Astorian Weekend Edition 13.04.07

[this edition highlights both Astoria and Astorians...]

Did you know that Saturday, April 14 is the National Day of Climate Action? Indeed it is. Step It Up is putting together numerous actions around the country, and NYC is contributing the Sea of People action, noon on Saturday (more here). Why do I mention it? Our own Joey is gonna be part of it!

This whole weekend will be rainy, which is great weather to say inside and relax. Maybe go see a movie (and catch some cool demonstrations while you're there) Or tweet with your friends. Maybe finally sign up for the local CSA season.

If you feel like venturing out - perhaps a to take a break from your taxes - P.S.1 presents Sarah Sze for a gallery talk about her work on Saturday at 3:00 pm. At the Noguchi, you can catch the end of Shin Banraisha: A Cultural Memory. For more cultural stimulation, the Lost Dog Music Ensemble, Astoria's premiere new music group, is playing a concert. It's at Tenri, but the group is comprised of lots of Astoria musicians.

If you happen to be dining at Mundo this weekend, take a look at the walls where you'll find paintings by local Queens artist Kenneth Yee. I love places in town that show art! Other great places to see art while eating/drinking are Fatty's, Freezepeach, and while there's no local art up on the walls, I love the decor at Cafe Bar. And on the subject of cafes, I've heard that Cafe Henri (1010 50th Ave. in LIC) has broadened their menu and improved a whole bunch of things there. Check it out!

And I can't forget to mention the Greek Independence Parade this Sunday! I'm sure many of my Greek neighbors will be on 5th Ave that afternoon. It starts at 1pm, but will be shown on FOX, 1:30-3:30pm.

More fun, here.

I love the Irish Rover

I really do. As a heathen on Easter, it was a nice place to be. Great pint of Harp, baseball on the main TV, and music at a reasonable level. They have a great jukebox, by the way.

Dutch Kills in the News

The Times has a recent article, Thinking Big at a Time Others Are Thinking Small, regarding the call from some Dutch Kills residents for upzoning instead of downzoning, a subject that is talked so much about these days when it comes to the bugaboo of overdevelopment. Some feel that if development doesn't come to Dutch Kills, "the neighborhood will atrophy and die." For those not in the know, Dutch Kills is in northern LIC, its southern border pretty much at the Queensboro Bridge.

[Sidebar: do you call it the Queensboro Bridge or the 59th Street Bridge?]

LICNYC also brings the article to light.

Anyway, read the article, make up your mind. I don't know Dutch Kills very well, but the article makes me want to explore it and see their mix of residential and industrial use.

Astorian Weekend Edition 06.04.07

Hooray for funky new shops opening up near home! If you missed Site's grand opening yesterday, it's no problem: stop in Friday and welcome them with some shopping action. They are setting up shop in the south side of town, 35-11 34th Ave which is also very cool. Their myspace says they are into "well designed objects, vintage must haves, retro fabrics, yellow, glitter, bling, oh-la-la, stripes and polka dots, femme ornament, high gloss shine, edison bulbs, pretty little feathers, lightning, gemstones, cupcakes, periwinkle and purple, hot off the press art, nature, science, and the whole big bang." Fit what you're looking for?

Being around the corner from Cafe Bar (32-90 36th St) makes it oh so easy to stop there afterwards for a nosh, go crepe crazy!

Seems like forever since I've stopped in to Crescent Lounge (32-05 Crescent St.). Saturday night (and most other nights too) from 5-8 daily they have all kinds of drink specials!
Gotta love Rizzo's, and since I'm reminiscing about Crescent- might as well pay them a visit too. After all the happy hour action, grab a deal with 2 slices and a coke (used to be $5 way back when, lets see if it's still a bargain!)

If you want to spend the day outside with all the spring in the air, dust off your Japanese skills and take in a free tour of the Noguchi Museum (9-01 33rd Road @ Vernon). It's free with admission, but remember- it will be in Japanese! For tour info and all the other goodies from them, stop in or check www.noguchi.org

No egg hunts or bunny visits for you? Be happy anyways! First we had Tuesday nights with Matt Taylor at Waltz, now the chuckles will be coming to Stini Yiamas (35-03 Ditmars Blvd) on Sunday nights! Easter Sunday at 9pm, let the comedic stylings of our very own sidewalk chalker keep you entertained. Stay later and enjoy the after party with Matt as the DJ!

My peeps in the hood :)

If you didn't know it before, you know it now- I am Portuguese. First generation born in the US. I grew up in NJ in a very very very Portuguese neighborhood where the food shopping and eating out was very authentic. For 25 years i took for granted all the fresh and delicious homemade offerings at my fingertips! Moving to NY, even though it is only an hour away- left me craving mom's cuisine. Yes there are tons of Brazilian restaurants around but as good as they are, that's not the real deal. Well my friends, that's all changed now. Arcos (33-05 Broadway) has opened! There had been some chatter of a new place opening and that ...it would be a Portuguese restaurant. After stopping over there to verify this, I saw it with my own eyes! That was 2 weeks ago. This past Sunday April 1, they opened for business. Last night on my way home i decided to stop in and check it out. Chef/Owner Joe came out of the kitchen to talk shop a little. Oh how happy was I to be able to talk food in Portuguese! Half the time I don't know what the English translation of most of the dishes are anyway, so it was a lot easier to gush about them all in the original language.

I don't have a whole lot to say yet, i plan on really scrutinizing the menu and tasting more then any girl watching her figure should, but i couldn't leave without getting one of my favorite dishes to go- Carne de Porco a Alentejana. It's little pork cubes and potatoes and clams (and sometimes shrimp and chorico too) in a zesty/garlicky brown sauce served with rice and a squeeze of lemon. It was quite tasty indeed, but since i had a very specific quality in mind, i don't think it quite hit the 5 star mark i was hoping for. It should have come with some bread and a wedge of lemon for sure, you can't eat Portuguese without bread! And the side of mashed potatoes-although good, were redundant with the lightly fried potatoes in the dish proper. I loved the rice! oh how i loved it. It was perfect!!! The clams were yumm too (if a bit large). Lastly, the pork pieces tasted great but i think they should have been smaller. All the parts of the dish should be uniformly about 1 inch square (imo). All in all, for $11 it was a great dinner. More then enough to share too. Not enough for 2 meals, but definitely a good shareable dish.

They don't offer delivery yet, but you can call ahead for carry out. I had a menu but darn it if i didn't forget it there! It was much smaller then the huge selection for dining in, but it had a wide variety of offerings for sure. Liquor- not yet, another new place that has to wait forever and a day for their license! Good news is that most Portuguese wines fall way under the $10 mark for decent dinner pairings and more and more local stores are carrying them. Bring a couple!

So yeah, i am extremely happy about Arcos in Astoria. Already planning a big party with my closest 20 friends to really test out their menu. If you've never had Portuguese, please go and enjoy. Some of it may not be pretty (we've been known to leave a head on once or twice) but you can be sure that its made with love and will warm your heart.

I promise you more pictures, price points and my honest pros and cons for sure.

Arcos Churasqueira
33-05 Broadway, Astoria
718-204-2142

Noshwalk this month

Saturday April 28th, join in on the eating fun with Noshwalks. Foodies galore trek around the neighborhood and visit several of Astoria's many cultural markets and restaurants. They've come to the area before, so if you missed it last year- here's another chance. They are meeting at 2:30 @ El Sitio de Astoria (35-55 31st St.) Most walks go about 2.5-3 hours so wear your comfy feet! I think they usually charge around $33 including all the nibbling, but check with the site and register there. I don't see why this wouldn't wouldn't be awesome, Astoria Rocks!

