Sunday, March 31, 2013

Woman Attacked in Forest Park

Police are looking for this man in connection with an attempted rape in Forest Park Friday evening. Reports say the 23-year-old woman was tasered by the man as she was jogging around 7:30 pm. She managed to fight the attacker off.



 

Mr. Vino's Cucina Opens This Week

This new gourmet food store on Austin St. will be opening sometime this week, possibly Wednesday. And what's more, in what many may find as a really great surprise, it features an enormous selection of craft beer! Check out their extensive menu here (ignore where it says it's opening Monday. I'm told that's been pushed back.)

Happy Easter!



Friday, March 29, 2013

The Forest Hills Greenmarket Re-opens Sunday, April 7th


Now in its second season, this neighborhood Greenmarket boasts an even larger variety of locally grown, fresh products. Throughout the season, the market will offer free cooking demonstrations, kids activities, and the opportunity to mingle with neighbors, all while getting to know the regional farmers who grow your food. As the season progresses, more farmers will join the market—see below for start dates. Come back each week to learn about the healthful and flavorful benefits of eating what is fresh and in season.
The market is located at Queens Blvd and 70th Avenue and will be open every Sunday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., April 7th through December 29th, 2013
* EBT/Food Stamps/Debit/Credit accepted at market info tent.
* WIC and FMNP checks accepted at individual farmer stands.
*Compost Collection 10 a.m. -12 p.m., starting in June

Amantai Farm Vegetables, Mexican specialty produce, herbs, and eggs from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (Joining market in May)
Andrews Local Honey Honey and honey products from Fairfield County, CT.
Bread Alone Artisan breads, mostly certified Organic, and pastries from Ulster County, NY.
B & Y Farms Animal Welfare Approved lamb, poultry, pork, eggs, and bison, flowers, yarn, and fleeces from Tioga County, NY.
Castello Di Borghese Wines from Suffolk County, NY
Dipaola Turkey Farm 
Turkey from Mercer County, NJ
Gajeski Produce 
Vegetables from Suffolk County, NY
Goodale Farms Vegetables and dairy from Suffolk County, NY
King Ferry Winery 
Wine from Cayuga County, NY
Lavender By The Bay 
fresh cut, dried, and potted lavender and honey from Suffolk County, New York (Joining market in June)
Nordic Breads Whole grain rye bread from New York, New York (Joining market in late April)
Pura Vida Fisheries Wild-caught fish and seafood from Suffolk County, NY
R & G Produce 
Vegetables from Orange County, NY (Joining market in June)
Red Jacket Orchards 
Orchard and small fruit, fresh juices and preserves from Ontario County, NY
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy 
Milk, yogurt, butter and ice cream from Columbia County, NY
Terhune Orchards 
Orchard fruit from Dutchess County, NY

Mayoral Race Heating Up...


... Or, at least one of the candidates is. This profile of Christine Quinn--and her temper--is getting a lot of buzz since it appeared in The Times several days ago. Not being personally very impressed by Mrs. Quinn thus far, I was ready to come away after reading it with even more dislike for her. But honestly, after reading it I'm not so sure. Is this the kind of person that is needed to govern a city like New York? Or would her rather autocratic governing style be disastrous for the City? Is she motivated by her passion for the issues, or her passion for unadulterated power? What do you all think?

Offstage, Quinn Isn’t Afraid to Let Fury Fly
Christine C. Quinn, the mayoral candidate and City Council speaker, is known for her boisterous personality, but colleagues say they are often stunned by her temper.

Worrying...

Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms
A mysterious ailment appears to have expanded drastically in the past year, wiping out as many as half of the hives needed to pollinate much of America’s produce.

Holocaust Memorial Day Event at Central Queens Y

Talk By Holocaust Survivor Who Risked Her Life Postwar As Civil Rights Activist

Holocaust Memorial Day will be marked in Forest Hills with a talk by a remarkable Holocaust survivor who went on after the war to risk her life working for social justice in the American South during the Civil Rights Era.  On Monday, April 8, at 1:30 p.m., writer, artist, and civil rights activist Marione Ingram will speak on her memoir on her experiences during the Holocaust at the Central Queens YM & YWHA in Forest Hills.  

Following the war, Ingram emigrated to the U.S. and set up a Freedom School in Mississippi during the 1960s.  The program will begin with a candle lighting ceremony for Holcaust Memorial Day.  

Marione Ingram’s talk is open to the public, with a $6 voluntary donation requested.  The Central Queens Y is at 67-09 108 Street in Forest Hills. 

