Astorian Weekend Edition 16.06.06

After work Friday go check out the tons'o purses and jewelry at the new store on Ditmars and 32nd St., Brazilianiki. With such a random Brazilian/Greek name it could have been a fusion cuisine restaurant! They have all sorts of girlie things but the emphasis here is definitley on bags and baubles! At least from the accents of the employees, i can tell you it is Brazilian!

So theres this little party going on this Saturday over at the Sculpture Center (44-19 Purves St. LIC) from 6-8pm. Not For Tourists Guidebooks is celebrating the first and "only" printed guide to Queens. You might be familiar with these handy little books "an annotated, map-based Yellow Pages that fits in your pocket" , if not check them out here. They retail for about $10 bucks but i hear that those attending, will walk away with free advanced copies. Not bad huh? The founders and publishers will be there to discuss and answer questions too.

Sunday is Father's Day...How's about taking him over to Agnanti for dinner? This greek gem is on Ditmars and Astoria Park and is sure to please the palate.
You could also take him over to the Irish Rover for a good cause. They are "throwing" a Cancer fundraiser Darts For Dollars. Starting at 3pm there will be prizes, raffles, darts, and auctions- a good time all around!

Back in May, we told you about the Hell on Reels [Astoria Moving Picture Festival] over at Hell Gate Social (12St & Astoria Blvd.). Well it was such a hit that they are getting together a summer series!
On June 25th, July 30th and September 10th they will be screening the films outdoors in true NYC summer style. I'm telling you about this now because its time to send in your submissions! Send in as many as you have as long as they are 15 minutes or less along with your entry form that you can get via their site.
*This Sunday they will be continuing the "V" miniseries viewing that started last weekend! What an 80's flashback!!!

Where in Astoria...

I thought it would be fun to post some random images from the hood and see who could identify them. Here's the first one. I'm sure it will be a breeze to some of you, but i would love for it to actually take a few days for someone to get it- love the challenge! I don't know how often we'll be doing this, i guess whenever something pops out at me? Well it will give you something to think about on your walk through the neighborhood anyway!

Cleaning up Astoria Blvd.

Remember a little while back, all the gross-ness on Astoria Blvd.?
Good news i think... they have closed off the storefronts and have some construction permits posted! Now to figure out whats coming in its place. hmmmm, i walk by it twice a day so hopefully sooner then later i'll be able to report back with news.

Agnanti with friends

What a fun and delicious meal! If you are in the Astoria park area and your belly starts a rumbling- head on over to Agnanti and you won't be dissapointed.
We were hoping for some outside seating, but because our party was so large it just wasn't feasible. I think we ended up at around 14 or so after all the stragglers came and went! This cute little almost parkside Greek restaurant has quite a selection of smaller plates great for sharing. Since there were so many of us and such a large menu- Laura and i just went down the list and tried to get a good variety of plates for us all. It became a huge tasting party! Because i was so enamored by the place and food, my usual nazi photographer style was lost. I don't think i got pics of food at all!
But here is what i remember us having anyway... we got a dip platter to start us off with Taramosalata-carp roe spread, Tzantziki-yogurt, cucumber, mild garlic and dill dip, Tyrokafteri-spicy cheese spread, and that other one with the garlicky mashed potatoes. Also a large greek salad that was delicious huge chunks of tomoatoes and cucumbers and onions with the feta on the side in a huge slab, yum!

Here come the plates: Grilled Octopus, Kolokythokeftedes Mykonos- Zucchini and cheese croquets, Greek Sausage with orange or leeks, Mushrooms Kalitsounia -homemade dough wrapped around mushrooms and herbs, Pastroumali-thinly sliced dried pressed beef and cheese wrapped in phyllo, Sigar Bourek -fried homemade dough-rolls stuffed with a variety of cheeses, Bourek- thinly rolled pastry stuffed with chopped meat that i discovered was lamb (i don't do lamb), Sardeles- imported grilled sardines, Soutzoukakia- ground meat balls with spices, cooked in tomato sauce, and another plate of meatballs with a yogurt sauce that was also lamb.

I'm probably missing something but even if i weren't, this definitley looks like enough! I must say that everything i tasted was great. Other then mistakenly biting into the lamb bourek, i was completely satisfied. The sausage had such a different kind of seasoning, the orange flavor added a really cool twist to it. The little mushroom packets were to die for and they are on my list for seconds when i return. Also the pastroumali reminded me of a dainty calzone with oozing cheezy goodness. Jonathan suggested the sardines (which Laura and i were happy about) and they were a hit! Michelle and Cathy for their first time tried them and i think we have converts to the "tastes better then it smells" club!

Find them at the end of Ditmars @ the Park (19th St)
19-06 Ditmars Boulevard
Astoria, NY 11105
Tel. 718.545.4554

After Agnanti on Saturday

Hellgate Sky
Originally uploaded by flooznyc.

Here are some photos of our lovely park and bridges on a stroll back home after filling my belly with really yummy food!
-More on the restaurant to come...

Astoria Weekend Edition 09.06.06

The weather looks good for this weekend, so consider doing some things outside! Join the Greater Astoria Historical Society, Partnerships for Parks' Astoria, and Long Island City Waterfront Parks Catalyst Project for a bike tour of Astoria/LIC Waterfront Parks. Led by Richard Melnick of the Greater Astoria Historical Society, learn about the history of the waterfront and ride part of the proposed Queens East River Greenway.

When: Sunday, June 11, 5pm-8pm
Where: Start at Gantry Plaza State Park, 48th Avenue and the East River
Who: All are welcome. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
More info: Please RSVP to (718) 706-8044 or Emily dot Maxwell at parks dot nyc dot gov.
For updates on the day of the ride, please call (917) 902-9165. Also, please do wear a helmet and bring water.

Also on Sunday, free canoe rides are offered by Long Island City Community Boathouse in conjunction with Socrates Sculpture Park and Partnerships for Parks. Volunteers are also needed to help clean up the beach while waiting for their turn to paddle!

When: Ongoing Sundays, 1pm-5pm
Where: The beach at Socrates Sculpture Park at Hallets Cove. 31st Avenue at Vernon Blvd.
Who: All are welcome. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian.
Why: Learn to paddle a canoe, enjoy the East River, and help keep our waterfront clean and open to the public.
More info: Visit www.licboathouse.org

This weekend also brings us the start of World Cup soccer! It is expected that 1.5 billion people around the world will watch the World Cup games. Starting on Saturday, consider stopping by the Bohemian Beer Garden or the Irish Rover (my two favorite watering holes in town), for World Cup fun this weekend and throughout the Games. Time Out NY also has some suggestions as to where to watch the World Cup (scroll down to the bottom for locations in Queens). By the way, here's the TV schedule.

Also on Saturday, PS1 presents Iron Art, a competitive, real-time art making event inspired by the Japanese cooking show, Iron Chef. From the website: "Iron Artist is an event that invites the public to witness competitive improvised art making between contemporary artists, critique and commentary of the artwork by local art personalities, and celebrate the final works in the exhibition opening immediately following the competition." Free with museum admission.

