The Weekender

I’ll start us off with a neighborhood rumor.
Rumor: That Cup will be opening a rooftop bar with 48 beers on tap. Supposedly it will happen next year, if it gets out of the planning/thinking/discussing stages. While I do enjoy Cup and have not had any really bad experiences there, especially lately since they changed their menu, this seems odd. They can’t get the menu straight since the one I saw this weekend is at least the 4th or 5th since they opened. But I am pleased with the food there. I haven’t had a rude server although I have heard that other people have stopped going due to rude, bad or even just non existent service. They should probably work on making sure the ground level is sound before expanding. Cup has potential to be better than it is, but opening a rooftop bar won’t increase traffic or revenue, at least in my opinion. But if it does happen, I’d still love to check it out, I mean I only live like 2 blocks away. If it’s good and it works, then maybe this will be the answer to not being able to get into the Beer Garden.

Speaking of the Beer Garden, October starts on Sunday (as does the one week countdown to my birthday, I’m so shameless aren’t I?) so that means Octoberfest at the Beer Garden! Friday is the Spaten Octoberfest. Check it out for fun, prizes, giveaways, raffles and of course pitchers with friends. The website does not indicate any sort of cover for the event.
Saturday seems to be the BIG party. Come in for $10 between 1 and 10 pm to drink, eat, drink, be merry and did I mention drink? They will be featuring 2 bands, the Pilsner Brass Band and the Czech Polka Cruisers, a band from Texas.

Friday, get out to the movies! A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints opens in theatres. Unfortunately it won’t be playing at Kauffman. But you will be able to see it at AMC Empire 25, The Angelika and the AMC Loews Lincoln Square. All showtimes are on moviefone. Let’s all support a fellow Astorian and get out there and see this GREAT movie.

Waltz Astoria brings us another weekend of music to relax and imbibe to. Friday night enjoy some Bossa Nova with Rajit and Justin Smith at 9pm and on Saturday at 9 singer-songwriter Arielle Freedberg makes her debut at Waltz with her eclectic collection of pop-rock originals.

Art-o-Mat welcomes back it’s Poetry Sundays this weekend. Stop by from 2-4pm and share your words or appreciate what others have to say.

I saw something nifty on the Discover Queens website. Here’s the little image from the site, but as of this writing I can’t be more specific. I thought I’d put it out there for everyone though.

Say it ain't so, the last Astoria Street Fair of the year is this Sunday. Oh woe is me :( Catch the last trace of summer in the city at the Broadway Astoria Merchants & Professionals Fair between Cresent and 47th. That's plenty of street fair goodness. And a nice entry into October.

The Weekender

Fall’s here, but a little too early in my opinion. It’s not supposed to be like this until October! I refuse to wear a jacket until my birthday. October 8th for those of you taking note and wanting to shower me with pleasantries, gifts or alcohol. All are appreciated.

But until I can play on my birthday there are some nifty things that will keep me jolly in the meantime.

There’s a cute new store setting up shop on Ditmars called Inside Astoria(37-20 Ditmars Blvd). They’re full of cute items for your home, your pet or yourself. I’ve been meaning to go up there, and somehow missed it when I took my crazy walk (up Steinway from 34th ave, to Ditmars, down Ditmars to the park and back). This weekend is the perfect time. They’re having an opening celebration today and tomorrow where you’ll get 10% off, and there are rumors of treats and wine. Wine? In the middle of the day? And take another trip up to Ditmars? Sold.

Tonight is also the opening reception of Fingerprints: LIC Pierpost Photographs by Lauren Lombardo at the Chocolate Factory Theatre. While there you can also enjoy Mile of String - Right After “An original work of physical theater combining free-form text, multi-scale physical scores, and game structures, Right After's plot is centered around the radical life and work of sculptor Eva Hesse.”

Saturday Flux Factory lends its support to the Queens Blackout Division. No I’m not talking about a gang of unruly Queens residents waging war against Con Ed. They are an art collaborative that has discovered that the various nabes of Western Queens have become a laboratory for the latest in street art. They have put out a call to artists asking them to produce art in the streets of Western Queens. Flux Factory lends its space and resources to become a video archive, headquarters, and giant map for charting all the work going on in the neighborhood.

Saturday night Waltz Astoria enlightens wine drinkers on the finer points of vino with their monthly Talk Wine series hosted by Kevin Rose.

Sunday free Canoe Rides at Hallets Cove.

A guide to Recognizing Your Saints

I’m not good at movie reviews, which is why I stopped writing them. But I have to tell you about A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, especially since it hasn’t opened officially yet.
It’s good-really good. Especially for a first time director. From what I understand about the book it’s totally different, but it manages to capture a moment in time, weave his saints together and paint us a fabulous picture of his story. The way the film was cut was very non traditional. Repeated dialogue, the way the lighting changed, the way some scenes were fast paced. I just can’t adequately describe it. It was just something I haven’t seen before. It was told really well, visually and verbally. It was fun and deep at the same time. I just can’t get over it. Yes there are some anachronisms, most of which only astorians will know. Like the R train running on the el. That’s as close as they could get to a RR train, it’s not like those run anymore. Or when they’re on the steps at Ditmars and then go up to the tracks and it’s Astoria Blvd. IMDB did pick up on a flyer about 9/11 conspiracy theories taped to a lamp post. I totally missed that. Most people in Astoria will recognize something along the way, and that’s always fun when watching a movie.
Trust me, see this movie. Show your Astoria love.

