Your Holiday Calendar

St. nicholas will be paying a visit to locations all over queen7 this holiday season.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1
Tree Lighting / Kwanzaa Celebration
The Southeast Queens community is invited to the Tenth Annual Christmas Tree Lighting/Kwanzaa Ceremony today at 6 p.m. The tree lighting will take place at the “Freedom Rock” located at 109-43 Farmers Boulevard in Hollis.
The tree will remain lit throughout the holiday season. For those hearty souls in attendance there will be hot chocolate and candies donated by businesses in the community as well as a surprise visit by Santa Claus.

THURSDAY, DEC. 2
Grand Opening
Celebrate the holiday season and the grand opening of The Shops at Terminal 4 today at 3 p.m. There will be a fashion show at 5 p.m. and refreshments and dancing from 6 to 8 p.m.
All activities will be held on the retail level on Level 3 at JFK Airport.

FRIDAY, DEC. 3
Holidays in Woodhaven
The Woodhaven Business Improvement District, together with The Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, and with the support of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association and the Woodhaven Residents’ Security Patrol, sponsors again this year the “Holidays in Woodhaven Weekend.”
A “Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting” Ceremony will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at the Forest Parkway Plaza (intersection of Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue).
There will be costumed characters and Santa Claus on hand to entertain the kids.

Many community groups will be offering holiday treats at their events.

SATURDAY, DEC. 4
Christmas Bazaar
The All Saints’ Church, 214-35 40th Ave in Bayside, will hold a Christmas bazaar today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be photos with Santa Claus, vendors with new merchandise, holiday plants, country cuisine and much more.
For more information or to become a vendor call Jim Doyle at 718-229-0894.

Christmas Party
Every year the 114th Precinct Community Council holds a Christmas party for all the underprivileged children in the area. This year’s party will be held from 9 to 12 a.m. at Astoria World Manor, 25-22 Astoria Blvd.

Holiday Music
The Poppen-husen Institute, 114-04 14th Rd. in College Point, sponsors several events today. Starting at 1 p.m. there will be a free workshop on how to reduce stress during the holidays. After the workshop, at 2 p.m. there will be a “Holiday Music from Around the World” concert with vocalist Grace Cho and Harpist Urevich-Adams. Tickets for the concert are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors.
Call (718) 358-0067 for reservations or more information.

Boutique Sale
The Pilgrim Congregational Church in Richmond Hill will have a sale today of new and almost new clothing as well as bric-a-brac articles and Christmas items. The sale will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Pilgrim Congregational Church is located at 102-35 89th Ave. For more information call 718-847-1080.

Celebrate the history of st. nicholas dec. 5 at the onderdonk house, 1820 flushing ave.

Tickling the Ivories
The Undercroft Coffeehouse presents a holiday celebration of musicians, singers and poets today from 2 to 4 p.m. The Undercroft Coffeehouse is a performance space in Long Island City at 31-18 37th St. Hosted by Ella Smith and Powell Leonard of the LionHearted Players Comedy Troupe, the event will feature piano-vocal deo, Elegant Ivory with L/ Egan D’Ivori and Elizabeth Anne.
The afternoon will also feature other specially invited special guess. The menu for the occasion: coffee, tea, cookies and cakes and Joyce’s Famous Hot Chicken Wings. There will also be an Open Mic segment for poets, singers, comedias and other performers. This event is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
For more info call 718-482-8790, (suggested donation: $5).

Christmas Fair
Redeemer Lutheran Church is having its annual Christmas Fair today from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Gifts, handcrafts, Christmas decorations, plants, homemade foods and goods will be available at the fair. Redeemer Lutheran is located at 36-01 Bell Blvd. in Bayside. For more information contact 718-229-5770.

The church of the resurrection of richmond hill offers a christmas eve service in victorian style.

Church Christmas Fair
The Bowne Street Community Church will be hosting a Christmas Fair today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Bowne Street Community Church is located at the corner of Bowne Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing. For more information contact 718-359-1553.

Holidays in Woodhaven
The Woodhaven Business Improvement District, together with The Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, and with the support of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association and the Woodhaven Residents’ Security Patrol, sponsors again this year the “Holidays in Woodhaven Weekend.”
The “Welcome Santa to Woodhaven Parade” will take place today. The Parade will assemble at 11:30 a.m. at 96th Street (next to LeCordon Bleu Caterers) and will proceed along Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue to Dexter Court. Make sure to bring the children. Free Goodies and Santa Hats will be distributed.

