Jobs That Aren't Dumb - Now Recruiting

Here's a few scenarios. See if any of them describe you. You got laid off. You're tired of getting people coffee and answering phones. You'd rather your work was a little more meaningful than price-fixing cantaloupe. You love NYC and would like to do something for it.

If any of these describe you, you may want to at least check out NYC Civic Corps. The NYC Civic Corps is a diverse group of individuals - from recent graduates to experienced professionals - who dedicate one year of service to New York City. Corps members are dispatched in small teams to local non-profit organizations and City agencies with the charge of developing sustainable volunteer programs and expanding organizational capacity. In return for their service, members of the NYC Civic Corps earn a monthly living stipend, health and commuting benefits, and an end-of-service education award. Corps members also receive monthly professional development and support from NYC Service.

In Astoria & LIC, the NYCCC has done at least two awesome projects that I know of - one with Computers for Youth, a nonprofit organization located in Long Island City that empowers low income children to perform better in school by improving their home learning environment. And another with Materials for the Arts, an initiative of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, solicits art supplies for use by non-profit groups and schools.

Applications are available at www.nyc.gov/service. Only online applications will be accepted, and the application deadline is June 30, 2010.

Good luck!

Fashion Al Fresco

If you'd rather not shop in the AC this weekend, you're in luck. Ethereal Boutique will be hosting Fashion Al Fresco an open air market in its fashionable patio courtyard on June 12-13 and June 26-27 from 12:30PM to 8PM. It's located at 48-37 Vernon Blvd. LIC, NY 11101. Fashion Al Fresco will feature jewelry and clothing designers in umbrella and table booth displays in the Ethereal courtyard.

Astoria WNYC fans, represent!

Astorian Jeanne Marie Boes is competing in WNYC's Battle of the Boroughs - our own public radio version of Idol, I guess. Jeanne has already made the cut to represent the Queens Top 5.

Online voting is open this week to determine who will go on to represent Queens in the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs!

You can stream her performance and VOTE online here. Support Astorian Arts and go vote!

Queens Art Express to LIC

Join Juvenal Reis Studios, P.S.1, Subdivision, the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, the Secret Theatre, M55 Gallery and several other hip and happening LIC venues for Queens Art Express!

This week and weekend there will be piles of cool arty events happening right in LIC. Events include art shows and openings, musical performances, plays and lost more cool stuff - way too much to list here. Check out the LIC listing for Queens Art Express!

Designer Shopping on the River

This weekend Socrates Sculpture Park will host it's 2nd Annual Maker's Market. what is it? It's an opportunity to shop for lots of pretty things, made domestically, in a fabulous setting. What more could a gal want on a nice Saturday afternoon?




Saturday, June 5, 11am - 7pm / Free Admission
Sunday, June 6, 11am - 5 pm / Free Admission

Astoria in Pix

This New York Times article is a little bit been-there-done-that, but it does have a nice photo essay of Astoria.

A Mediterranean Village on the East River

All the Fresh Veggies, None of the Commitment

Astoria welcomes a new, exciting CSA to town! Holton Farms, from Southeastern VT, has lots of tasty produce and other farmy items. But they also have some innovation going on. I hear it all the time... "I'd love to do a CSA, but it's too much commitment!" Yeah, it really can be for a big city gal. Off the the Hampties or a film festival, or even brunch (!) and then it's "oh crap, my veggies!". Not so with Holton Farms who will let you buy "what you want, when you want". (You can do a more traditional CSA plan with them, too.)

Catch their truck at Steinway & 35th Ave from 9 to 10am on Sundays. and check out their website, for more info and sign ups. Plus, JIA readers can use the discount code HFASTORIA for 5% off CSA Memberships!

Music Marathon at the Beer Garden

This Saturday don't miss 12 hours of music, 11 bands for 10 dollars at the Beer Garden. And it's to raise $ for more music in Astoria.

On Saturday, May 22nd, Astoria Music and Arts will host a fundraiser at the Bohemian Beer Hall to benefit the Astoria Music Now! Festival – this July in Astoria Park. Performances for Saturday include: The Missing Teens, Thunderbang!, Little Creatures, Bliminal, The Jamies, Digamy, Freedomhead, Illimanjaro, Mainline Gypsy, RatTrap Bumpkin and Bad Buka with DJ Sambarella on the decks and MC Stellini hosting the event.

Free Admission to the Noguchi Museum

I bet you haven't even been to the coolest museum in Astoria. Well, this is the perfect weekend to head down to The Noguchi Museum on 33rdth Road between Vernon Boulevard & 10th Street.

This weekend they celebrate their 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Weekend. The festivities begin on May 15 & 16, with two days of Free Admission and programming for visitors of all ages. From 12:30 – 3:30pm (both days), participate in ongoing interactive tours, gallery guides for families, and art-making projects for visitors of all ages. From 4:00 – 6:00pm on Saturday, Noguchi Museum’s Teen Advisory Board will present a for-teens-by-teens event. Join artist Allyson Vieira for a sculpting workshop.

