The Hallets Playground Alliance will host its 4th Annual Fall Harvest Costume Festival and Community Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Hallets Cove Playground in Astoria. The free community event will take place from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 30-02 Vernon Boulevard and will bring neighbors together for an afternoon of activities, entertainment, community resources, and seasonal fun. The festival will feature music, arts and crafts, carnival-style table-top games, hayrides, seasonal treats and refreshments, costume parades, constituent services, and more. Organizers anticipate connecting more than 200 local residents with community resources and services. Event Details Saturday, October 24, 2026 12:00 PM–4:00 PM Hallets Cove Playground 30-02 Vernon Boulevard Astoria, NY 11102 The event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact Aiysha Mayfield, Special Events Coordinator, at Aiyshamayfield518@gmail.com or 347-319-9004. Hope to see you there!

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Join your neighbors for Gather on Vernon, a free community street festival celebrating the Astoria waterfront on Saturday, September 26, from 12–5 PM. The afternoon will bring together local vendors, makers, food, activities, community organizations, and live music along Vernon Boulevard and the waterfront. It’s a chance to meet neighbors, support local businesses and creators, and enjoy the waterfront together. The festival will be followed by Socrates Sculpture Park’s outdoor cinema program, making for a full afternoon and evening of community events. Gather on VernonSaturday, September 2612–5 PMVernon Blvd & 30th DriveFree and all ages welcome Come out, bring the family, and gather on Vernon!

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Outdoor Cinema is back at Socrates Sculpture Park this September! They will be opening with a two-night pilot program presented in partnership with Rooftop Films. The beloved film series returns on September 12 and September 26, bringing movies, music, food, and community gatherings to the Astoria waterfront. The series opens Saturday, September 12, with BOUCHRA, an animated film by artists Meriem Bennani and Orian Barki. Set between Casablanca and New York, the film follows a Moroccan filmmaker living in New York as she reflects on family, love, sexuality, and life between cultures. The evening will include a pre-screening DJ set by Moroccan-born, New York-based artist and composer Bergsonist, introductory remarks from the filmmakers, and Moroccan food from Queens-based food truck Amazigh. On Saturday, September 26, Outdoor Cinema continues with Jean-Michel Basquiat, a new documentary exploring the life and work of the influential New York artist. The film draws on family memories, archival imagery, and previously unseen works to explore Basquiat and the creative communities that surrounded him. A special ambient set by New York artist and musician L’Rain will precede the screening, with food from a Haitian food truck. Cinema Kids This year also introduces Cinema Kids, a new partnership with Château Le Woof and the New York International Children’s Film Festival. On the mornings of each Outdoor Cinema event, families can head across the street to Château Le Woof for programs of short films recommended for children ages 10 and up. On September 12, Native Stories will explore the varied lives of young Indigenous people through stories spanning the past, present, and future. On September 26, ¡HOLA CINE! will showcase Latinx stories from across the Americas, featuring short films about family, perseverance, imagination, and a little bit of magic. Movie Schedule Outdoor Cinema: BOUCHRA Saturday, September 12 6–10 p.m....

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Join OANA and Friends of Whitey Ford Field for a night under the stars with NYC Parks’ Movies Under the Stars: Footloose! Bring a towel or blanket to sit on, pack some snacks, and enjoy this classic movie outdoors with neighbors and friends. Whitey Ford Field September 11 | 7:30–9:30 PM Free admission Rain date: TBD Hope to see you there!

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Join friends and community at Château le Woof for a Labor Day Cookout. September 7th @ 12:00 PM Château le Woof 31-01 Vernon Blvd, Astoria, NY 11106 Hope to see you there!

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Socrates Sculpture Park will host Party in the Park: Trio Under the Triboro on Saturday, September 19, from 12–5 p.m. This event celebrates Socrates Sculpture Park’s 40th anniversary, along with the 50th anniversaries of Franklin Furnace and Materials for the Arts. Co-presented by all three Queens-based arts organizations, the free waterfront festival will feature live performance, music, and public engagement. Curated by Francheska Alcantara, Performaxxing will feature artistic, based and time-based performances exploring what happens when we push the self to its maximum. Featured artists include Itala Aguilera, Crackhead Barney, Jake Brush with Candystore and Mikes Feswick, Stephanie Hewett, Kara Lynch, zavé martohardjono, Reed Rushes, Sandy Williams IV, and Coco Villa. Saturday, September 19, 2026 12–5 p.m. Socrates Sculpture Park Free admission RSVP for free tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/party-in-the-park-trio-under-the-triboro-tickets-1999541980891?aff=oddtdtcreator

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A vacant lot just east of the Hallets Point peninsula is at the center of a new rezoning application that could bring significant new housing to the neighborhood. Developer Saima Choudhri has filed plans with DCP to transform a roughly 20,000-square-foot site at 28-03 8th Street into a mixed-use complex. The site sits between 28th Avenue and Astoria Blvd and includes a large lot along 8th Street. The developer is seeking to demap a 7,500-square-foot section of the 28th Avenue right-of-way to make the project viable. The property was purchased in 2016 for $5.4 million. If approved, the project would include a 9-story building with 128 apartments, approximately 96,000 square feet of residential space, and a 6,000-square-foot community facility on the ground floor. Between 32 and 39 units would be affordable, targeting households earning 60–80% of Area Median Income (AMI). As the application moves through public review, we encourage our readers to stay informed and weigh in on the proposal.

