Its Queens, Fall 2009

5 Things You Didn’t Know Were Made In Queens, Dinner on a Dime, Queens Fashion

It’s

QUEENS THE M AGA ZINE

Lucy Liu: Queens Native

TOP PLACES FOR STEAK

Richard Christy Howard Stern Star Makes Home In Queens

LUCY LIU

FALL 2009 Volume 2.1

The It’s List

Going Green Top 15

Luxury Living in

L . I.C. Queens Politics:

THE MACHINE Fall 2009 $2.95

From Jackson Heights to Hollywood Lights

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 1

2 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

Barosa Restaurant 62-29 WOODHAVEN BLVD An extensive menu of Italian Cuisine including meat fish and more.

A complete wine list, with vintages from around the world.

Just two doors down at 62-37 Woodhaven Blvd. visit our new shop for takeout, delivery and catering.

Each dish on our restaurant menu can be tailor-made for your meal on the go or for parties of any size A party room that can accommodate up to 40 people.

62-29 Woodhaven Blvd Rego Park (718) 424-1455 (718)424-1455 Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Major credit cards accepted.

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 3

Queens College is the place for

discovery wonder inspiration creativity excitement co achievement discovery wonder inspiration creativity excite s ideas achievement discovery wonder inspiration creativity achievement discovery wonder inspiration creativity exciteme ent discovery wonder inspiration creativity excitement co ent

living

It’s

QUEENS THE M AGA ZINE

FALL 2009

Publisher Walter H. Sanchez Executive Editor Shane Miller Senior Editors Nick D’Arienzo Daniel Bush Writers Saah Branfman Jeffery Harmatz Ernest Hernandez Holly Tsang Production / Design Nigel Chiwaya George Galvez Mike Mattera Assistant to the Publisher Jesse Almonte

THE SUMMIT RESIDENCE HALL OPENS AUGUST 2009 In time for the Fall semester, Queens College will open its first residence hall: The Summit. With a capacity of just over 500 students, The Summit will be a stimulating, safe, and exceptionally affordable place to live. Be among the first students to call Queens College home.

Contributors Jordon Cooper Social Media Adrian Carasquillo

Amenities Fully furnished 2- and 4-bedroom suites | Kitchenette with full-size refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, and sink | Lounge and media area | Wireless Internet | Fitness center | Laundry facility | Bike racks | Outdoor seating | Music practice rooms | 24-hour security

Applications available online.

Call or visit for more information.

www.qc.cuny.edu/thesummit 718.997.4881

Volume 2 Number 1 – Fall 2009 It’s Queens is published quarterly. Postmaster, send all address changes to It’s Queens – PO BOX 780376 – Maspeth, NY 11378. It’s Queens is a consumer magazine covering the people who move and shake Queens, from real estate trends to transportation, politics to entertainment, It’s Queens will bring our readers the ins and outs of the borough.

It’s Queens is wholly owned and published by the Queens Ledger/Greenpoint Star Weekly Newspaper Group. We know enough about the borough, covering it week in and week out since 1873. Bulk mail Flushing, NY Permit #652. Copyright ©2008 It’s Queens. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any news or feature solicitation for publication in It’s Queens should be done so without expectation of use and without expectation of return to solicitor. Send correspondence to editor@itsqueens.com . Subscriptions are $7.95 per year. Inquiries for subscriptions - Mail to PO BOX 780376, Maspeth, NY 11378. (718) 639-7000. www.itsqueens.com

On the Cover: Lucy Liu (Photo by Baxter/AbacaUsa.com)

It’s

QUEENS THE M AGA ZINE

FALL 2009

Features

19 The It’s List: Going Green These 15 people are making Queens more environmentally friendly.

45

34 Lucy Liu From the small to the big screen, this Queens native is making a name for herself in Hollywood.

36 Richard Christy

34

Staffer on the Howard Stern Show lives his dream in Long Island City.

66 Politics: The Queens Machine It’s Queens examines local politics.

Departments

36

11 It’s List Rewind A look back at the people made the It’s List in 2008.

16 Luxury Living Amenities are the name of the game in LIC.

45 Fashion Queens designers on the runway.

53 Living In… Get to know Flushing.

Top Places 38 Steaks 40 Queens Makovers 41 Eats on a Budget

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 5

Publisher’s Note WALTER SANCHEZ

Oh So Digital Is Queens Odds are that this magazine you are now holding is the first magazine you will read that is also available online in a digital format, as well. The digital format (which can be found at www.itsqueenmagazine.com under “View Digital Edition”) is growing rapidly in popularity around the world in major markets like ours.

This digital process allows us to make more out of our subjects, stories, and advertisements. PAGES COME ALIVE in our digital edition through video and audio, as well as through embedded elements that direct you to websites, social networks, or resource material. These elements will either make you feel old and that the world is passing you by, or excited about where this new technology can take you.

The latter has happened to us at BQE

Media – and you need to trust me, you will be reading your magazines, newspapers, books and notes in digital format sooner than you want.

We have been sucked into digital media, social networking, and web 2.1.

We’re still not sure if it’s a curse or a blessing, but we’re taking it for a ride.

Check out the ARBY’S ad on page 9. The roast burgers are eaten when you flip to the page on your computer. Check out the FORCE FITNESS CLUB ad on page 52. Not only is there a video on the page, there is a Google map of their location, a schedule of classes embedded in the ad, and a photo gallery with dozens of pictures.

Check out the TOP 15 GOING GREEN starting on page 19. Click on the picture of Gus Antzoulis (#14) on list, and you will be taken to the Maspeth Dry Cleaner video. From there you can reach him to chat or send an email to get advice or a feel for his business. That’s just the beginning of the power of this

new technology.

We don’t expect people to just happen to find our digital magazine buried within our website thought. We are emailing the digital version to the 80,000 people who signed up on the websites of our eight community weekly newspapers within the last 8 months.

How’s that?

Our company also publishes the Queens Ledger/Brooklyn Star weekly newspapers. If you have not seen our award winning newspaper websites check out www.queensledger.com today.

Visitors can read the news in Queens and Brooklyn, but they also place free classified ads, list events, or start a blog. They can also respond to articles and find local businesses in our directory, which has 35,000 businesses.

It’s web 2.1 in its infancy. In order to take advantage, however, users must give us a verified email address, like the 80,000 who will receive the digital version of It’s Queens.

I think you all will be pretty amazed.

Queens Buzz HOT & COLD A quick rundown of what Queens residents are talking about, and what they no longer care about.

HOT

St. John’s and Mary Immaculate: When these broke hospitals closed for good they were the talk of the town. But now their buildings are empty, they’ll likely get razed sometime down the road, and our grandchildren will never know they were there.

Swine Flu: This deadly virus has everyone heated.

Wash your hands, cough into your arm and stay home if you experience flu-like symptoms.

We have no idea how long H1N1 is here to stay, though we know Queens is the city’s virus epicenter.

Citi Field: The gleaming new home of the Mets has a little something for everyone, and we hear you can even catch a baseball game there from time to time.

Shea Goodbye: Ah, other than four decades of memories and a couple of World Series titles, it’s like you never existed.

COLD

The 2009 New York Mets: And finally...the Mets made the Hot & Cold list a few times this issue, but this isn’t one we would have projected back in the optimistic month of May

’09 Elections: Right now few people care, but as summer turns into fall, expect everyone to start buzzing. After all, most of the City Council, the mayor, and other elected officials are up for election or re-election. Find a bandwagon now before it’s too late and hitch a ride. www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 7 www.itsq

Price: $149 with Rebate & Two Year contract

By Nigel Chiwaya Two years ago, the Apple iPhone turned the cell phone world upside down. Since then, rival cellphone companies have pumped out competitor and competitor; phones with similar looks and features and experiences. However none have captured the same magic that Apple created; until now.

The Pre, the newest smartphone from Palm, is the first truly legitimate competitor to the iPhone that we have seen. With a unique user experience and stylish design, the Pre is less of a cheap knockoff and more of a worthy adversary. But is it right for you? Read on.

Hardware: All popular cellphones these days seem to be black slabs, and the Pre is no exception. However, the Pre takes the iPhone-inspired design a step further, rounding every corner produce a phone that feels incredible to hold in the hand.

Palm has stated that the Pre’s design was inspired by a river stone, and the metaphor certainly holds up in your hand.

The Pre is a slider phone, so the screen slides up to reveal a full portrait QWERTY keyboard. Unlike the G1 and other HTC phones, the slider is portrait, allowing users to type with one handa saving grace when carrying bags or books.

When closed, only five buttons are available to the user, a power button and a ringer on/off switch on the top, volume rocker buttons on the side, and a center button just below the phone’s touchscreen.

The phone comes with 8 gigabytes of on-board storage, which should provide ample amounts of storage for songs and videos. The Pre also comes with a p jjack, so usstandard 3.5-mm headphone

8 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

ers are free to use whichever headphones they choose.

Call quality on the Pre is standard, and callers on the other end reported no distortion.

The Pre sports a 3.1 inch multi-touch touchscreen, which is smaller than the iPhone’s 3.5 inch screen. However, both phones are the same resolution, so images on the Pre look slightly crisper and clearer than compared to Apple’s phone.

Also, the area just below the touchsreen is also touch sensitive. Palm calls this the gesture area, and it can be used to perform certain actions (more on this later.)

The only real gripe toward the phone’s design is that when opened, the phone’s bottom edge (just below the keyboard) is pretty sharp. (Sharp enough that the tech website Gizmodo actually used a Pre to cut cheese!) It’s not a deal breaker, however we do hope Palm makes revisions to future hardware models.

Software: While the Pre’s hardware is impressive, it’s operating system is the showstopper.

After years of using boring, stale PalmOS and Windows Mobile, Palm is debuting their brand new WebOS on the Pre. WebOS, built on linux, is easy to use, built for multitasking, and fast.

Unlike the iPhone, which allows users to only use one program at a time, the Pre allows users to multitask. Programs are shown as cards, and a user can switch between cards by pressing the center button and then swiping around.

This metaphor is refreshing and easy to use, allowing a user to switch between an email, the music player, and the web browser very quickly.

Gestures also play a big role on the Pre. Users can move back to the previous page from any program by swiping from right to left on the gesture area, and can bbring up the quick launch bar by swiping hhalfway up from the gesture area- a nice cchange from having the bounce back and fforth from the iPhone’s home screen. To cclose a program, press the center buttton, and swipe up to throw the program aaway.

However, as impressive as gestures aand cards are, the way WebOS handles iinformation is revolutionary. Forget haviing to enter contacts and phone numbers iinto the phone, all you have to do is entter your Gmail, Microsoft Exchange or

Facebook account information, and the Pre will download all of your contacts and scan for duplicates. Also, since the information is from the web, it is constantly updated; so if a friend changes their phone number on Facebook, the new phone number will automatically show up on the Pre. The phone also features Universal Search, so rather than swipe through page after page of apps, a user can type the name of the program they are looking for and launch it. The phone will search contacts and applications. After that, it offers to search Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, and Twitter.

Notifications are also handled intelligently on the Pre. Text messages, emails, missed calls, etc, will all show up in a little bar on the bottom of the screen. The more notifications a user has, the bigger the bar will become, and the rest of the screen will scale back slightly. However, the notifications never interrupt your work and never ask you to acknowledge them.

The Pre comes with the standard slew of apps: Amazon MP3 for music downloads, Google Maps, Youtube, etc. However, the phone also comes with Sprint’s excellent Live TV, Navigation, and Nascar Apps The Pre’s web browser is based on the same webkit engine as the iPhone’s, so web pages look similar to how they do on Apple’s phone. Also, since the phone supports multi-touch, users can pinchzoom to their heart’s content.

Wrapup The Palm Pre is an amazing phone.

It seemed that Palm took every gripe about the iPhone, and answered it with a device that is truly revolutionary. It’s not perfect: the battery life could be improved, the software is prone to memory leaks, and the app catalog is pretty barebones at the moment, but there is enough potential that users should be excited.

Apple finally has a true challenger.

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It’s They were the movers and shakers, the people that made Queens go in 2008. In each issue of It’s Queens, Queens, we named some of the most influential, innovative, and extraordinary people in the borough. And now, we present them all.

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www.itsqueens.com www.itsqueens.com Fall Fall 2009 2009 11 11

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Top 20 Movers and Shakers- Winter 2007 - 08

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The It’s List Top 20 People Shaping Queens in the 21st Century

THE BOROUGHS HOTTEST

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

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A GUIDE TO MASPETH

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20. Marcia Keizs

14. Jeffrey 13. Bill Driscoll Rosenstock

7. Peter Vallone, Sr.

6. 50 Cent

19. Hoong Yee 18. Leroy Comrie 17. Dan Miner Lee Krakauer

12. William DeCota

5. Richard Brown

11. Alan and Stuart Suna

10. Helen Marshall

3. Floyd Flake

4. Anthony Weiner

16. John Young

15. Eduardo Marti

8. Claire Shulman

9. Diana Pizzuti

2. Joseph Crowley

Top 20 Stealth Operators - Spring 2008

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QUEENS Q ENS NS S THE M AGA ZINEE SPRING 2008 Volume 1.2

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20. Steve Chen

19. Walter Powles

14. Paul DiBendetto

13. Jesse Sligh

7. Jimmy Van Bramer

6. Kevin Walsh

12 Fall Fall2009 2009 www.itsqueens.com www.itsqueens.com 12

18. Ken Cohen

12. Carol Conslato

5. Mabel Law

17. Irving Poy

11. Dave Kerpen

4. John Kotowski

16.

David Strauss

10. Eric Palatnik

3. Ishle Yi Park

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FROM BAYSIDE TO GLENDALE, THE TOP 5 PLACES TO BUY CIGARS 3 GPS UNITS TO KEEP YOU ON COURSE LIVING IN...

