Astorian Weekend Edition 04.02.10

So, this weekend is an unofficial American holiday - Superbowl Sunday.  The Foodista has a rundown of 10 Superbowl party offerings in town, and such variety!  A lot of fun is to be had... as well as good eats!

Since it's going to be a little chilly this weekend, perhaps consider making a visit to one of our many museums in town.  From the Museum of the Moving Image, to the Noguchi Museum, to PS1, there is a lot to see out there. Then stop over at Il Bambino (34-08 31st Ave) for a nutella hot chocolate to warm up.

Astoria Indies continues its Thursday film series at Bohemian Hall, with Adventures of Power, starring Adrian Grenier. "Adventures of Power is an epic rock n' roll comedy about the American Dream, love, and air-drumming. A Sundance fave, AoP walks the fine line between clever and stupid with grace and panache.‚" 8 p.m. at the beer garden (2919 24th Ave).

Friday night at Waltz (23-14 Ditmars Boulevard) brings you local talent in the form of The Ultimate Show - Steph Allen, Jon Christopher (both The Ultimate Singer Songwriter finalists), and Joe Jung, winner of The Ultimate Singer-Songwriter contest, will be playing from 8-11 p.m. $10 Drink minimum, no cover.

Finally, for something completely different, head to LaGuardia Community College (31-10 Thomson Avenue) to see Target Margin Theatre's production of The Really Big Once (a work-in-progress). This experimental theater piece incorporates the letters of Elia Kazan and Tennessee Williams on one of their most celebrated failures, Camino Real. This workshop will be followed by a Q-and-A with the company. The show starts at 8 p.m. on the Mainstage and it's free! For reservations, email: rsvp-lpac@lagcc.cuny.edu.

Photo:  (cc) pkeleher on flickr

Astorian Weekend Edition 07.01.10

Happy New Year everyone! Now that the crazy partying is wrapped up, here are some low-key happs to enjoy this weekend.

Attend the Visioneers premiere at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden this Thursday at 8 p.m.  The event is hosted by the Astoria Indies, a new indie film group in Queens that will bring you a different movie screening each Thursday at this venue.  If you don’t catch this week’s, you can always come back another time. 29-19 24^th Avenue, Astoria.  718.274.4925

Still holding on to your Christmas tree? You can put it to good use by recycling it at this year’s Mulchfest, Saturday and Sunday in Astoria Park from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m..  Just take all ornaments off and you’ll be all set – they’ll even let you indulge in some free mulch! Have fun, meet new people and benefit the environment.  19^th Street and Hoyt Avenue, Astoria.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably indulged a lot this holiday season, and are looking to hit the gym.  A lot of them are holding introductory specials with $0 down.  My personal favorite, New York Sports Clubs is free to join until February 1^st and The Rock is also offering $0 initiation, 2 free personal training sessions and the entire month of January free.  NYSC - 38-11 30^th Avenue, Astoria.  718.932.1400. The Rock – 22-15 31^st Street, Astoria.  718.204.1400

On another healthy note, check out Mackenzi’s 7 great recommendations for veggie eats in Astoria.  From Mundo (carrot dip pictured above) to Vesta to Bare Burger, you’ll find nifty tips on how to eat healthy and meat free. 

The Noguchi Museum is holding an interesting-sounding discussion this Sunday at 3 p.m. about Sculpture in the Landscape.  The talk will focus on land art, specific works and the various issues that come up when exhibiting sculpture in the open air. Sounds like a useful event for an inspiring artist or an aficionado.  9-01 33^rd Road, Long Island City.  718.204.7088

Astorian Weekend Edition 06.08.09

It's going to be a hot one this weekend, so why not enjoy the coolness of a museum, a funky restaurant or a local artist party?

Every first Friday of the month, the Noguchi Museum is offering extended hours, until 8:30 p.m. and not to mention their enticing pay-what-you-wish admission. You can enjoy wine and beer from 5:30p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday and relax in their newly-renovated sculpture garden. If you feel like going back on Sunday, they’ll be featuring the American Contemporary Music Ensemble at 3p.m., also in the garden. 33^rd Road at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City. 718.204.7088

In the mood for delicious, organic grub? I strongly recommend checking out Bare Burger, which boasts interesting burger options (pictured above) and a plethora of beef alternatives such as ostrich, elk, bison, turkey, veggies and more. It’s all awesome and I especially loved their huge portion of crispy onion rings. The food and the atmosphere should not be missed. 33-21 31^st Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.7011

Get your party on this Saturday at P.S.1 MOMA’s Warm Up series. This Saturday’s line up includes the Music Committee of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company: Stephan Moore, David Behrman; Eats Tapes; Lovefingers and other special guests. The celebration starts at 2p.m. and goes until 9p.m. $10 admission. 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City. 718.784.2084