Sunday night head over to Hell Gate Social for their weekly Sunday night movie. The movie (TBD) starts at 9pm. Earlier that evening, consider playing Trivia and the Pub Quiz at the Irish Rover. Teams of 2-4 people play against each other for cash prizes - every team puts in $10 and the winner takes all. Pub Quiz starts at 7pm.

More fun, here.

Fresh Produce for All!

Tonight was the first Hellgate CSA distribution at the Freeze Peach and what a turn out! Tonight's bounty consisted of lettuce, leeks, strawberries, rhubarb, and chives. I guess its time for me to whip out my veggie thesaurus of a recipe book and look up the uses for rhubarb... its my first encounter with it. Its fun! Part of the reason i was so amped about the CSA was because i'd get the chance to check out all sorts of produce that my traditional Portuguese upbringing deprived me of. I decided i would need some help with all these new foods so i bought the cutest little book, Field Guide to Produce by Aliza Green. Its chock full of pics, info and useful suggestions. I also picked up, From Asparagus to Zucchini A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce by MACSAC (Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition) for all the great recipes (thanks Harlan!) and thank goodness i did or i wouldn't have known how to store my new friends Leeks and Rhubarb!
When i got home, the Fresh Direct man had paid us a visit! So the lettuce was used for a light salad with the grilled salmon that just arrived. Some butter, lemon and chopped chives on top and voila, dinner. I also prepped the strawberries the way my mom taught me, strawberry wine...tune in tomorrow when i check if its done!
see, isn't it pretty?!?!

Astorian Weekend Edition 02.06.06

Craving some fun and delicious food? AND with a backyard to boot? After work on friday head down Ditmars to Fatty's Cafe (Corner of Ditmars & Crescent). Sadly when i was there the other day the backyard wasn't open. But let some of this good weather in on the weekend and you've got yourself a few well spent hours. I can tell you firsthand that the pressed cubano (roasted pork, black forest ham, swiss, pickles, mayo-chipotle mustard-$8) is a mighty fine sandwich. The spicy mustard adds a different twist to the traditional dish. The chavorrayo (chicken, avocado, monterrey jack, garlic mayo-$8) was also yummy with a dash of the green tabasco graciously provided. They are also known for their decor which is ever changing art/photos hanging on the walls. Local artists hang out there and so does their work! (its all for sale and rotating monthly schedule)

Did you know there was a school for fine art right here in neighboring LIC???? Well now for the aspiring artist in you, head over to the Bridgeview School of Fine Art (42-26 28th St. 2nd fl.) and check out all the classes and programs they have available. They are registering now until June 26th for the summer season (July 5-Aug 30). The 8 week courses vary in price from $255 to $320, not bad for a summer of artistic fun!

Saturday from 10am-12:30pm, go join the Astoria/LIC Waterfront Parks Group in readying up our shoreline for all of us to visit and enjoy this summer. All you need to bring is yourself in some comfy clothes that you won't mind getting a little dirty! Show up where all the people are at the War Memorial in Astoria Park (@ Shore Blvd.)

In for the weekend or planning a car trip? Need something to listen to? Well Astoria can help you out there too! This Show Again, touted as Astoria's only podcast (as far as i can tell it is) has been written up in the NY Times. If you remember back in March, i made a little guest appearance on the show... it will serve as a reminder that i should stick to non-speaking hobbies... and we here at JIA just wanted to send out a big congratulations on the mainstream media attention the boys have gotten. So if you haven't checked them out yet, be sure to log on and download some of their local hilarity to keep you company on your travels.

For next week- Tuesday is the first pick up for the Hellgate CSA! You still have time to get in on the veggie action, its a great deal and a great way to eat this summer.

Last Sunday at the Sculpture Park

And so on a rainy and cool sunday afternoon i trekked out to the Socrates Sculpture Park for the opening of the Interstate installation. The word on the street was there would be some good chow, and you know i'm a big fan of the yummm!
Chef Jonathan Forgash from Film Chefs in LIC supplied the grub. Sufficed to say, i ate and ate and then ended up with a to-go bag. Pulled pork sandwiches,salmon salad sandwiches and spicy chicken sandwiches were all the rage under the awning! When you really can't walk around much and enjoy the weather, there's nothing like eating some good food with friends.
The weather really didn't dampen anyone's spirits though, and it did eventually clear up and warm up alittle.
Here's a beautious shot of the salmon sandwich (and all these sandwiches were only $5 a pop!)
A happy chef is a good sign! Here we see Chef Jonathan at home in his big oven on wheels. If you see it coming down your street, i'd say follow it-there may be a sandwich in store for you too...
In between showers the crowd started picking up a bit. As some of you may know, the park is pretty much unpaved, so the rain really could have made for some muddy patches. Luckily it wasn't bad enough to affect getting up close and personal with some of the pieces.
This top piece was probably my favorite. It was all the street/traffic signs you could probably ever see with all the info painted off. It was fun walking around and in it trying to decipher all the different ones. It really was a huge piece, reminded me of a jungle gym.
Throughout the park were these mailboxes. They followed the trail around. Some of us tried to open them to see if this was more of an "interactive" piece but to no avail, they were all shut. But you could let people know whether or not there was mail by putting up the little flags!
Here was a "ranger". Two women travelling with the exhibit had a kind of field guide with specimens from all the places they visited on their cross country trip. You could pull out the different test tube'y things and see all the random things they picked up (one had gravy from a chicken dish they had at a truck stop somewhere in the midwest).
A look at the dessert spread....
And to finish off, one of the several wanted posters throughout the park. I actually took this because i liked the contrast in colors!
Thats that. It was a fun look at some contemporary art and a great meal all in one. The exhibit will be there until August 13th, so you have plenty of time to get a better weather day to visit.

Astoria Weekend Edition 26.05.06

Another holiday weekend is upon us, and this time it comes with an extra day off work for some! Memorial Day (formerly known as Decoration Day), observed the last Monday in May, is an opportunity to commemorate US men and women who died in military service for their country. Memorial day also means getting together with friends and family for fun cookouts or parties. We're finally heading into some warmer weather, so the weekend should be quite summery and perfect for a gathering. Memorial Day parades are quite common around the country, and while there aren't any parades happening here in town, there are some going on around Queens. The Little Neck-Douglaston parade is apparently the largest one in the nation.

And speaking of summery, the Water Taxi Beach in LIC is re-opening this weekend! On Friday they'll be open at 4pm, and this holiday weekend they'll be open at noon all three days. Come by for drink, some food, and awesome views of Manhattan...from the beach!

Socrates Sculpture Park has much to offer this weekend. On Saturday morning, come join the Kripalu yoga class from 11-12. Then feed your creative self that same day at a sculpture workshop. From 12-3 Mitch Miller will help you create custom-made tinker toys using recycled materials. On Sunday morning, join instructor Aaron Kirtz from 11-12 for Tai Chi class. All events are free! These classes and events will happen each week, same day/time, throughout the summer. Very exciting!

