Astorian Weekend Edition 31.07.08

I love summer! There's always so much to do. Here is selection of things for the weekend:

Comedy in Queens: The Secret Theatre and The Queens Players present a festival of original comedy one acts from emerging NYC writers. On the final night (Saturday, August 2) you have a chance to see all the plays back to back. Program 1 starts at 5.30 and then program 2 at 8.30. A double ticket is only $20 and of course the closing night party will feature their famous and FREE BBQ!! The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St. in LIC, 718-392-0304.

Family Day: A free days of crafts, games, face painting, inflatable rides, & more! Saturday August 2, 12:00–4:00 p.m., PS 112/Dutch Kills Playground, off of 37 Avenue in Astoria.

Rock at the Rover: AM Preacher plays on Saturday, August 2 at 10:30 p.m. at the Irish Rover. 37-18 28th Ave in Astoria.

Hellgate Social Happenings: DJ Lo-Fi is on the 1's and 2's with some new wave, old school hip-hop, and electro. Saturday August 2nd. Sunday Night Cinema presents Red Dawn. Patrick Swayze, communists, and World War III - watch out! Hellgate Social, 12-21 Astoria Blvd, 718-204-8313.

Art is the New Black: An art showcase featuring four unique local artists (Chris Hingel, Anne Schellhorn, Raul Morales, Stefany Mohebban). Free! August 1, 8:30-11p.m. at Freeze Peach Cafe. 22-00 29th Street.

Astorian Weekend Edition 24.07.08

From a new pet boutique to music and movie events, Astoria and LIC have it going on this weekend.

Check out restaurant week at the high-end Water's Edge restaurant. They're fussy and you need to put your credit card down for a reservation but the place guarantees and evening to remember. $35 prix-fix menu from 7.21 -7.25; 7.28 – 8.1. Water's Edge – 4-01 44th Drive, LIC. 718.482.0033

Kafene is also a fun spot on the weekends. They offer delicious appetizers and drinks for a fair price and the ambiance is fabulous. If you go for brunch, you can walk over to Astoria Park after, just a few blocks away. Kafene - 23-08 Hoyt Avenue South, Astoria. 718.274.6525.

If you have a pet or want to meet one of the cutest bulldogs named Oscar, visit The Jumping Bulldog pet boutique on 23rd Avenue. Tanja the owner is lovely and welcoming, offering a friendly atmosphere, useful pet products and even some adorable outfits for your four legged friends. The Jumping Bulldog – 28-10 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 917.576.7380.

Come on by to Astoria Park's The Great Lawn for the first annual Astoria Music Now festival. The event is free and will feature various music acts such as Little Creatures, Bliminal, Pop Mafia, I Am Darien and more. This is a full day event so come prepared to party from Noon to 9p. Astoria Park, The Great Lawn – Ditmars & 19th Street, Astoria.

Every Tuesday until August 26th, enjoy Queens' finest artists and performers at the Live at the Gantries event series. Next week features a concert from a student jazz ensemble from York College. Gantry Plaza State Park - 50-50 2nd Street, LIC. 718.786.6385

And don't forget to check out the free screening of We Need Girlfriends at LIC Bar. Watch some of the episodes and even mingle with the talent on-site. Thursday, July 24th from 8p – Midnight. LIC Bar – 45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718.786.5400

More Fame in the hood

Tomorrow night, Thurs the 24th there's going to be a free screening of the Astorian made "We Need Girlfriends" at the LIC Bar (45-58 Vernon Blvd (cnr of 46th Ave)between 8pm and Midnight. You'll be able to peep some of their best episodes which were produced right here in our sweet ole town. This isn't just a flash in the pan either, the series has just been picked up by CBS and is being written up left and right!

There will be some of the actors and creators on hand at the event if you were looking to network or pick someone's brain. The event is free but you must RSVP with number of guests at licfilmnight@gmail.com.

Have fun keeping an eye out for some of your favorite local haunts!

