The Old Astoria Neighborhood Association (OANA) recognizes the ongoing community discussion regarding the proposed seasonal tennis bubble at Astoria Park. OANA supports the Queens Community Board 1 position of conditional support for the proposed tennis bubble concession, provided that all stipulated requirements are fully met by the concessionaire and incorporated into the final terms of the agreement. These conditions, as outlined by Community Board 1, are intended to protect public access, neighborhood quality of life, and the long-term integrity of the park. They include safeguards such as maintaining public access to non-enclosed courts, limiting the scale and duration of the structure, ensuring seasonal (winter-only) operation with mandatory removal in warmer months, and requiring appropriate noise, maintenance, lighting, and utility standards. It is important to note that Community Board recommendations are advisory in nature only. While they represent local community input and review, the final decision regarding the issuance of any Request for Proposals (RFP) and the awarding of a concession rests with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, which is not obligated to adopt the Community Board’s recommendations. OANA’s position is that if the project moves forward, it should do so strictly within the framework of the Community Board’s conditions, and with continued attention to preserving equitable, year-round public access to Astoria Park’s recreational facilities. As the process advances, OANA encourages continued community engagement and transparency to ensure that any final outcome reflects both the recreational needs of park users and the broader public interest. Read the Community Board statement here. OANA President Richard Khuzami was also quoted on the proposed Tennis Bubble in this Queens Chronicle article here.

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Con Edison will host a Virtual Summer Community Resources Conference on Tuesday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., bringing together government, nonprofit, and community professionals to discuss important issues affecting New York City and Westchester County ahead of the summer season. The conference will cover topics including summer weather and utility bill outlooks, extreme heat protections, electrification updates, the new Enhanced Energy Affordability Program, and available billing and payment assistance options. The free virtual event is designed to help community organizations, advocates, and residents better understand the resources available to support New Yorkers during the warmer months. Tuesday, June 9, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST Register here: Reserve Ticket – 2026 Con Edison Summer Resource Conference – Microsoft Teams

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The Museum of the Moving Image will be opening MoMI LAB on June 13 as a free, artist-led co-creation studio focused on emerging technology and culture. Located inside the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, the 2,400-square-foot space is designed to give the public hands-on access to tools shaping everyday life, from AI and robotics to immersive media, spatial computing, and digital production systems. Unlike traditional tech labs, MoMI LAB positions artists and the public at the center of experimentation. Museum leaders say the goal is not only to teach people how to use new technologies, but to create a space where they can critically engage with how those technologies are transforming society. “MoMI LAB is meant to level the playing field by providing free, accessible tools to not only learn technology, but reflect on it, and create with it,” said Gabo Arora, MoMI’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, who led the LAB’s vision and strategy. The initiative is backed by more than $5 million in New York State funding and includes a new artist residency program, the first in the museum’s history. New York-based artist Rachel Rossin will serve as the inaugural artist-in-residence, developing work focused on spatial computing and the relationship between virtual and physical space. The LAB itself includes interactive public stations, artist studios, classroom space, and demonstration areas designed for workshops, presentations, and collaborative projects. Visitors will be able to experiment with technologies including VR environments, robotic systems, AI image and video generation, 3D printing, projection mapping, and immersive spatial media. Programming will include workshops, hackathons, public discussions, demonstrations, and open studio sessions intended to make emerging technologies more accessible across age groups and experience levels. Museum officials say the space is also intended to help bridge the digital divide by providing free exposure to technologies...

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A Community Information Forum on Summer Recreation, Parks, Culture & Public Spaces Join OANA and representatives from NYC Parks, Partnerships for Parks, Pool Management, and local community organizations such as Socrates Sculpture, Welling Court, LIC Boathouse, Whitey Ford Field, Halletts Playgrounds and other important providers for an important public discussion focused on summer activities and resources throughout Astoria and Long Island City. Topics Will Include: Summer recreation and cultural opportunities Parks programming and events Astoria Pool information and seasonal operations Volunteer and community engagement opportunities Capital projects and park improvements Permitting and public space usage Rules, regulations, and park safety information How to communicate with Parks staff and report issues Residents will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to Parks personnel and participating organizations. Event Format Virtual Community Meeting via StreamYardQuestions accepted live through YouTube and Facebook chat. Date & Time May 27th – Last Week of May 2026Technical Check: 6:00 PMLive Program Begins: 6:30 PM Additional participating organizations and presenters to be announced. Watch on Facebook Watch on Youtube

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The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) has announced the 2026 season of its Open Worlds: Science series, a free public program blending science, storytelling, and movies. Running from May through October, the series explores how scientific ideas shape everyday life through talks, screenings, performances, and hands-on activities. Backed by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division, the program continues MoMI’s broader Open Worlds initiative, which turns the museum’s ground-floor space and courtyard into a public hub for free cultural and educational programming. This year’s lineup spans topics that move fluidly between science and imagination—ranging from brain health and urban ecology to mycelium networks, alien contact, and the idea of infinity. Kicking Off with Walking and Brain Health The next event, New York Loves to Walk (May 30), opens the season with a mix of neuroscience, cinema, and a guided neighborhood walk. Psychologist Catherine Hartley (NYU) will discuss how novel experiences like walking unfamiliar routes can increase brain activity and support well-being. The program also includes a screening of The World Before Your Feet, followed by a community walk from MoMI to Socrates Sculpture Park. A Season of Science-Inspired Experiences The rest of the season continues with a wide range of interdisciplinary programs: June 20 – Signal from the Soil: A Day of Mycelium, Sound & StoryExploring plant and fungal communication through sound art, live performance, and workshops. July 18 – First Contact: Alien Encounters in Science and FictionA mix of science writing, film analysis, and discussion on how humanity imagines extraterrestrial life. August 8 – ∞ Infinity DayA full-day celebration of mathematics, infinity, and the aesthetics of the universe. September 19 – Wild CityA focus on New York’s urban wildlife, from coyotes to whales and peregrine falcons. October 16–18 – Alt.Ctrl ArcadeA weekend of experimental video games using...

