Friday, September 30, 2011

Around Queens This Weekend



Mr. Vino In-Store Tasting Tomorrow

One of Mr. Vino's wine suppliers, Vinifera Imports tells me they will be pouring "three wonderful Italian wines" at Mr. Vino on Saturday 10/01 from 5 pm to 8 pm.  It's a free in-store tasting featuring the following wines:

2009 Barberani Orvieto Classico Castagnolo
2008 Braida Montebruna Barbera
2006 ICardi Barbaresco

Mr. Vino
107-02A 71st Ave
Forest Hills, NY 11375

Thursday, September 29, 2011

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

I've been feeling a little frustrated in recent weeks about what is going on with our local food and retail situation. And now comes news that Energy Green, the make-your-own-salad place in the Austin St. Mall has just closed. I haven't confirmed this myself yet because I've been out of town for the past several days. But if it's true, it's really extremely disappointing. Firstly, every salad I ever had from there was really, really good. And secondly, Energy Green represented to me an important trend toward healthier, more moden food offerings in Forest Hills. If it has indeed closed, we have taken a big step backwards and that is a huge shame.

At the same time, there was the mysterious closing of NY Falafel Bar a few weeks ago. I know some people on this blog have said they didn't like it, but having spent a year myself living in Israel I have to say that their chicken shawarma was one of the closest things I have tasted state-side to what I enjoyed in the Middle East.

And then there is the CVS drugstore reportedly coming into the space next to the Key Food on the northern side of Queens Blvd. I agree with others on this blog who have posted their disappointment about that. Is a CVS really the best we can do with that prime retail space? Sure, it could be worse. It will bring a lot of convenience to those who live on the northern side of Queens Blvd. But will it distinguish Forest Hills in any way from just about every other neighborhood in Queens? Nope. Will it make us a more desirable neighborhood to live in in New York City? Nope. Will it serve as a magnet to other attractive new stores and restaurants? Sadly, Nope.

Are national chains like Dunkin' Donuts and CVS really the best a vibrant New York City neighborhood like Forest Hills can do? Are we evolving into some neighborhood that could be easily plopped down into the middle of any midwestern American city where the highlight of a night out on the town is dinner at Applebee's? 

Shanah Tovah !

Happy Rosh Hashanah to all of my Jewish readers. Wishing you a sweet New Year.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

Duane Reade Gets a Facelift

They've finally started to upgrade our Duane Reade on 71st/Continental. If you recall, the chain has been upgrading their stores throughout the city over the past couple of years. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Get Ready to Start Dunkin' !

The new Dunkin' Donuts on 71st/Continental is doing a "dry-run" today. And such a dry-run netted me a delightful free lunch. Such nice things can happen when you're nosey!

The place officially opens tomorrow. But if you go today, they are not only very happy to see you, but you get to eat free!





Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Brownies & Cream Opening Day

From their Twitter feed: "IT'S SET, GRAND OPENING FRIDAY 9/23/11 NO MATTER RAIN OR SHINE!!!! STILL FREE BROWNIE SAMPLES!!"

Stadium Update

I have been meaning to post a link to this article, which I think is a really interesting development: Federal Backing to Save Forest Hills Stadium
The Daily News reports that members from President Barack Obama’s historic preservation staffs are interested in saving the stadium.

Friday, September 16, 2011

One Year Anniversary of Tornado

It was one year ago today, around 5:40 p.m., that the tornado tore threw Forest Hills. I am reposting the photos I took that day. It's remarkable that there weren't more injuries or worse given all the destruction and the fact that it occurred during rush hour. Sadly, it did claim one life: that of Aline Levakis, 30, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., who was driving on Grand Central Parkway and had just pulled over near Jewel Ave. when a tree fell on her car.





































Thursday, September 15, 2011

Work Next to Midway Theater

The rumors are true - there is indeed work going on in the former pizza place next to the Midway movie theater. Couldn't quite tell what is going in there. But there was a truck in front for kitchen equipment - but that could be either coming, or going, I suppose.

Auntie Em! Auntie Em!

Yes, it is almost one year since our twister here in FoHi (The one year anniversary is actually tomorrow, Sept. 16th.)

But here's a fitting photo I dug up from the archives that I thought you'd all enjoy.... Anyone remember this damage that the tornado did to Bob Turner's billboard? It was one of the first things that caught my eye when I emerged after the tornado went over my building...

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Spooky!

Kudos to the Midway Theater for the clever way it is promoting the film "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." Check it out for yourself - after dark of course. My camera didn't do it justice as you can see by my photo, but you can just make out that the theater's marquee is dark only around the name of this movie. Their clever little trick got me interested in this movie so I took a peak at the trailer. And it is kinda creepy... see for yourself... Enjoy!'



By the way, why do they always stay in these houses so long? I freak out when the ceiling fan goes on by itself. For me, at the first disembodied voice telling me to GET THE #$#!! OUT!! of the house, I'm gone! I learned that tip back in the 70s when I saw The Amityville Horror. Oh, you didn't see that one? Let me refresh your memory then.

Truly Bizarre Indian Food News

A friend of mine ran across this story in Gothamist... Lawsuit: Indian Restaurant Forces Indians To Tip, Or Else They'll Get Beaten Up

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Don't Forget to Vote!

Remember, today is the special vote to determine who will take over Anthony Weiner's congressional seat. Be sure to cast your vote for Democrat David Weprin! If you don't love Weprin, at least you'll be voting against the radical Bob Turner! Just what we need, more Bush-era policies to make our economy even worse! Vote for Turner and I predict if you think things are bad today, just wait. Check back on this blog in a couple of years from now. You think things are bad today? More of the Bush-era policies of supporting only the interests of the super rich over the rest of us. My God, these people even had the audacity to try to harm our entire nation by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, all in an attempt to score political points against Obama! Treason if I have ever seen it!

Vote for Bob Turner and I predict your head will be spinning in a couple of years things will be so bad here. You read it here first! :)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sushi Yasu Moving to Austin

A reader tells me they were recenty in Sushi Yasu, the popular restaurant on Yellowstone, and was told they are moving to a location near Barnes & Noble on Austin St. in a couple of weeks. They wouldn't give an exact location yet, but said they'd be in their new, larger space by the end of September. Currently, they are located down on Yellowstone across from the retirement home.

"Personally," this reader wrote,  "I feel that Sushi Yasu is not only by far the best in all of Forest Hills/Rego Park, but the quality of their fish puts them near the top of my all time sushi joints.  The fish is a fresh as can be."

Then goes on to say, "The storefront however is a real dump.  They used to also be a fish market, although they got out of that business about a year ago."

 You can check out the write up on eateryROW here http://eateryrowforesthills

 The reader also says when they move in to their new location, they'll have a liquor license. "They're packed now in the evening," says this reader, "their business should explode once they move closer to the shopping district.  People should be excited to hear that they're moving."

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Remembering 9/11

I thought I'd post some of the photos I took back on that day ten years ago. I hadn't looked at these photos in a long time. But looking at them today reminded me of how everyone who was there that day forgot about themselves. We all became one. You can see it in my photos below.

I remember when the first tower fell. An elderly lady was left howling in the crowd as we all ran away. I didn't even think about it - I put my arm around her and comforted her, telling her it was going to be all right. We took a few steps together and then I looked up and saw a police woman looking at us both. I passed the old lady to her without a word, and kept stumbling up the street, heading away from the destruction.

So we all became one. And if anything the insanity of those who were behind this horrible act had the opposite effect—instead of pulling us apart, it brought us all together.