july boro

VOL 1:8 JULY 2011

LOCAL POWER

Queens’ First Openly Gay City Council Member

+

NEW

START-UPS

PAUL MORENO // BROOKLYN BAGEL & COFFEE COMPANY // BUILD IT GREEN // EVENTS //

at in the A be st st o LI ria spo C an ts d

FREE

DI GR SC E OU AT NT S

ASTORIA / LIC Entrepreneurs making it in NYC

EDITOR’S LETTER Visit our website www.BOROmag.com for more coverage on Food, Body & Soul, Nightlife, Entertainment, Green Living, Art, Real Estate.

You can also find all your favorite articles and back issues of BORO magazine on our website.

New features include: • Classifieds • Restaurant Guide • Comprehensive event listings • Exclusive website editorials

Be Inspired.

My job has me biking and running around Western Queens everyday, 24/7. Sometimes it’s exhausting. But you know what rocks? I get to speak with interesting people all day, from artists and business owners to politicians and investors. I get to hear their stories, challenges, goals, hurdles and triumphs. They teach me something about myself and my journey. They inspire me.

I thought it would be great to share some of these inspiring people with the Astoria/LIC community. So this BORO is the “Inspiration Issue.” We fit in a lot of people, but we’ve only scratched the surface.

So many people are doing great things in our neighborhood.

Find what inspires you, surround yourself with it, live an inspired life and inspire others. After all, life is 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration.

Work hard—be inspired.

Thanks for reading and supporting your local BORO. Be sure to “LIKE” BORO on Facebook and check out our website (www.BOROmag.com) for exclusive coverage of all things local.

JULIAN LESSER editor-in-chief

WRITE US BORO would love to hear from you. If you have any comments, questions, story ideas, photos or events send us an email at: info@BOROmag.com Please note all letters and email become property of BORO Magazine and may be edited for clarity and space.

www.BOROmag.com

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 1

BORO CONTENTS JULY 2011

24 4

INSPIRATION

A Seat at the Table.

The Story of Queens’ First Openly Gay Council Member.

8

18

GREEN LIVING

Making it in NYC

ENTERTAINMENT

Off-off Broadway: Theater in Astoria.

13

MAP IT DIRECTORY

14

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

22

JULY 2011 EVENT LISTINGS

Materials for a Second Life.

18

10

30

Your Go-to Guide For Astoria and LIC’s best Shops, Food, Art, Nightlife and More.

MAP IT: ASTORIA & LIC MAP JULY DISCOUNTS & PROMO PAGE

Exclusive savings, discounts and freebies for the month of July in Astoria and LIC.

24

ART

The Art of Finding Inspiration.

26 FOOD

COVER

design EMMA CASON-PRATT and PHILIPPE TRINH

Schmear Tactics.

28 Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

ADVERTISE IN BORO ads@boromag.com // 914.426.2939 www.boromag.com/advertise

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHER julian lesser // EDITOR john lee // COPY EDITOR norm elrod // CREATIVE DIRECTOR paul connolly ART DIRECTOR philippe trinh // CO-ART DIRECTOR alt // CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS alberto michieli, emma cason-pratt, sydney auerbach STAFF WRITERS daniel crown, jared killeen, rebecca mcnamara, suzanne sitelman, bradley hawks // STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS javier ibañez, daniel pando // SALES AND MARKETING nadine auerbach // WEBMASTER janmichael guzman // EDITORIAL COORDINATOR sadee brathwaite *This magazine is made from FSC paper, printed with soy ink and 100% recyclable. Please recycle after use.

BORO Magazine published by JKL Projects. All materials Copyright © 2011 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.

Story Daniel Crown // Photo Philippe Trinh

The Story of Queens’ First Openly Gay City Council Member

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

REAL INSPIRATION ESTATE

4 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

In the late 1970s, western Queens had a bit of a reputation. Boosted by the popularity of the television show “All in the Family,” many around the country came to view the borough and its inhabitants collectively as “Archie-Bunkerville.”

That is, as a neighborhood where cantankerous old men groused angrily in their living rooms over the death of the country they once knew.

In this sense, Queens was a paragon for an American community on the cusp of change. While most of its residents adapted to social progress, a select few wouldn’t have it. “All in the Family” did wonders to highlight this dichotomy. The show’s attimes controversial comedy was rooted in the absurdity of willful ignorance; Archie Bunker’s infamously bad-tempered ramblings often fell flat as his “logic” inevitably deconstructed into raw and pulpy hatred.

At the height of All in the Family’s favor, Jimmy Van Bramer was a pre-teen coming to grips with his homosexuality.

Years before he’d become the 26th District’s first openly gay council member, he was already dealing with how his community was sometimes perceived. While the term “Archie-Bunkerville” had long become a general epigram for any town consisting of predominately staunch conservatives, to Van Bramer the phrase was quite literal. According to the program’s mythos, the Bunker family lived in Astoria. Van Bramer lived in Astoria. In the episode, “Archie is Missing,” it was revealed that Bunker had attended William Cullen Bryant High School. Van Bramer was to attend Bryant in a few short years.

While the councilman says that he cherishes his upbringing in Queens and still believes that the majority of the neighborhood during his formative years was composed of good-hearted people, he also maintains that, from a very early age, he felt a strong desire to defend himself and others from those that did fit the mold of the willfully ignorant. The Archie Bunkers of the world, so to speak.

Still, even by his high school years, stepping totally out of his shell proved a bit too daunting. “I wasn’t sure that I would come out,” he says. “But I certainly knew that as long as I was struggling with it I would have to give up [my political dreams]. And I did, for a long time.”

When Van Bramer did come out at the age of 19, he wasted little time getting involved. In the summer of 1989, he volunteered for an openly gay man running for city council.

FEW THINGS BREAK DOWN AS MANY BARRIERS COMPLETELY AS LGBT PEOPLE PRESENTING THEMSELVES TO THE GENERAL POPULATION AS GAY PEOPLE

AND

ASKING FOR THEIR

VOTES

That man lost, but just two years later Tom Duane ran and won in Manhattan, becoming the first openly gay man to win an election for city council in the greater New York City area.

