VOL 3:5 APRIL 2013
ASTORIA // LIC // SUNNYSIDE
One Chef, Two Kitchens, pg. 6
The Scene in Queens, pg. 20
Western Queens, Then And Now, pg. 28
CREATE // CULTIVATE // INSPIRE
Astoria Author Interview, pg. 30
GREAT DISCOUNTS
at the best spots in Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside
Britt Wallace Britt Wallace
2 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
BORO DEALS & DISCOUNTS Be local and enjoy the below offers from some of Astoria and LIC’s best merchants. Offers available through April 30, 2013. Bring BORO or coupon below to redeem discount. Limited to 1 use per reader. Merchant restrictions may apply.
ONE FREE CLASS for new clients only. Use promo code LICFREE
10% OFF when you spend $100 or more. Some restrictions apply. See cashier for details.
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20% OFF dinner entrees.
$10 OFF haircuts and color.
2 MONTHS FREE STORAGE.
$15 OFF your next visit, mention this ad. One use only please.
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$2 OFF your ticket to hit musical BLOOD BROTHERS. May 2-18. Use promo code BOROMAG | www.apacny.org
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1 FREE DRINK and comedy show
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Follow Us For Great Deals Throughout The Month /BOROmag
@BOROmag APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 3
Dear Western Queens, Th is issue of BORO is all about getting you energized for the warmer weather and longer lasting daylight! From walking around the neighborhood with its historic buildings to trying all of the food in Meg Cotner’s new guide to the culinary side of our borough, this month’s stories will inspire you to get out and about.
MATTHEW TAYLOR
The music scene in Western Queens is livelier than ever, so we looked into some of the best venues for you to check out. If you need that extra push to make this spring the season when you accomplish your long-time goals, reading about the owner/chefs who each run two different restaurants ought to get you motivated. I hope this issue helps to make your April fun and productive!
editor-in-chief
One Chef, Two Kitchens
6
Local Music
FEATURES 6 FOOD
One Chef, Two Kitchens
14 FOOD
Preparing a Great Steak at Home
20 MUSIC
The Scene in Queens
28 EXPLORE YOUR BORO Western Queens History
30 EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Astoria Author Meg Cotner Pens Food Guide To Queens
34 FOOD
A Community Unites For Matters Of The Heart
20
DEPARTMENTS 3
DISCOUNTS & PROMO PAGE
Exclusive savings, discounts and freebies for the month of April in Astoria, LIC and Sunnyside.
12 APRIL 2013 EVENTS 15 MAP IT DIRECTORY
Your Go-to Guide For Astoria, LIC and Sunnyside’s best shops, food, art, nightlife and More.
18 MAP IT: ASTORIA, LIC & SUNNYSIDE MAP REMEMBER TO TAG YOUR QUEENS INSTAGRAM PICS WITH #BOROMAG AND LOOK FOR YOUR PHOTOS IN ONE OF OUR FUTURE ISSUES!
ADVERTISE IN BORO ads@BOROmag.com // 718.866.8089 www.BOROmag.com/advertise Cover photo taken at Sadowsky Guitars.
/ BOROmag
@BOROmag
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF matthew taylor // CREATIVE DIRECTOR emma cason-pratt // ART DIRECTOR jennifer decio GRAPHIC DESIGNERS emma cason-pratt, gary zero // STAFF WRITERS bradley hawks, ben mims, daniel crown, lillian shaw, matthew taylor, brett jones, meaghan trainor // STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS javier ibañez, daniel pando, bradley hawks ONLINE EDITORIAL COORDINATOR matthew taylor // PUBLISHED BY Joshua & Victoria Schneps *This magazine is made from FSC paper, printed with soy ink and 100% recyclable. Please recycle after use. All materials Copyright © 2013 BORO / All rights reserved. Opinions and claims made by advertisers are advertisers’ claims only. BORO Magazine accepts no responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. BORO Magazine reserves the right to publish any images without providing photo/image credit. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.
4 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
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compatible equipment. All sales subject to credit check. For additional terms and conditions log on to rcn.com. No substitutions. Other restrictions may apply. Not all services available in all areas. TiVo and the TiVo logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide. All names, logos, images and service marks are property of their respective owners. ©2013 RCN Telecom Services of New York, LP. All rights reserved. compatible equipment. All sales subject to credit check. For additional terms and conditions log on to rcn.com. No substitutions. Other restrictions may apply. Not all services available in all areas. TiVo and the TiVo logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide. All names, logos, images and service marks are property of their respective owners. ©2013 RCN Telecom Services of New York, LP. All rights reserved.
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 5
FOOD
One Chef, Two Kitchens O
Story + Photos Bradley Hawks
perating a successful restaurant is one of the most staggering yet revered hallmarks of New York City, an undeniable culinary capital of the world. MenuPages.com lists over one thousand restaurant menus in Western Queens alone. This month, BORO visits two talented chefs who both own and run the kitchens at not only one but two popular restaurants in Queens!
Stuffed pork tenderloin with apples over a cabbage agrodolce at Vesta Trattoria.
6 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
Michelle Vido Vesta & Pachanga Patterson Vesta Vino & Trattoria is warm and inviting, instantly evoking a feeling of home. The orange awning crowns the corner of 30th Ave and 21st St like a beacon for contemporary Italian cooking and the creative manipulation of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Vesta is well known for collaborating with the Brooklyn Grange, LIC’s rooftop urban farm. “We want customers to feel like they are dining with our family,” explains Michelle Vido, Executive Chef and coowner along with Leonardo Sacco and Giuseppe Falco. Some of the most popular dishes at Vesta include a ‘Sunday night dinner’ style lasagna, a brunch hangover pizza (replete with sausage, pancetta, and fried eggs), and their famous Baby Jesus Cake—a date cake with sticky toffee sauce and fresh whipped cream. Apart from those (and a few other staples, including gourmet thin crust pizzas), the vibrant menu alters with the seasons and the fresh market. Recent inspirations have included gnudi—giant ricotta gnocchi—in a dandelion hazelnut pesto and stuffed pork tenderloin with apples over a cabbage agrodolce. Glasses of house cask wine are savored with giant bowls of pappardelle. Regulars embrace servers and bartenders in familiar hugs at arrival and departure. After just a year and a half of being warmly embraced by both the Astoria community and city at large, “we were ready to start looking [for a second location],” recalls Vido. “A few short years later we had our second baby, Pachanga Patterson. Polar opposite of the first. One would think the only difference would be the obvious...the style of food had changed. I should have known better. Everything was and has been different.” Drawing a somewhat younger crowd, Pachanga Patterson is much more whimsical and hip, with outdoor lights strewn across the ceiling and
Technicolor Day of the Dead skulls arranged throughout the dining room. There’s even a backyard. While the concept and menus may seem a significant departure from Vesta, the second restaurant was distinctly born from the first, as Chef Vido explains. “It is typical for us to cook a family meal at the close of the night for the staff at Vesta. We started to get bored of cooking the same food, so we started playing around and eventually it became the concept for Pachanga Patterson.” Think world foods through the vessel of Mexican cuisine. Tacos are loaded with sweet and sour pork, chicken thighs, and slaw, or fried Pollack fish planks. Colorful tostadas are stacked with calamari and glistening orange segments. The array of margaritas and cocktails is just as playful. The only obvious common denominator with Vesta is an ancho-cinnamon spiced version of the Baby Jesus Cake, instead called the Diablito or ‘Little Devil’.