Astorian Weekend Edition 30.03.07

This weekend should be pretty nice, with average spring temperatures and the chance for a little rain, It's also a big one for our religious neighbors in Astoria: Palm Sunday occurs for both the western and orthodox churches, and Saturday brings Mawlid Al Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed. If you live near 23rd Avenue and 36th Street, you'll no doubt see a lot of activity, as there is both a mosque and the Greek monastery a block away from each other.

Recently I've discovered the availibilty of delicious fresh juices in the neighborhood. I can vouch for the tasty carrot-apple juice at Igloo, and the carrot-apple-ginger (detoxlicious!) at Cafe Bar. Trusted sources tell me that
Bianca's Bakery also serves up some great fresh juice as well. I sometimes find fresh juices to be more invigorating that coffee. However, if you are looking for a great coffee, definitely check out the cappucino at Sparrow. They do a great job of brewing strong, yet smooth espresso, and their steamed milk is excellent. I had one a few weeks ago and was really impressed. Maybe get yourself a bastard while you're there?

On Friday, Waltz presents singer-songwriter Wendy Colonna at 9pm. She's from Austin and is described as a "bluesy Joan Osbourne". $10 Cover, $7 drink minimum. They are also having their monthly wine event on Saturday at 9pm. Great wine, cheese, bread, etc, plus Song and Bethany Rose on piano, all for $25. On Friday and Saturday at 8pm Genesis Repertory will present Romeo & Juliet: Jerusalem at the Greek Cultural Center (27-18 Hoyt Ave. South). Also, this is the last weekend to catch Richard Garrison's Perimeters at the Chocolate Factory.

More fun, here.

A new something

Could be a bar, a restaurant, lounge, club? Apollon is on Steinway and an Ave. above Ditmars i think. I spaced on writing down the cross street. I was walking along just checking out the area and it just struck out to me. Looks quite nice. Guess we'll have to check back in in a a week or so, the opening can't be too far off. Anyone out there have any info?

Astorian Weekend Edition 23.03.07

Friday night stop at the ATM and try out the new Island Cafe & Lounge (35-15 36th Street). It's brand new and helmed by Top Chef contestant Josie Smith-Malave. It's definitely a new kinda place for the hood; let's see how they do. If their $11 drinks scare you off, try out the huge fishbowl-sized caipirinhas at Time Cafe! (44-18 Broadway) For a mere $8, you'll be sipping for at least a half hour. Tasty indeed and such a cute space (see photo).

Saturday go window shopping or actual shopping at the coolest random item store around! It's Marco Polo Gift House (44-10 30th Ave) to the rescue for those hard to shop for friends and loved ones.
Hungry from shopping, catch an early dinner at Aces (32-07 36th Ave). I had the skate there and LOVED it. After dinner let your ears be entertained by our pal DJ Lo-Fi, he'll be spinning over at the always hip and happening Hellgate Social. Fun with the tunes and always no cover- just like we like it. Ladies, count on RightRides when your ready to go home. No more long and lonely (and sometimes scary) walks to the train/bus/cab

Sunday head north. Not too far north, but up towards the park. The Ultimate Frisbee season is officially here! Hooray for Spring :) Need a break after tossing the disk around, find your way over to Freeze Peach where a bunch of folks are having a book swap around 2pm. Bring a book or two and find yourself something new to read.

Passover is Coming!

So, when I was a little girl, my parents converted to Judaism (if you've seen me, you'll find that hard to believe). We, of course, observed Passover, and it became my favorite celebration of the Jewish Year. During the seder on the first night (Monday, April 2 this year), wine plays a big part. Unfortunately, all we had at that point was the cloyingly sweet Mogen David or Manischewitz. These days, there are many more options. Want to check some kosher wines out? Go by Vine Wine in LIC and participate in next Wednesday's tasting:

Wednesday March 28th, 6:30pm

Kosher Wines, for Kosher Times

I know, you think you are scared. Don't be. There are some fantastic kosher wines available now, and we will be tasting a few of them from around the world. So that you too can walk around secure in your knowledge of kosher wines and how delicious they can be.

Say No to Restaurants

Dear Readers -

I am happy to announce that here at Joey In Astoria we are welcoming a new occasional guest restaurant reviewer, Dr. No.

Dr. No fled Phoenix for the steamy underworld of late night restaurants and temperamental chefs in Gotham. She came to town a yes girl, but has been transformed through the fire of fine service into Dr. No, the waitress who is not afraid to give you what you really want, whether you know it or not.

Please welcome her in proper Astorian fashion. (Whatever the hell that is.)

New Feature-- A review of Aces Restaurant

Aces

36th ave between 32nd and 33rd Street

You know, I am one of those eaters who likes a sweet pea flan as much as a Jack in the Box taco in the right circumstances. I appreciate food from both sides of the tracks, if you will, as long as someone has loved it just a little before it has been dropped on the plate that I eat it from. But I tell you this-- if someone has loved the food a lot, even if it has other flaws.... well then, I am forever in their thrall.

This is the case with the new Aces. Three sets of my friends had directed me here by the time I finally made it in. A bitterly cold Saturday night found me sitting at the bar, alone, and waiting a bit too long to be greeted and offered a drink. (who does a girl have to fuck around here to get a drink?!??!!) But the waitress in me could see that it was just a case of too many customers and one too few waiter types. Truthfully, it was all I could do not to just get up and help them with the room, but I refrained and was glad I did, because it now means that I get to go back and be "the nice lady who tips well" instead of "the impatient lady who had to jump in and waitress because she could not wait for that cocktail."

So, indeed my bartender did arrive, and graciously offered me a drink. I chose a glass of wine, something I realize now was not a mistake, but not my strongest decision. I should have had one of his cocktails. His meaning the bartender/owner, Miguel. The reason being is that he is a damn good bartender, and in a city this big we fall into a false sense of complacency thinking that surely most bartenders are good, but let me tell you straight-- they are NOT. A truly good bartender is almost too good to be true, and you should shower your money and affections on the few who come along. Subsequent visits have brought many Mojitos, and although I have strong feelings about making a bartender use so much fresh mint in the dead of winter, (out of season!!!!) I can get over them for this mojito. He loves that sucker like nobody's business, and you the lucky drinker are thus rewarded. Not only that, but his old fashioneds are damn good too. A drinker's paradise.

That night I ate an app of Risotto-- with Huitlacoche!!!! In Astoria. Dude, huitlacoche is a fungus that grows on corn in Mexico and is deeeelicious. It is also curiously not present at most restaurants save high end fussy in Manhattan. What a treat to have it here. Creamy risotto-- not too wet, not too dry, with mushrooms and that black funk. Oh yeah. I finished, happily, and slid off my barstool into the night.

