Out Astoria March 2010 Newsletter, Volume 2

Upcoming Out Astoria Events and News

March Mixer at Sissy McGinty's with Why Leave Astoria, Fri 19 Mar, 8pm-11pm - 25-67 Steinway Street - $5 Cover - Sissy McGinty's Website (Music)

For the Luck of the Irish, we're joining Why Leave Astoria at Sissy McGinty's. Sissy's is a favorite of many of the Out Astoria folks who call this place their regular hang out. We are also very happy to be joining with Why Leave Astoria folks.

As always, a $5 cover at the door gets you a solid hour of OPEN BAR well drinks with drink specials after that.

RSVP on Facebook

March Brunch at Mundo Cafe, Sun 28 Mar, 1:30pm - 31-18 Broadway (Ent on 32nd St) Mundo's Website (Music)

Out Astoria returns to one of the hottest gay owned places for brunch, featuring Turkish and Argentinian Food. People swear by their Red Sonja lentil appetizers! This is a real treat. Mundo is one place you will find great food that will have you coming back again and again. Look forward to a Facebook invitation as the time nears.

Other Notices of Interest

Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Mixer at Studio Square, Thur 18 Mar 6:00pm-9:00pm - 35-33 36th St Studio Square Website Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee Website

The Committee that organizes Queens Pride invites you to join them for a mixer at Studio Square. Come meet the committee members, join the fun of organizing Queens Pride, and make a difference! Studio Square will be offering discounted pitchers ($15) for the over 2 dozen beers on tap to those who come with Queens Pride.

For More Information, or to RSVP look at their Facebook Invite HERE

Astoria Performing Arts Center Benefit at Studio Square, Fri 26 Mar 6pm-10pm - 35-33 36th St, Empire Suite Studio Square Website APAC Website

Celebrate APAC's ninth season and get a sneak peek at their upcoming production of Children of Eden at a benefit for the Astoria Performing Arts Center.

Please join in honoring Assembly Member Michael Gianaris and Jack Rainey, Vice President, Government & Community Banking, TD Bank, for their contributions to the arts and the Astoria community.

6:00-7:00pm Cocktails
7:00-10:00pm Dinner and Program

Individual Tickets - $100 Each.
Tables - $1000 (10 Tickets). Premium Seating.
Reserve online!

Enter the raffle! Win a trip to Atlantic City, gift certificates to some of Astoria's best restaurants, spa packages, or many other prizes. Purchase Tickets today ($10 each, 3 for $20 or 8 for $50). Raffle ticket holders need not be present to win a prize. Additional prizes will be announced leading up to the benefit and at the event itself.

Purchase an ad in the Benefit Journal.

All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If you have any questions, email events@apacny.org or call (917) 566-0969.

For further information on the benefit, visit their website.

We will look forward to seeing you there.

Project 126 Assessment Survey

Many of you have been asking us how you can help serve our community. Well Out Astoria is gearing up to offer a lot of opportunities for everyone to pitch in. Right now, an easy way to help out is to take a survey for Project 126!

The Project 126 Assessment Survey is a rare chance to voice your hopes and concerns for our communities. As this survey is designed by the Elmezzi Foundation, the results of this survey will not result simply in charts and graphs, but will result in real decisions about where money for services will go in 2010-2011. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Please consider taking the Survey HERE

Envisioning a Greener Western Queens - Astoria, 27 Mar, 9:30am-4:00pm - Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, Quinn Building, 4th Fl

Come for a lively day of visioning for a more sustainable and green future in Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside & Long Island City -- Help guide funding that will be used for tree planting and other environmental projects in Western Queens communities affected by the info@northstarfund.org or 212-620-9110.

Who Should Attend: Residents of the areas affected by the 2006 Con Edison power outages: Astoria, Sunnyside, Long Island City, and Woodside.

Background: Following the July 2006 Con Edison power outage, Western Queens Power for the People organized residents of Western Queens to hold Con Edison accountable for the effects of the outage. This organizing helped bring about a $63 million dollar joint proposal that prevented Con Edison from passing on the cost of the power outage to consumers and required Con Edison to reimburse people who lost power. About $7.9 million will be used for tree planting and other greening projects in the affected neighborhoods over the next three years. North Star Fund is the Project Administrator, and is working with Western Queens Power for the People to ensure effective, strategic and timely grants for a greener Western Queens.