Vesta Trattoria ‘s gnudi – giant ricotta gnocchi, in a dandelion hazelnut pesto.
Fish tacos at Pachanga Patterson.
The other notable commonality is the hilarious and tightly knit team behind both. While each restaurant has its own unique staff, the three owners float between the two as needed, regularly sending photos between stores. “We are extremely passionate about the restaurants we own and the food/ concepts we develop,” says Vido. “It is very personal to us. Over the years we have developed a large clientele that we adore and have become very attached to. Come join the VestaPachanga family!” Vesta Trattoria 21-02 30th Ave, Astoria 718-545-5550 www.vestavino.com Pachanga Patterson 33-17 31st Ave, Astoria 718-554-0525 pachangapatterson.com Continues, p.8
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 7
FOOD
Not your standard gyro sandwich with tzatziki sauce at Crave.
Assorted dishes at Crave.
Billy Pappas Crave & The Shady Lady
First cousins Louie Sparagis and Billy Pappas have been best friends since the age of two, so when Sparagis decided to open Crave with business partner Marinos Argyros (the two opened Nikitas Place in White Plains in 2001), it seemed natural to team up with Pappas, who had graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1997 and built his career in such kitchens as the Waldorf-Astoria and Rainbow Room. Designed to meet the needs of industry employees, actors, and musicians returning to the outer boroughs late in the evening, Crave stays open until 5 AM Fridays and Saturdays, 4 AM Thursdays, and 1 AM the rest of the week, dishing up Greek food with a distinct American twist.
8 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
“Being Greek and having a personal love for doner and gyros,” explains Pappas, “we wanted to create a menu that can put out the best rotisserie meats in Astoria as well as twisting certain dishes to show that you don’t have to get your standard gyro sandwich with tzatziki sauce.” Twenty alternative sauces include a house remoulade, spicy mayo,
Continues, p.10
STOVE
ClassiC EuropEan FarE
Beautifully Made -
Simply Delicious
45-17 28th Avenue • Astoria (one block off 30th ave, between 45th & 46th street)
718-956-0372 • www.stoveastoria.com •Please call for reservations•
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 9
FOOD
Assorted dishes at The Shady Lady.
or even kung fu ketchup. Deliveries can be as frequent as sixty orders in sixty minutes on busy days. But the real ‘crave appeal’ stems from Pappas’ ability to transform dishes into “urban Greek comfort,” as he likes to describe it. The Crave Bowls, for example, are iron skillets with a bed of twice-cooked ‘chips’ (French fries) topped with eclectic fixin’s and grilled pita. Consider the Frankenchips with cocktail franks, sautéed onions, and cheese sauce or the shaved meats, such as the deconstructed lamb gyro with warm lemon vinaigrette. The menu features everything from riblets to pork chops, oreganata tilapia to loaded baked potatoes. The Angry Cowboy Burger features pepperjack, bacon, mushrooms, and BBQ sauce. Now, just 2½ years after the successful introduction of Crave, they felt it was appropriate to open a restaurant that could showcase the full range of the team’s abilities. Thus, The Shady Lady was born. This time Chris Prilook, a high school buddy, joined in as a partner and General Manager. The entire restaurant, including the tables, beams, and the bar, was built by hand without the help of outside contractors. Above the bar, the single television plays silent films. The entire concept is intended to foster socializing and 10 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
interaction amongst friends, with a global menu focused on plates made to share. Pork tenderloin medallions are encrusted in mushrooms and Dijon, then baked in a pastry crust. Meatloaf meatballs are served on a pedestal of whipped potatoes. Foie gras terrine (made in house by Pappas) is paired with cashew butter and port wine gelee for a sophisticated PB&J. Mac and cheese carbonara and lobster pot pie are highlights, as well as several sliders and oysters on the half shell. There is even a weekday Shady Hour from 11 PM to 1 AM, where guests can enjoy unlimited half price well drinks, beer, and wine with any food purchase. Though the two restaurants are only one block apart, nothing besides good food and good service is shared. “You can’t really ask my main gyro slicing chef to run down the street to make foie gras terrine or pork wellington,” laughs Pappas. “We love food and we love people and we just want everyone to enjoy their experience at both restaurants.” Crave Astoria 28-55 36th St, Astoria | 718-726-4976 www.craveastoria.com The Shady Lady 34-19 30th Ave, Astoria | 718-440-9081
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 11
APRIL EVENTS 4/4 @ 7:30PM (ART)
Find more April events at www.BOROmag.com/Events 4/26 9PM-11:30PM (MUSIC)
NATURE OF THE MUSE: A READING & LIVE WRITING EVENT
SIX DEADLY VENOMS
FREE | The Queens Kickshaw 718-777-0913 | 40-17 Broadway, Astoria
1 DRINK MINIMUM | LIC Bar 718-786-5400 | 45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC
www.thequeenskickshaw.com
www.audreydimola.com
4/27 ALL DAY (FAMILY)
4/4 @ 8PM (MUSIC)
TELL A STORY DAY & aSTORYa TIME
AARON SHORT: POP AND ROCK CLASSICS FREE | Thymari Restaurant 718-204-2880 | 32-07 34th Ave, Astoria www.thymari.com
4/4 9PM-12AM (MUSIC)
KAGERO JAPANESE GYPSY ROCK
FREE | Rest-Au-Rant 718-729-9009 | 30-01 35th Ave, LIC www.rarbarlic.com
4/5 5PM-8PM (ART)
APRIL FIRST FRIDAY
FREE | The Noguchi Museum 718-204-7088 | 32-37 Vernon Blvd, Astoria www.noguchi.org
4/6 @ 1PM (FAMILY)
JIGSAW PUZZLE SWAP DAY
$10-ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP | babyNOIR 646-470-4728 | 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.babynoir.net
4/8 @ 6:30PM (BODY+SOUL)
SHAPE UP NYC: STRETCH AND TONE FREE | Queens Library, LIC Branch 718-752-3700 | 37-44 21st St, LIC www.queenslibrary.org
4/9 @ 6:30PM (ART)
SPRING BENEFIT: LUCKY DRAW
$500/RAFFLE TICKET OR 3 FOR $1,350 | SculptureCenter 718-361-1750 | 44-19 Purves St, LIC www.sculpture-center.org