Find the perfect holiday gift at the annual holiday craft fair and flea market at st. robert bellarime in bayside.

SUNDAY, DEC. 5
Sacred Choral Music
The Sacred Music Chorale of Richmond Hill, supported by the Queens Council on the Arts, presents “Music of Advent and Christmas,” including music of Bach, Charpentier’s “Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve” and other music of the season at historic St. John’s Lutheran Church, 86-20 114th St. in Richmond Hill at 3 p.m. Led by Rev. Robert Sonnenberg, the performance includes professional soloists and an orchestra.
General admission is $15, seniors and student $12 and children under 12 are admitted for free. For further information e-mail call 718-849-1437.

Holiday Extravaganza
Forest Park hosts a Victorian Holiday Extravaganza today, featuring a children’s performance of “I want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown.” The festival will also have Victorian crafts, a sing-a-long, face painting, a visit with Santa and “Hats On” with Queens Council on the Arts. There will be two performances at 1 and 3 p.m. Reservations are required and space is limited.
Tickets are available at Oak Ridge from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a $2 suggested donation. The event is sponsored by the Forest Park Youth Program, Inc. and the Forest Park Trust, Inc.

Forest park can be the perfect sledding spot, if mother nature permits it.

Celebrate History of St. Nicholas
Long before Santa Claus rode his sleigh pulled by reindeer on Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas was astride his white horse, secretly leaving presents for those in need. Popular tradition says the tireless priest traveling by donkey in summer weather, visited every parish tending to the spiritual and personal needs of the people. When winter arrived, he returned again, a journey of thanksgiving; bringing gifts to match the needs he noted earlier - warm clothing, money, toys for children.
Nicholas became renown all over the Christian world for his charity, teaching and miracles. He became the patron of children, sailors and prisoners and hundreds of churches were named for him throughout Europe. His feast day, Dec. 6 became a day of celebration and giving.
St. Nicholas will be visiting the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House in Ridgewood today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Greater Ridgewood Historical Society will recreate the Dutch tradition of St. Nicholas distributing gifts to good children. There will be photo opportunities with St. Nick, refreshments, crafts for the children, holiday singing and lots of home baked goodies and hot cider to enjoy. All children will receive a gift from St. Nicholas.
All children are admitted free and a $3 donation is requested from each adult. For more information call the Society at 718-456-1776. The Onderdonk House is located at 1820 Flushing Ave.

Chanukah Concert and Buffet
The Rego Park Jewish Center will be having an exciting pre-Chanukah “Concert and Dinner Café” with Ricky Pen, one of the most popular entertainers on the concert scene. Also enjoy a kosher Chinese buffet dinner.
Reservations must be made by Dec. 2. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $12 for children. The Rego Park Jewish Center is located at 97-30 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. For more information call 718-459-1000.

Join a Chanukah discussion at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills dec. 8 at 8pm.

Flea Market
St. Robert Bel-larime will hold its annual “Holiday Craft Fair and Flea Market” today from 8 to 5 p.m. at 56-15 213th St. in Bayside. Over 40 vendors with new merchandise for great holiday gifts, fresh wreaths and poinsettias for sale, baked goods, raffles and food for sale all day.
For more information or for vendor tables, call 718-631-5665.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8
Chanukah Discussion
The religious and historic background of Chanukah will be the subject of a course led by Cantor Cary Schwartz at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112th St., today at 8 p.m.
Cantor Schwartz will explore the various themes of the festival and the miracles it commemorates. He will also discuss the music and customs of this festival from ancient times to the present day.
For more information contact the Temple at 718-261-2900.

The oratario society of queen7 will perform several holiday concerts this season.

FRIDAY, DEC. 10
Chanukah Celebration
The Free Synagogue of Flushing will be hosting a musical Chanukah service today. Cantor Steven Pearlston, the Free Synagogue Professional Choir and live trumpets will perform selections from “Judas Maccabaeus” by G.F. Handel. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information contact 718-961-0300.

SATURDAY, DEC. 11
Theatre Program
The Poppenhusen Institute, 114-04 14th Rd. in College Point, will be sponsoring a theater program today. The Once Upon a Time Theater Company will perform Charles Dickens’, “A Christmas Carol,” at 3 p.m. Santa Claus will be in attendance as a special guest. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors.
Call (718) 358-0067 for reservations or more information.

