Finally Fridays - Best Thai Food

It's Friiiiday again - we wish you a happy one even though it's so stinkin' cold outside.  I was thinking...what could be nice on a blistering weekend like this one?  Some good, hearty (and warm) food.  Thai food comes to mind, which features comforting carbs like noodles and protein such as beef, pork, seafood and tofu.  Enjoy our five recos below and feel free to suggest your own too.

Wave Thai - Tofu in spicy brown sauce with Japanese eggplant, bell peppers, basil, chili and scallions

21-37 31st Street, Astoria.  718.777.6789

Thai Elephant - Chicken, potato curry puff in a fried pastry crust, served with fresh cucumber salad

21-09 31st Street, Astoria.  718.204.8827

 

Bangkok Tasty - Sweet and sour shrimp with cherry tomatoes, onions, pineapple, cucumber, carrots & sweet pepper

29-06 23rd Avenue, Astoria.  718.545.8203

Leng Thai - Crispy vegetarian egg rolls served with a side of sweet and sour sauce

33-09 Broadway, Astoria.  718.956.7117

SHI - Seafood tom yum soup with noodles - "an awesome combination of spice, fire and flavor"

47-20 Center Blvd, Long Island City.  347.242.2450

Astorian Weekend Edition 13.03.08

Here are five things to check out this weekend:

1. Art at Subdivision. Subdivision is pleased to present Dreamer of Pictures, an exhibition of new paintings and drawings by Haejae Lee, Hannah Kasper, Deborah Pohl, and René Smith. The four artists present different perspectives on our relationship with the interior spaces that we inhabit, dream about, and desire. Opening Reception March 15, 6-9 p.m. 48-18 Vernon Blvd.

2. Get the brown rice at Leng Thai. I went there last week and had a great time! The food was very tasty, but particularly memorable was the brown rice that was mixed with red rice. Totally delicious and such an unexpected treat. The crispy noodles that come with each meal are also delicious - it tastes sort of like a loose sweet salty, spicy rice crispy treat. Leng Thai is at 33-09 Broadway.

3. Join the Egg Hunt at Steinway Reformed Church. Each egg holds a surprise! The hunt will take place on Saturday from 1-3:30 p.m. in the church garden. When you're not on the hunt, enjoy the the crafts and refreshments. Fun for the whole family! The church is located at the corner of Ditmars and 41st Street.

4. Laugh it up at Mezzo Mezzo. Improv comedy comes to Astoria! Groups from Upright Citizen's Brigade, People's Improv Theatre, and The Magnet will be performing at Mezzo Mezzo on Thursday at 9 p.m. $5 cover. Mezzo Mezzo is located on Ditmars and 33rd Street.

5. Discover a new world... of comics. Did you know that Astoria has its very own comic shop? SilverAge Comics is right there by the Ditmars station. Stop by and see what Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman are up to, and check our some of their graphic novels as well. SilverAge is at 22-55 31st Street.

Astorian Weekend Edition 07.02.08

I'm back! Thanks to flooz for covering last week - I learned this week that a tree knocked out my internet - 7 days without internet is like an eternity! Oh well, I did end up catching up on my Netflix queue...

Now, if you're of the romantic persuasion, this is the time to make your Valentine's Day reservations. Astoria has a lot of lovely options, including Bistro 33 ($50 prix fixe), Mundo ($65 prix fixe) 718, L'Incontro, Stove, and Locale. More on this subject next week.

Take a visit to the Czech Republic this weekend at the Beer Garden. Thursday night at 7 p.m. the Laco Dezci Jazz Orchestra plays in the Beer Cellar restaurant. No cover, no minimum. Then on Saturday at 7 p.m. they're showing a selection of recent Czech films (in Czech with English subtitles): With Kisses from Your Love (Libam te a miluji); Low Level Flight (Nizky let). Both are directed by Jan Sikl.

I also walked by Inside Astoria (37-20 Ditmars) on my way back from voting Tuesday, and noticed they are having a sale. I love that place, and they always have interesting stuff there.

On Sunday evening, stop by the Albatross Bar (36-19 24th Avenue) for $5 Cosmos!

I've also been spending some time at Cafe Soleil (Astoria Blvd South between 37th and 38th Streets) and love it. They've got free wifi, tasty snacks, and normal sized lattes. Small means small, Starbucks! But my favorite thing at Soleil is the fresh juice. I had apple, carrot, orange juice last weekend and it was fantastic! The space is really cute, too.

For something completely different, attend either the Yixing Teapot or Chinese Brush Making Workshop at the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center (10-34 44th Drive). Registration Fee is $110 for each, and that includes materials fee and lunch.

Lastly, our friend Zora mentions Leng Thai (33-09 Broadway), which has been open for about a month. I peeked in the other day and it looked really nice in there. I hear the food is pretty good, too. Check it out and let us know what you think.