Swap and Book Drive Success!

So, I understand that the clothing swap and book drive was a HUGE success! A press release on the event came out this weekend and I wanted to share it with you here:

Swap-O-Rama Sweeps Astoria

Saturday, March 21st - A.R.R.O.W. Community Center was jammed full of men and women of all ages looking to swap clothing, shoes and handbags as a way to save the environment and save money.

As people arrived, event co-organizer Robyn Sklar explained how it all worked: "You bring clothes, other people bring clothes…and then you swap. It's a great way to clear out your closets and get free new-to-you clothes."

The event turned into an impromptu fashion show at times, as people tried on items and sought opinions from other swappers. Close to 200 people attended by the time the day ended, almost double original expectations.

"We were thrilled at the turnout," said co-organizer Lynne Serpe. "Everyone really understood how swapping clothing is a free and easy way to live green, by promoting reuse. And who doesn't want to look good while doing good?

As far as anything not taken? "We donated twenty bags of shoes and clothing to the Hour Children Thrift Shop on 12th Street," Lynne explained.

"We also donated at least 1500 books to the Queens Library," she continued. "After all, libraries are the ultimate in reuse, which is why we partnered with the Astoria Book Club on a book drive."

This event was sponsored by Triple R Events: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Astoria Book Club. Triple R Events is a project of Lynne Serpe and Robyn Sklar. Serpe and Sklar are long-time Green Party members who don't just vote green - they live green. They organize monthly green events in Western Queens that are fun and educational, not boring and preachy. April 18th is their Second Annual Queens is Green Fashion Show.

For more information, visit http://www.3R-events.blogspot.com

Did you go? Let us know your experience in the comments!

Reminder: Queens Holistic Moms Meeting Tonight!

Just reminding you about the Queens Holistic Moms meeting tonight. Here is an excerpt from our previous post:

We are holding our Kick-Off Meeting on Wednesday, March 11th from 6:30-8:00pm at ARROW Community Center in Long Island City, Queens (35th Street between 35th and 36th Aves). Will you join me for this special event? It will be a lot of fun, we'll meet other moms interested in a holistic lifestyle in our area, and there will also be a raffle and a goodie-bag with coupons and free holistic products. You can bring anyone you think would be interested in the group with you. The HMN welcomes all parents and is child-friendly, of course!

Please know that even if you are not a mom, you should feel free to attend. All parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, caretakers, and those simply interested in advocating a holistic lifestyle for themselves and their loved ones are welcome!

Queens Holistic Moms

I wanted to pass on this info from Megan Franzen about a new chapter of the Holistic Moms Network, right here in Queens!


Greetings!

I am excited to tell you about a new community that I am helping to start here in Queens -- the Holistic Moms Network Queens Chapter! Four friends and I have volunteered as the Chapter Leaders to get things started. I am really looking forward to being a part of this group because I am so excited to connect with other moms in the 'hood.

The Holistic Moms Network was founded by moms and for moms as a community building coalition and it has since grown into a rapidly expanding national non-profit organization for those interested in natural health and mindful parenting. At its core, the HMN helps moms to find their tribe, remember their spirit, and connect to new friends. Offering everything from playgroups to lending libraries, the HMN embraces healthy living for all people. We seek to empower women to make mindful choices that fit their families and their priorities. The Holistic Moms Network began in New Jersey and now have chapters across the country-- now we will have one right here in Queens!

We are holding our Kick-Off Meeting on Wednesday, March 11th from 6:30-8:00pm at Arrow Community Center in Long Island City, Queens (35th Street between 35th and 36th Aves). Will you join me for this special event? It will be a lot of fun, we'll meet other moms interested in a holistic lifestyle in our area, and there will also be a raffle and a goodie-bag with coupons and free holistic products. You can bring anyone you think would be interested in the group with you. The HMN welcomes all parents and is child-friendly, of course!

Our website is http://queensny.holisticmoms.org/ . Use it to learn more or to refer other moms that may be interested. We also have a Facebook group if you are on there.

Astorian Weekend Edition 01.05.08

Start your weekend with some luxurious grub—sample Ovelia's new Happy Hour menu item, the Kobe Beef slider. If you can't make happy hour, you can enjoy this decadent burger for lunch. Ovelia Psistaria 34-01 30th Avenue. 718.721.7217.

