BRUSSELS THE TINTIN EFFECT
BERLIN TIME TO START FATTENING UP
NEW YORK WHY QUEENS REIGNS SUPREME
BASEL ALFRESCO SNOOZING
LISBON BUILDING A REVOLUTION
BY BRUSSELS AIRLINES | ISSUE 15 | SEPTEMBER 2016
The magic touch HOW TWO FRENCHMEN TURNED WATER INTO WINE IN SENEGAL
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THE WORLD IN ONE BOROUGH Home to more than 120 nationalities, a trip to Queens in New York is a spectacular spin around the globe. Adrienne Jordan shows us the best bits Photography Chris Sorensen here’s good reason Lonely Planet named Queens the best place to visit in the US last year. The most ethnically diverse area in the country, the borough is home to over two million people, of whom almost 50 per cent were born abroad. As a result, the lesser-known, bigger sister of Brooklyn is a thriving melting pot that offers a very different experience to New York’s usual tourist beelines. Wander its packed neighbourhoods and you’ll encounter over 120 nationalities speaking 160 different languages, plus a dizzying array of sights; residents in their ethnic garbs, retailers flogging knick-knacks from the world over, beautiful signage in varied scriptures. Unsurprisingly, you’re also not short of cuisine options in Queens, and its expanding art scene is fast garnering a fine cultural reputation. Intrigued? Then read on to discover the best of what Queens has to offer.
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Jackson Heights The place for food enowned for its bustling food scene, Jackson Heights may well be the most delicious-smelling destination in Queens. Thanks to the proximity of LaGuardia and JFK Airports, plus (comparatively) cheap rents, it has served as a stepping stone for newcomers migrating to the city from other states and countries, creating exotic enclaves of Indian, South American and other Asian communities, each with their own culinary specialities and secrets. Sauntering down 74th Street, which has been aptly nicknamed ‘Indian Row’, you come across men in traditional subcontinental garb chatting to each other on the neighbourhood’s busy pavements. Heady smells emanate from the eateries and grocery stores lining the block. There are street vendors selling spicy chaat; an inexpensive lunch buffet is to be had at the Indian-American ds Jackson Diner (“Take your taste buds on a 7,800-mile journey!” booms thee advertising) and there are all kinds of enticing foods on display at the grand Patel Brothers grocery store, a greatt place nd many to shop for Madras curry powder and
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more Indian home cooking must-haves. On Sundays, foodies from around the city head to Jackson Heights Greenmarket, a local farmer’s market that sells seafood, bread, vegetables and meat, with a good line in Mexican delicacies. Meanwhile, hipsters are catered for all week long at Espresso 77, a café known for its culturalcrossover snacks, such as challah French toast with maple syrup – a Jewish staple that’s been given a fab US makeover. On 37th Avenue, between 80th and 82nd Streets, there’s yet more food variety on offer. Emoji Burger serves all-American classics such as its turkey burger slathered with avocado. “I sought to create an intimate space where people could enjoy highquality burgers in the neighbourhood,” says the owner, Jarvis Fernandez. Burgers may have to take a back seat with so many other international choices. Nearby you’ll find Uruguayan at El Chivito D’Oro, Peruvian at Urubamba and Nepalese at Lali Guras. An And if you’ve had enough of the food, there’ there’s some culturally intriguing shopping to be done at Jackson Heights too. Check out Buta Butala Emporium for icons and incense and Lavanya Lav for gorgeous saris.
An influx of immigrants, particularly from South Asia and Latin America, has made Jackson Heights one of New York’s most exhilarating areas. You can find every food type in the world here
Butala Emporium owner opened his Shaswat Butala o Indi-centric store in 1992
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NEW YORK SPORT
Clockwise from below: A friendly welcome at Espresso 77 (also pictured immediately left); Patel Brothers is the best spot for fresh produce; take your tastebuds on a trip to India at the Jackson Diner; the Butala Emporium has your idol needs covered; Emoji Burger is a symbol of success in the area; Jackson Heights is a stepping stone for immigrants
Clockwise from above: Art is all around in Long Island City; dishes come with plenty of iron at the Ravel Hotel’s rooftop restaurant Penthouse808; iconic signs light up the Gantry Walkway; learn about art at MoMA PS1; enjoy panoramic vistas of Queensboro Bridge; no detail has been spared at the stylish Paper Factory Hotel
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Long Island City The corner for culture nce a manufacturing hotspot, Long Island City is now home to one of New York’s most exciting art scenes. Its turn-of-the-century industrial buildings have become galleries, museums and studios, while 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center is a happening exhibition space for graffiti. MoMA PS1 is a former primary school that now houses artwork. The curators use every available surface, from the rooftop and stairwells to the boiler room, where you’ll find Sol LeWitt’s famous crayon wall drawing, Crayola Square. And arty photographers aplenty flock to Long Island City to snap stunning views of the high-rises from across the Hudson River. For sustenance with a side order of culture, head for brunch at the Ravel Hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Penthouse808, which offers panoramic vistas of d the Queensboro Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. There’s live jazz music up there, and a diverse menu offering fun fusion choices d Belgian-style such as breakfast pizza and ream. waffles with banana and cream. Alternatively, visit Mundo New York, located gned Paper inside the eclectically-designed
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Factory Hotel, where painted fire hydrants, columns made of books and a British telephone booth are just some of the attractions. Mundo’s globetrotting menu takes its inspiration from Argentina, Turkey and other world cuisines, hence the name. Think ceviche, falafel and ravioli, among other culinary delights. To walk off your meal, take a stroll around Gantry Plaza, a 12-acre park located on the river, with its pier hung with iconic advertising signs. This beautiful green space is adorned with impressive weeping willows. For shopping, visit the Long Island City Flea and Food, a flea market that’s open on summer weekends (Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-6pm). Vendors include Jae NYC Eats which sells artisanal twinkies, and Andrew Nichols Art, a local artist who paints wild and colourful works. Meanwhile, keep your eyes on the area’s latest cocktail hotspot, Dutch Kills. Loc Located just north of Queensb Queensboro Plaza, it’s part of the reason they’re calli calling Long Island City the new Williamsburg (wh (which is so trendy it’s known as ‘hipsturbia’). Sta Stay at the minimalist boutique Boro Hotel, with its fab rooftop Manhattan skyline views, from Harlem to the One World Trade Center.
