron ment al education. The main benefits of raising native plants are pragmatic and ecological. “Because they’ve evolved for this climate, they require a lot less care,” Gurman said. “You save on watering, on fertilizer, the amount of time you spend weeding them. They’re a lot more competitive in many cases and because many of them are perennial, or they reseed themselves you get a much more long-term success for your buck.” On the environmental side, plants native to the area naturally fit in with the other flora

and fauna here. “From an ecological point of view, these plants are, again, because they evolved here, much better at integrating into the local ecosystem,” Gurman said, “so they provide food for pollinators, food for migrating birds and shelter for all of these animals.” “Pollinators,” a word heard more often as people think globally and act locally to help maintain the environment, refers to agents, usually insects, that transfer pollen from one part of a flower to another so the plant can reproduce. Whether butterflies, bumblebees, mason bees, hoverf lies or any number of other creatures, they’re all key to an area’s ecology. “You do want all of them around for a healthy ecosystem, and providing native plants is the way to do it,” Gurman said. The plants in tur n provide sustenance, as well as nesting material, for birds and other animals. Which plants should you think about growing in your garden? The options are virtually endless. A six-page document issued by the city Parks Department under the Bloomberg administration, “Gardening with New York City Native Plants,” lists dozens. The guide,

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available online at bit.ly/2QqCq3y, conveniently divides the recommended plants into subjects such as wildflowers for sunny window boxes, showy trees and shrubs, groundcovers to blanket a bare spot and more. Just a few plants on the lists that many people know are butterfly weed, which attracts its namesake; smooth blue aster, which also brings pollinators, later in the season; seaside goldenrod; wild geranium; and blue flag iris. In many cases, if people aren’t familiar with the wild version of one of these plants, they know its cultivated cousins. One reason people often don’t go with native plants is that they’re less showy than the varieties humankind has developed over time. But Gurman says that is not as true as it was. “That’s rapidly changing, for two reasons,” he said. “First of all, there are a lot of native plants that are quite showy. They may not be showy all year round, but with some careful planning you can have a combination of plants that maintains really beautiful color throughout the year. And the other thing that’s been

happening is a lot of horticulturists have been breeding and cultivating native plants to develop new colors and varieties. So, for example, native phlox is now available in a whole bunch of different colors, from the darkest purples to pinks, to magentas, to whites.” Yarrow is another example of a flower with a whole new range of colors, he added. Gurman suggests two resources for those who want to learn more and get their hands on native plants or seeds: the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and the Greenbelt Native Plant Center on Staten Island. The QBG interpreter does his gardening both there and, in pots, at home in Astoria, with his wife, their two young children and a cat determined to eat the indoor plants. At the botanical garden he leads themed tours, and the next two are coming up this Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, May 2. Both could be of interest to those concerned with native and nonnative plants. Details are posted at queensbotanical.org.

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Rudbeckia hirta, one of a number of flower species commonly called black-eyed Susans, is both PHOTO BY JACK PEARCE / FLICKR well-appointed and native to the region.

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Arts and entertainment on the rebound Some venues offer live shows by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor Theater! Dance! Music! Museums! Galleries! My, how we’ve missed you! After more than a year, during which we came to appreciate more than ever the life, the vigor, the joy you provide, we — slowly but surely — welcome you back to venues across the borough, as curtains begin to rise, lights begin to shine and patrons begin to fill seats and spaces that have been off limits for far too long. Things are not yet up to full speed, and certain restrictions apply, but it’s a beginning! Among the first theaters to reopen its doors is the venerable Thalia Spanish Theatre, which is kicking off its season with “Lilly: The First Latina Rockette,” the story of the great Puerto Rican dancer Lillian Colon, an orphan from the Bronx who would eventually find herself kicking up her heels on the stage of Radio City Music Hall. Colon herself employs music and dance to bring the story to life in this one-woman show, with performances — in English — running through April 25. Remaining shows at the Thalia (41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside) are on April 16 at 8 p.m., April 17 at 8 p.m., April 18 at 4 p.m., April 23 at 8 p.m. and April 25 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20. Socially distanced seating is limited to 33 percent capacity. Masks are mandatory. More: info@thaliatheatre.org or (718) 729-3880. Another of the borough’s timetested venues, the Black Spectrum Theatre, celebrating its 50th anniver-

