Outdoor Party Celebrating The Reopening of Queens to Be Held at Kaufman Astoria Studios in October

Kaufman Astoria Studios (Photo: iStock)

Aug. 17, 2021 By Michael Dorgan

A large outdoor party will be held at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in October to celebrate the re-opening of Queens—in the wake of the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted.

The event, called Queens Comes Back, will feature dozens of local restaurants and vendors offering some of the best food and drink the borough has to offer.

A number of Queens-based artists will play live music, while troupes from the Queensboro Dance Festival – an organization that holds cultural events across the borough – will perform salsa, ballet and tap on a mini outdoor stage.

The party will take place on the backlot at Kaufman Astoria on Oct. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. The backlot – located on 36th Street between 34th Avenue and 36th Avenue – is an outdoor venue that is used by the film industry to shoot outdoor scenes.

The event will be free to enter while food, drink and other items will need to be purchased.

The party is being organized by the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) and the Queens Tourism Council as a means to bring businesses and residents together after a challenging period for the borough.

“COVID-related lockdowns devastated the Queens economy in 2020, but now the borough is Open for Business,” said Rob MacKay, QEDC Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Tourism.

“In other words, it’s time for a huge party in a unique venue with local vendors selling great food, drinks, and novelty items while artists provide top-notch entertainment.”

Revelers will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages from businesses like the Sunnyside brewpub Alewife and new cocktail manufacturers QNSY, which is based in Jackson Heights.

The caterer Cooking with Corey will serve up a range of food dishes while the Mexican bakery La Adelita will offer an array of colorful conchas, cemitas, donuts, and other breads and pastries.

Attendees will be also able to buy items such as shirts, jewelry, handmade soaps and candles from small businesses that have taken part in the QEDCs Made in Queens program. The Made in Queens initiative promotes local manufacturers and crafters throughout the borough and helps introduce their products to the market.

Soccer fans will also get a chance to get their hands on Queensboro FC branded clothing and soccer balls. Representatives from the borough’s first-ever professional soccer franchise will sell the merchandise from a stand and will also raffle off some of its merchandise.

Attendees are required to register in advance by clicking on this link.

A list of food and drink vendors that will be at the event is listed below. Organizers say that more are expected to sign up over the coming weeks.

Food and drink vendors:
Alewife (IPAs and craft beers)
Clarendon Cuisines by Christopher Chuck (full-service caterer)
Cooking with Corey (full-service caterer)
Culiraw (raw, vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free desserts)
Dough Donuts (oversized doughnuts)
Food Snob (North African condiments made with fresh, all-natural ingredients)
Jack & Friends (jerky made with jackfruit and pea protein)
Kitchen 36 (vegan, vegetarian, and chicken soups made from scratch)
La Adelita (Mexican bakery)
NYC Cooking Club; Paulista Avenue Bakery & Café (Brazilian savory and sweet treats)
Pudding Pan Desserts (plant-based desserts)
QNSY (sparkling cocktails)
Salutco (infusions for cocktails and mocktails made with all-natural ingredients and zero added sugar)
SD Sauce (Thai hot sauce)
Superfine Confections (small-batch, handmade artisan chocolates and confectioneries)
The Avocado Club (avocado-based sauces)