Western Queens Power for the People
North Star Fund

Get 2-4-1 Admission to Noguchi Museum,3338 10th St, 1 Mar - 31 May 2010 Noguchi Museum Website

With the enclosed Museum Discovery Pass, you can get this discount admission to Noguchi Museum as well as the American Folk Museum, Asia Society Museum, The Jacque Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Museum of Chinese in America, Rubin Museum of Art, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Thanks to Matt Haugen for the tip!

Download the pass HERE

Out Astoria March 2010 Newsletter, Volume 1

Upcoming Out Astoria Events and News

Out Astoria marches in St Pats For All Parade, Sunday 7 Mar, 1pm - Skillman Ave and 43rd St St Pat's For All Website

If you didn't know, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan excludes GLBT folks from participating in their parade. In reaction to this hatred, Out Astoria's own Brendan Fay started up St Pat's For All as an alternative inclusive parade in 2000. Out Astoria has marched in this parade in the last two years, and will be doing so again this year. A Facebook Invitation will be forthcoming shortly.

Chap Day will be the Group Marshal for Out Astoria. Contact him with questions communications@outastoria.com

RSVP on Facebook

March Dinner at El Sitio de Astoria, Wednesday 10 Mar, 7pm - 35-55 31st Street Yelp Page for El Sitio

Dinner Party? Hell yes! Come to El Sitio de Astoria for some of the best Cuban food in Astoria! We've had a lot of new people moving to the gayborhood in recent months so this is an awesome opportunity for everyone to get together and meet up. And you know you'd better mean it when you RSVP so we can give the restaurant an accurate headcount.

RSVP on Facebook

March Mixer at Sissy McGinty's with Why Leave Astoria, Friday 19 Mar, 8pm-11pm - 25-67 Steinway Street - $5 Cover - Sissy McGinty's Website (Music)

For the Luck of the Irish, we're joining Why Leave Astoria at Sissy McGinty's. Sissy's is a favorite of many of the Out Astoria folks who call this place their regular hang out. We are also very happy to be joining with Why Leave Astoria folks.

As always, a $5 cover at the door gets you a solid hour of OPEN BAR well drinks with drink specials after that.

RSVP on Facebook

March Brunch at Mundo Cafe, 28 Mar, 1:30pm - 31-18 Broadway (Ent on 32nd St) Mundo's Website (Music)

Out Astoria returns to one of the hottest gay owned places for brunch, featuring Turkish and Argentinian Food. People swear by their Red Sonja lentil appetizers! This is a real treat. Mundo is one place you will find great food that will have you coming back again and again. Look forward to a Facebook invitation as the time nears.

Other Notices of Interest

Project 126 Assessment Survey

Many of you have been asking us how you can help serve our community. Well Out Astoria is gearing up to offer a lot of opportunities for everyone to pitch in. Right now, an easy way to help out is to take a survey for Project 126!

The Project 126 Assessment Survey is a rare chance to voice your hopes and concerns for our communities. As this survey is designed by the Elmezzi Foundation, the results of this survey will not result simply in charts and graphs, but will result in real decisions about where money for services will go in 2010-2011. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Please consider taking the Survey HERE

Drink and Learn Wine Tasting at Winegasm, Sunday 7 Mar 2pm-5pm, 31-86 37 St

Wine tastings are back at Winegasm! Please be our guest for the first one in the series of events. We are going to talk about 'Viticulture & Vinification'...basically, how is wine made. To help us with that, we are going to have a guest teacher, Sommelier from acclaimed restaurant Apiary, Mr. Brett Feore. This is a recent write up of him and his restaurant: http://shiftdrink.com/home/more/apiary/

Price - 35$ per person. Bring five people, one is free!

Viticulture & Vinification
This particular event will include:
- 1 Sparkling wine
- 3 Whites
- 3 Reds
- 1 Dessert wine

There will be some food pairings available so that you can get a flavor of how to pair food with wine.

Last, but not least, we are going to play a little game at the end and the winner gets a bottle of wine, Sommelier's pick!!!

RSVP To their Facebook Page HERE

Envisioning a Greener Western Queens - Astoria, 27 Mar, 9:30am-4:00pm - Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, Quinn Building, 4th Fl

Come for a lively day of visioning for a more sustainable and green future in Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside & Long Island City -- Help guide funding that will be used for tree planting and other environmental projects in Western Queens communities affected by the info@northstarfund.org or 212-620-9110.