Filipino Christmas Celebration
The Filipino American Human Services holds its 2nd Annual Christmas Celebration today from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Queens Museum of Art. A “Parol” is a colorful Phillipine Christmas star that represents the star of Bethlehem and is used as Christmas decorations throughout the Phillipines.
The community is invited to sponsor a Parol that will be lit on a Christmas tree at the museum. Food and refreshments will be provided, there will be performances by the FAHSI community and a silent auction will take place.
For more information or to sponsor a Parol, contact Ted Martinez at 718-883-1295.

Visit with Santa
Enjoy a piano and dance recitals, visit with Santa, games, crafts, face painting and bake sale from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 262-22 Union Turnpike in Floral Park. For more information call 718-347-5990.

SUNDAY, DEC. 12
Chanukah Party
The Sisterhood of the Sephardic Jewish Center of Forest Hills will hold their annual Chanukah Party today at 10:30 a.m. There will be live entertainment, a magician for the children, gifts, a raffle, door prizes and refreshments will be served. The Center is located at 67-67 108th St. in Forest Hills.

Santa will be taking requests all season long at queen7 center mall.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15
Chanukah Discussion
The religious and historic background of Chanukah will be the subject of a course led by Cantor Cary Schwartz at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills, 71-11 112th St., today at 8 p.m.
Cantor Schwartz will explore the various themes of the festival and the miracles it commemorates. He will also discuss the music and customs of this festival from ancient times to the present day.
For more information contact the Temple at 718-261-2900.

SATURDAY, DEC. 18
The Nutcracker
The timeless holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” will be performed today at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College. The event begins at 2 p.m.
Ballet for Young Audiences, a professional children’s theater group that is returning to the college after its successful run last year, presents a colorful and fast-paced production, featuring all the familiar characters-Herr Drosselmeyer, the mysterious clockmaker; Clara, his favorite godchild; and the Nutcracker Prince.
The production, which is performed by young dancers, is narrated to ensure that the young theatergoers can follow the story. After the performance, Santa and his helpers will be making a special stop at the college to give out gifts to all the young theatergoers. Children will also be able to take photos with St. Nick.
The performance will be held in the college’s Mainstage Theater at 47 Avenue at Van Dam Street, Long Island City. Tickets are $12. Those who are interested in purchasing tickets may call (718) 482-5151.

Nativity Concert
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 262-22 Union Turnpike in Floral Park hosts its Nativity Concert and Christmas Pot Luck Dinner today starting at 4 p.m. Bring a food dish for your family and enough to share. There will also be a gift exchange. Bring gifts priced between 5 and $10.

Christmas Dinner
The North Presbyterian Church of Flushing at 25-33 154th St. will be hosting a Christmas dinner and theater program today at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. For reservations call 718-463-9882.

A Church For The Casual Observer

For the casual observer of the Christmas holiday, that person who claims no spiritual house as their home, choosing a place to participate in the holiday spirit can often be a challenge. Surely a powerful and inspiring pastor is always important, but so is atmosphere and music. So where should you go to church this Christmas Eve? Well, there are hundreds upon hundreds of options. But there is one place where you can get all your holiday needs in one place - the historic and welcoming Episcopal Church of the Resurrection at Richmond Hill in Kew Gardens.

The Church of the Resurrection, 85-09 118th St., was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2003 and is this year celebrating its 130th anniversary.

The Church of the Resurrection was built in 1874 as an adaptation of the French Gothic style with a granite exterior and copper roof. There is a bell tower on the right side of the church that houses the Rector’s and parish offices.

With a seating capacity of about four hundred, The Church of the Resurrection is neither too small nor too big. It manages to be homey and comforting while still being able to host a large number of parishioners. The side aisles lead to the Lady Chapel, which was completed in 1944, and the Baptismal Font, which was dedicated on Easter Sunday in 1900. The side aisles are lined with stained glass windows depicting various events in the life of Christ.

Jacob Riis, the famous reporter and urban reformer, and his family were members of this parish and were memorialized be a stained glass window of the Good Shepherd.

Over the doors are four stained glass windows depicting the four archangels. The doors open into a room with memorial stained glass windows that depict the sacraments.

The chancel is an impressive feat in woodworking. It was built with a rare chestnut but the famous woodcarver Alois Lang from Austria.

The church is surrounded by an immaculate Memorial Garden, which commemorates all those who hoped and believed in “Him Who is the Resurrection and the Life.”