In other visits, I have had the clams, cooked in a white wine, butter and chorizo broth that we loved so much we upended the bowl and drank it, (good thing we have no shame) and this fun take on the french frisee et lardons salad, this one with long leaves of Romaine lettuce, poached egg, lardons and a crema fresca dressing. Springy and bright, that salad, plus the added bonus is that after you have broken the egg and it has oozed all over the lettuce, you can use the leaves as a shovel and scoop up the bits of everything else with your hands. It seems uncouth, but truly it is genius. A late night dinner brought the butternut squash soup, a tad salty but good, a gorgeously marbled Ribeye with a rosemary scented jus and some potato puree, and a crusted skate wing with a little too much balsamic redux on the plate but plenty of love nonetheless. And, I would like to mention, I believe that the skate was only $15 and the ribeye $20. That is a steal no matter how you look at it.

So, go see these guys. Take a night off from dining in the glossy halls of manhattan and do a little business in your neighborhood. The drinks are well mixed, the food is simple and well prepared and there is love going on your plate and in your glass. You can get the best, most expensive ingredients in the world and the hottest customers and the best press, but at the end of the day, it is only the guys who truly care about feeding you that make the difference. Go go go to Aces!


Aces: 36th ave between 32nd and 33rd Street
Open 7 days a week for dinner only
Cash only for now.

Pros: food is excellent and off the beaten path. Fresh, well thought out menu with stuff you want to eat. Reasonable prices, large portions, GREAT bartender, owned and operated by people who truly care.

Cons; service can be a bit slow-- kitchen could tighten time between courses. This should improve over time.

Some Updating

It seems like we always come across new and upcoming things right before they open or right when they open and haven't had a chance yet to check them out. So i thought it would be cool to take a look back at some of the "look out for..." and "coming soon..." posts we started.

• Netteria- saw it still with the paper over the windows back in January. Stopped in to the brand spankin new joint and grabbed a menu this afternoon. I can't say it looks all that promising since the lady behind the counter informed me that the prices are going to be going down a bit. Not the best location for a poor little cafe that could! It didn't look all that bad either. I'll be scanning the menu in tomorrow and will post a link here for the hungry masses.

*edited to add the menu for Netteria

• Megaro- i'm updating just for the sake of updating since the place hasn't looked open to me yet! I'm not sure if it has weird hours, or if they opened then closed in a blink of an eye or what- but the place definitley has not looked like its been up and in business since i saw it in January.

• T&H Mini Market- back in August i told you they had some cool random Asian snacks in the little market, well today i walked by and it was shuttered. 6:30pm on a monday night? Weird. Will keep an eye on it and see if it was just a fluke or if the poor folks are outtie.

• Wassi- well what can i tell you about this joint? We first told you about it way back in July. Then in January we saw that they closed. Then oh joy, last month- they were to open up as World News Cafe... I don't think that ever happened! So now as of last weeks weekend edition- we have Tell Astorya- a NEWer cafe in the spot. I passed it today and it is in fact open!

My mind is a blank for some of the other spots i should be revisiting. do you have any you can think of that were left up in the air? let me know and i'll set to investigating!

Jolt into Spring

All day Wednesday, March 21st celebrate the first day of spring with FREE coffee. Dunkin' Donuts is offering their first ever Free Iced Coffee Day. All day long, stop into any of these local locations and get yourself a free 16-ounce iced coffee. This goes for their flavored coffees too! I know you're all aflutter and whatnot... but its still cold out :( WIll that hinder your craving? Not mine!

•4322 Ditmars Blvd • 2524 Broadway • 3114 Ditmars Blvd • 3043 STEINWAY ST • 3117 30TH AVE • 4307 Astoria Blvd • 31st. St. • 3401 Broadway

Astorian Weekend Edition 16.03.07

Well, it looks like we'll be back to winter again, what with all the snow and cold weather coming. These are the kind of days that make you just want to stay inside and stay warm. However, it's St. Patrick's Day on Saturday! Time for parades, beer...and more beer. You can head over to Manhattan for the big parade at 11am, or stay in Astoria and watch it on tv. There are a lot of great Irish pubs in town, which I am sure will be celebrating - try the Irish Rover (28th Ave at 38th Street), McCanns (Ditmars and 37th Street), Cronin and Phelan's (Broadway near 38th Street) come to mind, among others. For a non-Irish setting, the Beer Garden is having a St. Patrick's Day celebration, starting at noon. They'll prepare a classic New England Boiled Dinner (corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes boiled in broth). They'll also have a live DJ playing a great variety of music in the downstairs restaurant starting at 10pm.

If you're not busy whooping it up with the Irish on Saturday, consider heading over to Athens Square (30th Avenue & 30th Street) from 5-7pm. There will be a vigil in conjunction with UFPJ's call for local actions around the fourth Anniversary of the Iraq war.

On Sunday, you can sober up at newly opened Tell Astoria Cafe (37-05 28th Ave), or have brunch at Dillinger's (30th Ave at 47th Street). That night at 7:30, Quiz Night is back at the Irish Rover! It's tons of fun, and you get a nice chunk of change if you win (I know - I was on the winning team a couple weeks ago!). Then at 9pm that night Hellgate Social will be screening blaxploitation masterpiece Three the Hard Way. Have a Hellgate Lemonade (my favorite house speciality cocktail) while you're watching.

More fun, here.

Reality bites

If you watch reality TV as religiously as i do then the name Josie from Top Chef will ring a bell. You'll also remember that she was uber cool but still lost :( It's our gain though!!! Look see what i yanked from this weeks Time Out:

Island Café & Lounge
Top Chef contestant Josie Smith-Malave, the spiky-coiffed ex–football player, heads the kitchen at this eclectic restaurant and café. The bi-level Mediterranean spot, with bamboo and river-stone walls, is home to the only four-head Cimbali espresso machine in the U.S. 35-15 36th St between 35th and 36th Aves, Long Island City, Queens (718-433-0690).

(so they call it LIC, i still consider it Astoria!)

RightRides hits the nabe!!!

You may have heard of this awesome program before- RightRides provides free transportation home for women, trans people and gender queer individuals. Well, now my lucky friends, they have oh so kindly entered our borough and landed right smack in the middle of where we need it! So far they cover 36th Ave. at the north to Queens Plaza East/31st and 28th Street at the east (i'm not exactly sure how that works out though- need to put in a phone call). Zipcar has kindly donated 3 vehicles for the volunteers to get people moving. RightRides is currently available every Saturday night from Midnight - 3 AM late night Saturdays (aka early Sunday morning) and the Dispatch number, should you need to call for a ride home is (718) 964-7781.

Get all the details on their site. Volunteer to drive around for the night or tag along with another driver. You never know, you might just need these peeps in your corner one night. I'm probably going to look into volunteering myself a few nights, i'm just a social freak so getting new people to talk to randomly on a Saturday night sounds like fun! And its a good thing :)

Marco Polo Gift House

Sunday just screamed "GET OUTSIDE", all too happily i did! After grabbing some brunch at Dillinger's, I headed back along 30th Ave towards Steinway. Out of the corner of my eye- an elephant stood. Oh yes, there was an elephant (statue anyway) on top of a minivan... Without hesitation I ran across the street to discover that this adorable leather elephant belonged to the Marco Polo Gift House - or as i'd like to re-christen it, the Store of Random Objects. They stock such a variety of knick knacks, things you would never imagine finding...all together. From skulls to piggies to suncatchers to mirrors to buddhas and more! The prices were right too, leaning on the window was an awesome celtic mirror about 3 feet high- $60. Might just have to stop back over for that one. They've got oils, soaps and incense as well. This could be quite the one stop shop for gift giving. I have no doubt that anyone can walk in there and easily find something for even the most ecletic friend. Super sweet staff too- gotta be to answer all the probing questions!