Saturday night at 9pm head over to Waltz for their monthly wine tasting event. $20 gets you a selection of wines, tasty snacks, and a culinary education. And at the Beer Garden this weekend (Saturday and Sunday), come for the 24nd Annual Czech & Slovak Festival! The garden will be open 12noon-12midnight, and for $10 you can come and enjoy its fabulousness complete with music (including the Pilsner Brass Band), dancing (Limbora Slovak Folk Dancers) food (BBQ open from 3pm on), and even a raffle and door prizes.

More fun, here (and congratulations to John Roleke on the recent birth of his daughter Bea!).

A secret spot for lunch...

Here's my latest precious food find! This week i'd like to recommend to all you spanish speakers (or those who are willing to try!) - The Original Mexican Food Deli (30-11 29th St off 30th Ave) Hubba Hubba! You may think you have found good mexican, so did i... then i was turned on to this hole in the wall. I had tried before to find it but i mistakenly went to the place on the corner- thats not it! You have to turn onto 29th Street proper and its a few yards off the corner. I only say for you spanish speakers because its a little hairy if you try to communicate with the little lady behind the counter if you don't have at least the basics down.

Walking in to the place you might think its a bodega, but walk past all the hot sauces, frozen delicacies and fresh greens and you will see a little counter with a regular or two hanging out. You will feel like you just stepped into a whole new "old school" place. Its really the basics, no frills- and 9 times out of 10 from what i've experienced-thats when you find the winners!

I got this delectable beef burrito (that can easily feed two!) a beef empanada and a green tamale. The burrito had the perfect balance of rice to everything else, i always have a problem with too much rice-not here. And a delicious gooey white cheese held it all together.

Someone told me that tamales were their specialty and i tend to believe it. All i can tell you is, its the first one i've had since moving to NY that wasn't dry and hard- so yummy! Its really cool to observe the lady making the yummy tortillas by hand, from scratch and tossing them onto the skillet.

Theres a huge vat of beef simmering on the stove ready to fill orders. I watched her make my empanada and fry it up. Warning: It was greasey, more so then i usually have-but that didn't deter me! It had so much flavor, a little blot here and there and it was good to go. There are also a bunch of Mexican juices and sodas to choose from to top off your meal.

You definitley will not be dissapointed!

Astorian Weekend Edition 19.05.06

We now have an awesome chance to peek into the world of sculpture at the Modern Art Foundry, they present Alternative Space where you can actually step into their foundry and check out all the cool art. Stuff is for sale too so bring your checkbook! They are located at 18-70 41st Street and i would definitely call ahead to make sure you can get in there - 718-728-2030. (they used to do this on weekends but have since changed over to mon-fri 9-3)

Free time on Saturday? Why not go spend some of it at Build It Green for their Volunteer Day! Once a month they need a bunch of us to help them out with their awesome work of saving our globe, one recycled bit at a time. They are attempting to bribe the "free-gans" out there with coffee and bagels too...could be an easy meal! But really, i see this as a great opportunity to check out their inventory for a future home improvement project of your own!!!!

On Sunday, Chef Jonathan Forgash & his Film Chefs truck will be cooking up a batch of goodness (i've had some, i know!) and tasty treats galore at this weekends Socrates Sculpture Park for Interstate (just keep walking on Broadway till you hit the water, on Vernon Blvd.) opening event going on Sunday from 2-6pm. If you've never been to this little patch of art land, then its a perfect time to check it out!

After a nice Sunday afternoon out and about you can always head over to Hell Gate Social for Hell on Reels, our very own Moving Picture Festival. Doors will open at 7:30 and the flics start at 8:30. Get there early so you can make sure you find the place... from what i hear its a bit elusive (12-21 Astoria Blvd. Btwn 12th st. &14th st.) Then get your drink on, sit back and watch the local talent in action.

The Anti-Yum

Much talk as of late has been about the curious and repulsive odor that wafts though Astoria, particulary pungent in the Ditmars area. We've been talking about it over on astorians, wondering, wondering WTF?!?!?

Finally, two astute members found out what's what with the smell; here is the news article about it that astorian Mark posted. My favorite line: "It smells like 20 dogs took a dump in my yard." Priceless. And not far from the truth!

Yum

One of the things that makes me feel like a real New Yorker (although I've not lived here really long enough to say this, but humor me for a moment) is eating street food, especially souvlaki (aka "meat on a stick"). When I lived in CA I never ate street food, mainly because it didn't really exist. A popular souvlaki cart in Astoria is the center of a recent Times article, "Kebabs on the Night Shift." It's at Broadway and 32nd. Anyone eaten from this cart? I will say one of my favorite carts is on Steinway at I think 31st Ave. I understand the cart off Ditmars near 33rd (I think) is also pretty good. From the article:

Mr. Spertos, a Greek immigrant who has lived in Astoria for 45 years, and his partner, Christos Bouras, sell about 100 beef and chicken kebabs in a typical night, but it looked like more. The burnished skewers of meat are $2 a stick, or $4 with lettuce, tomato and onions in a dappled golden pita.

Two police officers from the 114th Precinct came for chicken kebabs after a busy evening spent writing up accident reports. A carful of Albanian boys from Merrick, Long Island, arrived for what one of them authoritatively declared "the best kebabs in Queens."

Like I said, yum!

Alternative Outside Spaces...

Well now that we've had our fill of the pros and cons of the Beer Garden, i want to find myself another option. And what better way to do that then to try out all the open air "backyard" type establishments we have at our disposal? You figure, there has to be at least one that will appeal to any one of us looking for a replacement.

Now, am i as daring as the girls over at Alpha Astoria with their cafe project? I don't think so. But i think that checking out one of these backyard beauties a week shouldn't be all that ridiculous! So i ask you fellow Astorians- where else can i venture to for my little al fresco adventure? I'd be thrilled if there were more then 10. And please, no places with the word "cafe" in the name!

All i know of so far is Fatty's, i have to check on when they're opening the outside (if its not open yet) Cavo, Central, and Hell Gate Social. Bring on the recommendations, i'll start a list and report back with pics and revues.
Im on a mission.

Astoria Weekend Edition 12.05.06

Well the big news this weekend is that it's Mother's Day on Sunday here in the US and Canada. Not a "Hallmark holiday," it was started in the 19th century during the Civil War. Celebrate your mom by giving her a call, send some flowers, or if you're lucky enough to have her here locally, maybe try for brunch at a few great restaurants in the area: Brick Cafe and Mundo in Astoria, or Tournesol in LIC. I've heard great things about each of these places. A little less traditional kind of brunch is happening at the Bohemian Beer Garden. Beginning at 1:00 pm, head over for a buffet in the Main Hall consisting of various Czech specialties. If it's not raining, seating will be in the garden, otherwise in the Main Hall. Admission is $15 per person.

On Saturday, consider checking out the Dutch Kills Walking Tour. Led by urban geographer Jack Eichenbaum, it's from 2-4pm and costs $11, $9, or $8. You'll get to explore this historic area of Long Island City. Sponsored by the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment. For more history, maybe stop by the Greater Astoria Historical Society to view their exhibit Astoria at War 1941-1945. And though it's not historical necessarily, I've heard great things about the exhibits at the Museum of the Moving Image. And on a rainy Sunday that might just be the place to be. They've also got a whole slew of movies worth checking out; the Altman Retrospective looks particularly good.