A GUIDE TO MIDDLE VILLAGE

15. Alex Rosa

9. Jack Friedman

2. Evan Stavinsky

8. Corey Bearak

1. Ciara Eland

Top 15 Masterminds of Queens - Summer 2008

15. Mace Siegel

10. Joseph Mattone

5. Richard Aurelio

9. Claire Shulman

4. Floyd Flake

13. James Muyskens

14. Basil Seggos

8. Damon Hemmerdinger

3. Fred and Jeff Wilpon

12. Gary Ackerman

11. Mark Scheinberg

6. Skip Hartman

7. Alan and Stuart Suna

2. David Neeleman

Top 15 Innovators - Fall 2008

1. Chris Ward

It’s

QUEENS FASHION & STYLE: WINTER PICKS, BOUTIQUES & MORE

QUEENS Q UE U THE M AGA ZINE

LATE FALL 2008 Volume 1.4

Fran Drescher Cancer Schmancer

We Rank: • Top 15 Queens Innovators • Top 10 Moments At Shea • Top 5 Hot Towel Shaves

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• Living In...Astoria • Rating The G1 • Ugly Betty on the Red Carpet $2.95 Late Fall 2008

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15. Lambert Shell

14. Xiang Yang

13. Amy FischettiBoncardo

12. Mark Dean

10. Stephen Haas

9. Sheila Lewandowski

8. Helen Ho

5. Susan Lacerte

4. Luchia Lee

3. George McDonald

11. Steven Hitt

7. Marylin Hoyt

2. Jason Ackerman

6. Burt Grebin

1. Darius Binkoff www.itsqueens.com www.itsqueens.com Fall Fall 2009 2009 13 13

Jake LaSala Attorney at Law

125 –10 Queens Blvd. Suite 320 Kew Gardens, NY 11415 718-261-7695 fax: 718-261-3482

Michael Terry Planning, LLC College Planning Retirement Planning ent Investment Planning / Management Estate Planning Risk Management

Hourly Rates Fee Only / No Minimum Michael Terry, CFP ÂŽ 69-64 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378 Phone: 718-898-0871 Fax: 718-732-2402 mterry@michaelterryplanning.com www.michaelterryplanning.com

Queens DEVELOPMENTS

Moving

Up

By Jordan Cooper ong Island City (affectionately termed “LIC”) has undergone a veritable construction Renaissance over the past several years. What was once a sleepy waterfront community, perhaps most widely known for its larger-than-life Pepsi sign and a Citigroup office tower that stands tall (and virtually alone), has become a-bustle with the sound of earth movers and hoist elevators. With the rising cost of land in Manhattan and fierce competition for prime terra firma, real estate developers looked for

L

16 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

growth opportunities just over the river.

And thus, a new frontier was born.

Developers have been creative in their pursuit of attractive rental and condominium projects. Ground-up construction, as well as warehouse, office building and factory conversions, have all been brought to the market.

With major Manhattan builders, national players and local firms all vying for a presence, several noticeable trends have emerged. Here are a few noteworthy features that many LIC residents enjoy.

Doorman Living

Having a round-the-clock doorman has become an expected amenity among most new developments, both rentals and condos. The benefits are numerous.

For some, it’s an added level of security that is a comfort - just knowing that someone is keeping a watchful eye on the comers and goers. For busy professionals, having someone who accepts packages and dry cleaning is a time saver. Whether you are leaving keys for a friend, accidentally get locked out of your apartment, or just need someone

to talk to, you’ll be glad your doorman is on duty 24 hours a day.

Your Gourmet Kitchen Awaits

Viking, Bosch, Liebherr - oh my! Long Island City renters and purchasers can expect to be greeted by a first-class kitchen. In fact, I rented a waterfront one-bedroom to a well-known chef, enticed, in part, by the abundant counter space. High-end (and full-size) stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, dishwashers, built-in microwaves - even an in-sink garbage disposal - are among the features you will find. With special finishes like glass tile backsplashes, quartz Ceasarstone counters, and Italiancrafted cabinetry, you may find yourself spending more time in your kitchen.

Fitness Center On-Site

Nothing beats the convenience of a private, upscale gym right in your building; no need to schlep your workout gear or brave the crowds. Some condominium developments offer aerobics and spin classes, a yoga studio, and Pilates. New rentals feature state-of-the-art strength

training equipment and cardio machines each equipped with individual flat-screen televisions. When you’re done with your routine, take a dip in the swimming pool or rejuvenate in the sauna. And the best part is that your membership is often included in your rent or common charges, saving you an extra $50 to $150/mo.

Views,Views,Views

Sweeping vistas of the Manhattan skyline and East River - enjoyed from a distance - is a reality for many incoming residents to Long Island City. Certainly anyone can take in the breathtaking view by strolling along the waterfront esplanade and park.

But for some, waking up to a postcard view is what luxury living is all about.

To the north, you can enjoy Roosevelt Island and Queensborough Bridge vistas. To the south, take in Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn panoramas.

And to the west, the classic Midtown Manhattan postcard view, with the United Nations headquarters prominent in the foreground. Condos closest to the waterfront may enjoy protected views, likely to enhance resale values.

Easy Subway Access

Subway transportation in LIC, a major contributor to the area’s boom, offers pioneering renters and owners an alphabet soup of options - and an easy jaunt into Manhattan. The 7 train at VernonJackson is only one stop to Grand Central (offering connection to the 4/5/6 lines) and minutes to Times Square (offering connection to the 1/2/3, N/R/Q/W, and A/C/E lines, among others). The E or V subways, available at Ely Avenue, serve the Midtown, Rockefeller Center and Herald Square folks. Additionally, Queens Plaza houses the N, W, R, V and E subways - not to mention the G train, which travels from Queens to Brooklyn.

Have you thought about venturing to LIC lately?

Jordan Cooper is a partner and co-founder of Cooper & Cooper Real Estate, a full-service residential brokerage firm. The firm handles rentals and sales throughout Manhattan, Long Island City, and Brooklyn. Contact the firm at (212) 864-4555, or visit www.CooperCooper.com.

OPENINGS

Art lovers packed the Queens Museum of Art at the opening reception for Queens International 4

Christina Ghezzo, Ron Weiss

Edward Rubin

Laura Prechter, Maureen O’Mare, Corey D’Augustine

DOWN TO BUSINESS

The Queens Chamber of Commerce sponsored the first-ever Queens Green Business Summit at Queens College C Councilman Ja James Gennaro, C Councilwoman E Elizabeth Crowley, B Brad Holmes, Jennie N Nevin, Andrew M Manger, Jack Friedman

Thomas Cracovia, Sophia Ganosis, Dorothy Owermohle

Valerie Jurado, Mina Malin

18 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

The Top 15 Going Green

The “green” craze has swept through the borough of Queens, and not just among the tree-hugging set. Everyone from event promoters to CEO’s to contractors are coming around to a more environmentally concious way of living and doing business in Queens. This issue, It’s Queens takes a look at 15 people behind some of the most innovative green projects in the borough.

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 19

Robert Mackasek CEO, Valera Global Based in Long Island City, Valera Global is one of the largest chauffeur fleets in the United States. It also happens to be one of the greenest. In the winter of 2007, Valera was one of the first highend chauffeur companies to “go green” by committing to purchase carbon offsets equivalent to the carbon emitted by their massive automotive fleet. The carbon offsets are donations to research and development of fossil fuel alternatives and other ecologically friendly projects like reforestation and methane capture and development. An independent company charts the miles traveled by Valera’s fleet of drivers, including company air travel and miles from other business operations, and determines an amount of offsets that are equal to the amount of carbon that the company emits per year.

15.

Gus Antzoulis Owner, Maspeth Dry Cleaner The dry cleaning industry, which has been one of the largest polluters of the 20th century, is about to be turned on its head, and Gus Antzoulis, owner of Maspeth Dry Cleaners, is at the front of the movement to go green. Antzoulis, sick of contributing to the decline of the environment, invested heavily in high-tech green dry ccleaning technology that doesn’t clean dry, but creates an approximation through the uuse of water and several bio-degradable cleaning compounds. He admits that wet ccleaning isn’t 100 percent perfect, but says that the technology behind the process iis improving. “You could give me a nice Hugo Boss suit, and it will come out of the w water beautifully,” he promises. His operation is currently 80 percent green, and the aavailability of reusable laundry bags is helping to close the gap. Antzoulis will soon bbe opening a citywide door-to-door laundry service, through which he hopes to push tthe green cleaning to new customers.

14.

14.

Costa Rigas Co-owner, Bullfrog Builders It isn’t often that lifelong best friends start their own business, let alone an eco-friendly one in their own backyard. The Queens construction company Bullfrog Builders was started two years ago by Costa Rigas and Dino Andreakos, friends from Bayside who decided to put a new green mark on the regional construction industry. The young Bullfrog co-founders cut their teeth as construction workers out of high school before moving up in the business and finally starting one of their own.

Their College Point-offices are a study in going green: the space is almost entirely paperless and uses natural light to keep energy use down. Of course, Bullfrog Builders does eco-friendly projects and is a proud member of the United States Green Building Council.

13.

13.

J James Gennaro Councilman As chairman of the City Council’s committee on Environmental Protection, Queens Councilman James Gennaro is the true mover, shaker, and dealmaker in the Queens and citywide environmental movement. Since being elected in 2002, Gennaro has passed some of the city’s most important, far-reaching environmental legislation. Queens residents who breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, and step through less curbside litter have Gennaro to thank. The councilman’s green-friendly work includes measures to cut down on the city’s pollutions emissions, the introduction of clean air vehicles to the city’s fleet and efforts to promote green building methods across the city. Gennaro has also fought tirelessly to protect Jamaica Bay and the city’s other remaining natural areas. A frequent speaker at green conferences, Gennaro was the guest of honor at the Queens Green Business Summit, a forum that brought together the borough’s leading environmentalists, green businesses and community activists.

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Lynne Serpe Activist Queens environmental activist Lynne Serpe says Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (and repeat). Serpe and Robyn Sklar-Nelson founded Triple R Events in 2008 to help educate borough residents on the many benefits of sustainable living. The non-profit has since become a major networking hub for the eco-friendly Queens comm munity. Serpe and Sklar-Nelson host green fashion shows, the occasional wine tastin ing and open space garden events around Queens to promote environmental causes.

E Even Serpe’s day job is grassy green: she works for the Community Environmental C Council (CEC), a state and federally funded Long Island City-based program that ccarries out energy efficiency and weatherization projects in low-income households.

S Since 1994, CEC has saved people over $300 million in utility costs and prevented aapproximately 750,000 tons of carbon emissions.

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Robyn Sklar-Nelson Activist Sklar-Nelson, Serpe’s partner in crime and co-founder of Triple R Events, is no stranger to Green politics. Sklar-Nelson ran for a City Council seat in 2005 as a Green Party candidate. In her campaign, Sklar-Nelson supported the East River Turbines project, a plan to produce clean energy from wind power, advocated shutting down the Indian Point Nuclear plant, and called for more parks and open space in Queens.

Though the community organizer and educator lost to incumbent Councilman Eric Gioia, she put a host of environmental issues on the political map. The electoral defeat hasn’t slowed Sklar-Nelson down. Through her work with Serpe at Triple R and other green projects, Sklar-Nelson continues fighting for the environment.

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Dorothy Lewandowski Queens Parks Commissioner It could be considered a copout to add Dorothy Lweandowski - or Dottie, as she is known to friends - to this list simply because she heads up the Queens Parks Department, but she deserves recognition for much more than being a steward of the borough’s green spaces. Lewandowski is also an avid kayaker, and she was the driving force behind the New York City Water Trail, as well as the New York City Water Trail Map, a guide to the best places for boats, canoes, and kayaks to launch and dock in all five boroughs. Considering the dilapidated state of much of the city’s waterfronts, reclaiming them for recreational use was no small undertaking.

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Nadia Nour Fashion Designer Nadia Nour is a leader in the new wave of environmentally conscious New York fashion designers who believe high fashion and reducing carbon emissions are not mutually exclusive. In fact, jjudging by Nour’s clothing line, they can go hand-in-hand quite nicely. Nour, who lives and works in Queens, fell in love with the world of fashion design in the 1980’s, a decade well known for its creative style and flair. At the same time, as Nour began designing clothes of her own, she did so with a mind towards the social implications fashion trends often have. Today, she often works with organic and vintage materials made locally in the city to produce progreen clothes enivronmentalists and fashionistas alike can wear with pride. Nour is a fixture at green fashion shows around the city.

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Estelle Copper Assistant Parks Commissioner, Flushing Meadows Corona Park After Estelle Cooper made unsuccessful runs for a State Senate seat in 1978 and the Queens borough president post in 1987, she was banished to Corona, where she was given the title assistant parks commissioner and put in charge of Flushing Meadows Cor rona Park. In the early 1990’s, the park was underutilized and very little money was s aside for keeping it updated. Estelle changed that. One of Cooper’s first accomset p plishments was getting more than 300 Japanese Cherry trees donated to the park.

N Now the Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the best events in Queens. Cooper has a developed strong relationships with the corporate community to show governalso m that there is local support for the park. ment

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7.

Steven Stollman Concessionaire, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Steve Stollman is the new concessionaire at Meadow Lake for bike and boat rentals. He shared with It’s Queens his vision for bringing the various Flushing Meadows Corona Park tenants into a new web of transportation, which includes a shared bicycle program throughout the park and its surrounding area. “Many of the best European cities have successful shared bike programs,” Stollman explained, “why can’t we have one?” Stollman is also hatching an effort to have his site on the lake display alternative-powered autos, and a contest, which will include entries by inventors from around the world, will soon have a home at the old World’s Fair site.

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Christopher Constantino Chief Operating Officer, Elmhurst Hospital Center When Elmhurst Hospital Center accepted Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC challenge to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent over the next ten years, the health center immediately stepped to the fore as a Queens environmental leader. Even before joining the mayor’s program, however, the hospital’s chief operating officer, C Christopher Constantino, has shown a clear commitment to bumping the facility up to eco-friendly standards. Air quality is a crucial environmental issue at Elmhurst.

T hospital now uses green cleaning products that do not pollute the air. To cut back The o unnecessary electricity use, the hospital has begun switching to fluorescent bulbs on a is installing motion detectors that turn lights off automatically after people leave and t room. Elmhurst also recycles cardboard and paper waste generated there and has th the a bottle-less drinking water machines in order to eliminate plastic container use. all A now that the hospital has joined efforts with the city, Constantino has ensured And E Elmhurst will remain on the cutting edge for years to come.

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J Julia Corwin and Dan Tainow Directors, Queens Compost Project Organic materials decompose all over the place at the Queens Compost Project, so watch out and get hip to latest craze: urban composting. Julia Corwin and Don Tainow lead the Queens Compost Project, a program of the Queens Botanical Garden. Founded in 1994 by the city’s Sanitation Department, the composting program has taught thousands of New Yorkers about the importance of composting - a process wherein organic materials decompose rapidly, leaving nutrient-rich soil known as compost behind.