Give them a go- if for nothing else, for the sheer novelty of shop. Fun!

Marco Polo Gift House
44-10 30th Ave.

Astorian Weekend Edition 9.03.07

Friday March 9th, help set the record straight... or just set it anyway.

Go out to La Vuelta Bistro (10-43 44th Drive, Long Island City) anytime after 6pm and join in helping "the Transducer" make the Guinness World Record. It's a local fund-raiser called the Great Charity Spin. There is a catch though, Guinness requires two different witnesses for every four-hour period! Stop by if you want to be one of the 44 people needed. But wait- there's more- an art exhibit, wine tastings and belly dancers fill up the rest of the night.

All is good in the world again. I just discovered a kitty rescue right around the corner! The folks at Francis's Friends Inc. are doing their darndest to find homes for these little ones. If you can't take one in, they've got other stuff that your big heart can help with including volunteering and making tax-deductible donations of money, food, and litter.

Here we have sweet little Miss Benicia del Rio Blanco Gato. She's being fostered right now but has to go since her landlord didn't want her around! She's on their petfinder link if you're inclined...


Looking for a bottomless bloody mary or two? Dillingers Pub & Grill (46-19 30th Ave.) is here to oblige. Sundays from 11:30am to 3pm, munch on brunch. There are three choices for three different set prices, $9.95 food/no alcohol, $15.95 food & alcohol (there's your mimosa or bloody mary!), $18.95 food & alcohol & STEAK! A little something for everyone. I'm giving it a try this Sunday and will be reporting back...with pictures!

Candy Plum (30-98 36th St.) offers a freebie this weekend. Go see the ladies, mention "myspace," and walk out a proud winner of a lovely pair of earrings! Offer good only till Sunday, so do yourself a favor and check them out, especially if you still haven't after all of these months of us telling you about them!

Important Upcoming Meeting!

Astoria Park Meeting
Tuesday, March 13th, 6:30pm
Steinway Reformed Church
41-01 Ditmars Blvd at 41st Street

All are welcome!

Come join us for our continuing discussion regarding Astoria Park and the formation of an Astoria Park Friends group. Our last meeting brought together some nearby residents from throughout Astoria who are interested in working together to ensure the overall health of the park. But we need you, too!

We, a collective group of Astoria Park users, are interested in clean ups and gardening days, advocating for physical park improvements, partnering with other programs and events that take place in the park, environmental education, and creating literature/brochures. Please come join us to further refine these thoughts and add your own ideas at our second meeting.

If you have questions, please call Helen Ho at 718-520-5913 or e-mail at helen.ho@parks.nyc.gov.

Additional Weekend Fun

Forwarded to me from my friend Linda:

Set aside some time this weekend for sky watching. On Saturday night, March 3rd, there's going to be a total eclipse of the Moon. This means the Moon will glide through the heart of Earth's shadow and turn a beautiful shade of sunset red. Totality can be seen from parts of all seven continents including all of Europe and Africa and the eastern half of North America.

Visit spaceweather.com for observing tips, maps and links to live webcasts, and check out the Lunar Eclipse Gallery for photos from a similar eclipse in 2004.

Astorian Weekend Edition 02.03.07

Get ready for warmer weather this weekend! S-l-o-w-l-y we are inching toward spring, complete with rainshowers on Friday and Saturday. Sounds like an opportunity to stay indoors (and maybe order some truffles and tartes while you're at it), hang out at a local cafe, or go see a movie. By the way, did you know that admission to the AMMI galleries is free on Fridays from 4-8 pm?

Now, it has come to my attention that fun clothes live in Astoria. Stop by Candy Plum and take advantage of their new pieces - five new designers have arrived with new jewelry and clothing collections. Mimi's Closet also has a lot of beautiful clothes on sale, plus new spring lines are arriving. Same with KrisTees - her winter collection is on sale, and the beginning of her spring collection is on the racks as well. I stopped in to these places this week and saw all the lovely things available and they are definitely worth checking out.

Sparrow is now serving brunch on Sundays from 12-5pm. Mmmm...french toast. Sunday night, head over to Fatty's for their Sunday Night Social. And Lounge 47 in LIC is still holding their "10 at 10" special - on Saturday nights from 10-11pm they've got an open bar costing you just $10 for the hour. I've also enjoyed my times at Rapture Lounge, which serves good drinks and tasty food. Sunday night is Service Industry night, so bartenders you are particularly welcome!

Finally, the Astoria Symphony is playing in town this weekend (Sunday)! I hear the piano soloist, Orlando Alonso, is amazing.

More fun, here.

Time to VOTE...for food

Do what's right my peeps, log on to Time Out NY's Eat Out Awards and help our local favs reign supreme!
If you haven't tried them yet, there's still time! Go out today and sample some fine food for the greater good of Astoria. 3, that's right 3 of the 5 are places right here in our little neck of the woods. Here are the contenders:

Best new Queens restaurant

• *Aces
• *Il Bambino
• Jade Eatery & Lounge
• *Ovelia
• Quaint

Still need convincing? here are pictures from all three places and a few others from my flickr account. Can you tell i like food, just a little?

Astorian Weekend Edition 23.02.07

Friday night go exploring. There's a new kind of performance space/venue in the area, and it goes by the name: Last Resort Art Space (8-63 Astoria Blvd.) The show gets started around 9 p.m. and a $4 donation is suggested - a small price to pay for a hot new party! P.S. It's BYOB, so don't show up empty handed.

The Ditmars area has gained a lovely eclectic furniture shop. Nooks & Crannies (Ditmars bet. 29th and 31st St.) has joined Inside Astoria (37-20 Ditmars Blvd) in the ranks of "new" non-bank/nail salon/$.99 shops! It's a pretty small space that used to be a dry cleaners, but seeing as how the stock moves really quickly -- they restock constantly -- there is always something new/old and affordable to catch your eye. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, and no go on Sunday. Good news too, they take donations, so feel free to recycle your old kitchen chairs there.

After visiting and loving Il Bambino and all the deliciousness there, i sought out many of the ingredients to try at home. Luckily Dave & Tony's Salumeria (35-18 30th Ave.) is not only open on Sundays (8am-1pm) but they carry yummy gorgonzola dolce and my other new favorite, speck ($11 a pound is sooo doable). Grab some crusty bread and there you go, a perfect Sunday lunch.

Thursday is a hot one!

At Sunswick tonight (home of a zillion taps and great bar food):
at 9pm, join Anne Margaret Redding & Jeneen Terrana for an acoustic evening

At Waltz, the Blues Jam i gave you a heads up on a couple of weeks back starts tonight.
9pm, no cover but a $7 drink minimum (should be easy enough to meet that!).

Whatever your flavor, there is definitely goings on in the hood.

Pols on a Roll

Gianaris is hatin' the bedbugs (and rightly so):

In newly introduced legislation by Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), a mandatory policy would be instituted notifying all parents whose children attend a bedbug-infested school of the infestation and providing them with prevention information.

Bedbugs = totally grody.

Defrosting...FINALLY

Looks like temperatures in the 40s and 50s are in our future. I am so over this icy winter, I can't even tell you, so this is welcome news!