For something a little different, head over to Local Project in LIC on Saturday evening 6-10pm for Urban Log Books, an exhibit/installation comprised of artists books, zines, DIY & independent publications, journals and sketchbooks. For something that's different from that, check out Waltz Astoria on Fridayand Saturday nights for some acoustic and jazz music, not to mention tasty desserts.

More fun, here.

The Beer Garden Blues

It looks to me like those good ole relaxing days down at the beer garden just might be over. There has been talk for the past couple of years of how the crowd has been getting more and more "manhattan-ish" or even "hipster-ish". Sadly I have now witnessed it, whatever you want to call the invasion!
I have been staying away purposely because of stories of gold lamee purses and skinny jean wearing androgynous peeps seen on line, but this past weekend a friend decided to have his birthday there. Apparently he and the main gaggle of friends got there before lines started- when things still had a semblance of the way they used to be a long long time ago...
After about a 2-minute attempt at waiting in the line I looked behind us and saw that the line was nearing the corner! Yowsers! It was pretty bad. I just couldn't wait in that line anymore so I jumped out and walked to the front where I took these pics (everyone looked at me like I had 3 heads too!) So there you have it folks, if you still need your kielbasa and dumplings fix-you may want to try an off-hour. I will try again during the week but later then what would be considered happy hour and see how I fare. I guess its really a personal preference, you either like crowds or you don’t. Unfortunately I got used to the place without these crowds so now I just can't do it. Granted it has always been a popular place (as long as I’ve lived here - 5.5 years anyway) but the crowds never seemed to be this out of control. I guess the Time Out articles aren't helping to keep our little gem under wraps! I'm glad they are getting recognized for the great place that it is, but couldn't we have like a "locals day" or something? A way to be sure that we could get in and grab a pitcher and a table for a few hours? Good luck enjoying Astoria's backyard this summer guys!

Astorian Weekend Edition 05.05.06 (Cinco De Mayo!)

How about going Chinese for Cinco de Mayo? Well you can this Friday at P.S. 84 (22-45 41 St.) From 7-9pm bring your $5 to the Chinese Auction and help stock the school library with new books! I don’t think 5 bucks has ever had a better chance of going a such a long way. There are tons of prizes and gift certificates to all sorts of local business. Some hot prizes that stick out in my mind are $50 GC for Wave Thai, Lunch for 2 at Taverna Kyclades, a hefty $75 meal at the much talked about Trattoria L’incontro and dozens of other great treats. Its a win win situation!

Local artists will be selling their work (cheap) this Saturday at the United Methodist Church on the corner of 30th Road and Crescent St. Goodies like paintings, sculpture and handicrafts all from Astorian talent. From 10am - 5pm take a walk by and maybe invest in tomorrow's Van Gogh's and Pollock's.

Sunday brings the 5 Borough Bike Tour. The route takes them along 21st St. (and all its bumps) from the Queensboro Bridge up to Astoria Park then onto Vernon on its way to Brooklyn. You can get a gander at the multitudes from the park or at the Con Ed Learning Center (i wasn't aware of the "learning center") where they have a scheduled rest stops . They start at 8am in Battery Park- so it shouldn't be too long after that when they arrive here. You should be able to catch the action between 9am and noon.

Sometime this weekend, find the time to stop by Sal, Chris & Charlie Deli, better known as The Sandwich Kings of Astoria (33-12 23rd Ave. near the overpass (718) 278-9240). I had heard about this place from so many people but noone could ever give me the exact address- It was always "Near the train off 23rd i think, you can't miss it" Well i always missed it-until this past weekend when walking home from the line at the Beer Garden i ran smack into it. And boy am i glad i did! This meat and cheese filled roll with the works, a bag of chips and a cherry coke (a treat) all yours for $6.50. Can't beat that. I think the key here is the thinly sliced super tastey coldcuts and my new favorite addition- sweet peppers. This place should definitely be a stop on anyone's trip to the beach for a packed lunch.

Mondays are so blah...

...so i thought, this would be a perfect time to look for Astoria's cutest pet!!! yay! And its also something i can talk about without having to venture outside in the middle of my allergic hell. I would love pics of all your critters and to hear about their personalities. At the end of allergy season (i'm hoping june 1) i will post a little poll and you lucky peeps can vote for your favorite.
Just leave your comments/pics here or if you have larger'ish pics, feel free to email them to flooznyc@gmail.com and i'll keep a list going.

I saw a subway poster the other day advertising Old Navy looking for a new mascot-and its only for dogs. I would totally have signed up my babies if they allowed felines, well too bad for them!

So have fun with it, lets see if we can't have a happy thread going here! Maybe we can get some prizes going or something....

(edited this post to remove my gratuitous pet pics! i'll save those for the contest!)

Astoria Weekend Edition 28.04.06

This weekend should be nice and sunny, a welcome relief from that gross rain from last weekend. That sure was a bummer, and it cancelled a few things having to do with the Earth Day Celebration. Activities have been rescheduled for this weekend, and on Saturday there are a bunch of things to do at both Rainey Park and Socrates Sculpture Park, the LIC Boathouse (free canoe rides!), as well as a Waterfront Walking Tour put on by the Greater Astoria Historial Society. The full details can be found on the Astoria/LIC Waterfront website.

The Street Fair season is also beginning this weekend, and on Sunday the fair will be on Steinway Street between 28th & 34th Avenues, sponsored by the Central Astoria LDC. Come out and eat some street meat, enjoy the sun, and pick up a few things, all between 11am and 6pm.

For something a little different, stop by The ARTSPACE at the Athanasiades Cultural Center (30-98 42 St, corner of 31st Ave) and check out the work of figurative and comic book drawing artist Dionisios Kavvadias. On Sunday there is an opening reception from 12-4pm for his show RetroActive: A Collection of Old and New Drawings. And on Sunday night, head over to the Irish Rover (on the corner of 28th Ave and 38th Street) for Quiz Night at 7pm. This is going to be a regular Sunday event. Bring yourself and a few friends, then form a team and compete for cash!

More fun, here.

Fog on Sunday

I was heading back from an awful allergic day in NJ when driving over the Queensboro Bridge, i spied the prettiest sight. The fog all the way up the water to our own little Hellgate Bridge... or as far as i could see at the time!Even though my allergies were telling me to get the heck inside, i couldn't resist stopping by the park for some pictures. Here's a glimpse through my lens...

times like these i can snap away for hours!

i didn't even bother with color correction on most of these because i liked the effect that naturally happened with all the blue.

Astorian Weekend Edition 21.04.06

Happy Earth Day!
Planning some remodeling? Need some materials for your fixer upper? Well we've got the right place for you right here near home. Build It Green! NYC is New York's only non-profit building supply store, now thats a great way to keep those landfills not so full.

On Sunday, there is an event in Manhattan that is near and dear to me. The MS Walk will be taking place at the South Street Seaport. Granted its not in Astoria, but hey if you're looking for a good deed-look no further! I've been walking for the past 5 years for my best friend who suffers from MS, and its actually a super fun way to do something important-helping to find a cure.