Oh and if you get there right at 8 you get to enjoy a free hour of Radeberger... just sayin... might help to coax you out ;)

A Project Runway-er from Astoria

Image by bravotv.com

Having things to watch, like quality reality TV (ehem) makes the summer that much more enjoyable. One of those shows happens to be my favorite Bravo series, Project Runway. Now in it's 5th season, the show seems to be coming back to full circle, starting off with the very first food challenge from Season 1. Running out of ideas Heidi? Nevertheless, there is something interesting that's keeping us watching. A fellow Joey reader, Joe sent us an email today about one of Runway's contestants, Stella Zotis. She's a goth, rocker chick who almost got eliminated in the first episode. And..she's an Astorian! Check out her bio below and make sure you tune-in to see how she does in the next episode.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Joe!

STELLA ZOTIS, 42, Astoria
Fashion credentials: Self-taught, former punk-rock makeup artist; makes custom leather and denim pieces for rock stars.
New York fashion inspiration: "I'm inspired by the New York rock scene, especially at places like CBGB, where I went to my first matinee in 1982, and L'Amours East in Forest Hills, where I went to see the Ramones."
Celebrity you would most like to dress: "I'd love to make a pair of pants for Keith Richards."

Bio by the New York Daily News

Astorian Weekend Edition 17.07.08

Start the weekend in song. The 2008 Waterfront Concert Series starts up tonight with 1910 Fruitgum Company at 7:30 p.m. Bring a blanket to the Astoria Park lawn (Shore Blvd. between Hell Gate Bridge and the Pool) and enjoy the chill atmosphere.

If you needed reminding, Winegasm (21-86 37th St) is a great place to check out Friday night for themed music nights. Take our word for it: the bacon-wrapped prunes are the bomb!

I was already a fan of Sai Organics (30-21 30th Ave), but now that I found out you can get some classes there, I think I love them even more! Saturday 2 to 5 p.m., catch the CSA/Greenmarket Class (Tickets are $85 each or $150 for two. $10 of every ticket to benefit The Hunger Action Network of New York State and The New York City Coalition Against Hunger). For more info and to rsvp, write to skoullias@gmail.com.

Random but I think a good bit to know -- we still have a tattoo parlor here! I thought they were all closed by now. Fat Cat Tattoos has a semi-new location under the subway line at 31-32 31St St. Stop in and get to know your local artist. Who knows what you could end up with, no need to head into the city!
And just because I love where I live, thought you would also enjoy this cute view of Astoria Park.

Ugly Betty Taping in Astoria

We got an email this morning from a fellow reader, Jason who hails from the Ditmars area. During his morning jog near Astoria Park, he encountered Silvercup Studios trucks announcing the taping of ABC's Ugly Betty. How cool! If you're in the nabe, go on and take a peek.

I also got an announcement about Ugly Betty's taping from Bistro 33, where the actual episode will be recorded this Friday.

What great exposure for Astoria!

Jason snapped these pics for you to enjoy--thanks Jason.

Winegasm - A Group Tasting Worth Repeating

Earlier this week, Meg, Sooz and I went to Winegasm for a generous tasting of wine and food, suggested to us by its owners. An incredible time was had by all and we'll surely keep this place on our list of favorites. The wine choices were impeccable and the small plates of food were divine. Meg, Sooz and I split everything, which was the way to go--we ate in small portions and sampled a lot. Below you'll find some of the delicious grub we tasted and I'll let Meg and Sooz cover off the wine in a later posting. Enjoy!

Gasm Dip - This caught Meg's eye immediately and it consisted of a puree of beans, carrots and truffle oil with melba chips. It was tasty but definitely not my favorite thing here--partly because of the strange flavoring. I thought that I tasted tarragon or some sort of licorice spice, which I wasn't a fan of. Meg and I were saying that we prefer the carrot dip at Mundo.

Bacon Wrapped Prunes - This sounded amazing on the menu and it's one of my standouts of the night. The exterior was crunchy, smoky and salty from the bacon while the inside was ooey, gooey and sweet from the prunes. It tasted like a dessert and a tapa in one! I highly recommend it, especially if you're drinking red wine.

