Queens Chronicle Spring Guide 04-06-17 by Queens Chronicle

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e d i u G g n i r Sp ❀ 2017

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❀ Get outdoors! ✿ Family activities all over Queens ✿ Hiking and biking through our parks ✿ Spring arts and entertainment ✿ A day trip when it’s time to get away

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• Queens by bike — cycling routes in parks and on streets.... 6 • Walking tours — seeing Queens on foot with the experts .... 6 • Children’s shows — two favorites at The Secret Theatre ..... 8 • Great Adventure — a day trip to more than roller coasters 10 • Modern playgrounds — safer and greener than before ..... 11

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• Caribbean flavor — spring at the Black Spectrum Theatre 15 • Art on display — exhibitions for all tastes and interests ... 17 • Outdoor dining — the rising popularity of sidewalk cafés ... 18 On the cover: Fun at the new DeVoy Playground in Forest Park / photo courtesy NYC Parks. On this page: Flower time in Forest Hills / photo by Rick Maiman. Supplement Editor: Peter C. Mastrosimone; Design: Jan Schulman; Editorial Layout: Terry Nusspickel

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The hidden treasures of Queens

A DAY IN THE PARK by Anthony O’Reilly

when General George Washington passed close by in 1790 on a tour of Long Island, and it was most likely a young tree when the Dutch East India Company sent a group of Walloon families to Manhattan in 1624.” Yet despite its significance, the tree is not a topic most people bring up when they visit Alley Pond Park. “We probably only get a handful of people asking about it each year,” said Irene Scheid, executive director of the Alley Pond Environmental Center. Alley Pond is home to some of the borough’s other hidden park treasures, such as a replica of the Douglaston Estate Windmill. The original windmill — which the Alley Pond Environmental Center says was torched in an act of arson about 30 years ago — was built in 1870 and was used to pump water to Douglaston farmers. Today, the replica provides fresh water for sites across the park. The park is also home to one of the few remaining freshwater wetlands in New York City, which 200 years ago had 224,000 acres of them but now has a little more than 2 ,0 0 0. Ma ny of t he marshlands were filled in to make room for new developments or roadways. At the northern end of the park lies 150 acres of freshwater wetlands, which ultimately f lows into Little Neck Bay. These sites, and more, can be found by getting a park guide at the center’s headquarters at 228-06 Northern Blvd. One of Queens’ other large green spaces, Cunningham Park, has 358 acres of space for people to walk, bike, rollerskate The Queens Giant, sometimes called the or trot along in just about Alley Pond Giant, is the oldest, tallest organ- any nonmotorized mode PHOTO BY BEBOPPETE/ WIKIMEDIA of transportation. And ism in the city.

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veryone has their favorite park — a place to take the dog for a walk, quietly stroll by yourself, play a quick game of basketball or have a picnic. In Queens alone, the Parks Department manages sites beginning with every letter of the alphabet with the exception of X and Z. And while many of them offer something for people of all ages, even the most seasoned park-goer may find some surprises in store off the beaten path. Take for example, the Queens Giant, sometimes known as the Alley Pond Giant. The Queens Giant is an old tulip tree hidden within a grove at Alley Pond Park and surrounded by a small metal fence. What’s its signif icance? It’s believed to be the tallest measured tree in New York City at 133.8 feet. It’s also believed to be the oldest living organism in the five boroughs — more than 450 years old, according to The New York Times. A sign at the tree’s base reads “It was standing tall

The Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, now in Queens a nature path, was once exclusively for cars. while cars are excluded from that list, that wasn’t the case decades ago. One of the trails in Cunningham Park is a stretch of the old Vanderbilt Motor Parkway — which once allowed motorists to travel from Queens to Suffolk County. It was the first road only for cars and in 2002 was put on the state and federal Register of Historic Places. Today, you won’t see cars on the path that connects Cunningham to Alley Pond. If you want to travel along it, enter at 199th Street and Peck Avenue. If a walk in the woods isn’t your thing and you’re looking for something a little more fast-paced, Queens has that too. Although the borough has miles of bike trails for one to enjoy [see separate story] it’s also host to what some have called “the track of dreams,” otherwise known as the Kissena Velodrome. Located at the corner of Parsons Boulevard and Booth Memorial Avenue in Flushing, this 400-meter circular track was once used for cycling trials for the 1964 Olympics. According to the American Track Racing Association, there are only 26 velodromes in the country and the Kissena one is the only one in New York City — the Bronx and Coney Island both lost theirs. Standard Cycling USA helmets must be worn while on the track. For more information, visit kissenavelodrome.info. While most people know Baisley Park, in Jamaica, a small space inside of it contains one of the community’s best kept secrets: the Curtis “50 Cent” Community Garden, located at 117-15 165 St. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who grew up a short distance from the park, helped fund the revitalization of the Baisley Park Community Garden in 2007. The site now contains green walkways, a children’s garden, vegetable plots and more. The garden is open to the public free of charge all

days except Sunday. If you’re one who’s waiting for the birds to come back from their winter vacation, Queens has no shortage of birdwatching opportunities. Of course, you can head down to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Center where countless avian species can be spotted. The New York City Audubon Society hosts several birding events throughout the year. Birdwatchers can also park themselves at Alley Pond, Cunningham or Forest Park as all three are stopovers for migrating birds. The city Parks Department will be hosting a number of birding events throughout the season, starting with the first this Saturday at Alley Pond Park. Meet at Winchester Boulevard under the Grand Central at 9 a.m. The event is free. One can also visit the bird blinds throughout the borough, such as the one on the Pat Dolan Trail in Flushing Meadows Corona Park — named in honor of the late founder of the green space’s conservancy. As transportation and park advocates continue to debate the future of the Rockaway Beach Rail Line, a similar right-of-way in Long Island City has been taken over by parkgoers. The Smiling Hogshead Ranch — named because volunteers found a pig skeleton while clearing the site — is an all-volunteer urban farm.

PHOTOS COURTESY NYC PARKS

It can be accessed by taking the 7 train to Hunters Point Avenue, making a left on 49th Avenue and another left onto Skillman Avenue. The ranch will be on the right past an overhead railroad bridge. While the existence of the Forest Park Greenhouse may not be a secret, what goes on inside of it may seem like one since it’s often kept closed to the public. For decades, it was closed to the public until it opened its doors in 2015. What goes on in there? More than 200,000 plants for flowerbeds in public parks in Queens and Brooklyn are grown and cared for. The greenhouse opened in 1926 and underwent a multimillion dollar renovation in 2012. Horticulturists will once again get a chance to see the inside when it’s opened for the only time this year on April 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested should meet at Forest Park Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard. No reservation is needed but Parks staff may limit the number of visitors allowed inside at one time. These are just some of the examples of the hidden gems in Queens parks. This borough is the city’s largest by size, so there are bound to be many more sites that those in the know might like to keep to themselves, but they’re all there waiting to Q be explored.