If you are staying local, go shopping over at the Vespa showroom. How cool is that? I plan on going to pay them a visit soon. Now with the weather finally clearing up, everyone's buying bikes - wouldn't it be so cool though to bust out one of these classic little beauties? They can do all sorts of customizing and repairs there too. Stop by on your way to the train since they are right off the 59th St. bridge on Crescent. Be sure to take your shades...they have some crazy colors!

Oh, don't forget to go join the local Hellgate CSA this summer for fresh local produce all season long! The enrollment has started and they have a nifty new site and blog so you can stay on top of your veggies. Talk about a green weekend!

image courtesy of HellGate CSA

Too gross for just one blog

this was originally posted to my other blog Gud Stuf NYC

is anyone else happy to see the meat supplier on Astoria Blvd. and 37th Street go? that place always had such a foul smell and seepage all over the sodewalk. thank goodness it happened before another hot summer, it was really unbearable walking by there on most days. i think it was called Napoli & Sons (but i might be wrong just cause the signs are gone and my memory sucks!) As you can see by the note on the gate, gross!

_______________________________

OK, here's my why i felt the need to post this here and not just on my other blog. I walked by this place on my way home yesterday and to my surprise...the place next door also had that notice on it. The flier must have already been there but in my disgusted state, i guess i missed it the first several times i walked by. So next door was a religious type place, a church or some kind of version of one. They closed within a year and that was awhile ago. But here is where my alarm kicks in... to the left of the vacant church is our beloved San Antonio Bakery! Does this mean that it's got rats? Do they not know it yet? Are we in for some bad news? I am keeping a close eye on this one. I mean, they are only 2 storefronts over from the gross meat place, all the walls could be infested... ugh

Spa Week

Today I learned that this week is Spa Week in NYC (4/17-23). This means that each spa treatment you go for this week - at participating spas - is $50. Sometimes this a super savings! It's worth checking out. Two Astoria/LIC spas are participating, the Bare Beauty Laser Hair Removal spa on 23rd Ave. in Astoria and the SpaHydra on 36th Street in LIC. I can't vouch for the quality of these spas, but it's nice to see that some spas in Western Queens are participating. Of course there are lots of spas in Manhattan and some in Brooklyn (and even a couple on Staten Island and LI!). The sucky thing about the website is that they make you register. I registered, so here is the link that might work for you if you want to search for some spas that will provide what you're looking for, without having the register.

Enjoy, and get yourself all pampered (you too, guys) on the relative cheap!

Old world looking Astoria

Walking down 36th Street the other day made me feel like i was back in Portugal, maybe even Deutschland somewhere. I had never really looked around this block that is known for its sprawling front yards. The buildings there really are cool to look at. This top one is just so random that it sticks out like a sore thumb, well its not so sore cause i think the building is really quite nice to look at-it just may be on the wrong block is all.This bottom photo could really be in a Portuguese aldeia

So yeah, take a look around now that the weather is getting oh so much better! There are so many really cool things in this neighborhood. Being first generation in America, its really cool for me to see that i can still get the "feel" of my family's world in my world. There's no place i'd rather be!
(the sentimental-ness of this post has got to me my allergy medication kicking in, i want to be out more checking out stuff but i'm stuck indoors quite a bit...stir crazy maybe? dang flowers!)

Astorian Weekend Edition 14.04.06

Well, this weekend is a big one for some of us - the completing of our tax returns. I admit, I'll be filling them out at some point this weekend. It's also the end of Holy Week, the most important time in the liturgical year in the Western church. And it's the middle of the 8-day Jewish celebration of Passover. Like I said, it's a big weekend! It's also supposed to be a warm weekend, so I hope you get a chance to spend some time outside - go for a run, a walk, play ultimate frisbee in Astoria Park, kayak on the East River. And enjoy some gelato, ice cream, or a frappe at one of Astoria's many Greek/Euro Cafes. Spring is here!

You can celebrate completing your tax returns on Saturday by attending the wine talk at Waltz. $20 gets you wine, snacks, and an education. On Sunday, pop on over to PS1 for Coloring Book: An Interactive Project, from 2-5pm. This free event invites members of the public to fill in, reinvent, and contribute their creativity to a book of images based on the work of Edvard Munch and Tracey Emin. And of course, there are great movies at our own Museum of the Moving Image, including Beastie Boys music videos.

More fun, here.

another.....cafe?

Yup, methinks its going to be another Astorian favorite....a cafe! Surprise! On 30th Ave. and 36th St. it used to be a cafe with a chicken place next door if i'm not mistaken. I guess they felt the need to expand to 2 storefront's worth of cafe'dom. This is fast becoming an epidemic. I can maybe accept 1 new cafe a year-but do they all have to be in spitting distance from each other? Do we really need that much caffeine and sidewalk seating? Ugh, this topic can go on forever i'm sure with both pros and cons ( i've got to believe that the cons outweigh the pros.) The whole thing just gives me a headache. Is it weird that i've lived here for a little over 5 years and still have not stepped foot into a cafe? Its not a coincidence believe you me! Just thought i'd put the sighting out there.

For another take on cafe's in the nabe, a new blog run by 2 local girls on a mission. Alpha Astoria chronicles their attempt to hit every Greek cafe in Astoria this summer. I really wish them the best of luck with it... this is a task that i am not jealous of at all. Like the proverbial train wreck, i will be checking in for their next review!

"You got robots doing it—it's unfair"

So says conductor Joe Nunez, who makes the subway announcements on the W line, in reference to the results in from the new Straphangers campaign focusing on the clarity of subway annoucements. The W - which apparently stands for "worst" - is said to be pretty bad, and is at the bottom of the heap. Apparently the annoucements are garbled (27% of the time) or non-existent (15% of the time). The 4, 5, and 6, whose annoucements are made by those pesky or lovable robots - depending on your point of view - got the highest rating. Conductor Nunez maintains that the W is the "bastard son of the line" but I think we'd all agree that that moniker really belongs to the G, the saddest subway line around. Sad because the MTA seems not to care much about it, as it never goes to Manhattan, and has a crappy schedule and arrival record.

What do you think of the clarity of subway annoucements on the N or W (or R, V, G, E, F, or 7 for that matter)? As for me, subway annoucements-schmubway annoucements, my ire is reserved for the evil 1 train.

Astorian Weekend Edition 07.04.06

Wanna spend some tax return money to spring-ify your wardrobe and/or house? Well, the folks at Plum Boutique can help. They've gotten together a bunch of local artists' and designers' wares under one roof for our shopping pleasure. There is something for everyone (and at crazy "un-new york" prices too.) Your sales will go far to help continue the creative environment that Astoria is fast becoming. Are you crafty? Maybe you can turn your habit into something lucrative there as well. They take stuff on consignment, which for us little guys could be a step into a new career! Of course i couldn't pass up an adorable vintage wallet for myself...only 10 bucks, thats it there in the pic.

Mmmmm, the smell of fresh bread and pastries.... up and around 37th Street you can occasionally get a whiff of the doughy love. Ever wonder why? Well I think it's got be the Artisan Baking Center at 36-46 37th Street. I need to investigate more, but it seems like the classes there are on a more "professional" basis...I may have to wait for my big baking break!

