Past Events
Browse through our archives of past Bayside Historical Society events, from 2024 back to 2014.
Programs are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Gardening Day at The Castle
April 20, 2024
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Come join us for a rewarding morning of gardening — all levels of expertise are welcome! Tools and supplies will be provided. In addition to garden maintenance, we'll be working on several exciting enhancements to The Castle grounds, including a pollinator garden and a pumpkin patch.
Author Talk with Kevin Walsh: Forgotten New York
April 18, 2024
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
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Cost: $10.00 for BHS members; $15.00 for non-members
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Part of Bayside Historical Society's Author Talk at the Castle Series
Bayside Historical Society is excited to welcome a special guest whose work has long been a favorite of many of our members: Kevin Walsh, author of the acclaimed Forgotten New York: Views of a Lost Metropolis and creator of the renowned website, forgotten-ny.com.
The Forgotten New York website first launched in 1999, and four years later, New York publishing giant HarperCollins approached Kevin with the idea of turning it into a book. In 2013, Kevin published Forgotten Queens as part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" book series.
Kevin will commemorate the 25th Anniversary of forgotten-ny.com with a fascinating presentation on the history of Bayside, Queens, and beyond. Afterwards, Kevin will conduct an audience Q&A and will be signing copies of his books. Join us for a fun and engaging evening as we take a trip back in time and share cherished memories of New York's past.
Come Tour the BHS Castle
April 14, 2024
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Bayside Historical Society staff and volunteers are offering guided tours of The Castle and its exhibitions on the second Sunday of each month from 1pm-3pm. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long; there will be two tours offered, the first beginning at 1pm and the second at 2pm. The cost is free, but reservations are required. Reserve your spot in advance for the April 14th tour by booking your tickets online.
Gardening Day at The Castle
April 13, 2024
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Come join us for a rewarding morning of gardening — all levels of expertise are welcome! Tools and supplies will be provided. In addition to garden maintenance, we'll be working on several exciting enhancements to The Castle grounds, including a pollinator garden and a pumpkin patch.
Spring Garden Cleanup at The Castle
March 30, 2024
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Spring is here at last, and we can't wait to roll up our sleeves and start working on The Castle's gardens! We're welcoming volunteers to help clear out last year's weeds and old plants and prep the beds for new flowers and plants. No green thumbs required — just helping hands! This event is free; gardening supplies will be provided.
BHS Annual Membership Meeting
March 20, 2024
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
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Cost: Free for members; $10 for non-members
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Our Member Business Meeting with the Election of Officers and Trustees will be held from 7:00 PM-7:30 PM. Then from 7:30 PM–9:00 PM, we will hold the General Meeting, which will be open to the public with food and live entertainment.
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We invite you to join us as we celebrate Irish Cultural heritage during our Annual Membership Meeting. Be entertained with Irish music and song by Ken Curtin and a performance of Irish dance by the Ciara Greene School of Irish Step Dancing. Plus, enjoy a taste of delectable Irish specialties! Our General Meeting will showcase the Installation Ceremony of newly elected Bayside Historical Society Officers and Trustees, as well as Volunteer Recognition.
Come Tour the BHS Castle
March 10, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Bayside Historical Society staff and volunteers are offering guided tours of The Castle and its exhibitions on the second Sunday of each month from 1pm-3pm. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long; there will be two tours offered, the first beginning at 1pm and the second at 2pm. The cost is free, but reservations are required. Reserve your spot in advance for the March 10th tour by booking your tickets online.
Open Sew at the Castle
March 9, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
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Cost: $8 BHS members; $10 non-members
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Do you quilt, sew or just love textiles? Join other sewing enthusiasts in an afternoon of creating and socializing. Bring something you are currently working on and enjoy the camaraderie of community sewing! While this is not a sewing class, beginner seamstresses and quilters are most welcome and will find inspiration and guidance. There are a limited number of sewing machines available, but please try to bring your own if you have one. Also, do not feel obligated to sew on a machine — hand work (cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, etc.) is always welcome!
A Concert of South Indian Inspired Music
March 2, 2024
Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm
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Cost: $10 for BHS members; $15 for non-members
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Bayside Historical Society welcomes violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy to the Castle for a stirringly beautiful live performance. Husband and wife duo Trina and Arun reimagine the potential of string chamber music with a unique sound both deeply intimate and cinematically expansive. Deeply rooted in traditions of South Indian classical music, Western chamber music, jazz and folk styles, the duo creates a sound that feels ancient, orchestral, and contemporary or as The New Yorker put it, “free-flowing and globe-spanning.” Combined with the duo's fluency in improvisation, there is a clear architecture to their sound that still gives space for the two violins to be delightfully indiscernible and shine individually. On their transformative debut album Nakshatra (SPINSTER 2023), Trina and Arun reach both deep into their past and high into the celestial realm, culminating in a lush and spiritual collaboration that bridges traditions and defies genres.