The Forest Park Greenhouse, which grows plants for city parks, will be open for one day only on April 29.

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Try out these great spring recipes

LIGHT FARE by Liz Rhoades

h spring! The crocuses are in bloom and it’s time to shed those heavy clothes and hearty winter recipes for something more seasonal. Stews and soups are great winter fare but now that temperatures are starting to rise our palates seek lighter, fresher foods. Take advantage of the peas, asparagus and strawberries now available at produce markets around the borough. Below are several recipes to tempt your taste buds, from pea soup to strawberry layer cake. In between are an easy chicken dish, a pasta and bean salad, crab quiche and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. Enjoy the season’s bounty.

Spring Pea Soup • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 small onion, diced • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon pepper • 4 1/2 cups frozen peas

• 3/4 cup basil leaves, chopped • 2 cups chicken broth • 2 cups cream Although the recipe calls for frozen peas, remember that the peas are quick frozen. That makes them perfect for cooking and easy to handle. Cook onion, garlic, salt and pepper in olive oil and butter in large saucepan. Cook until onions are soft, about five minutes. Add peas and basil and heat until peas are thawed. Place mixture in blender. Add one cup of chicken broth and puree, adding more broth if necessary. Return mixture to pot and stir in remaining chicken broth and cream. Heat until hot, but not boiling. Serves four to six.

Lemony Chicken • 4 ounces butter • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 1 cup bread crumbs • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/4 cup parsley, minced • 6 skinless and boneless chicken breast halves • 1-2 lemons

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Biking opportunities abound

FITNESS & FUN by Michael Gannon

sk John Maier about opportunities for recreational bicycle riding in Queens and his answer is comprehensive, yet amazingly simple. “Every single road in Queens is an opportunity,” he says. Maier, a Ridgewood resident who serves as transportation chairman of Community Board 5, says throw in the myriad parks, the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway and an increasing number of bike lanes, and the World’s Borough is quickly becoming as hospitable to cyclists as it has become to pretty much everyone else. “You’re not cut off from the scenery, from the people, the stores, the air, and you’re travelling at a more human speed than in a car playing loud music,” Maier said. “You’re actively involved in the story of the street,” he added. Laura Shepard, a Bayside native who lives in Forest Hills, began riding seriously with her father as a teenager. A former freelancer for the Chronicle, Shepard said the partnership just took off, with the pair entering multiple group events such as

the Five Borough Bike Race and the NYC Century event, one of several organized by Transportation Alternatives for purposes both fun and environmental. The Century, Shepard said, is exactly what it sounds like — a 100-mile course for the diehards. “We would take some of the shorter routes,” she said. She has a favorite route that serves as her equivalent of an angler’s favorite secret fishing spot. “I take it up to Douglas Manor,” she said. “Residents may not want to hear that — but it’s one of the most beautiful views in Queens.” Ask Peter Beadle of Rego Park about his favorite route and he’ll ask you, “Which direction?” An eastern route, he said, can go along the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where one can either ride around or take advantage of the numerous other activities there; continue farther on his and he can go through Kissena Park. From there, one with a sense of adventure can find many ways into Cunningham Park. “Some of the shortcuts are through woods, routes you wouldn’t know about unless you lived there or were a bit adventurous,” Beadle

Juan Ramos, left, and Edwin Gomes of Elmhurst don’t let a recent weekend’s chill keep PHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN them from Flushing Meadows Corona Park. said. Head west, eventually winding up at Hunter’s Point Park on the East River and old trails through the woods are replaced by something of a more modern vintage. “I can start on Queens Boulevard at Eliot Avenue and start by heading about 3.1 miles on the brand-new bike path,” he said. Should he want to go farther there is a path that opened last year on the Pulaski Bridge to Brooklyn. “There’s just something about smelling a

bakery, a cheese shop, a restaurant from a block away and being able to look for it,” Beadle said. Beadle, who is also a member of Community Board 6, hopes organizers can eventually get backing to rejuvenate sections of the old Vanderbilt Parkway to be more accommodating to cyclists than it already is. The parkway, built by tycoon William continued on page 19

Walking the borough

TAKE A TOUR by Matthew Bultman

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ueens long ago earned its reputation as “The World’s Borough.” And for good reason. By many accounts, the borough is among the most diverse places on Earth. Dozens of overlapping neighborhoods are home to countless ethnic shops, eating establishments and residents who speak more than 100 languages. What better way to explore all that Queens has to offer than with a guided tour?

Geography of NYC Jack Eichenbaum has been leading tours of the borough for more than 30 years. His signature tour — and longest running — is “The World of the Number 7 Train,” an all-day series of walks and connecting rides along the North Queens transportation corridor. Eichenbaum, who is also the borough historian, will host the latest edition of his 7 train tour on May 6. It has been completely revamped from years past, and will start at the Hudson Yards terminal, which opened in late 2015. From there, it includes a walking loop of the

Long Island City shoreline — with its stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, new parks and housing developments — a trek through places like Flushing West and North Corona, and a wrap-up in Jackson Heights. “People that have been on it before will get a whole new experience,” Eichenbaum said. Eichenbaum, who has a Ph.D. in urban geology from the University of Michigan, started leading walking tours in Queens in the early 1980’s (his first was in Long Island City). But the idea dates back years before, when he was teaching geography at the University of Washington. He said every course he taught included a field component, allowing students to visit actual places in addition to lectures. “When I came back to New York, nobody was doing tours,” he said. So Eichenbaum, who also taught for a number of years at Hunter College, started leading his own. He plans all the routes himself and carefully selects each of the individual stops. “The routes are not random and the sites are not random,” he said. “They are connected in a certain way with a theme of the tour.” Later in May, Eichenbum will lead a twohour, evening walking tour called “Flushing’s

A May 17 tour called “Have a Happy (Two) Hours walking from Ireland to Cuba” will include PHOTO BY MATTHEW BULTMAN this stretch of Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. Chinese Community.” A resident of the neighborhood, he said he has witnessed firsthand Flushing’s transformation as an immigrant destination and commercial center. He will also lead a tour called “Have a Happy (Two) Hours walking from Ireland to Cuba,” which will start the evening of May 17 near the No. 7 train’s 61st Street stop in Woodside and continue up to Junction Boulevard in

Jackson Heights. He said the route has been called the “international express.” “It’s along that route that you see probably the greatest change and evidence of the immigration to New York City in the last 50 years,” he said. Even after all these years, Eichenbaum said the tours are still rewarding. For him, the best continued on page 19