“At his victory party, I was there as a 21-yearold kid, and there were grown men crying tears of joy all around me,” Van Bramer says. “And I thought, ‘This is really, really important. I wonder if I might ever be able to do that in Queens’.”

After a failed bid for city council in 2001, Van Bramer returned to his position for a ten-year stint as chief external affairs officer for the Queens Public Library. Then, in 2009, he decided to give it another go.

He knew the model for success. There were neighborhoods in Manhattan where a gay politician might find a more sympathetic audience. But to him, this felt like cheating. The politician would accept nothing short of debunking the Bunkerville myth once and for all.

“It wasn’t meaningful unless I did it in the place that I grew up,” he says. “Those are the neighborhoods that I really love, and those are the people that raised me, and that’s where I wanted to do it.”

Hinging his platform on his efficient leadership at the library, Van Bramer won over a wide swath of demographics, branching way beyond the reliable LGBT community. In the general election, he earned 70 percent of potential votes. And on January 9, 2010, along with Danny Dromm, he was sworn in as Queen’s first openly gay city council member.

At a recent performance by Bryant High School’s Gay Straight Alliance, Van Bramer felt firsthand the palpability of Queen’s progression. As he remembered what it was like to hide his sexuality from his peers in the very same hallways, what he saw on stage that day proved outright inspirational.

“I couldn’t believe that there were these openly gay kids on stage in front of an assembly of several hundred students and they were talking about being gay,” he says. “And the people were cheering these kids. That was very, very powerful.”

Perhaps one day a few of these students will take a page out of the Jimmy Van Bramer playbook.

“I think that one of the most powerful things gay or lesbian people can do is run for office,” he says. “Few things break down as many barriers completely as LGBT people presenting themselves to the general population as gay people and asking for their votes.”

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 5

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JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 7

GREEN

Left: Build it Green Staff: Justin Green, Jaclyn Jablkowski and Harvey Jaswal.

Below: View of the 17,000 sq ft warehouse housing everything from old furniture to discarded lumber and other reclaimed building materials.

Story Jared

In the back office of the Build It Green! NYC warehouse, on a remote block off 26th Avenue in Astoria, Justin Green and a few staff members tend to business as usual. At this non-profit, business is all about repurposed building materials, most of which is salvaged from demolition sites across the city, hauled to the warehouse and resold to customers.

Business has been growing ever since Green founded BIG!NYC in 1994. And it’s not because of expansive ad campaigns or viral promotional videos; it’s because of word-of-mouth.

According to Jaclyn Jablkowski, Communications Manager at BIG!NYC, the organization specializes in “giving a second life” to materials that would otherwise be thrown out or destroyed. The group’s 17,000-squarefoot warehouse houses everything from wood flooring to porcelain bathtubs, and it’s all priced at 50-75% below retail value.

It’s a unique setup that delivers benefits to everyone involved: People or companies who donate used materials receive tax breaks; customers get great products at discounted prices; and all of the proceeds from sales are donated to good causes. Then there’s

MAP IT 112 BUILD IT GREEN (A,1)

8 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

Killeen

the undeniable environmental impact: Last year alone, BIG!NYC helped prevent 900 tons of materials from ending up in landfills.

Not surprisingly, many Astoria and LIC establishments have flocked to BIG!NYC. Visit Sweet Leaf, Vesta, Brooklyn Grange, The Queens Kickshaw, Sweet Afton, El Ay Si or LIC Market, and you’ll notice that many of the appliances and structural elements are, in fact, recycled.

BIG!NYC is also constantly thinking of ways to engage the community around them. Most recently, the group threw a block party to kick off the summer season. The group has also been offering workshops that highlight practical ways to use repurposed goods in an effort to, as Harvey Jaswal, Vocational Counselor at BIG!NYC says, “shift the way people think about materials.”

If Astoria’s response is any indication, this shift is already taking place.

“I have friends who started coming here for fun, and now they’re making furniture out of repurposed materials for a living,” says Jaswal. “Not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s useful.”

Be Green! Learn how at www.BOROmag.com/Green

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 9

JULY 2011 EVENTS 6/29 – 7/2 @ 8PM (THEATER)

JAWS: THE MUSICAL The Secret Theatre // $15 718-392-0722 I 44-02 23rd Rd. LIC www.secrettheatre.com

7/16 ALL NIGHT (NIGHTLIFE)

EVERY TUES NIGHT @10PM (COMEDY)

7/18-7/21 8AM – 4:30PM (EDUCATION)

EVERY WED 6-10PM (FOOD)

FREE: BLACKBIRD’S 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY 718-943-6899 I 41-19 30th Ave, Astoria www.blackbirdsbar.com

SPECIAL ZUMBA CLASS PNT FITNESS // $20 347-396-5809 I 10-68 Jackson Ave. LIC www.PNTFITNESS.com

ENGLISH 32 HOUR ERECTOR/DISMANTLER SUPPORTED SCAFFOLD TRAINING TSC Training Academy Cost: $500 – Receive 10% with ad 718-389-2103 I 36-06 43rd Ave, LIC www.tscta.com

7/10 10AM-11AM (FITNESS)

7/20 @7PM (ART)

7/9 @10:30AM (FITNESS)

FREE: YOGA IN THE PARK BY THE YOGA ROOM Pier 1 of Gantry Plaza State Park in LIC 718-786-7962 www.the-yoga-room.com

7/10 12PM-6PM (FAIR)

PHOTO EXHIBIT – 30TH AVENUE – A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A STREET Greater Astoria Historical Society // $5 718-278-0700 I 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor, LIC www.astorialic.org

FREE: 30TH AVE ASTORIA FESTIVAL (BTWN STEINWAY AND 29TH ST) Stop by the RCN booth for FREE giveaways!