Marione Ingram grew up in Germany during World War II, the daughter of a Jewish mother.  When neighbors reported them to the Gestapo, her mother received a deportation notice and attempted suicide.  In the midst of deportations, they also experienced the firestorm bombings of Hamburg, the deadliest aerial assault the world had ever seen.  Ironically she and her mother escaped the death camps only because, bombed out and denied access to air raid shelters, they were presumed dead in the firestorms. Marione and her mother were able to survive the last eighteen months of the war in hiding, living with constant fear and hunger.  


Immigrating to the U.S. in 1952, Ingram worked in NYC at the Museum of Modern Art.   For the first time in her life she felt safe, but she also observed that discrimination against African Americans was so prevalent that most people viewed it as normal, whereas she saw it as a variation of the racism she had experienced as a child. Impelled by her own experiences, she became a civil rights activist.  During the 1960s she worked on voter registration in the South and opened a Freedom School in Mississippi.  There she faced harassment  and threats and the school was eventually torched by the Klu Klux Klan.  Today she is a writer and a fiber artist, whose writing has been published in Best American Essays and whose artwork is exhibited on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Happy Passover

I just would like to wish a Happy Passover to all of my Jewish readers (and other fans of Moses and matzoh). Enjoy your seders tonight!

The annual White House seder.



Saturday, March 23, 2013

New Liquor Store

This is coming in to the corner of 73rd Rd. and Queens Blvd., where a T-mobile store used to be...



Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Job Opening at Dee's Restaurant

DEE'S on Metropolitan Ave. is seeking a part-time host/asst. 
Schedule is great for Mom's or Dad's with kids in school or College students. 
Regular schedule would be Tues-Fri 11am-4pm. 
Responsbilites:
1. Manage host station, reservation management
2. Greet and Seat guests.
3. Light data entry into excel. 
4. Process takeout and delivery orders.
5. Provide banquet information and give tours of the space.
6. Be the liaison for GM.
7. May be asked to work some weekends and nights during the weekend, but not 
on regularly
Requirements:
1. Must have some sales experience
2. Knowledge of Microsoft Excel
3. People skills
4. Clean and very organized
5. Some knowledge of the restaurant business(helpful)

Contact Dee at dee@deesnyc.com 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Spring Break Workshops at Oliloli

Sandra, owner of the recently opened Oliloli arts and crafts center on Metropolitan Ave., has announced a series of new workshops:

3/25 Wooden Peg Dolls
3/26 Felt Art on Stretched Burlap
3/28 Pom Pom Critters
3/29 Origami
4/1 Collage on Canvas
4/2 Ceramic Name Plaque

Here's the link:

http://olilolistudio.com/make-a-reservation/

Another New Gym: Pharaohs Army Fitness


Pharaohs Army Fitness will be opening by April 1st at 116-16 Queens Blvd. Suite 230 Forest Hills
According to the person who contacted me, "Ari has been teaching at the Forest Hills NYSC and has a really large following in both his paid for and open classes, so it's going to start with a bang. The website will give you more information about what's to come. Intensity to say the least. But in a fun and encouraging way. I've been taking his classes for 6 years, and never once have I been dissapointed. He's also highly ranked on rateyourburn.com and on dragondoor.com he is a top 10 in the COUNTRY for RKC certified instructors."

Some more info from their website:

About Pharaohs Army Fitness

Serving Middle Village, Jackson Heights, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Corona, Elmhurst, Kew Gardens

Pharaohs Army Fitness
You probably want to hear all of the wonderful things that make Ari a specialist. So by obligation, here is a reminder that Ari has been training and teaching classes for over 13 years. And below is a list of his 9 elite certifications (we've spared you the ones that "don't count.")
  • Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor RKC - August 2011
  • Russian Kettlebell Challenge Level 2 Instructor RKC II - June 2012
  • StrongFirst Girya Level 2 Instructor SFG II - June 2012
  • Certified Kettlebell Functional Movement Specialist CK-FMS - January 2012
  • NASM CPT - April 2006
  • NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist - April 2008
  • USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach - December 2010
  • TRX Suspension Training Course - April 2010
  • TRX Sports Medicine Training Course - March 2012
A self proclaimed "permanent beginner," as Master RKC Dan John once said. Franz Snideman, Senior RKC described a "permanent beginner," as someone who is "striving to get better each and every day. There is no destination where you finally arrive at mastery." This state of mind is why Ari continues to seek out the best training for himself, and the most knowledge to bring to his clients.
But none of those things matter if the person behind all of that education follows a singular method of training. It's Ari's personality that drives Pharaohs Army Fitness. His "no room for laziness," policy pushes his clients in each workout. Classes get loud. They get in your face. They #GETMONEY. And they help you look better nekkid, one kettlebell swing at a time.