Who Should Attend: Residents of the areas affected by the 2006 Con Edison power outages: Astoria, Sunnyside, Long Island City, and Woodside.

Background: Following the July 2006 Con Edison power outage, Western Queens Power for the People organized residents of Western Queens to hold Con Edison accountable for the effects of the outage. This organizing helped bring about a $63 million dollar joint proposal that prevented Con Edison from passing on the cost of the power outage to consumers and required Con Edison to reimburse people who lost power. About $7.9 million will be used for tree planting and other greening projects in the affected neighborhoods over the next three years. North Star Fund is the Project Administrator, and is working with Western Queens Power for the People to ensure effective, strategic and timely grants for a greener Western Queens.

Western Queens Power for the People
North Star Fund

Get 2-4-1 Admission to Noguchi Museum,3338 10th St, 1 Mar - 31 May 2010 Naguchi Museum Website

With the enclosed Museum Discovery Pass, you can get this discount admission to Naguchi Museum as well as the American Folk Museum, Asia Society Museum, The Jacque Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Museum of Chinese in America, Rubin Museum of Art, and The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Thanks to Matt Haugen for the tip!

Download the pass HERE

Out Astoria February 2010 Newsletter

Upcoming Out Astoria Events and News

A Note from Out Astoria President Dirk McCall

In the last few months, Out Astoria has undergone some significant re-organization and we want to keep you posted and invite your increased participation and input.

First, we have elected a new board – Out Astoria Co-founders Dirk McCall and Brent Gallenberger have been elected President and Vice President respectively. Joining them on the Executive Committee are Paul Nichols as Secretary and Courtney Joseph as Treasurer. Rounding out the board are five committee chairs and three at-large board members, Michael Mallon as Business Outreach Chair, Michael Murphy as Events Chair, John Paul Detty as Membership Chair and Chap James Day as Communications Chair with Sean Leous, Jesse Normand and Jonathan Blue as at large members.

We are meeting regularly as a board to overhaul our event programming, have unveiled our new logo (designed by our very own Michael Murphy) and will be launching our new website later this Spring.

We will be moving over to a membership based organization in early May with a discount program and other offers for members, as well as instituting membership voting on board positions. We welcome people to step forward to serve on committees and give us feedback.

Our first game night held on February 21, was a huge success and our mentor-ship program will be launched in April. We are holding our first wine-tasting next month and are scheduling a bowling night for May. We hope you will get involved and help spread the word – Out Astoria means community and it will become what our membership puts into it. Help us thrive!

--Dirk McCall, President

Brunch at Locale Cafe & Bar, Sunday, 28 Feb, 1:30pm - 33-02 34th Ave - Locale's Website (Music)

Bid a fond (or not-so-fond) farewell to February with every gay's favorite Sunday pastime: brunch! The Out Astoria Monthly Brunch is going back to Locale Café this month.

RSVP on Facebook

Out Astoria marches in St Pats For All Parade, Sunday 7 Mar, 1pm - Skillman Ave and 43rd St St Pat's For All Website

If you didn't know, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan excludes GLBT folks from participating in their parade. In reaction to this hatred, Out Astoria's own Brendan Fay started up St Pat's For All as an alternative inclusive parade in 2000. Out Astoria has marched in this parade in the last two years, and will be doing so again this year. A Facebook Invitation will be forthcoming shortly.

If you are interested in marching, please email us at info@outastoria.com

March Dinner at El Sitio de Astoria, Wednesday 10 Mar, 7pm - 35-55 31st Street Yelp Page for El Sitio

If you like Cuban food, have we got a treat for you! El Sitio has great portions, great prices, and some of the best Cuban food in Astoria. Come to this, and you'll be in for a real treat. Be sure to RSVP on Facebook when the invitation goes out.

March Mixer at Sissy McGinty's with Why Leave Astoria, Friday 19 Mar, 8pm-11pm - 25-67 Steinway Street Sissy McGinty's Website (Music)

For the Luck of the Irish, we're joining Why Leave Astoria at Sissy McGinty's. Sissy's is a favorite of many of the Out Astoria folks who call this place their regular hang out. We are also very happy to be joining with Why Leave Astoria folks. Look forward to the Invitation through Facebook in the coming weeks with details about the specials!

