Neil deGrasse Tyson at The Who Concert

It looks like the stars aligned for me to see one of my favorite people enjoying a few hours in Forest Hills Saturday night! A huge thanks to David for the photo.  I'd rank this as definitely one of my favorite photos of any I have ever posted on this blog.

James Spader Show The Blacklist Filming in Forest Hills Tomorrow

More on Middle Eastern Restaurant

I just found out that this may be more of a hookah-type bar than a restaurant, or a mix of the two. Needless to say, if it is mostly a hookah lounge with just some food to go along with it, I am really bummed! I don't think I have ever been in a hookah lounge, or if I was it was a long time ago and I don't remember. But I was really hoping this would be a regular Middle Eastern restaurant. What I'm told is it will serve some food, but will also be a lounge-type establishment.

This news, coming right after the opening of that small trinket, novelty store down on Austin (near Ascan), has me in a frustrated mood! The new little store doesn't seem to fit in that area. If anything I can maybe see it in the Austin St. Mall on the western end of Austin, not east, where newer upscale places like La Boulangerie and Emily's Sugar Rush have recently really increased our expectations for some newer fine businesses.

Now, I just want to stress that I have not confirmed with the owner that the Middle Eastern establishment will be a hookah lounge -- or to what extent it will be mixed with a restaurant. But the person I spoke to is definitely in the know and said it will be a lounge that also serves food, so that's what I'm going on. For all I know, it might be a great place, possibly with a separate area for eating. I just don't know.

Taiwan's First Lady Visits Forest Hills

This was kept rather quiet... it's the first I heard of it... Taiwan's first lady tells stories to children in New York

New York, Oct. 13 (CNA) Taiwan's first lady Chow Mei-ching told stories about the Chinese Zodiac and a folktale to children at a library in the borough of Queens in New York Thursday, and showed them how to find out their personal zodiac signs. Telling stories to children has become one of Chow's favorite activities during visits to foreign countries. In New York, where she arrived the previous day for a five-day visit, the wife of President Ma Ying-jeou made no exception. At the library in Forest Hills, Chow introduced how the Chinese zodiac was formed. To attract the kids to pay attention, she also taught them how to fold an origami mouse, the first of the 12 animals of the zodiac.