Queens Area Guide
Nesva Hotel is conveniently located in Long Island City, home to a large and dynamic artistic community. The former Silvercup bakery, now Silvercup Studios, the production company behind notable works such as HBO's Sex and the City and The Sopranos, is only a half mile from our hotel. Known for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, Long Island City has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio space of any neighborhood in New York City. You'll also find museums, theaters, waterfront parks and beaches among other interesting and fun things to do in Queens.
Things to do in Queens (Free and Inexpensive)
Moving Image Museum
36-01 35th Avenue, New York, NY 718-784-0077
http://www.movingimage.us
Admission is free on Thursdays from 2pm - 6pm.
Learn all about the world of film at this popular Queens museum. Past exhibits have focused on everything from Star Trek to Tim Burton to Seinfeld. Interactive exhibits reveal how films are made, and visitors are able to create their own animations, select sound effects, and create flipbooks. The museum also presents film screenings featuring appearances by directors, actors and writers.
P.S. 1 Contemporary Arts Center
22-25 Jackson Ave Long Island City, NY 718-784-2084
http://www.ps1.org
Admission is Free for NYS Residents, $10.00 for Adults; $5.00 for students and senior citizens. Children 16 and under are Free.
Uncover provocative, experimental contemporary arts at one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the U.S. Now affiliated with MOMA, this experimental arts center features more than 50 exhibitions and music performances a year. The Emergency Room shows how artists respond to current events with a constantly evolving, daily collaborative exhibition.
The Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City, NY 718-204-7088
http://www.noguchi.org
Admission: $16 for adults; $6 for senior citizens and students. Members, NYC Public HS students, and children under 12 are free. The first Friday of every month, any donation accepted.
Famous Japanese-American sculpture artist Isamu Noguchi's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, plus gardens, dance sets, and Akari Light Sculptures are on display in 13 galleries of this converted factory building in Long Island City.
SculptureCenter
4419 Purves Street, Long Island City, NY (718) 361-1750
http://www.sculpture-center.org
Admission is free of charge.
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-05 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, New York (718) 956-1819
http://www.socratessculpturepark.org
Open to the Public
Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of sculptor Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists and a neighborhood park for local residents. Today it is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and artist residency program that also serves as a vital New York City park offering a wide variety of free public programs. It is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations in a unique outdoor environment that encourages strong interaction between artists, artworks and the public. The Park's existence is based on the belief that reclamation, revitalization and creative expression are essential to the survival, humanity and improvement of our urban environment.
Modern Art Foundry
18-70 41st St, Astoria, NY 718-728-2030
http://www.modernartfoundry.com
Tour this family-owned fine art casting foundry, which has been used by such famous sculptors as Lipchitz, Lachaise, Bourgeois, Miro, Archipenko, and Noguchi.
Citifield Mets Stadium
https://www.mlb.com/mets/ballpark/hospitality/tours>
Adults: $25, Children (12 and under): $20, Seniors (60+): $25
Citi Field features unprecedented amenities and comfort for Mets fans, sports fans and visitors to the New York metropolitan area. The open-air ballpark connects the Mets' National League heritage to the future and to the City through a number of unique design elements. All tours begin and end in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and are conducted rain or shine. On tour dates that coincide with other hospitality events at Citi Field, certain areas may have limited or no access. Tours will last approximately one hour. Children 32 inches or under do not require a ticket when accompanied by an adult. All sales are final upon completion of transaction, except as expressly provided on the ticket. Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. This is a walking tour, so please dress accordingly. All tours are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Wheelchairs are available upon request. Cameras are permitted. Tours will be held in English only. Complimentary parking in Lot G on 126th Street is available to tour patrons.
Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY
718-592-9700
http://www.queensmuseum.org
Admission is by suggested donation. Adults: $8, Senior and Children: $6, Members and Children, under twelve: Free
At this Flushing Meadow museum find local and international art and permanent exhibits, which include the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Art, exhibitions on the two World's Fairs held in NY and a diorama of all five NYC boroughs.
Queens Arts and Theater
Thalia Spanish Theatre
41-17 Greenpoint Ave, Sunnyside, NY 718-729-3880
http://www.thaliatheatre.org
Queens' only bilingual Hispanic theatre puts on Spanish plays, operettas and folklore shows of music and dance with past performances such as Don Juan Through The Centuries and Rhythms Of Latino America with Mestizo Dance Company.
The Chocolate Factory Theater
38-33 24th Street.
Long Island City, NY 718-482-7069
http://www.chocolatefactorytheater.org
Only a few blocks from our hotel this unique theater, dance, music, multimedia and visual arts center offers such past performances and exhibits as Hourglass Group - Wellspring, "world folk opera" set in 1999 war-torn Sarajevo and Patrick Neal paintings derived from tabletop objects.
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
31-10 Thomson Avenue, Room E-241, Long Island City, NY
718-482-5151
http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac
This performing arts center housed at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY offers a strong Jazz Jam Series and a Weekend Family Series of theatre, dance and music. Performances vary from Buddhist chanting to contemporary Mexican dance.