7/10 12PM-5PM (SHOPPING)

FREE: 5TH MINI-MARKET EVENT Sweet Afton 718-777-2570 I 30-09 34th St, Astoria www.sweetaftonbar.com

7/11 @ 7PM (HISTORICAL)

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE Greater Astoria Historical Society // $5 718-278-0700 I 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor, LIC www.astorialic.org

7/11-7/15 3:30PM – 10PM (EDUCATION)

SPANISH 32 HOUR ERECTOR/DISMANTLER SUPPORTED SCAFFOLD TRAINING TSC Training Academy Cost: $500 – Receive 10% with ad 718-389-2103 I 36-06 43rd Ave, LIC www.tscta.com

7/14 6PM-8PM (ART)

LET’S MAKE A DRESS! BEGINNER SEWING CLASS 3 SESSIONS Creators’ Co-Op // $125 646.470.4728 I 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.creators-coop.com

7/14-7/24 4PM-12AM (FOOD)

SAUSAGE FEST/BELGIUM INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION MexiQ // Starting @ $7 718-626-0333 I 37-11 30th Ave, Astoria www.mexiqny.com

7/14 9PM-11PM (NIGHTLIFE)

BACARDI PROMOTION @ BLACK BIRDS 718-943-6899 I 41-19 30th Ave, Astoria www.blackbirdsbar.com

7/16 & 7/17 @ 8PM (THEATER)

CAUGHT IN THE ACT Circus Warehouse // $15 212-751-2174 I 53-21 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.circuswarehouse.com

10 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

EVERY WED 6-10PM (MUSIC) JAZZ NIGHT // 2 for 1 drinks before 8 PM 718-274-4590 I 27-34 21st St, LIC www.renaissanceofastoria.com

EVERY WED 6PM-8PM (ART)

WEEKLY FIGURE DRAWING WORKSHOP Creators’ Co-Op // $8 646.470.4728 I 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.creators-coop.com FREE: 13TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL FILM, MUSIC, DANCE AND FOOD Socrates Sculpture Park 718-956-1819 I 32-01 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.socratessculpturepark.org

FREE: COMMUNITY DAY AT THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM 718-204-7088 I 9-01 33rd Rd, Astoria www.noguchi.org

7/10 11PM-5PM (SHOPPING)

LOBSTER ROLL WEDNESDAYS El Ay Si // $19 718.389.8781 I 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.elaysi.com

EVERY WED 7PM (MOVIES)

7/10 11AM-6PM (ART)

FREE: ASTORIA MARKET Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden 29-19 24th Ave, Astoria www.astoriamarket.com

FREE: COMEDY NIGHT Rèst-âü-Ránt 718-729-9009 I 30-01 35th Ave

EVERY THURS NIGHT 9PM (MUSIC) 7/20 7PM-9PM (ART)

NEWARTNETWORK SUMMER SOCIAL SculptureCenter // $75 Membership for 1 yr 718-361-1750 I 44-19 Purves St, LIC RSVP Essential. rsvp@sculpture-center.org www.sculpture-center.org

7/22 @ 7:00 PM (THEATER)

SECRET THEATRE CABARET The Secret Theatre // $15 718-392-0722 I 44-02 23rd Rd. LIC www.secrettheatre.com

7/23 @ 10AM (FITNESS)

SPINATHON PNT FITNESS // $20 347-396-5809 I 10-68 Jackson Ave. LIC www.PNTFITNESS.com

7/24 12PM-5PM (SHOPPING)

FREE: ASTORIA MARKET Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden 29-19 24th Ave, Astoria www.astoriamarket.com

7/28 ALL DAY (FITNESS)

ZUMBA SEA BOAT PARTY BY SEEK FITNESS Freeport Marina, 28a Woodcleft Ave, Freeport $80 / Must be 21+ to attend 718-374-5075 www.Seek-fitness.com/schedule.php

FREE: LIVE MUSIC Rèst-âü-Ránt 718-729-9009 I 30-01 35th Ave

EVERY FRI 10PM-4AM (NIGHTLIFE)

FREE: EURO-LATIN PARTY Cavo Restaurant & Lounge 718-721-1001 I 42-18 31st Ave., Astoria www.cavoastoria.com

EVERY FRI NIGHT @ 9:30PM (NIGHTLIFE) FREE: LIVE BELLY DANCING SHOW Cavo Restaurant & Lounge 718-721-1001 I 42-18 31st Ave., Astoria www.cavoastoria.com

EVERY SAT 8AM-4PM (FOOD)

FREE: FARMERS MARKET Socrates Sculpture Park 718-956-1819 I 32-01 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.socratessculpturepark.org

EVERY SAT 2PM-9PM (ART)

PS1 WARM UP PARTIES 2011 212-708-9757 I PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave, LIC FREE for LIC residence

EVERY SAT AND SUN 11AM-3:30PM (FOOD) BRUNCH, UNPLUGGED (LIVE MUSIC) 718-777-1355 I 4115 31st Ave, Astoria www.diwineonline.com

EVERY SUNDAY 7PM-10PM (MUSIC) www.rarbarlic.com

ON GOING...

7/16 -7/31 (ART)

FREE: DJANGO’S TIGER, GYPSY JAZZ Domaine Wine Bar 718-784-2350 I 50-04 Vernon blvd www.domainewinebar.com

JIM HENSON’S FANTASTIC WORLD Museum of the Moving Image Cost: $10 adults / $7.50 seniors 718-777-6888 I 36-01 35 Ave, Astoria www.movingimage.us

EVERY FRIDAY 10PM-2:30AM (NIGHTLIFE)

EVERY MON 9PM-1AM (MUSIC)

EVERY SATURDAY 10PM-2:30AM (NIGHTLIFE)

FREE: LIC JAZZ ALLIANCE JAM SESSION Domaine Wine Bar 718-784-2350 I 50-04 Vernon blvd www.domainewinebar.com

“MOONLIGHTING” FRIDAYS. ROTATING DJS PLAYING TODAY’S HOTTEST MUSIC. Penthouse808 718-289-6118 I 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.penthouse808rooftop.com