As the weather gets nicer, Astoria's sidewalk cafes open up. One that we're particularly excited about is Mundo. This intimate café, serving eclectic cuisine from around the world has recently celebrated its 3rd birthday. Take a walk over there and try their fresh sangria or their amazing carrot dip. Mundo 31-18 Broadway. 718.777.2829

Heading to Astoria Park this weekend? Check out the newly opened burger-joint/Greek snack counter, Kafene right across the street. They boast five different types of burgers, an all-day breakfast menu as well as healthy snack options like Euro toast and fresh fruit smoothies. Kafene 23-08 Hoyt Avenue South. 718.274.6525

Waste Not, Want Not!? We're talking about recycling and about a cool group exhibition at Socrates Park by the same name. Learn about the goals, realities and practices of recycling at this fun event featuring artists and various craftsmen (and women). Sunday, May 4th 2-6p at Socrates Sculpture Park. 32-01 Vernon Blvd. 718.956.1819

Hit up Harry's Water Taxi Beach this Saturday or Sunday for some good beats. Victor Franco spins on Saturday from 3p-1a, FREE. On Sunday, enjoy the music of Chus, Quentin Harris, Joi Cardwell (Live Performance), Merritt, Steve Travolta, Vinyl Life and Dean K, 1p-10p. Tickets available at the door. Water Taxi Beach 2nd Street and Borden Ave.

And finally, ring in Cinco de Mayo early! Join ARROW Community Center for a Mexican shindig with music, arts & crafts and other fun stuff. Saturday, May 3rd from noon – 4p. ARROW Community Center 35-30 35th Street. 718.349.3408

Astorian Weekend Edition 16.08.07

Looks like a nice, comfortable weekend coming up! Highs in the upper 70s with a little bit of clouds. This will be a great weekend for a couple of bike-related events going on. Friday, it's all about the kids: Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike! That's the name of a class being given from 10am-1pm at ARROW (35-30 35th St.), for kids and their parents (a parent of guardian MUST attend). The class will provide expert guidance on how to balance,start, stop, and steer. It's free, and the NYC Dept. of Transportation will be giving away free helmets, on top of it all. Also, there will be a raffle of donated bikes and scooters from Recycle-A-Bicycle. Pre-registration is required online or by calling 212 932 2453 x159.

On Saturday August 18, from 12-3pm, Recycle-A-Bicycle is having a bike sale at their LIC location (46th Avenue at 5th Street). Six kids through the Summer Youth Employment Program have been working at Recycle-A-Bicycle in LIC for the last 7 weeks to learn basic bike mechanic skills, and this is the final project. There will be adult bicycles and a few children's bicycles- all recycled and refurbished. Cash and credit cars will be accepted, and the sale will take place rain or shine.

There's also fun at Hellgate Social this weekend - music, djing, and movies on the back patio. Always a good time. And speaking of movies, MOMI has some interesting looking films about complex realtionships, including Drive, He Said, Charley Varrick, and Play Misty For Me.

Socrates Sculpture Park continues its pan-arts event,Float. Saturday and Sunday, from 12-7:30pm, come see different kinds of artwork, live performances, and videos by emerging artists Robert Boyd, William Lamson, Ola Vasiljeva, and Shana Moulton. Moulton's Whispering Pines video series ends with a performance on Sunday. Jan Rothuizen's Missing is a tree covered in posters for lost pets, possessions, and people. Sheila Ross and Laura Ten Eyck's installation, Yurt City, will also be on display.

Warm Up at PS1 (22-25 Jackson Ave in LIC) features DJ Spun w/Ben Cook, Eric Duncan, Woolfy Projections, Dewanatron & Ray Sweeten, and Zach Layton, going on from 3-9pm. It's a $10 admission for everyone but locals (bring proof of your Astoria/LIC address/zip to get in free). According to Flavorpill: "Rong Music hosts a lineup that's thick with dubbed-out beat makers, psychedelic incantations, and a proper dash of disco punk. Beyond the spinners, live sets include funk-fueled bass lines, temperamental synths, and all forms of robotic love." Head to Water Taxi Beach afterwards for Akalepse, and great dogs.

Food-wise, there's the aforementioned dogs at WTB. I hear that the pizza at Frankie's (31st Street between Ditmars and 23rd Ave) has changed a bit - an extra garlicky sauce, apparently. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. My fave really is Michael Angelo's on 23rd Ave (near 29th Street), which made me a fantastic Marghareta slice the other day. They have a back garden as well, which is so nice in the warmer months. But the place I'm most interested in is the new vegetarian/vegan restaurant run by the same people that run Sai Organics (30th Ave between 36th and 37th Streets), that is finally open!. This new restaurant is in the old Keystone Diner spot, 30th Ave just west of 31st Street. They are serving 100% organic food, too. This is very exciting!

More fun, here.