sary this year, is looking ahead to its first live performance since the pandemic, scheduled for June 3. According to founder Carl Clay, the event will take the form of an outdoor cafe, be set on a mobile stage, and combine theater, music and spoken word. “We’re putting it together now. We have a number of groups we worked with before” on board, Clay said. “It’s going to be really nice.” And, it’s free. In the meantime, the theater is offering archival videos of past performances for home viewing, with a total of 12 titles to choose from. Fees vary according to the series selected. Black Spectrum is located at 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica. More: blackspectrum.com or (718) 723-1800. While awaiting its in-person reopening, Queens Theatre offers several options for home viewing. Via its New American Voices Virtual Reading Series, available for replay on YouTube until midnight on April 18, comes “The Prisoner,” Seamus Lucason’s story of a man who, against all odds, endures the worst conditions imaginable while he awaits a miracle as his execution draws near. The theater also presents “I See You and You See Me,” premiering on April 22 at 7 p.m. and available for viewing on an ongoing basis. This filmed theatrical event is based on oral histories provided by the Queens Memory Project during the early days of the pandemic. Both viewings are free. More: queenstheatre.org. Historic Flushing Town Hall presents on April 23 at 7 p.m. a prerecorded performance by Moskitto Bar, a multicultural musical group mixing Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi Middle-Eastern and French Celtic

Guadalupe Maravilla’s “Planeta Abuelx” is on display at Socrates Sculpture PHOTO BY GUADALUPE MARAVILLA Park in Long Island City.

Lillian Colon is performing live, telling her own story of being the first Latina Rockette, at Thalia Spanish Theatre, through April 25. David Ostwald will lead his Louis Armstrong Eternity Band at Flushing Town Hall in a live-streamed PHOTOS COURTESY THALIA SPANISH THEATRE, LEFT, AND BY ALAN NAHIGIAN show set for April 30. music, streamed on its YouTube channel. The cost is $5. On April 30 at 7 p.m., the attraction is David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band in a program entitled “Remembering the Past and Celebrat i ng the Fut u re,” live streamed from the venue in celebration of International Jazz Day. That show also is $5. More: flushingtownhall.org Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College is looking ahead to live shows in the fall, with guest performers ranging from the New Shanghai Circus to populr salsa performer Victor Manuelle. Until then, it offers virtual performances, including, on April 17 at 7:30 p.m. and April 18 at 3 p.m., “Going Solo,” a Queens College Opera a nd Q ueens College Opera Studio production featuring songs and arias from Cavalli to Kern. On April 24 at 3 p.m. it will show “A Musical Journey Through Queens: The Villalobos Brothers,” highlighting some of the group’s favorite Queens-based musicians who are helping to reshape the New York City Latin music scene. Both performances are free but reservations are a must. More: k upferbergcenter.org / colden-auditorium. Socrates Sculpture Park, an outdoor arts space, was one of the few venues in the borough that remained open throughout the pandemic. Its latest attraction, “Planeta Abuelx,” a solo exhibition by Guadalupe Maravilla, draws on ancestral, indigenous and ritual practices to address holistic healing practices. It opens May 15. According to Julia Metro, director of development and communications, “We were deemed an essential service by New York City,” allowing the