Fresh Crab Cakes with Arugula Salad - These were suggested by Winegasm and we absolutely devoured them--the crabmeat was super fresh and flavored with lemony parsley and red peppers. The crab cakes were bite sized and their flavor was enhanced when dipped into the spicy mayo and vinaigrette dip. The arugula salad was a nice touch too, providing zest and freshness to the dish.

Molten Lava Cake and Orange Chocolate Mousse - We needed to cap off our night with something sweet and chocolatey so we selected these two favorites. Both were amazing and beautifully presented. The Molten Lava cake was garnished with silky raspberry sauce--it was so soft and rich inside that we had to switch off between that and the mousse. The mousse was also fabulous, with a tart orange flavor from the Grand Marnier. It was garnished elegantly with orange peel and creme fraische. Both desserts were beautiful, decadent dishes that should be tried at least once.

To view some of the other goodies we sampled, click here for a full review.

Winegasm - 31-86 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.932.3331
N/W Train to Broadway
www.winegasmeatery.com

Astorian Weekend Edition 10.07.08

This weekend provides a number of opportunities to contribute to your community! First, on Saturday is the Shoreline Cleanup at Astoria Park. From 1-4 p.m that day come join your fellow Astoria residents to help clean up the shoreline. Gloves will be provided as well as trash bags. Meet at the War Memorial on Shore Blvd. Wear comfy clothes and durable shoes - that means no sandals or flip flops (glass and crud, gross). Older kids and teens should be accompanied by a parent.

Saturday night come by Fresh Start Market (29-13 23rd Avenue) for a night of live music by Agua Trip, wine, cheese, and freelance photography to raise money for Smile Train, the world's leading cleft surgery charity. The event is in their back garden patio and goes from 7-9 p.m.

On Sunday, Seeds of Love is having their first sale of the summer. The proceeds from this sidewalk sale will go to help 9- year old cancer fighter Jessica Easle. She has Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer and has relapsed recently. The sale lasts from 2-7 p.m. at 24-37 Crescent Street. Free gift while supplies last, too!

On Friday night, the Whiskey Dregs are doing an open mic night at Freeze Peach (22-00 29th Street). Bring whatever you want. This is a free for all. Hosted by Carlos Detres, and signups start at 8 p.m.

On Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., head down to Queensbridge Park for CityParks Dance: Eleone Dance Theatre & Silver Brown Dance Company. Free!

And remember that one way to beat the heat (it's supposed to be hot and humid) is a dip in Astoria Pool. Otherwise, grab some ice cream! There's great gelato at La Guli (29-15 Ditmars) and Martha's Bakery (36-21 Ditmars), and ice cream at Igloo (22-26 31st Street), ColdStone (34-20 Broadway) and Baskin Robbins (multiple locations). If you know other ice cream/gelato sources, please share in the comments.

Astorian Weekend Edition 03.07.08

Not sure about your plans for the 4th? Although this weekend may be quiet in the city, there are plenty of fun happs in Astoria.

Visit the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden for their 4th of July Festival. They'll serve over 40 types of beers and have a live band on-site. Drink, party and celebrate Independence day at this outdoor haven--but get there early because seating is hard to come by. $5 admission. 19-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 718.274.4925

Enjoy a nice brunch at our favorite neighborhood hangout, Bistro 33. I recently tried their blueberry pancakes (picture above) and they're out of this world. The cranberry mimosa is also a nice complement to brunch. 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.721.1933

This Saturday, check out the 6th Annual NYC Musical Saw Festival. You'll enjoy the music of about 20 saw players from around the world as well as an exhibition featuring musical saw paintings and a video installation. The music starts at 2p at Trinity Church - 31-18 37th Street, Astoria. $10 at the door.

Also on Saturday, keep Astoria Park sparkling and join the Post Independence Day Clean-Up. You can meet your fellow cleaner uppers at the bottom of the green lawn on Shore Blvd from 7a - 9a. For more information contact, astoria_park_alliance@googlegroups.com

Final reminder: The Great Astoria Water Balloon Fight and Picnic has been moved to this Saturday. Meet at Noon sharp at 19th Street between Hoyt Avenue North & 24th Road and water balloon fight till you drop!

