The Weekender

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. The unofficial start to summer kicks off this weekend with parades, barbeques, street fairs and don’t forget everyone has a Memorial Day sale (Hellloooo perfect timing for furniture shopping for the new apartment!)

This weekend the NYC beaches officially open. While the water may be too cold to take a dip you can still soak up the rays and enjoy a day at the shore at the Queens Beach at Rockaway Park. It’s really easy to get to. Yeah you can take the A train all the way (make sure to switch to the shuttle if you want Rockaway Park, which I prefer) or you can head over to Woodside and catch the Express Q53 which stops right by the Woodside station, makes stops in Jackson Heights and Rego Park before heading straight to the beach. Yeah, Beach 116 can be crowded and all, but that’s because it’s close to the train and shops. Walk up a few blocks…you’ll wonder if you are at the same beach.
Friday it all kicks off at 11 with an opening ceremony. The event will include demonstrations of the many recreation and athletic activities along the beach this summer, including fitness classes, volleyball and hoola-hooping.

Also officially opening this weekend is a beach a little closer to home: The Water Taxi Beach. Yes it has been open this month, but only serving limited items. This weekend the full menu is busted out and the fun is ON!

Friday at 8pm, after you’ve soaked up the sun at either beach, Waltz has the music for us once again, this time bringing us the talents of June Morris. $5 cover and a one drink minimum. Stick around for Brazilian Duo at 10 bringing us some Jazz and Bossa Nova.

Saturday the Beer Garden kicks off their start to summer with the 25th annual Czech and Slovak Festival. Folk dancing, brass bands and tons of food and beer. $10 gets you in the door starting at 12. And patience gets you through the line.

Later that night DJ Moses spins his last NYC gig over at Hell Gate Social.
Or for the more sophisticated Waltz hosts their monthly Talk Wine series with Kevin Rose. 7 wines, tasty treats and a little discussion all for a $25 participation fee. (call ahead, this has gotten popular)

Sunday enjoy a free and relaxing canoe or kayaking ride from 11-5. Walk up and one of our friends from the LIC Community Boathouse will take you out on to the river. (weather permitting). It’s a great way to have fun and learn about keeping our local watering holes (no, not those kinds) spiffy.

Starting at 2 the guys at Hell Gate Social have the BBQ all set and ready. Happy hour from 2-7 and the BBQ? It’s FREE!
Stick around…or sober up and come back for their weekly outdoor movie. This weekend they bring us Top Secret.

And don't forget the yoga, capoeria and tai chi at Socrates.

Then comes the big day. It may not be in our neighborhood but in Douglaston (my aunt’s neighborhood) they are home to the biggest Memorial Day Parade in the country. It’s been around honoring our fallen soldiers of various wars since 1927. Can’t make it there or to a cemetery? Thank a soldier, and be happy they are still with us. Don’t know one? You can thank my brother who made it home from Iraq almost 2 years ago. (knocking wood furiously that he doesn’t have to go back). Or you can go to a GMC dealer and drop of a card of thanks for a soldier, part of the million thanks program they are supporting. You don’t have to support the war to be grateful we have soldiers. My brother doesn’t support the war and he IS a soldier.

On a lighter note Memorial Day really gets the street fair season going. Check out Broadway from 47th to Crescent (usually a little shorter than advertised), for all the sausage and peppers, crepes, choco covered strawberries, lemonade, magnets, jewelry, sheets and kitchen gizmos you can stand. God, I LOVE street fairs.

Also on Monday from 10:30 - 1pm you can enjoy the Ravenswood Walking Tour.
And, if you are in the mood for something new and sparkly Candy Plum, our favorite local boutique, is having a 10% off sale all weekend.

Now, go on....enjoy!

LIC, NYC @ Socrates

Some photos I took of the exhibit a few weeks ago. Enjoy!

Go check it out!

Happy Hump Day

Weekends aren't the only time Astorians get up to shennanigans.

Tonight if you are like me and in the crafty mindset join a group of us at Tell Astorya Cafe (37-05 28th Ave) at 7:00. The cafe is kind of small so we don't plan on doing any actual crafting tonight. It's more of a sit down to decide if there's enough general interest to start an Astoria Craft Mafia. That's right Brooklyn, you're not the center of the artsy fartsy outer borough world anymore. Us Astorians are getting in on the action. Since there are certain criteria for the Craft Mafia, we just may wind up creating an Astoria crafty collective. So whatever your craft come down and meet more crafty people. Hopefully we'll start a group where we can meet up and work on our individual crafts, or learn a new one together.

Also tonight is the grand opening of Crescent and Vine, the new wine bar by our friends at Fatty's Cafe right next door. They've had a soft open the past few weeks and the buzz has been good. Pop over tonight and see what's up.

And in case you haven't noticed the sea of white around town, it's that time of year again-Fleet Week. Go on, you know you want to shout Hey Sailor when you see them.

Have fun!

The Weekender

This weekend is all about doing good and gettin an education. All fun though of course. Check it out, and make it a great one.

Saturday is It's My Park Day. Tons of parks all over the place are inviting the community to pop in and do some good. Clean up, plant a tree, paint over some graffiti etc do the good karma thing. Local parks where you can participate are: Two Coves, Athens Square and Queensbridge Parks.
And don't forget about Yoga and Capoeria at Socrates.