park to welcome visitors uninterrupted. She indicated that now there are “more people in the park, looking for places to see art outside as the weather gets nicer.” The park is located at 32-01 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City. It is open daily 9 a.m. to sunset with free admission. Masks and social distancing are required. More: socratessculpturepark.org. Those who prefer some vigorous activity while enjoying the great outdoors might want to check out Alley Pond Environmental Center’s “Take a Hike — It’s Earth Week,” part of a series of daily events in celebration of our planet. According to the center’s website, par ticipants (limited to 12) in this April 18 event (from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.) will “discover forested creeks nestled along trails that come to life this time of year.” Comfortable dress is suggested. Masks are required. The cost is $15 per person. The center is located at 224-65 76 Ave., Oakland Gardens. More: alleypond.org or (718) 229-4000. The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum has reopened its doors on a limited basis, welcoming timed reservations. It currently offers, through May 23, “Koho Yamamoto: Under a Dark Moon,” a one-gallery installation of 10 untitled works on paper by the famed artist, a survivor of the Japanese-American incarceration camps of World War II. Admission prices vary. Masks and social distancing are required. Tied in with the exhibition, on April 27 from 2 to 2:45 p.m., an interactive virtual learning program for adults will be available, including a participatory conversation about Yamamoto’s work. Viewers are asked

Arts and Events

to bring a pencil and paper for a short writing or sketching exercise. The venue is located at 9-01 33 Rd., Long Island City. More: info@noguchi.org or (718) 204-7088. “There’s nothing like being here,” proclaims the website for MoMA PS1, as its doors reopen on “Gregg Bordowitz: I Wanna Be Well,” on view from May 13 to Oct. 11. This is billed as the first comprehensive overview of a prodigious career that explores the artist’s Jewish, gay and bisexual identities within the context of the AIDS crisis. The museum is located at 22-25 Jackson Ave., Long Island City. It is open Thursday to Monday, noon to 6 p.m., except on Saturday, when it is open noon to 8 p.m. Admission with advance timed tickets is free for all NYC residents, with suggested donations. Capacity is limited. More: moma.org/ps1 or (718) 784-2084. Mrs., a contemporary art gallery founded in 2016, offers new platforms for emerging, underrepresented and mid-career artists. In-person visiting hours are Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday noon to 5 p.m., by appointment only, masks and social distancing required. The gallery is located at 60-40 56 Drive Maspeth. More: mrsgallery. com or (347) 841-6149. Culture Lab LIC at The Plaxall Gallery announced that live outdoor music events will return on May 1. The art gallery is currently open, Thursday and Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 2 to 9 p.m., with limited access. Masks and social distancing are required. Live-streaming musical performances are available every Friday night at 7 p.m. The gallery is located at 5-25 46 Ave., Long Island City. More: culturelablic.org.

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Time to go back to the greens See how your golf and tennis games held up over the last year by David Russell Associate Editor Whether you’re a scratch golfer or your game resembles Ralph Kramden’s, it’s time to see how the swing is at one of the courses in the borough. One is Kissena Park Golf Course at 164-15 Booth Memorial Ave. in Flushing. “The course is very hilly, challenging,” said general manager Yvonne Georgios. She said its convenient location, which opened in 1935, makes the course popular. “We’re getting people from all walks of life, any borough, any county,” Georgios said. “We’re getting a variety of new players.” The Flushing spot remained popular even in the winter months. “Everyone needed an outdoor activity and they chose golf as a sport,” she said. Georgios said people often take pictures on the hills where they can see the sunrise and sunset. “People are very happy here when they play,” she said. Rates vary, with an early bird 9-hole tour on a weekday morning costing $18. To book a tee time, call (718) 939-4594 or go online to golfnyc.com/kissena-rates/. Another option is Douglaston Golf Course at 63-20 Marathon Pkwy. “It’s a former country club so it still has a lot of the bones from that,” said general manager Jason Zaretsky. Constructed in 1927 and bought by the city in the 1960s, the course sits where the North Hills Country Club Golf Course used to be. The clubhouse is in a unique building designed in the Spanish Mission style of architecture. Zaretsky said the course is “very hilly” with “a lot of blind shots.” He believes the greens are a little bigger than others in the city. “It’s probably one of the better-conditioned courses in the city,” he said. Zaretsky said the Douglaston course has a friendly atmosphere. “People that work here