7 Train Suspensions Getting You Down?...Demand Change!

Via Straphangers, an invitation from Eric Gioia:

Dear Friend,

Please join me tomorrow, Saturday, February 17th at 11:00 A.M. at the Vernon Jackson Subway Stop in Long Island City, to send a clear message to the MTA that the continued weekend shutdown of the 7 train is unacceptable, and to ask for more relief measures for Queens residents.

As you may already know, the MTA plans to suspend service between Times Square and 74th Street in Jackson Heights on the #7 Line, for 6 weekends, which covers the end of February and the entire month of March. Last weekend, service was also suspended between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza.

Put simply, when the #7 train is not running, the people of Queens suffer. By shutting the train down for such an extended period of time, the MTA is literally erecting a barrier for the hundreds of thousands of people who are trying to get to work, visit with friends and family, buy groceries, or visit a restaurant or museum. Having grown up here and taken the #7 train all my life, I am outraged that the MTA continues to snub the people of Queens. The letter below, which I am sending to the MTA, outlines my concerns.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at 718.383.9566.

Sincerely yours,
Eric Gioia

Astorian Weekend Edition 16.02.07

Happy Post-Valentine's Day weekend! I hope you had a nice V-Day, regardless of your status (single or coupled). I know many Astorians who had a nice evening with friends and lovers...anniversaries were celebrated, friendships sustained, and lots of chocolate was eaten. I, myself, enjoyed Hershey's Kisses filled with caramel, given to me by my guy. Check your local CVS or Eckerd for the half-off chocolate this weekend! Temps should be above freezing, too, thank goodness.

My friend Tamara will be holding a wine tasting at Best of Broadway Wine shop (Broadway between 34th and 35th Streets) this Friday from 5-8pm. It's free! While you're in the neighborhood, stop by Le Petit Prince for some great bread or dessert. Later that night you can head over to the Tantra Lounge for their Brazilian Carnival Weekend Celebration (they're celebrating all weekend!). DJs abound, with Happy Hour from 5-9pm.

Remember Wassi, that cafe-turned-lounge on 28th Ave? It closed and opened up as the World News Cafe (37-05 28th Avenue). This weekend the Progressive Muslim Meetup group is meeting there, and they are showing Spike Lee's film, Malcom X. If you self-identify as a progressive Muslim, go ahead and RSVP. Curious as to what a "progressive Muslim" is? You can find out here. By the way, the cafe is hiring.

On the food discovery front, I've been hearing very good things about the burgers and grilled cheese at Sparrow, which finally opened their kitchen a couple weeks ago. I like the feel of Sparrow a lot; they have great beer, a few nice wines, and an unpretentious vibe. Muncan Foods (43-09 Broadway) has also come to my attention, with tempting visions of Eastern European sausages and bacon running rampant in my mind; I will visit soon. And speaking of pork products, the Beer Garden is holding their annual PorkFest. It goes through the weekend, but Sunday is the day with music and dance performances. Go and enjoy a panoply of pork products and boffo beer! And for you vegans/vegetarians, news on the street is that a new vegan/vegetarian restaurant is going to open very soon on 30th Ave. We'll keep you posted here.

More fun, here.

More on Astoria's Power Plants

From the Queens Gazette, new boilers are going in. Apparently these boilers are more efficient, burn natural gas instead of oil, and use less water from the East River, "significantly reducing impact on aquatic life in the river." If you have concerns or questions about this, there's a contact number at the end of the article.

Power Plant Expansion Imminent

Officials at the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are finalizing plans for the renewal of a pollution discharge permit for the Astoria Generating Station, along with plans for expansion of the plant.

The Astoria Generating Station at 18-01 20th Ave., is located within the Astoria Con Edison site. The station is one of several plants located in Astoria, where approximately 60 per cent of the city's electricity is generated.

The plant, formerly owned and operated by Orion Power and Reliant Energy, is now the property of U.S. Power Generation, officials said. State environmental officials approved expansion of the site in 2003 under plans that call for replacement of four boiler units with six turbines--changes that would increase total output by 550 megawatts, increasing output from 1,250 to 1,800 MW, officials said.

The increased production is not expected to affect air quality in the surrounding communities, state officials said. New turbines slated for installation under the plan are more efficient, and would burn natural gas as a primary fuel, they said. Boilers currently operating at the site use natural gas and oil; both generate pollutants, the officials said.

The new equipment would use approximately 95 per cent less water from the East River for its operation, significantly reducing impact on aquatic life in the river, state officials said.

DEC officials are expected to modify the permit prior to final approval to give plant owners an opportunity to study the effects of the plant's operation on fish and other organisms in the East River.

For further information or to register comments with DEC officials, write to Christopher Hogan at the state Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233, call Hogan at 518.402.9167, or e-mail depprmt@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Remembering Warmer Days

Remember the blackout? Of course you do! It was the longest power outage in the history of New York City! In fact, I was just talking with a woman the other day about the blackout, while it was so friggin' cold outside. The latest news from the Queens Gazette:

Citing a television news report that Con Edison field crews were "clearly aware" of the seriousness of last summer's power blackout soon after it started, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris has renewed his call for the giant utility's management to be held accountable for what occurred afterward.

Referring to the material shown by WABCTV last Friday evening, Gianaris said, "These tapes make clear that Con Edison knew on the first day of the blackout that more people were affected than it was reporting.

"Con Edison management recklessly endangered the lives of Western Queens residents by releasing figures that were absurdly low, and they must be held accountable for this outrageously irresponsible behavior."

More, here.

And:

Following the long power outage, Gianaris formed a state Assembly Task Force that investigated what he described as the failures of the huge utility and the PSC during the Western Queens blackout. The task force, comprised of energy industry experts, issued its findings last month, identifying needed improvements for both Con Ed and the PSC. To obtain a copy of the report, contact Gianaris' office at 718-545-3889.

I'm going to call and get my copy for sure.

Esparks Coffee

Yesterday I took a mini-tour of Astoria - 28th and 30th Avenues, plus a little of Steinway. Had a fantastic burger and awesome fries at Sunset Pizza (28th Ave and 46th Street), checked out Gian Piero Bakery (30th Ave in the mid-40s), where I had a lovely slice of Italian-style cheesecake. It was made from ricotta rather than cream cheese, and I liked how light it was. I'd defintely go back again, and I hear the carrot cake is awfully good, too.

I had heard about a new cafe (you all call them "coffee shops" here in the east) called Esparks, located on Steinway just north of 31st Avenue, so I checked it out as well. It's a very nice space with tasty coffee. It looks very much like a Starbucks, and the baristas there readily fess up to the comparison. It's a comfortable space and quite spacious. They have free wifi, which is cool. People are even beginning to post "missed connections" from there. There isn't any other place like it in the area, and I think it fills a real need. Below are some pictures.

Close enough...

So the closest IHOP that i can see is in Jackson Heights, but for a good cause and pancakes?!?! This may call for a little trip!
A week from today, get yourself a free short stack of pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., they're asking for in-store donations to the Children's Miracle Network instead.

73-01 Northern Blvd
JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372-1144
Phone: 718-429 5452

On the topic of pancakes, I hear Igloo makes quite the delicious batch- AND they have real maple syrup.... so if you're really not feeling like the trek out to JH but still want some pancakes, give them a try!