This Sunday AMMI gives us a great behind the scenes tour and the best part-the whole thing is FREE! That’s right, Sunday from 11-5 the museum waves it’s admittance fee and in addition 36th street between 34th and 35th avenues will be closed off for a street fair of sorts. The block will be lined with movie trailers for cast members, production, hair makeup etc and the public is invited to take a peek inside. C’mon, we’ve seen them all over town, you know you’re dying to see what’s in there. Demos all day and another bonus, since they’re remodeling they have to reduce inventory at the gift shop so all those cool trinkets and books-totally on sale.

Also Sunday our friends at the LIC Community Boathouse brings us free walk up paddling on both canoes and kayaks at Hallets Cove. From 1-5, walk up and their experts will take you out and show you the ropes.

Sunday night Hell Gate Social they will be showing Street Trash- hopefully in the backyard garden if the weather permits. Starts at 8:30.

Chocolate Factory Theatre gives us the performance piece BOREDOM!!! (as amplifier). As well as an exhibit by Patrick Neal called Walls and Floors.

Art-O-Mat L.I.C. is proud to present the first presentation of sculpture in its gallery space, HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS: THE ART OF JANET NOLAN AND PAUL VILLINSKI, curated by Louise Weinberg.

The Weekender

Have you got plans for your mom all ready? The neighborhood abounds with brunch options: Brick Cafe, Grand Cafe, Cafe Bar, Mary Maguire's even Mundo is getting in on the action this year offering both brunch and a complimentary glass of champagne for mom. If you're planning dinner Brick, Locale, Cavo and Mundo are all excellent choices. Stop by Candy Plum to pick her up a one of a kind present. Or museum hop with her. Whatever you decide make it special and make it all about mom.

Before being the good son or daughter you all know you are head over to Waltz and be the good beer taster you know you are. Tonight at 9 for a participation fee of $15 sample 2 warm up beers and 5 tasting beers to help Waltz decide what to carry. Snacks and tunes provided as well.
Saturday Waltz has a double music bill happening with singers Nicole Collins and Jenn Friedman. 9pm start, $5 cover and a one drink minimum. I call that a deal.

Hellgate Social has DJ Moses spinning tonight and DJ Lo-Fi spinning tomorrow. They also have an as yet not disclosed movie Sunday night.

Don't forget that the Water Taxi Beach is open these lovely weekends leading up to the unofficial start of summer-Memorial Day.

Starting this weekend, yoga and tai chi return to Socrates Sculpture Park and they are joined by Capoeira (a lively martial art that originated in Brazil over 450 years ago. Self-defense techniques are concealed by graceful dance moves and spectacular acrobatics set to music.)
Yoga is Saturdays 11-12. Capoeira is right after from 12-1:30. And Tai Chi is Sundays at 11:00.

Tickets are now available for the Chocolate Factory Theatre's benifit Taste of LIC.

Make it a good one!

The Weekender

These days are not meant to be sitting in front of an office computer looking longingly out the window at another building. T minus how long until lunch...the weekend?

Tonight is the opening of APAC's newest show A New Brain. "A comical musical about a composer named Gordan who faces a dramatic health crisis. At the time when he is struck by illness, he is reluctantly composing a song for a children's television show featuring a frog (Mr. Bungee). The specter of this large green character and the unfinished work haunts him throughout his medical ordeal. Gordan learns to appreciate life's precious moments, and finds new inspiration to compose the songs he yearns to produce." Showtime is at 8. Click the link for the other performance dates and location.

As of tomorrow at noon the Water Taxi Beach is open for business (weekends only in May, and only as long as the weather is good). Stop on down for some beer and a dog and just look at the skyline.

Also, Saturday, 10 AM at Gantry State Plaza Park break out the bike and participate in the Green Queens: Estuary Wading & Cycling Adventure sponsored by our good friends at Astoria/LIC Waterfront Parks Catalyst Project of Partnerships For Parks. The 5 mile, 3 hour tour (3 hour tour...sorry it got stuck in my head) will cover local waterfront parks, visit a fantastic natural beach on the East River, and tour Build It Green! Afterwards, stick around at Hallets Cove for a water quality workshop sponsored by the New York Soil & Water Conservation District and Partnerships for Parks. The introductory workshop will explore human impacts on water quality through hands-on tests of physical and chemical water properties using scientific field instruments.

You can also check out the Magic of Astoria craft fair taking place over at the United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St. At 30th Rd). 40 vendors will be selling their wares such as jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, knitware, candles and more! I love supporting local craftiness! Check it out from 10-6pm.

I've fallen in love with having a late Sunday brunch at Mary Maguires. What better way to spend a lazy Sunday than having a nice leisurely brunch that comes with unlimited mimosas? Seriously, they give you a pitcher. Yes, a pitcher...a mini one if you are the only alcoholic at the table. I believe the brunch price is $12.95 (brain fart at the moment. I left my notebook at home). If you get there close to 4 you get either the brunch or the dinner special. Sundays (and Thursdays) they have a 2 for 1 dinner special where you and your hunny, or roomie or buddy, or some random stranger can enjoy dinner for a total of $16.95 for the both of ya.

Sunday Socrates Sculpture Park opens up it's newest exhibit LIC, NYC celebrating all the awesome art we have in the neighborhood. Our friends at Flux Factory and Isamu Noguchi will be well represented along with others.

Wind up your Sunday testing your brain power against other locals at the Irish Rover pub quiz at 7.

In Neighborhood news and gossip: It seems like Fatty's has finally gotten the liquor lisence for Cresent and Wine (both Ditmars @ Crescent) and they'll be opening next week.
Congrats guys!
Make it a great one!