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Here’s a slightly tighter version while keeping the same style and information: September brings a full schedule of family programs to The Noguchi Museum, with opportunities for children of different ages and their caregivers to explore Isamu Noguchi’s artwork through art-making, sensory activities, and time in the galleries and sculpture garden. Free First Friday On Friday, September 4, the museum will offer free admission throughout the day, with extended hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors of all ages can also take part in art-making activities in the galleries from 3 to 5 p.m. Advance reservations are not required. Open Studio: Connections On Saturday, September 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families with children of all ages can participate in Open Studio: Connections. Families will explore the galleries before creating their own sculptures in the Education Studio. This month’s program focuses on connections between people, earth, and nature, inspired by Noguchi’s artwork. The program is free with museum admission, and advance registration is not required. Art for Tots: Opposites On Tuesday, September 22, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Art for Tots will offer a program for children ages 1–2 and their caregivers. The session explores textures in the galleries and sculpture garden, using Noguchi’s artwork to introduce opposites such as “hard” and “soft.” Registration is required. Stroller Tour On Wednesday, September 23, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., The Noguchi Museum will host a stroller-friendly tour for parents of newborns ages 0–12 months. The tour begins in the galleries with an introduction to Noguchi’s life and artwork before moving to the Education Studio. Families can connect with one another while babies take part in music and sensory activities. Registration is required. Art for Families: Nature On Saturday, September 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., families with children ages...

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As usual, September brings a full schedule of exhibitions, tours, workshops, and other programs to The Noguchi Museum. The museum’s current exhibition, Noguchi’s New York, is entering its final weeks. On view through Sunday, September 13, the exhibition looks at Isamu Noguchi’s long relationship with New York through sculptures, project models, archival materials, and newly commissioned animated films. The exhibition also explores Noguchi’s ideas about how the city could be shaped into a better place. Free First Friday On Friday, September 4, the museum will hold its final Free First Friday of the year. The museum will remain open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., giving visitors extra time to see Noguchi’s New York. Art-making activities will also take place in the galleries from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission is free throughout the day, and advance reservations are not required. Mandarin Museum Tour A public tour in Mandarin Chinese will take place Sunday, September 6, from 3 to 4 p.m. The Noguchi Museum offers Mandarin tours monthly on select Sundays, providing an opportunity to explore the museum and its collection with a Mandarin-speaking guide. Field Guide X Noguchi: Regeneration On Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the museum will partner with nearby Socrates Sculpture Park for Field Guide X Noguchi: Regeneration. The program draws on Noguchi’s interest in preservation and sustainable practices. Participants will create artwork using found materials, natural pigments, and botanically dyed fabric while exploring these ideas in an outdoor setting. Registration is required. Drawing from a Distance The museum’s free virtual drawing program returns Monday, September 14, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Drawing from a Distance takes place monthly and combines drawing with an opportunity to learn more about Noguchi’s work and connect with other participants. The program is held online, making it possible...

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Queens cyclists will have a new opportunity to explore the borough this fall with the inaugural QBPO Ride Queens, taking place Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 10am. The ride will begin and end at Flushing Meadows Corona Park and will offer two route options: 12 miles and 25 miles. Both routes will travel primarily along the Eastern Queens Greenway and the future Queens Waterfront Greenway. Organized by the Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., the ride aims to celebrate Queens’ cycling community while showcasing the culture, neighborhoods, parks, and waterfronts that make the borough unique. The event will also highlight issues that are increasingly important to Queens communities, including street safety, access to green space, and climate resilience. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or looking for a new way to explore Queens, riders are encouraged to participate and experience the borough from a different perspective. Registration is required for all participants. Registered riders will receive a complimentary high-quality cotton cycling tote bag. The organizers are also seeking experienced cyclists to serve as volunteer marshals to help ensure the safety of the ride. Marshals must complete both the volunteer marshal form and the general ride registration. Organizations interested in tabling at the start and finish in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, or supporting the event in other ways, are also encouraged to get involved. Ride Queens 2026 Sunday, September 20, 2026 10am Start/Finish: Flushing Meadows Corona Park Routes: 12 miles or 25 miles Register for Ride Queens Sign up to volunteer as a marshal Come ride, explore, and celebrate our growing cycling community.

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