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The New York City Department of Sanitation is proposing to expand and extend its stationary on-street trash container pilot program for residential buildings with 10 or more units. Under the proposed rule, the existing pilot in Manhattan Community District 9 would be extended through Oct. 15, 2027, while the program would also expand into Brooklyn Community District 2. The proposal applies to both “large residential buildings” with 31 or more units and “medium residential buildings” with 10 to 30 units. Beginning Oct. 15, 2026, affected buildings would be required to either use stationary on-street containers or DSNY-approved rigid bins with tight-fitting lids. Buildings in both districts would be able to apply for the on-street container option during a July 1–31, 2026 application period. DSNY said extending the Manhattan pilot and expanding into Brooklyn would help the agency collect more data as it considers making the containerization program permanent and potentially expanding it citywide. Public Hearing Details The public hearing on the proposed rules will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams at 9:30 a.m. on June 17, 2026. Meeting ID: 291 903 956 410 421 Passcode: gN7M5EW6 Dial-in: +1 646-893-7101,,347417295# Phone Conference ID: 347 417 295# Residents can also submit comments online through the NYC Rules website, by email to nycrules@dsny.nyc.gov, or by mail to DSNY, 125 Worth Street, Room 710, New York, NY 10013. Anyone wishing to speak at the hearing must register by emailing mliguori@dsny.nyc.gov before 5 p.m. on June 16. Written comments must be submitted by June 17, 2026. Download the Public Hearing Notice DSNY Proposed Amendment of Rules Relating to Containerization Requirements  

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The DOT will present its 31st Avenue Phase 2 Safety Improvement Plan at the upcoming Community Board 1 Full Board Meeting on May 19. The proposal focuses on a bike lane and safety improvements along 31st Avenue between Steinway Street and 51st Street, continuing the city’s efforts to enhance street conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. You can view the full presentation prior to the meeting here: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/31-ave-phase-ii-steinway-st-51-st-may2026.pdf We encourage fellow Astorians to review the materials and attend the meeting to learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback. You can read more on Qns.com or see the official announcement on NYC.gov.

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A prolific Bronx-based developer is bringing his latest project to Astoria, Queens, with plans for a new 9-story luxury residential building at 29-12 Hoyt Ave. South. Mark Stagg of the Stagg Group recently filed permits for the roughly 60,000-square-foot development, which would include 68 rental units, about 2,100 square feet of commercial space, and a 27-car parking garage. Designed by MK Architect Studio, the project is slated to replace a small 2-story building on the site, which is expected to be demolished. Stagg, who is in contract to acquire the property through a long-term land lease, says construction could begin this fall, adding another large-scale residential project to his growing portfolio across the Bronx and Queens. Learn more here.

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The The Noguchi Museum has extended the application deadline for its “Making Your Mark” summer art-making intensive for New York City public high school juniors and seniors to May 31. The paid studio program invites students to explore sculpture, creativity, identity, and interdisciplinary art-making while drawing inspiration from artist Isamu Noguchi and the museum’s current exhibition, “Noguchi’s New York.” The program will run Mondays through Thursdays from July 6–31 at the museum’s Long Island City campus and will conclude with a public student exhibition on July 31. Participants will receive all art materials, a $600 stipend for full participation, and optional transportation reimbursement. Learn more about the program here: https://www.noguchi.org/museum/education/teens/making-your-mark/

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OANA is pleased to share information from the International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) and the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), including opportunities for Queens-based artists and upcoming human rights-focused performances. IHRAF Queens Submissions Now Open Submissions are now open for IHRAF Queens, the borough’s human rights art festival featuring performance, theater, dance, music, spoken word, and multidisciplinary work by Queens-based artists. Accepted participants will receive a $200 project stipend, PR and marketing support, a technical rehearsal, stage management support, and photographic documentation of their performance. The festival takes place September 18 – 20th. Tickets Available for “IHRAF: Arendt” Tickets are also available for IHRAF: Arendt, a multi-day performance series inspired by the ideas of political philosopher Hannah Arendt. The event will take place June 5–7 at the 30th Street Theater in Manhattan and will feature performances spanning theater, dance, music, puppetry, and interdisciplinary work. The weekend will also include a free public discussion presented in partnership with the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. Additional Programs and Artist Support IHRAM also highlighted its continued support for artists at risk around the world, including artists from Afghanistan, Gaza, Syria, Uganda, Cameroon, and Palestine. Upcoming programming will feature artist testimonials, video presentations, and online discussions focused on artistic freedom and human rights advocacy. Additional submission opportunities through IHRAM Press and other human rights arts initiatives are also currently available. For information on IHRAF please visit: https://humanrightsartmovement.org/ihraf-queens-call-2026

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