The 11th Annual Polish Festival, organized by St. Stanislaus Kostka church, took place on Sunday at Snug Harbor Cultural Center. We enjoyed sun, low humidity and a healthy breeze every once in awhile. I thank all of you who visited the Gillani Homes booth and those who took a chance on the Lottery Ticket House! A big thanks to those of you who signed up for the "Weekend Events on Staten Island" blog mailing list. The kiddies were thrilled with the blow up rides, checking out the NYPD car (and siren!!), winning at games of chance, while all enjoyed live music, the Polish dancers, wonderful raffle drawings and basket prizes, scrumptious Polish food—stuffed cabbage, kielbasy and fixings, meat and cheese pierogi, zapiekanka, desserts galore and Polish beer. I even met and had a picture taken with Adam "Baby Face" Kownacki, the undefeated Polish Heavyweight Boxing star!
I joined my grandson, Gerard, at the “If You Build It” LEGO Club for Kids challenge last week at the Tottenville Library. Look at all the wonderful creations made by the participants and later placed in the display cabinet for all to see. Great imagination!
People ask me, “How can I receive the “Weekend Events” blog. If you enjoy reading my “Weekend Events on Staten Island” and would like to be my Facebook friend, you know what to do—friend request. If you would prefer to be on my mailing list, please email joan.coogan@gmail.com or call or text me at 646-258-9696; I will forward it to you each week. Nevertheless, please do me the honor of SHARING my blog with your friends, either on Facebook (click “Share” underneath the blog) or on the Gillani Homes site.
Kids 3+ can participate in Camp Creativity Retro-Cool Crafts on Wednesday 7/3 from 10-12 at all Staten Island Michael’s stores. Travel back in time to make popular trends from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s by painting a pet rock. $3 fee; supplies included. Parent or guardian must remain on premises. To register, call:
718-720-0377 for 30 Barrett Ave. (Forest Ave. Shoppers Plaza)
718-692-0252 for 2795 Richmond Ave. (Pergament Mall)
347-694-7203 for 245 Bricktown Center (Charleston)
The Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Terr., offers free admission each Wednesday in July & August. Bring the family to Boogie Woogie Wednesdays on 7/3 from 5-7. Explore exhibits, hear a story and enjoy a music or dance performance.
As part of the “2019 Summer Movie Express” at Regal UA Theater Staten Island, 2474 Forest Ave., you can see “Despicable Me 3” and “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” on Wednesday at 10 for $1 purchased at the box office. What a great deal!
The 91st Annual Huck Finn Fishing Tournament & Costume Contest takes place on Thursday 7/4 from 8-12 at the Zimmer Club, 4411 Arthur Kill Rd.Fishing is open to children between the ages of 5 and 14
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Come early to get a good spot. This event is FREE!
- The fishing tournament will run from 9-11 a.m.
- The Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher costume contest will start at 11:15 a.m.
Trophies will be awarded at 11:30 a.m. Bait, tackle & fishing pole will be supplied. The first 100 participants will receive a free bamboo fishing pole that they can keep.
Join the Urban Park Ranger for Nature Center Adventures on Thursday from 11-12 and 12-3 at Blue Heron Nature Center, 222 Poillon Ave. Nature Center Adventures connect New Yorkers of all ages to nature through experiential learning. Nature Center Adventure programs include scavenger hunts, nature crafts and games, and getting up close and personal with our nature center animals.
Celebrate our nation’s independence at Historic Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration on Thursday from 11-5 at History Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave. with old fashioned family fun! Visit Historic Richmond Town for home-churned ice cream, a patriotic pinwheel parade and an inspirational reading of the Declaration of Independence. Talk with costumed interpreters inside the historic Guyon-Lake-Tysen farmhouse and watch delicious pies bake in a real 19th century open-hearth kitchen! Visit a Victorian General Store, and watch as historic trades people practice their craft. A wholesome good time in New York City’s most complete historic village!
Activities included are:
- Taste pie baked in an oven centuries old!
- Make Victorian paper pinwheels and marching in the Pinwheel Parade.
- Visit with Artisans of the Historic Trades and learn about the creation of household necessities using period tools.
- View the displays of the Staten Island Model Railroaders.
- Participate in a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.
- Churn ice cream the old-fashioned way.
- The Science Behind Fireworks, a demonstration by The Unexcelled Firework Company (1888-1944).
Entrance fee is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $6 for children.