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PLAYS DO SO MUCH FOR KIDS by Mark Lord

t has often been said that theater can provide transformative experiences, having an especially powerful effect on children — whether they are performers or members of an audience. It might, therefore, be of particular interest to Queens residents that “Pirate Pete’s Parrot,” an original musical at The Secret Theatre in Long Island City which, according to Artistic Director Richard Mazda, holds the record as the longest-running children’s show in Queens, is still going strong. Mazda said the show has been running once a month for five years, with the next performance scheduled for April 22. Running nearly as long at the same venue is another children’s show, “Princess Particular,” which Mazda says is the second-longest-running children’s show in the borough, having entertained audiences each month for the past four years. It will next be performed on April 8. Either would make for a fine family outing this spring. And the longevity of such shows is clear evidence of the attraction theater can hold for children. So, how, exactly, does it influence young audiences? Many well-known performers were already cavorting on stages around the country while still very young. Christian Slater was featured as Winthrop Paroo, the little boy with the lisp, in a professional New York production of “The Music Man” when he was only 10 years old. And Andrea McArdle became the youngest performer to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for creating the title role of “Annie” on Broadway; she was a mere 13 at the time. Such shows make it easy for young audiences to identify with the characters, played by children their own age. And while most youngsters will, in all likelihood, not make the theater their careers, they might well undergo an experience at a show that will remain with them forever. It is generally agreed that seeing a live performance can jump start one’s imagination, perhaps teaching skills necessary to face or even change the world. It can lengthen a child’s attention span, a particularly daunting challenge in a world where

Pirate Pete’s search for his lost parrot lands him in all kinds of situations.

everything seems to happen in milliseconds. It may even stimulate one’s desire for learning. And, not incidentally, all of this can happen while a youngster is having a great time. So, what is the best age to introduce a child to live theater? The earlier the better would probably be a fair statement. The Secret Theatre, the name of which has become something of a misnomer for a venue that has been offering a wide variety of theatrical fare for just about a decade now, may still not be a household name, but its reputation has been growing. Along with shows ranging from musicals to Shakespeare, the theater prides itself in its ongoing commitment to quality theater for children. Not surprisingly, Mazda entered the world of the theater early in life, as a child actor in his hometown of Bournemouth in the south of England. At one point, he took a break from acting for a 20-year career in the music business and eventually found his way back to his original love in the 1990s. Initially, he was inspired by a British form of entertainment known as pantomimes. In this country, the word refers to a type of play in which performers express themselves mutely by gestures, often to the accompaniment of music. On the other side of the Atlantic, however, the art form, frequently called “pantos” for short, is a family-friendly play, whose tradition dates back to the 1700s. This perhaps is due in part to the slightly risque nature of the pieces, which often feature animals and men in drag. “Nearly every city in Britain has pantos every season,” Mazda pointed out. And so he went about writing his own original pantomime-style show, creating the book, music and lyrics, and called it “Pirate Pete’s Parrot,” which revolves around the title swashbuckler, described as a lovable rogue who is on a mission to find his beloved runaway parrot, Polly. Along the way, Pete stops to pick up some buried treasure, setting off on a journey that involves plenty of audience interaction. “It’s all played for laughs, of course,” Mazda says. “If you can get people [in the audience] to call out, you do!” And, he adds, “We do things that make it cute for parents.” Mazda also created “Princess Particular,” continuing his peculiar penchant for the alliterative use of the letter “p” in his titles. This show focuses on a spirited and feisty young princess who is used to getting what she wants, when she wants it. And on one particular day, as depicted on stage, what she wants is to be a ballerina. Her parents, King Loadsadough and Queen Patience want her to practice curtsying. Fortunately, her four maids, the chancellor and the lady-in-waiting are on hand to help the princess follow her dream. Mazda points out that “Pirate” is “not just a boys’ show. In fact, several leading characters

Uh oh — looks like Princess Particular is having a moment! are played by females,” he said, adding, “It’s okay for girls to like pirates.” He admits, however, that “Princess” is aimed primarily at young girls, who, he hopes, will identify with the story that promotes the notion of female empowerment. Each show runs approximately 50 minutes, the perfect length for 3- to 8-year-olds, he said. Over the years, Savy Mazda, Richard’s 26-year-old daughter, has appeared in both productions in a variety of roles. Most recently she has been playing Bruce the Lion in “Pirate,” one of her favorite characters. “Kids love the pirates and Bruce,” she said. “Parents love Bruce, too, because there’s some grownup humor in there for them which goes over the kids’ heads.” It’s all part of the troupe’s goal “to provide something that the kids and parents can enjoy together,” she said. Also singling out Bruce as a personal favorite is Samantha Morrice, who has alternated with Savy Mazda in the role. The would-be standup comic “interacts with the audience, which is a lot of fun,” Morrice said. “You never know what the kids are going to say. It’s often very surprising.” In “Princess,” Savy Mazda, who moved to Queens from the United Kingdom at the age of 14 and attended Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, currently plays the Queen, a role with which she has become well acquainted. “The Queen is a hoot,” she said. “She’s silly and loud and funny and I always make friends with a couple little girls after [the show]. They’re particularly interested in touching the beehive hat and the little bees attached to the side. It fascinates them. Roles such as these, particularly when performed in front of a group of tots, can be a challenge, she admits, especially when it comes to keeping their attention “and on occasion being careful not to scare them. The last show I was in I ended up carrying around a little girl for a

PHOTOS BY REIKO YANAGI

while who just walked on stage and wanted to hang out with the actors.” In the show, Morrice has played, among other roles, the lady-in-waiting, whom she describes as “the nerdy but well-meaning taskmaster trying to steer the princess the right way.” Morrice notes that the character is “a little more stern, so she’s never the kids’ favorite.” Savy Mazda got hooked on the theater in a rather circuitous way, she explained. When she was a child, her father had a friend who needed schoolchildren to be extras in a movie. “After that I was hooked,” she said. “I asked for acting lessons, singing, dance, the whole shebang.” Similarly, Morrice said she “studied theater at a very young age; I was in dance classes and singing gigs with my mom and grandma as young as 6. I could not imagine my life without performing.” And, she believes, “children’s theater is an accessible, unintimidating way to teach children outside of a classroom.” Savy Mazda understands the appeal theater can have, saying, “Going to the theater gets [children] away from their screens. It gets them into their imaginations.” In reference to The Secret Theatre’s space, she adds, “I mean, here we are in a black box theater ... but the kids don’t care. They’re in a jungle with Pirate Pete and his crew. They deserve to have the kind of fun only the theater can provide.” And Richard Mazda points out, “In an age when it’s too easy to stick a child in front of an iPad or television, bringing them to live theater widens their scope — really makes their minds blossom. It can introduce children to the idea that fun can be had beyond the screen.” Upcoming dates for “Princess Particular” beyond this month include May 13 and June 10. “Pirate Pete’s Parrot” will be performed on May 27 and June 24. All shows are at 2 p.m. For further information, visit secrettheatre. Q com or call (718) 392-0722.