Locale Revisited

Something out of the ordinary happened last night. Me and all my roommates were home at the same time. So we decided to have a girls night/take Maureen out for her birthday dinner night. Locale was our destination. I’ve only been there once before with the gang for drinks, but the food looked and smelled yummy. Happy to report that it still does and they serve a lot more now.
One of the things I love about Locale is its simplicity. A large mirror hangs over the bar and there are few pieces of art adorning the walls. The tables are close to each other but not on top of each other and the lighting is nice and intimate. The mini loft level is surrounded by lovely iron work and its still nice and plush up there, perfect for sipping some wine with your sweetie.
Since we were having dinner we sat on the main level. Our waiter was great, attentive but not overbearing, honest in his opinions and a treat. Josh gets two thumbs up!
I tried to avoid an appetizer but one taste had me sharing in the Carciofini Croncante, Crispy Artichokes served with lemon sauce. The lemon sauce was awesome. I have to be in the right mood for artichokes but these put me in the mood. They weren’t ridiculously fried either which was my main concern. And it came with a little salad, I do so love my veggies. This was perfect to share, and if you are an artichoke fan this will do the trick.
We each got something totally different for dinner. Jamie, being the carnivore that she is, got the filet mignon, which was accompanied by broccoli and roasted potatoes. It was the perfect shade of red for her. I believe it was also covered in mushrooms. Maureen got the Penette Alla Vodka which came with chicken and peas. She wiped that baby clean in record time. I, could not look at another piece of chicken so I got the Linguine ai Frutti di Mare. I love me some seafood. Everything in it was so tasty and flavorful. There was so much pasta I couldn’t finish it-so I concentrated on the sea critters. Off the top of my head there were, clams(never had before, so yum), mussels, shrimp, scallops and calamari. Two sauce choices, I was going to go for the white but stuck with the usual red. There’s something on the menu for everyone, whether you want a small plate, or something more simple than dinner. The also offer a nice selection of paninis. You could easily have an appetizer and a drink and dessert and call it a night. Oh, speaking of dessert, my pseudo diet went out the window last night. We shared the hazelnut mousse and The Frutti di Bosco, which was a nice shortbread-esque pastry with cream and fresh berries. That one was my fave.
Naturally we had wine, and they have a nice selection of wines and specialty drinks.
I’m so happy that Locale is what it is. It’s nice and laid back, not pretentious or a scene, in any way that I could discern, the food is great and the service wonderful. Go out, eat drink up!

PS-this is a record review of an eatery. I have pages of notes from other places!

The Weekender

This weekend is all about celebrating our neighborhood. I previously blogged about the upcoming screening at AMMI of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and it’s this Friday. Have you got your tickets yet? I’ve got mine set for the 9:30. In addition to Dito Montiel being there Chazz Palmenteri will be there as well! From the site it seems that if you go to the early show they will engage the audience in a discussion afterwards whereas the 9:30 they’ll be introducing…bummer. Additionally AMMI is sponsoring an Astoria party in the courtyard with food from the neighborhood being sold starting at 6. This is something I can totally miss Stargate for. That and I can get it taped, hehehe.

If you’re going to the early show then you have time to swing over to Waltz to listen to Melissa Gerstein perform “Art Songs.” Up first- Classical works, batting cleanup, well I just had to take it from their site “Fancy Bread is a frensh and tasty new group fusing classical technique with off-beat jazz and funk rhythms. Founded by operatic mezzo-soprano Melissa Gerstein and guitarist Ethan Hein, the band bakes lightly flaky originals and rich crusty reinterprestations of artists ranging from Bjork to Elliot Carter to Stevie Wonder to the Beatles. If you're a music dork who wants to chuckle, scratch your head and shake your booty all at the same time, you'll want to taste some Francy Bread.” Could not have written better copy myself.