Cool in Your Code: LIC

This locally made program visited LIC (link opens to a QT movie). LICNYC posted up what they covered:

• Wonton Foods (largest chinese fortune cookie factory anywhere)
• Steve Madden
• Manic Panic
• Vine Wine
• Noguchi Sculpture Garden (love it!)
• Manetta's
• La Vuelta (yum)
• The Creek and the Cave
• Kenny Krypton Neon's Shop and Art-O-Mat
• Subdivision
• and various other random sights

LIC is the place to be!

Astoria Park Meeting Reminder

Remember, the meeting about Astoria Park is tonight! 6:30pm at the Steinway Reformed Church. Hope to see you there!

Best Place to Take a First Date in Queens

is Brick Cafe, according to amNY. From the article:

Brick Cafe, Astoria's old-world-y litle bistro, has plenty of style. Candlelight, old brick walls, a tin ceiling and antiques. The menu's nothing to sneeze at, either: try the veal chop with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes or the linguine with shrimps, clams, and mussels. (30-95 33rd Street, Astoria; 718-267-2735; expect to pay between $25 and $50 for a three-course dinner.)

I went on a first date there once, and it was nice (the meal; the date was just ok). If you want to go there for Valentine's Day, they recommend you call to make your reservations early (718-267-2735). I hear brunch is pretty good, too!

Turbines in the East River!

On Wednesday, I attended the Astoria/LIC Waterfront Allance meeting, and early on there was a representative/scientist from Verdant Power. She talked about the turbines being installed in the East River that generates electricity with the tides, which will be a source of green, renewable energy. From the flyer (dated 5/2006):

By July [2006], a Gristedes on Roosevelt Island should be drawing power from an unusual source - a turbine under the East River being driven bythye ebb and flow of the tides. A Virginia company, Verdant Power, has received the go-ahead to place the first two of six turbines in a channel of the East River to test whether they can generate electricity efficiently without disturbing the environment. One turbine will send power to the supermaket and a nearby parking garage. The other will house monitoring equipment to gauge performance. If all goes well, four more turbines will be installed soon for an 18-month test that could lead to 200-300 of the devices.

Well, the Gristedes is being powered already, and a number of volunteer groups have been formed to study the effects the turbines are having on the river, with regard to fish, birds, and recreation, to name a few. Also, they are going to see if the turbines affect sediment in the river. As of now, there is no sediment in the river because the water rushes by so quickly, but who knows if the turbines will slow things down, thereby creating sediment. Since the turbines have been put in, no fish have died as a result, which is good news (these turbines turn at 32 revolutions per minute, as opposed to conventional hydro-turbines, which turn at 600-700 rpm, so much safer). Eventually, if this test project succeeds, and all the turbines are installed, it could power 8,000-10,000 homes. Sounds good to me!

For more info, go to http://www.verdantpower.com

Astorian Weekend Edition 09.02.07

Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals is here in Astoria! Kids of all ages are welcome to join in on the musical classes and activities. There is a free trial class this Friday (today) @ 10 a..m. in the Steinway Reformed Church (21-65 41st St). If you are interested in giving it a go, send a quick email to info@MusicForQueens.com.
The actual Winter Session begins next Friday, February 16.

Saturday night @ 9:30, our local awesome picture taker/music spinner DJ Lo-Fi, will be mixing it up with the good people over at Hell Gate Social. On top of that, no cover. Yummy drinks and a super wide variety of hot music to keep you warm on yet another cold night!

Sunday brings us our favorite Joey harspichordist in concert! That's right, our very own Meg will be treating everyone to a performance (4 to 6pm) at the Women's Studio Center. There is a small ticket charge of $10 but i can tell you it is worth it. It's not everyday that you get to hear this instrument and get a commentary by the artist.

p.s.- if you're looking for a tastey treat, our friend Michelle from JustDesserts Chocolates and Pastries is now selling her delicious scones at Freeze Peach! She still makes truffles and more goodies to order as well so just in time for Valentine's Day here's her addy for you lovely chocoholics :) JustDessertspastry@gmail.com. Get your orders in!

Get all your Astoria and Queens haps here.

My NUT to your BOLT

I couldn't resist the urge to post this once i saw it in my inbox!!!!

Fattys Presents a PRE-VALENTINE FUN TIME!

Come along on Tuesday night for some wicked fun!
For you crazy singles we shall be handing out nuts n' bolts!
Why you ask? Simple! Find the person with your matching nut or bolt and be treated to a free 'money shot' on us! yeaaaaah!

We shall be doing drink specials all night with some silly games and nonsense and prob some daft music!
Your ever faithful Zig and Enzo will be holding down the fort.
Come along and let the good times roll! You might even get lucky!

FATTY'S CAFE
(corner of Crescent n Ditmars)
NUTS N' BOLTS
Tuesday, February 13 from 10pm to close

How flippin awesome! I've seen this on some old TV shows growing up but never actually heard of one going on :) I might have to make it out to this one...sssshhhh don't tell the ole man at home!

Astoria-LIC Waterfront Parks Alliance Meeting

From Emily Maxwell at Parks. I plan to attend the first part and hope to see you there, too!

Join us to help figure what we can do to improve our Astoria/LIC waterfront parks and our waterfront as a whole. This month's meeting will focus in roles and responsibilities in ALWPA. Come together with friends and neighbors to re-envision our waterfront and improve our neighborhood.

All Are Welcome!

Wednesday, February 7, 6pm
Greater Astoria Historical Society
Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor

For more info, please call 718-706-8044, 917-902-9165 or email Emily.Maxwell@parks.nyc.gov

East River Tributaries: Hallets Cove

Great article on Hallets Cove over on Waterwire. An excerpt:

Only a few intrepid water lovers have dipped their toes into Hallets Cove in recent decades. Stalwart anglers never stopped throwing their lines into this Queens waterway from the bulkhead running alongside Vernon Boulevard, a promenade running under the Astoria Houses to the northern side of the cove and the rocky slopes of Socrates Sculpture Park to the south. But pollution including floatable debris, and inexperience with the water, have discouraged generations of New Yorkers from taking advantage of the easy pedestrian access from Vernon Boulevard to explore the cove.

But lately the neighborhoods of Astoria and Ravenswood are reawakening to the potential of this quiet curve of water.

Makes me want to learn more about this wonderful little spot, and check it out in person!

Blues & Beer at Waltz

At the ever expanding Waltz this month, we get to broaden our musical horizons with a night of the blues! Starting February 22nd, bring your chops and your acoustic instrument of choice and sign up at 8:30 to jam out with other jammy folks every fourth Thursday.

It looks like Waltz is going to run out of nights to have events! We have comedy night, open mic night, jazz night and then there's tastings too. Waltz continues to hook up Astoria and its residents with wonderful entertainment and performances.

- oh and did i mention there is a beer tasting this Thursday?!?!?! Get there at 9pm and bring $10. You'll get to try 6 different NY State microbrews and hors d'oeuvres!

Astoria Park Loves You!

This meeting has to do with the formation of an Astoria Park group. I'll be there, and I hope you will be, too!

From Parks:

Currently, we are in the beginning phases of forming an Astoria Park group. The group hopes to bring together nearby residents and organizations to work together to ensure the overall health of the park. We are currently a collective group of Astoria Park users interested in clean ups and gardening days, advocating for physical park improvements, partnering with other program and events that take place in the park, environmental education, and creating literature/brochures. As you can see we have generated many ideas in a short period of time! Please come join us refine these thoughts and add your own ideas in one of our first meetings on February 12th at 6:30pm in the basement of the Steinway Reformed Church.