March Brunch at Mundo Cafe, 28 Mar, 1:30pm - 31-18 Broadway (Ent on 32nd St) Mundo's Website (Music)

Out Astoria returns to one of the hottest gay owned places for brunch, featuring Turkish and Argentinian Food. People swear by their Red Sonja lentil appetizers! This is a real treat. Mundo is one place you will find great food that will have you coming back again and again. Look forward to a Facebook invitation as the time nears.

Other Notices of Interest

WLA Lost in Astoria, 23 Feb, 8pm - Studio Square, 35-33 36th St

Hey LOST fans! Our friends at Why Leave Astoria?! are hosting their weekly Lost in Astoria Party at Studio Square tomorrow night. There'll be drink specials, a Lost trivia contest, and more!

RSVP via Facebook Here

St Pat's For All Concert, 2 Mar, 6pm - Irish Arts Center 553 W 51st St NY NY

Reception & food from 6pm
Concert at 7pm

Poetry, dance, song, jigs, reels- raffles! Malachy McCourt, Keltic Dream dancers, Niall O Leary school of dance, Haitian Percussionist band, Michael Patrick McDonald, from Ireland - Brian Fleming & Gwen Frinn, Kenny Lockwood...

Info: Brendan 718-721-2780 or Kathleen 718-898-8140
Limited number of seats! (100)

For tickets ($50 donation) "More if you can-less if you can't"
contact:
info@stpatsforall.com
make checks out to : ST PAT'S FOR ALL
mark memo: CONCERT
send to St Pat's For All 22-22 28th Street, Astoria, NY 11105

On Facebook Here

Envisioning a Greener Western Queens - Astoria, 27 Mar, 9:30am-4:00pm - Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, Quinn Building, 4th Fl

Come for a lively day of visioning for a more sustainable and green future in Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside & Long Island City -- Help guide funding that will be used for tree planting and other environmental projects in Western Queens communities affected by the info@northstarfund.org or 212-620-9110.

Who Should Attend: Residents of the areas affected by the 2006 Con Edison power outages: Astoria, Sunnyside, Long Island City, and Woodside.

Background: Following the July 2006 Con Edison power outage, Western Queens Power for the People organized residents of Western Queens to hold Con Edison accountable for the effects of the outage. This organizing helped bring about a $63 million dollar joint proposal that prevented Con Edison from passing on the cost of the power outage to consumers and required Con Edison to reimburse people who lost power. About $7.9 million will be used for tree planting and other greening projects in the affected neighborhoods over the next three years. North Star Fund is the Project Administrator, and is working with Western Queens Power for the People to ensure effective, strategic and timely grants for a greener Western Queens.

Western Queens Power for the People
North Star Fund

Out Astoria December Newsletter, Volume 1

Upcoming Out Astoria Events and News


Dinner at JJ's Asian Fusion, 9 Dec, 7pm-9pm - 37-05 31st Avenue - JJ's Asian Fusion Website

This will be our first time at JJ's Asian Fusion, but probably not your last. As you can see by their website's menu there is a wide variety of Asian fusion cuisine to choose from. Please let us know if you are able to come or not, as there is limited seating. We ask that you please only RSVP Yes if you are really coming, so that we do not have to turn down others only to the people who said they were coming not show up.

RSVP on Facebook

Holiday Party at Lavish Lounge, 18 Dec, 8pm-11pm - 34-04 36th Avenue - $10 - Lavish Website

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, or nothing at all, you're sure to enjoy our annual Holiday Party. There will be a buffet, drink specials, gogos serving food, and surprises all night.

RSVP on Facebook

Other Notices of Interest

Candy Samples' Sample This!

Astoria’s podcasting drag queen, Candy Samples has just released her first musical CD entitled Sample This! The 5-song EP contains her unique original tunes (co-penned by fellow Astorians Alan Parker and Jesse Sklar) such as “Green Bean Casserole”, “Boy Crazy” -- a hit at this year’s Queens Pride and “Slow Dance”, the poignant ballad that debuted in Astoria at the Athens Park Marriage Equality Rally.

Astoria audiences will remember Candy from her days at Albatross Bar as the original hostess of Friday Night Karaoke and more recently her summer with Lavish Lounge. Her podcast, The Candy Show, is in its third year as a free download on iTunes. She frequently interviews local Astorians and keeps us all ‘in the know’, with her political, entertainment and fashion reports.