Check out a cool French Bistro this weekend, like Bistro Les Minots on 30^th Avenue. They just got a new chef (previously of Morimoto) who’s making some exciting changes to the menu. They’ve also adjusted their $19.95 dinner prix-fixe to include dessert, offering it now 7 days a week. 47-16 30^th Avenue, Astoria. 718.606.2535

Don't miss SITE's 2nd Saturdays Local Artists Party from 12p.m. - 5p.m., showcasing the work of Jack Maiorino. Site describes Jack's work as "perfect little moments captured in sketches and lovingly turned into bags, prints, originals and more." Sounds wonderful and snacks will also be provided. 35-11 34th Avenue, Astoria. 718.626.6030

Astorian Weekend Edition 11.06.09

Rain, rain go away! It will this weekend, in time for you to check out a couple of restaurants, a museum and even a cool music festival.

I finally visited the new Italian restaurant, Da Franco’s. While the décor is generic, they have great outdoor seating and delicious salads, side dishes and nice brick oven pizza (pictured above). The gelato was quite enjoyable too. 23-92 21^st Street, Astoria. 718.267.0014

Check out Malagueta for a chill weekend dinner. Offering indoor and outdoor seating, Malagueta serves Brazilian fare with lots of flavor and spice. I recommend trying their signature shrimp dish (Moqueca de Camarao) – it’s out of this world and not expensive. They also serve a darn good sangria! 25-35 36^th Avenue, Astoria. 718.937.4821

Start your weekend with fresh coffee from Sweatleaf in LIC. They serve Stumptown Coffee, named “The Best Coffee in the World” by NPR and also feature really delicious treats. Their chocolate chip cookies are crunchy and luxuriously rich. 10-93 Jackson Avenue, LIC. 917.832.6726

In the mood for good tunes? Visit the Exit 44 Music Festival this Saturday from 3 p.m. – 2 a.m. at Wonderland in Astoria. Featured acts include Tigercity and Project Jenny, Project Jan, Action Painters, The Shondes, My Teenage Stride, Schwervon! and more. Tickets are $10. 38-01 23^rd Avenue, Astoria. To purchase tickets, click here.

This Sunday at 3 p.m. (and every second Sunday of the month), enjoy Music in the Garden at the Noguchi Museum. Taylor Brown will kick things off with a classical guitar performance. He's performed with well-known artists such as Carly Simon, Dar Williams, Felicia Collins and others. 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City. 718.204.7088

Kite Making Workshop

For a number of years Socrates Sculpture Park and the Noguchi Museum team up to present a kite making workshop and flying event. It's hands on at Socrates and is open to kids of all ages. It's especially great for families - everyone gets to make something out in the fresh air. Recycled paper is used, which is extra cool. So, get your creative juices flowing by creating, decorating, and flying your very own kite!

No need to register beforehand, but it is a popular event, so come early! The workshop will be held rain or shine in the education area at Socrates.

KITE FLIGHT: PAPER PLAY
Seventh Annual Kite Making Workshop
Sunday, April 26, 2009 / 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (rain or shine)
FREE EVENT: The workshop is free and all materials are provided.

Image courtesy of Socrates Sculpture Park.

Astorian Weekend Edition 11.12.08

Holiday time is here and that means it's acceptable to eat non-stop and just enjoy oneself. Here are a couple of fun things to keep you occupied this weekend.

Take a "mystery tour" this Saturday at 2pm at P.S.1 MOMA. Led by Betsey Geffen, the tour highlights the works of Italian artist, Gino De Dominicis in his first major U.S. exhibition. Be prepared to see something new and different. 22-25 Jackson Avenue, LIC. 718.784.2084

Visit the Noguchi Museum this Sunday at 3pm for a group discussion on Reviving Classic Designs. You'll get the inside scoop about Noguchi's furniture pieces and you can also enjoy a 20% discount on Akari items. 32-37 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City. 718.204.7088

In the mood for a filling snack that won't empty your wallet? Check out the simple yet charming Arepas Café on 36th Avenue. I've recently tried their mini empanadas and the chicken/cheddar arepa (pictured above)—just scrumptious! 33-07 36th Avenue, Astoria. 718.937.3835

Astoria's beloved Bistro 33 has reopened after a 2 week hiatus. They're offering a new winter menu, wine specials and 2 for $10 drink and food specials (those are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only). 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.721.1933

Looking for a place to watch Sunday Night Football? I visited the much talked about Lucky Mojo's in LIC and it definitely lives up to expectations. The mashed potatoes are as smooth as butter and the ribs are finger-lickin' good. 5-14 51^st Avenue, Long Island City. 718.786.7427

And last but not least…check out our new banner, where you can finally put a face to our names!