4/9 7PM-12AM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINTMENT)
GAME NIGHT & KARAOKE
FREE | The Z Hotel 212-319-7000 | 11-03 43rd Ave, LIC www.zhotelny.com
4/10 @ 8PM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINMENT)
THE BIG THING: TAX REFUND NIGHT
$10 | Laughing Devil Comedy Club 347-91-DEVIL | 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.laughingdevil.com
4/11 9PM-12AM (MUSIC)
JOE JUNG & CEDRIC LAMAR
FREE | Rest-Au-Rant 718-729-9009 | 30-01 35th Ave, LIC www.rarbarlic.com
4/12 7PM-9PM (ART)
MEIKO ANEKAWA SOLO EXHIBITION FREE | ResoBox Gallery 718-784-3680 | 41-26 27th St, LIC www.resobox.com
4/13 @ 7PM (FOOD+DRINK)
4/17 6PM-9PM (SHOPS)
SITE TURNS 6-A QUEENS STYLE CELEBRATION FREE + IN-STORE DISCOUNTS | SITE 718-626-6030 | 35-11 34th Ave, Astoria www.sitenyc.com
4/18 @ 8PM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINMENT)
MOODY MCCARTHY’S YOUNG(ER) COMEDIAN SPECIAL $15 | Laughing Devil Comedy Club 347-91-DEVIL | 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC 4/18 @ 8PM (MUSIC)
AARON SHORT: POP AND ROCK CLASSICS FREE | Thymari Restaurant 718-204-2880 | 32-07 34th Ave, Astoria www.thymari.com
4/19 @ 11:30AM (ART)
CROCHET CLUB
FREE | Queens Library, LIC Branch 718-752-3700 | 37-44 21st St, LIC www.queenslibrary.org
4/19 9PM-11:30PM (MUSIC)
TANGO MEDITERRANEO
FREE | The Queens Kickshaw 718-777-0913 | 40-17 Broadway, Astoria www.thequeenskickshaw.com
4/20 11AM-12PM & 12:30PM-1:30PM (FOOD+DRINK)
FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION Museum of the Moving Image 718-706-5750 | 36-01 35th Ave, Astoria www.apacny.org
ONGOING 4/20-4/26 (FAMILY)
STORY TIME WEEK
FREE | babyNOIR 646-470-4728 | 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.babynoir.net
SUNDAYS 10AM-12PM (FAMILY)
WEEKLY BABY SINGING CLASS-LEVELS 1 & 2 $175 FOR 8 SESSIONS | babyNOIR 646-470-4728 | 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.babynoir.net
SUNDAYS 4PM-12AM (FOOD+DRINK)
BBQ SUNDAYS
www.skinnyscantina.com
MONDAYS 9PM-11PM (MUSIC)
4/20 6PM-9PM (FAMILY)
WORLD BOOK NIGHT PARTY & KICK-OFF FOR STORY TIME WEEK FREE | babyNOIR 646-470-4728 | 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.babynoir.net
4/20 @ 9PM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINMENT)
70’S DISCO FEVER PARTY
FREE | Skinny’s Cantina 718-806-1068 | 47-05 Center Blvd, LIC www.skinnyscantina.com
4/21 5PM-7PM (ART)
OPENING RECEPTION: BETTER HOMES FREE | SculptureCenter 718-361-1750 | 44-19 Purves St, LIC www.sculpture-center.org
4/25 8AM-10AM (BUSINESS)
LIC PARTNERSHIP REAL ESTATE BREAKFAST
4/14 @ 3PM (ART)
FREE W/ADMISSION | The Noguchi Museum 718-204-7088 | 32-37 Vernon Blvd, Astoria
FREE | LIC Living 718-361-5650 | 5-35 51st Ave, LIC
CURATOR’S TALK WITH PETER CARLSON
“HERE COMES THE SUN” CELEBRATION
www.noguchi.org
www.licliving.com
4/14 @ 8PM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINMENT)
4/25 9PM-12AM (MUSIC)
12 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
50TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF WEST SIDE STORY W/SPECIAL GUESTS
$10-BBQ ENTRÉE SPECIAL+A DRAFT | Rest-Au-Rant 718-729-9009 | 30-01 35th Ave, LIC
FREE | Skinny’s Cantina 718-806-1068 | 47-05 Center Blvd, LIC
4/25 7PM-9PM (SHOPS)
FREE | LIC Bar | www.licbar.com 718-786-5400 | 45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC
4/28 @ 2PM (FILM)
BABY LOVES SALSA BRUNCH
FREE TO WATCH, $20 TO ENTER Skinny’s Cantina 718-806-1068 | 47-05 Center Blvd, LIC www.skinnyscantina.com
FIRESIDE GHOST STORIES
www.babynoir.net
www.laughingdevil.com
$40 MEMBERS, $50 NONMEMBERS Court Square Place, UN Federal Credit Union 718-786-5300 x 21 | 24-01 44th Rd, LIC www.licpartnership.org
2ND ANNUAL BURRITO EATING CONTEST
FREE | babyNOIR 646-470-4728 | 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria
CROATIA JAZZ NIGHT W/PAUL VIDAIC & FLIP NOVOSEL FREE | Rest-Au-Rant 718-729-9009 | 30-01 35th Ave, LIC www.rarbarlic.com
www.rarbarlic.com
MUSIC MONDAYS
FREE | Sweet Afton 718-777-2570 | 30-09 34th St, Astoria www.sweetaftonbar.com
TUESDAYS 9PM-11PM (NIGHTLIFE+ENTERTAINMENT)
WHINE & CHEESE COMEDY SHOW
FREE | Rest-Au-Rant 718-729-9009 | 30-01 35th Ave, LIC www.rarbarlic.com
THURSDAY-SATURDAY, 4/4-4/27 @ 8PM (THEATRE)
THE LIC ONE-ACTS FESTIVAL 2013 $15 | The Secret Theatre 718-392-0722 | 44-02 23rd St, LIC www.secrettheatre.com
FRIDAYS 6PM-8:30PM (FOOD+DRINK)
FRIDAY NIGHT WINE TASTING
FREE | Astoria Park Wine & Spirits 718-606-1142 | 28-07 24th Ave, Astoria www.astoriaparkwineandspirits.com
FRIDAYS @ 7:30 PM (THEATRE)
“THE HOUSE”: IMPROV COMEDY
$5 | The Secret Theatre 718-392-0722 | 44-02 23rd St, LIC www.secrettheatre.com
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 11AM-4PM (FOOD+DRINK)
BAREBURGER BREAKFAST
SEE MENU | Bareburger Ditmars 718-204-7167 | 23-01 31st St, Astoria www.bareburger.com
can’t Find that little BlacK dreSS? UndreSS YOUr clOSet
Grand OpeninG Special
2 MOnthS Free! 718.519.8282 718 519 8282
www.tuckitaway.com 37-19 Crescent Street • Astoria
Get a Storage Room today! For a limited time, we are offering our new neighbors 2 months free! We have the space for your stuff so that you can live bigger and dream bigger. Why you need storage is your business. We’re not in the business of asking questions. We are in the business of simple storage. Call for details. APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 13
Preparing a Great
STEAK at Home Story By Chef Reiss of S Prime Steakhouse
As with any endeavor, the end result relies on where you begin. First, create a relationship with a butcher. Until very recently, butcher shops were all but extinct. Fortunately there has been a renaissance, and great butcher shops can be found throughout New York. Think of your butcher as a “meat consultant”. Talk to them, explain what you’re looking for, ask for suggestions. Your butcher can guide you to the right choice for any occasion and budget. They carry higher quality meats than a supermarket (at comparable prices), and you get EXACTLY what you need. Next, you need the right tools: a cast iron pan, a pair of long tongs, and a meat thermometer. There are many types of pans available, ranging from $15 to well over $100. For me, the versatility of a simple flat bottom pan is ideal.