Composting enriches city soil while reducing solid waste and sanitation cost. In Queens, Corwin and Tainow teach students, teachers, gardeners, and others to develop sustainable composting methods of their own. They run workshops, a demonstration garden, and best of all, sell compost bins so anyone can get started.

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24 Fal 24 Fall F all 2009 2009 00 09 9 w ww www.itsqueens.com ww w.. tsq w.i tssquee e ns. ns.com ccom o om

Erik Baard Founder, Long Island City Community Boathouse Somebody has to do the dirty work. Whether it’s cleaning Newtown Creek, greening the East River, or fighting for alternative transportation. Erik Baard is ready and able. Baard is the founder of the Long Island City Community Boathouse, an all-volunteer organization that facilitates canoe and kayak excursions on the E River. Besides providing Western Queens with access to recreation on the river, East B Baard’s boathouse runs interactive educational programs on estuary ecology and the h historic preservation of New York Harbor. When he isn’t paddling about or advocati for cleaner, alternative forms of transportation around Queens through his work ing w Transportation Alternatives, Baard - who founded the Newtown Creek Stratewith g Development group - is working to revitalize the polluted waterway. Baard also gic h helped found the NYC Water Trail Association, and is currently working to establish a World Boatbuilding Museum with a marine ecology mission.

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Marni Horwitz Owner, Alive Structures Marni Horwitz is the owner of Alive Structures, a Long Island Citybased business that is at the forefront of green roof technology and green building in general. You are just as likely to see Horwitz behind a desk as you are up to her wrists in soil. But Horwitz and her company’s dedication to improving the urban environment goes well beyond putting a few planters on top of local buildings. Not only are Alive Structures projects at the cutting edge of green technology, the company also buys its plants from local nurseries, and even uses another Long Island City-based business to source recycled plastic materials, which are used for drainage matt and root barriers.

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2.

JJustin Green Program Director, Build It Green! NYC Not everyone with the last name Green is green, if you know what we mean, but Justin Green happens to be the greenest fiend we’ve ever seen. Green is the program director of Build It Green! NYC, the city’s only non-profit retail center for salvaged building materials. Green’s organization is fighting the good fight: each day, more than 16,500 tons of building material are thrown out across the city. That’s a lot of waste - too much for Green, who started Build It Green! to give re residents an opportunity to reuse perfectly serviceable materials, such as windows, doors, aand cabinets otherwise headed for the landfill. The company was started in 2004 and opened it its Astoria warehouse the following year. From the start, Green believed material reuse made eeconomic and environmental sense. His vision is resonating with increasingly environmentally conscious city residents: today, Build It Green! sells 75 tons of salvaged and surplus goods oout its warehouse. After operating costs, all of the company’s profits go to a program run by th h Community Environmental Center (CEC), a leading environmental group that has helped the 1190,000 people make their homes more energy efficient. Justin Green, of course, practices w what he preaches. His own home is full of salvaged materials. So is his closet. Go Green.

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Diner and Restaurant 26 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

69-67 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 718.947.1418 F 718.478.4674 F Fax 718.478.6535 F Free Delivery F Minimum $10.00 Delivery Hours 6 am to 10 pm Sunday - Thursday F 6 am to Midnight Friday & Saturday Catering Available

FROM DEXTER COURT TO 100th STREET SHOP WOODHAVEN! ON WOODHAVEN’S JAMAICA AVENUE FROM DEXTER COURT TO 100TH ST 2 HOUR PARKING FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE “CLEAN, SAFE, EXTRA SECURITY, SPECIALIZED ‘SMALL TOWN’ SHOPPING” Located exit 17 on the Belt Parkway, Cross Bay Blvd, to Woodhaven Blvd.

Also by “J” Train and Jamaica Avenue Buses Most Stores Open late on Friday & Saturday, Also Some Open on Sunday BANK Queens County....... 80-35 Savings Bank ........ 93-22 Chase ................... 84-01a Community Federal Savings Bank ........ 89-07 Washington Mutual ................................ 90-14 BAKERY Pan Ugo Bakery ... 84-42 La Casa del Pandebono ............................... 90-12 Paneorama ............ 95-20 BEER & SODA DISTRIBUTOR Discount Beer & Soda ................................ 93-25 BUTCHER - MARKET La Palma Meat Market ................................84-25 CARPETING F&J Carpeting....…89-18 CELLULAR & PHONE RELATED STORES Universal Multi-Services Inc........................... 76-08 Verizon Wireless.... 80-05 A-One Electronic Cellular Phone & Jewelry ... 85-07 T-Mobile ................ 90-07 Sprint PCS ............. 90-24 Radio Shack ...........92-11 CPR Wireless ........ 93-29 Cellular Explosion 95-07 CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Woodhaven/Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance............. 78-15 WBID/Greater Woodhaven Development Corp ..............................84-01b Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association .............................. 84-20b CLOTHING - ATHLETIC Sports Lane .......... 85-15 Pro Trend Sneaker Store ............................... 92-13 LADIES’ APPAREL Mary’s Fashion Boutique ................................ 79-10 Rainbow Shop ....... 85-12 Today’s Girl ........... 85-13 Baby Blue Ladies... 91-17 Maragarita’s Outlet ............................... 95-07 MEN’S Valerie’s Men & Women’s ............ 80-17 Exclusive ............... 84-26 R.S. Army/Navy .... 91-13 CONFECTIONERY Schmidt’s Candy .. 94-15 CRAFT STORE Smiley Yarn .......... 92-06 FLORIST Park Place Florist ...87-14 FOOT CARE Podiatry ................ 86-12

Podiatrist Doctor .. 87-24 Woodhaven Footcare..................95-11 FURNITURE J&L Furniture……78-19 Iveria Furniture…..84-23 ICE CREAM Baskin Robbins ......84-13 Carvel .....................88-22 Baskin Robbins ..... 92-17 INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES LaBella Investigations .................................84-01 OPTICAL Woodhaven Optical ............................... 89-21 Evan David Optician ............................... 90-08 Price Optical .......... 93-01 LIQUOR STORES Rich Haven Liquors ............................... 85-11 Pina Liquors .......... 89-21 Deegan’s Wine & Liquors ............................... 95-19 MARKET C-Town ................. 74-39 Green Open Market ............................... 77-20 Sam’s Deli............. 80-01 Scaturro’s ............. 84-39 Harry’s Grocery Store ...............................86-06 Jamaica Gourmet Deli ….............................89-02 Jea & Son……....... 92-05

Minimarket ............ 95-13 C-Town Bravo ....... 98-02 HEALTH Health Store Vitamins ............................... 84-09 INSURANCE State Farm Insurance ............................... 79-22 Allstate .................. 84-15 Ohlert & Ruggiere 89-11 JEWELRY Prime ..................... 91-04 OFFICE SUPPLIES GJ Office Supplies 80-13 PARTY STORE Paola’s Party Land 89-06 PHARMACY Health Max ............ 80-09 Duane Reade ......... 80-30 Woodhaven Pharmacy .................................86-22 Rite Aid ..................89-10 Medex Pharmacy .. 96-02 PHOTOGRAPHY/ FRAMES Woodrich Glass & Mirror .................................86-11 Woodhaven Gallery 87-01 SHOES Payless Shoe Store 89-22 Orthopedic Shoe Store .................................90-03 PIZZERIAS Lane Pizzeria ......... 75-19 Domino’s Pizza ..... 78-02 A Taste of Italy ...... 84-07 Sal’s Pizzeria ......... 85-07

DeLeo’s Pizzeria ... 90-10 Carlos Pizzeria .......92-15 Jeebo’s Pizza and Pasta……..…...95-08 POLISH Polish Deli Hetman’s ............................... 84-24 PRINTING Beat the Clock ........97-13 RESTAURANTS May May Kitchen (Chinese Food) ...... 74-22 Fried Chicken Restaurant ................................ 74-38 King Wok Chinese Food ......... 79-09 Shanghai Kitchen ...80-11 Subway .................. 80-28 Frank’s ................... 80-29 Fresco Tortillas ...... 84-17 Palace Fried Chicken...................84-50 Japanese/Sushi ...... 85-18 The New Pops ........85-22 Thai Restaurant ......86-05 Kentucky Fried Chicken ................................ 87-17 Ho Wan Take-Out .. 88-22 Caridad Restaurant 90-19 McDonald’s ........... 91-01 Avenue Diner (Formerly Forest View Restaurant) ............................... 91-06 Carnival House (Chinese) ................................ 92-09 Dunkin’ Donuts ..... 92-17 ................................ 84-13

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Located exit 17 on the Belt Parkway, Cross Bay Blvd. to Woodhaven Blvd.

Also by “J” Train and Jamaica Ave. Buses Most Stores Open late on Friday & Saturday. Also Some Open on Sunday

Popeye’s Chicken .. 92-20 Manor German Deli ............................... 94-12 Mama Meena’s – Filipino…….......….94-20 Dumpling House ... 95-12 Cheung King ......... 97-17 El Anzualo ............. 98-01 UPHOLSTERY Polo’s Upholstery .. 77-09 Imperial Upholstering ..... ................................ 86-08 VARIETY Melanie’s Gift Shop .................................79-17 Gift Shop ............... 79-16 Liberty ................... 80-16 Dee ‘n Dee ............ 80-19 GEM ...................... 84-33 Hallmark Cards ..... 86-03 Discount Express ....91-04 Priceless ................ 91-07 VIDEO STORE Tyler’s Video ......... 79-24 Marquee Video ...... 85-08

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Michael R. Bloomberg Mayor, City of New York

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MADE IN QUEENS: IT’S QUEENS TAKES A LOOK

AT FIVE QUEENS ORIGINALS, FROM BICYCLES TO BOUZOUKIS

By Daniel Bush

Drunken Crackers

American Vintage Biscuit Company

C

ountless companies make crackers that go well with wine, but few actually combine the two in a single product. Queens-based American Vintage Biscuit Company has done just that and, crazy as it sounds, the idea is catching on big time.

The cracker c company was fo founded

by MaryL Lynn Mondich, a fo tester and recipe food w wizard for cookbooks, m magazines, and s several T.V. cooking s shows, including F Food & Wine M Magazine and The N York Times.

New In 1990, with a secret recipe, M Mondich used wine to bake a batch of c crackers and they w were such a hit with fr friends the gourmand d decided to go public.

T Two decades later, A American Vintage s still makes all of it its crackers by h hand at its Long I Island City factory.

The modestly priced crackers ($6.50 for a 4.5-ounce bag) are available at gourmet shops across the country and in Canada.

The company boasts three flavors: White Wine, Shallots, and Cayenne Peppers; Red Wine and Black Peppers; and Chianti, Oregano, and Red Peppers. Don’t eat too many before getting behind the wheel. (www.americanvintage.com)

leading neon light artists, Kenny Greenberg, whose flashing neon concoctions have graced countless Broadways stages, television show sets, and museum exhibitions.

After finishing his training at the New York Experimental Glass Workshop, Greenberg founded his own neon shop, Krypton Neon, in Long Island City in 1981, and quickly made a name for himself as an innovative neon lights master artist.

Ask Greenberg and he’ll tell you neon lighting represents a true art form. Each blinking beer sign in a deli window or

flashing stage light is hand-blown by a neon glass blower.

(Did you know there’s a Museum of Neon Art? A National Neon Institute?) Over two decades at his Long Island City mini-factory, Greenberg and his assistants have perfected the craft. Their work has been featured on hit Broadway shows like Moving Out and Mamma Mia, among others, and in Mel Brook’s movie The Producers. A Greenberg piece is on permanent display at the Museum of the City of New York.

The neon master still makes custom signs to order or rent.

Now, new shopkeepers looking for some extra flair know where to find it. (www.neonshop.com)

Queens’ Brightest

Rockaway Chocolate

The neon lights may shine on Broadway, but they’re made in Queens. The borough is home to one of the country’s

The closer it’s made to home, the sweeter it tastes. This is especially true around the holidays, when people shop for their

Krypton Neon

28 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

Madelaine Chocolate Novelties

a bike company that, at the time, was still seen as something of an oddity.

More than a century later, it’s safe to say Morris Worksman hit the mark. Today, more Americans commute to work on bikes and ride them for recreational purposes than ever before.

Worksman Cycles, which claims to be the oldest bike manufacturer in the U.S., makes a variety of industrial-grade bikes in its Ozone Park factory. They’re used by everyone from weekend bikers to coffee plantation workers in Rwanda to soldiers in the U.S. Army. The Worksman Ice Cream Tricycle for neighborhood ice-cream vendors is an American classic.

Though the ice cream tricycle may soon fade away, this Queens original bike smith should be around for a long time to come. (www.worksman.com)

favorite bak baked aked goods, candy, and chocolates. What New York shoppers may not know is that the national chocolate company Madelaine, a family favorite, makes its own sweet things right here in Queens on Rockaway Beach.

Madelaine was founded by two brothers-in-law in 1949, and named after a then-famous movie star. The company moved from its original Lower Manhattan factory to one in Brooklyn before finally settling into its present Rockaway Beach facility.

Using state-of-the-art chocolate-making equipment, operated by a staff of over 500, Madelaine produces awardwinning treats year after year. Known throughout the United States for their foil-wrapped chocolate novelties, Madelaine’s chocolate-y catalog include Easter bunnies, Thanksgiving turkeys, Halloween candies, and chocolate cigars, roses, crayons, and even golf balls. You name it, the legendary Queens chocolate company makes it. (www.madelainechocolate.com)

The Original Queens Bicycle Worksman Cycles

In 1898, an enterprising New Yorker named Morris Worksman envisioned a future when more dynamic forms of transportation would replace the horse and wagon. Not just a dreamer, Worksman followed through by founding Worksman Cycles,

A Sweet Sound From Greece

Dio Dinos Handcrafted Musical Instruments In a small woodworking shop in Astoria, Dino Bersis makes bouzoukis, lyres, tzouras and all other manner of musical instruments you might not have heard of. It’s time you did.

Bersis is Queens’ master luthier, a one-man music factory whose instruments are played the world over, not just in the Greek neighborhood of Astoria.

Bersis began his apprenticeship at the age of 12. Later, as an adult, after his Dumont, New Jersey, music shop gained prominence, Astoria’s Greek community invited Bersis to move his operation to Astoria. He did so in 1997.

