TODAY IN QUEENS

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The Queens Tourism Council recommends the following hotels:

Courtyard Marriott JFK

145-11 North Conduit Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11436 

2012 Lunar New Year Celebrations in Queens

Flushing, Queens welcomes 2012 - the Year of the Dragon with a parade and fun for all! Kickoff was Jan. 23 but there are still events:

January 28, 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Lunar New Year Festival: Learn to prepare Korean food and Chinese dough dragon figures. Enjoy traditional Korean dances at 1:30 p.m., and Chinese face-changing at 3 p.m. Free. Flushing Library: 41-17 Main St.

January 28, 1-3 p.m. & 3-5 p.m. (two shows)
2012 Chinese New Year Celebration: lion dance, singing, martial arts and a fashion show. Free. Sky View Center: 40-24 College Point Blvd.

February 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
16th Annual Lunar New Year Parade: starts at 7th Avenue, heads down Union Street to Sanford Avenue, ends at 39th Avenue, making it to Queens Crossing mall.

February 4, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrating 2012 Year of the Dragon: lion dance performances, and arts and crafts class to make Chinese lanterns and dragons. Free. Sky View Center: 40-24 College Point Blvd.

February 4, 2 p.m.
Lunar New Year Dance Sampler: dance performances from China, Korea, India, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands. Free tickets available the day of event, starting at 12noon at the box office. Flushing Town Hall: 137-35 Northern Blvd. 718.463.7770

February 5, 2 p.m.
Lunar New Year Workshops: Dragon Puppet making and Lucky Bag Origami workshops. Materials provided. $10. Flushing Town Hall: 137-35 Northern Blvd. 718.463.7770

 Flushing Town Hall will be celebrating for the entire month! See their complete listing of events.

Help Cascon Bakery Fight Hunger

Whitestone-based Cascon Bakery is working with City Harvest to deliver 3 million pounds of food to hungry New Yorkers…and you can help. Donate two or more cans of food (fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, etc.) and Cascon (www.casconcheesecakes.com) will offer 20 percent discounts on a future purchase of $10 or more. Please drop off items at Cascon, 7-04 149th St., from Jan. 23 to Jan. 28. For more information, contact Chrissy D'Amore at 718-767-5700.

Fighting Lack of Train Service With Laughs, Bargain

In response to a recent announcement that the MTA will be shutting down certain 7 train stops during the next 12 weekends, the Laughing Devil comedy club will cut $2.25 from any weekend ticket purchased online with the promo code 7Train. For more information on the Long Island City establishment, click here.

Murder Mystery Getaway on February

A live, interactive murder mystery show will take place at Bruno's on the Boulevard, 88-25 Astoria Boulevard., Jackson Heights, 718.335.0505, on Saturday, February 11, 2012, 7:30 p.m. $75 per person, $150 per couple (Tax & gratuities included – cash bar).

For an additional $99 plus tax, enjoy a romantic overnight hotel stay - minutes away at the Holiday Inn LaGuardia Airport Hotel at CitiField, 37-10 114^th St., Corona. Inquire about the Sweetheart Package upgrade with additional in-room amenities. For reservations, contact Regina at 718.906.1605 or reservations@holidaylga.com.

Learn to Swim in Queens

Affordable classes will be offered in January in Corona and Far Rockaway. For more information, check out The Swim Strong Foundation website or send an email to Shawn Slevin.

2011-2012 Season Is Here

Classical music

Theater/Dance

Family programming

and more!

The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College has a new line-up of top-notch performances this new season. A piano trio, a string quartet and cellist will headline the shows. 

For more information, go to www.kupferbergcenter.org.