Saturday the party in Astoria continues, but before that do the neighborhood some good and participate in Shore is Clean. Join the LIC/Astoria Waterfront Alliance in cleaning up what would otherwise be a beautiful shoreline. Think about it, the beautiful Manhattan skyline set against the foreground of nasty garbage that nasty people think is ok to pitch into the river. Do something and help clean it up! Tools, gloves, and good company provided along with free snacks for all volunteers. Cleanup held rain or shine-but a thunderstorm cancels the goodwill. Be prepared to get dirty.
Here’s where you can volunteer your time:
10am-12pm:Socrates Sculpture Park, Broadway at Vernon Blvd
10:30am-3pm: Gantry Plaza State Park, 49th Ave at the East River
12-3pm: Socrates Sculpture Park ’s beach at Hallets Cove, 31st Ave at Vernon Blvd
12-3pm: Hallets Cove North, 31st Ave at Vernon Blvd
12-3pm: Astoria Park, War Memorial at Shore Blvd

Afterwards, reward yourself with Socrates Sculpture Park’s 20th Anniversary Celebration! The party gets underway at 12pm, but you'll have time to get home and clean up if you spent your early afternoon cleaning the shoreline to make it back in time to be honored for your good deeds at 4pm.
Some highlights include:
Socrates Sculpture Park’s 20th anniversary book available
Live Music by Citigrass, Coko Sukali and Indofunk & Performances by Sunnyside Drum Corps, Brazileirando Dance Group, Circus Amok, Miss Saturn and DJ Luz Mob
Free artmaking workshops with Socrates Sculpture Park artists
FacePainting by Agostino Arts.
Food available from Five Star Punjabi Restaurant and Opa! Souvlaki and Kids' fare from Bel-Aire Diner.
Flat rate shuttle service to and from the N subway line with Manhattan Rickshaw Company.
All at the newly cleaned shoreline at the East River with the new installation the 2006 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition (which opened last week and I hurt to much to blog about on Friday)

LATE BREAKING NEWS: Socrates Sculpture Park's website has updated to say that the party has been moved to Sunday.

Saturday is also the opening of the Art-o-Mat exhibit Paintings and Prints by Sharon Florin, the second in the See LIC Art Series. The exhibit includes selected paintings and prints from an extensive body of oil paintings created by Florin over a period of 30 years in which she’s documented the changing face of Long Island City’s Hunters Point neighborhood.

Sunday (and Saturday too) AMMI has a whole bunch of cool sounding demonstrations at various times, such as: Kinetoscope, interactive animation stands, video games, sound editing and film editing.

If the weather holds, kayak on the east river Sunday.
I’ll update if I can confirm Hell Gate Social will be having a movie.
Hopefully the Irish Rover starts up their Sunday trivia nights sometime soon.

Make it a good one!

Send off summer at the Water Taxi Beach

quick hit

Summer's Last Splash- Thursday Night Films at the Beach!
Sunset tomorrow (Thursday) check out a free outdoor screening of 80's classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off at the Water Taxi Beach. All ages are welcome.
I hear there will be free giveaways, nice!
We have Eric Gioia and the East River Development Alliance to thank for this goody.
For info please call 718-784-0877 or email lastsplash@erdalliance.org.

Street Fairs, How I Love Thee

Let me count the ways

Restaurant Week Queens Comin Up

From September 18 - 21 and September 25 - 28, 2006 Queens will be hosting restaurant week. Visit Queens Restaurants for three-course prix fixe lunches and/ or dinners . In celebration of the NY Mets World Series Championship Win in 1986 Queens Restaurants will offer special menus at $19.86. Here's a quick list of some LIC/Astoria eateries that are participating.

Ubol's Kitchen
24-42 Steinway StreetAstoria
718-545-2874
Waters Edge Restaurant
The East River at 44th Dr.Long Island City
718-482-0033
Mezzo Mezzo Restaurant & Lounge
31-29 Ditmars Blvd.Astoria
718-278-0444
Smokey's 11101
5-16 51st AvenueLong Island City
718-937-1111
Bartolino's Italian Ristorante
34-15 BroadwayAstoria
718-728-0430
Pinocchio Palace
32-02 30th Ave.Astoria
718-932-4976
Cronin & Phelans
38-14 BroadwayAstoria
718-545-8999
Cup Diner
35-01 36th StreetAstoria
718-937-2322
Ginza Fusion Japanese Restaurant
31-31 Steinway StreetAstoria 728-7288
Riverview Restaurant & Lounge
2-01 50th Avenue
718-278-6656
Just Arthur's
22-08 Steinway StreetAstoria
718-392-5000
Le Sans Souci
44-09 BroadwayAstoria
718-728-2733
Ponticello Ristorante
46-11 BroadwayAstoria
718-278-4514

As usual call ahead and confirm.
This is a great chance to check out some really great places at a really great price.
Enjoy!

Part of me hates the fact that ConEd is a co-sponsor of this wonderful event. After July, if I didn't have to get my power from them one way or another I'd tell them to take a flying leap. The other part thinks that they should be doing this, much much more of this. Their response to our community that week was atrocious and they don't seem to be making much ammends for trouble. This could be a good start towards reaching out to the community that for obvious reasons depends on them. Hopefully we will see more events that cater more specifically to the afftected areas sponsored by Con(n)ed.

The Weekender-Late Edition

As you can see by how late I'm posting this, I've had a doozy of a day.

I'm kind of in some pain from pulling something in my back.

A quick hit: tomorrow is the astoria waterfront bike tour. normally in addition to the link i'd provide the info but tonight i'll just provide the link.

I'll try and post some goodies tomorrow.

And i do have street fair pics to post too :)

Night all