Queens Film Screenings
UA Kaufman Astoria Stadium 14
35-30 38th Street Astoria, NY (718) 786-1722
http://www.regmovies.com/
Things to do in Queens (Free and Inexpensive)
Moving Image Museum
36-01 35th Avenue, New York, NY 718-784-0077
http://www.movingimage.us
Admission is free on Thursdays from 2pm - 6pm.
Learn all about the world of film at this popular Queens museum. Past exhibits have focused on everything from Star Trek to Tim Burton to Seinfeld. Interactive exhibits reveal how films are made, and visitors are able to create their own animations, select sound effects, and create flipbooks. The museum also presents film screenings featuring appearances by directors, actors and writers.
P.S. 1 Contemporary Arts Center
22-25 Jackson Ave Long Island City, NY 718-784-2084
http://www.ps1.org
Admission is Free for NYS Residents, $10.00 for Adults; $5.00 for students and senior citizens. Children 16 and under are Free.
Uncover provocative, experimental contemporary arts at one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the U.S. Now affiliated with MOMA, this experimental arts center features more than 50 exhibitions and music performances a year. The Emergency Room shows how artists respond to current events with a constantly evolving, daily collaborative exhibition.
The Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City, NY 718-204-7088
http://www.noguchi.org
Admission: $16 for adults; $6 for senior citizens and students. Members, NYC Public HS students, and children under 12 are free. The first Friday of every month, any donation accepted.
Famous Japanese-American sculpture artist Isamu Noguchi's works in stone, metal, wood, and clay, plus gardens, dance sets, and Akari Light Sculptures are on display in 13 galleries of this converted factory building in Long Island City.
SculptureCenter
4419 Purves Street, Long Island City, NY (718) 361-1750
http://www.sculpture-center.org
Admission is free of charge.
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-05 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, New York (718) 956-1819
http://www.socratessculpturepark.org
Open to the Public
Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of sculptor Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists and a neighborhood park for local residents. Today it is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and artist residency program that also serves as a vital New York City park offering a wide variety of free public programs. It is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations in a unique outdoor environment that encourages strong interaction between artists, artworks and the public. The Park's existence is based on the belief that reclamation, revitalization and creative expression are essential to the survival, humanity and improvement of our urban environment.
Modern Art Foundry
18-70 41st St, Astoria, NY 718-728-2030
http://www.modernartfoundry.com
Tour this family-owned fine art casting foundry, which has been used by such famous sculptors as Lipchitz, Lachaise, Bourgeois, Miro, Archipenko, and Noguchi.
Citifield Mets Stadium
https://www.mlb.com/mets/ballpark/hospitality/tours>
Adults: $25, Children (12 and under): $20, Seniors (60+): $25
Citi Field features unprecedented amenities and comfort for Mets fans, sports fans and visitors to the New York metropolitan area. The open-air ballpark connects the Mets' National League heritage to the future and to the City through a number of unique design elements. All tours begin and end in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and are conducted rain or shine. On tour dates that coincide with other hospitality events at Citi Field, certain areas may have limited or no access. Tours will last approximately one hour. Children 32 inches or under do not require a ticket when accompanied by an adult. All sales are final upon completion of transaction, except as expressly provided on the ticket. Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. This is a walking tour, so please dress accordingly. All tours are wheelchair and stroller accessible. Wheelchairs are available upon request. Cameras are permitted. Tours will be held in English only. Complimentary parking in Lot G on 126th Street is available to tour patrons.
Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY
718-592-9700
http://www.queensmuseum.org
Admission is by suggested donation. Adults: $8, Senior and Children: $6, Members and Children, under twelve: Free
At this Flushing Meadow museum find local and international art and permanent exhibits, which include the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Art, exhibitions on the two World's Fairs held in NY and a diorama of all five NYC boroughs.
Queens Arts and Theater
Thalia Spanish Theatre
41-17 Greenpoint Ave, Sunnyside, NY 718-729-3880
http://www.thaliatheatre.org
Queens' only bilingual Hispanic theatre puts on Spanish plays, operettas and folklore shows of music and dance with past performances such as Don Juan Through The Centuries and Rhythms Of Latino America with Mestizo Dance Company.
The Chocolate Factory Theater
38-33 24th Street.
Long Island City, NY 718-482-7069
http://www.chocolatefactorytheater.org
Only a few blocks from our hotel this unique theater, dance, music, multimedia and visual arts center offers such past performances and exhibits as Hourglass Group - Wellspring, "world folk opera" set in 1999 war-torn Sarajevo and Patrick Neal paintings derived from tabletop objects.
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
31-10 Thomson Avenue, Room E-241, Long Island City, NY
718-482-5151
http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac
This performing arts center housed at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY offers a strong Jazz Jam Series and a Weekend Family Series of theatre, dance and music. Performances vary from Buddhist chanting to contemporary Mexican dance.
Queens Film Screenings
UA Kaufman Astoria Stadium 14
35-30 38th Street Astoria, NY (718) 786-1722
http://www.regmovies.com/
