Trivia, Fireworks, and Happy Hour with WJOA

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See below for the WJOA mid-June announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: Trivia: 6/21 (tonight!) Astoria Park Fireworks: 6/29 Trivia (July): 7/12 Happy Hour: 7/19 Book Club: 7/30 (new time) Schmooze News Trivia Night (tonight!) Wednesday, June 21, 8 p.m.  Sunswick 35/35 (35-02 35th St, Astoria) The WJOA trivia team is going to build on our momentum from winning second place last month. RSVP to Brian so he can save you a seat. See the Facebook event for more details. RSVP to Brian Astoria Park Fireworks Thursday, June 29, 6:30–9 p.m. Astoria Park Join WJOA in viewing fireworks in Astoria Park for a pre-4th of July celebration. We will meet in the park, with the specific location to be determined. Bring your own chair or blanket to sit on and your own dinner, or a snack to share. Feel free to arrive throughout the evening. Starting at 7:30 p.m. there will be a special musical performance on the Great Lawn at Astoria Park by the Swingtime Big Band leading up to the grand display itself. Expect the fireworks to take place at/or beyond sunset, around 9 p.m. RSVP to Jennifer so that we can plan how much lawn area to save. More info about the general event here. See the Facebook event for more details. RSVP to Jennifer Trivia Night (July) Wednesday, July 12, 8 p.m.  Sunswick 35/35 (35-02 35th St, Astoria) Please RSVP to Ali so she can reserve the table. This month's trivia is again at Sunswick 35/35 (35-02 35th St). Contribute your knowledge to WJOA's legendary trivia team! See the Facebook event for more details. RSVP to Ali Summer Happy Hour Wednesday, July 19, 6 p.m. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (29-19 24th Ave, Astoria) Join WJOA in a summer tradition of Happy Hour at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. Connect with old friends and new. RSVP to Jennifer so we can plan on holding you a seat. Here is the Facebook event. RSVP to Jennifer Book Club Sunday, July 30, 6:30 p.m. Location TBD Our next book will be The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman (384 pages). We'll meet for a discussion and potluck breakfast for dinner. Please RSVP to Jonah for the sign-up sheet and location. Here is the Facebook event. RSVP to Jonah Schmooze News Pride and Story: The Songs of Brandi Carlile Friday, June 30, 7 p.m. The Cutting Room (44 E 32nd St, Manhattan) Close out Pride Month as your favorite queer performers from Broadway and beyond pay tribute to nine-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile, backed by an all-queer band and produced by WJOA member Rachel Kunstadt. Proceeds benefit the Looking Out Foundation. Performers: Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill) Ciara Renée (Frozen, Waitress) Jessica Phillips (Dear Evan Hansen) Gabriella Pizzolo (Fun Home) Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton) Cathryn Wake (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) Christiana Cole (The Devil Wears Prada) JJ Maley (Indecent) Elizabeth Pryce Davies Backup singers:  Emerson Mae Smith (Love in Hate Nation) and Murphy Taylor Smith (A Transparent Musical) Music direction by Anessa Marie (White Girl in Danger) Additional performers to be announced. All performers are subject to change. Tickets: bit.ly/prideandstory   Hastings-on-Hudson Sunset Concert Series Spuyten Duyvil & Friends Tuesday, July 18, 7–9 p.m. 100 River St., Hastings-on-Hudson Maceachron Waterfront Park More information here. Contact WJOA member Zak if you're interested in going.   Donate to Aid in the Ukraine Crisis Last February, WJOA member Jonah Schrogin volunteered at JCC Krakow, where he packed and sorted food for Ukrainian refugees. If you'd like to contribute, here is their Ukraine Crisis Appeal. JCC Krakow is a 501(c)(3) organization, so any donations made are tax-deductible. Please write “Ukraine donation via Jonah Schrogin, int vol” in the comment box. Another fundraiser is benefitting GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. This supports more than 80 non-profit organizations on the ground in Ukraine and in the surrounding areas providing humanitarian aid, such as shelter, medical care, food, and clean water. Contribute here, and you can get more information by emailing Jonah, including seeing a recorded presentation.   Help Earthquake Survivors in Turkey and Syria Two powerful earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria on the same day, killing more than 3,000 people and injuring thousands more. Homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed under layers of rubble. Your donation to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund will provide emergency relief and fuel long-term recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria. Donate to GlobalGiving's Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund here. Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way! —The WJOA Team