Since then, his shop has become a fixture in the community - a place for people to buy new instruments, send their old ones in for repair, or juts hang out and watch Bersis carve away. He uses traditional Greek woodworking methods to make each one of his intricately detailed instruments. The jovial music maker isn’t a strict traditionalist, however. Bring in a request for a custom guitar or mandolin and he’ll make that, too. (www.diodinos.com) www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 29

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Lucy Liu: L

ucy Liu is quite possibly the prettiest girl to spend time under the elevated 7 train. It’s very much that outer borough-forged beauty that has helped make her one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and her childhood in the ethnically diverse neighborhood of Jackson Heights helped her shatter the barriers imposed on minority actresses in the modern movie and television industry. Her beauty is countered by the two-fisted, often villainous characters that she has played in projects like Ally McBeal, Kill Bill, and Charlie’s Angels 2: Full Throttle.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Liu was born here in Queens and raised in Jackson Heights in the Seventies. Though she was born in the United States, she grew up in a predominatly Chinese neighborhood, and Liu did not learn to speak English until she was five years old and ready to enter public school.

In an interview with Movies Online, Liu gave her impression of the people she grew up with in Jackson Heights, and how they have influenced her ability to portray different characters in a variety of films. “I grew up in an area where there were all kinds of people.

It was very diverse and people in New York are very direct. They don’t beat around the bush. They’re like, ‘What’s going on? What do you want?’ It’s not that they’re impolite. They’re just very direct, and they don’t have time to like, you know, mess around, and I think that 34 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

From Jackson Heights to Hollywood this character is very spicy and very sassy, and I think that I enjoyed playing her because she has that little quality of directness, and you know I think that people in Queens also gesticulate.”

Liu got her start in Hollywood playing small roles in The X-Files, High Incident, and Pearl, but even before moving to California, she got her start at some of New York City’s finest educational institutions. Her education began at Jackson Heights’ own Joseph Pulitzer Middle School (IS 145) before she moved on to Stuyvesant High School and a year at New York University. She finished her degree in Asian Languages and Culture at the University of Michigan.

After a number of small television roles in the mid-nineties, Liu landed what was initially slated to be a guest spot on the popular attorney romance drama, Ally McBeal, but her character on the show - the icy, remorseless lawyer Ling Woo - proved to be so popular that she was made a full co-star and stayed on the show for its duration.

After hitting it big in the world of television, she moved on to films. She had already put a few minor movie roles under her belt before Charlie’s Angels, but that was the film that made her a superstar. In her name-making role, her ability to convincingly play a funny bikini-waxer that can hold her own against a fired-up Crispin Glover in a fist fight is one of the greatest testaments to her acting ability.

The fights in the Charlie’s Angels

movies, as well as in other action flicks like Payback and Ballistic: Ecks vs.

Sever prepared her for what would be her most critically acclaimed role to date, that of O-Ren Ishii, the leader of the Japanese Yakuza in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1. The part required the actress to learn martial arts and Japanese, so that she could accurately and authentically slice off a man’s head with a samurai sword and duel to the death with Uma Thurman.

About the popular crime boss character, Liu told IGN, “I thought she was a really cool character to play because she was a survivor, you know what I mean? She had to continue fighting all her life to basically stay alive, from the moment that her parents were killed. ORen Ishii wasn’t the type of person who was ever going to die peacefully in her bed, you know what I mean? She was going to die fighting and that was how it was going to be.”

Her success as an actress has helped other minority actors find larger roles in Hollywood, and she has helped open doors in the industry for and given hope to countless aspiring actresses throughout the United States. In a sense, she has brought the diversity of Jackson Heights to Hollywood.

One of her next projects includes a re-imagining of the Charlie Chan film series, in which she hopes to transform what was once seen as a caricature of Chinese culture into a positive and popular film franchise.

Lucy Liu-ography Looking at Lucy Liu’s acting credentials is a lot like sizing up the last twenty years of popular culture. She has been a part of some of the biggest pop culture sensations in both television and film, with a significant presence in animated films and video games. It was tough to whittle the list, but we give you the work we think has defined Liu’s career so far.

Shanghai Noon (2000) An action comedy that plays a little like Rush Hour set in the old west and actually funny. Jackie Chan plays a Chinese martial arts expert (not surprising) who teams up with Owen Wilson as a cowboy to save Liu in the Old West.

ER (1995) Her first recurring role on a major television show was on one of the most popular television shows of all time. The long-running hospital drama brought a relatively unknown Liu into the homes of millions of Americans every Thursday night.

The X-Files (1996) Though she only appeared in one episode and kept clear of the ultimately unsatisfying mythology of the show, The X-Files may not have given her the best opportunity to show her acting chops, but it earned Liu serious nerd cred, which would serve her well in later roles.

Charlie’s Angels (2000) Quite possibly the role that made her a star, she played a ferocious butt-kicker alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore. The in-jokiness of the television show update allowed Liu to show a softer side of her personality onscreen, between the scenes of her jump-kicking Crispin Glover, of course.

Dirty Sexy Money (2008-2009) Liu’s most recent work somewhat bookends her television career, as her return to television finds her in another show about attorneys. Unfortunately cancelled after its second season, there will no doubt be many small screen performances down the road for the actress.

Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever (2002) Teaming up the beautiful Lucy Liu with the stunningly handsome Antonio Banderas as two competing assassins with ridiculous names seems like a surefire cinematic hit. It wasn’t.

Ally McBeal (1998-2002) Liu’s name-making role as an icy lawyer was originally slated to be a short few episodes. The character was so popular that she was kept around and became a regular cast member.

Payback (1999) Liu’s first film role saw her at odds with Mel Gibson’s vicious thug bent on revenge. Fortunately, she played an even more vicious crime boss who had Gibson’s money. The women came to see Mel act tough, but the men stayed for Lucy.

Kill Bill, Vol 1 (2003) Working with Quentin Tarantino must be any actor’s dream, especially when he lets you do cool things like chop off a man’s head with a knife or have a samurai duel in the winter snow. Though her character didn’t survive into the second volume, Liu was the driving force of the first film.

Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009) Liu’s been featured in a number of animated films over the last twenty years, and while we couldn’t mention every single one of them, her role as a crazed, vengeance-seeking warrior in Afro Samurai was enjoyably off-kilter, and her plan was terrifyingly well executed. www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 35

Spotlight QUEENS PEOPLE

At Home With Richard Christy Howard Stern Show Staffer Makes a Home in Queens West

By Jeffrey Harmatz ew New Yorkers are as happy to be in Long Island City as Richard Christy.

The Kansas born, former electrician and warehouse dweller rose to prominence first as a deathmetal drummer and then as a writer/ producer/merry prankster on the newest incarnation of the long running and immensely popular Howard Stern Show.

Stern has exploited Christy’s unusual upbringing and lifestyle for countless hours of on-air entertainment, and his pre-recorded songs, prank-phone calls and comedy routines have become as much a part of the show as Sternsidekick Robin Quivers’ ubiquitous laugh.

Christy joined the Stern Show in 2004, when he won a contest to replace departing staffer “Stuttering” John Melendez. The contest gave candidates one week each to record comedy bits, conduct celebrity interviews, and create funny games to be played on air. After Stern, his staff, and the fans weighed in on their performance, Christy was the clear winner, and, alongside runnerup Sal “the Stockbroker” Governale, continues to create and perform on what is inarguably the premiere radio show of the last fifty years.

His job involves writing and producing comedy skits, making sublimely clever prank phone calls, and, among other things, serving as fodder for the biting wits of Stern and his sidekicks, who have goofed on his childhood on the farm, hygiene, musical taste, and obsession with pornographic actresses.

(His affinity for adult movies eventually

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36 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

led to the creation of an “Inside The Actors’ Studio”–style show on which Christy conducted in depth interviews with leading sex stars.)

Christy is perhaps best known for prank calling, an art he refined alongside his Howard Stern Show partner in crime, Sal “The Stockbroker” Governale.

Together, they have elevated the act of bothering strangers to a sublime level.

The two have become famous for messing with regular people and public access television shows alike.

Christy’s passion for the sometimes silly work he creates is evident in his onair persona, which is that of a twisted but insecure small town boy in the big city.

His comedic persecution of other staff members is matched only by his own sensitivity to his output. In other words, he seems more than willing to dish out

the criticism, but finds it difficult to take it himself, especially when criticism is focused on his work for the showsomething he takes very seriously after toiling as a blue-collar worker for most of his life.

“To get paid to do something that you love and get paid to have fun is every American’s dream. And I worked as an electrician for 12 years. I got knocked off of a ladder a few times from getting 277 volts sent through my body. I dug ditches, I did a lot of hard work, and I’m thankful that I learned the value of a dollar by doing that.”

The money Christy earns on the Howard Stern show affords him a luxurious condo in Queens West, one of the fastest growing and most exciting neighborhoods in the borough of Queens, if not the entire City. His new

home faces the New York City skyline, which is a view that the foundation for young, Kansas-bound Christy’s hopes for a better life. “My dream when I was a kid was to have a home with a view of the New York City skyline.” Where Christy was raised, on a Kansan farm fifteen minutes from the nearest town, that dream seemed far-fetched.

“When I was a kid, hunting was a way of life, and we didn’t think twice about eating squirrel or rabbit for dinner.

We weren’t super poor, but it definitely helped.”

As a young boy, a friend introduced Christy to heavy metal, which would change the young comedian’s life. He quickly grew to love the rough sounds and intricate musicianship of the muchmaligned genre, and began to play the drums. The isolated location of his home gave him plenty of time to practice his skills, and he quickly excelled at recreating the fast and rhythms of bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

When he turned 18, Christy decided that he wanted to leave the farm for a big city. His musical abilities had earned him a scholarship for the music program at a small college in Kansas, but he declined to accept it. “I knew that if I was going to make it in a metal band, I would have to be in a big city.”

Christy moved to St. Louis, where he blossomed as a musician, playing first in the band Public Assassin, and later with Burning Inside. He stayed in Missouri for three years before moving to Orlando, Florida, which was then home to a burgeoning death metal scene.

It was in Orlando that Christy joined the bands Dean and Iced Earth, two of his favorites, who were seeking new drummers and the chance to tour internationally. For Christy, the farm boy gone metal-head, international touring gave him a far wider picture of life than he’d ever been able to imagine growing up in Kansas.

He said he loved touring around Europe- and all the sleep he got along the way. “I loved sleeping on a tour bus.

When you’re in the middle of nowhere in Europe and you’ve got nothing to but

wait for a sound check, you can get 12 to 14 hours of sleep a day. I caught up on enough sleep to last me until I’m 90 years old.”

It’s a good thing that Christy is well rested, because his next job would require him to wake up at the crack of dawn to report for work at Howard Stern’s morning radio show. He got his start on the show after becoming a regular caller and unpaid contributor to the show. His frequent voice mails and songs that made fun of other staffers became popular sound bites on the show, and when Stuttering John decided to leave, he was invited to compete for the outgoing employees job. After a successful weeklong audition, his winning pranks, comedy bits and on air-persona won him a three-month trial position on the show.

“I had to drop everything to move to New York City for what was just a trial job. It was really scary loading up everything I owned in a car and moving to a city where I literally didn’t know anybody.”

Over the Internet, Christy was able to connect with a metal fan living in Jamaica, and he stayed there for a few weeks before he found his own apartment in Manhattan. After a few years in the city, Christy’s desire for a nicer apartment to share with his girlfriend led him to Queens.

“We had heard a lot about Queens, and we saw a Craigslist ad for the building we eventually moved into, the Avalon building. We checked it out, and

we loved the building and loved the neighborhood. Now, I think it’s the best thing we ever did.”

The comedian realized his childhood dream of having a pristine view of Manhattan, though as a child he would not have expected to be seeing it from the other side of the east river. Still, Christy couldn’t be happier with his new place and the neighborhood that surrounds it.

“I have the view of Manhattan that I always dreamed in, but the quiet neighborhood is like living in a small town. I live next to Manhattan, but it’s so mellow. I’ve gotten a chance to really know a lot of the business owners.”

Since moving to the area, he has found most of his favorite businesses within walking distance of the Vernon Blvd 7 train stop, such as “Shi” a Thai restaurant with fire places, couches a drink called the “Man-mosa” (champagne served in a beer mug).

He also frequents PJ Leahy’s, Lounge 47, Lucky Mojo, and Bella Via, which he says has the best pizza in New York.

“I’ve had pizza in Italy, and I think it’s better here.”

As Christy settles into his new home, his career continues to grow. His role on the Howard Stern Show has expanded in new and popular ways. He has also started to perform stand-up comedy and write television shows for the Stern’s cable television channel. Though his interests are ever shifting, its safe to say Christy has no plans to leave Long Island City anytime soon. “I think I could live here for the rest of my life.” www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 37

Queens Top 5 STEAKHOUSES

Top

5

Places to Get Your Steak

by Nick D’Arienzo teak can be a pretty subjective dining experience, that’s pretty much a given. Consequently, we wouldn’t dare to tell you where the best steak in the city is – though it’s a fair bet if we did, it’d be either PETER LUGER in Brooklyn or WOLFGANG’S in Midtown! But the steak-eating experience also encompasses a great many things – ambience, flavor, side dishes, service. So we figured we’d let you in on a couple of Queens stand-outs we felt warranted some special attention. Enjoy…

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aged. in Forest Hills

5IVE STEAK at JFK 38 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

$$$

Forest Hills foodies can be pretty hard on new restaurants. But we kind of dig the latest addition to Restaurant Row, aged., easily one of the more impressive open-air venues in the area. aged. combines a rustic charm straight out of Montana or Colorado (wooden chandeliers!) with an under-stated hipness that makes it a favorite among the younger set, as well as families and couples. Staff are friendly and attentive (hard to find in a lot of steakhouses), but the prime dinner hours can get a bit crowded, so definitely plan your evening accordingly. The Hanger Steak comes highly recommended as does the Filet

Mignon, but you might also want to check out their terrific Black Angus Burger. For appetizers, definitely opt for the Calamari Fritti. And for those along for the ride who are not as ardent carnivores as their tablemates, the Fettucine Alfredo is a terrific alternative, and could easily stand on its own in any other restaurant. (By the way, aged. also has a neat kids menu – Chicken Fingers, Mozzarella Sticks, Mac-N-Cheese – which they classify as “under-aged.” Pretty darn cute, if you ask us.) (aged., 107-02 70th Road, (718) 544-2433.)