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Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the G-Hwaja Korean Music Band
February 17, 2024
Time: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
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Cost: Free; this event is co-sponsored by Bayside Historical Society and Korean Community Services
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G-Hwaja performs creative music through a collaboration of Western and Korean traditional instruments, melding disparate tones and styles. The group seeks to express the emotions of the times in a dramatic way by utilizing the uniquely expressive characteristics of Korean traditional music — particularly its sense of excitement known as Hueng and the bittersweet sense of grief known as Han — to deliver familiar music with new emotional dimensions. G-Hwaja strives to popularize Korean traditional music by delivering a dynamic and vivid image of Korean to the modern world.
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Come Tour the BHS Castle
February 11, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Beginning in 2024, Bayside Historical Society staff and volunteers will offer guided tours of The Castle and its exhibitions on the second Sunday of each month from 1pm-3pm. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long; there will be two tours offered, the first beginning at 1pm and the second at 2pm. Register on our website to reserve your spot in advance for the February 11th tour.
23rd Annual Winter Art Show
February 5 – March 3, 2024
Time: 9:00am to 9:00pm
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Cost: Free
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Bayside Historical Society's Annual Winter Art Show, showcasing contemporary Queens-based artists working in a variety of styles and mediums, features a combination of online galleries on our website and a live exhibit in The Bay Terrace Shopping Center. The online galleries also feature the emerging talent of student artists at Bayside High School in Queens.
Comedy Night at The Castle
February 2, 2024
Time: 7:00pm to 10:30pm
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Cost: $45 for BHS members; $55 for non-members
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Beat the winter blues! Join Bayside Historical Society for a fun night of stand-up comedy by the Wilshire Comedy Group, plus cocktail hour and desserts. Get all the exciting details about the evening's lineup on our website! Reservations are required. No tickets will be sold at the door — advance ticket sales only!
Author Talk with Rebecca Bratspies: Naming Gotham
January 23, 2024
Time: 7:30pm to 9:00pm
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Cost: $10 for BHS members; $15 for non-members
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Part of Bayside Historical Society's Author Talk at the Castle Series
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The Van Wyck, the Major Deegan, the Jackie Robinson, the Hutch, the Merritt, FDR Drive, or the Henry Hudson... you might drive them regularly, without really noticing that those road names are, well, names. But, who were these people? New York City's many roads, bridges, neighborhoods and institutions bear the names of a colorful assortment of people from key periods in the city's history. Learning about the people iconic Gotham landmarks are named for is a unique window into the history of the greatest city in the world. Rebecca Bratspies, author of Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names, takes readers on a place-based, intimate, historical journey on a human scale.
Traditional Music and Dance of Korea
January 21, 2024
Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm
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Cost: $10 for BHS members; $15 for non-members
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The Korean Traditional Music Dance Center's KTMDC Dance Group will showcase the beauty of their culture through a diverse array of traditional dances, rhythms, and choreographies. Their performances highlight the rich cultural traditions of Korea.
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The Korean Traditional Music and Dance Center is the oldest established Korean performing arts organization in New York City founded in 1987. With a 36-year history, KTMDC's mission is to preserve the originality and pure artistry of Korean culture and heritage, and to disseminate it to the community and wider audience in the U.S.
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Open Sew at the Castle
January 20, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
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Cost: $8 BHS members; $10 non-members
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Do you quilt, sew or just love textiles? Join other sewing enthusiasts in an afternoon of creating and socializing. Bring something you are currently working on and enjoy the camaraderie of community sewing! While this is not a sewing class, beginner seamstresses and quilters are most welcome and will find inspiration and guidance. There are a limited number of sewing machines available, but please try to bring your own if you have one. Also, do not feel obligated to sew on a machine — hand work (cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, etc.) is always welcome!
Open Sew at the Castle
January 20, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
​
Cost: $8 BHS members; $10 non-members
​
Do you quilt, sew or just love textiles? Join other sewing enthusiasts in an afternoon of creating and socializing. Bring something you are currently working on and enjoy the camaraderie of community sewing! While this is not a sewing class, beginner seamstresses and quilters are most welcome and will find inspiration and guidance. There are a limited number of sewing machines available, but please try to bring your own if you have one. Also, do not feel obligated to sew on a machine — hand work (cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, etc.) is always welcome!
Open Sew at the Castle
January 20, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
​
Cost: $8 BHS members; $10 non-members
​
Do you quilt, sew or just love textiles? Join other sewing enthusiasts in an afternoon of creating and socializing. Bring something you are currently working on and enjoy the camaraderie of community sewing! While this is not a sewing class, beginner seamstresses and quilters are most welcome and will find inspiration and guidance. There are a limited number of sewing machines available, but please try to bring your own if you have one. Also, do not feel obligated to sew on a machine — hand work (cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, etc.) is always welcome!
Come Tour the BHS Castle
January 14, 2024
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
​
Cost: Free
​
Beginning in 2024, Bayside Historical Society staff and volunteers will offer guided tours of The Castle and its exhibitions on the second Sunday of each month from 1pm-3pm. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long; there will be two tours offered, the first beginning at 1pm and the second at 2pm. Register on our website to reserve your spot in advance for the January 14th tour.