The Weekender

Sigh readers, where has the summer gone? I feel like it's just slipping by. And I have been remiss in my duties to bring you all the best that Astoria has to offer. My apologies. For those of you sticking with us, let's get on with the weekend shall we? (oh if only I could get onto it right this very moment!)

Have some paddling experience? Tonight relax during the Friday Night Chill Paddle. Gather at 6:30PM sharp at the LIC Community Boathouse on Anable Cove at East River and 43rd Avenue. If you don't have much experience then the free weekly trips from Hallets Cove might be more your speed. Sundays through October from 1 til 5pm.

Saturday from 11-2 get a little dirty helping out with a community garden. Two Coves Garden (30th Avenue, 8th Street, and Astoria Blvd) would love to meet neighbors and make friends while starting and then maintaining this community garden.

This weekend Candy Plum is showing off all their newest accesories and all clothing is 30% off.

This whole weekend is the Borgetto Cultural Association Street Fair on Steinway St. between 25th & 28th Ave. I have missed far too many street fairs this season! It's so unlike me.

Art-o-Mat has a nifty exhibit until September 2nd. From the website:

Art-O-Mat is pleased to introduce cartoon artist Johnny Coughlan and present THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOHNNY COUGHLAN. Reminiscent of the underground cartoon era, his world of unique characters and perspectives is filled with humor and truth. The work reveals an artist who is continually in search of self while at the same time confident in his world view. His ability to capture the contemplative mind is thoughtful and immediate. His skill at pinpointing the essence of self, the world around us, and our basic daily experience is complemented by his skillful graphic stylings

Also this weekend and next weekend Socrates Sculpture Park presents FLOAT. Here's the description from the web:

Socrates Sculpture Park is pleased to announce the 2007 edition of Float, a biennial series of time-based and ephemeral works installed and performed throughout the Park on Saturdays and Sundays in August. Launched in 2003, Float was first organized in response to Socrates Sculpture Park's location on the East River waterfront. In 2005, locational and relational aesthetics were emphasized, and now, in 2007, the series takes up the theme of nostalgia for a future past, and focuses on a wider range of media to include a concert series, a discursive newsprint publication and blog, several performative installations, and a video program.

About.com has an interesting article about the best Markets in Astoria. I found the inclusion of the Euro Market a little odd. I've been there a few times and in all honesty I would be wary of the euro market. Many many items on their shelves are well past their expiration date. The fresh stuff may indeed be fresh, but the stuff on the shelves is decidedly not so. It's been about a year since I've gone hopefully they have shaped up in that department. I'm not above going back to check it out. I do love me some Irish food. If only the Butcher Block in Sunnyside would open up a branch in Astoria!

Are you interested in a Sci Fi/Fantasy Book Club. Well there's one in Astoria looking for a few good folk. Check this posting for all the details.

Also of note is that Queens Restaurant Week is coming up September, 17-20 and 24-27, 2007. The participating restaurants will offer a three-course dinner special or equivalent for $20.07 Thanks to About.com (love those guys!) I got the skinny on participating restaurants in our area:
Astoria
Gandhi Restaurant, 34-14 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103, 718-956-7555
Margarita Ville Restaurant, 38-01 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11103, 718-777-1707
Mezzo Mezzo, Mediterranean, 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, 718-278-0444
Mundo Cafe & Restaurant, 31-18 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106, 718-777-2829
Opa Souvlaki, 28-44 31st St, Astoria, NY 11102, 718-728-3638
Ponticello Restaurant, Italian, 46-11 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11103, 718-278-4514
Sanfords Restaurant, 30-13 Broadway, Astoria, NY, 718-932-9569
Zorba's Souvlaki Plus, 29-05 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105, 718-956-7266
Long Island City
Da Gianni's Ristorante, 21-50 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-707-0442
Island Restaurant, 35-15 36th St, Long Island City, NY 11106, 718-433-0690
Masso, 47-25 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-482-8151
Riverview, Continental, 2-01 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-392-5000
Tournesol Restaurant, French, 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718-472-4355
Waters Edge Restaurant, Continential, The East River at 44th Dr, LIC, 718-482-0033
Sunnyside and Woodside
Free Time Diner, 61-12 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, 718-423-1245
Quaint, 46-10 Skillman Ave, Sunnyside, NY 11104, 917-779-9220
Sapori D'Ischia, Italian, 55-15 37th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, 718-446-1500
Sripraphai Thai Restaurant, 64-13 39th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, 718-899-9599
White Castle, 69-01 34th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377, 718-899-8404

About.com has a great list of things happening in LIC.

Make it a great one!