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017 Page 10

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A Great Adventure for all kinds of folks

GET YOUR THRILL ON by Christopher Barca

and the legendary Coney Island Cyclone — is perfect if you want to spend a spring or summer day close to home, but if you have a real need for speed or thirst for having your stomach seemingly tossed into your throat, you’ll need to leave Queens behind in favor of Six Flags Great Adventure. Located just a 90-minute drive from Queens in Jackson, NJ, the 510-acre theme park — the second-largest in the nation — has something for ever yone, from daredevils to scaredy cats and everyone in between. As expected, thrill seekers will have no shortage of rides to satisfy their need for speed. Ever wanted to experience freefall? You can do so aboard the famous drop ride Zumanjaro, on which riders plummet 415 feet at speeds of 90 miles per hour. For those agonizing few s e c ond s at t he attraction’s peak, make sure to look far beyond the trees as Philadelphia’s skyline can be seen in the distance on a clear day. Think vintage wooden roller coasters are the best? El Toro has the steepest drop of any such ride in the world at 76 degrees, and its 70 miles per hour top speed makes it the fourth-fastest wooden coaster ever. But even the most dar ing of daredevils might have to thin k twice before jumping on Kingda Ka, the tallest and second-fastest roller coaster in history. Your car goes from 0 to 128 miles per hour in less than four seconds, Six Flags’ El Toro is the fourth-fastest wooden giving you just enough s p e e d t o cl i m b 9 0 roller coaster in the world.

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e all know New York City is the undisputed king of so many things. From pizza to World Series championships, soaring skyscrapers to delays on the No. 7 line, this place is unrivaled in so many ways. However, the city is also the best at replicating experiences one can find outside the five boroughs. Sure, the beaches of the Rockaways and Coney Island are treasures every summer-loving city resident enjoys, but no one will mistake them for the white sandy shores of Hawaii or Florida. Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Alley Pond Park are fantastic options for exploring what little nat u re remai ns i n the u rba n sprawl, but Yellowstone a nd Yosemite they certainly are not. Coney Island’s Luna Park —

Rides like Zumanjaro at Six Flags Great Adventure are perfect for adrenaline junkies. degrees straight up to the ride’s 456-foot peak. What goes up must come down, however. In Kinda Ka’s case, it’s straight down at roaring speeds, ending with a 270-degree loop and a second feeling of weightlessness as you cli mb up and over a 130-foot-tall incline. Great Adventure’s thrill rides are timeless classics, but if you’re looking for something new to do at the park in 2017, Six Flags spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher said the venue has some “super” upgrades coming later this spring. “We try to unveil a major new attraction every season,” Siebeneicher said in a Thursday interview. “And this season, it’s our Justice League: Battle for Metropolis adventure.” Comic book and superhero fans are in for a treat with Battle for Metropolis, as riders will join forces with Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern to take on Lex Luthor, The Joker and their henchmen in a thrilling battle of good versus evil. Riding in a car with five others, each park-goer will don 3-D glasses and use laser guns to blast away at real and virtual enemies as the vehicle moves through the building. “Some of the enemies are on screens you’re watching through your glasses,” Siebeneicher said. “There are also real props, like a life-sized Joker on an ATV blasting at you. “You’ll ride through fog and flames in a car that swivels in multiple directions. All of that is real,” she contined. “It’s nonstop action that appeals to all ages.” Constr uction on the ride is ongoing and Gread Adventure anticipates the attraction will open

sometime in June. In sticking with the world-saving theme, the park is deeming 2017 as “Superhero Summer,” with a number of events geared toward those famous characters and their legions of fans. “There’s a ton of excitement about that genre and it’s a great tiein with our new ride,” Siebeneicher said. “We’re planning a ComiCon and cosplay events where people can dress up as their favorite character.” In what will surely be a bizarre sight, the park also plans to celebrate National Roller Coaster Day on Aug. 16 by setting the world record for most people riding a coaster while wearing superhero pajamas at the same time. Great Adventure is more than just thrilling coasters, however, as it represents one of the few places in the area where one can meet some of Africa’s most majestic creatures. Taking up 350 of the park’s 510 acres is the Safari Off Road Adventure, where guests of all ages can take a 45-minute drive through Great Adventure’s game preserve and meet elephants, tigers, lions a n d o t h e r t r e a s u r e s of t h e Serengeti. Those who head off to the park this month will be some of the first humans to interact with three of the safari’s newest creatures — baby giraffes Xena, Eddie and Charly. “T hey’re adorable babies,” Siebeneicher said of the 6-foot-tall creatures born since the park closed for the season last fall. “They will be out there if the weather is good.” While the three babies might not be up for it just yet, the adult giraffes are just some of the animals that can be pet or fed by

PHOTOS COURTESY SIX FLAGS

humans passing through. “There’s one giraffe that, let’s just say, loves the attention,” Siebeneicher said. From last Saturday through May 24, Great Adventure is mostly open only on weekends; after that it will be open seven days a week through Labor Day. But the park will be open each day for “spring break” from April 8 to 17, allowing students on field trips and other eager coaster fans the chance to enjoy the rides without having to wait on excruciatingly long lines in the summer heat. “It’s a great time to come,” Siebeneicher said of the 10-day span. “The weather is cooler, the lines are shorter. It’s a nice time to Q get your fill of the park.”

Mama giraffe Noel poses for the camera next to newborns Eddie and Charly.

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KID-FRIENDLY by Christopher Barca

ew York City and The Trust for Public Land aren’t only interested in playgrounds that serve today’s children. Nowadays, the entities’ newest play spaces have future generations of city youngsters, and their education, in mind as well. For years now, a number of industries have embraced the popularity of renewable, environmentally friendly products, the wave known simply as “going green.” That wave has swept over the city, inundating the thought processes behind waste disposal and stormwater runoff prevention, small but impactful programs that help preserve our environment for future residents. That climate-conscious push has also extended to New York City’s playgrounds. Almost 200 of them, in fact. A major player in the construction of new, eco-friendly playgrounds has been The Trust for Public Land, which has worked in conjunction with the Parks Department and the Department of Environmental Protection to build 189 new spaces — mostly at schools —

across the five boroughs over the last 20 years. Of those 189 playgrounds, which are all open every day from 8 a.m to dusk, 67 are located in Queens, with two more slated for Flushing in 2017. The key element these spaces have in common is their Plexipave surface, which captures stormwater and allows it to soak straight through and into the ground instead of running off into the sewer system. The acrylic surface is also much softer and more forgiving than concrete or asphalt, making it safer for children to play, and fall, on. Mary Alice Lee, the TPL’s New York City playgrounds program director and a Douglaston resident, said the city has been thrilled with the new infrastructure. “It’s something the DEP was really excited about doing,” Lee said. “They’re really committed to it. As an old city, there are always issues with sewage overflow, and we think this can help alleviate those issues.” Most of the TPL’s playgrounds are constructed where hard surfaces, typically former parking lots, used to be. And to make up for the existing lack of grass or dirt at the site, the organization installs turf fields at each new

PS 75 in Ridgewood, where these youngsters were jamming last June, is one of the most FILE PHOTO recent recipients of a state-of-the-art Trust for Public Land playground. space, giving kids the chance to play baseball or football without worrying about skinning their knees and elbows. When it comes to common playground equipment like slides, monkey bars and swing sets — items each new playground has — Lee said they are all made with recycled material,

which helps keep construction costs down. A number of nature-themed activities have also been introduced at TPL playgrounds, including learning gardens and tree plantings. In addition to your usual shrubbery, the continued on page 16