S Prime Steakhouse 35-15 36th St, LIC | 718-707-0660 www.sprimenyc.com
14 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
Time to cook! Let the meat come to room temperature. This is extremely important to ensure the steak cooks thoroughly to your desired level of doneness. Get your pan HOT! This will sear the meat and create a crust on the outside, sealing in the juices and enhancing the flavor. As the pan is heating, season both sides of the meat with coarse, freshly ground black pepper and a generous amount of kosher salt. Drizzle canola oil into the pan. Just before it begins to smoke, place the meat in the pan. LET IT COOK! Resist the temptation to peek, move it around, or show off your pan flipping skills. The key to the flavor is the crust, which is created by constant, static contact with the pan’s cooking surface. After 3 or 4 minutes, lift the steak with the tongs. If the crust looks good, flip it and cook for the same amount of time on the other side. If it needs another minute, be sure to cook equally on each side to promote an even doneness. After flipping the steak, insert the thermometer into the center. 145 degrees is medium rare. Medium is 165 degrees. When it is ready, remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for 4-5 minutes. The moisture will reabsorb into the meat, enhancing the flavor and juiciness.
MAP IT DIRECTORY Restaurants (a,4) 115 alewife (718) 937-7494
5-14 51st Ave, LIC www.alewifequeens.com
2 6
4
Aliada (b,2) (718) 932-2240 29-19 Broadway, Astoria Astor room (C,2) (718) 255-1947 34-12 36th St, Astoria www.astorroom.com Bareburger (b,2) (718) 777-7011 33-21 31st Ave, Astoria (718) 204-7167 23-01 31 St, Astoria www.bareburger.com
Basil Brick Oven (B,1) 105 (718) 204-1205
28-17 Astoria Blvd, Astoria www.basilbrickoven.com
23
5
7
26
8
35
19
MexiBBQ (c,2) (718) 626-0333 37-11 30th Ave, Astoria www.mexiqny.com
3
Mezze Place (B,2) (718) 777-2829 31-18 Broadway, Astoria www.mezzeplace.com
20
Ornella Trattoria Italiana (B,1) (718) 777-9477 29-17 23rd Ave, Astoria www.ornellatrattoria.com
61
Ovelia (B,2) (718) 721-7217 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria www.ovelia-ny.com
22
Penthouse808 (A,3) (718) 289-6118 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.penthouse808rooftop.com Pita pan (c,2)
34
40
37
37-15 30th Ave, Astoria www.pitapanny.com
69
Brick Cafe (B,2) (718) 267-2735 30-95 33rd St, Astoria www.brickcafe.com
74
Queens Comfort (c,2) 718-728-2350 40-09 30th Ave, Astoria www.queenscomfort.com
Bread Box Cafe (A,4) (718) 389-9700 4711 11th St, LIC www.breadboxcafelic.com
1
Queens Kickshaw (c,2) (718) 777-0913 40-17 Broadway, Astoria www.thequeenskickshaw.com
38
Burger Club (b,2) (718) 777-7788 32-02 30th Ave, Astoria www.burger-club.com
24
Rèst-âü-Ránt (B,2) (718) 729-9009 30-01 35th Ave, Astoria www.rarbarlic.com
39
Portalia Ristorante (b,2) (718) 545-3500 35-03 Broadway, Astoria www.portalianyc.com
Burger Garage (B,3) (718) 392-0424 25-36 Jackson Ave, LIC www.theburgergarage.com
91
S Prime Steak House (c,2) (718) 707-0660 35-16 36th St, Astoria www.sprimenyc.com
Butcher Bar (c,2) (718) 606-8140 37-08 30th Ave, Astoria www.ButcherBar.com
25
Sage General Store (b,4) (718) 361-0707 24-20 Jackson Ave, LIC www.sagegeneralstore.com
28
Shi (a,4) (347) 242-2450 4720 Center Blvd, LIC www.eatdrinkshi.com
87
Café Bar (C,2) (718) 204-5273 32-90 36th St, Astoria www.cafebarastoria.com
55
Skinny’s (a,4) 718-806-1068 47-05 Center Blvd, LIC
10
Café via espresso (C,1) (718) 545-3290 2409 Steinway St, Astoria www.cafeviaespressoastoria.com
Carioca Grill (B, 2) 117 (718) 606-1329
26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.babynoir.net Inside Astoria (C,1)
Astor Bake Shop (a,2) (718) 606-8439 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria www.astor-bakeshop.com
47 (718) 956-4000
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company (718) 777-1121 36-14 30th Ave, Astoria www.bkbagel.com (C,1) 35-09 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria (C,1) 36-14 30th Ave, Astoria (C,2) 35-05 Broadway, Astoria
204-5031 48 (718) 2401 23rd Ave, Astoria
Malu (A,4) (718) 729-6258 12-09 Jackson Ave, LIC www.amomandpopshop.com Sweetleaf (A,4) (917) 832-6726 10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC www.sweetleaflic.com
28-07 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria KrisTEES (B,1)
www.kristeesny.com LIC: living (A,4)
21 (718) 361-5650
535 51st Ave. LIC www.licliving.com Loveday 31 (B,2)
49 (718) 728-4057
3306 31st Ave, Astoria www.loveday31.com Site (C,2)
626-6030 50 (718) 35-11 34th Ave, Astoria www.sitenyc.com
36
Astoria Bier & Cheese (C,2) (718) 545-5588 34-14 Broadway, Astoria
27
Astoria Park Wine and Spirits (b,1) 28-07 24th Ave, Astoria www.astoriaparkwineandspirits.com Astoria wine and spirits (C,2) (718) 545-9463 3412 Broadway, Astoria www.astoriawines.com
Pets City Vet (A,4)
51 (718) 433-1334
45-44 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.cityvetnyc.com Steinway Court Vet (c,2)
52 (718) 728-2822
32-14R Steinway, Astoria www.steinwaycourtvet.com
Florists
Food Cellar (A,4) (718) 606-9786 4-85 47th Rd., LIC www.foodcellarandco.com
54
Shops Apollo Gallery (C,2) 104 (718) 786-7590
34-10 36th Ave, Astoria
44
Belief (B,1) (718) 721-4444 29-20b 23rd Ave, Astoria www.beliefnyc.com
Floresta (A,4) (917) 612-4446 51-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC 4-85 47th Rd, LIC www.florestanyc.com/blog
75 NYC FARM CHIC Flowers
www.nycfarmchicflowers.com Petals and Roots (B,2)