Photo Ops: Easter Bunny at Sky View Center


Hop on Over to Sky View Center to Meet the Easter Bunny!

Sky View Center invites all friends and family to come out and welcome the mall’s very own Easter bunny! Arriving at noon, the Easter bunny will be on hand to celebrate everyone’s favorite spring holiday with photos. He will be at Sky View Center through March 30th from 12pm to 8pm every day. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to hop up to Level D, where the Easter bunny will reside, during this time to say hello and have their photo taken.

  Sky View Center, at 40-24 College Point Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354, Level D

  Public Transportation to 40-24 College Point Boulevard:

·         Subway: 7 train to Main St. Flushing. Exit near intersection of Main St. and Roosevelt Avenue. Start out going West on Roosevelt Ave towards Prince St. Turn left onto College Point Blvd.

·         LIRR: Port Washington-bound LIRR to Flushing, Main Street. Exit near 41st Avenue. Start out going Southwest on 41st Avenue towards College Point Blvd. Turn right onto College Point Blvd. Keep moving ahead on College Point Blvd (Clinton Davis Sr. Road). 

Banter Opens

This new Irish bar, in the former Old Vienna Cafe location next to the Midway Theater, opened yesterday, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Says one reader: "We went for drinks last night for a couple of hours and there was a nice crowd. The bartenders are really nice and pour a great Guinness. Last night was their first night. They did a great renovation job."




Stop 'N' Swap at Central Queens Y


Bring clean, reusable, portable items such as clothing, house wares, games, books, & toys that you no longer need, and take home something new-to-you, free! You don’t have to bring something to take something. No furniture or large items, please.

Our community "swaps" provide the perfect opportunity to find new homes for things you no longer need. By taking home items that you can use, you are also helping to prevent waste from production, packaging and transportation required to get new things.

The Office of Recycling Outreach and Education coordinates the Stop 'N' Swap in order to facilitate waste prevention and material reuse.  We have held 41 swaps so far, serving nearly 10,000 New Yorkers.

UPCOMING SWAPS


Sunday, April 14 - Forest Hills
10:30am-1:30pm, Central Queens Y
67-09 108th street, Forest Hills, Queens

Thursday, April 18 - Far Rockaway
4pm-7pm, P.S. 215 / P.S. 362
535 Briar Pl, Far Rockaway, Queens

Saturday, April 27 - Jackson Heights
12pm-3pm, P.S. 69
77-02 37th Ave, Queens

Coming to a neighborhood near you!
Sign up for Recycling e-Alerts and be the first to hear about the next Stop 'N' Swap.

Friday, March 15, 2013

New Suncycle Studios

I've been contacted by a couple of readers over the past few days about the new Suncycle Studios that just kind of appeared out of the blue in the "mini-mall" on 71st/Continental, across from The Lite Choice ice cream store. This boutique fitness center/cycling studio has another location on Rockaway Beach. Here's some related photos one of the readers snapped:



And here's some more info I copied from their website about this new location:

 Hey Forest Hills, Whats Up?  We have 25 premium Spinning Bikes, 26 Different Classes per week, 10 Superstar Spin Instructors, Student Specials, Teacher Specials, GRAND OPENING SPECIALS, All Inclusive Unlimited packages, and did we mention, the first ride is allways FREE!  We're Open and Rocking in the Forest Hills Mini-Mall.  107-29, 71st. Ave, Right next to Game Stop. This is no club ride.  Come "Experience The Difference, Feel the Results!" @ Suncycle Studios, Forest Hills.
Surprised We want to Welcome all our new friends in Forest Hills to our fitness community.  We're gonna bring you spin classes unlike anything in the area.  We're gonna have our Boardwalk Bustin style indoor bike rides, and Rockstar Spin Instructors get you in better shape than you've been in, ALL while having FUN.  YesFH, We're gonna show you that spining and fitness can be FUN. (Screaming, singing, clapping all welcome during classes)  Come down, bring a friend, the first time is always FREE! FH Mini Mallon Continental Ave.  next to Game Stop.


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Things Perking Up At the Tennis Stadium

Finally, it looks like there's some action, including plans for ice skating, music concerts, etc.. I know, I know, you're thinking, 'How many time have I heard that before?' But this time it seems different to me. The article below discusses a gradual move to more public events. Also, I was told a year or so ago that the Club's new director is more open to finding some sensible uses for the stadium. So, things are looking up, beginning with this summer's planned celebrations:
West Side Tennis Club Looks Back, Plans Ahead
It's so nice to know that we've apparently now moved beyond the bizarre plans for demolishing this iconic landmark to turn it into condos or senior housing! Notice how there's no one claiming the Stadium is structurally unsound anymore. Interesting how that idea seemed to vanish along with the developers who wanted to tear this beautiful piece of New York City history down.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Building 'Windsor 2'

A reader recently sent this in of the construction next to the Key Food on Queens Blvd.