“B-SIDES” SATURDAYS. PLAYS “B-SIDES”/MIXES OF THE MOST POPULAR MUSIC FROM THE LAST 30 YEARS. Penthouse808 718-289-6118 I 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.penthouse808rooftop.com

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 11

12 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

MAP IT DIRECTORY

FOOD

RESTAURANT 2 3

4 5

6 7

8

9

10

ALIADA (B,2)

(718) 932-2240 2919 Broadway, Astoria (718) 278-6967 35-27 30th Ave, Astoria www.avenuecafenyc.com (718) 777-7011 33-21 31st Ave, Astoria www.bareburger.com

BRICK CAFE

(718) 267-2735 30-95 33rd St, Astoria www.brickcafe.com

(718) 721-1001 42-18 31st Ave, Astoria www.cavoastoria.com

EL AY SI (A,4)

(718) 777-1355 41-15 31st Ave, Astoria www.diwineonline.com (718) 389-8781 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.elaysi.com

27

28

29

FATTY’S (B,1)

(718) 267-7071 2501 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria www.fattyscafenyc.com

16

LINN (B,2)

17

M. WELLS DINER (B,4)

(718) 204-0060 2913 Broadway, Astoria www.linnrestaurant.com (718) 425-6917 21-17 49th Ave, LIC www.mwellsdiner.com

49 LOVEDAY 31 (B,2)

34

BROOKLYN BAGEL & COFFEE COMPANY (C,2)

50 SITE (C,2)

(718) 606-8439 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria www.astor-bakeshop.com

(718) 777-1121 36-14 30th Ave, Astoria www.bkbagel.com (C,1) 35-09 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria (C,2) 35-05 Broadway, Astoria

37

(718) 545-4301 37-19 Broadway, Astoria www.pommecafeny.com

(718) 729-7708 47-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.communitea.net

SWEETLEAF (A,4)

(917) 832-6726 10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC www.sweetleaflic.com

SHOPS 38

SAGE GENERAL STORE (B,4) (718) 361-0707 24-20 Jackson Ave, LIC www.sagegeneralstore.com

(718) 932-9569 30-13 Broadway Astoria www.sanfordsnyc.com

ASTORIA WINE AND SPIRITS (C,2) (718) 545-9463 3412 Broadway, Astoria www.astoriawines.com

39

FOOD CELLAR (A,4)

41

NATURAL FRONTIER MARKET (A,4)

SANFORDS RESTAURANT (B,2)

SEVA (C,2)

(718) 728-4057 3306 31st Ave, Astoria www.loveday31.com (718) 626-6030 32-90 36th St, Astoria www.shopsiteonline.com

PETS

COMMUNITEA (A,4)

FOOD

(718) 729-9009 30-01 35th Ave, Astoria www.rarbarlic.com

(718) 606-9786 4-85 47th Rd., LIC www.foodcellarandco.com (718) 937-9399 12-01 Jasckson Ave, LIC www.naturalfrontiermarket.net

51 CITY VET (A,4)

(718) 433-1334 45-44 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.cityvetnyc.com

52 LIC DOG HOUSE (A,4)

(718) 389-3647 45-44 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.licdoghouse.com

53 JUMPING BULLDOG: A BOUTIQUE FOR CATS AND DOGS (B,1) (718) 274-2510 28-10 23rd Ave, Astoria www.jumpingbulldog.com

109 WHISKERS NATURAL PET GROOMING (A,1) (718) 956-6706 19-31 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria www.1800whiskers.com

FLORIST 54 FLORESTA (A,4)

(718) 626-4440 30-07 34th St, Astoria www.sevaindianrestaurant.com

42

ORGANIC AT YOUR DOOR www.OrganicAtYourDoor.com

(917) 612-4446 51-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.florestanyc.com/blog

SHI (A,4)

43

VITALITY AND HEALTH ORGANIC MARKET (C,2)

(347) 242-2450 4720 Center Blvd, LIC www.eatdrinkshi.com

(718) 777-8477 46-03 Broadway, Astoria

SERVICES

55 DUR AMERICA (C,2)

TIME CAFÉ (C,2)

(718) 606-0500 44-18 Broadway, Astoria www.timecafeny.com

SHOPS

(718) 626-0700 34-11 Broadway, Astoria www.duramerica.com

44

BELIEF (B,1)

56 HERO COMPUTER REPAIR NYC

VESLO (B,2)

45

CREATORS CO-OP (B,1)

57 MPN LAW FIRM (C,2)

(718) 472 4355 50-12 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.tournesolnyc.com

30

LIC MARKET(B,4)

(718) 361-0013 21-52 44th Dr, LIC www.licmarket.com

ASTOR BAKE SHOP (A,2)

(718) 204-5031 2401 23rd Ave, Astoria www.kristeesny.com

108 TOURNESOL (A,4)

IL BAMBINO (C,2)

(718) 626-0087 34-08 Ave, Astoria www.ilbambinonyc.com

(718) 289-6118 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.penthouse808rooftop.com

REST-AU-ANT (B,2)

26

33

35

PENTHOUSE808 (A,3)

24

CAFÉ VIA ESPRESSO (C,1) (718) 545-3290 2409 Steinway St, Astoria www.cafeviaespressoastoria.com

(718) 777-2829 31-18 Broadway, Astoria www.mundoastoria.com

POMME CAFE (C,2)

25

48 KRISTEES (B,1)

BAKERIES

(718) 777-9477 29-17 23rd Ave, Astoria www.ornellatrattoria.com

23

CAVO (C,2)

12

15

22

BURGER GARAGE (B,3)

(718) 392-0424 25-36 Jackson Ave, LIC www.theburgergarage.com

(718) 626-0333 37-11 30th Ave, Astoria www.mexiqny.com

MUNDO (B,2)

BREAD BOX CAFE (A,4) (718) 389-9700 4711 11th St, LIC www.breadboxcafelic.com

MEXIQ (C,2)

21

BLEND (A,4)

(718) 729-2800 47-04 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.blendlic.com