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Child’s play goes green across the borough

Earth Day in Queens

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017 Page 12

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CELEBRATING THE PLANET Anne Tan-Detchkov, the event will feature “planting demonstrations and crafts for famiarth Day is approaching. And irre- lies” in addition to tours of the garden’s tulips. spective of your neighborhood, park A great deal of the flowers are expected to be improvement events and other ways in bloom. “In the fall, the Garden planted 3,500 dafto observe the April 22 holiday — which falls on a Saturday this year — won’t fodil, 12,000 tulips, and 1,000 various other types of bulbs, so the installation will bloom be too far. Those interested in enhancing two Flush- this spring with tens of thousands of previousing jewels can head to the Bowne House at 9 ly planted perennials,” Tan-Detchkov said in a.m. on the environmental holiday to join a an emailed statement. “Hot Compost!” will go from 2 to 4 p.m. group planning to clean up and improve Weeping Beech Park and, possibly, the Daniel Creating and maintaining a “thermophilic” compost batch — a kind that is heated up to Carter Beard Mall. “We’ll be raking, mulching and prepping destroy pathogens and weed seeds — will be flower beds with mulch,” Ann Pal of Beautify taught to participants. The batch that those Historic Flushing told the Chronicle. “The attending will learn to make can be ready to use in just three months, according to QBG. weeds always get a head start.” The event, which is being presented by the If fifty or more volunteers show up, the group will split up, with some heading to NYC Compost Project and hosted by the Daniel Carter Beard Mall to do the enhance- botanical garden, is targeted toward people ment work there, according to Pal. Children who are already acquainted with the environwho come will get to plant seeds for flowers mental practice. “This is a little bit of an interand herbs and in the event of rain, they’ll mediate workshop for people who have some plant in pots inside a tent that Beautify His- knowledge about composting already,” the toric Flushing will erect, probably at Weeping garden’s marketing manager explained. Getting into “Hot Compost!” will also be Beech Park. The event is scheduled to end at 1 p.m. Call covered by the price of admission to the gar(718) 359-0528 or email bownehouse @ den, but with no discounts. Seniors, for examverizon.net if you have any questions about ple, will have to pay $2 on top of their $4 gate charge. Registration is required and can be the cleanup in Flushing. The Queens Botanical Garden is also hon- done at springhotcompost.eventbrite.com. The Astoria Park Alliance is having an oring Earth Day. The sprawling urban oasis will be having two events on April 22: “Tulip Earth Day cleanup of Charybdis PlayTime!” and “Hot Compost!”; the former is ground’s equipment and gardening in the park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with a cleanalso happening on April 23. Weather permitting, “Tulip Time!” starts up of its shoreline area from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at noon at ends at 4 p.m. It’s free with admis- You can head over to the park’s field house at sion to the garden, which costs nothing for Hoyt Avenue and 21st Street if you’re intermembers and children 3 and under, $6 for ested. For details, call (646) 339-8142 or adults and teens, $4 for seniors and students email rotcamm@earthlink.net. “We’re teaming with New York Cares, so and $2 for children ages four to 12. According to QBG Marketing Manager we expect about 60 volunteers from New York Cares and maybe about 20 of our own,” Douglas Monaco, the marketing and communications director for the park alliance, said. Those in Queens’ central region will also get the chance to improve a community park on the environmental holiday. At 10 a.m., the Briarwood Action Network will kick off a cleanup of Hoover-Manton Playgrounds. Equipment will be cleaned, leaves raked and benches painted. Email Daryl. Cherry@parks.nyc.gov if you’d like to find out more. Residents of the borough’s southeast sector can get in on the fun, too. Two events in Springfield Gardens will give residents great opportunities to celebrate Earth Day. The Eastern Queens Alliance is having a tree giveaway at the Idlewild Park Preserve Environmental Science Learning Center from noon to 2 p.m. Register to get one of the free trees at Idlewild Park will host two events on Ear th Day; other activities are scheduled for other nyrp.org/green-spaces/events/tree-givePHOTO COURTESY NYC PARKS away-with-easter n-queens-alliance /. Queens green spaces.

by Ryan Brady

There are plenty of great park beautification events in Queens on Earth Day this year. No FILE PHOTO matter what neighborhood you live in, it won’t be hard to find one. According to NYC Parks’ website, those interested must agree to three conditions — the tree will be watered and maintained, it will be planted in New York City and in “the ground of your yard, community garden, place of worship, and NOT along streets or in city parks” — to be eligible to receive one. The NYC Parks Stewardship is coming to Idlewild Park in Springfield Gardens on Earth Day. Those interested in volunteering must register in advance at nycgovparks.org/ reg/stewardship/3180. Participants at the event will remove invasive species that are noxious to the forest ecosystem, like porcelain berry, knotweed and mugwort. It is requested that volunteers bring a water bottle as well as clothing and footwear that they can get dirty in. Opportunities to improve green spaces in the borough don’t end when the environmental holiday does. For the day after it, the ecological education group NYC H2O has organized a volunteer landscaping event at the Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park by the Brooklyn border from 10 a.m. to noon. “We’ll be pulling out invasive plants like mugwort and planting native plants like milkweed and New England asters,” NYC H2O Director and Founder Matt Malina said. The environmentalist also has some tips for how to live a greener lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint. Composting, he said, is a great way to be friendlier to the Earth. Among other habits, Malina suggests drinking tap water rather than bottled water. “New York is blessed with excellent quality tap water because it essentially is mountain water that just flows down to the city via aqueducts,” he said. The plastic that the bottles are composed of can be noxious to

the environment when people don’t recycle. Coastal Preservation Network Vice President Kathryn Cervino recommends conserving water and turning off the lights when they don’t need to be on. “Try to put less garbage into our landfills by reusing, reducing and recycling,” she said. “So much in our lives can be recycled and doesn’t need to go into a landfill.” People looking for good work to do after Earth Day might want to head to MacNeil Park in College Point on May 13. That’s the location and date of a “Family Earth Fair” organized by Cervino’s preservation group that will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coastal cleanup, a marine biology lecture and a composting demonst ration are planned; so are giveaways of reusable water bottles and backyard compost bins. Environmentalists also recommend reusable bags for shopping. Fossil fuels are required to make plastic ones. “The city has to pay to ship them to a landfill,” the NYC H2O chief said. “By shopping with reusable bags, you eliminate that waste. In addition to that, plastic bags often find their way into our bay and our ocean and they break down.” Malina also recommended Queens residents who are having bioswales — raingardens that catch stormwater to keep it from the sewage system — installed in front of their homes by the de Blasio administration learn more about the program rather than oppose it. Some in the borough have demanded that the city allow them to opt out of having bioswales put in front of their houses. “I think that they have every right to ask the city to help them maintain them and to do better education about them, but those bioswales are really there to help everybody Q in the city,” Malina said.