I never give you guys a place to hit up for a fancy nightclub experience. Lucky for us, Astoria even has some of those to offer! Get your best duds on this weekend (maybe some you picked up at Plum?) and head over to 20 Steinway St. - Central Lounge. Go early and have some grilled octopus and all sorts of typical Greek fare, stay late and cut some "rug."

If performances are more your thing, and you want to see something sad, happy, crazy, frank and then some- head on over to The Chocolate Factory Theater and catch Saturday's final show of Cary Curren's Cary From The Cock. Also at The Chocolate Factory but in the Gallery is an exhibit by Patrick Neal, Nightfishing. His modernist paintings will be up until April 13th.

Astoria Weekend Edition 31.03.06

What great weather we finally had this week! Saturday will be rainy (yet warm) but Sunday should be nice and sunny. It has been great running weather and I hope you all are able to get out and frolick in the warm spring weather. I'll be rehearsing and performing a bunch this weekend (which means staying inside, boooo), but if I wasn't I'd be out and about in the nice weather, maybe going for a run down by Astoria Park, having pancakes at Zorba's (29-05 23rd Ave.) or having some fresh juice at Fresh Start (be sure to pick up their "Buy 6 Get the 7th Juice Free" card). To Laiko up the street has homemade Greek yoghurt with honey, something I've been meaning to try. Hey, on Sunday afternoon (around 3pm) there's Ultimate Frisbee going on at Astoria Park! Sunday's gonna be a great day for that sort of thing!

But apart from hanging in Astoria, go recognize your natural or recently adopted connection to Greece on Sunday at the Greek Independence Day Parade in Manhattan. It starts at 1PM and goes down 5th Avenue from 59th Street to 79th Street. And Saturday, April 1 is April Fool's Day, which means it's not the April Fool's Parade on 5th Avenue. Yeah...yeah, that's right...sure, sure it is...

For your mind, body, and soul, this weekend you might think about checking out the Yoga Room, which has locations in both Astoria and LIC. There's a couple of classes going on this weekend, which you can check out here. The Spring Detox class sounds pretty good, and a nice thing to do on a rainy day. On rainy Saturday, you might mosey over to the Sculpture Center in LIC to catch a couple exhibits that are leaving after this weekend. Both the Anya Gallaccio and the Michael Ross exhibits end April 3. On Sunday, the Art-O-Mat is hosting the Performance Poets Association, with a free poetry reading from 2-4PM that afternoon.

Sunday is also the start of Daylight Savings Time. Remember to turn your clocks forward an hour Saturday night.

More fun, here.

April 1, just the day not the fool part!

OH THE HOTNESS!!!

SPARROW BAR
corner of 24 avenue and 29 street

They're throwin a big ole 80's HAIR PARTY!

Eighties music, dance, drink, hair...

This may just be the way to introduce myself to the Sparrow family
Long Live the 80's!

Iced Martha's News

Normally I'd say "hot" in place of "iced" but that would not complement the content of this post. As I stepped into Martha's Country Bakery (36-21 Ditmars Blvd.) this morning, I spied G E L A T O. A nice big display case of it! Gelato is one of my favorite things to eat. Some outside vendor makes this gelato but the bakery clerks promise that they will be making the gelato themselves very soon. Nice. I didn't try it, not really wanting to eat gelato for breakfast this particular morning, but I hope to try it soon. As far as prices, a small serving is $2.95. They have flavors that range from vanilla to peanut butter and jelly. I think it is worth checking out, for sure.

Miscellanea

I posted earlier this week about Trader Joe's opening, as well as the Shake Shack, two fabulous non-Astoria places worth a trip to. Trader Joe's is a bit nuts right now with the crowds, but it is full of terrific stuff that is quite affordable. The staff is really good natured and the checkout lines move quickly. I got my dried apples and apricots - both unsulphored - for the muffins that I've been meaning to make (I'll let you know how they turn out). However, I am bummed that TJs has discontinued their Moroccan Tagine Sauce. Looks like I'll have to make my own. And a little Astorian bird told me that hamburgers at the Shake Shack are really amazing. They aren't huge, but are incredibly delicious. Even the tomato and lettuce were good. I may actually eat a hamburger there, the first real beef hamburger I'd be eating in 20 years - yes, I went vegetarian in 1986, kids. However, I am no longer. I'm also excited about trying their frozen custard.

And the response to my Mundo post is really getting me excited about trying it! Nice to see so many vegetarian options. Even though I am no longer a veg. I do enjoy the food, and cook vegetarian food primarily at home.

Maybe someone here can help me out - I am utterly in love with the bells played at the St. Irene Chrysovalantou Greek Orthodox Monastery on 23rd Ave and 37th Street. It's usually the same tones, but every once in a while the pitches change (and sometimes the rhythm). I'm assuming real people are striking these bells, too. Does anyone out there have insight on these bells? The bells are ringing right now, actually, and they have rung a total of three times this morning. Love it!

I often run down by Astoria Park, and have been watching the renovations on the old Eagle Electric Plant on the corner of 24th Avenue and 19th Street. This article talks about it. It's going to be a co-op (studios and 1-3 bedroom apartments) with shops on the first floor, as well as an underground parking garage. There's an earlier article from the year 2000 that says studios will run $90K and 3 bedrooms $275K . BWA HA! A more current estimate, at least for a 1 bedroom, is $375K.

An addition to this weekend's events outlined by our wonderful flooz: our fellow Joey Tamara is hosting a ginormous multi-family stoop sale this weekend. It sounds like there will be a lot of great stuff there, plus she's making hot cider and snacks for the event. Tamara is, as I understand, a fabulous cook and friend of Astoria's roving gastronome Zora, who writes often about her life in Astoria. The sale will be this Saturday and Sunday 10-4, at 30-85 30th Street. Check it out!

Good News from Mundo

I have heard so many good things about Mundo! I haven't tried it yet, but really want to, and will once my bank account gets back in the black. In the meantime, I enjoy living vicariously through my fellow bloggers in their trips to the restaurant, and also via the newsletter that the restaurant sends out (contact them to be put on their distribution list). The good news is that they now deliver! It's a limited area, the borders being 36th Avenue to 30th Avenue and Crescent to 40th Avenue. Bad news for us in the Ditmars area, but good for you in central Astoria. But it's cool nonetheless. They have a downloadable .pdf takeout menu as well as a page on the site for your perusal. Worth checking out!

Weekend Edition 24.03.06

It really is spring... i don't lie, April showers are getting a head start this weekend!

If pigging out this winter has got you down stay tuned for the newest season of our beloved local Hell Gate CSA for your fill on fresh veggies-its about to start (June-Sept.). A little birdie told me that this year we will have tomato, flour, and honey in there with the usual yummy veggies...AND the new distribution point will be the ever popular Freeze Peach, hooray!