(718) 937-1932 46-3 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.manducatisrustica.com

ORNELLA TRATTORIA ITALIANA (B,1)

(B,2)

FOOD

MANDUCATIS RUSTICA (A,4)

20

BAREBURGER (B,2)

DIWINE (C,2)

14

19

AVENUE CAFE (C,2)

11

13

18

31

32

718-728-0549 32-11 Broadway, Astoria www.veslonyc.com

VESTA (A,2)

(718) 545-5550 2102 30th Ave, Astoria www.vestavino.com

YAJAI (B,2)

(718) 956-9559 33-16 30th Ave, Astoria www.yajaithaifood.com

46

47

(718) 721-4444 29-20b 23rd Ave, Astoria www.beliefnyc.com (917) 751-8177 26-16 23rd Ave, Astoria www.creators-coop.com

ETHEREAL (A,4)

(718) 482-8884 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.etherealnyc.com

INSIDE ASTORIA (C,1)

(718) 956-4000 37-20 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria

continued on next page 16

Apple/Mac Computer Repair Specialist (253) 222-2855 aaron@herocomputerrepairnyc.com www.HeroComputerRepairNYC.com (718) 777-0400 3403 Broadway, Ste. 200, Astoria www.mpnfirm.com

58 ONDEMAND PRINTING (C,4) (718) 392-0500 30-02 48th Ave, LIC www.ondemandprinting.com

59 RCN (A,3)

Digital TV and High-Speed Internet Services (866) 540-5534 www.rcn.com/boromag

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 13

2

1

112

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MAP IT

A

94

33

65

31

109

77

48

111

13

78

16 2

45

81

B

24

26

53

82

44

20

21

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30

73

49

5

84

32

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38 62

57 55

14

89

27 63

71

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50

114

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ASTORIA

34

23

19

67 47

80

105

70

C

74

113

86

10

68

11

105

76

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29

43

2

1

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100

28

75

102

22

66

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72

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35 6 46

107 104

106

52

51

A

39

64

54

108

85

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98 80

101

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41

79

37

95

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96

59

17

90

8

58

B

LONG ISLAND CITY

25

60

110

69

C

4

3

MAP IT DIRECTORY 60 SHOWROOM BY C (B,3) (917) 658-3065 4 Court Square, LIC www.showroombyc.com

61 STEPHANIE REINISH PHOTOGRAPHY (347) 455-0949 www.stephaniereinish.com

62 VARDIMAN EYEWEAR (C,2) (718) 204-5037 34-18 Broadway, Astoria www.vardimaneyewear.com

63 VIDEO EXPRESS (C,2)

(718)626-0846 3408 30th Ave, Astoria

EVENTS SPACES 64 FOUNDRY (A,3)

(718) 786-7776 42-38 9TH St, LIC www.thefoundry.info

65 THE RENAISSANCE EVENT HALL (A,1) (718) 274-4590 27-34 21st St, Astoria www.renaissanceofastoria.com

HOTELS 66 RAVEL (A,3)

(718) 289-6101 8-08 Queens Plaza South, LIC www.ravelhotel.com

TATTOO SHOPS 67 SUPER NOVA TATTOOS (C,1) (718) 274-5712 37-12 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria www.supernovatattoo.com

68 PAINLESS STEEL TATTOO (C,1) (718) 267-8114 23-15 Steinway, Astoria www.astoriatattoo.com

TRAINING / EDUC. 69 TSC TRAINING ACADEMY (C,3) (718) 389-2103 36-06 43rd Ave, LIC www.tscta.com

BEAUTY

70 CARL CLARKE AESTHETIQUES (C,2) 105 BLACKBIRDS (C,2) (347) 631-0922

(718) 729-9071 5-44 47th Ave, LIC www.lollyslearningcenter.com

107 BRIGHTER BABIES (A,4) (718) 729-9071 50-09 2nd St, LIC info@brighterbabieslic.com

16 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

(718) 943-6899 41-19 30th Ave, Astoria www.blackbirdsbar.com

31-24 Steinway St, Astoria www.carlclarkeaesthetiques.com

71 GIGI SALON (C,2)

(718) 777-7755 34-17 30th Ave, Astoria www.gigistylingstudio.com

72 PRIMP AND TEASE SALON (A,4) (718) 472-2001 5-02 50th Ave, LIC

FITNESS

82

(718)687-9140 32-32 Steinway St 3rd fl, Astoria Pilatesinastoria.com

74 BIKRAM YOGA ASTORIA STUDIO (C,2) (718) 777-9642 32-03 Steinway, 4th Fl, Astoria www.BikramYogaQueensNY.com

83

84

85

86

(718) 728-0708 25-19 24th Ave, Astoria www.mosaicnyc.net

(718) 204-7088 9-01 33rd Rd, Astoria www.noguchi.org

REISSTUDIOS (A,3)

“An international community of established and emerging artists” (718) 570-3663 43-01 22nd St, LIC www.ReisStudios.com

110 SCULPTURECENTER (B,3) (718) 361-1750 44-19 Purves St, LIC www.sculpure-center.org

96

THE SECRET THEATRE (B,3)

97

SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK (A,2)

98

TEN10 STUDIOS (A,4)

(718) 392-0722 4402 23rd St, LIC www.secrettheatre.com

(718) 626-1533 32-01 Vernon Blvd, Astoria www.socratessculpturepark.org (646) 271-5353 10-10 47th Rd, LIC www.ten10studios.com

99

UNDERPENNY (A,4) (917) 517-1492 10-13 50th Ave, LIC

REAL ESTATE

RAPTURE LOUNGE (C,2)

100 EASTCOAST (A,4)

88

STUDIO SQ. BEER GARDEN (C,3)

MODERN SPACES (A,4 ) 101 (718) 784-1110

89

(718) 626-8044 34-27 28th Ave, Astoria www.rapturelounge.com (718) 383-1001 35-33 36th St, Astoria www.studiosquarenyc.com

SWEET AFTON (C,2 )