When: Monday, February 12th, 6:30pm

Where: Steinway Reformed Church, 41-01 Ditmars Blvd at 41st Street

Who: All are welcome!

More info: If you have questions please call Helen Ho at 718-520-5913 or e-mail at helen.ho@parks.nyc.gov. Helen works with Partnerships for Parks, who also happens to be an Astoria resident.

NY Mag Loves Us

"Us", being Joey in Astoria. They also like to talk about Astoria, and mentioned our fair neighborhood again in the most recent edition. I noticed in their Daily Intelligencer that they always reference this very blog when talking about Astoria. Who knew?

A big thank you to all our readers for helping to make us a valuable community resource!

Astorian Weekend Edition 02.02.07

There's more then football going on this weekend!

Friday night, Hellgate Social is the place to be for their V-Day NYC 2007 Variety Show and Spectacular!
Doors open at 8 p.m. and it's $10 to get in. Covers usually aren't my fav, but you get a lot of bang for your buck and the proceeds go to "The Center Against Domestic Violence" and "Women in Conflict Zones." Live music, dance, djs, and the best part... The Gotham Girls Roller Derby. I know for a fact that some other Astorian ladies cheer for these gals- fun stuff.

Saturday do something different. At Communitea (technically LIC) get your Tu B'Shvat on! Kosher wine and exotic fruits abound to celebrate the new year for trees. There is a cover, but only $10 and you get to try something new! Starts at 7:30pm but try to RSVP ahead of time- jcclic@gmail.com.
Want to drink closer to home? Come for tastings the Happy Liquor Store (34-15 31st Ave) every Friday & Saturday evening (6:30-10 p.m.). A liquor store named Happy serving free booze? I'd say!

If your TV at home isn't big enough, the folks at Indigo (28-50 31st St) will totally share their several large flatscreens for prime Superbowl watching on Sunday. Come hungry because for $20 you get to go in on the huge halftime buffet. Don't want to think about keeping a tab? $60 will get you a complete Superbowl ticket (open bar from kickoff to the end of the game and the buffet.)
There will also be raffle tickets for a mountain bike and prizes and giveaways!

- this just in from my newest-favoritest-cutest-restaurant in the nabe Il Bambino (34-08 31st Ave, 718-626-0087). Give Darren a ringie and order up a panini basket for the big game! They are absolutley to die for. I just had the prosciutto, gorgonzola dolce and fig spread the other night!) Can't go wrong with anything that guy makes. Here's a peak at it....yum

Hearts and Burgers

Here it is, 2 weeks from Valentines Day. If you are like alot of people and are stuck for a great idea for the special night of love, well i'm here to help.

"Make your Valentine’s day STEAMY! Take your Valentine to White Castle on Wednesday, February 14 between 5 and 8 p.m. and enjoy hostess seating, candlelit dining and your own server. Reservations are required, so check the list below for participating Castles near you!

Special this year, you can also treat your honey to a romantic White Castle dinner in your home! Cupid’s Crave Kits include eight cheeseburgers, one sack of fries, two regular soft drinks, coupons and keepsake items to heat up your homespun romance. Now, ain’t that sweet?"

Not a joke in the least! Closest one participating love shack for us? 21-01 Broadway -Astoria, NY 11106. That's right gentlemen, you can thank me later ;)

You're the Biggest Genius on Your Block

You always have been. You're brimming with good ideas for groups, events and projects to improve Astoria and generally make it more habitable.

Well, you're not going to get one of those fancy genius awards, 'cause they're totally a racket. I mean you haven't got one yet, right? But you can get an Astoria-LIC Waterfront Mini-Grant. Potentially. Read all about how you can get the duckets to make Astoria even more rad.

Get involved at Astoria Waterfront Parks Alliance.

New York Times Raves about Astoria

What's new?
Queens Now Has Less Feta, More Jellyfish

Astorian Weekend Edition 26.01.07

Well, this weekend is supposed to be ch-ch-ch-chilly! Get your layers out, as well as your hats, scarves, and gloves before you head out. Candy Plum's Trunk Show is happening this Saturday from 12-4, where you can get your hands on some great local fashions. There's a new show opening at the Chocolate Factory, photographs by Iannis Delatolas portraying the "empty isolation of America's postindustrial landscape". The opening reception is Saturday night from 6-8pm. Later that night, head to Dominie's Hoek (48-17 Vernon Blvd) for some local music (Please Dept., Craig Chesler, I am a Bolt of Lightning, Carey Wallace).

For a tasty treat, head on over to the Bianca Bakery (24-05 23rd Avenue) for some fresh squeezed juice. $2.50 will get you any combination they can make (word on the street is the apple, orange, ginger combo is delicious). On the subject of food and drink, Waltz is having a wine tasting event Saturday night. $25 gets you wines, cheese, and fruit, plus Song at the piano. On your way to Waltz take a gander towards Fatty's at Crescent Street for the upcoming Crescent and Wine opening up soon. I've heard there will be great wines, beer, and snacks. Should be a great addition to the neighborhood. And have you tried Thai Elephant on 31st Street? I had some great Pad Kee Mao there the other day. My fave is still Wave Thai a few doors down. Their option of vegetarian duck is a delicious alternative to tofu or meat.

More fun, here.

Aces huh?

In this weeks Time Out NY they write a little sumthin on a local place that i have never head of! Oh the horror!!!! Now i must go investigate it, here's what they say:

Aces
The owners of this seductive little bistro hope to entice Astoria and Long Island City locals with creative cocktails (cigar-leaf mojitos) and Latin-accented dishes (mole-sauced short ribs). 32-07 36th Ave at 32nd St, Astoria, Queens (347-495-6991)

Why haven't i heard of this joint before? Does anyone know how long its been around? I need to set up a recon mission...

Weekend shopping incentive...

The gals over at Candy Plum are giving it away! Literally...

Free gift with every purchase today through Sunday.

They are spotlighting:
• NEW GREEN APPLE MERCHANDISE
-Pillows to snuggle up with for the cold days ahead
- Awesome one of a kind handmade scarves and hats that are sure to match any coat
• ALL WINTER JACKETS ARE 70% OFF
• BRAND NEW GINA MICHELE TUNICS AND DRESSES THAT WILL LOOK GREAT WITH YOUR SKINNY JEANS OR LEGGINGS

So if you've got some cash burning a hole in your pocket and don't want to venture far from home, stop in the shop and check out the goods.

Astorian Weekend Edition 19.01.07

Welcome to winter, finally! We'll continue with the wintry weather through the weekend, and maybe we'll even see some snow! Nice. It will probably be a great time to stay inside and enjoy a movie or bake some cookies, or head over to your local cafe or tea house. Or, sit inside and read this wierd account of Astoria apartment living.

On Friday night, stop by the wonderful LIC latin restaurant La Vuelta from 7-10pm to see its first group art exposition for 2007 (try the empanaditas and mojitos). On Friday and Saturday, you can explore the Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center, billed as "a clay adventure for creative adults." Meet the faculty, tour the studio, and see demonstrations.

On Saturday, I'll be attending an Astoria event in Manhattan, meaning, Astoria-based musicians will be playing at Merkin Hall for the Waltz in Astoria event. It looks like a great lineup, and I'm looking forward to it. Tickets are still available, too. Here in town, Flux Factory welcomes curator Marie Kølbæk Iversen who presents HELLo in their space. Later on Saturday night, head over to Lounge 47 for their "10 at 10" $10 open bar, 10-11pm. On Sunday, the Yoga Room is having their Post-Holiday Cleanse and Restoration Workshop (yes, the juxtaposition of these last two items is kind of funny).

