QUEENS OFFERS MUSEUMS EN PLEIN AIR

Spending the day at a museum doesn't necessarily mean committing to a day indoors. Some Queens museums, such as the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens County Farm Museum manage to shift their programming to accommodate those determined to spend time outdoors.

Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Blvd. near Broadway
Long Island City, NY
(718) 956-1819
www.socratessculpturepark.org

A group practices capoeira at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City.

Long Island City's Socrates Sculpture Park is packing its summer schedule with weekly events and classes.

The park will host everything from outdoor film screenings to free concerts all season long.

Weekend events will run throughout the summer from morning to night while film screenings will take place Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.

Other notable events include a series of Saturday classes like the sculpture workshop, from noon to 3 p.m.; the yoga class, from 11 a.m. to noon; tai chi classes, from 11 a.m. to noon and the capoeira class, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

For more information on activities and events visit their website at

Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Floral Park, NY (718) 347-3276
www.queensfarm.org

Not that long ago, before the borough was covered with houses, apartment buildings and shopping centers, farming was the mainstay of life in most of Queens.

There's a place where that tradition still exists. The Queens County Farm Museum still grows crops and raises animals, mostly for the benefit of its visitors. Dating back to 1697, the 47-acre Farm Museum is the last farm of its kind in all of New York City.

Though there are no regular classes held when school is not in session, the Farm Museum offers a variety of activities throughout the summer to entertain the kids and may teach their parents a thing or two in the process.

Summer camp is offered from July 7 to Aug. 15 for children ages 6 to 10. The program features science, nature and arts and crafts.

The weekend of July 25 to 27 features the 30th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Midsummer Powwow, with display of the indigenous cultures of Queens and beyond. More than 40 nations are represented in this annual event held in the apple orchard of the farm property.

Louis Armstrong House Museum Outdoor Concert Series
107th Street (between 34th and 37th Avenues)
(718) 478- 8274
www.louisarmstronghouse.org

July 8, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Jazzmobile
Ray Vega and his Latin Jazz Quintet

July 20, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Hot Jazz/Cool Garden
The Lounge Leader
Aug. 24, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Hot Jazz/Cool Garden
The Redhook Ramblers

Kids explore the fun of the Hall of Science’s latest playground.

New York Hall of Science Playground
Open Daily
$4 per person
47-01 111th St
Flushing, NY
(718) 699-0005
www.nyhallsci.org

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Ave. at the intersection of 46th Avenue
Long Island City, NY
(718) 784-2084
www.ps1.org

A renovated depression-era public school, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, an affiliate of MoMA, has been on the cutting edge of modern art and music since its inception in 1971.

One of the most anticipated events of the summer, the Warm Up Music Series runs every Saturday from July 5 to Sept. 6 from 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. The admission fee to P.S.1 and Warm Up is $10. Included in this price is access to all exhibitions and Warm Up.

July 5
Nublu hosts
Nublu Orchestra conducted by Butch Morris
DJs Justin Carter & Probus (Nublu)
Dex aka Nomadico (Underground Resistance)
So Percussion performs Steve Reich

Kids explore the fun of the Hall of Science’s latest playground.

July 12
Rong/DFA hosts
Free Blood
DJ Spun (Rong Music)
Scotty Coats (RVCA, LA)
Sawako

July 19
agnès b. presents
DJ Danton & special guests
Dorit Chrysler

July 26
DFA hosts
James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem)
Liv Spencer (Still Going)
Ikue Mori

Aug. 2
Black Rock Coalition hosts
Chuck Treece's McRad
Apollo Heights
Guest DJs

Aug. 9
Royal Norwegian Consulate General hosts
Mungolian Jet Set
Guest DJs

Aug.16
Environ hosts
Kelley Polar Quartet
Metro Area (Environ)
Tony Conrad

Aug. 23
Fimic & Artists' Association of Finland hosts
DJ Poodlecannon
Jimi Tenor
Op:L Bastards
Guest DJs

Aug. 30
Jonathan Kane's February
James Chance and The Contortions
Matthew Dear & Ryan Elliott (Spectral Sound, USA)
Jason Evans (Hey Convict! Australia)