(718) 777-2570 30-09 34th St, Astoria www.sweetaftonbar.com

THE ARTS

73 YOGA AGORA (B,2)

90

5 POINTZ (B,4)

91

THE AURORA GALLERY (C,2)

92

KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS (C,2)

80 THE YOGA ROOM (C,2)

SPAS FACE AND BODY (B,1) 93 81 REJUVENATE (718) 626-4434 26-17 23rd Ave, Astoria www.Rejuvenatenyc.com

95

NOGUCHI MUSEUM (A,2)

87

(347) 396-5809 10-68 Jackson Ave, LIC www.pntfitness.com

(718) 274-0255 38-01 35th Ave, Astoria (718) 786-7962 (A,4) 10-14 47th Rd, LIC www.the-yoga-room.com

94

111 MOSAIC CAFE AND LOUNGE (B,1)

79 PNT FITNESS (A,4)

(718) 626-0680 33-02 Broadway, 2nd Fl, Astoria www.YogaAgora.com

MIX CAFE AND LOUNGE (C,2) (347) 642-4840 40-17 30th Ave, Astoria www.mixcafelounge.com

78 SEEK FITNESS (B,1)

(347) 924-9004 27-18 23rd Ave, Astoria www.seek-fitness.com

DOMAINE WINE BAR (A,4) (718) 784-2350 50-04 Vernon Blvd, LIC www.domainewinebar.com

77 SYNERGY (B,2)

(718) 267-7700 2335 Broadway, Astoria www.synergyfitclubs.com

BRICK BAR (B,2)

(718) 267-2735 30-95 33rd St, Astoria www.brickcafe.com

76 DYNAMIX GYM (C,1)

(718) 606-0381 20-61 Steinway, Astoria

BREAK (B,2)

(718) 777-5400 3204 Broadway, Astoria www.break-ny.com

75 CRANK STUDIO (A,4)

(718) 606-6309 4630 Center Blvd, LIC www.CrankNYC.com

BOHEMIAN HALL & BEER GARDEN (B,1) (718) 274-4925 2919 24th Ave, Astoria www.bohemianhall.com

105 THE ART OF FITNESS (C,2)

CHILDCARE 106 LOLLYS EARLY LEARNING CENTER (A,4)

NIGHTLIFE / BARS

(317) 219-2685 45-46 Davis St, LIC www.5ptz.com (347) 288-6870 35-18 37th St, LIC www.theauroragallery.com

(718) 706-5300 34-12 36th St, Astoria www.kaufmanastoria.com

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (C,2) (718) 784-0077 36-01 35th Ave, Astoria www.movingimage.us

(718) 606-9440 4720 Center Blvd, LIC www.eastcoastlic.com

10-63 Jackson Ave, LIC www.modernspacesnyc.com

102 THE VIEW (A,4)

(877) 542-7778 4630 Center Blvd, LIC www.livingtheview.com

FARGO HOME MORTGAGE (C,2) 103 WELLS (718) 310-4303 3501 30th Ave, Astoria www.wfhm.com

104 THE YARD (A,4)

718.786.1063 2-26 51st Ave, LIC www.TheYardLIC.com

GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED! WANT YOUR BUSINESS LISTED IN OUR DIRECTORY? CONTACT: ADS@BOROMAG.COM TO LEARN HOW.

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 17

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

MAKING IT IN NYC Story Daniel Crown Photos Philippe Trinh

If you’ve ever been frustrated with your job, there’s a good chance you’ve spent countless hours scouring the depths of your mind for that one great idea. The ingenious notion that might free you from the stopgap position that turned into a career has to be in there somewhere.

Picture a number-cruncher, tapping frantically in a cubicle, dreaming of designing her own software. Envision a foodie doing his time as a server, cringing as a tourist desecrates a world-renown steak by ordering it well done. “In my restaurant, such a travesty won’t be allowed,” he thinks. “In my restaurant, we’ll do things my way!”

Obviously, this sort of venture requires courage. Chutzpah, even. So to help inspire you, we’ve compiled a quick roundup of a few local standouts. All of the people highlighted below have taken the leap of faith and prospered. Will you be next?

Most 21-year-olds can’t wait to buy their first statesanctioned drink. As for Astorian Dominic Shaugnessy— well—let’s just say he had higher aspirations for his 21st birthday than a night full of legal martinis. Shaugnessy, 18 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

along with his business partner and co-founder, Thomas Matzner (23), launched their own brand of vodka in 2011, putting them in competition with many other entrepreneurs, most of them twice their age.

“We actually filed for the LLC before I was 21,” Shaugnessy says. “We liked to joke around about how I co-owned a vodka on paper that I couldn’t even drink.”

Named Reve (after the French word for “dream”), the corn-based vodka is distilled in Denver, Colo. Its formula includes Rocky Mountain spring water, which gives the spirit what Matzner describes as its, “smooth taste.”

Matzner says that he has always wanted to own his own business. And as his college career drew to a close, he fashioned himself a two-pronged checklist.

“I wanted to do something where I could travel, and I wanted to have a good time so that whatever it was didn’t feel like work,” he says. By all accounts, he and Shaugnessy have accomplished just that.

“We’re just living our own dream,” says Matzner. “We’re going to make Reve the number one vodka in the world.”

GRILLED CHEESE: MANCHEGO & RICOTTA, MINTED EGGPLANT AND CAPERS ON MULTIGRAIN WITH GREEN SALAD AND PICKLED GOLDEN RAISINS.

Like many great ideas, Ben Sandler’s life-altering decision was birthed through an unmet personal need—in this case a perfect cup of coffee. According to Sandler, the ideal java requires a diligent attention to detail: specialty beans roasted to perfection, ground and brewed to order, measured and dosed with the utmost precision.

Sandler quickly recruited his wife, Jennifer Lim, and together the environmentally conscious couple took up shop at 40-17 Broadway. They recycled the lion’s share of the original furnishings to create a nostalgia-inducing, old-time coffee bar, replete with a vegetarian menu, specialty teas, sodas and, as of last month, beers.