At some point this weekend, you might consider taking advantage of a mondo avocado sale at Key Food. I know I will. And even though it's pretty cold these days, print this out for a 2-for-1 sundae special at Baskin Robbins. And if you see this, be sure to contact the artist and the authorities. Stealing art always seems really slimy to me.

More fun, here.

So I Heard...

Apparently, Agnanti's original owners have left their restaurant to their daughter. Has anyone noticed a difference in the food/service?

Crescent and Vine, a new wine and beer place, is slated to open in a month in the Ditmars neighborhood. This is very exciting!

French restaurant Le Sans Souci lost their chef and closed down. He opened a new place in Port Washington, out on Long Island, called Bistro du Village.

Wassi Coffeehouse over on 28th Ave has been closed a lot recently. Not sure what's up. Any ideas? Brazilianaki on Ditmars shut down, too (I saw the empty storefront a few days ago). I guess boutiques are hard to keep going in this town.

Perhaps the saddest news of all, Ubol's Kitchen is no longer Ubol's Kitchen (thai on Steinway). The place has changed owners, name, and the food. Apparently, it is nothing like what it used to be.

A Weekend "Addition"

Astorian Weekend Edition 12.01.07

Not much going on with this weather but hibernation? Well here are some reasons to venture out this weekend.

Friday night at 8:00 p.m., check out The Best of Stash over at Ammi. Cool animations and video screenings with a reception afterwards. Since you'll be in the area, afterwards go hit up some crazy beer selections at Sunswick. Thats's my plan for the night!

Saturday, eat up at the newest Greek spot in the hood. Ovelia and its homemade sausages await!

Have a happening Sunday with the people over at OutAstoria, the LGBT social organization for Astoria and LIC. They are having their monthly brunch! It will be held at Mundo (32nd Street, just South of Broadway), a gay friendly spot which serves amazing food. Check in and reserve your spot here.

Looking like a slow weekend? Go ahead, take Monday off - have fun!

Even more Greek greatness

You may be asking yourselves, does Astoria really need another Greek restaurant? Well i'm here to tell you- why the heck not?!?!?! Especially when its money baby, money! It's on *gasp* 30th Avenue the home of "Cafe Central" oddly enough, and its a welcome addition.

I decided to try it out with a few friends last week and was so pleasantly surprised. The decor alone is enough to write up an entire post on, but since i know little of interior decorating i'll just say it's modern (the fiber optic bartop) with a touch of old world (the weird knotted ropes dangling behind the bar). Onto the food...

It was soooo hard to decide on 2 apps, the menu was so enticing. As much as i wanted to try their homemade sausage, the troops outnumbered me so we ended up with calamari and grilled octopus. I haven't had octopus that tender since... i can't remember when! The calamari were pretty darn perfect. No grease at all! Also tender and the breading was perfectly seasoned. Along with apps, we got a plate of bread, warmed and spiced pita and a garlic spread on toasted rolls. YUM indeed.

Being the fan that i am of pork, i was drawn to the pork souvlaki. You get a choice of sides- potatoes, fries, beets or broccoli rabbe. I went with the greens. They were so-so but the pork itself with the tzatziki were delicious. The soft warm pita soaking up all the juice was precut into bite sized pieces, prefect for each piece of meat.

Onto the salmon. An actual "human sized" piece. My boyfriend is a salmon fanatic and being the big guy that he his, probably could have used a larger portion (he's gotten used to the other greek grill houses where you get a ginormous portion), none the less, he was very happy with the flavor of the dish. The fries were done well - i think its important to put that it because i have found alot of places undercook or overcook them!

After the lovely meal we were gifted with what i would classify as my favorite greek dessert so far- zeppole's in honey! That's what i call them anyway... so delicious and warm with some cinnamon on top- to die for :) Oh how my belly thanked me.

I can't forget to say that the service was really nice. Busboys and waiters all very attentive and sociable. They have a handful of wines by the glass and a pretty decent selection by the bottle. Reasonable prices for everything. You might notice a difference when you compare what you get for your money here as you would in alot of the other typical greek spots in Astoria, but i think its definitley worth it. No need to gorge yes?

I'll be going back soon to try their famous sausage and maybe just go to town on the appetizer menu!

There's a blurb about them here. Enjoy!

Ovelia
3401 30th Ave. (at 34th St.)
718-721-7217

Netteria...coming soon

Real soon by the looks of it this past weekend.
It's on the corner of 31st St and Newton if i remember correctly. By the time i walked over to it though they were putting up brown paper on the windows to keep the rest of the world in the dark about their last few details i guess!
Well, its definitley a nice addition to the dark corner, now to see what exactly we get.
Keep those peepers peeled and if you get to check it out before me, give us the 411 :)

Astorian Weekend Edition 01.05.07

Welcome to the first Weekend Edition of 2007! I hope you had a great holiday and new year's celebration. My NYE was nice and mellow, for which I'm grateful. Merry Christmas to our Orthodox readers too (Orthodox Christmas is on January 7). Anyway, I send you every good wish for 2007. Let's see what's cookin' in Astoria/LIC...

New at Waltz: not music, but local crafts! Every Saturday and Sunday from 12-7pm a different local artisan will have their wares available inside the cafe for perusal and purchase. If you are interested in having your work show there, contact them at event@Waltz-Astoria.com with your info, website, etc.

As was mentioned, this weekend is MulchFest. "Chip in", as they say, and mulch your tree. Help NYC Grow. Saturday and Sunday 10am-2pm at Astoria Park, and free mulch is available at the park at these times.

The ever interesting Fisher Landau Center for Art is celebrating their 15 year anniversary. Special exhibits are in the works but their ongoing collections are available for viewing. This place is truly a gem of Astoria/LIC.

I've recently become aware of a new wine bar in LIC called Domaine. I believe it opened up this past October. It looks nice and definitely worth checking out if you like wine and cheese. And remember Il Bambino Cafe?. They've got a website! Their menu looks amazing. Go check it out now! Also, word on the street is that the new Ovelia on 30th Ave near 34th Street has fabulous Greek food. And I want to just send a shoutout to Michael Angelo's II over on 23rd Ave. Consistently great slices, yum! And a freiendly pizza making guy who heats up your slice.

More fun, here.

New Year new establishment

So we've got another try at the space that used to be a latin club, before that it was a gay club and before that another random club. I use club loosely since i was never actually in any of the past incarnations of the space- but thats what they looked like to me. It's next to the UPS store on Steinway between 28th Ave and 30th Ave. Its called Megaro. No idea what that means.
It looks really weird from the outside- lack of windows...
When they first started the reconstruction of the facade i could have sworn it was going to be a strip club. I mean, come on how many mainstream establishments get rid of their windows? But as i walked by and started running at the mouth to my boyfriend about what it could be, he told me to keep walking and look in the window and find out! Window! Well its a little peek-a-boo window on the door. But there it was. And what i peeped was a very pretty restaurant being set up inside. I mean it could still be a "gentlemen's club" of course, but from the limited view- i didn't see a stage or a pole.
Doesn't look like there is too much left to do, so stay tuned for what it actually opens as.
Have you got any more info on this place? What gives?