Presented by Conch Shell Productions in partnership with King Manor MuseumJoin us for an unforgettable evening of film, history, and community!Friday, October 17, 20254:00 PM Museum Exhibit Access |5:00–7:00 PM Film Screening + Q&AKing Manor Museum, Jamaica, Queens, NYExperience bold, thought-provoking short films by Caribbean heritage filmmakers exploring themes of identity, resilience, and heritage.About Featured Films:

I Married a Black Republican 

Written by Magaly Colimon-Christopher (Haitian heritage) directed by Pat Golden It's November 3rd, 2020: As the nation waits to find out who will be the next president of the United States, Grace, a staunch Bajan American Democrat seeks her brother’s guidance as she struggles with the realization that her new groom is secretly - a Republican! 

Loko

Written & directed by Angelina Villapiano (Puerto Rican) - A modern Latina city girl goes to extreme lengths to connect to her Indigenous island heritage.

Sweet Rind

Written by JR Roache (Jamaican) - A tactically elite pastor’s daughter struggles with forgiving her sister’s killer while she delivers her brand of justice in her father’s unfinished church basement in Kingston, Jamaica.

Sins of the Father

Written & directed by Azriel Bahahoor (Trinidadian) - A priest has his devotion put to the test as he listens to the confession of an ex-convict, one that was incarcerated at a prison he visited years ago.

Stay after the screening for a live audience Q&A with artists and community leaders, and join the conversation about Caribbean voices in film.

Learn more about the films: www.conchshelliff.com

King Manor is pleased to provide after-hours access to our temporary exhibition Jamaica|Jamaica to screening attendees prior to the event. Taking inspiration from the Jamaican national motto, “Out of Many, One People,” the exhibition highlights the country’s rich and diverse heritage—mirrored in the vibrant culture of Southeast Queens. Jamaica | Jamaica explores the history of Jamaican immigration to New York City and the lasting impact of Jamaican culture on the local community. Access is self-guided and will be closed before the start of the first film.

About Conch Shell International Film Fest (CSIFF)

Presented by New York City-Based 501(c)(3), Conch Shell Productions, Inc, CSIFF's goal is to infuse unique Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmaker voices into the American film industry. CSIFF is a festival that empowers Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora artists and spotlights television and film content created by and for people of diverse Caribbean descent. Our festival brings together fans of Caribbean culture with industry experts and creatives from around the world for four days of screenings, enlightening talks, gatherings and valuable networking opportunities.

Admission: FREE | Seating is limited — RSVP strongly encouraged.

We’re joining @ForestForAllNYC and organizations across NYC for #CityofForestDay2025 on October 4!

Join us as we branch into crafts and a nature walk to celebrate City of Forest Day. Trees play a significant role in cleaning the air, providing shade and adapting to climate change.

Young attendees will be able to participate in tree looming crafts. All ages welcome for a paper casting workshop and tree walk with artist Reijin Lyes in celebration of her Touch Jamaica exhibit at King Manor.

King Manor Museum is also launching the Dark Laboratory Reading Circle! Stop by to sign up and grab a free copy of Dark Laboratory: On Columbus, and the Origins of the Climate Crisis by author and professor Tao Leigh Goffe. We’ll read the book bit by bit and celebrate later this year with a book talk. Limited copies available so stop by early!

Tickets help us prepare for the event but are not required and admission is FREE!

(Tree walk will be re-scheduled in the event of rain)

Join us at King Manor Museum’s Annual Cocktail Party Fundraiser, an evening of history, celebration, and community spirit!

Raise a glass in the historic home of Rufus King (1755–1827),framer of the Constitution and antislavery Senator. Enjoy over two hours of open bar, live music, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, games with prizes, museum tours, and a once-in-a-lifetime Constitution Day surprise!

Want to get more involved? Event sponsorships begin at just $250, a great opportunity to showcase your business to thousands of visitors from Queens and beyond.

Your support helps us welcome over 7,000 schoolchildren each year, and with upcoming renovations in 2027, you'll help bring the museum into schools and senior centers across the city.

Let’s toast to the past—and the future!

This year's honorees:

Whitney Barrat, President, Downtown Jamaica Partnership BID

Regina Bain , Executive Director, Louis Armstrong House Museum

Check back soon for our next fun craft!

King Manor Museum welcomes Lorna A. Rainey to discuss the life of Joseph Hayne Rainey, the first Black man to serve in the US Congress.

Need school supplies? Stop by King Manor for free books and back-to-school essentials!

All supplies are free and available while they last. Stay tuned for more information!

King Manor's newest exhibition Jamaica | Jamaica explores the history of Jamaican immigration to New York City and the lasting impact of Jamaican culture on the local community.

King Manor is partnering with VP Records for a festive launch party on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in honor of Jamaican Independence Day. It will run from 12:00-5:00pm.

The event will be held in front of the museum and will feature:

• DJ Killa Boo

• Authentic Caribbean cuisine from local food vendors

• Live performances

• Guest speakers

• A chance to see the new Exhibition Jamaica | Jamaica

Getting Here:

King Manor Museum is located in King Park at 150-03 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, New York near the E train terminus at Jamaica Center, the LIRR to Jamaica, the F train to Parsons, and many bus lines.

