Thursday, May 29, 2014

Better Be Extra Careful at those Intersections...

... and I don't mean pedestrians. I'm talking about drivers, and the countless near misses I've had with them every time I try to cross Queens Blvd.

Well, the times, they are a changin':
Hitting a pedestrian or a cyclist who has the right of way is grounds for a misdemeanor charge.
 Council Passes Bills Aiding de Blasio’s Quest to End Traffic Deaths

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Forest Hills Restaurant Has Chance for the Big Leagues

Citi announced today the launch of the Citi Small Business Call Ups program, which will present a local New York City restaurant with the opportunity to showcase its cuisine during the second half of the New York Mets’ 2014 season at Citi Field.  For the first time ever, Citi has nominated three independently-owned New York City neighborhood restaurants, each a Citi client, to be the winning small business selected by fans to be featured alongside some of New York’s premier culinary all-stars at Citi Field.

In an effort to bring New York's favorite flavors to Citi Field, Citi has nominated the following restaurants to be added to its award-winning menu:

  • Ceetay, a Thai and Asian fusion restaurant in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx;
  • Corfu Grill, a Greek restaurant in the heart of Forest Hills, Queens; and
  • Lady M Confections, a Manhattan-based specialty purveyor of cakes and confectionary delights 
Beginning today and continuing through Friday, June 6, fans are encouraged to vote for a restaurant online at www.mets.com/citicallups. Fans attending a game at Citi Field from May 23 to May 28 also have the opportunity to vote for a winner at the Citi Call Ups booth. Then, on Saturday, July 5, the winning restaurant will “take over” a Citi Field concession stand, where it will enjoy a highly visible presence and the opportunity to introduce its cuisine to hundreds of thousands of fans through the Mets’ last home game of the regular season (September 28).

“Citi serves more than 260,000 small and medium businesses across the country, and we are always looking for new opportunities to help advance our clients’ business objectives,” said Robert Kleiber, Head of Small Business at Citi.  “Citi Small Business Call Ups is a unique opportunity to leverage our valued relationship with the New York Mets, create a one-of-a-kind platform for one of our small business clients to market their business, and bring the rich flavors and culture of New York into Citi Field.”

Citi will drive voters to the online voting site with the support of a full marketing effort, including in-stadium and out-of-home promotion as well a digital and social media campaign.  Additionally, Citi cardholders will be eligible for a 10% dine-in discount at each of the nominated restaurants for the duration of the voting period.

For more information about Citi Small Business Call Ups, visit www.mets.com/citicallups.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Congratulations Michael

A tireless local advocate for historic preservation is being honored...

Forest Hills' Michael Perlman Wins 2014 Preservation Award

The Historic Districts Council (HDC), the citywide advocate for New York's historic neighborhoods, will present Michael Perlman, Queens native and chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council with a 2014 Grassroots Preservation Award on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at 6:30 PM at Grace Church, 254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn Heights.

The Grassroots Awards honor and celebrate the activists and groups who work to preserve New York City's historic neighborhoods. "These advocates are the foundation of the preservation movement and their efforts benefit everyone who lives, works or visits New York City," said Simeon Bankoff, executive director of HDC. "It's an honor and pleasure to be able to shine the spotlight on these neighborhood leaders."

Michael Perlman
A native Forest Hills resident, Michael Perlman is the Chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council. The Council was founded in 2006 in response to that year's 100th anniversary of Forest Hills and the parcel which would become known as Rego Park in 1923. It works to preserve and commemorate the architectural and cultural history of Forest Hills and Rego Park, as well surrounding areas of Queens through advocacy and property owner assistance. In 2010, Mr. Perlman launched a public campaign to preserve and creatively reuse the iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium which was under threat of demolition. As a result of these efforts, the stadium has undergone some restoration work and has been reborn as a concert venue. He is involved in the continuing preservation efforts of a number of civic, religious and popular neighborhood institutions in Queens and earned the nickname "Diner-Man" after his efforts to save and relocate a number of historic freestanding diners.

The Historic Districts Council is New York's only citywide grassroots advocate for historic buildings and neighborhoods. Since 1971 HDC has been committed to preserving New York's rich architectural and historical heritage, working with communities to landmark and protect significant neighborhoods and buildings, as well as helping already designated historic communities to understand and uphold the Landmarks Law. HDC engages in community building and development, offers educational programs and delivers technical resources, strategic assistance and direct advocacy support to aid local groups in their individual preservation campaigns.

The event is open to the public at a cost of $30, $20 for Friends of HDC. Doors open at 6:15 pm, and the award ceremony will begin at 6:45 pm, with a reception to follow. For more information, go to the Grassroots page or call 212-614-9107.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Last Night

The National Weather Service tweeted this pic of lightning hitting the new World Trade Center tower last night.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Free Music in the Park: Postponed!