Astorian Weekend Edition 13.11.08

Saturday looks like it's going to be a rainy Saturday, so why not check out one of Astoria an LIC's own museums? The Noguchi Museum (9-01 33rd Rd), the SculptureCenter (44-19 Purves), and P.S.1 (22-25 Jackson Ave) all have exhibitions running currently.

Make sure you take the opportunity to stop by Freeze Peach (22-00 29th Street), too - they've lost their space so their existence is limited (their going away party is 11/22). Hopefully they will find a new space, though - it would be a shame for them to completely disappear.

For a while now, I've been hearing about great affordable massage found in the Ditmars neighborhood. Chinese GongFu Tui-Na is the name and $50 gets you a full body massage. They also do foot rub/reflexology.

And if I haven't mentioned it before, Soho (22-11 31st St) has amazing turkey bacon. I recommend it, along with the whole wheat pancakes.

Astorian Weekend Edition 09.10.08

While we've got cooler weather these days, it means that the Beer Garden is less crowded. My favorite time to be there is a Sunday afternoon, when it's pretty mellow. According to their website, the grill is still operating, so head on over, grab a glass of Pilsner Urquell and a kielbasa, and chill out on a fall afternoon.

The Noguchi Museum (9-01 33rd Road) continues it's Second Sundays program this weekend. Sunday's presentation will be a panel discussion called (re)Generation: Three Artists, Three Cities. The museum lost its Ailanthus tree recently, and are planning to repurpose and reuse it, a practice that is consistent with Noguchi's futurist thinking regarding the natural world. Independent curator and critic Lilly Wei will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Mitch Cope and Ingo Vetter of the Tree of Heaven Woodshop, which milled the Ailanthus, alongside Paul Villinski and Annie Murdock, artists from Waste Not, Want Not, an exhibition at Socrates Sculpture Park focused on the re-purposing of cast off resources.

This Saturday from 12-5 Candy Plum (30-98 36th Street) is having a trunk sale. New dresses, accessories will be available, along with brownies! Help support our local garment industry.

I've noticed that the leaves on the trees are changing - yellows are peeking out, and more are on the ground. One of the best places in town to watch the changing leaves is Astoria Park. If you've got some time, head on over and chill out in our lovely gem of a park.

Last weekend I checked out the new Manducatis Rustica (46-31 Vernon Blvd) in Long Island City. What a great addition to the neighborhood! Probably my favorite thing was an amazing tomato, mozz, and basil sandwich. Everything was incredibly fresh. Pizza was good, too, as well as the gelato. The coconut was particularly good, as was the vanilla. They make it all in store, and it's wonderful. Definitely check it out.

Lastly, warm congratulations to our newest Joey, Judith! She's getting married this weekend and we wish her lots of happiness!

Astorian Weekend Edition 22.05.08

Looking forward to Memorial Day weekend? We are! The weather is looking sunny and warm and that means plenty of fun outdoor activities in the 'hood, such as…

This Saturday, May 24th, get in touch with your creative side—build a recyclable kite at Socrates Sculpture Park, using old shopping bags. This workshop is lead by artists, Miwa Koizumi and Marco Scoffier, starting at noon.

Not into recyclable art? You can also stop at Socrates Sculpture Park for a Saturday workout session. Choose between Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts). Most classes last for one hour. Socrates Sculpture Park - 32-01 Vernon Blvd. 718.956.1819

Looking for something cultural to do after the park? Visit the Noguchi Museum, directly across the street. It's a neat little museum (as in literally, small), which focuses on Japanese modern sculpture and design. If you're interested in a free tour, make sure to arrive by 2p. The Noguchi Museum - 9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard). 718. 204.7088

Brunch it up, Astoria style and finish off with something sweet. Try 718 for their spectacular prix-fix brunch. It's a bit of a splurge for $22 but the quality of the food is worth it. If you skipped dessert at brunch, walk a couple of blocks down to Ditmars and 29th Street and visit La Guli Pastry Shop—their cannoli kiss is to die for. 718 – 35-01 Ditmars Blvd. 718.204.5553. La Guli - 29-15 Ditmars Blvd. 718.728.5612

Enjoy some nice, cold "bruha" at The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden but beware of the holiday weekend crowds—they'll be enormous so the earlier you get there, the better. Interested in working at the Beer Garden? Click here. Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue. 718.274.4925.

Can't get into the Beer Garden because of the crowds? Visit The Sparrow across the street, a local neighborhood bar owned by the same people who ran Tupelo and also the ice-creamery, Oleput. They have great beer on tap and a fun, laid-back atmosphere. The Sparrow – 24-01 29th Street. 718.606.2260.