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Various Unpleasantness

  • The "Cannibal Cop" who lived somewhere here in Forest Hills, has been found guilty
  • And I'm sorry, but this story about how the MTA is rolling out a new pilot program to sterilize all them varmints in the subways feels way too much like those government plans that go awry and somehow end up destroying all of humanity instead. No?
Been thinking how nice it will be to see them again...




Monday, March 11, 2013

New Santhigram Wellness Center

This Santhigram Wellness Center is scheduled to open March 17th in the space where the Organic Market used to be, near the Windsor on 71st Road.


Here's some more information on what they offer:
Ayurvedic and Panchakarma Therapies that Santhigram offers reduce the physical suffering from skeleto-muscular diseases, control several dreaded disabilities, ward off the middle age syndrome, possibly retard the aging process and provide unlimited curative powers for body and mind by repairing the worn out tissues revitalizing the body, increasing memory power, improving vigor and vitality and make oneself physically and mentally fit. Santhigram's specialized Ayurvedic & Panchakarma therapies also help to alleviate specific health problems like Back Pain, Neck Pain, Frozen Shoulder, Sinusitis, Migraine, Joint Pain, Arthritis, Insomnia, Depression etc, reduce obesity and mental tension, enhances body complexion and skin luster, correct one's metabolism and deficiencies and also recharges the body and mind.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Vanilla Sky Progressing

Walking around Forest Hills these days it really is striking how much new construction is going on, especially along the main shopping drag of Austin St. The latest I've noticed is the corner where Europan used to be has been encased in plywood as they near completion of the frozen yogurt/cafe Vanilla Sky:


Blog Search Issues

By the way, seems the Google Blogger platform this blog is on is having one of its unexplained episodes where one of its gadgets just suddenly stops working (Way to go Google and all of your trillions of dollars!). Anyway, this time you may notice the search function (top of right column) may not work for you. They're supposedly looking into the problem and hopefully will have it fixed soon. So if it doesn't work for you, just be patient and try it in another week or so and keep trying it. In the meantime, you can use the index at the bottom of this page or the Archive list on the left to search through old posts.

Latest on Station House

UPDATED: I have been able to confirm (thanks to the reader's comment below) that the same owners of the popular George Keeley's on Amsterdam Ave. on Manhattan's Upper West Side are also behind the new Station House gastropub under construction next to the McDonald's on 71st/Continental. This is great news for our neighborhood. George Keeley is a favorite of craft beer lovers, with a wide selection, and also a pretty good food menu to boot. Check out Station House's Facebook page for a sneak peek at the look of the new place.

Also, here's a great article with updates on all the local pubs getting ready to open here in FoHi. If these three new places are anything like depicted in the article—and I have no reason to expect they won't be—then we will have some great new drinking and eating options opening up in the neighborhood this Spring. 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Buffalo Wild Wings, Some Thoughts

I was reading all the comments about Buffalo Wild Wings. Personally, I think the former Staples location is fine for it. I'm not very excited about another sports bar coming into FoHi, though I do love my chicken wings, so I'm looking forward to that part of it. But if they're going to open a place like this somewhere in FoHi, then this really is the perfect spot. 71st/Continental, especially near the subway station, is already kinda downscale and grimy. This, if anything, should improve that a little bit since it's a big restaurant chain.

Summer Movie Season

Regular readers of this blog know I am a huge movie fan. So, it's almost time to start turning my attention to the "Summer Movie Season," which amusingly actually starts around May 1st. Which is absolutely fine with me. The longer they make the summer, the better. It goes by way too quickly anyway, doesn't it?

And speaking of movies, I was a little surprised to see this poster up already outside the Regal Brandon movie theater on Austin St. It's coming out around Thanksgiving! Again, though, fine with me. I loved the books and the first movie in the series, so bring it on!


As for this summer's movies, the main one I am looking forward to so far is the Star Trek movie. I'm sure there'll be others. I just haven't had much time to check lately! I thought the first one J.J. Abrams did was ok. I wasn't blow away by it like some other people were. I guess I'm too loyal to the original series. To me, what made Star Trek special was always the characters and the ideas—the Prime Directive, what a concept!—not the special effects. I just hope the new film is more balanced in that regard.