121 (718) 267- 1700
31-27 31st St, Astoria www.petalsandroots.com
Stove Restaurant and Bar (C, 1)
118 (718) 956-0372
45-17 28th Ave, Astoria www.stoveastoria.com Sugar Freak (C,2)
116 (718) 726-5850
36-18 30th Ave, Astoria www.sugarfreak.com
29-03 Broadway, Astoria
11
DiWine (C,2) (718) 777-1355 41-15 31st Ave, Astoria www.diwineonline.com
123 (718) 937-2900
12
El Ay Si (A,4) (718) 389-8781 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.elaysi.com
30
THYMARI (b,2) (718) 204-2280 32-07 34th Ave, Astoria www.thymari.com
13
Fatty’s (B,1) (718) 267-7071 2501 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria www.fattyscafenyc.com
31
Vesta (a,2) (718) 545-5550 2102 30th Ave, Astoria www.vestavino.com
14
Il Bambino (C,2) (718) 626-0087 34-08 31 Ave, Astoria www.ilbambinonyc.com
29
william hallet (c,2) (718) 269-3443 36-10 30th Ave, Astoria www.williamhallet.com
53
leng thai (b,2) (718) 956-7117 33-09 Broadway, Astoria www.lengthainewyork.com
108 (718) 932-3331
15
LIC Market (B,4) (718) 361-0013 21-52 44th Dr, LIC www.licmarket.com
32
16
Linn (B,2) (718) 204-0060 2913 Broadway, Astoria www.linnrestaurant.com
124 31-5 34th St
Locale (b,2) (718) 729-9080 33-02 34th Ave, LIC www.localeastoria.com
125 33-06 Ditmars Blvd
Manducatis Rustica (A,4) (718) 937-1312 46-3 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.manducatisrustica.com
babyNOIR (B,1)
45 (646) 470-4728,
Food shops
Bear (a,2) (917) 396-4939 12-14 31st Ave, Astoria www.bearnyc.com
Cavo (C,2) (718) 721-1001 42-18 31st Ave, Astoria www.cavoastoria.com
18
33
109 (718) 204-1633
9
86
Bakeries
Testaccio (a,4)
47-30 Vernon Blvd., LIC www.testacciony.com
25-58 48th Street Astoria, NY 11103
Winegasm Bar and Eatery (c,2) 31-86 37th Rd, Astoria www.winegasmeatery.com Yajai (b,2) (718) 956-9559 33-16 30th Ave, Astoria www.yajaithaifood.com
Providing exceptional Early Childhood Education and innovative programs to help parents and teachers work together and become united.
Bugatti Café
Mon – Fri: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
Astoria, NY 11106 (718) 626-1115
For more information please contact us:
125 Honoo Grill & Noodle
347-832-0103
Astoria, NY 11105 (718) 606-0653 www.honoo33.com
Email: info@bluebirdchildcareastoria.com Continued on page 16
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 15
Services
Ark locksmith 24/7 Service (c,2)
114 (718) 932-LOCK (5625) 30-10 37th st, Astoria www.Astorialocksmith.com
Fitness Anthea Yoga&Healing Arts
(c,2) 58 center (718) 606-0049
27-35 Crescent Street, Astoria www.astoriacenter.org
30-16 30th Ave, Astoria www.drpagonismd.com
347-670-4376 hero@iamhero.net | www.iamhero.net
3403 Broadway, Ste. 200, Astoria www.mpnfirm.com
59
RCN (A,3) Digital TV and High-Speed Internet Services 33-16 Woodside Ave, LIC (212) 842-7981 www.rcn.com/boromag Tuck-It-Away Storage (B, 3)
519-8282 122 (718) 37-19 Crescent Street, Astoria
Club Fitness (b,2)
42 (718) 545-0004
62
Video Express (c,2)
63 (718)626-0846
3408 30th Ave, Astoria
CROSSFIT Dynamix Gym (C,1)
606-0381 76 (718) 36-05 20th Ave, Astoria Seek Fitness (B,1)
78 (347) 924-9004
PNT Fitness (A,4)
(347) 832-0103 www.bluebirdchildcareastoria.com
73
92
Kaufman Astoria Studios (C,2) (718) 706-5300 34-12 36th St, Astoria www.kaufmanastoria.com
The Yoga Room (C,2) (718) 274-0255
113
Laguardia Performing Arts Center (C,3) (718) 482-5151 31-10 Thomson Ave, LIC www.laguardiaperformingarts.org
66
17
Z NYC Hotel (a,3) (212) 319-7000 11-01 43rd Ave, LIC www.zhotelny.com
Tattoo shops Super Nova Tattoos (c,1)
Beauty Gigi Salon (c,2)
81
16 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
95
ReisStudios (A,3) “An international community of established and emerging artists” (718) 570-3663 43-01 22nd St, LIC www.ReisStudios.com
UNDERPENNY (A,4) (917) 517-1492 10-13 50th Ave, LIC LIC School of Ballet
127 44-02 23rd st. Studio 216 LIC, NY. 11101 www.licsb.com
Astoria Performing Arts Center @ Kaufman Astoria Studios
128 34 12 36th Street, Ste. 1/232, MB 40 Astoria, NY 11106 Phone: 718-706-5750 www.apacny.org
Real estate 105
Beaudoin Realty Group (A,4) (718) 505-9220 21-54 45th Ave, LIC www.beaudoinrealtor.com Modern Spaces (a,4) (718) 784-1110
101 10-63 Jackson Ave, LIC 47-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC 29-20 23rd Ave, Astoria www.modernspacesnyc.com
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (c,2)
103 (718) 310-4303
3501 30th Ave, Astoria www.wfhm.com
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (B,1)
Break (B,2)
777-5400 83 (718) 3204 Broadway, Astoria www.break-ny.com
Brick Bar (B,2) (718) 267-2735
84 30-95 33rd St, Astoria www.brickcafe.com
Domaine Wine Bar (A,4)
784-2350 85 (718) 50-04 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.domainewinebar.com Laughing Devil (a,4)
68 (347) 913-3845
4738 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.laughingdevil.com Mosaic Cafe and Lounge (B,1)
728-0708 111 (718) 25-19 24th Ave, Astoria www.mosaicnyc.net
Raven Head Public House (C,2)
43 (718) 777-7565
3804 Broadway, Astoria www.ravenheadpublichouse.com
5-02 50th Ave, LIC
www.redkensaloon.com
Noguchi Museum (A,2) (718) 204-7088 9-01 33rd Rd, Astoria www.noguchi.org
Ten10 Studios (A,4) (917) 449-9539 10-10 47th Rd, LIC www.ten10studios.com
2919 24th Ave, Astoria www.bohemianhall.com
Primp AND Tease SALON (a,4)
Redken Saloon (c,2)
94
Socrates Sculpture Park (A,2) (718) 626-1533 32-01 Vernon Blvd, Astoria www.socratessculpturepark.org
82 (718) 274-4925
72 (718) 472-2001
956-3366 46 (718) 36-17 30th Ave, Astoria