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Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017 Page 14

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Farm classes are truly old-school

NATURAL ED by Victoria Zunitch

dults looking for an earthy educational experience are finding just what they need in classes at the Queens County Farm Museum for just a little time and even less money. Unlike formal schooling, adult ed frees students to go directly after what they want to know and let the rest slide. At March 25’s Veggie Gardening Basics, the first class of the season, one participant was there to learn about backyard composting, which her daughter-in-law seems to be succeeding at. “It looks to me like she’s just throwing piles of garbage. And you never smell it. I’ve got a nose like a dog, so just that — I could die happy,” the student said. Wish granted: Instructor Deborah Grieg covered composting thoroughly, including but not limited to the fact that if your compost starts to smell, it’s too wet. Add more brown, dry materials and turn it over to distribute and expose the moisture to the air and sunshine. The farm has crafted a full series of such adult education classes for this spring and sum-

mer on topics that connect with the farm’s history and are led by carefully chosen instructors with dense expertise in their subject matter. Grieg, who had previously worked in management at the Floral Park farm and was the agriculture director at East New York Farms, and now teaches her subject at a high school in New Haven, Conn., taught participants to start their garden by sending the soil out to be tested or, for city container gardens, using a good purchased potting soil. If your soil isn’t up to snuff, there’s much that can be done. Mixing in a layer of manure or compost can help. Cow manure can be purchased at nurseries. Horse manure is readily available at stables, but Grieg warned that it needs to be exposed to open air for a full year, so that is a better option for people with plenty of land. Compost is available in spring at the farm or from various community composting sites in the city. It’s vital that you provide enough sunlight each day for the type of plants you’re growing. To choose a site, measure how many hours of sunlight your plot gets by checking three times throughout the day.

Deborah Grieg shows her class how to turn over a cover crop. Even the tiniest container garden needs to be mapped so you can rotate crops next year and have a way to learn from your mistakes, Grieg said. And gardening will be easier if you have the right tools for the job. She shared an apocryphal farmers’ quip: “Yeah, I’ve been doing it for 30 years, but I’ve only done it 30 times.”

PHOTO BY VICTORIA ZUNITCH

“Gardening is zero-waste learning,” Grieg said. The next class is Natural Papermaking on Tuesday, May 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., for $45 for nonmembers and $40 for members. Participants will use a hand-held blender and pulp to create a wide variety of papers with colors continued on page 18

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C M SG page 15 Y K Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017

Caribbean culture cachet

SPRING ZING by Etta Badoe

ant to taste a little bit of paradise or spend time in a Caribbean roti shop, laugh till you drop or groove to reggae beats? Then the Black Spectrum Theatre is the place to be this spring. The theater, located in the Baisley Boulevard side of Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans, opened its inaugural “We Are One” Caribbean Music, Comedy and Theatre Festival on April 1. Carl Clay, founder of Black Spectrum and executive producer of the festival, said it is part of the group’s immigrant initiative. “I wanted to show the breadth of talent and diversity of our country and of our community,” he said The festival’s program is a blend of plays, musical acts and comedy performances that celebrate the culture and creativity of the Southeast Queens Caribbean-American community. “I draw upon the title which is ‘We Are One,’ and this idea that we can come together and we can appreciate other cultures and we

can celebrate our differences and also celebrate our similarities,” Clay said. One such celebration brings Caribbean music together with Caribbean-American comedy on April 8. Denroy Morgan, who was born in Jamaica and formed a New Yorkbased reggae band in the 1970s before launching a successful solo career in the ’80s, is scheduled to headline. Many people know him from “I’ll Do Anything for You,” the title of both his biggest hit single and first solo album. Accompanying Morgan will be host and comedian, Joe Show, who was born in Grenada but raised in Brooklyn; and comedians including Haitian-American Mackenson Louis, New Jersey native Trev Houston, whose family tree is rooted in Trinidad and Connecticut-born Chris Clarke, whose Jamaican roots inform his act. The festival will also host two new plays from Caribbean playwrights. On April 13, Marcha Tracey, who has performed at the Black Spectrum for years as well as all over the United States and in the Caribbean, will perform a reading of her new play, the Jamaican-based “Paradise Plum,”

Joe Show, left, and Chris Clarke are among the entertainers this spring in the Black Spectrum Theatre’s Caribbean Music, Comedy and Theatre Festival. PHOTOS COURTESY BLACK SPECTRUM billed as “an inspirational drama with rhythmic beats telling of love, strength and determination.” “Paradise Plum” is Tracey’s second play. “My Countrymen” by playwright Harlan Penn is set in Trinidad and Tobago and will be shown from April 21 until April 23. “It’s about a roti shop owner, who has been trying to keep his business open and all the trials and tribulations of running the business and

the people who come into the store and the people who sometimes deflect business away from him,” Clay said. Penn has been an award-winning set designer at the Black Spectrum and other theaters across the country and has written several plays including “Uncle Joe’s Patty Shop” and “Nutmeg and Cocoa.” If you’re looking for something to do on continued on page 18

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap each stalk of asparagus with half a slice of prosciutto or more to just leave tops showing. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place spears on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and salt. Bake for 15 minutes. And when it’s time for dessert ... • 1 package yellow cake mix • 3 pints fresh strawberries, hulled • 2 cups heavy cream • 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Bake cake according to package directions in two 9-inch round layers. Let cool. Slice each cake in half horizontally, making four layers. Place one layer on a serving dish. Slice two pints of strawberries. Set aside. Beat cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread one-quarter of the whipped cream over top of cake layer. Top with one-third of the sliced strawberries. Repeat with remaining layers, topping final layer with remaining pint of whole strawberries. Cover loosely and chill for two hours Q before serving.

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continued from page 11 gardens also contain fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and cabbage, edibles that students who attend the school the playground is attached to can plant and pick. Each school has a TPL-assigned environmental educator, as well, who helps the students maintain the garden. “We really want to put students in touch with nature and it’s a great way of teaching them where their food comes from,” Lee said. “It’s a win-win for everyone. It’s great for the environment, the kids who use them and it’s great for the community.” When asked if she believes more and more communities will start clamoring for these eco-friendly playgrounds, Lee was unabashedly optimistic. “I certainly hope it’s the wave of the future,” she said. “It’s something that we’re really committed to doing.” In addition to the TPL, the Parks Department has been exploring in recent years allowing children to create their own fun environment with Imagination Playgrounds. Created by award-winning architect David Rockwell to serve as a supplement to the city’s existing play spaces, an Imagination Playground is made of blue blocks that kids can use to build things such as animals, rocket ships and robots, and to create mock cities, factories and houses. The blocks come in more than a dozen different shapes to encourage various kinds

of building. Three different sizes are also available for purchase by the city or school, depending on who operates the playground, allowing the entity to specifically cater to one age group if needed. According to the Parks Department, the “colorful container on wheels” includes a variety of loose parts, such as foam blocks, sand and water tools, as well as tarps, fabric and milk crates, which children can use in whatever way they desire. “The mission of Imagination Playground is to encourage child-directed, unstructured creative free play, the kind of play that experts say is critical to a child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional development,” the Parks Department’s Imagination Playground web page reads. “Free play leads to creative minds, which in turn will lead to greater innovation in all aspects of human endeavor and problem solving.” The first such permanent playground opened on South Street in Lower Manhattan in 2009. But as of this spring, Queens is the only borough without one, as the nine existing spaces are spread out throughout the other four boroughs. However, the parent-teacher association at PS 290 in Ridgewood is using the fundraising website GoFundMe in its effort to solicit donations and purchase one for the Q elementary school and its 500 students.