Our History:

The museum was the home and farm of founding father Rufus King from 1805 to 1827. Rufus King was a framer of the U.S. Constitution, and an early, outspoken opponent of slavery. King Manor later became the estate of King’s son, John Alsop King, who served as New York’s Governor (1857-1858) where he fought against unfair fugitive slave laws. King Manor uses this history to teach critical thinking to over 14,000 visitors a year. Detailed information about King Manor’s events, history, and other programs is available at www.kingmanor.org.

Learn about the history of pirates and craft your own (recyclable) pirate spyglass! All ages welcome

Join us this Pride Month on June 28th from 1-4 PM for a Revolutionary Activity! Printing posters was essential for mobilizing patriots during the Revolution. Now, almost 250 years later, we will be block printing to create posters that can be used at Pride Marches and beyond!

This program is a Slice of History event, part of Civic Season, FREE and open to the public!

Please note this event will use dyes that can permanently stain clothing.

Celebrate this AAPIA Heritage month at King Manor with Queensboro Dance Festival by learning the National Dance of the Philippines, Tinikling! Participants will have the opportunity to eat delicious snacks, learn some new moves, and craft from 2-4 PM on Saturday, May 10th.

This program is free and suitable for participants of all ages.

We cordially invite you to King Manor’s Edwardian Mother’s Day tea set to take place from 1:00-4:00 PM. Guests are welcome to enjoy a spot of tea and light refreshments as well as the opportunity to learn some more about 20th Century teas and participate in some of games enjoyed at tea time.

Dance the afternoon away on April 26th at King Manor’s 90s theme prom! Stop by to browse a selection of free prom outfits, design your own beaded accessories and keychains, dance while singing some lively karaoke, and enjoy the best snacks the 90s had to offer.

This event is free and open to students!

Can you dig it? Join us as we plant our first round of crops and flowers in King Manor’s raised bed gardens to welcome in the spring! We invite you to learn about the plants historically grown on Rufus King’s farm and even create your own illustrated map! 

Please note that the planting portion is weather dependent. In the case of inclement weather the program will be indoors! This event is FREE and open to the public!

Create your own puppet workshop lead by ASHO.

Celebrate and Learn more with us about Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, on Saturday, April 5th between 1 and 4 PM. Join us as we make Eid decorations, try snacks, and learn more about Eid al-Fitr right here at King Manor Museum.

This is a FREE program that is open to the public!

Stop on by for a special Women's History Month lecture on tea rooms and motorism. This is an inclusive talk, that will cover the general interconnected history between women, tea, and driving, then delve into some of the intersectional challenges specifically faced by Black female motorists and/or tea room operators and celebrate their resillience and resourcefulness!

After the British passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765 the colonists knew life was not all fun and games… because their playing cards and dice were being taxed! Join us as we play the anniversary of the Stamp Act away by making folded paper dice and enjoying games in King Manor’s classroom. This event is free and open to the public!

Celebrate Women’s History Month at King Manor as we follow in the footsteps of activist Elizabeth Cisco, a Jamaica local whose activism lead to integrated schools! Participants will have the opportunity to make pins that draw attention to causes they support and write letters to elected officials to make their voices heard. This event is free and open to the public!

Put your own spin on a beloved Victorian decorative item- the snow globe this Freezin’ Season. Create your own snow globe with recycled sparkles, sequins, and beads in King Manor’s classroom space. This event is free and open to the public!

Join us this Freezin’ Season for a relaxing afternoon of puzzling in King Manor’s classroom. Enjoy solving puzzles that celebrate Black history or design and solve your own. This event is free and open to the public!

Join us in celebrating Jamaica’s Transit history with a propeller building challenge and the opportunity to see King Manor’s exhibit, Transfer at Jamaica! Participants will have the chance to build and decorate a propeller while learning more about transit history! This event is free and open to the public!

Continue your Black History month by celebrating the legacies of Black inventors that lived and worked in Queens! Participants are invited to build something new with mystery supplies left in a grab bag and learn more about famous Black inventors including Lewis Latimer! This event is free and open to the public.

Let's craft like it's 1900 and make Victorian parlor domes! Join us at the first of King Manor’s 125th anniversary celebrations documenting each decade the museum has been open. Our Victorian parlor domes will be filled with preserved flowers and other natural decorative elements. This program will take place from 1:00-4:00 PM on Saturday, February 15th.

Join us as we dive into the history of Black oystermen and the legacy of Thomas Downing, the oyster King of NY! Participants will have the opportunity to create crowns that befit a free Black business owner and stop on the underground railroad, practice oyster filtration, and even investigate the habitats of oysters!

Want to learn how we’re restoring 1 billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035? Discover the oysters’ rich history, their ecological importance in revitalizing the harbor, and how you can be part of this exciting effort with Billion Oyster Project.

This event is FREE and open to the public and we hope to see you there on February 1st between 1-4 PM.

Celebrate and Learn more with us about Lunar New Year on Saturday, January 25th between 1 and 4 PM at this free family program! Join us for art, snacks, and the chance to learn and celebrate the Lunar New Year right here at King Manor! Participants will also have the chance to see the zodiacs of the King family.