Gluten-Free Dining Event at Mundo

Please note: you cannot make your reservations for this event through Mundo. You must sign up for the event through the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup Group!


Thanks to a post on astorians.com, I learned that Mundo is doing a gluten-free prix fixe meal on Monday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Mundo is one of my favorite restaurants in town, so I'm very happy to learn they are trying this out. No, I'm not gluten-intolerant, I just think it's cool. Here's the info, from the Celiac meetup group:

Join us for a pre-fixe dinner at Mundo Cafe & Restaurant in Astoria, Queens. Mundo Cafe & Restaurant has a vegetarian friendly menu and they are now reaching out to support the gluten-free community. Please join us on July 9th for a quaint dinner at Mundo. Space is limited, so please reserve your seat today. Please only respond YES if you know you can make it to this event.

Pre-Fixe Menu
$35/person excludes tax & tip
Additional wine, champagne & beverages are available.
(if you are attending the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup, you must purchase the pre-fixe dinner)

Starter
Gazpacho - Spanish Chilled Vegetable Soup
Appetizer Platter
(dips served w/corn chips)
Carrot Dip
Eggplant Dip
Wheat-free Red Sonja
Zucchini stuffed w/ Caramelized Onions

Main Course (pick one)
Grilled Portabella Mushroom & Baby Arugula w/flaky parmesan & balsamic vinaigrette
- OR -
Shrimp Casserole in tomato, green pepper and garlic sauce topped with jack & cheddar
cheese w/ a side of white rice & greens
- OR -
Vegetarian Chili w/gluten-free textured soy protein and a side of white rice & greens
- OR -
Egyptian Artichokes & fava beans Artichoke bottoms filled with carrots, peas & shallots
w/side of favabeans

Dessert
Mundo's heavenly flourless Chocolate Souffle topped w/ vanilla ice cream

$35/person excludes tax & tip
Additional wine, champagne & beverages are available.
31-18 E Broadway (at 32nd St)
Astoria, Queens

Directions to Mundo:
Subway: Take the N or W train to Broadway station (Astoria). Walk one block up to 32nd Street and make a right.

Fireworks! Fireworks!

Although Independence Day is this coming Friday, with a great fireworks display by the city, Astoria still holds their own. Head to Astoria Park on Monday June 30 to see the show. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and your friends! The Glen Miller Orchestra will play classic favorites to accompany the Grucci Fireworks Display. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., best view is from the Astoria Park Lawn (Shore Blvd between Hellgate Bridge and the pool). I went last year and had a great time. It's fun for everyone!

Astoria Park Alliance Meeting This Tuesday

Are you interested in helping maintain the health of Astoria Park? Do you spend time there? Do you love this gem of Astoria?

On Tuesday, come check out the meeting of the Astoria Park Alliance! This is a group, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month, is dedicated to helping out the park for all Astorians. Here are the details:

When: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Steinway Reformed Church, corner of Ditmars Blvd and 41st Street.
Who: Everyone is welcome!

Photo credit: Meg Cotner

The Jumping Bulldog is Coming

I noticed a very unusual and interesting poster in a storefront on 23rd Avenue. The sign said "The Jumping Bulldog, Coming Soon", which will be trendy boutique, catering to our four legged friends--something that Astoria does not yet have. I'm excited for this shop to come to town but don't yet have an idea of when exactly it's coming. They do have a website url displayed on the poster, http://www.jumpingbulldog.com/ but like the poster, it doesn't reveal much information. We'll report back when we know more but thought we'd send out this alert to keep ya'll on the lookout as well.

The Jumping Bulldog - 28-10 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.jumpingbulldog.com

Astorian Weekend Edition 26.06.08

Tonight at Waltz (23-14 Ditmars), enjoy A Night With The Whiskey Dregs. 8 to 11 p.m. come enjoy the free event, full of music, poetry, and storytelling. There will also be some limited open mic time, so if that's your deal, get there early to sign up!

Don't forget the community meeting tonight about the Con Ed/Fed Ex sale. It will effect everyone.