The 109th Travis 4th of July Parade will step off on Thursday at 12:30 from P.S. 26, 4108 Victory Blvd. and Showplace Entertainment Center, 141 East Service Rd. Since the parade’s inception, participants have marched down Victory Blvd. from Cannon Ave. to Glen Street in the community’s annual Independence Day parade. Come early, meet your friends and make new ones as you celebrate the 4th of July. For more info, visit: travisparade.org
Attend the Fourth of July Block Party at the Empire Outlets, 55 Richmond Terr. The Three-Day Block Party will include a curated selection of sights, bites and engaging programming fit for the entire family. Visitors will be treated to live music from featured bands, DJs, and roaming street performers in addition to programmed activities like a tie-dye workshop, sidewalk chalk art, face painting, large scale sandcastle building, and an outdoor screening of a featured Americana film to be announced.
July 4
- 12-9: Multi-cultural food and beverage vendor options; Beer Garden pop up; Sidewalk chalk art, sandcastle building
- 2-9: Live musical performances on the Main Stage featuring Spotlight Theatre Company (Broadway variety), HitList (Americana) and a headliner to be announced; Roaming entertainment and pop-up shows, DJs on the waterfront
- 2-8: Tie-dye craft workshop, face painting
- 9: Fireworks Show presented by Empire Outlets
July 5
- 12-9: Curated food carts
- 1-5: Roaming entertainment and pop-up shows, DJs on the waterfront
- 8:30: Outdoor screening of an Americana film to be announced and free popcorn
July 6
- 12-9: Curated food carts
- 1-5: Roaming entertainment and pop-up shows, DJs on the waterfront
Attend the Fourth at the Fort on Thursday beginning at 1 at Ft. Wadsworth, 210 New York Ave. with a group reading of the Declaration of Independence by Staten Island OutLOUD of the reading. At 2, enjoy a performance by the Staten Island Philharmonic Concert celebrating Independence Day. Join the tour of Fort Tompkins and games for kids.
On Thursday from 6-9, hear the sweet sounds of the Staten Island Philharmonic on the lawn at Alice Austen House Museum, 2 Hylan Blvd. followed by viewing citywide fireworks displays from the waterfront.
On Friday 7/5 at 1, performer Patrick Raftery and the Rock-a-Silly Band visits the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. for a FREE fun-filled, family-friendly, forest-focused summer sing along. A post-performance cool-down with our lawn sprinklers is optional. Visit www.musicwithpatrick.com for more info.
Play tabletop games with friends and family at Family Game Time on Friday at 3 at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, 2550 Victory Blvd. Good for ages 3+.
Save the day with a tow truck in this hands-on workshop--DIY Tow Truck on Saturday 7/6 from 9-12 at all Staten Island Home Depot stores. Together you and your child can build a custom toy tow truck with an operational boom to rescue model vehicles from ditches and embankments, move disabled vehicles or simply put the model on display. Once your wrecker construction is complete, your child can customize it with paint and stickers. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Register at https://www.homedepot.com/workshops/
The NYPL St. George Library and GrowNYC are hosting a Book Swap on Saturday from 9:30-12:30 at the St. George Green Market. Start your spring/summer cleaning and bring in gently used and gently loved books that no longer spark joy!
Take a stroll at Saturday Morning Walks on Saturday 10-11 at Clay Pit Ponds Visitors Center, 2351 Veterans Rd. W. Learn about the flora and fauna in the Park or just get out, get exercise and enjoy the fresh air! All ages welcome. We will hike at least a mile each week.
Bring your toddler, 18-36 months, to the Toddler Sing ‘n Shake Dance Party on Saturday at 11 at the Todt-Hill Westerleigh Library, 2550 Victory Blvd.
Paddle along Freshkills Park’s waterways on the Kayak Tours on Saturday at 11. The tour is free but registration is required at https://freshkillspark.org
NYC LAUGHS presents Laughter In the Park, a live performance by a stand-up comic on Sunday, 7/7 from 2-4 at Wolfe’s Pond Park, 420 Cornelia Ave.
If you haven’t been to Killmeyers Old Bavaria Inn at 4254 Arthur Kill Rd. lately, catch a performance of the Staten Island Snugs on Sunday from 4-7 and celebrate Lou Russo’s Birthday Bash. The outdoor garden is great place to enjoy the warm weather, dine on delicious German food and listen to the Snugs!
THE GO!HEALTHY FOOD BOX IS BACK! Every Tuesday, from 7/9 through 11/19 between 4-6 go to Goodhue Center, 304 Prospect Ave. in New Brighton, and sign up and pay $10 Cash, Credit/Debit and Health Bucks! (or $8 with EBT or FMNP) at least one week in advance for $30 worth of fresh local produce. Come back the next week (same time, same place) to pick up your bag and taste the weekly recipe! Below are photos of some of last year’s groceries.
I received a message on my cell saying that I’m going to JAIL for an unspecified dastardly deed! The automated message ordered me to call them immediately!! Are you tired of the usual scams and some threatening phone calls like these all day and night? You can attempt to eliminate some of these calls by registering at www.donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222. Good luck!
I welcome comments and photos at events you have attended. If you want to share events for me to post, email or call me.
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