BOCA JUNIOR’S in Elmhurst

$$

It’s not a bad time for Argentina right now – Diego Maradona is back, Juan Martin del Potro is the latest tennis phenom – and as result, this fun and vibrant restaurant has even more electricity coursing through it than usual. Bathed in the blue and yellow that are the prized team colors of the Argentinean soccer club from whence the restaurant takes its name, BOCA JUNIOR’S is on the face of things a sports bar (with all the waiters wearing soccer jerseys!), but to see it as merely that would be to seriously underestimate the culinary creations of Chef Edgar Salazar, whose food is simply, in a word, fantastic.

Regulars rave about the steak all the time – the Skirt Steak, the Shell Steak, the Churrasco. Our advice? Opt for the Parrillada para dos, their mixed grill for two. And make sure you save room for dessert – because the Panqueque con dulce de leche is the kind of confection that will keep you coming back for more.

(By the way, want to really get your appetite in gear? – just check out their terrific website, www.BocaJuniorsRestaurant. com and see if those menu pages don’t have you salivating right then and there!) (BOCA JUNIOR’S, 81-08 Queens Boulevard, (718) 429-2077.)

aged. in Forest Hills (Greek sausage) – give the menu a unique quality you’re not going to find anywhere else. For appetizers, the Kobe Tartar is highly recommended, and if you’ve never had their Lobster Mashed Potatoes, well then you’ve never really experienced CHRISTOS, have you? (By the way, CHRISTOS also boasts a terrific outdoor dining area, a definite antidote to the claustrophobia of most steak houses.) (CHRISTOS STEAK HOUSE, 41-08 23rd Avenue, (718) 777-8400.)

5IVE STEAK at JFK

$$$$$

It’d be hard to put together a Top 5 list of steak joints in Queens without throwing a nod to one of the newest entries to the fray, 5IVE STEAK, so called because it’s located at JET BLUE’S Terminal 5 at JFK. For weary travelers looking for a place to power through their layover, or for departing New Yorkers looking for one last hurrah, 5IVE STEAK gives you the kind of steakhouse experience you’d expect from midtown Manhattan, but with the spaciousness and retro-futuristic energy of a bustling airport. Having said that, while the Hanger Steak and the Black Angus New York Strip are pretty dang ttasty here, where 5IVE STEAK makes best use of their beef iis in their eclectic menu of Steakhouse-style burgers – for eexample, The Rockefeller (bacon, spinach, Swiss cheese), The C Cote (ham, fried egg, Swiss cheese), and The Bacon Blue (bleu ccheese, bacon, fried onions). Add to this mix their unparalleled T Truffle Fries, and you’ve got yourself an on-the-run dining eexperience that can’t be beat. (5IVE STEAK, at JFK Terminal 5 (JET BLUE).)

UNCLE JACK’S in Bayside U UNCLE JACK’S in Bayside

CHRISTOS in Astoria $ $ $

Definitely one of the best steak houses around, the elegance of CHRISTOS STEAK HOUSE is just one of the things that makes it distinctive and quickly makes regular patrons of even the most casual of steak aficionados. While its steaks are on a par with some of the best in the city (particularly the Filet Mignon and the Porterhouse for 2), where CHRISTOS excels is in their exceptional customer service. Not only that, but because they’re situated in Astoria, the Greek-themed menu items – like their Saganaki (pan-fried cheese) or Loukaniko

$$$$

M you, UNCLE JACK’S can be a bit pricey, but then again, Mind iit’s one of the best steakhouses in the city, and clearly more tthan just a Queens phenomenon. (They’ve got two Manhattan locations, too.) Steak fans have long regarded their Porterhouse for 2 as among the very, very best – it’s absolutely melt-inyour-mouth good – and the New York Strip comes highly regarded as well. They also make a point at UNCLE JACK’S of specializing in Kobe Beef, something you don’t encounter all too often these days. (But be forewarned, it can be a bit of an acquired taste.) For appetizers, you really can’t do better than the Maryland Lump Crab Cakes and the flavorful Baked Clams here, and if you’re ever around for lunch, their USDA Prime Burger (“The Big Jack”) is one of the best in the city.

(UNCLE JACK’S, 39-40 Bell Boulevard, (718) 229-1100.) www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 39

Queens Top 5 PROJECTS

Makeover

MANIA

Top five borough-changing projects

By Daniel Bush

Queens Plaza

Queensboro Bridge, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, has been the gateway to Queens for generations of commuters and pleasure seekers. The bridge is a beauty, but navigating Queens Plaza once you cross it is anything but pleasurable.

That should change now that the traffic hub, a tangled mess since the horse-and-buggy era, is finally receiving the overhaul it deserves. A $76 million renovation of the area is underway, funded by a combination of city and federal dollars.

The two-part traffic and streetscape reconstruction plan, set to finish in 2011, will improve traffic and beautify the hub with new medians, sidewalks, and pedestrian and bike pathways.

Hunters Point South

Residents interested in moderate-income housing rejoiced this summer when the city announced plans to build a 5,000unit development at Hunters Point South in Long Island City.

The mega-project, expected to drive over $2 billion in private investment and create thousands of jobs, should radically transform the neighborhood, providing a counterpoint to the controversial construction of the nearby Queens West development.

The city spent $100 million securing 30 acres at Hunters Point South for the development, which will include parkland, retail space and a new high school. Construction begins this fall.

Willets Point

The Willets Point peninsula used to be a borough dumping ground for ash. Now it could become one of the nicest places in Queens, once the Bloomberg Administration finishes one of its most ambitious and controversial redevelopment projects.

The plan, already five years in the making, would move the phalanx of chop shops and other small businesses out of a 62acre section of Willets Point near Citi Field in Flushing.

40 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

They would be replaced by, among other things, thousands of mixed-income apartments, parks, stores, office space, a hotel and a convention center.

The plan is expected to generate over 5,000 permanent jobs and a 30-year economic impact of $25 billion.

Fort Totten

Bay Terrace’s renovated Fort Totten is a gem of a park with enough legend and lore to fill a history book.

The fort itself, located off of Totten Avenue along the Cross Island Parkway, was built during the Civil War. Since then it has been used variously as a military outpost, by St. John’s University, the fire department and as a venue for Queens Theater in the Park.

Today, the fort is the centerpiece of an impressive park that just keeps getting better. The city is building a “North Park” at Fort Totten that will include new trees, pathways, benches and more.

The redesigned site will command views of Little Neck Bay, and is scheduled to be finished in the winter of 2010.

Aqueduct Racetrack

Ozone Park’s famous thoroughbred-racing venue is set for a major makeover. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to bet on the horses, just expect to do so in much more style.

The state has solicited bids from gaming companies interested in remaking Aqueduct in an effort to modernize the popular but aging facility, and bring it up to 21st century speed.

The leading (and competing) plans for the facility call for new video lottery terminals, restaurants, bars, parking, hotel and retail space and more. One plan even included a horseracing museum.

The state selected a winner after this magazine went to press.

Whoever was chosen to remake the racetrack is expected to start construction by the start of next year, if not sooner.

Top Queens Eats on a Low Budget Restaurants that will fill your stomach without emptying your pockets

By Jeffrey Harmatz ot a dollar? If you’re hungry and want to make your greenbacks count, there is no better place to spend them than in Queens. The borough may be on a residential upswing, but the new condo towers haven’t driven out all the hard-working cooks who fill the streets with an expansive but inexpensive variety of foodstuffs.

The borough’s history as a community of immigrants has created an eclectic mix of hundreds of ethnicities, and if there’s a cuisine worth eating, you can find it somewhere between LaGuardia and JFK. And while the same could be said for other parts of New York City, eating in Queens won’t just fill your stomach, but keep your

G

pockets full too, as local chefs have yet to succumb to the epidemic of inflating egos and prices that can be seen in other neighborhoods.

In the name of keeping our readers well fed and wealthy enough to afford the next issue of It’s Queens, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite low-price restaurants from around the borough. Many of these places are relatively unknown, and we’re even a little reluctant to brazenly tout their deals for fear of long lines at our regular haunts, but it’s ultimately better for both the cooks we love and our customers (that’s you!) for the word to be spread. So here is a list of the Top Cheap Eats in Queens, and if you visit any of these restaurants, look for us!

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 41

Lao Bei Fang Dumpling House 86-08 Whitney Avenue - Elmhurst

The format of this restaurant may be familiar to Chinese food aficionados, and that’s because there are several notable dumpling houses throughout Manhattan’s Chinatown. But the food at this dumpling house rises above the fare served at other more famous restaurants. Served up four for a dollar, Lao Bei Fang’s fried pork and chive dumplings are tough to beat, and the addition of two hot sauces makes them even more savory. Served fresh off the stove piping hot and with one side cooked to a crisp, these dumplings are without a doubt the best you can get for the price. And if dumplings don’t cook your noodle, Lao Bei Fang has a variety of soups, with the cheapest - a shrimp and pork wonton soup - going for the least amount of money at one whole dollar.

Mama’s Empanadas 85-05 Northern Boulevard – Jackson Heights 91-20 59th Avenue - Elmhurst 42-18 Greenpoint Avenue - Sunnyside

The classic Spanish dish from the Galicia region of Spain gets the New York City treatment at Mama’s, a local chain with three operating establishments, the first and third of which are in Queens. Offering up a plethora of hot meat and veggie fillings inside crisp-fried corn and wheat shells, these tasty handfuls

42 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

are less than $2 a piece, and even the hungriest metropolitan couldn’t eat more than three, but the vast number of choices makes it hard to pick just one. Classic empanada fillings like chorizo, spicy pork, and shredded beef with potatoes are served up alongside less traditional fare like broccoli and cheese, Philly cheesesteak, and kielbasa and saurkraut. Special empanadas round out the already large selection, and other, pricier dishes like arepas and tamales finish a menu full of modified Central and South American food. The Elmhurst location is across the street from Queens Center Mall, and makes for a perfect alternative to the by-the-numbers food court.

Kababish 70-64 Broadway - Jackson Heights

Our hands-down favorite place in the borough of Queens for cheap eats, Kababish is a tiny restaurant off the beaten path in Jackson Heights. The majority of the establishment is taken up by the crowded kitchen, which includes a coal-powered tandoor oven, leaving two stools beneath a tiny counter as the only available seating. The expansive menu is deceptive, as only a few of the advertised items are available at any given time, but what is available is always incredibly delicious and remarkably cheap. The curries on display are tasty but expensive, and the

thrifty foodie would do well to stick to the samosas and kebabs.

The chicken samosa is by far the best in the neighborhood, and the meaty kebabs are mounds of ground, spiced meat in many varieties, packed tight around a skewer and left to cook in the tandoor right before the customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes. It may take a while to prepare the food, but the kebabs and samosas, paired with a fluffy, fresh-baked naan bread, will win over the most discriminating palate - and all for less than $5.

Broadway Bakery Various Locations

A long-time, well-known Queens mini-chain, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sometimes harder not to find one of these pizza, sandwich, and cookie stores than it is to find one. But the Broadway Bakeries have proliferated in Queens for the simple fact that they serve tasty traditional favorites on the cheap, like their infamous pizza, which, while not the best in town, is pretty darn good. While the pizza is fine, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the sandwiches that will leave a great impression on a frugal eater. The special grilled chicken sandwich is a hero filled with chicken breast chunks drenched in a sweet sauce.The sandwich comes with a soda and can be purchased for less than $5. Many of the locations are open 24 hours to satisfy even the latest of night cravings.

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 43

Xian Famous Snacks Golden Shopping Mall 41-28 Main Street - Flushing

The location may be difficult to nail down within the Golden Shopping Mall (saying that it’s in the basement and two stands down to the right is a vague description at best), and it’s menu, in Chinese, is even more difficult to figure out. Thankfully, the proprietors have posted photos of their menu items all over the back wall of their dining section, making it simple for a non-Chinese speaker to point, pay, and eat. Most items on the menu fall under the $5 mark, but these aren’t your typical dumpling and soup items that are found throughout Manhattan’s Chinatown or the Szechuan restaurants that line the streets throughout the rest of the borough. The juicy, loosely packed lamb burger is flavored with cumin, giving it a peculiarly delicious taste that will stick in your head as much as it will stick to your ribs. Noodle dishes and offal fill out the menu at the popular subterranean food stand, and virtually everything they serve is worth your time and a few bucks, even if you don’t know what you’re ordering.

White Castle Various Locations

Yes, it’s a chain fast food restaurant, but it has some especially prominent locations throughout Queens and can even be considered a regional cuisine, depending on how

44 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

you look at it. And despite its semi-national presence, no big chain has even one-half of the character as White Castle. Its commitment to 63-cent mini-burgers, effectively known as “sliders,” and the fact that they can be bought 30 or 50 to a pack, is indicative of a different kind of clientele than many other fast food joints cater to. The greasy, onion “steamed” burgers with five holes punched in them are as unique as anything else available in New York City, regardless of the quantities cooked and sold by the case-full, and make for one of the best bangs for your buck - and hangover busters available. (It’s Queens Warning: If you do find yourself in a White Castle inebriated, don’t eat the clam strips, no matter how tempting they may be.)

Tacolandia 77-04 Roosevelt Avenue - Jackson Heights

Of the many Mexican restaurants under the 7 train along Roosevelt Avenue, this one might make the most delicious burrito. And if it isn’t the best, it’s certainly the cheapest.

The tacos here are fantastic, as are other dishes, but the al pastor burrito is the closest thing to the heights of California Mexican food that exists in New York City. Al pastor, a sweet, rotisserie cooked pork dish, has its roots in Greek cooking, but has become one of the most popular Mexican dishes, and the cooks at Tacolandia have got it nailed. Wrapped tight in a flour tortilla and drenched with red hot sauce, the relatively small burrito packs a huge flavor for $4.50.

Queens Fashion

Sarah Yu Photo by Talfoto.com

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 45

QUEENS TAKES

by STORM

By Sarah Branfman ew York’s Fashion Week finally found Queens this year.

To the sound of blaring music and the flash of countless cameras, The Foundry in Long Island City hosted the first mega-fashion show in the borough’s history on, proving that you don’t need to leave Queens for the city to get your fix of fierce fashion.