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A WORLD OF ART by Peter C. Mastrosimone

visual elements that reflect upon artistic product ion , fem i n ism , power and institutions. “no hay medio tiempo/there is no halftime” (lower-case as per the artist) by Ronny Quevedo features works such as a polychromatic line drawing — made right on the museum’s atrium — that reference differ- An element of “Profound Approach and Easy Outcome” by Anna ent cultures and themes K.E., on display at the Queens Museum. PHOTO COURTESY QUEENS MUSEUM including sports. “Commonwealth: Water For All” is a collec- themes of identity, social progress, the urban tion of prints that speak to the importance of environment and group belonging. H2O, people’s unequal access to it and its utiliIf you’re not “in the scene,” there’s likely ty, preservation and consumption; the third in a more art on display in Queens than you might series the museum has featured on the topic. guess. Among the many galleries you can Of course there is outdoor art in Queens as search for online to plan a visit are Dorsky Galwell, perhaps most notably at Socrates Sculp- lery Curatorial Programs, Eleventh Street Arts, ture Park in Long Island City. There a new Fisher Landau Center for Art, Flux Factory, installation, “Nari Ward: G.O.A.T., again,” will Noguchi Museum, Radiator Gallery, Resobox, open later this month. That’s GOAT as in SculptureCenter and Topaz Arts. And more “greatest of all time,” though the farm animal could open at any time in what makes for a very is also prominent in the works, which play to dynamic world in our very dynamic borough. Q

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pring is here, bringing the warmer weather you may be craving after this mild but backloaded winter. Still, you may not want to be outside every free moment of every sunny day — but that’s OK, because spring also brings a slew of new art exhibitions to check out. At MoMA PS1 alone, five new exhibits are opening this Sunday. “Emissaries” is a large-scale installation of live simulation works — 10 feet tall — that utilize a video game engine. Viewers will see characters and wildlife interact in constantly evolving, self-contained ecosystems. The artist, Ian Cheng, describes the works as “a video game that plays itself.” Of a more conventional medium are the paintings by Maureen Gallace that make up the exhibit “Clear Day.” The nearly 70 works on display are drawn from the American landscape and still-life traditions, often evoking an idyllic New England pastoralism. But that doesn’t mean they don’t contain a twist ... “New Nationalisms” features films by Slovakian artist and documentarian Tomas Rafa

documenting the rise of xenophobic, right-wing extremist groups in Central Europe. “Past Skin” contains 20 works by six artists in a variety of media, all addressing science historian and cyber-feminist Donna Haraway’s question “Why should our body end at the skin?” in a world where we influence technology but the reverse is also true. Lastly, “A Bit of Matter: The MoMA PS1 Archives, 1976-2000” is an inside baseball display of sorts, featuring exhibition posters, artist’s proposals, photos, correspondence and other ephemera from the Long Island City institution’s birth up until its merger with the Museum of Modern Art. Not to be outdone, the Queens Museum is also opening five new exhibits Sunday. “Piazza Universale/Social Stages” is a multimedia show by Marinella Senatore in which the viewer is an active participant and the works set the stage for individual growth and collective empowerment. “Nine” features video, installation, drawing, painting and sculpture crafted by the museum’s nine studio artists. “Profound Approach and Easy Outcome” by Anna K.E. is a 140-by-45-foot work with five

Page 17 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017

Exhibits old and new are calling to you

Sidewalk cafes are becoming more popular

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017 Page 18

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EAT AL FRESCO A short walk away, at the corner of 71st Avenue and Queens Boulevard, Bann his famous song “Scenes from an ter Irish Kitchen and Bar offers a similar Italian Restaurant,” Billy Joel sang of setting for those who would enjoy classic Celt ic cuisi ne wh ile soa k i ng i n the getting “a table near the street.” While it’s unclear exactly where sunlight. Banter was one of the f irst in the that table would be located, Joel, or any other diner, wouldn’t have that much neighborhood to offer the amenity, which trouble finding a setting near the street as is becoming more common. “They’re certainly gaining in popularithe popularity of so-called “sidewalk ty,” said Frank Gulluscio, district managcafes” continues to rise in Queens. Go down 70th Road between Queens er of Community Board 6, which covers Boulevard and Austin Street in Forest Forest Hills and Rego Park. While he didn’t have specific numbers, Hills, known as “Restaurant Row,” and you’ll see places like Cabana, Vanilla Sky Gulluscio said the number of sidewalk and Aged Restaurant and Bar set out café applications in the district is “certables and chairs on warm, non-rainy days. tainly on the rise.” And it’s not just for sitdown dinners “Smaller space than I thought however they offer outside seating so that really either. Aigner Chocolates, located at 103-02 opens the place up,” Yelp reviewer Allison B. of the Bronx said of Aged, located at Metropolitan Ave., applied for a permit, 107-02 70 Road. “The ambience was cool the district manager said. Just a few steps away from the chocoand I liked the inside look of the place.” latier lies Nick’s Bistro, which has several tables available for customers to savor good weather and great Greek food. While Forest Hills has its fair share of al fresco dining, it has nothing on Astoria, which has seen many of its eateries in recent years opt for outdoor eating options. Many of the options are on 30th Avenue — Ave nue Ca fé, O vel ia , Bu rger Club a nd T he Shady Lady, just to name a few. “Awesome location and outdoor seating is perfect for people watching on 3 0 t h Av e n u e ,” Ye l p Ovelia lovers in Astoria can order food or a cocktail through the bar reviewer Danielle C. said INSTAGRAM PHOTO of The Shady Lady. door.

by Anthony O’Reilly

Diners enjoy the outdoor setting at Aged in Forest Hills. Ovelia also features a “bar door” for its customers, a window that opens up and allows diners to peek into the restaurant and place their orders for food, or a cocktail, from outside. “Sun’s out, brunch out!” the restaurant wrote on its Instagram page during an unusually war m Febr uar y after noon. “Bar door is rolled up — Grab a bite and a cocktail outside!” While Astoria may be saturated with sidewalk cafes, not just on 30th Avenue, there was a time in the not so distant past there were very few in the area, according to one area foodie. Astoria resident Jonathan Forgash, who has years of experience in the culinary industry, said the community had a much different vibe to it only six years ago. “It was different,” Forgash said. “People loved Astoria because it was funky, it was different.” Much of that changed, he said, when the “more artistic crowd” was pushed out by people who “aren’t as dedicated to the local place.” “They were very used to what they had in the city,” he said of the newcomers. The restaurants then had to find a new