“[I saw] that there was definitely room in Astoria to do something like that here,” he says. “Having worked in the industry for as long as I had (20 years), I figured it was time to take the bull by the horns.”

The Queens Kickshaw now doubles as a late-night alehouse, open until 1:00 a.m. seven nights a week. “Beer and cheese are just an incredible pairing,” Sandler said atop an earnest laugh. “It follows the same theme we’d originally intended [for the Queens Kickshaw]. Great food and great drinks.”

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 19

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS When Jesse Winter first stumbled upon the 19th century carriage house that would ultimately become Ten10 Studios, the photographer had no clue what he was signing up for. All he wanted was more studio space to produce his nationally known photos. What he wound up with was something much greater—a second career.

“It sort of organically became a cozy place that people could interact with art and interact with each other,” he says. “[The building] is humble in a way. It has this funky kind of appeal to it that I think is inherent in it being an old carriage house.”

Artists soon approached Winter, looking to take advantage of the building’s antiquarian charm, and Ten10 Studios quickly became a veritable catchall of events. In the year it has been open, the building has hosted photo galleries, vender exhibitions, mixed media events, jazz concerts and even birthday parties.

20 | BOROMAG.COM | JUNE 2011

While Winter continues to use the space as a personal studio, he maintains that Astoria/Long Island City locals should not hesitate to approach him when looking for a venue to display a passion project.

“It’s really for the community,” Winter says. “There are a lot of people who aren’t associated with galleries. So why should artists not be able to put their artwork out there? I like having people go through the experience of a show. You have a deadline, you put the work together, you get it out there. It is its own special sort of process.”

MAP IT 113 QUEENS KICKSHAW (C,2)

98 TEN10 STUDIOS (A,4)

ENTERTAINMENT

OFF-OFF-

Y A W D A O R B THEATER IN ASTORIA

ara

Story Rebecca McNam

Despite a non-profit budget and a church’s performance stage, the Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is doing what many might have thought impossible: luring Manhattan’s theater elite across the East River. APAC’s productions have become can’t-miss events, and when it isn’t showtime, the Center keeps busy interacting with the local community, spreading knowledge and nurturing talent. “We belong to Astoria,” says Taryn Sacramone, APAC’s Executive Director. “It’s not about a niche [group], it’s about the whole community.”

Now in its 11th season, APAC produces two main stage shows each year: a play in the fall and a musical in the spring, with about a dozen performances of each.

“We work with really strong [professional] actors and directors on our main stage [who] all donate their time and use their talents as gifts to Astoria directly,” explains Sacramone.

One such actor, Jonathan Gregg, auditioned for his first APAC performance in 2009 for the Center’s production of Ragtime. Gregg says he was thrilled to work with director Tom Wojtunik (now artistic director), but was unsure of how this nonprofit, off-off-Broadway theater could pull off such a mega-performance. Ultimately, though, he says, Ragtime “was more than pulled off. It was a success.” He hasn’t stopped auditioning since.

Achieving this level of excellence has truly been an Astoria-wide affair. Sacramone credits a mix of grants and support from local officials for fueling APAC’s growth, and is also quick to point out the quality of its in-house staff. “They don’t waste any time complaining about things,” she says. “It’s a great group to be around.”

Snap shots of APAC’s 2011 production of The Human Comedy. Photo: Michael R. Dekker

The Center also runs activities for theater-lovers of all ages. For example, each year APAC invites seniors to audition for its annual public production; the most recent cast, which performed Baseball and Boogie Woogie, featured 21 participants between the ages of 60 and 88.

On the other side of the age spectrum is a playwriting program for middle school students from I.S. 10. When students finish their plays, professional actors perform free public stage readings.

It’s exactly this type of community involvement that APAC thrives upon, and the group also welcomes a little reciprocation – in any way, shape or form. That means if you believe in this organization, you can help. If you can sew, you can help. If you can paint sets, you can help. And if you want to see a show, your $18 ticket fee can help.

Start by visiting www.apacny.org for the upcoming schedule and learn more now!

IT’S NOT ABOUT

A NICHE,

IT’S ABOUT THE WHOLE

COMMUNITY

MAP IT 114 APAC (C,2)

22 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

Learn more about APAC and buy tickets to the next show at www.apacny.org.

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 23

1

3

ART

2

4

THE ART OF

5

Story Jared Killeen

Philosophers have debated the source of artistic inspiration ever since the Ancient Greeks first tapped the Pierian Spring. For some, it is derived from madness, for others divine intervention. For Paul Moreno, an LIC painter, inspiration is where you find it. “It comes from many directions,” he said in a recent interview. This is exactly the sort of resourcefulness that makes Moreno’s work so powerful. He doesn’t wait for inspiration to find him; he goes out looking for it.

Born in Sparks, Nev., Moreno moved to New York in 1996.

A self-taught artist, he most often paints portraits based on photographs, challenging the distinction between media.

As he said, “My work straddles painting and drawing.

I think it is both and neither.” In this way, Moreno is “interested in mingling representation with marks that do not have anything to do with the subject.” Sometimes he’ll work on multiple pieces at once and then attempt to find connections between them.

Moreno also draws connections between art and everyday objects. “I am inspired by people who make things, art or otherwise,” he said. “If someone makes something I think is beautiful, I feel a genuine joy, whether it is a piece of jewelry or a great salad.”

24 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

One place Moreno finds inspiration is in his neighborhood.

“I love working in LIC,” he said. “I love being in a building filled with creative people. Making art can be very solitary and it is great to know there is someone else being solitary down the hall.” Indeed, Moreno finds inspiration in the work of friends, such as Rachel Mueller and Brandon Friend, and major artists, including Cy Twombly and David Hockney.

When working on his own pieces, Moreno tries to avoid thinking about the viewer’s reaction. “I try to focus on the work and not predict how someone will look at the work or how they will feel about it.” Still, Moreno can’t help but imagine that his art will have an effect on its audience. “I would be excited to know that my work inspired someone to make something...even if only a salad.”