The Church of the Resurrection will host a children’s pageant service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and a candlelight midnight mass at 11 p.m. The atmosphere and music is ideal for Christmas Eve services. The Chapel is adorned with evergreens and softly lit with candles.

“It is especially nice for Christmas Eve services,” said Pastor Charles McCarron. “It really is like a Victorian Christmas.”

Holiday On Ice

The holidays are not just about going to church or temple. They are not just about lights and presents or shopping and music. A big part of the holiday spirit is also, pure and simple, snow.

Although many adults roll their eyes at the first sight of snow as they anticipate the harrowing commute to work, shoveling the driveway or simply being cold. But a blanket of snow is also a beautiful sight to see and what are the holidays in New York without snow-caked branches and glistening streets? But the best part of the winter, for kids and adventurous adults anyway, is sledding and ice-skating.

Queens offers plenty of both. With the multitude of parks and ponds, gold courses, hills and open-spaces, Queens is the place to be for the wintery at heart. But of all the options, there are a few bests. Here is an example.

Standing in a grove of red and black oaks, Oak Ridge is located on the crest of the Harbor Hill Moraine (a mass of rock formed by glacial movement) at the southwestern corner of Forest Park, overlooking Jamaica Plains. A turn-of-the-century golf house, Oak Ridge now serves as the Forest Park administration headquarters, the home of the Queens Council for the Arts, a community center and the best damn sledding in the borough.
According the New York City Parks Department, the Forest Park Links opened as a 9-hole golf course in 1901, and expanded to 18 holes in 1905. In the early days after its expansion, professional golfers used the course, caddies earned 25 cents per game, and many of the numbered holes had names such as “Camelback,” “Cabbage Patch,” “Bunker Hill,” “Lover’s Lane,” “Old Glory,” and “San Juan Hill.”

San Juan Hill, the eighth hole, also became popular as a site for sledding in the winter. The 110-acre, par 67 course was modeled after Scottish links and is still known as one of the City’s most challenging golf courses as well as one of the city’s most challenging sledding.

If sledding is a bit too pedestrian for your tastes and are looking for some refinement, try the ice skating rink at the World’s Far in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It is the perfect place to take your date or race your friend.

You should call 718-271-1996 for information about ice-skating at this indoor rink in the New York City Building, which it shares with the Queens Museum of Art.

The price is a mere $8 Friday, Saturday and Sunday and $4.50 for skate rentals. The rink is open on Wednesdays for only $5. For the romantically inclined, the rink is open late until 10:15 p.m. on Friday nights.

Music For The Holiday Spirit
By Azi Paybarah

The holiday season has officially begun, and with it, the borough has unleashed a month-long marathon of shopping days and parties. From Long Island City to St. Albans, there is no shortage of places to go to let the holiday spirit shine.
Even before the first drumstick could be gobbled, one art enthusiast warned, “You can only eat turkey for so many hours.” Spokesperson Lisa Gold of the Socrates Sculpture Park said her waterfront location is a perfect place to break the holiday doldrums.

“Most people fall asleep after eating too much turkey. It’s nice to walk around and get some fresh air and enjoy the beautiful view,” she said. “And it’s free.”

Now on exhibit are works from ten emerging young artists. As all city parks, Socrates Sculpture Park is open 365 days a year. It is located at Broadway and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City. For more information, call (718) 956-1819, or visit www.socratessculpture.org.

Other art-oriented destinations for this holiday season include PS 1, whose constantly evolving exhibits could be seen on Thanksgiving Day. Officials there say the doors will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. On display there are works by painter Manny Farber, photos by Hans-Peter Feldman, a 16-foot reconstruction of Noah’s Ark - complete with animals “pared down to skeletal forms and rendered in chicken wire” - by artist Amy O’Neill.

PS1 is located at 22-25 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City. For more information, call 718-784-2084, or visit www.ps1.org.
For the gifts too big to wrap, there is the American Museum of the Moving Image, where classic video games are on display and ready for action. Games like Ms. Pac Man, Asteroids, and Space Invaders sit in a dark, cavernous room lit up by the glow of more than a dozen video games from Japan and the United States.

With games like PaRappa the Rapper, Drum Machine, Just Add Boiling Water, Doom III and Cobalt Flux Dance Platform, visitors can see how video games themes shifted from dance and sports to action and violence.

For more information, visit the Long Island City Cultural Alliance, at www.licarts.org.