Douglaston Golf Course is hilly and has a lot of blind shots, compared to others. Located at the site of a former country club, the well-conditioned course is one in Queens where players can FILE PHOTO work on their game. are nice,” he said. “Good crowds play here. We try to treat everyone well, have a great day and hopefully it makes them want to come back for more.” Prices vary, with the cost $40 to golf all 18 holes after noon on weekends. Also in Douglaston is the Alley Pond Golf Center at 232-01 Northern Blvd. There is a driving range, mini-golf course and a PGA simulator that lets players tee off in recreated versions of famous courses, like the one in Pebble Beach, Calif. For more i n fo, call (718) 225-9187. Another beautiful spot to work on drives and putting is the Clearview Park Golf Course at 202-12 Willets Point Blvd. in Bay Terrace. It was founded in 1925 and was originally named the Clearview Golf and Yacht Club, serving as an exclusive retreat. One member was Gov. Alfred Smith. The somewhat hilly course contains both

straight, open fairways as well as others lined with trees and forest, according to the city parks website. It is designed for beginner to intermediate level players and par ranges from three to five strokes. The course’s signature hole is No. 17, a 395-yard, par 4 hole offering spectacular views of the Long Island Sound and Throgs Neck Bridge. Fo r m o r e i n fo c a l l (718 ) 229-2570. Less intimidating, but still fun, is the Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt with its 18 holes and a minigolf course with waterfalls, bridges and streams. The 18 holes can be completed in less than two hours. Beginners can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and advanced golfers can sharpen their short game. Eighteen holes cost $18.75 for adults on the weekdays. For more information visit golfnyc.com/flushing-pitchputt-rates/. It’s not just northern Queens that has

Golf and Tennis

good golf spots. Residents can head over to the southern part of the borough to Forest Park Golf Course at 101 Forest Park Drive. The tree-lined course was named the city’s best by Golf Guides USA. Just off the Jackie Robinson Parkway, it was originally designed in 1896 and redesigned in 1995. The renovation included a significant lengthening of the course and now plays at over 6,000 yards. An early bird special for nine holes for the first hour and a half of daylight costs $19 on weekdays. For more information call (718) 296-0999 or visit golfnyc.com/forest-park-rates. If you want to put down the golf clubs and pick up a tennis racket, you can head to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the world’s largest public tennis facility. The center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is famous for hosting the US Open but for 11 months of the year, regular players can try to swing like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. Outdoor courts cost $36 per hour, while indoor courts range from $36 to $68 per hour depending on the time. Reservations may be made up to two days in advance at ntc.usta. com. There are also various courts open at parks around the borough. Among them: • Astoria Park at 21st Street and Hoyt Avenue has 14 courts; • Crocheron Park at 215th Place and 33rd Avenue in Bayside has 10 courts; and • Det. Keith L. Williams Park at Liberty Avenue and 173rd Street in Jamaica has 10 courts. For a full list of all locations in the city, visit nycgovparks.org/facilities/tennis. A tennis permit can be purchased online for use at any outdoor court during the season, which lasts from the first Saturday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving. For more info on permits visit nycgovparks. org/things-to-do/tennis.

A water fountain is a unique attraction at Alley Pond Golf Center’s mini-golf course. If you’re looking for something a bit quicker-paced than golf, you can take out a racket and practice some tennis. The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is not just for the US Open, as you can play at the world’s largest public tennis facility, as seen in 2016. There are also various tennis courts at parks FILE PHOTOS BY RYAN BRADY, LEFT, AND CHRISTOPHER BARCA around the borough.

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NYC Footy popularity sees increase; Commonpoint offers pickleball by David Russell Associate Editor Tarek Pertew, founder of soccer league NYC Footy, said people fall into three categories in their response to the pandemic: those who won’t go out, those who don’t care and inbetweeners who follow protocols. Still, the adult league has three more teams than its previous high. “This is our biggest season, which is a shock,” Per tew said Monday. “Clearly the demand is there.” H e a c k n owl e d g e d that there were some lowered prices and discounts given. “From a business standpoint I don’t know if we’re going to hit the economics we had before but in terms of sheer numbers it’s high. I think that’s a strong enough signal to suggest that people are ready to rock,” Pertew said. One of the first locations for NYC Footy was Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. “That one holds a

