Happenings

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 7:29 PM EDT

COMPILED BY MATTHEW BACCHUS

>ODDS & ENDS

An International Food Festival to benefit Nativity BVM & St. Stanislaus parishes will be held on Saturday, September 27, noon to 8 p.m. at Nativity BVM Church, 101-41 91st Street in Ozone Park. There will be food, music, raffles and more. Dishes that reflect the diversity in the community are welcome. If you would like to prepare an ethnic dish for this event, call: Annette Curran at 718-843-1046 or Donna Chrostowska at 718-570-2041.

On Saturday, September 6 at 2 p.m., Langston Hughes Library will present “Inspired by Gamelan - A Performance by Percussia.” The gong-chime ensembles from Indonesia’s islands of Java and Bali have long been admired by artists and musicians worldwide. Percussia, a Jackson Heights-based chamber music ensemble, has made percussion the foundation for a new sound, performing music by Western composers who were inspired by gamelan music, recreating the shimmering, exotic sounds of the gamelan using a variety of Western instruments. The library is located at 100-01 Northern Boulevard. For more information, call 718-651-1100.

Every Saturday through September 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Socrates Sculpture Park presents the highly popular Capoeira classes in its weekly exercise repertoire. The martial art originated in Brazil over 450 years ago. Self-defense techniques are concealed by graceful dance moves and spectacular acrobatics set to music, taught by Professor Abar�. The Park is located 32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, at the intersection of Broadway and Vernon Boulevard. Call 718-956-1819 for more info.

>performances

On Saturday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. Saint Thomas Apostle Church at Jamaica Avenue and 88th Street in Woodhaven presents “An Evening with The Allegro Ensemble” featuring lyric soprano Alicia Alexander, dramatic soprano Jenny Lynn Stewart, tenors Rinaldo Toglia and Thomas J. Stallone (a cousin of actor Sylvester Stallone) and William Thomas Smiddy, pianist. Admission is $20 and seats are reserved; first come, first served. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with payment to: Allegro Ensemble Concert, Saint Thomas Apostle Church, 87-19 88th Avenue, Woodhaven, NY 11421. For more information, call 718-850-5507 and leave your number.

On Thursday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m. the Little Opera Theatre of New York performs a “must see” annual 9/11 concert - this year it’s “The Bohemians,” the complete first act of Giacomo Puccini’s “La Boh�me,” performed in the beloved Ruth & Thomas Martin English translation, followed by songs from his early days writing for the church and some of his later popular songs. Free, at Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard at Broadway, in Astoria. Rain date: Friday, September 12.

Saturday, September 6, at 4 p.m., Curious Frog Theatre Company proudly presents one of Shakespeare’s most durable comedies, “Much Ado About Nothing.” This free production is at Baisley Pond Park, 125-60 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica.

On Friday, September 5 at 10:30 a.m., Queens Village Library will present STARS: Senior Theatre Acting Repertory. Calling all older adults: join our galaxy of STARS to perform theatrical works at the library with a great group of people! The library is located at 94-11 217th Street. For more information, call 718-776-6800.

On Saturday, September 6 at 2:30 p.m., Queens Village Library will present “Viva Las Vegas” with Flo Michaels. Singer/Entertainer Flo Michaels performs classic Vegas hits of legendary greats like Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, Peggy Lee, Etta James, Barry Manilow and more. The library is located at 94-11 217th Street. For more information, call 718-776-6800.

On Sunday, September 7 at 3 p.m., Central Library is pleased to present Sunday Concerts with Latin Jazz Coalition. Trombonist/Composer Demetrios Kastaris leads the Latin Jazz Coalition whose music blends rhythms like the rumba, son-montuno, bembe, guajira and more. The library is located at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard. For more information, call 718-990-0700.

>Self Improvement

On Friday, September 5 at 11 a.m., Auburndale Library will present Basic Computer Lessons. For adult beginners, one-on-one half-hour tutoring session; limit two sessions per day, by appointment only. Sign up for either 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. The library is located at 25-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard. For more information, call 718-352-2027.

On Wednesday, September 10 at 10 a.m., Central Library will present Introduction to Computers. Ages 12 and up will learn the basics of using the computer: how to log on and off, use the mouse and conduct an Internet search. Registration at Cyber Center Reference Desk. The library is located at 89-11 Merrick Boulevard. For more information, call 718-990-0700.

On Monday, September 8 at 10:30 a.m., Steinway Library will present “Suffering from the Sugar Blues?” A Workshop with Heather Weisse, Holistic Health Counselor. Are you constantly craving sweets and don’t know why? Find out how you can gain control without depriving yourself of the foods you love to eat. The library is located at 21-45 31st Street. For more information, call 718-728-1965.

On Friday, September 5 at 4 p.m., Woodhaven Library will present Guitar Lessons. You will learn chords, scales and songs. Limited space. You must bring your own guitar. The library is located at 85-41 Forest Parkway. For more information, call 718-849-1010.

On Saturday, September 6 at 11 a.m., Flushing Library will present Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Music and Dance. A daylong series of lectures on ayurveda and yoga, including the health benefits of yoga and meditation, the use of marma points in the treatment of massage to cure ailments and the panchakarma therapies. There will also be demonstrations and an interactive discussion. The day ends with a cultural concert of Indian music and dance. The library is located at 41-17 Main Street. For more information, call 718-661-1200.

From Friday, September 5 through Sunday, October 5, the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery, at 222-05 56th Avenue in Bayside, exhibits the work of Yelena Tylkina: Blossoms and Fantasies. Her work depicts the evocative projections of a “felt life,” a term coined by Henry James. Hours are: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays. Call 718-631-6396 or visit www.qccartgallery.org for more information.