Only in Long Island City: Tibetan Blessing and a Dance for Real Estate

Tibetan Blessing tonight at the Dean Project, Long Island City

1) In celebration of the book release “King of the Dharma: The Life of Je Tsongkapa”, the Dean Project is hosting a closing reception and blessing ceremony performed by Monks in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The blessing ceremony will begin tonight at 7pm. –Dean Project, 45-43 21st St, LIC. 718.706.1462

2) The new Chocolate Factory production redevelop (death valley) opens tonight:

Conceived, directed and choreographed by Chocolate Factory Artistic Director Brian Rogers, redevelop (death valley) is inspired by his experience of living and working in Long Island City, Queens (the site of an ongoing massive redevelopment project) for many years; and by his fascination with the Gold Rush-era ghost towns of the American west. redevelop (death valley) will juxtapose found footage and field recordings of ghost towns, precisely executed miniature dances, and video captured in real time to construct a series of interweaving visual narratives around ideas of shared, temporary and abandoned living spaces. –Chocolate Factory Theater, 5-49 49th Ave, LIC (718) 482-7069

3) Opening tomorrow, Art-O-Mat Gallery presents Faces of a Village: Photographs of a Universal Principle, featuring photographs of faces from Long Island City by Jackie Weisberg and Alexander Richter.

Small towns are the best, and that is what LIC really is. Despite the rapid changes of development there is a certain breed that gravitates towards small towns such has Long Island City. Some are drawn without even thinking why – just responding to the open sky. Others immediately pick up that LIC has ALWAYS been an active community and whether they participate or not, they crave the myriad experience of a small town. We like to think of our village as a universe. And within are its many galaxies. Some galaxies are families, some galaxies are the folks who run business, and some are groups that meet at local watering holes. Some come together through tragedy, others through the dog run, playground and the church. They all have their distinct orbit. Through the organic passage of time eventually the different faces come colliding together to build a collective spirit. –Art-O-Mat, 46-46 Vernon Blvd, LIC*

Keith Haring exhibit, Deitch Studios, Long Island City

4) This is the last weekend to catch the Keith Haring exhibit at the Deitch Studios, 4-40 44th Drive, LIC.