The Long Island City Fashion Week Fashion Show - also the first-ever Queens show affiliated with the city’s famed Fashion Week - featured ten independent, up-and-coming designers with shelf space at Subdivision, the LIC

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Sumie Tachibana (left) & dress by same

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deboutique and gallery that sells cuttingedge pieces by emerging designers.

Yet perhaps more importantly, beneath the glitz of daring designs and fancy fabrics, the show revealed the designers’ shared commitment to the Queens community.

“The community poured itself out and made Queens a showplace,” said Subdivision’s co-owner, Virginia Mason Martinez. Local businesses donated lighting, makeup, post cards and posters, and hairstylists and makeup artists volunteered their time at The Foundry, which provided its lavish space for the upscale affair. “The show became much

bigger than we ever imagined.”

With over 500 people in attendance, The Foundry quickly reached capacity.

In spite of the closed doors, the excluded fashionistas refused to leave. Some pleaded with security; others tried sneaking in via backstage.

“I call this show the little engine that could,” said the show’s producer, director, and featured designer, Sumie Tachibana. “It was a struggle climbing up the mountain, but it just kept going.

And with the community’s involvement it raced down quickly and with great success.”

Tachibana’s models did the same down

Maspeth Dry Cleaners

Cleaning is Our Art 69-37 Grand Ave 71-23 Eliot Ave 79-14 Eliot Ave (718) 335-6042 (718) 458-8408 (718) 803-3045 www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 47 Monday-Saturday 7am-7pm

the runway. The designer’s timeless and powerful clothing line marries sophistication to rebellion. Passion and romance wrestle on a bed of darkness; Tachibana’s sharp corners, crunchy fabrics, and asymmetry instill a mood of female dominance.

Although Tachibana received the

Astridland

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most attention, she deflected credit for the show’s success to Subdivision and the nine other designers. “All of us have different strengths and connections,” Tachibana said. “Nothing could have come together without all our work.”

Feral Childe’s co-founder, Moriah Carlson, said she loved the show’s dynamic. A veteran of many different shows, Carlson said none have matched this one’s sense of camaraderie. “It was terrific to meet the other designers, admire their work, and see everyone pitch in,” Carlson said.

Carlson and her partner, Alice Wu, hand-draw each print and painstakingly hand-make each button and accessory.

With backgrounds in art design, their pieces are fine sculptures. Tucks and seams create signature flowing shapes, resulting in clothes that fit real bodies.

“It’s not about being tight or low-cut,” she said. “Our pieces accentuate where you need it and don’t accentuate where you don’t.”

Carlson’s designs are a perfect fit in Queens, which the designer described as urban and cool. “The more creative and fashion-forward our designs are,

the better they sell here,” she said.

Her sales record, and the excitement surrounding her work at the show, proves Queens doesn’t follow trends it makes them.

Another of the show’s designers, Astrid Bruckner, the founder of Astridland, has big-name clients and experience

Aykaayka

Joel Visard

from her background in sculptural art.

Corson’s jewelry ranges in price from $60 to $6,000, ensuring everyone can meet their match. “I don’t want my jewelry just to be for a select group of people who can afford $6,000 necklaces,” she said. “I want to cater to everyone.”

Everyone at The Foundry, it seemed, enjoyed being catered to. Indeed the community-themed fashion show made such a big splash it was barely finished before word started spreading about Subdivision’s next big show, which will be held on the rooftop of the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City.

“We’ve already told 600 people,” Martinez said. “It’s going to be even bigger and better than this one.”

designing for feature films, TV shows, and styling commercials. Despite this, she has remained committed to Subdivision and the Queens community.

“Queens has just been a great place for emerging designers,” Bruckner said.

Bruckner’s eco-friendly and sustainable clothing and accessories flirt with femininity and elegance while inviting versatility.

Her key pieces include wrap-tops paired with capes and shorts.

Her undercover-black cotton knit dress with side lace insets was especially eyecatching. “Every woman needs an ‘LBD,’ a little black dress,” Bruckner said.

Besides a little black dress, every woman also needs a great pair of earrings, or at least Andrea Corson believes so. Corson’s handmade silver and gold jewelry collection, displayed at the fashion show, has individualistic quality and attention to detail stemming

www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 49

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Flushing www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 53

Flushing’S Freedom Mile

In the “Living In…” section of each issue of It’s Queens, we give our readers a self-guided walking tour so they can check out the best that our featured neighborhood has to offer as if they were a lifelong resident. Well, for Flushing, our work has been done for us.

Downtown Flushing is dotted with markers that take visitors and residents alike on a trip along the Freedom Mile – a journey into the past of Flushing’s rich history, from the first settlers who fought for freedom of religion up to the glory days of the RKO Keith’s Theatre.

There are actually two walking tours – the Orange Trail and the Green Trail.

Both trails begin at Lippman Arcade, a short walkway that connects Roosevelt Avenue and 39th Street and sits just a half-block from the Main Street stop on the 7 train.

The Orange Trail takes you past some of Flushing “firsts”: the first house of worship in Flushing, the first public high school in New York City, and the site of the first proclamation of religious 54 4 Fal Fall ll 2009 2009 00 09 w ww www.itsqueens.com ww w.i.iitsq tsquee ueeens. s.com com om m

freedom in America.

One of the first stops on the Orange Trail is St. George’s Episcopal Church (13532 38th Avenue), which was established as a mission church of England in 1704.

The church you’ll see today was built in 1854. Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, served as a vestryman for many years.

The next part of the tour takes you past two epicenters of entertainment in Flushing: the RKO Keith’s Theatre (135-35 Northern Boulevard) and Flushing Town Hall (137-35 Northern Boulevard). The RKO Keith’s is now a decrepit building, but in its heyday it showed the latest films and played host to live performances by entertainers such as Jack Benny and Bob Hope.

Conversely, Flushing Town Hall is still just as fine an example of Romanesque Revival architecture as it was when it was built in 1862. It first served as the center of political and social life in the village of Flushing – the abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke here when he visited the

neighborhood in 1865. Today, it is the home of the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts and hosts live performances year-round.

This stretch of the tour also takes you past the Friends Meeting House (13716 Northern Boulevard) and the State Armory (Northern Boulevard and Union Street). The Friends Meeting House was built in 1694, and members of the society, including Samuel Parsons, were active abolitionists and reputedly served as “conductors” on the Underground Railroad in the years before the Civil War. Today, the impressive fort-like State Armory is home to the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Queens North, but on the site the home of Michael Milner’s once stood. It was there that the Flushing Remonstrance was signed on December 27, 1657.

The document protested Governor Peter Suyvesant’s ban against Quakers in the new settlement. The Flushing Remonstrance is widely considered the first declaration of religious tolerance and

is believed to be the inspiration for the guarantees of religious freedom included in the Bill of Rights.

The last two stops on the Orange Trail include the Lewis Latimer House (3441 137th Street) and Flushing High School (35-01 Union Street). Latimer was the son of runaway slaves who eventually became Thomas Edison’s chief draftsman and did the original drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. Today, his former home is a museum.

Meanwhile, Flushing High School is the oldest free public secondary school in New York City. The landmarked building was constructed between 1912 and 1915.

If, instead, you choose to take the Green Trail, you’ll get to see firsthand the spots where some of the most important events in the history of Flushing – and in some cases the history of not only New York City, but the entire United States – took place. From the seeds of religious freedom to the blossoming of Flushing’s African-American community, the Green Trail will take you on a trip through the past.

The first stop on the Green Trail is the Macedonia A.M.E. Church (3722 Union Street). It is the successor of the African Methodist Society, which was founded in 1811 and was the third religious organization in Flushing. In the years before the Civil War, members of the

church and its pastor, Edward Africanus, were active in the Abolitionist movement, and it is believed that the church served as a sop on the Underground Railroad.

The Green Trail takes you next to Fox Stone (37th Avenue and Bowne Street).

It was at this site that George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends of England, preached in 1672 “unmolested by any Magistrate.” The crowd to hear him speak was so large that his sermon was delivered in John Bowne’s garden under two large oak trees. The stone marks that very spot.

Not unsurprisingly, then, your next stop on the trail is the Bowne House (37-01 Bowne Street). The oldest house in Queens, John Bowne constructed his home in 1661. Bowne was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and one of the most outspoken critics of Governor Stuyvesant’s religious intolerance.

Next to the Bowne House is Kingsland Manor (143-35 37th Avenue). It was built in 1774 for Charles Doughty, and is an example of the indigenous Long Island half-house form that was very popular in the late 18th century. It was moved to its current location in 1968, and serves as the headquarters of the Queens Historical Society.

Behind the home is the Weeping Beech Tree. A shoot of the Weeping Beech Tree was acquired by Samuel Bowne Parsons, who ran a tree nursery in Flushing, on a trip to Belgium in 1847. It was the first of its species in the United States, and died in 1997 just after its 150th anniversary, however seven of its siblings live on.

The last stop on the Green Trail is the Site of the Aspinwall House (Northern Boulevard and Bowne Street). The house was built in 1762 and commandeered

by British officers stationed in Flushing during the Revolutionary War. It was also believed to be a stop on the Underground Railroad.

This is just a brief introduction to Flushing’s rich past, and each stop contains more detailed information about each site. And while you’re walking the trail, be sure to stop and check out some of the places featured in “The Best of the Best of Flushing” and sample some of the other things this rich neighborhood has to offer. www.itsqueens.com ww www w ww w w.it iitts tsq ssqu qquueee een ens en nss.c .c .com om F Fa Fal Fall all 2 a 2009 009 0 09 09 55 55

1645 – Europeans first settled in Flushing under a charter by the Dutch West India Company. It granted political and commercial powers to an organization of merchants with permission to establish colonies and make alliances with indigenous tribes. The area became one of the first Dutch settlements on Long Island.

Their village was named Vlissingen, after a city in the Netherlands.

1657 – The Flushing Remonstrance, which established religious freedom in the colony, was signed. Created by local town clerk Edward Hunt, it protested a ban established by New Amsterdam’s Director-General Peter Stuyvesant on harboring Quakers.

First Dutch Reformed Church of Flushing Bowne Street & & Roosevelt Avenue

Roosevelt Avenue Roosevelt Avenue

an important significance in American history for establishing key principles that influenced the Bill of Rights.

1664 – Flushing village continued to grow as the English took control of New Amsterdam and renamed it New York, ending Dutch control of the colony.

1695 – The Quaker Meeting House at 137-16 Northern Boulevard was built.

1661 – The John Bowne House at 37-01 Bowne Street was built and currently holds the distinction of being the oldest house in Queens. Bowne, an English immigrant, used the house to hold secret Quaker meetings after New Amsterdam Director-General Peter Stuyvesant banned them. It holds

1776–1783 – Flushing was occupied

by British troops after the Battle of Long Island, the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War. 1813 – Flushing village was incorporated into the Town of Flushing.

1854 – New rail service provided residents with faster access to Manhattan.

1858 – The first library in Queens County opened.

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1860’s – The population reached 30,429 residents and continued to rise following the incorporation of College Point and Whitestone into the Town of Flushing.

1898 – Despite fierce opposition, Flushing was consolidated into the City of New York.

1900–1918 – With new trolley lines and five newly built stations along the Long Island Railroad Port Washington Branch, the neighborhood expanded to the east and south bringing new sections for residential development: Ingelside, Murray Hill, Broadway-Flushing, Bowne Park, Kissena and Queensborough Hill.

1928 – Subway service comes to Flushing with its terminus at the corner of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

1937 – Queens College is founded.

1939–1940 – The World’s Fair was held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park where various technological innovations were presented, among them the television, which broadcasted a speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

1964 – On April 17, the New York Mets played their first home game at Shea Stadium following two seasons at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan. It was named after lawyer William Alfred Shea, who spearheaded the move to bring National League baseball back to the city following the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. A soldout crowd of over 55,000 packed the stadium and witnessed their home team fall to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3.

1964–1965 – Flushing Meadows Corona Park hosted a second World’s Fair, which welcomed Pope Paul VI, the first pope to visit the United States.

1969 – The New York Mets win their first championship after defeating the Baltimore Orioles in five games during an epic World Series.

1976 – David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam, strikes in Flushing on October 23 after firing five shots through the passenger side of a parked Volkswagen Beetle with Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan inside. Keenan was killed instantly while Denaro recovered from a gunshot wound to the head.

LIRR Trestle in the 1920s

First Baptist Church of Flushing Sanford Avenue and Union Street

1980’s – A throng of Asian immigrants converge in Flushing with the majority coming from China, Taiwan, and Korea.

1986 – The New York Mets win their second championship after defeating the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

1997 – Arthur Ashe stadium opens to serve as a primary venue for the U.S. Open. It cost $254 million to build and seats over 20,000 spectators. The facility was named after tennis legend Arthur Ashe, winner of three Grand Slam titles.

1998 – The Flushing branch of the Queens Library reopened its doors at a new facility at the corner of Main Street and Kissena Boulevard. The four-level, 76,000-square-foot building houses over 350,000 books, multiple computer workstations with Internet access, and a 233-seat auditorium with exhibit space on the lower level. More than 5,000

Main Street near Northern Boulevard

people use the library each day with daily circulation averaging 200,000 per month.

2000 – On May 24, seven employees at a Wendy’s fast-food restaurant at 40-12 Main

Street were gagged and shot in the head execution-style. The Wendy’s Massacre killed five and seriously wounded two.

John Taylor was sentenced to death in 2002, but was re-sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole in late 2007.

Present – Flushing continues its distinction as a thriving business and residential area with a vast Chinese and Korean community. Flushing boasts the largest Chinese community in the city, surpassing Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Immigrants from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Colombia, El Salvador, the Philippine,s and various other nations call Flushing home as well. With the neighborhood experiencing rapid development, new architectural designs have lined the streets, as new buildings continue to rise.

All photos in this section are from the book Flushing: 1880-1935, and appear courtesy of Arcadia Publishing. For more information or to purchase this book and others like it, visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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THE

Flushing

BEST OF BEST

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Every Thursday in our eight weekly newspapers, we showcase the “BEST OF THE BEST,” wherein we take a look around town at some of our favorite restaurants, shops, recreational facilities, etc.

– basically trying to help them, and you, find each other.

With our IT’S QUEENS “LIVING IN…” focus on Flushing for our Summer Edition, “BEST OF THE BEST” joins the cause with, appropriately enough, “BEST OF THE BEST: Flushing!”