Reader Tip: Sabor Andino

Reader Tip on new AmeriMex resto:

A new restaurant opened up called Sabor Andino, it has an American/Mexican cuisine. The food is absolutely delicious and so reasonably priced! After eating, I spoke with the owner Angel, he has worked at many top notch restaurants in the city and has now decided to open his own place. His experience and skill can't be denied. I've tried a number of dishes there and they are all great (try the seafood combo if you like seafood, you will not be disappointed). It would be great if you could review this restaurant and feature it on the site to help give this worthy restaurant business.

Thanks, Garry!

If you want to sing out...

I haven't been to a sing-a-long since my teva-wearing, guitar-playing, phish-bootleg-trading days at summer camp. But I'm not going to lie to you. It sounds like fun. Especially post-mimosa.

Andrew Gottlieb, guitar player and singer, invites you to come and sing along with him at Bistro Les Minots on Sunday April 25, 2010 from 2 pm to 4 pm. Free mimosa to all participants. Reservations are required for this kind of public embarrassment, as well they should be.  Call (718) 606-2535.

Participants will select songs from a thirty song booklet including the Beatles, Peter Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, and Johnny Cash.

The Tempest Opens in LIC

The extremely Secret Theatre is opening The Tempest this week in LIC. And even I am a sucker for off-Broadway Shakespeare. Support local arts and make up for only reading the Cliff's Notes, slacker!

Opens tonight (April 15th) at 8pm and runs until April 30th at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St, LIC 11101. Tickets are $15. Matinee performance on Sunday 25th at 3.30 pm.

New Lebanese Resto

New Lebanese restaurant, Haddad’s, under the N line in Astoria. Have you been?

Read Review Here

View Larger Map

New fitness studio and FREE CLASSES this weekend

As if Astoria wasn’t already packed with amazing ways to stay in shape, the neighborhood is welcoming ANOTHER new studio to the mix. Located in the old Yoga Room Steinway location, the Art of Fitness (formerly Pilates in Astoria) is making its debut this weekend with an open house and FREE CLASSES!

I have to say I’m especially excited, as my all-time favorite mat pilates instructor, Lindsay Lopez, will be returning to the neighborhood. My abs haven’t looked the same since she left the Yoga Room a couple of years ago.

The Art of Fitness offers private and semi-private sessions, including reformer, tower, wunda chair and mat classes. They also have some more interesting classes on the roster, including cardio ballet barre, cirque style fitness and burlesquercise. Sounds sexy.

Lindsay will be teaching the first free mat class at 9am on Saturday, but there are several other options throughout the day. Along with free group classes and free sample sessions on the equipment, snacks and refreshments will be served.

View Larger Map

Bistro Les Minots Gets Rave

Our own Bistro Les Minots gets rave review at the Queens Tribune.

Click to Read More


View Larger Map

Astoria Bagel Hunt

It may sound like a simple task to do in New York City, but finding the perfect bagel is not so easy. When I first moved to Astoria, I knew good food was all around me: Greek restaurants in full supply; sushi at my fingertips; the city’s best diner in 1999. But I was not satisfied. I needed to find the place to fill my weekend-morning carbohydrate desires. It took a little while and a little help from Yelp, but I found my Astoria bagel.

The bagel pictured here is perfection. It’s an everything bagel from the Astoria Bagel Shop on Ditmars Blvd., between 28th and 29th Street. It is a.m.a.z.i.n.g. The bagels are always fresh and chewy, with a little crunch on the bottom (which is my favorite part), and they are huge! They have a large variety of cream cheeses to choose from and seating. It’s a great place for a cheap and delicious breakfast. And I’m pretty certain I’ve found my perfect bagel in Astoria and in the rest of NYC.

Jill Joins JIA!

We have another new guest blogger, folks! Jill moved to Astoria in August of 2008, happy to leave the J train far behind her. She enjoys trying as many restaurants as possible, reading in the park and mentally correcting other people's grammar. Welcome, Jill!

Literary Astoria

Love every George Constanza reference to Astoria? Always look for books set in the old neighb? I love pop culture set in Astoria. New Sam Lipstyle book The Ask is set right here. (Full disclosure: I haven't read it yet.)

Read more at Flavorwire

Queens Supports you, Artists!

I know there's lots and lots of artists living here in Astoria and LIC. Did you know about all the support the Queens Council on the Arts does for you, right here in our neighborhood?

This Spring they are hosting oodles of support programs - lots of info on grant-writing and all that fun stuff - right here in Astoria/LIC.

Click to learn more

The Nuttiest Astorians

Long time readers of JIA may recall our nuttiest Astorians taking quite the adventure at the The Mongol Rally in 2007.

Well, good news. They made it. And now they are at it again.

This summer Astorian team - Team Monkey Wrench - will be driving in a not-so-ruggedized "moto" through the Andes, the desert, the salt flats... oh my! Why are they doing this? Because they got dared to. Okay, it's really cuz they are nuts, but also they are raising money for Operation Smile which is a supercool organization that provides medical care for children around the world. Let's help these guys show...er...the Andes...that Astoria is badass! Stay tuned for updates.