The museum displays modern and contemporary art, lectures by artists and critics, performances and film screenings, classes for teens and adults, and daily tours of the galleries led by experienced docent.

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The Drawing Center is the only not-for-profit institution to focus on the exhibition of drawings. It provides opportunities for emerging and under-recognized artists, exhibits the diversity of drawings throughout history, and hopes to create a public dialogue on issues of art and culture. They also provide great public programs and workshops.

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New York City’s only Latino museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American art. Admission fees are otherwise a suggested contribution. Free walking tours on some weekends at 3:30pm. See website calendar for more details.

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The outer boroughs aren’t just a place to look for cheaper rent. They can also be a fun, less expensive spot for a date.

The Boy I’m Dating (TBID) and I, both Manhattanites, recently spent a weekend day in Queens. We met up in midtown to take the 7 train. On the way, we checked out 5 Pointz, a living collage of graffiti art in Long Island City at Jackson Avenue (at Crane and Davis Sts). You can view the graffiti from the elevated train or get
off at the 45 Rd/Court House Square stop. Either way, the street art is on display for free.

The Queens Museum of Art awaits at the Shea Stadium stop on the 7 train. I think it might be the most laid back museum in NYC. The suggested donation for admission is a mere $5, guards and ushers don’t breathe down your neck, and the exhibits are often
quirky and offbeat. The Panorama, a 9,335 square foot architectural model of the five boroughs built for the 1964 World’s Fair, is a sight to behold. Scan its 895,000 individual structures to find where you live and work.

Hungry after taking in our miniature metropolis and the Queens International 4 exhibition, TBID and I stopped by the museum snack bar. I was surprised to find inexpensive and diverse fare from local restaurants, including empanadas and Chinese
beef and chicken buns.

After leaving the museum, we walked around Flushing Meadows Corona Park. On a beautiful day, you can expect to see people flying kites, playing soccer and frisbee, and racing remote control cars. The men who do the latter draw crowds and even take YouTube videos of their cars in action. You can visit the nearby New York Hall of Science or Queens Zoo or wander the park grounds. I recommend renting a boat or bike to explore the area with your sweetie.

Stroll or take the 7 train to The Lemon Ice King of Corona at 52-02 108th Street at the corner of Corona Avenue and 52nd/Strong Avenue. The delicious fruity and chocolate flavors start at $1. If you want to finish the night with dinner, ask a
local where they like to eat. Queens is the most diverse borough of NYC, and thus, a great place for ethnic food. There are myriad restaurants and cafes whose dishes are authentic at a tasty price point.

Beautiful weekends abound this spring and summer. Why not head to Queens with the king or queen of your heart? There’s a lot to love.

Amanda, Central Park North in Harlem
Check out her blog at www.noisiestpassenger.com

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BRAC is committed to offering art classes free to youths (ages 9-21) who want to expand their creative horizons. Classes include ceramics, drawing, painting, darkroom photography, computer graphics & printmaking , comic book illustration & digital storyboarding. Classes last for 11 weeks throughout the year on weekends or after school. First come, first served but if classes are full, you can sign up on the waiting list.

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NYC public high school students can enroll in the Saturday Program for classes in: Drawing, Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, Sound Composition, Architecture and Portfolio Preparation. Both offer free courses with materials included. Students are represented in seasonal exhibitions, publications, and poetry slams, and take field trips to museums, artist studios, and galleries. All classes combine ‘hands on’ studio work with creative writing workshops and field trips to cultural sites.

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Take a free tour of New York City at your own pace and at the time of your convenience. Get your iPod, turn the volume to your preference, and listen to these great tours of the greatest city in the world.

• CentralPark.com offers for free podcast guides “Family Tour” and “Arts & Architecture” (must register as a member).
• The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council offers a series of three theme-based self-guided audio walking tours explaining public art in Lower Manhattan.
• New York Minute Podcasts – Insider tips from a native New Yorker on how to get the most out of the city that never sleeps.
• OpenHouseNewYork -Architecture and design podcasts in every borough

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Check out their website for tons of free events this week including book signings, live music, film screenings, and much more.

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This organization will pick up any materials and clutter from your apartment, warehouse, or office. These “art materials” will then donated to an organization in need such as not-for-profit arts and cultural groups, NYC Department of Education art teachers, ongoing art programs, or government agencies. Apply to donate or receive. Great way to reuse what would otherwise end up in a landfill. They also provide workshops at a $10 nominal fee.

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Always free, the center houses collections of contemporary American Art from 1960 to the present with new exhibitions frequently.

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