Rejuvenate face and body (B,1) (718) 626-4434 26-17 23rd Ave, Astoria www.Rejuvenatenyc.com
99
The Secret Theatre (B,3) (718) 392-0722 44-02 23rd St, LIC www.secrettheatre.com
Nightlife / bars
71 (718) 777-7755
34-17 30th Ave, Astoria www.gigistylingstudio.com
Museum of the Moving Image (c,2) (718) 784-0077 36-01 35th Ave, Astoria www.movingimage.us
Simply Fit
67 (718) 274-5712
38-01 23rd Ave, Astoria www.supernovatattoo.com
93
126 37-16 Astoria Blvd
Spas
98
137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing www.flushingtownhall.org
80 38-01 35th Ave, Astoria
Astoria, NY 11103 (347) 639-0489 www.simplyfitastoria.com
96
Flushing Town Hall
Yoga Agora (B,2) (718) 626-0680 33-02 Broadway, 2nd Fl, Astoria www.YogaAgora.com
The Renaissance Event Hall (A,1) (718) 274-4590 27-34 21st St, Astoria www.renaissanceofastoria.com
Ravel (a,3) (718) 289-6101 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.ravelhotel.com
107
Carnegie Hall (212) 247-7800 57th St and 7th Ave, NY www.carnegiehall.org
60
FOUNDRY (a,3)
Hotels
38-01 23rd Ave, Astoria www.asfa-dancestudio.com
102 (718) 463-7700 x 222
64 (718) 786-7776
65
Astoria fine arts dance (c,1)
100 (718) 247-0740
Tightan Gym (718) 274-1606 31-21 31st St, Astoria www.tightan.com
events 42-38 9TH St, LIC www.thefoundry.info
5 Pointz (B,4) (317) 219-2685 45-46 Davis St, LIC www.5ptz.com
31-06 35th St, Astoria www.gabrieleperici.com
10-68 Jackson Ave, LIC www.pntfitness.com
(718) 786-7962 (A,4) 10-14 47th Rd, LIC www.the-yoga-room.com
www.sculpure-center.org
the art house (c,2)
27-18 23rd Ave, Astoria www.seek-fitness.com
79 (347) 396-5809
SCULPTURECENTER (B,3)
361-1750 110 (718) 44-19 Purves St, LIC
97
112 (516) 724-1562
www.dynamixgym.com
Blue Bird Child Care 25-58 48th St
129 Astoria, NY 11103
90
31-11 Broadway, Astoria www.clubfitnessny.com
www.tuckitaway.com
Vardiman Eyewear (c,2) (718) 204-5037 34-18 Broadway, Astoria www.vardimaneyewear.com
Art
www.ckoastoria.com
MPN Law Firm (C,2)
57 (718) 777-0400
Tantra Lounge (b,2) (718) 937-4574 35-50 31st St, Astoria www.Tantraloungenyc.com
CKO Kickboxing (C, 1)
Hero computer repair nyc
56 Apple/Mac Computer Repair Specialist
79
669-0494 120 (347) 40-06 Astoria Blvd, Astoria
Dr. Panagiotis Pagonis, M.D. (b,2)
77 (718) 278-0300
Sweet Afton (C,2) (718) 777-2570 30-09 34th St, Astoria www.sweetaftonbar.com
34-01 45th Street, Astoria www.antheacenter.com
Astoria Center of Israel
119 (718) 278-2680
89
88
Studio Sq. Beer Garden (C,3) (718) 383-1001 35-33 36th St, Astoria www.studiosquarenyc.com
GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED!
Want your business listed in our directory? Call: (718) 866-8089 • Email: ADS@BOROmag.com
NORTH STAR B U S I N E S S & AC C O U N T I N G SERVICES
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Contact us to schedule a consultation Ask for: Mike Quiñones or Boris Zavaleta 86-05 Northern Blvd. • Jackson Heights, NY 11372 CALL: 718.565.7997 Let us know you have been referred by BORO to receive a:
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APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 17
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MUSIC
Crosstown Syndicate at LIC Bar
The Scene in Queens T
hough the MoMA PS1 Warm Up series that takes place July through September is arguably the headlining event of the Western Queens music scene, you don’t have to wait for those hot summer months to attend fantastic live shows in our neighborhood. From restaurants and bars to venues dedicated solely to showcasing musical talent, Astoria and LIC have plenty to offer for music fans, no matter what your tastes may be. Here are a few of the best spots to hear great music. Story + Photos Matthew Taylor
Black Butterflies rock the house at LIC Bar.
LIC BAR
45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC | 718-786-5400 www.licbar.com
LIC Bar is a longtime locals’ favorite for hanging out and enjoying live music, with shows ranging from popular neighborhood bands to high profile artists. In late March, LIC Bar’s “Guitar Porn” set featured some of the top guitarists in the city, including virtuosos who have played with Lou Reed and Billy Joel among other legends. Shows take place regularly, and you can check the online calendar to see who is playing on any given night. On Monday, April 8, stop by for Black Butterflies, a 10-piece group that plays an incredibly unique amalgamation of world music, including African and Latin inspired songs. Crosstown Syndicate, a funky rock/soul band whose name is inspired by the group’s four members, each of whom hails from a different NYC borough, will bring their highenergy sound to LIC Bar on Saturday, April 13. 20 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
Green Space
Green Space
37-24 24th St, LIC | 718-956-3037 www.greenspacestudio.org
Music and dance are obvious bedfellows, predating even peanut butter and jelly as an essential pair. During the seventh annual ‘Green Space Blooms’ festival, you can get the best of both worlds with a diverse assortment of dancers, choreographers, and musicians. Over two weekends (4/12-4/14 & 4/19-4/21), dancers will perform the work of 40 choreographers. A party with live music from a diverse range of ethnic or classical traditions follows each performance. From cello to accordion to Native American flute, there is plenty to pique your interest. Artists differ each night, so be sure to visit the website to peruse the schedule and purchase tickets ($16 each, except for the family matinee on 4/13, which is $11).