The organizer has postponed this to give him more time to find musicians to participate. Please be aware:  participants will not be paid. It is a purely voluntary event to provide free music to the community.

The Parks Department has given the OK for us to have the first of what hopefully will be many special days of free music right here smack in the center of Forest Hills, in our MacDonald Park (the park near the Post Office), ON A DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED. The only hitch is.... WE NEED MUSICIANS!!

If you or someone you know is a pro or just a budding musician, please contact Steve to register at 917-558-3802.



Share your musical talent with  friends and neighbors in MacDonald Park 

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Friends of MacDonald Park and NYC  Parks invite you to participate in a pilot busking program allowing musicians, professional and amateur alike, to perform in the park.
Pop, jazz, classical, country, R&B, etc.
Contact Steve to register: 917-558-3802
MacDonald Park, Queens Blvd/70th Av, Forest Hills

Monday, May 19, 2014

P.S. 101Q Goes Back in Time To Celebrate Centennial

The School in the Gardens, P.S. 101Q is celebrating its momentous 100th birthday tomorrow with events that gather school children, alumni, top educators and politicians together for a once-in-a lifetime trip back to May 20,1914 – the day the school first opened its doors as a NYC Public School.

The milestone centennial celebration will begin at 8:30 am Tuesday with an outdoor assembly featuring presentations by NYC Schools Chancellor Farina, Queens Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, and Congresswoman Meng’s office. In a nod to the times, a barbershop quartet will ring in the festivities and the day will feature an immersive, entertaining trip to May 20, 1914 for students, community members and alumni. Maypole dancing, soapbox car construction, silent films, mini-museums, and storytelling will offer a glimpse of this special school’s long history.

Ceremony host Monique Paniagua, Principal of P.S. 101Q proudly states, “Confucius once said, ‘Ifyou think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.’ As we celebrate P.S. 101Q’s centennial, we celebrate 100 years of teaching people and look forward to teaching for the next hundred years. We’ve grown generations of beautiful minds that have changed the world!”

“I want to wish a very Happy 100th Birthday to the School in the Gardens,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “The school has been consistently high-performing and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere conducive to shaping young minds and preparing our children to lead successful lives and be outstanding contributors to our society. I commend the teachers, administrators and staff members of the School in the Gardens and wish their fine institution many more years of success.”

Illustrious alumni of P.S 101Q include:
Burt Bacharach, 6-time Grammy winner and 3-time Oscar winner
Carroll O’Connor, 5-time Emmy winner
Chieli Minucci, 3-time Emmy winner and Grammy nominated jazz musician
John Cassavetes, Emmy nominated and 3-time Oscar nominated actor and director
William Ryden, Pulitzer-prize nominee for his ragtime compositions

For more information on P.S. 101Q centennial plans, including pictures of the school and students throughout history, click http://alumni.ps101q.org/

Forest Hills in the News...

A couple of recent articles about the neighborhood in case you missed them:

From Crain's New York Business:
Forest Hills Italian resto | East Williamsburg studio | Steven Madden sells
OvoSodo
110-60 Queens Blvd., Queens
The new Italian restaurant opened in Forest Hills. It sells pizza by the inch, and its namesake ovosodo pizza is topped with tomato, mozzarella, bacon and egg.

And from the Daily News, this, in my opinion, overly dramatic story about the closing of the (pretty darn bland and sad-looking) Brandon Cinemas on Austin St.
Another theater closes in Forest Hills to make way for an urgent care center

I mean, the article makes it sound like we lost some kind of cultural gem, like the Ziegfeld in Manhattan! This was a tiny, sad-looking two-theater incarnation of whatever this theater once was. It had absolutely no charm at all. It really wasn't much of a loss. Now, would I rather it be replaced by a medical clinic on what is our main shopping street? Of course not! But let's not exaggerate what it was.

Oh, and that misleading headline. Firstly, it would have you think we are seeing a rash of theater closings to make way for urgent care centers. Whaaaat? Try like, one — this one? And secondly, no Mr./Mrs. Daily News Headline Writer/Reporter, you can't use the word "Another" when you're linking it to closings that happened decades ago. One movie theater closing every 20 years does not a trend make, sorry.
And, don't get me started on this:
"The loss of local theaters has signaled a change for neighborhood shopping centers such as Austin St., which has seen mom-and-pop boutiques give way to chain stores, banks and medical facilities."
Really? What about all the great new restaurants and bars that have opened on and around Austin St. in the past few years? The area is doing better than it has in years (at least in the past 15 or so years I've lived here!).