Sample This! is available on iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon and is a great deal this holiday season --- under $5 for the digital download.

Candy is a gal who shows no signs of slowing down and we are proud to have her as a member of the Out Astoria community. Sample This! will definitely satisfy YOUR sweet tooth! www.samplemycandy.com

Candy, Alan, and Jesse are all members of Out Astoria!

St. Andrew's Center Appeal for Holidays

St. Andrew's Center is a new shelter program partnership between the Ali Forney Center (AFC) and the Episcopal Community Services of Long Island (ECS). ECS and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island put over $200K into renovating the space to enable AFC to offer safe and dignified shelter at the site. The opening ceremony will celebrate the kindness and generosity that ECS and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island have shown to the LGBT community through this gesture, as well as AFC's accomplishments in protecting and serving homeless LGBT youth.

It officially opened on 21 November on 31st Ave and 46th St, and for the holidays there are 16 residents.

It is a particularly difficult time for the teen residents at the center, perhaps the most marginalized of all the homeless. In a season often associated with family it is easy to see why young people would have feelings stirred up. The Center is asking for gift cards in only ten and twenty dollar denominations to McDonald's, Target and CVS only. They want to limit gifts to these three places so teen jealousy does not appear. These gift cards will give these teens some buying power that they do not usually experience. Please send out an email to your family and friends asking for help as well.

Gift cards can be sent to Michael Meaney c/o Zion Episcopal Church 243-01 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11363. It would be best if donations could be received early, before December 15th, so we know what we have to work with.

Additionally, training is available at through the Ali Forney Center for those who may be interested in volunteering with these LGBT youth at the Center.

Lavish Lounge Announces New Weekly Line-Up

Lavish Lounge contacted Out Astoria and asked that we share their new line-up. You can join their mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/lavishloungenyc.

November 2009 News Letter, Volume 2

Upcoming Out Astoria Events and News

Mixer at Lavish Lounge, 27 Nov, 8pm-11pm - 34-04 36th Avenue - FREE - Lavish Website

Out Astoria returns to Lavish Lounge for the late November mixer. 2-4-1 cocktails. Lavish is doing some changes - walls are gone, DJs are moved, and there is a new stage for the go-go boys.

RSVP on Facebook

Dinner at JJ's Asian Fusion, 9 Dec, 7pm-9pm - 37-05 31st Avenue - JJ's Asian Fusion Website

This will be our first time at JJ's Asian Fusion, but probably not your last. As you can see by their website's menu there is a wide variety of Asian fusion cuisine to choose from. Please let us know if you are able to come or not, as there is limited seating. We ask that you please only RSVP Yes if you are really coming, so that we do not have to turn down others only to the people who said they were coming not show up.

RSVP on Facebook

SAVE THE DATE
Out in Astoria Holiday Party, 18 Dec, 8pm-11pm - TBA

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, or nothing at all, you're sure to enjoy our annual Holiday Party. We are reviewing suggestions and offers for a venue, and will announce it shortly. Regardless, SAVE THE DATE!

Other Events of Interest

Ali Forney Center and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island LGBT Shelter Opening in Astoria, 23 Nov 2009, 6:30pm, 4609 31st Ave

The Ali Forney Center would like to invite you to an opening ceremony to celebrate the launch of their newest shelter at the Church of St. Andrew's in Astoria, Queens (4609 31st Ave.) on Monday November 23rd at 6:30pm.

This new shelter program is a partnership between AFC and the Episcopal Community Services of Long Island (ECS). ECS and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island put over $200K into renovating the space to enable AFC to offer safe and dignified shelter at the site. The opening ceremony will celebrate the kindness and generosity that ECS and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island have shown to the LGBT community through this gesture, as well as AFC's accomplishments in protecting and serving homeless LGBT youth. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

"Carmen's Place", Documentary Screening at Queens International Film Festival 13 Nov 2009, 1:30pm at Holiday Inn Manhattan View, 39-05 29th St

"Carmen's Place is an intimate portrayal of life at a transgender friendly shelter for teenagers run by an Episcopal priest in Astoria, NY. For many of the residents, life at Carmen’s Place is the first real home they’ve ever experienced. Through spiritual guidance, community building and his philosophy of radical acceptance, Father Braxton teaches residents how to become self-sufficient adults who accept themselves and their gender identities.

More details available at the Documentary's Website.