Leave work on Friday and go get your girl time going at Athena's Nails at 31-11 30th Ave. $20 gets you a kick butt mani/pedi. Whats the big deal you ask? They are so well stocked with workers that the girls who are waiting on clients come around and give you lovely, LOVELY massages. Not a full on one, but if they see you sitting for too long, they just sidle on over and give you about a 5 minute rubdown to get the blood going! I've been going there for years and really do love the place. The staff is sweet and attentive and the place is pretty meticulous with their tools and cleanliness. Went last night and got my spring flower fix in (well in hopes of spring anyway)

On my way home from my nail appointment, i saw that Astoria Billiards- 30th Ave between 35 & 36 Street was closed by the city. Hmmmm, it had one of those orange signs out front. Let's keep this one on the radar and see what gives.

This Saturday the new show FLUXBOX opens at the Flux Factory. Apparently the building will be transformed into a giant music box...artsy enough for ya? I think they call this stuff "sound sculpture", well whatever it is-its indoors (rain remember?)

The Albatross Bar is advertising their Sunday nights as Pub Night- all about Darts, Pool and even Chess! This may be just the right way to end the weekend and get ready for the work week. They are also hosting an open mic night during the week with the clever name Loose Lips. I think this is a really good thing that the local spots are starting these nights, we don't have enough comedy/writing/expression type events.

Next Tuesday, or any Tuesday for that matter- hit up some Tai Chi! Go for it at 2pm at the Broadway Library (40-20 Broadway, 718-721-2462) get the stress out. Did i mention it was free? Can't ask for more, free workouts!
On your way home from there, scoot on down to Politos Pizza on Broadway off Steinway and destroy your diet with one of their loaded slices. Last night was a "what the heck" kinda night at my house, as you can see $15 will buy you a ton of pie. Oh and the mushrooms...cheese...oozing all over the place. If you are eating an individual slice there, they top it a mile high for an even better bang for your buck!

Enjoy!

New! Beta! Blog! Search!

Recently I discovered our Google Overlords have developed a new Google Blog Search, the function of which is pretty explanatory. Type in Astoria, NY or Astoria, Queens and see what comes up!

In Other News...

It's nice to see the different cultures and people getting along here in Astoria. From Greek News:

Members of the Dar Al-Dawah Mosque in Astoria, their associates, friends, and neighbors conducted a community understanding and involvement activity that has become known as the Annual Interfaith Dinner. Their flyer indicated that they were honoring Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana, Abbot of St Irene’s Chrysovalantou Monastery, The Muslim American Society, and The Jewish Tanenbaum Center. These three honorees coincidentally represent what Muslims refer to as people of The Book; they are members of the Abrahamic faiths.

Read more in the article.

Weekend Edition 17.03.06

Well, another weekend is upon us. And it's not just any old weekend, it's St. Patrick's Day weekend! Be Irish for a day and partake in the fun. Of course, you can attend the 5th Avenue Parade in Manhattan on Friday, the most popular parade in the city all year. It starts at 11:00 a.m. on 5th Avenue around 44th Street. In Astoria, McCanns Pub (36-15 Ditmars Boulevard) is offering free corned beef and cabbage throughout the day. From 7-10 pm, $25 gets you an open bar and buffet at Crehan's Bar (41-04 31st Ave.). The Shannon Pot in LIC also invites you to join them on St. Patrick's Day. Other possible suspects are Gibney's (32-01 Broadway) and The Irish Rover (37-18 28th Ave.)

On Saturday, P.S.1 in LIC presents a talk and roundtable discussion on the topic “Regarding the Avant-Garde.” Participants include n+1 (Brooklyn's journal of politics, literature and culture) editors Mark Greif and Keith Gessen, n+1 art critic Dushko Petrovich and artist Eliza Newman-Saul. On Sunday, Jessica Stockholder discusses her past work and her current exhibition at P.S.1, Of Standing Float Roots in Thin Air.

If you are in the mood for new music (I often am), come check out Astoria's own Lost Dog New Music Ensemble performing six new works by New York composers David Fetherolf, Silas Nathaniel Huff, Jonathan Pieslak, Erin Rogers, B. Allen Schulz, and Stefan Weisman. The concert starts at 7:30 at Good Shepherd Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent Street, Astoria, Queens (Crescent Street at 30th Road). Or, stop by Waltz-Astoria Saturday night for a wine tasting. For $20, you get the opportunity to taste a number of different wines and learn about them at the same time.

On Sunday consider taking a tour of neighboring Roosevelt Island. The 92nd Street Y is organizing a Roosevelt Island hike this Sunday at 11am. Cost is $25 and reservations are recommended. Later that day, come by Freeze Peach between 4 and 8pm and say hi, as I'll be preparing and serving coffee, tea, and snacks to help raise $$ for the Hell Gate CSA.

And on top of it all, throughout the weekend great movies are playing in town at the Museum of the Moving Image.

As always, more fun, here.

It's So Big It Needs Its Own Post

Of course, the most obvious big event this weekend is on Friday --- that would be St. Patrick's Day. However, as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger event on Friday is the OPENING OF TRADER JOE'S UNION SQUARE. Hooray! I am so excited! I am a big fan of the TJs, plus the option of buying wine and beer from them finally is a reality here in NY. Personally, I dislike the antiquated "blue laws."

OK --- and if that isn't good enough news, the Shake Shack is opening back up on Tuesday, March 21 at 11am. In case you don't know, Shake Shack is the fabulous hamburger place, a "roadside food stand" in Madison Square Park. Oh blessed burgers, fries, and frozen custard come to me! Yes, yes, it's not in Astoria or Long Island City, but it is worth the field trip to Manhattan.

Bikes, Bikes, Bikes! Coming Soon...

Fellow Astorian Lorrie tipped me off to the coming of bike rentals in LIC this spring. Spokesman Cycles will be opening up in Long Island City and will provide a myriad of services, including bike rentals! Nice! I look forward to checking them out when they open up. Watch this space for more news later this April.

Weekend Getaway!

ok, so this isn't about an Astorian weekend getaway, but my own weekend away! I leave thursday a.m for San Francisco. Oh i'm bubbling over with excitement. Never been, so i'm going to try to cram alot into 4 days. I'm sure good times await me on the left coast.


3 things before i go:
• Just wanted to drop a note before i left that you are in Meg's capable hands and i'm sure she's got a hella lineup for St. Patty's Day!
• I just found a 6 year old copy of Time Out NY at my rents house featuring Astoria (it's from right before i moved here.) I am scanning it in and will post stuff from there-you know like a big comparison on whats closed down since then and what's just a bunch of malarky etc.!
• Lastly, go to This Show Again and check out my blurby and very chatty chat with the crew of Astoria's only podcast! (i think it goes up tomorrow-weds). Remind me to never become a public speaker hahahaha...

Oh and the pic, those are my babies Tallulah and Flic-i couldn't resist sharing. She really let him have it here, i'll post more of my silly kitties later. They are a barrel of laughs.

Have a ball this weekend, i want stories!

Post-Concert Fun

The concert I played at Waltz last night went fine, and it was especially satisfying to play the very early keyboard music for a new audience. A pleasant surprise was meeting Tom and Abby, who are readers of this blog, after the concert! It's so nice to meet the readers, I must say. Totally fun. Thanks for coming to the concert, you two! I hope to see you at more concerts.