soft spot in our heart and probably will for eternity,” Pertew said. This is the first week of play for leagues in LIC and Ridgewood but people can still join. Games at Astoria Park will start in June. Pertew said the view is “stunning.” There are even games on a Steinway Street rooftop at Upper 90 Queens Soccer. Most of the leagues are 5-on-5, 6-on-6 or 7-on-7, though there is one w it h t r a d it ion al 11-on-11 matches. The co-ed league has some of the nicest uniforms as it is sponsored by Puma. NYC Footy also uses professional photographers to take team photos. “It’s taking the average format and doing a little bit more,” Pertew said. To register, visit nycfooty.com/ register-for-leagues. Soccer isn’t the only sport adults can play in Queens, where everything from softball to bocce have long been enjoyed. Commonpoint Queens runs some

Adult Sports

adult leagues in Little Neck, with basketball, volleyball and pickleball clubs. Sunday morning open run basketball is available from 8 to 10:30 a.m. with a monthly fee of $34.99. Walkins are $12 per session at the door. “There are a lot of players who come out and play competitive basketball in pickup versions of it,” said Adam Ostroff, senior director of Health and Wellness programs. The Monday night volleyball club is from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in 10 week sessions for $70. Club membership guarantees an extra half-hour of play time. Walk-ins are $10 per session. Then there is pickleball, a sport combining the elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a Wiffle ball, with 26 to 40 round holes, over a net. “If you haven’t played it, you should at least Google it and check it out and then get a paddle and find a friend to play,” Ostroff said. “It’s definitely one of these up and com-

This Astoria rooftop is one of NYC Footy’s locations. The soccer league has three more teams than its previous high and offers 5-on-5, 6-on-6, 7-on-7 PHOTO COURTESY NYC FOOTY and even one with traditional 11-on-11 matches. ing sports.” He said activities have been done with masks on. “Everyone’s been pretty good about it,” Ostroff said. “We do the best we can to provide the opportunities in a safe and thoughtful way. We’re not just opening the doors and saying, ‘Business as usual.’” He said if things are done safely

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and thoughtfully, Commonpoint can maintain its programming. “I think the reason we have good buy-in on the mask wearing is because people are happy to have the opportunity to be back and have a facility where they can feel comfortable being athletic and getting back into the comfort of it,” Ostroff said.

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Sports leagues not just for the kids

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Gardens, glamor, history on LI’s North Shore Day trips to the Planting Fields Arboretum, Sagamore Hill, Vanderbilt Museum Editor A short drive out to Long Island’s North Shore can let people spend the day walking long green trails and glorious gardens that some may not think about as being so conveniently close to Queens. But it also can take one, for a brief period, back in time, to the Gold Coast days of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with names like Vanderbilt and Coe; the glorious mansions and the parties described by F. Scott Fitzgerald in his 1925 work “The Great Gatsby”; and even Teddy Roosevelt’s family estate and summer White House that still overlooks Oyster Bay. Planting Fields Arboretum The first stop is the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay on the 409-acre site of the former mansion of William Robertson Coe and Mai Rogers Coe from 1913. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and features tours of the mansion, a celebration of architecture and art. Tours must be scheduled at least five days in advance on the website at plantingfields.org. Visitors can see the period architecture and walk along the arboretum’s trails and through its ornately landscaped gardens, the latter originally created by the Olmstead Brothers of Massachusetts. Located at 1395 Planting Fields Road, the park is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Coe Hall is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are limited to 10 people from the same household or party. Private tours also can be scheduled for Mondays. Tickets for nonmembers are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors 62 and over and $12 for children 10 to 18. Children under 10 are free. Tickets for members are $20, $18 and $9, respectively. Tickets and reservations are not required to walk the grounds, but there is a parking fee

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• the area by restroomsif people are congregating or waiting in line. The Roosevelt Beach area is for passive recreation only. Visitors must stay on paths and not enter the dune or marsh areas. Swimming, wading, sunbathing and picnicking are prohibited, as are coolers, umbrellas, beach furniture and beach toys. High tides and storm events also may limit access to the beach area. Visitors are encouraged to check the website’s Current Conditions link or call (516) 922-4788 to see what amenities are available that day.

