The Weekender

How I love President’s week. It’s sort of like my own version of the school’s mid-winter recess. Every President’s week there is a convention to which more than half my very small office attends. So right now I am all by myself on my floor, doing what else? Investigating the goings on for you my dear readers! Enjoy it, once they’re back, my floor changes floors (as if moving offices wasn’t enough) and I’ll probably resume the past month’s chicken with her head cut off routine and post less again. So since my week of blessed solitude ends, I need something to look forward to this weekend and things are starting to look good! I guess as we emerge from the tunnel of winter activities start to resume and there are plenty of things to do.

AMMI brings us something that has me tickled pink! A whole three part tribute to Richard Pryor at the regular cost ($10 general admit) and a discount for all three ($25)
Friday
7:30 p.m.
Working with Richard Pryor: Panel Discussion with Lonette McKee, Paul Mooney and Mel WatkinsHighlights from Pryor’s films and TV shows will be screened..
Saturday
6:30
Actress Lonette McKee in personScreening Which Way is Up?
Sunday
6:30
Comedian Paul Mooney in personHiglights From the Richard Pryor ShowComedian and writer Paul Mooney will present highlights from Richard Pryor’s legendary short-lived network TV comedy revue series. "The show was no vanilla milkshake," said Pryor of the series, which featured appearances by Robin Williams, Maya Angelou, Sandra Bernhard, Paul Mooney, and others.
(This is the one I think I will go to, I’ll even sacrifice Farscape for it…we’ve gone through the nerd thing, this should be no shock)

Ok so maybe you don’t dig Richard Pryor as much as I do and would rather occupy your time in other ways (whatever!) Or maybe you need to fill up the day time hours. To that I say:

Saturday
1 pm
Join Partnership for Parks’ Astoria and Long Island City Waterfront Parks Catalyst Project and Transportation Alternatives on a weekend afternoon bike tour of the planned Queens East River Greenway. See the planned greenway up close and get inspired to help make it a reality. Ride the greenway route and neighborhood streets and visit Queensbridge, Rainey, Socrates, Astoria and Ralph Demarco Parks, which will all be connected by this new waterfront greenway.
Rain (or snow) Date: Sunday, February 26, 1 pm.
***For a ride update in case of bad weather, call 917-902-9165 on the day of the ride.
Meet at Gantry Plaza State Park, 48th Avenue and the East River
For Details: Emily.Maxwell@parks.nyc.gov or call 718-706-8044.

PS1 has some very nifty exhibits and programs taking place that are well worth checking out.

Also of note:
Astoria’s very own Amanda Droste was recently featured on Next Big Hit (the largest Independent Music Podcast in the world with over 20,000 listeners internationally every week) with her song "Jungle Gym." She was also the only artist asked to join them during taping and give a personal interview. She humbly requests the support and all you have to do involves a two step process:
1.Check out the broadcast www.nextbighit.com Volume 107 February 21st
2. VOTE for her so she can be featured next week. She is competing against former American Idol 3rd place winner Jasmine Trias, so it'd be great to um, well, kick her butt. You don't HAVE to listen to vote(but you should)! However, you do have to create a log-in name(it's very simple to do-she swears).
Support the astorians!
That’s all folks

The Weekender

Are you over the snow? Now that it is finally dissipating, thanks to the 60 degree weather (what the heck?) it's time to go out and play, until the next one.

Saturday head over to Waltz-Astoria for another evening of thier wine tasting series, Talk Wine with Kevin Rose. At 8 pm sample six wines from Spain, Chile, California, & Argentina accompanied by hors d'oeuvres (Cheeses & Crackers, Chocolates, Grape Leaves, Fruits & More) and musical entertainment, which has not yet been announced.

Sunday at noon check out AMMI's screening of three Wallace and Grommit shorts- A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. This starts the museum's “Get Animated” week, featuring matinee screenings, motion workshops, and demonstrations of filmmaking techniques. And as an added bonus, the museum is open on Monday since NYC schools are closed this week for Mid Winter Recess. I miss those days.

Also of note:
If you are kicking around Grand Central Station, stop by the annex (Shuttle passage, next to Station Master's Office) check out the photgraphy exhibit Many Hands:Representations of Railroad Workers on display until July 9th.

And, now, for my fellow, geeks, dorks and nerds don't forget tonight is Sci Fi Friday on the Sci Fi Channel. Get your fill of Stargate SG-1 (Ben Browder fills in Richard Dean Anderson's shoes quite well, and it's only a matter of time before Claudia Black returns) Stargate Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica, hands down the sexiest sci fi show there is.
There is it folks, you know my dirty little, not so secret. I am a sci fi nerd. But damn proud of it!

A Valentine's Day Treat

If you don't have your reservations in for the big day (although I am not a huge fan of V-day myself) at Le Sans Souci, Mundo or Brick Cafe, I would say at this point you may be screwed. You could take a trip over to Sunnyside and try Sidetracks, it's huge and I don't think they are booked up (I've eaten there many times and will get around to a review) or Bliss (where I will be, so a write up will follow). But with the icky snow outside, you may just be better off curling up at home with your sweetie and making a romantic dinner together. Besides, it's about the love, not the gifts and reservations.
Should that be your option, I have quite the delectible dessert for you to try:

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
INGREDIENTS:
1 German chocolate cake mix
1 can sweetened and condensed milk
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
1 8 ounce container of Cool Whip
6 ounces crushed Heath bar
6 ounces crushed plain Hershey bar

DIRECTIONS: Bake cake as directed in 9x13 pan. Take the handle of a wooden spoon and poke holes all over the cake while it's still warm. Pour can of condensed milk over warm cake, then repeat with caramel topping.
Refrigerate for 6 hours.
Frost cake with Cool Whip topping and sprinkle with crushed Heath & Hershey bar.

Serve immediately.

Support Astoria Comedy

This ensemble comedy troupe boasts Astoria residents. Funny as all heck, get on out in the blizzard remnants to get your funny on! Warm yourself up with the 2 drink minimum and the belly laughs. Check out all the details below.
(Sorry Eric, I took the easy way out and copied your latest email update into the blog. But hey! At least I gave you credit)
Rash Behaviour Comedy returns to Caroline's On Broadway TONIGHT!!!
Monday February 13th9:30 PM
Caroline's On Broadway1626 BroadwayNY, NY 10019
$5.00 cover plus 2 drink minimum
Reservations are required.
Call (212) 757-4100
If you are interested in checking out the show, you must call 212.757.4100 and say that you are coming to see RASH BEHAVIOUR.The cover is $5 plus 2 drinks ONLY if you say that you are coming to see Rash Behaviour. Without a reservation, the cover change is $15, so call early. Doors open at 9 PM.
There are also two comics scheduled to open the show just to round out the night.

Our material is intended for mature audiences. Feel free to bring the kids, if you really don't care about them.
http://www.rashbehaviour.com/

For those that are new to Rash Behaviour, here's an example of what we do.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=rash+behaviour&search_type=search_videos

Get goin!