Category: culture

Gianaris, AOC visit P.S. 70Q in Astoria for College and Career Awareness Day

Jan. 14, 2025 By Ethan Marshall and Ramy Mahmoud New York State Senator Michael Gianaris and Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were among the numerous individuals who visited the students of P.S. 70Q: The Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino School on Friday, Jan. 10, as part of the school’s celebration of College and Career Awareness Day. Gianaris and Ocasio-Cortez each addressed… Read more »

LIC-based events company finds success by focusing on connections and creativity

Jessica Ellis operates a Velvet Turtle Events photobooth at an event in New York. Photo: Jessica Ellis

Jan. 14, 2025 By sobrien Jan. 14, 2025 By Shane O’Brien  The founders of Velvet Turtle Events, a Long Island City-based events and photography company, have attributed their exponential growth in 2024 to partnerships with community-based organizations and non-profits. Over the past 12 months, these collaborations have fueled their success, allowing the company to triple… Read more »

New law ensures MENA New Yorkers are no longer categorized as White

Malikah founder Rana Abdelhamid, Assembly Members Jessica González-Rojas and Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Mike Gianaris at Tuesday's event celebrating passage of the MENA Bill. Photo: Mike Gianaris Flickr.

Jan. 9, 2025 By Shane O’Brien State Sen. Mike Gianaris and Assembly Members Jessica González-Rojas and Zohran Mamdani joined members of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) coalition Tuesday to celebrate a new law requiring New York State documents to separate MENA New Yorkers from the white category. The legislation, introduced by Gianaris and… Read more »

Advocates applaud new law for better representation of MENA communities in NY State

Dec. 24, 2024 By Colum Motherway For decades, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities in New York State have been statistically invisible, lumped into the white category on government documents—a misrepresentation that has hindered their visibility and access to resources. Now, a new law aims to change that. Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, NY State… Read more »

Beloved Astoria venue Q.E.D. finds new owner after plans to close

Dec. 17, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Just when it seemed like the final curtain was about to fall, Q.E.D. Astoria is getting an encore. Q.E.D. Astoria founder and creative director Kambri Crews announced she had found a buyer for the beloved entertainment venue after revealing last month that it would close for good. On Nov…. Read more »