If you haven't been by the Freeze Peach (22-09 29th St) lately, pay them a little visit on Friday and check out the new set-up. Some things moved around, some things changed, but same great drinks. There will also be carry over performances by the people from The Whiskey Dregs from last night. Looks like they are testing out a monthly gig.

Try the vast wine selection at Rést-âü-Ránt (corner of 35th Ave & 30th St.) and relax the Saturday away while nibbling on cheese and meats platters, too. I stopped in there a few weeks back and it was really quite charming. They open up the one wall (foto above) to let in the air and light, almost makes you feel like you're outside. Another plus, great music selection and not too loud either!

Sunday should be a blast- literally. Hit the park for the Great Astoria Water Balloon Fight! Bring your own artillery, or join the Meetup group and pay $5 and they will supply you with some flying water bombs. There will also be a picnic of sorts going on as part of the Meetup group so if you are interested, inquire with them. Meet at noon between 23rd Rd and Hoyt Ave.

UPDATE: The Great Astoria Water Balloon Fight! is being moved to next weekend 07.05.08. Stay tuned to their site.

Important Community Meeting!

I just received this in my mailbox - please attend if you can!


What: Get an update on the proposed sale of 21.29 acres of Con Ed property at 18-01 20th Avenue (M 3-1 Zoning District); buyer/developer Steel Equities for FedEx ground facility.
Guest speakers:

*Senator George Onorato
*Assemblyman Micahel Gianaris
*Councilmember Peter Vallone, Jr.
*Joseph Lostritto- President, Steel Equities
*Chris Shea - Fed Ex
*Hiram Rothkrug - Director Environmental Project Data Co.

When: Thursday, June 26th, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Augustana Lutheran Church, 69-05 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria Heights
Sponsored by: United Community Civic Association

Everyone Loves Cookies

This, is reaching, for sure. But I've always felt that Astorians have a special connection to Sesame Street. (It's filmed right down the street in Kaufman Astoria Studios.) This is an awesome clip from the Colbert Report last week to brighten up everyone's Monday.

Astorian Weekend Edition 19.06.08

Happy Solstice Weekend! According to my sources, the Summer Solstice officially occurs on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. EDT. One of the best solstice events I've been to is at Socrates Sculpture Park, which means it's local... and free! It's a great event for the entire family. This year's event is on Saturday, and there will be music, art, face painting, and more! Festivities start at 5 p.m.

As reported earlier this week, a great summer meal can be had at Mundo (31-18 Broadway #E). I loved the cherry soup, and my other two fave items are the carrot dip and Red Sonja. The warm semolina helva is phenomenal - I've not had anything like it.

One of the things I like to drink in the summer is fresh juice. Both Igloo (22-11 31st St) and Soho (22-26 31st St) have impressed me with their fresh juices. I'm partial to the carrot-apple-orange at Soho and the carrot-apple at Igloo. Igloo also has smoothies with Tasti-D-Lite. The juice and smoothies are particularly good after a nice workout, too.

There's stuff going on at PS1 (22-25 Jackson Ave, LIC), too! That Was Then...This Is Now starts on Sunday, inspired by artistic and socio-political climate of the late 1960s. The installation "PF1 (Public Farm One)" should be ready for harvesting this Sunday as well.

Mundo in the Summer

Mentioning Mundo's Summer Menu last week, Meg and I went over there to try it first-hand. We loved what we had and are excited for a summer of delicious Mundo nights.

Below you'll find a sampling of some of the dishes we tried. If you'd like to view our entire 9 course tasting menu, click here. Enjoy!

Hungarian Cherry Soup: This was our first dish of the night and it was even better than the first time I had it. There were plenty of sour cherries in it and the chilled taste was fabulously refreshing, especially on a hot day. The last time I had it, its coloring was a little light (and not the most appetizing-looking) but this time it was perfect and very cherry-like. Meg seemed impressed and we both guzzled our soups down with gusto.