Image 1: Red Wood, 2010, 12 1/2” x 14”, mixed media on paper and wood Image 2: ILYEILYB 12 (ignore me), 2009, 11” x 13”, mixed media on paper Image 3: Maurice Lecorre 2010 14” x 17 1/2”, mixed media on paper Image 4: Should Try, 2010, 11 3/4” x 15”, mixed media on paper Image 5: Paul Moreno

Learn about the local art scene?

Visit www.BOROmag.com/Arts Contact Paul about his art: Paul.Moreno@mac.com

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 25

FOOD

Stor

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s

awk

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adl s Br

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for construction quickly dried up – though they built each of the four bagel stores themselves, of course. Today, the two Astorians rotate between the shops, scouting out new opportunities and coming up with the company’s constantly expanding list of new flavors.

It’s not just about the bread. New cream cheeses are developed weekly, and they’re anything but orthodox.

Wasabi lox, bacon scallion, curried apple spread, peanut butter chocolate chip – an ever-changing line-up of spreads is constantly intriguing and tempting customers’ taste buds.

“You can’t hold back on innovation,” says Peter Voyiatzis, co-founder of Brooklyn Bagel. The restaurant – the brainchild of college friends Voyiatzis and John Rocchio – first opened its doors in 2002. Originally Steinway-based civil engineers, Voyiatzis and Rocchio decided to trade in their hard hats for baker’s caps after 9/11, when public bids

MAP IT 34 BROOKLYN BAGEL AND COFFEE COMPANY (C,2)

26 | BOROMAG.COM | JUNE 2011

In addition, the store notably only uses unbleached and unbromated flours, avoiding popular industry processes that whiten and strengthen flour with potential carcinogens.

The commitment to quality is almost tangible. The final product? An inspiring model for what great local business should aspire. Two neighborhood boys who refused to fall victim to the economy, defying tumultuous odds to create one of the most delicious and customer-focused businesses in Astoria—with a team that believes in their vision just as much as they do. “It really is like a big family,” smiles Tara from behind the register, who started with the company in 2002.

For more great eats in Astoria and LIC, visit www.BOROmag.com/Food to plan your next meal.

FOOD

GUESS WHO’S COMING

TO DINNER

The secret supper club dinner table filled Story & photos Bradley hawks

Tamara Reynolds answers the buzzer with a gigantic hug – and a smile that illuminates the city block. You then follow her as she briskly but cordially whisks you up a flight of stairs, through a series of rooms and down a spiral staircase that finally leads into a backyard garden strewn with multicolored light bulbs and a picnic table adorned with mismatched tablecloths.

Welcome to Reynolds’s now-famous supper club, dubbed “The Sunday Night Dinner in Astoria,” festive gatherings that have been showcasing a kaleidoscope of dishes driven by the local seasonal market for the past decade.

Securing an elusive invite to these secret parties is all part of the club’s charm. Prospective guests are emailed the date and time of the next party, and the first twenty to respond secure coveted seats in exchange for a bottle of wine and a suggested donation to help defray costs. The guest list can be eclectic, but after a few hours and several courses of sticky-sweet ribs, new bonds are formed, phone numbers exchanged and strangers cross that unexpected threshold into acquaintance and even friendship.

“When we move away from home, we create community in other ways,” says Reynolds. “When we come together over food, we talk about it [and] share the memories it inspires. Bringing strangers to a dinner table is my way of serving the community.”

“Food is just a vehicle to feed people in another way,” explains Reynolds, a former-opera-singer-turned-selftaught-kitchen-wizard. A true New York story, a transplant 28 | BOROMAG.COM | JULY 2011

The Secret Supper feast featuring BBQ Ribs, butterbean salad, Texas caviar, spring dandelions with hot anchovy dressing, and green chile corn bread.

who made NYC her home—and through a creative kitchen and a lot of humor, Tamara Reynolds helps New York feel like home to a whole new community of hungry souls.

Tamara Reynolds is the co-author of the cookbook, Forking Fantastic!, about creating your own dinner party at home. She also runs a boutique catering business, guest hosts on Unique Eats on the Cooking Channel Sunday Nights at 10PM, and is presently shopping a pilot of her newest show, Married with Dishes, where she and her husband (who she met by placing an ad on Craigslist) create dinner parties for strangers in just three days at various destinations around America. She will also be hosting a rooftop farm-to-table dinner series this summer at the Brooklyn Grange.

To learn more about the Secret Supper Club go to www.BOROmag.com/Secret-Supper-Club

To sign up for The Sunday Night Dinner mailing list e-mail tamara@thesundaynightdinner.com

JULY 2011 | BOROMAG.COM | 29

BORO DEALS & DISCOUNTS

Be local and enjoy the below offers from some of Astoria and LIC’s best merchants. Offers available through

July 31, 2011. Bring BORO or coupon below to redeem discount. Limited to 1 use per reader. Merchant restrictions may apply.

1 FREE pint with food order

1 FREE Glass of Wine or Dessert

1 FREE Glass of Wine or 1/2 OFF a

1 FREE dessert with your meal

FREE dessert with entree (wed-sun)

1 FREE Glass of Wine or Dessert

Cocktail with meal with BORO

CAFE VIA ESPRESSO 10% OFF

15% OFF your order (excludes deliveries)

1 FREE drink Mon or Tues with BORO

1 FREE Glass of Wine or Dessert with

1 FREE Glass of Wine or Dessert.

10 Guests FREE at your Event

20% OFF entire purchase

Complimentary Blowout for first

10% OFF entire purchase

$39 Intro Special: 1 month

1 FREE cardio or strengthening class with ad

$67 for 14 day Fat Flush program

20% OFF 10 rides or higher

$19 to join & 2 FREE training sessions

$40 for 1 Month Unlimited Yoga and Pilates

10% OFF discount for courses that cost

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$67.54 for the perfect bundle package.

lunch entree

unlimited classes

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off 1 boxing session

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time color clients (tues-thurs)

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