P.S. The desserts at Waltz are super tasty - you should really try them sometime. Jen, and Erik, it was great to see you, too! What a treat to have both old and new friends at these performances.

You know

29th Street between Ditmars and 23rd Ave. smells really good late at night. Like sweet bread baking. The De Simone bakery is nearby, so I imagine that is where the smell is coming from. Tonight it kind of smelled like cinnamon raisin bread. The De Simone bakery makes the best muffins I've tasted in Astoria so far, and bothh their bran and their blueberry muffins are particularly good. The smell of baking bread is very comforting for me.

On a completely different note, I watched the last episode of Season 4 of Alias tonight (bless you, NetFlix), and all I can say is, "whaaaaaa???" That car crash was almost as bad as the one in Adaptation.

Astorian Weekend Edition 10.03.06

Here's your to do list for the next couple of days, there is no excuse not to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather:

Friday go for Baroque
Our very own Meg Cotner will be performing at the now alcoholically friendly Waltz Astoria! Not only do we have to come out and support Astoria's favorite harpsichordist- we have to give their new libations a try!!!

Want more music? Well you can head a little further away...
Jazz Jam Series
This is going to be one of those cool old time jam sessions. I see potential in this here kind of party. Its a jazz improve thing where the musicians can really show their chops! And every session comes complete with a special guest. Show your support @ $10 gen admission and $7 for musicians, students and seniors at LaGuardia Community College

Saturday-It's Greek to me at The Athanasiades Cultural Center Exhibit
30-98 42St. (i think i read that this is artspace?)
Their doing this multimedia thing on Greek Mythology: Love, Marriage & Murder. That should be a fun way to spice up your afternoon, no? It opened a couple of weeks ago and ends on the 26th of March, so nows the time to check it out before all the intrigue and evil go away.... if thats really possible hahaha. Make sure you let them know your coming 718-683-8890. Oh and if your inner greek needs more info, they have lectures on Sat & Sun from 4-6pm.

Saturday & Sunday discover more art in the hood.
Well its time to go check some of it out. We've got the Fisher Landau Center for Art with some awesome looking shows going on. This photo alone had me wanting to stop over to see what else they might have. Up on their 2nd floor right now are recent acquisitions featuring work by Matthew Barney, Lynn Davis, Yinka Shonibare, and Kara Walker. If you can't make it this weekend-fear not, all the purty pictures will be there until April 10th.

picture courtesy of Lynn Davis, Monument to the Conquerors of Space of the VDNKh (1964), Exhibition Center, Moscow, Russia, 2003. Piezo print, Edition # 3/10, 40 x 40 inches

Up close and personal weekend
Going by P.S.1 this weekend? Saturday and Sunday beware special hours for the Artist-led Gallery Talks with Nicole Awai, Wayne Gonzales, Catarina Leitao, Justin Lowe. From 12-9pm get on a gallery tour led by artists from the different exhibitions. Free with admission.

Time for the theater...

here's a midweek suggested outting!

Wednesday March 8
Sextangle
@ The Creek Theater

yes yes, i know- technically its not Astoria, but come on! noone gets the area code thing anyway. I'd love to hear about it if you're going.

Chimes? Delightful!

This weekend, my notorious never-ending sweet tooth was in high gear, and I was craving everything from chocolate to bubblegum. One thing I picked up was this lovely tin of peppermint-ginger chews made by a company called Chimes. They are from Indonesia. They come in a super cool looking metal tin (I'll admit, I was sucked into buying them partially because of the awesome retro-y tin) and are individually wrapped. I love the wonderful balance of peppermint and ginger -- basically a candied ginger taste with peppermint background hints. And they are chewy!! I love, love, LOVE chewy things -- caramels, gummi, you name it. There's no corn syrup in these candies, which makes me happy, too. According to the website, they have regular ginger and also peanut butter-ginger flavors, along with the peppermint-ginger.

Now, where did I find these candies? Well, at my neighborhood natural foods store, Fresh Start, which is on the north side of 23rd Avenue between 31st Street and 29th Street. I like going there also to buy tempeh, frozen blueberries, and organic juices, to name a few. Their seitan sandwich is also very good. The staff is very friendly and listens to suggestions about stocking certain items you might desire. Defintely check them out!

Wings at McCann's!

So friday night, a good 10 Astoria Eats players ran in from the cold for some hot wings at McCann's. And i must say- i was quite happy with them!

I think we got 6 or 7 platters of the generic "hot" ones. They were just right in heat for me. I know others were still hitting the tabasco, but for me-they were yummy! Juicy and meaty.A couple of drinks and a pool game or two later and we were all about the moonpies.
Oh yes...and Meg had never tried one before!
From the looks of it- she liked it!

Then we trotted off to Emack & Bolio's since they were still open. I had never been. What a treat to find that they came up with Grasshopper Pie ice cream!!!!! Grasshopper cookies in mint ice cream, heavenly! Ate it so fast that there wasn't time for pics sorry! If you haven't had the fun of eating ice cream while walking in 20 degree weather, go for it. Luckily waiting at the Freeze Peach was Jayme and a whole lotta caramel hot chocolates.... Friday night was definitley NOT a diet night.

Astoria Weekend Edition 03.03.06

Well, it's March now, and that means spring is just around the corner, even though it snowed this week. One thing that says spring is on the way to me is St. Patrick's Day (March 17). This holiday is a huge deal here in NYC, with the 5th Avenue parade drawing massive crowds. However, sadly, not everyone who is Irish is allowed to march. The solution? Enter the All Inclusive St. Patrick's Day Parade! On this Sunday, March 5, at 12:30pm the parade will start in Sunnyside, Queens at 43rd and Skillman Avenue and end at 61st Street & Woodside Avenue in Woodside. Each year the parade organizers decide to honor someone, and this year they decided to honor mulptiple people: the McCourt Brothers (Malachy, Frank, Michael & Alfie) and Ellen Duncan. There will be bands, puppets, dancers, and a lot of fun. Come be Irish for a day no matter who you are!

Now, Astoria likes its festivals, too. Recently, there was the Venison Feast at Koliba Restaurant. My friend Jayme tipped me off to the exciting news of another food event - this weekend, the Bohemian Beer Garden steps up the plate with their Three Day Pork Festival! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, come for a three course meal and delicious beer, with seatings at specific times. There will also be live entertainment in the Main Hall. Should be an awesome time. Afterwards, head over to Martha's Country Bakery (36-21 Ditmars Blvd.) where they are now making German Chocolate cupcakes!

Along with parading and filling your belly, take in some cultural manna. The Thalia Spanish Theater presents the musical, Tango and Flamenco Fusion, with original music composed and performed by bandeoneon master Raul Juarena and, direct from Spain, Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer Daniel Casares, and flamenco singer Irene Salas "Chanela." On exhibit at the Fisher Landau Center for Art is a new installation featuring work by Matthew Barney, Lynn Davis, Yinka Shonibare, and Kara Walker, as well as Zoo Story: An Exhibition of Animals in Art. And don't forget that the O'Keeffe/Vaccaro exhibit closes this Sunday at the Art-O-Mat.

More fun, here.