A former industrial hub, Long Island City has become the place for major, upscale developments that complement new, luxury amenities. It’s also a breeding ground for new wave art new-wave
Tacos, tempura and skewers are some of the many smaller bites you can order at Penthouse808
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Astoria The spot for variety f local wags are to be believed, only Athens itself contains more Greeks than Astoria. There’s a wealth of restaurants and bakeries serving Greek cuisine, and many visitors come especially for the food. Psari Seafood & Restaurant serves specialties such as saganaki (lightly fried kefalograviera cheese) and moussaka (baked aubergine and potato with meat sauce). The Omonia pastry shop is famous not only for its pastries and cocktails, but also for creating the cake for the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding – you don’t get much more Greek than that. The owner, John Arvanitis, arrived from Greece aged 19, and opened up this traditional Greek venue in 1977. But there isn’t only Greek cuisine on Astoria’s bustling streets. At Leo’s Pizza, a deceptively ordinary-looking corner ocals pop establishment, locals in for beautifully arranged slices of pizza h ingredients such as topped with fresh pinach. Get a taste for aubergine and spinach. uring the free tastings at Japanese saké during d Spirits. And try delicious Astoria Wine and Czech beer and bratwurst at the old-school
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Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden. With its shady trees, picnic tables, pitchers of icy beer, and hearty Czech food, this is a late-summer must. Visit at the right time in the afternoon, and you might just get to experience the venue’s live folk music. For entertainment of a different kind, visit the innovative American Museum of the Moving Image, which explores all facets of TV and film production, from its origins to the cutting-edge techniques used today. Attractions include early kinetoscopes (the precursor to the movie projector), classic Star Wars action figures, and a small arcade where you can play vintage games like Donkey Kong. The museum also screens a lot of unusual films, from silent movies (often with live musical accompaniment) to animated shorts; and from rock music documentaries to international internatio cinema productions productions. This month’s offerings include Chinese art film Kaili Blues, new Brazilian film Campo Gra Grande and an ongoing season celebrating Indian In New Wave cinema. How’s that for diverse?
A traditionally Greek and Italian neighbourhood, Astoria has seen an influx of other nationalities over the years, resulting in a vibrant, growing scene of bars, restaurants and shops
Chefs grill up bratwurst while you sip the good stuff at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
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FLY TO NEW YORK JFK DAILY
NEW YORK
Clockwise from below: Good grub is on every corner in Astoria; the elevated subway line into the heart of ‘little Athens’; beer o’clock at the Bohemian Hall; the Museum of the Moving Image is popculture heaven; Omonia café owner John Arvanitis arrived from Greece as a teenager; sweet treats at Omonia
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Le borough rendez-vous du monde
Avec une population de deux millions d’habitants, dont presque 50 % nés à l’étranger, le borough de Queens est la zone urbaine la plus diverse des États-Unis, voire du monde. Dans ses quartiers animés et bigarrés, on trouve plus de 100 nationalités et 160 langues, sans parler de l’infini éventail de cuisines et de cultures...
Autrefois centre manufacturier prospère, Long Island City (surnommée affectueusement « LIC ») accueille une des galeries les plus avant-gardistes de la ville. Un espace d’exposition est même réservé au graffiti, le 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center. Au MoMA PSI, école primaire publique transformée en musée sans collection permanente, les œuvres, exposées de manière presque improvisée, se renouvellent régulièrement. Les photographes affluent à LIC
Il n’y a qu’à Athènes qu’on trouve plus de Grecs qu’à Astoria et nombreux sont les visiteurs venus pour la bonne chère. Psari sert des spécialités comme le saganaki (fromage kefalograviera légèrement frit) et la moussaka. Ouverte en 1977, la pâtisserie Omonia a créé le gâteau du film Mariage à la grecque. Plus grec, tu meurs. Ce n’est pas tout. Goûtez aux tranches délicieuses de Leo’s Pizza, au saké japonais d’Astoria Wine and Spirit ou aux délicieuses bière et saucisses tchèques du traditionnel Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden. Sous les arbres, à ses tables de pique-nique, avec ses cruches de bière glacée et sa cuisine tchèque qui tient au corps, c’est un passage obligé de la fin de l’été. Le novateur American Museum of the Moving Image projette quant à lui des films indépendants de partout, de la Chine au Brésil. Vous avez dit diversité ?