Friday, May 16, 2014

Free Music in the Park: Musicians Needed!

The Parks Department has given the OK for us to have the first of what hopefully will be many special days of free music right here smack in the center of Forest Hills, in our MacDonald Park (the park near the Post Office), Sunday, May 25th. The only hitch is.... WE NEED MUSICIANS!!

If you or someone you know is a pro or just a budding musician, please contact Steve to register at 917-558-3802.





Share your musical talent with  friends and neighbors in MacDonald Park 

Sunday, May 25th 2014


Friends of MacDonald Park and NYC  Parks invite you to participate in a pilot busking program allowing musicians, professional and amateur alike, to perform in the park.
Pop, jazz, classical, country, R&B, etc.
Contact Steve to register: 917-558-3802
   May 25th, 11:00 - 3:00 




MacDonald Park, Queens Blvd/70th Av, Forest Hills

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

New Poll: September 11th Museum

World's Fair Festival

The World Comes to Flushing Meadows Corona Park on May 18 to Celebrate the 75th and 50th Anniversaries of the World's Fairs

Sunday, May 18
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Festival
5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Concert and Fireworks

 
World's Fair, 1964-65
On Sunday, May 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., NYC Parks is celebrating the anniversaries of the two World’s Fairs held in what is now Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The giant, one-day festival will offer a wide range of free activities for all ages to enjoy and re-live the 1939 and 1964 Fairs:
  • Tour the original structures, sculptures, and buildings, including the New York State Pavilion, Queens Museum, Queens Theater, and more!
  • See giant tents filled with World’s Fair memorabilia
  • Check out vintage vehicles including amphibious vehicles and a Batmobile
  • Enjoy food trucks representing international cuisines
  • Watch live cultural entertainment
  • Share and record your own World’s Fair memories and photos
For kids, there will be:
  • Crafts and activities by NYSCI, the Queens Museum, and other cultural institutions
  • Inflatable rides
  • Puppet shows
  • Strolling magicians
  • A visit from Mr. Met
And much more!
From 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the anniversary celebration continues with a free concert by the Liverpool Shuffle (a Beatles Tribute Band) and the Queens Symphony Orchestra, and a sky full of fireworks.
The event is rain or shine.
Visit the World's Fair Anniversary page for more information about the Festival, and to take a virtual tour of the historic fairgrounds.

Monday, May 12, 2014

More on OvoSodo

I realized when eating recently at OvoSodo that it is basically a diner with an authentic Italian food twist, very unique, very interesting, and very delicious. And just what that part of Queens Blvd. needed to make it a lot more interesting!




Hospital Conversion and New Clothing Store for Austin

A couple of other local developments readers have contacted me about over the past several days...
The former Parkway Hospital, which has been abandoned for the past six years, is being turned into condos. You can read more about it here: Former Parkway Hospital will be converted to condos
And the children's clothing store on Austin near Benetton that closed a couple of months ago is becoming another clothing store called Steps New York, this time a women's clothing store, a chain that is affiliated with Kara New York and located in malls, one reader tells me.

New Subway Elevator

Thanks to Matthew for the pic...


Calling All Musicians





Share your musical talent with  friends and neighbors in MacDonald Park 

Sunday, May 25th 2014


Friends of MacDonald Park and NYC  Parks invite you to participate in a pilot busking program allowing musicians, professional and amateur alike, to perform in the park.
Pop, jazz, classical, country, R&B, etc.
Contact Steve to register: 917-558-3802
   May 25th, 11:00 - 3:00 




MacDonald Park, Queens Blvd/70th Av, Forest Hills

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Austin Public Menu

Thanks to Sasha for sending these in. Click on the pics for a larger view.



2nd Sumptown Coffee/Silk Cakes Pairing Event

Silk Cakes, on Metropolitan Ave., will be holding its 2nd Coffee/Cake pairing event this Saturday, May 10th from 10am to 2pm. This time it is with the seasonal Stumptown Coffees as well as their newest launch, Milk Breads. The NY Times had written an article about Milk Breads recently. At the event, Silk will offer FREE samples of the seasonal coffee as well as the Milk Breads.


Below are the pairings for this Saturdays event.


PAIRING #1:

Coffee: Hair Bender

Milk Bread: Vanilla Chiffon Cake with Brown Sugar Cinnamon 

PAIRING #2

Coffee: Burundi Kayanza  *Seasonal*

Milk Bread: Green Tea Chiffon Cake with Blueberry Preserves

PAIRING #3:

Coffee: Guatemala Candelaria   *Seasonal*

Milk Bread: Banana Chiffon Cake with Black Sesame