Last year Long Island City's Socrates Sculpture Park, known for outdoor art exhibits, held its annual Halloween Harvest Festival. People form around the City gathered for the costume contest. The winners, pictured above, dressed up as "Bread and Butter." This fall the Sculpture Park will once again host a costume contest, just one of many traditions organized by the borough's thriving arts institutions.

But as Queen continues to secure its place at the forefront of the arts world, it refuses to limit itself to the bread and butter of cultural offering. Rising stars are presenting fresh ideas and established venues are adding new wings.

With every passing year, art becomes more and more integrated into the basic fabric of the Queens experience. We hope this issue presents you with a taste of what's in store.