by Michael Gannon

The Italian Garden is just one of the points of interest for those looking to take full advantage of spring at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, LI. The Coe Mansion, a 1913 structure PHOTO BY DAVID ALMEIDA that is a celebration of architecture and art, also has tours. of $8 per car that will be collected on weekends and holidays until Memorial Day. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the parking fee will be collected every day. Ser v ice a n i mals, but not pets, a re permitted. Social distancing is required for all guests on the grounds, and masks “are strongly recommended in the event social distancing is not possible.” Park staff may turn away visitors when the parking lot reaches 50 percent capacity, and it fills up quickly on weekends and holidays with good weather.

at nps.gov/sahi/index.htm. At the moment, there is no fee to visit Sagamore Hill and walk the grounds. Rest rooms are limited to 50 percent capacity, and visitors are asked to bring bottled water as all fountains are shut down as a health precaution. Visitors can leave cash donations at stations located near the parking lot adjacent to the New Barn or at the trailhead. According to Sagamore Hill’s website, parking is limited to the full capacity of the onsite parking lots. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early — particularly on weekends and holidays with good weather — and to have alternate plans in the event the parking lots are closed due to full capacity. The closures are temporary and the lots are reopened as capacity increases, but street parking is not permitted on the surrounding roads in Cove Neck. Masks are required for all visitors over age 2 except when eating or drinking. Masks are required in areas that include: • all trails, paths and paved surfaces less than 8 feet wide; • the exterior porch of the Roosevelt home; • the br idge over Eel Creek; • the pet cemetery and seating area; The Spanish Revival mansion of William K. Vanderbilt II sits on •t he Ca r r iage Hou se / 43 acres in Centerport that he bequeathed to the public along Far m Shed and Chicken with a marine museum that was his passion. In 1971 a planetarCoop exhibits; and PHOTO COURTESY VANDERBILT MUSEUM ium opened on the property.

Day Trips

Sagamore Hill The next attraction, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, is the 83-acre estate of Teddy Roosevelt where the 26th president of the United States raised his six children and lived with his second wife from 1887 until his death in 1919. Now run by the United States National Park Service, it also served as the summer White House from 1902 to 1908. As a public health precaution, the Roosevelt home, the Old Orchard Museum and other buildings remain closed, though the park grounds, beach area, Eel Creek Bridge and all paths are open. Anyone with an interest in Tours of President Theodore Roosevelt’s house at Sagamore Hill on Long Island may be virtual for now, but the grounds and the house can view a 16-minpassive recreation areas at the 83-acre national park still are ute virtual tour of the home PHOTO COURTESY U.S. NPS and its history on the website welcoming visitors to Oyster Bay.

Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium Our final stop is in Centerport at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum. Located on 43 acres where William K. Vanderbilt II began building his private home in 1910, the grounds include not only his mansion but a museum dedicated to his interest in marine life and natural history, which he opened to the public in 1922. A planetarium opened in 1971. A museum spokesman, in an email, said it has opened its doors for spring and is welcoming visitors back each weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Open features include the first floor of the Hall of Fishes marine museum, the Memorial Wing collections galleries, and the Habitat and Stoll Wing animal dioramas. The Planetarium will reopen later this spring.” Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for students with ID and seniors age 62 or older and $7 for children 12 and under. Children under 2 and members of the military are admitted free of charge. People may purchase tickets online at vanderbiltmuseum.org Private mansion tours, which begin Saturday, April 17, are available for groups of up to 10 people. For details and tickets, email: carol@vanderbiltmuseum.org. Public mansion tours may begin again this summer.

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One of the greatest gifts you can give to those you love is a sense of security – the knowledge that you have taken care of everything. St. Michael’s is a religious cemetery open to people of all faiths. For more information including a free Resource Guide call (718) 278-3240 or visit us at www.stmichaelscemetery.com

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