– NICK D’ARIENZO

BEST OF THE BEST BEST Outdoor Recreation FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK Once dismissed as a “valley of ashes” by F. Scott Fitzgerald in “THE GREAT GATSBY,” FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK is actually the largest park in Queens (1,255 acres, which makes it one and a half times the size of Central Park), and boasts an inordinate number of bicycle paths, ballfields, and playgrounds, as well as, of course, that iconic Unisphere. If you’ve ever been witness to the Dragon Boat Festival held every August, then you’ve certainly seen it in all its glory. (And if you haven’t, please do so!) Nearby Citi Field and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center certainly lend it considerable prestige, as well, but what makes FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK a favorite to so many is how capably it handles the ordinary, how easily it encourages the routine – a weekday afternoon stroll once the weather gets warmer, a pick-up softball game on any of its ten ballfields, the vastness of its bike paths, the serenity of Meadow Lake. There’s even a zoo here, with a geodesic aviary that has to be seen to be believed. What can we say, we love it here! And if you’ve never been, we’ve no doubt you will, too.

(FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK, in between the Grand Central and the Van Wyck, from Jewel Avenue on the South to Citi Field on the North.)

BEST Historical Destination QUAKER MEETING HOUSE One of the most fascinating things about Flushing – and easily one of the mostunderrated – is the incredibly significant role its settlers played in shaping our young nation, especially with regard to the issue of religious freedom. Thanks to a host of hard-working preservationists, said history is chronicled at a number of area venues along the Flushing Freedom Mile, such as ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH or the BOWNE HOUSE, just a few blocks away. We can’t help tipping our cap most significantly however, to the epicenter of it all, the FLUSHING QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, a landmark that’s been with us for more than 300 years now, and is one of the oldest such surviving structures in New York City. At a tumultuous time, the MEETING HOUSE, built by the inspirational John Bowne, was the only safe haven for practitioners of the newly emerging Quaker faith, who had come under siege

by Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Netherlands, when he issued an edict forbidding anyone in the colony to entertain a Quaker or to allow a Quaker meeting to be held in their house, subject to a fine of fifty pounds. The response to said edict was chronicled in a document known as The Flushing Remonstrance, dated December 27, 1657, one of the earliest

Flushing

BEST Outdoor Recreation

If you’re this close to the iconic Unisphere, then you know for sure that you’re inside Flushing Meadows Corona Park, one of the crown jewels of the entire borough.

to advocate on behalf of religious freedom, and thus one of the most significant documents in American history. Today, the FLUSHING QUAKER MEETING HOUSE is still home to meetings for worship every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and as such is the oldest house of worship in New York City, something that in itself stands as a tremendous testament to the enduring power of faith. (FLUSHING QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, 137-16 Northern Boulevard, (718) 358-9636.)

BEST Historical Destination

Flushing is rife with historical significance, particularly in the arena of religious freedom, a history that is chronicled via the Flushing Freedom Mile, which draws attention to The Bowne House, St. George’s Church, and the Flushing Quaker Meeting House, among others.

BEST Architecture and Design QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY When you’ve got a ton of people in your community – especially a lot of families – you’re going to need a heck of a big library to help service them all. Makes perfect sense then that the Flushing branch of the QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY would be one of the system’s unmistakable crown jewels. Vast and spacious (77,000 square feet), it is actually more akin to a school than a library, and is purported to be the most heavily used branch library in the entire United States. If Downtown Flushing can be considered a city within a city, then you might consider this branch of the library to be the city within that one. What has always impressed us, however, in the ten years since the $30 million renovation was completed, is how clean its lines are, and how appealing its design, given that it’s essentially a municipal structure.

Credit that to the architects at the Polshek Partnership who said at the time that they were looking to “demystify the idea of books,” given the fact that the library is situated right at the hub of an extensive immigrant population. The branch’s signature may well be the glass-enclosed staircase linking the multi-functional multi-tiered structure – it’s a community www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 59

BEST OF THE BEST

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BEST Local Cuisine SPICY & TASTY Certainly hard to single out any one place in this category with a whole host of ‘em peppering Downtown Flushing, but the way this charming little Szechuan restaurant is standing-room-only on Sunday evening, filled to the brim with mostly Asian-American families, is definitely one sure-fire indication that what you’re getting here is definitely the best of the best. Even to the less-discerning palate, what SPICY & TASTY is really all about (as if its name weren’t your first clue) is flavor, flavor, flavor. All down the line on their menu are dishes which will no doubt prove delectable to you and instantly memorable. The prices are incredibly reasonable, too, considering how high the quality is, and our recommendation would be to sample as many Appetizers and Szechuan Delicacies as your stomach (and table!) can bear.

Items like the Shredded Dry Bean Curd, BEST Burger

Joe’s BestBurger is definitely appropriately named, but in our opinion, their thick shakes are even better!

60 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

the Cold Jelly Chengdu Style or the Dan-Dan Noodles with Minced Pork.

And if you feel like you’re looking for something a bit more substantial as well, the Spicy Double-Cooked Pork and the Smoked Tea Duck are absolutely universal favorites. All of which gets seasoned with that pungent Szechuan combination of red chili oil, peppercorns, scallions, minced garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce.

And the fact that there are so many different dishes with which they excel here – well, that only makes you crave your next visit that much more. (SPICY & TASTY, 39-07 Prince Street, (718) 3591601.)

BEST Burgers JOE’S BESTBURGER JOE’S BESTBURGER is this fantastic oasis of California-style burger heaven right smack in the middle of Main Street, Flushing. While much has been said about the new Shake Shack at nearby Citi Field, you might just as well take the 7 train one more stop for your pre- or post-game noshing, as this is easily one of the best burgers in the city. Every BestBurger is prepared fresh here – with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, etc. and a pretty decent bun, if you ask us.

And Joe’s Sauce (an inventive mixture of Thousand Island Dressing and relish) puts just the right accent on your burger to make it stand out all the more. Still, a couple of things that make the place BEST Ttoys

Toy designer Keith Poon’s TOY QUBE, on Prince Street, is one of the most colorful and inventive toy shops you are ever going to find.

truly special are their home-cut French Fries (try the Cheese Fries!), and their absolutely unrivalled thick shakes. We sampled the Strawberry Shake on a recent visit, and can think of few better – the straw floating in the center of it was as impressive as the tiny chunks of rry inside. side. Perhaps the best bes thing t strawberry OE’S BESTBURGER however, ho how about JOE’S lly these se days, is what a bar bbargain especially a the placee can be. Youu are hereby adv advised Club beto sign up forr their Rewards Club, ing upon what you oorder, cause depending eal – burger, fries, shake – may your meal y wind up p being just around $5. actually (J B Just likee in thee old days! (JOE’S BESTER, 39-11 -11 Main Street, Stree (718) 445BURGER, 8065.)

Flushing

center and a performance space, as well – but that exterior diaphanous glass wall you see curving along Main Street towards Kissena Boulevard will no doubt also evoke aspects of some of the other of the firm’s grand designs too, such as the New York Times printing plant in nearby College Point, the NY Hall of Science, and the magnificent Rose Center for Earth and Space in Manhattan.

(QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY, 60-05 Main Street, (718) 359-8332.)

BEST Toys TOY QUBE UBE We really lly dig g what entrepr entrepreneur Keith K Poon hass donee with his designer design toy sshop, UBE, especially now no that he’s TOY QUBE, moved it out off the Flushin Flushing Mall into a nifty new space ace on rapidly-develo rapidly-developing Prince Street. Set foot in here even for a moment, t, and you will feel like yo you’ve pped into nto the toy store stor of th just stepped the future. There’s here’s such a terrific sense of fun and pop in here, e, ranging from the ar artwork artw on the wall to arrangement o the eclectic arrangem of toys on the shelves, where produc product becomes design. Make sure you yo check out the “miniature got on niaturee sneakers” the they’ve go sale here, signae, as well as one of P Poon’s si ture pieces, ces, “Sharky,” harky,” which he desi designed and produced duced himself. You see, having ha been a collector tor since he w was 10 yyears old, andd inspired by outfits like KID KIDROBOT and nd others, Poon’s now no taken the next step p and begun designing designin toys oof his own. A haven for enthusiasts enthusias of anime, an comics, and skateboard cult well, culture as w TOY QUBE UBE BE is also a Bubble Bubb Tea café (only here, they call it Popioca, which seems rather fitting, actually). So as you peruse your next purchase (maybe a figurine you’re going to paint yourself?), you get to enjoy your sipping on one of TOY QUBE’S ultra-cool clear plastic acrylic tables, and ponder the future appropriately. (TOY QUBE, 37-06 Prince Street, (718) 939-8605.)

BEST OF THE BEST

BEST Cultural Destination Flushing QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART With the Queens Zoo and the NY Hall of Science so BEST Cultural close by (not to mention Citi Field and the US Open), Destination the QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART sometimes gets short shrift when it comes to our cultural attention, even if we already happen to be in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. And yet, it’s one of the foremost art centers in the country, especially with regard to its educational programming for young people. In any given year, QMA engages over 30,000 children and adults of all ages.

School programs range from single class trips to multiyear museum-school partnerships. Children can study art, architecture, design, geography, mapping skills, and New York City history in connection with the museum’s exhibitions and collections. Another inventive program The Panorama of the City of New York has long been one of our favorite things offered is something called Queens Teens, a career about the Queens Museum of Art. They’ve recently dedicated themselves to uptraining program that immerses high school students dating the exhibit on a regular basis, and are seen here executing their most rein museum administration, museum education, and art cent installation, that of nearby Citi Field. interpretation, while building leadership, communication, and organizational skills. And of course, the QMA is home to one of our personal favorite exhibitions, the unparalleled Panorama of the City of New York. Built for the 1964 World’s Fair (and commissioned by Robert Moses), the Panorama celebrates our city in a manner not too many other exhibits can. It features nearly 900,000 scale models of every single building throughout the five boroughs, and as of March 2009, is getting updated on an ongoing basis. (With all the rampant development underway, especially in Brooklyn, that certainly ought to keep everyone pretty busy!) The Panorama’s newest addition, appropriately enough? Their brand spanking new neighbor, Citi Field. (QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, (718) 592-9700.)

BEST Bargain

Flushing residents are well aware of the charm (and the value!) that goes with grabbing a quick bite at AA Plaza, on Main Street, where Steamed Pork Buns are just 4 for $1.25.

BEST Bargain AA PLAZA AA PLAZA is basically a series of street-level window stalls tucked in beneath the Long Island Rail Road tracks which thunder overhead, far above Main Street. Perhaps it’s the manner with

which you receive your food through the window, or the bazaar-like atmosphere surrounding this little corner of Main, but patronize AA PLAZA, and you will definitely feel like you’re not in America for the moment. This is some of the best – and cheapest – street food you are going to find anywhere, and continues to astonish us each time we partake. Scallion Pancakes cost just $1.00 and are far more generously portioned than you would expect. So too, a little something called a Chinese Rice Roll, gooey and chewy upon tasting, and make sure you try it with the hot sauce. But where AA PLAZA really shines is their exemplary Steamed Pork Buns, which come just 4 for $1.25 – now, where the heck are you going to find a bargain like that?

And you know what, since our Scallion Pancake, Chinese Rice Roll, and Pork Buns were running us just $3.25 for the lot, we figured we’d splurge on a can of soda – which ran our bill up to a hefty $4.00 even. So we stopped right there, and called it a bargain, the best we ever had. (AA PLAZA, 40-66 Main Street, NO PHONE.)

BEST Indoor Recreation JIB LANES It’s not even a year at this point, but fans of longtime Flushing mainstay JIB LANES are still raving about the complete makeover done to the popular facility, thanks to new ownership spearheaded by LI bowling maven John LaSpina and his son Joe. With the recent closure of venues like Woodhaven Lanes on the Glendale/Forest Hills border, the number of available places to host your league, or take the family out bowling (within NYC, anyway) has drastically dwindled in recent years. This is where JIB LANES has picked up some of the slack in a big way in an effort to re-establish itself as the absolute Mecca for bowling in our area. They’ve even gone so far as to re-hire staff from Woodhaven, a smart move that has no doubt already begun to reap benefits in terms of re-channeling what was a rather loyal following. Patrons of the old JIB will be pleased to know that those clunky television monitors have now been replaced with digital monitors, and there’s even www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 61

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some high-falutin’ radar ball speed capability so bowlers can calculate (and improve upon!) their personal velocity.

Aside from that, JIB LANES is also an excellent venue for parties – ranging anywhere from office parties or corporate events to your young’un’s next birthday party. (JIB LANES, 158-11 Jewel Avenue, (718) 591-0600.)

BEST Dining Experience KUM GANG SAN KUM GANG SAN is admittedly a bit expensive, but it’s also an incredibly worthwhile experience. First off, you’re going to want to valet park your car, so you can meander into the restaurant through the back door, via the exquisite garden and gargantuan waterfall. Korean BBQ is the specialty here – marinated meats like beef, pork, chicken, all grilled to perfection right in front of you (but especially make sure you go for the Bul Go Gi, or traditional Korean Sesame Steak).

The other thing that makes Korean restaurants like this so special, though, are what are called banchan dishes, which are appetizers or side dishes ranging from marinated vegetables to tofu, some fish bits maybe, and of course, kimchi or Korean pickled cabbage. The Seafood Pancake is also terrific and memorable, and make sure you try the broiled fish here at some point, too – the Spanish Mackerel (Samchi Gui) is a particular fan favorite.

Anyway, you’ll also be pleased to know that KUM GANG SAN is open 24-Hrs, so how cool is that! (KUM GANG SAN, 138-28 Northern Boulevard, (718) 4610909.)

BEST Place For Your Kids FLUSHING YMCA Because it’s a youth hostel as well (and a pretty inexpensive one at that), the FLUSHING YMCA is one of the more popular area destinations for NYC visitors from all over the country, if not the world. But for members of its own community, it’s got one of the most extensive slates of youth programs in the entire YMCA of Greater New York system.