Singer/songwriter Aaron Short at Thymari
Thymari
32-07 34th Ave, Astoria | 718-204-2880 www.thymari.com
Already well known for its delicious cuisine, which manages to stand out in a neighborhood with no shortage of Greek options, Thymari has also recently become a destination for music fans. The restaurant’s sleek and romantic ambience lends itself well to appreciating music while you dine or sip on wine. English singer/songwriter Aaron Short is a regular performer at Thymari. His sets this month are scheduled for 8 PM on April 4 and April 18. Short, a Suffolk native who moved to New York to promote his album “Ten Songs About Truth, Lies and Other Things,” is heavily booked throughout the city. His Thymari gigs, during which he plays pop & rock classics, provide a unique opportunity to see him play in an intimate setting. Astoria Symphony Orchestra & Choir
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 43-19 30th Ave, Astoria www.astoriamusic.org
For classical music connoisseurs, Astoria Symphony Orchestra & Choir is a one of a kind gem in the neighborhood. Though their next performance is Sunday, June 2 at 5 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, it is well worth the wait to experience the group’s performance of Brahms’ “Hyperion’s Song of Fate” and Beethoven’s “The Ruins of Athens.” Mark the date on your calendar and get tickets online. At the advance purchase rate of $20 ($15 for students and seniors), buying your tickets now gets you a $5 discount from the door price. Continues, p.22 APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 21
music
The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway, Astoria 718-777-0913 www.thequeenskickshaw.com
Friday nights at The Queens Kickshaw are a festive way to kick off the weekend. Tango Mediterraneo, a group that plays Argentine tango melodies from the early to mid 1900s, plays on April 19, and one week later Six Deadly Venoms brings bluegrass jams to this Astoria hangout.
want to make your own tunes? Greek bouzoukis at Astoria Music.
Astoria Music
35-19 30th Ave, Astoria | 718-204-0400 www.astoriamusicstore.com
According to owner George Phillips, Astoria Music is the third oldest business in the neighborhood, having been around since 1922. In that time, the shop has certainly accrued enough experience to cater to a musician’s every need. The vast array of instruments throughout the small and friendly shop includes guitars, keyboards, cellos, harmonicas, authentic Greek bouzoukis, and more. Additionally, Astoria Music carries instrument accessories as well as sheet music and songbooks. Musicians of all skill levels can take advantage of private music lessons offered in the store. Professional musicians offer training on a range of instruments. Having instrument troubles? Astoria Music also offers repairs. Phillips says that he works on approximately 35-40 guitars per week, among other instruments.
22 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
Waltz-Astoria
23-14 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria 718-956-8742 | www.waltz-astoria.com
Waltz-Astoria is an enduring testament to the coffee/ wine bar as a gathering space for the creative community. This cozy café attracts artists, filmmakers, writers, and, of course, musicians. Waltz-Astoria’s open mic nights, every Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 8 PM with sign-ups at 7:30, have been going strong since 2005 and are renowned in the neighborhood. Aspiring professional musicians know this event well, as the audience is often comprised largely of booking agents and talent scouts. Waltz-Astoria also hosts musicians and bands for live performances. Don’t miss Emily Rupp, a singer/songwriter who won the grand prize in the 2011 Recording Artist Development competition, playing on April 20. Waltz-Astoria set up for an open mic night.
Homesick Hound Dogs will play at The Queens Kickshaw on 4/12.
check out these local music shops! Sadowsky Guitars
21-07 41st Ave, 4th Floor, LIC | 718-433-1990 www.sadowsky.com
Since its establishment in 1979, Sadowsky Guitars has been located in Manhattan and subsequently DUMBO before moving to its current LIC location two years ago. Owner Roger Sadowsky, who has been building guitars since ’72, says that this business is one of only two fullscale guitar manufacturers in New York City. The team builds electric, jazz, and bass guitars on site. A visit to the showrooms confirms that these are expertly crafted instruments. Sadowsky has also recently rekindled his interest in building acoustic guitars, whose resurgence he attributes largely to “MTV Unplugged” and acoustic pick-up technology, which allows non-electric guitars to play through amplifiers.
Sadowsky Guitars
Sadowsky Guitars sell worldwide, as customers can place orders through their online store, but local guitar aficionados are encouraged to stop by. Just be sure to bring the address with you—the nondescript awning outside gives no hint of the musician’s mecca within. APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 23
LAGCC Boro Mag Q page color 3/25/13 5:33 PM Page 1
LPAC
The only interdisciplinary arts camp in queens
LongIslandCityArtscamp
LICAC
Art Dance music theatre
classes conducted by
www.LICSB.com Call for Registration (718)781-1169 www.licsb.com/arts_camp_registration 24 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
long island city school of Ballet Long Island City Academy of music the secret Theatre Academy of Dramatic Arts
July 8th - 25th 9am-2pm Mon-Thur ages 3-13 *Early Drop off 8am
extra charge applies
SIMPLYFIT ASTORIA
Group Fitness Classes & Personal Training Studio No Commitment • Pay As You Go Low Rates • Diverse Schedule
37-16 Astoria Blvd., Astoria, NY 11103
347.639.0489
www.simplyfitastoria.com
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 25
carioca grill Brazilian BBQ Buffet
29-03 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 | Tel: 718-606-1329
www.cariocagrillnyc.com
26 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 27
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
The Brewster Building
Photo Courtesy Greater Astoria Historical Society
Blast From The Past:
Western Queens Then And Now Story Matthew Taylor
A
fter a long winter that drew out the inner recluse in many of us, spring is positively revitalizing. The city’s energy coincides with the season, so the upcoming months are ideal to observe what Dr. Jack Eichenbaum, official Queens Borough Historian, refers to as LIC’s second renaissance. This new phase in the neighborhood consists largely of repurposing the warehouses and “vertical factories”— industrial buildings 4-6 stories tall with wide windows—that characterized the neighborhood in its manufacturing heyday. Eichenbaum clued BORO in on the stories behind the buildings that house some of LIC’s most prominent businesses and landmarks. Be sure to appreciate the history all around you during your walks in the warm weather!
28 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
The Brewster Building This building at 27-01 Queens Plaza North is now identifiable by the highly visible JetBlue sign on its roof, but it used to be associated with a very different type of aircraft. During World War II, the Brewster F2A Buffalo, a fighter plane, was manufactured here. Prior to war aircrafts, Brewster made cars such as the Brewster Knight at the assembly plant, which was built in 1911. For a time, Rolls-Royce manufactured here as well. After a postwar lull, the Brewster Building became a center for Metropolitan Life Insurance in 2003. It now also houses the headquarters for JetBlue and LIC Partnership, which plays a significant role in the neighborhood’s economic and business development.
Coffeed, an eco-friendly café, is the newest addition to the Standard Motor Products Building.
Standard Motor Products Building
Photo Courtesy Greater Astoria Historical Society
Standard Motor Products Building
Photo Courtesy Jason Mandella
You may not expect a former American car parts factory to house some of the greenest businesses in LIC, but since the building’s sale in 2008, 37-18 Northern Blvd has done just that. Brooklyn Grange, which harvests large quantities of organic produce, eggs, and honey, has its flagship farm on the building’s rooftop. On the first floor, COFFEED is an eco-friendly café that serves coffee roasted on premises. Many of the ingredients on their food menu are sourced from the rooftop farm—you can’t get more local than that! A generous portion of their sales goes to local charities. Though the manufacturing itself was outsourced after 90 years, Standard Motor Products’ headquarters remain in the building.