Red Sonjas: Mundo's signature dish couldn't be ignored and while Meg was looking forward to it, I was feeling lukewarm about it, based on my previous experience. But what arrived on our plates was so much more than my first mediocre tasting. These red lentil patties were absolutely delectable--soft and flavored perfectly with parsley, scallions and a hint of garlic. The best part was wrapping them in the fresh lettuce leaves like bundles of precious cargo. I could've eaten at least three--and they were filling too.

Ottoman Dumplings: I was excited to have these for a second time and once again, they proved why this dish stays on Mundo's menu the entire year. The dumpling dough is exquisite and you can tell that it's handmade. As you're eating each once, you can imagine one of the Mundo chefs individually pinching the dough together to make a rustic triangle. The dumplings are stuffed with ground beef and topped with a fragrant garlic-yogurt sauce. It's fun to incorporate the sauce in all the dumplings and enjoy them in their full, creamy glory. This dish is more than a stand-out, it's a show-stopper.

Warm Semolina Helva: We couldn't believe that we had room for dessert. Well, we didn't but we ate it anyway because it was outstanding. The semolina exterior was warm and cinnamony while the interior was filled luxuriously with vanilla ice cream. A spoonful of this hot and cold combination put a satisfied smile on our faces. The crunchy pistachios were a great topping that enhanced the flavor of both the semolina and the rich ice cream. Meg and I were happy to split this, as I think it's a bit indulgent for one person.

The staff here is lovely and they pour their hearts and souls into the food. Once you start chatting with them, you won't want to stop. John, the Executive Chef is especially nice and a very genuine guy who loves what he does.

Mundo - 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria, NY 11106

718.777.2829

N/W Train to Broadway

www.mundoastoria.com

Astorian Weekend Edition 12.06.08

The heat wave is finally over and we're psyched to be up and about this weekend. Don't forget Father's Day this Sunday—Astoria has plenty of fun things to do with Dad.

Mundo, the intimate eclectic eatery will be offering their new summer menu so stop in and try it. We'd suggest calling now to make a reservation, as weekends get busy. Mundo – 31-18 Broadway, Store #E, Astoria. 718.777.2829

Want to volunteer at the famous P.S.1 Warm Ups this summer? You'll help run one of the most energetic and fun music events in this city. Warm Ups start in July and volunteer training starts in 2 weeks. P.S.1 MOMA - 22-25 Jackson Avenue, LIC. 718.784.2084.

Watch the 2008 Euro Cup with Dad at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden. Toast to the winning team with a nice cold Czech beer in hand, and make sure you get there as early as humanly possible to beat the crowds. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 718.274.4925.

You can also catch the Euro Cup at most 30th Avenue cafes such as Athens (32-07 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.626.2164), Avenue (35-27 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.278.6967) and Grand Café (37-01 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.7321). But like we suggest above, get there early to grab a seat.

Want to get a festive Father's Day cake for Dad? Visit, Dolce Italia Bakery for some tasty creations—and while you're there, check out their new spins on sweet classics such as a
giant Black and White cookie and a Nutella filled Linzer Tart. Dolce Italia Bakery – 36-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.278.4188.

Treat Dad to one of the best steak dinners he'll ever have—take him to Christos Steakhouse. There's no special menu for Father's Day but then again, they don't need to have one (see picture above). Lunch service will start 3 hours earlier than usual on Sunday (Noon vs. 3p). Christos Steakhouse - 41-08 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.8400

Mundo's Summer Menu

Starting at the end of next week, the eclectic Mundo Cafe will be offering a summer menu. Some of their staple dishes such as Red Sonja's, Ottoman Dumplings and Argentinian empanadas will remain but there will be other seasonal specialties too.

I happen to be a big fan of this place because of its intimate charm and interesting menu selection. The weekends get busy so give a call or check out their website for a reservation.

I'm going over there this week to sample the new menu and will report back with highlights. One of my favorite things from last year was the Hungarian Cherry Soup (pictured above)--it reminds me of the refreshing, chilled soup that my grandmother used to make for me back in Slovakia.

Check out Mundo this summer--it's really unlike anything you'll ever try in this 'hood.

Mundo Cafe & Restaurant

31-18 Broadway, Store #E
Astoria, NY 11106
718.777.2829

http://www.mundoastoria.com/