For example, their Afterschool program (open to ages 5-12) is one of the most highly regarded around, as is the TASC Funded Virtual Y, located on nearby 62 Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

136th Street. But where this particular YMCA branch shines is its Aquatics program. Graced with not one, but two full-size swimming pools (a 6-laner and a 3-laner), this YMCA can accommodate Aquatics instruction for Youths (6-13 years of age), Pre-School (3-5 years of age), and even Parent-Child Aquatics. Another distinctive feather in their cap here is the success of the Flushing Flyers Swim Team, which is not just a YMCA team, but a U.S.A. Swimming team, as well. Tryouts are every September and May (or by appointment), and Head Coach Richard Finkelstein has really done an amazing job in making the Flyers perennial NY State champions. (FLUSHING YMCA, 138-46 Northern Boulevard, (718) 961-6880.)

BEST Kids Place

The Flushing Flyers. Not only are they a YMCA team, but a U.S.A swim team as well.

BEST Taste Sensation TEN REN TEA If you’re looking for a terrific taste treat, especially on a hot summer day, then a nice little bubble tea ought to do the trick, and Downtown Flushing is awash in ‘em, but none do it better, in our humble opinion, than the internationally renowned tea specialists at TEN REN TEA on Roosevelt Avenue. No description of either their Tapioca Fruit Iced Tea or their Tapioca Iced Milk Shakes could truly do justice to the chewy and gooey sensation of slurping up one of their signature boba (tapioca pearls) through your extra thick straw. (And by the way, TEN REN TEA prides themselves on giving you far more of these pearly wonders than just about any other establishment around, which essentially makes your drink last that much longer.) There’s a whole host

of fantastic flavors here to choose from and it’ll definitely take you a little extra time to decide. Green Apple and Plum are two popular choices when it comes to the Iced Teas, and the Almond, Coconut, and Peanut Milk Shakes are rather outstanding, too. But if you’re even the least bit adventurous, make sure you try the Taro Iced Milk Shake (you’ll hear people ordering it all around you), because even after you’re done, we promise you, you’re still going to be thinking about it for quite a while. (TEN REN TEA, 135-18 Roosevelt Avenue, (718) 461-9305.)

BEST Sweets TAI PAN BAKERY TAI PAN BAKERY is quite the scene, especially in the mornings, but it is well worth it. We say “scene” because so much of the atmosphere and experience with this place has to do with the fact that you grab a tray and a pair of tongs, peruse the showcases for the assorted buns you’d like to purchase – a Corn & Ham Bun maybe, a Custard Coconut Bun, an Almond Twist, a Lemon Raisin Twist?

– and then return that tray to the top of the counter so the girls can tally up your purchases, and ask if you want anything more (which you defitnitely do, by the way, because that’s where the Portuguese Egg Custard is, make sure you ask for it.)

And again, we say “scene” because the number of elbows that will jostle you in your pursuit of some of these great buns may startle you at first, but consider co yourself forewarned here. Whether Wheth it’s Whe how you begin your day, or how you y end it, a trip to TAI PAN BAKERY is sure

BEST OF BEST to put a smile on your face, no matter what else is going oon in your life, we can definitely guara guarantee guar that. By the way,, to be completely comple fair, just around the corner, KYOROD@NG KY K offers similar milar fare, fare and a while newer and seemingly cleaner, just doesn’t have the charm of TAI PAN BAKERY, although it might be a bit more suitable le for sitting down and sipping a cappuccino. puccino. uccino. Still, we can’t help bu but prefer TAI PAN! (TAI PAN BAKERY, BAKER 37-25 Main Street, (718) 888-1111.)

888-1111.

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A Taste of Korea in NYC’s Other Chinatown

By Holly Tsang lushing is often referred to as New York City’s second Chinatown, and it’s difficult to disagree. If you walk down Main Street, you’ll see a lot of Chinese faces and places.

It’s not only the Chinese who live in this heavily populated area of Queens, however. Outsiders are often unaware there is a significant Korean population that also calls Flushing home. In fact, it would probably be more fitting to refer to Northern Boulevard as Koreatown than the area surrounding West 32nd Street in Manhattan, which encompasses barely a block.

Throughout Flushing, there are many Korean niche restaurants specializing in specific types of cuisine. They serve a largely Korean clientele, but of course everyone is welcome to find something they love.

The cost of eating at these restaurants can vary greatly depending on the type of food and the restaurant itself, but it’s fairly easy to find a meal that’s affordable and delicious. The offerings will please the taste buds of both those trying Korean food for the first time and those looking to try something different from the usual bi bim bap. Many Korean restaurants also offer a number of vegetarian-friendly options.

F

Bonjuk 152-26 Northern Boulevard

Bonjuk, a Korean traditional porridge restaurant, is serious about the food it serves - only porridge is on the menu.

Meat, seafood, or vegetables are mixed into a thick porridge that is usually made with rice. The restaurant prides itself on making healthy food that’s reminiscent of a mother’s cooking. Certain porridges, though pricier, are listed as having specific benefits, such as the promotion of healthy skin or women’s beauty.

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The price of a bowl of porridge can cost as little as $9 to as much as $30. Either way, each bowl is hearty enough to satisfy your hunger.

KumGangSan 138-28 Northern Boulevard

Although you can get almost any kind of Korean food at KumGangSan, the restaurant is famous for its Korean barbecue. In this unique dining experience, you barbecue the meat over a grill that’s

built into the table. The only downside is that your clothes are left with a lingering Korean BBQ smell, but it’s totally worth it for the kal-bi, or marinated beef short ribs, one of the most popular dishes.

KumGangSan is open 24 hours for those late-night cravings.

BonChon 157-18 Northern Boulevard

Fried chicken wings aren’t something that would normally be considered

Asian, let alone Korean, but the trend is catching on, and several of these niche restaurants are popping up in Flushing.

BonChon chicken is crunchy, but not all that greasy. In fact, the chicken has minimal breading on it, and somehow it’s still nice and crispy. The restaurant even has a liquor license so you can enjoy a beer or soju, a Korean alcoholic beverage, with your chicken. Those with a penchant for spice will appreciate the burning inflicted by the hot flavors. It does take awhile to make the chicken, about a half hour, but the delayed satisfaction makes the chicken taste even better once you finally sink your teeth into it. Your search for the perfect fried chicken is over: BonChon chicken is juicy and the spices are cooked inside the chicken, even underneath the skin, doing away with the oft-messy experience of eating wings in a more traditional setting.

B.C.D. 152-22 Northern Boulevard

Located just a couple of doors down from Bonjuk, B.C.D. proves that tofu isn’t just for health nuts. The natural tofu stew

comes in a boiling pot with meat, seafood, or vegetables and is eaten with a bowl of white rice. The spiciness of the stew can be adjusted according to your preference.

It only costs about $10 for a tofu pot, so you really get a bang for your buck. B.C.D. has an alternate location on the corner of

Holly Avenue and Kissena Boulevard, where most of the customers are that area’s Chinese residents. The Northern Boulevard location is open 24 hours.

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Voter Disconnect Won’t Mend Soon Here in Queens, But We Get A Good Start With Avella, Gioia, Katz, Liu and Weprin

The

Machine T he political landscape of Queens is no doubt shaped by the Queens Democratic Organization. “The Machine,” as it is known, has furthered the careers of legislators and judges and been responsible for much of the power and influence in Queens for the past three decades.

Congressman Joseph Crowley is the county leader and our conversations with him tend to gravitate towards how candidates are picked and how The Machine operates. His Woodside roots and family upbringing make Crowley a fair and balanced leader. Anyone who deals with him sees his outward goal to respect the wants of his district leaders.

We are amazed, however, how those leaders always seem to question voter apathy when it comes to elections. Some see voter apathy as a good thing for machine candidates. If fewer of the “nonengaged” residents of Queens come out to vote then the machine candidate gets elected - thus allowing the organization to hold on to influence.

Voter Apathy - You’re a Crook and Everyone Knows It For all but major issues, Queens voters feel disengaged with the process. Issues like Willets Point, Aqueduct Racetrack development, and Hunters Point rezoning have been in the news and seem to get a66keen eye. But issues like hundreds of Fall 2009 www.itsqueens.com

thousands of dollars of funding for a bogus youth program in Corona or the repeal of the term limits law confirms a disconnect with legislators.

No doubt the few council representatives who have taken advantage of their office financing capabilities have told the voters that the culture of the politicians is to lie, cheat and steal, but there is little that council representatives have done to change the culture. That, and that alone, leads most to believe that politicians are crooked. We in the press are aware that most are not, but the perception needs to be changed in order to bring confidence back to the voters.

We at It’s Queens have had the opportunity to sit and speak with dozens of candidates and seated legislators recently. The topic of a lack of trust of politicians always comes up. They all seem to be aware of the problem, few want to do anything about it. Not because they might do some unscrupulous acts, but because it is too big of a problem to solve.

We disagree. It can be solved. Do it and your profession will once again be as reverent as it once was.

We give council representatives Eric Gioia, Melinda Katz, David Weprin,

John Liu, and Tony Avella credit here for walking the walk when it comes to leaving their posts before term limits forced them to. They each would have easily won their seats this November. As one of them has told us, “eight years of this is enough for one lifetime. It’s time to move and and do some more good in another capacity.”

No douwbt the few council representatives who have taken advantage of their office financing capabilities have told the voters that the culture of the politicians is to lie, cheat and steal, but there is little that council representatives have done to change the culture.

CIVIC CORNER

C

ivic organizations in Queens weigh in on nearly every issue and debate affecting neighborhoods cross the borough. The facts, according to most civic leaders, are that the people who live in the outer boroughs continue to be viewed as “outsiders” to Manhattan.

When the city seeks to put a toll on the Queensboro Bridge civics snarl. The Willets Point and College Point development plans continue to be top concerns among local civic organizations. Development at the famed Aqueduct Racetrack and plans to make Jamaica vibrant are also close watched by activists. Sidewalk cafes and street vendors are the issues of the season. Queens people are not just looking out for the borough as whole, however, but fight for our rights down to our own individual block. As with each issue, It’s Queens offers up a sampling of some of the local civic organizations and what they are fighting for.

Queens Civic Congress Covers: All Of Queens - Umbrella Civic for Local Civics President: Corey Bearak Email: Bearak@aol.com Hot topics for fall of 2009: City Hall’s efforts to cut the public out of the loop when it comes to anonymously challenging and demanding official examination and inspection of buildings. Corey Bearak, the organization’s energizer, says that the rule immunizes corrupt practices of some developers. The civic also argues that while small business are being fined like the Wild West for gum wrappers that blow in front of their storefronts, fines from the Buildings Department for builders who ignore zoning are not being confronted.

Landmarking and illegal truck traffic continues to be a focus of the group, which boasts more than 100 local civic organizations as members.

COMET (Citizens of Maspeth/ Elmhurst Together Civic Association) Covers: Zip Codes 11378, 11373 President: Roe Daraio Hot Topics: A high school is planned for the corner of 57th Avenue and 74th Street in Elmhurst. The School Construction Authority has advised the civic that the school will have 1,100 students. COMET feels that traffic, parking and transit concerns make the site inappropriate for a school The civic also claims that the School Construction Authority has not complied with nor has displayed any intention of complying with health and safety precautions so as to satisfy federal and state standards. They say that the site is toxic and the people who will work and go to school there are in danger. Every day, a security guard is stationed at the abandoned factory where the school will be.

Glendale Civic Association Covers: Zip Code 11385 Email: glendalecivic@aol.com President: Kathy Masi General Information: Town Hall meetings on specific issues only. They work with the Queens Civic Congress on sponsoring seminars and events, the dates of which are

published regularly in the Glendale Register.

They are a regular host for the 104th Precinct Community Council.

Hot Topics: The Atlas Mall has a good number of healthy eating establishments, however its retail draw, or lack there of, is of concern to the civic.

Eastern Queens Alliance Covers Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, including six civics in Southeast Queens Chair: Barbara Brown: BEBrown@easternqueensalliance.org Upcoming Event: Idlewild Wetland and Wildlife Preserve Benefit - October 24, 2009, Noon to 5 @ Worlds Fair Marina & Banquet Hall For the past five years, one of the main projects that the Alliance has been working on is the preservation and restoration of the wetlands in Idlewild Park Preserve and to establish an Idlewild Park Salt Marsh Environmental Science Learning Center through which environmental education will be provided to children and families of the community at large.

In addition, EQA is concerned about preserving open space, and the prevention of further encroachment by airport-related services and other industrial uses in our residential areas.

This is closely related to the whole issue of air and water quality and the increase in the incidence of asthma across our communities.

United Community Civic Association Covers: Ditmars section of Astoria President: Rosemarie Povoromo General Information: Handles neighborhood issues in an area packed with industry and infrastructure. Covers Astoria, East Elmhurst, Steinway.

Hot Topics: The ongoing battle against industrial pollution from the large number of power plants, expressways, and LaGuardia Airport. The neighborhood’s proximity to Rikers Island is a constant concern. But now the state cleared the way for Astoria to play host to a plant that would produce more of the city’s electricity — but community leaders are saying, “enough is enough.” A second natural gas generating plant is planned in the

neighborhood, and UCC says it’s not fair.

Although local elected officials have sided with the UCC, they have been ineffective in stopping it.

Glendale Property Owners Association Covers: Zip Code 11385 Email: GPOA4Glendale@aol.com President: Brian Dooley General Information: Meet first Thursdays of every month at 7:30 p.m.

Hot Topics: Getting Glendale its own zip code (it currently shares one with Ridgewood).

Flooding caused by the lack of ample sewer service has been a thorn in the sides of the civic leadership for a year-and-a-half now.

Civic members have taken a leadership role on flooding issues at the community board level. Policing has increasingly become more important to this association. The civ played an important role in the recent downzoning, but a few developers continue to knock on the door.

Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic Association Covers: Ridgewood President: Paul Kerzner - (718) 802-5078 General information: General membership meetings - First Thursday of the month (September through December and February through June) in the JHS 93 auditorium at Forest Avenue and Madison Street, Ridgewood (where they have met for the last 77 years, incidentally). This civic group has been instrumental in helping form the Greater Ridgewood Local Development Corporation with its 24-hour graffiti-removal hotline (718366-8721), as well as massive street tree plantings and the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District.

Ridgewood is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Queens, with a pocket of Hispanic and Eastern European first-generation residents.

Hot Topics: Passive development of the Ridgewood Reservoir site, monitoring improvements to the mass transit hub at Myrtle and Wyckoff avenues, and securing New York City Landmark Designation for all 2,982 buildings in Ridgewood’s Federal and State Historic District. www.itsqueens.com Fall 2009 67