Silvercup Studios Tina Fey fans know Silvercup Studios as the location where interior scenes were shot for 30 Rock’s 7 season run, but the building originated as Silvercup Bakery in 1939. Since transitioning from bread baking to film and television production in the early 80s, Silvercup has been home to shows like Sex & The City and films including The Godfather Part III and The Devil Wears Prada. One of the first landmarks visible when driving eastward on the Queensboro Bridge, Silvercup is the largest TV/film production facility in NYC.
SculptureCenter 44-19 Purves St is now the address of a renowned art institution, but at the building’s construction in 1907 it was envisioned as nothing more than a trolley repair shop. In the 40’s cranes were manufactured and repaired in the high-ceilinged space, and in the early 2000s it was purchased and redesigned by SculptureCenter, an acclaimed contemporary exhibition space. Stop by on April 21 from 5-7 PM for the opening reception of “Better Homes.”
Now the SculptureCenter, this 1907 building was once used for trolley repair.
Itching for more local history? Dr. Eichenbaum offers historic tours of Western Queens and NYC as a whole. This month features his signature “The World Of The #7 Train” tour on April 27, though space is limited and had almost reached capacity at the time of print. On May 17, you can join Eichenbaum’s “What’s New In Long Island City?” tour, or explore “Daylight Loft Buildings In Long Island City” on the 19th. For more information and a full schedule, visit www.geonyc.com.
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 29
Explore your boro FOOD
Book release party at SITE NYC in Astoria.
Astorian pens Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens
30 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
A:
How many restaurants did you personally visit to write the guide? I do not have an exact number, but there are over 300 entries in the book, which includes markets and shops along with restaurants.
o
tn
er
Me g
A
storia-based writer and foodie extraordinaire Meg Cotner recently penned and published Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens: The Best Restaurants, Markets, & Local Culinary Offerings, a deliciously written 400-page guide organized by neighborhood, ethnicity, and merchant type (restaurant, store, street cart, etc). One of the most respected names on the Queens food scene, Cotner is also co-founder of WeHeartAstoria.com. She shares her personal edible musings on HarmoniousBelly.com. The author recently took a moment to answer some questions about the experience of writing the field guide.
Q:
C
Story + Photos Bradley Hawks
Q: How long did it take? A: It took about 3 and a half months to write the book. Q: Did you learn anything new about yourself through the process? A: That I really like to explore and discover new restaurants and food shops, and that I have a good sense of what is good and what is worth avoiding. That I can understand and communicate in basic Spanish better than I originally thought. I love cooking at home and really missed that during this time. That I LOVE northern Chinese (Dongbei) food. Continues, p.32
Enjoy your dining experience!
Our human taste buds go into hibernation when they get bored. Spice them up at Honoo Grill & Noodle. We specialize in yakitori, hot noodle soups, and seafood dishes.
33-06 Ditmars Blvd. Astoria, NY 11105
718-606-0653 www.honoo33.com
10-68 Jackson Ave, LIC 11101 | www.PNTfitness.com | 347-396-5809
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Two for $25 FREE Unlimited Sangria
APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 31
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Q: A:
Q: A:
In your opinion, what presently underrated ethnic cuisine would you like to see get more attention? That’s a hard one, because people in Queens are so passionate about all sorts of cuisines. Maybe German food, actually. How did your experience change (or affi rm) your perception of Queens? I knew the borough was diverse but didn’t realize just how much until I walked all around it. Queens also has an extremely robust street food scene and I feel like I got to see it in all its glory spending many days walking along Roosevelt Avenue. My biggest realization was that Jackson Heights has a huge Colombian population, whereas I originally considered it to be primarily an Indian neighborhood.
Q: A:
Did you try any “extreme” foods? I didn’t eat anything that was still alive when I put it in my mouth, and I did not eat any fried insects. I did not eat endangered animals, either. Not sure if you consider these things “extreme” - organ meats (liver, sweetbreads, tripe, heart), blood sausage, durian ice cream, and dinuguan (a delicious Filipino stew made with blood). I guess you could call bone marrow extreme, but I eat it when I cook it at home. I did eat Casu Marzu [maggot cheese] at Ornella months before I started to write the book—also that chocolate blood pudding. But I am not an extreme eater by nature.
Q: A:
How did you tackle any language barriers? I speak a little Spanish, so I used that when necessary and when it would make some people’s lives a little better. I was able to successfully communicate with everyone I talked to. Nodding, smiling, and pointing also helps.
Q:
For someone new to Queens, how would you recommend approaching an exploration of the food scene? Pick a neighborhood and go exploring (with my book in hand, of course!). It is so fun to make personal discoveries.
A:
Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens can be purchased online or at SITE NYC, the home design and lifestyle store owned by ‘We Heart Astoria’ cofounder Mackenzi Farquer, who also hosted the book’s launch party last month. SITE NYC | 35-11 34TH AVE, ASTORIA 718-626-6030 | SITENYC.COM 32 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
"WHEN YOU FLY A 3200 HP RACE PLANE, YOU DEMAND THE WORLD’S BEST CHRONOGRAPH."
CHRONOMAT
B R E I TLING.COM APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 33
FOOD
A community unites for
matters of the heart
Story + Photos Bradley Hawks
Over 200 guests learn how to make heart-healthy recipes, then receive complimentary tastings. Chef Rocco Sacramone (of Trattoria L’Incontro) demonstrates healthy ways to prepare wild salmon.
34 | BOROMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
“Rocco Sacramone graciously donates his time and all of the food for over two hundred guests. Central Sushi Bar and Lounge generously provides this gorgeous space, their entire staff, the wine, and even complimentary valet parking. Can you believe it?” smiles Shelly Felder, the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Mount Sinai Queens Hospital. The scene is truly remarkable. One of Astoria and New York City’s most prominent chefs stands before a slew of cameras and eager guests, charismatically explaining how to prepare a few gourmet recipes at home and fielding questions from the audience. “I heard that salmon that isn’t wild is artificially colored orange… is that true?” queries one woman from a table near the back. “Oh, never use anything but wild salmon,” answers Sacramone. “The other stuff is loaded with all sorts of contaminants. Ask your shopkeeper to see the head of the salmon. If it’s wild, it will have a yellow tag in its mouth.” The cooking demonstration proceeds, full of casual banter between the chef and the audience. Questions are expertly fielded by the chef or Effie Nerantzis, a Registered Dietician on hand from Mount Sinai Queens. But this gathering, certainly a charitable collaboration, is no random event. It marks the annual “Eat Heartily: A Free Tasting of Heart-Healthy Foods!” presented by Mount Sinai Queens and the United Community Civic Association in an effort to help families in the community develop a hearthealthy lifestyle that is not deprived of delicious foods. With heart disease as the leading cause of death in America, the message is certainly relevant, yet deliciously served in a festive atmosphere. In case you were unable to attend this year’s event, check out recipes and video demonstrations as well as a list of April events at www.mshq.org.
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31-27 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11106 | (718) 267- 1700 www.petalsandroots.com / petalsandroots APRIL 2013 | BOROMAG.COM | 35
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