Renommé pour sa scène gastronomique florissante, Jackson Heights est peut-être la destination au fumet le plus alléchant de Queens. Grâce à la proximité des aéroports de LaGuardia et de JFK, Queens accueille des enclaves exotiques indiennes, sud-américaines et d’Asie du sud, avec chacune ses spécialités et secrets culinaires. Sur la 74e rue, rebaptisée Indian Row, les vendeurs de rue proposent des chaat épicés et le Jackson Diner indo-américain sert le midi un buffet à prix doux. Quant à la belle épicerie Patel Brothers, on s’y approvisionne en poudre de curry de Madras et autres épices. N’oublions pas la diversité unique d’options « shopping du monde ». Raj Jewel of London regorge de bijoux en or, Butala Emporium d’icônes et d’encens et Lavanya propose une collection de magnifiques saris.
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De wereld in een stadsdeel
een vroegere basisschool en heeft geen permanente collectie, maar tijdelijke kunstwerken die op een geïmproviseerde manier lijken te zijn tentoongesteld. Fotografen komen graag naar LIC om het schitterende uitzicht op de hoge gebouwen langs de Hudson Rivier vast te leggen. Voor een heerlijke brunch kunt u terecht in Penthouse 808, het restaurant op het dak van het Ravel Hotel. Het biedt panoramisch uitzicht op de Queensboro Bridge en skyline van Manhattan. Na de maaltijd is een rustige wandeling in Gantry Plaza, een 5 hectare groot park langs de rivier, verplichte kost.
Met een bevolking van twee miljoen en bijna 50 procent daarvan geboren in het buitenland, biedt Queens de meest etnische verscheidenheid van de Verenigde Staten, en misschien wel de wereld. Wie door het drukke, geborduurde patroon van buurten wandelt, ontmoet meer dan 100 nationaliteiten die samen 160 verschillende talen spreken, om maar te zwijgen over de duizelingwekkende reeks keukens en culturen… Jackson Heights is beroemd om zijn bruisende food scene en is wellicht een van de heerlijkst geurende bestemmingen in Queens. Dankzij de nabijheid van de luchthavens LaGuardia en JFK vind je er een exotische enclave van Indiase, Zuid-Amerikaanse en Zuid-Aziatische gemeenschappen, elk met hun eigen culinaire specialiteiten en geheimen. In 74th Street, bijgenaamd ‘Indian Row’, verkopen de straatventers pittig gekruide chaat en kunt u goedkoop lunchen bij het Indiaas-Amerikaanse restaurant Jackson Diner, terwijl de prachtige Patel Brothers kruidenierswinkel de aangewezen plaats is voor Madras kerriepoeder en andere kruiden. Je vindt in deze straat unieke winkelervaringen vanuit de hele wereld. Raj Jewels uit Londen verkoopt tal van gouden juwelen, het Butala Emporium biedt een geweldig assortiment van parfums en Lavanya een variëteit van de mooiste sari’s.
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pour la vue imprenable des gratte-ciel de l’autre rive de l’Hudson. Histoire de vous sustenter, essayez le brunch du Penhouse 808, sur le toit du Ravel Hotel, avec sa vue panoramique sur le Queensboro Bridge et Manhattan. En promenade digestive, flânez dans Gantry Plaza, parc public de 5 hectares situé au bord du fleuve.
Quartier le plus ethniquement mélangé des États-Unis, Queens déborde de diversité. Queens is een bruisend stadsdeel met de meeste ethnische verscheiden in Amerika en een bezoek meer dan waard
Long Island City (ook wel gekend als LIC) was ooit een industrieel centrum, maar biedt nu een thuis aan de beste kunstgalerijen van de stad. Er is zelfs een tentoonstellingsruimte voor graffiti: 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center. Het museum MoMa PS1 is gevestigd in
Alleen Athene heeft meer Grieken dan de wijk Astoria en de meeste bezoekers komen er voor het voedsel. Psari serveert specialiteiten als saganaki (licht gebakken kefalograviera-kaas) en moussaka. Omonia is een patisserie die dateert uit 1977 en die de taart maakte voor de film My Big Fat Greek Wedding – nog Griekser is bijna onmogelijk! Maar dat is niet alles. Leo’s Pizza serveert de heerlijkste pizzapunten, Astoria Wine and Spirits is dé plaats voor Japanse sake, en de Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden voor Tsjechisch bier met worst. Met de schaduwrijke bomen, picknicktafels, pullen met ijskoud bier en hartige Tsjechische gerechten is deze laatste een absolute must in de nazomer. Het innovatieve American Museum of the Moving Image toont onderwijl minder bekende films uit landen als China en Brazilië. Zoekt u nog meer diversiteit?