Farm classes

Black Spectrum

continued from page 14 and other special ingredients. The other scheduled classes this year will cover “Exploring Colonial Flavors: 18th Century Cooking,” “The Art of Bookbinding,” “Fundamentals of Watercolor,” “The Farm Through the Photographic Lens” and “Wild Edibles of Queens Farm.” Prices vary, so check queensfarm.org for details. Also available by appointment is the “Insider’s Tour,” an in-depth visit for groups of five to 20 people at $10 each. Outside of the adult department, the farm’s Children’s Carnival continues this

continued from page 15 Mother’s Day, the Black Spectrum is holding a dinner and concert with performer and impersonator CP Lacey. “We thought it would be a wonderful addition for mothers to come in and have a laugh and appreciate having a good time,” Clay said. “CP Lacey is a mainstay of the Apollo,” he explained. “A lot of people don’t know that he’s also one of the world’s greatest impersonators. He does every imaginable African-American and Caribbean artist. He’s just an incredible artist.”

Seedlings in the farm museum’s greenPHOTO BY VICTORIA ZUNITCH house. weekend, its Easter Egg Hunt is April 15 (advance tickets required), and Spring Sheep Q Shearing takes place on May 6.

PHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN

way to attract customers, such as sidewalk dining. The phenomenon also provides a unique experience the meal delivery kit Blue Apron can’t offer. “You definitely can’t get that at home,” Forgash said. But ab ove a l l, t he chef s a id , a n increased profit margin remains the main reason most restaurateurs go through the extensive, and often expensive, process of filling out a sidewalk café application. “That’s the No. 1 thing, to make more money,” he said. Of course, not everyone is a fan of the cafés as complaints about them have often popped up at Community Board 1 meeting. The panel, which in addition to Astoria represents Long Island City and Woodside, has hearings on the applications the same way other boards debate liquor licenses at almost every meeting. At times, there have been complaints of the tables making it hard for some to walk on the sidewalks and loud noises coming from diners at late hours. At one May 2016 meeting, a CB 1 member stated, “I’m afraid that we’re declaring war on our pedestrians, especially our residents with walkers and Q strollers.” The dinner and concert together cost $47. For those interested in just the concert, tickets are $25. The Black Spectrum Theatre has been based in Queens for 47 years and was “founded as a way to fill the cultural void that existed in the Southeast Queens community.” Along with performances at the theater, Black Spectrum runs a mobile theater, hosts films and provides workshops for young people. Tickets for all performances can be bought online, by phone or at the door. For further information about tickets, times and the location of the theater check out its website at www.blackspectrum.com Q or call (718) 723-1800.

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Never too cold for biking or baseball PHOTO BY RICK MAIMAN season.

Walking tours continued from page 6 part is seeing people appreciate the landscape and urbanscape in ways that they haven’t before. And there is something special about being on a guided tour, he said. “As opposed to doing a tour just using an iPhone, you get to ask questions and interact with the other people on the tour,” he said. “It makes it a very different experience.” Tours vary in price, from $20 for the evening walking tours to $49 for the No. 7 train tour. To pre-register or for more details, visit Eichebaum’s website at geognyc.com.

Forgotten New York

over the years in neighborhoods throughout the city. Some of his previous tours in Queens have included stops in places like Flushing, Woodside, and Middle Village. This spring, Walsh will be hosting a tour in Astoria on May 13. “We’ll take a look at some remaining vestiges of Astoria Village, the riverside town founded by Stephen Ailing Halsey, and make our way southeast along a Revolutionary-era pathway toward the heart of Astoria and finish at the Greater Astoria Historical Society on Broadway,” his website says. The tour, which lasts about two hours, costs $15 for members of the Greater Historical Society and $20 for non-members. For more information, visit forgotten-ny.com.

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Another type of tour is geared toward the foodie who wants a taste of all the great ethnic food Queens has to offer. Noshwalks, founded and led by Myra Alperson, who first led food tours in New York in 1983 — on bicycle. Just a few of her upcoming walks include trips through Astoria, Jackson Heights, Woodhaven, Flushing and Sunnyside. Several are held each month, in Queens and elsewhere. “Our tours are fun, informative, original and delicious,” Alperson’s website says. “Once you’ve tried us, you’ll know why we say ... Nosh your way from Odessa to Bombay and never leave New York!” Three-hour tours are $54 and four-hour walks are $60. All the details you need are Q posted at noshwalks.com.

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Kevin Walsh grew up in Bay Ridge and moved to Queens as an adult while he was working for a company on Long Island. In 1999, he launched Forgotten New York, a website, as he put it, about the hidden and off-the-radar places that New York City guidebooks often ignore. “I had been noticing ancient advertising and unremarked-upon scenes in New York City for years, but it wasn’t [until] I moved to Flushing and saw the ancient remaining Victorian and older buildings that stand among the cookie cutter brick apartments that I put two and two together and noticed there was no one out there who was really calling attention to the artifacts of a long-gone New York,” Walsh says on his website. In addition to authoring multiple books, Walsh has also hosted more than 100 tours

ested in starting out need not have to pay a fortune for an Olympic-style bike made from weapons-grade metallic alloys. Beadle said any decent sporting good sstore can sell someone a basic bicycle for $150 to $200. He and Maier also said Craigslist can help someone find a better bargain. “You want to pay enough for a good bike, because Queens has hills and you need more than one gear,” Shepard said. “You don’t have to spend a lot to start,” Maier said. “See if you like it, then you can upgrade.” Shepard is a fanatic about her helmet. “I don’t see why people would risk a head injury,” she said. Maier does not wear one and believes helmet laws are improper — also citing safety “Studies have shown that drivers who see a helmeted cyclist are less careful,” he said, adding that shoulder injuries are more prevalent. All three believe drivers need to do a better job of sharing the road, and the city is making sure they do. “I get upset when drivers complain about bikes causing congestion,” Shepard said. “Bikes are par t of the solution to congestion.” “In the last two years we have not had a fatality on Queens Boulevard,” Maier said. “That has been due to a lot of things, but I think bike lanes have to remain as one of the Q tools.”

Happy Easter

continued from page 6 Vanderbilt, was at first a private road that opened in 1908 for him to race newfangled things called automobiles between Queens and Lake Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County. “I think about the history when I‘m riding there,” Shepard said. Maier feels the same about the Velodrome, a longtime racing oval for bicycles in Kissena Park, which cycling enthusiasts also are trying to restore. “That’s history that is unique to New York City, unique to Queens,” Maier said. All that said, somebody who is just inter-

Page 19 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, April 6, 2017

Queens folks like to bike

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