The Weekender

Let’s just pretend I didn’t pay any attention to the weather forecast this morning, shall we?

Tonight check out (which I hope to do, if my date doesn’t work late) the awesome line up Waltz has for their Lady Songwriters Showcase. Annie Fitzgerald, Allison Cipris and Shannon Zell hit the stage tonight starting at 8pm for a $10 cover (links to their music on Waltz's site). While there I hope to try their new sangria, which sounds lovely. I’m in the market for a tried and true sangria recipe. I have a few (untried)but well, I’m afraid that it just won’t be good and I’ll have wasted a perfectly good bottle of wine. Anyone out there have one to share?

Also tonight, the Mezzo Comedy Club has 2 sets, one at 9 and one at 11. Check their site for all the funny folks and details.

Over the course of the weekend newcomer (and hot spot on my list to visit-ps damn you for opening up the street from my previous apartment after I moved!!) Winegasm offers a few fun things to do. Now some people have a problem with the name because of the other gasm it brings to mind. There's a store called Shoegasm and I don't hear anyone complaining. Place looks cute and who wouldn't welcome a nice wine bar to the Broadway area. In terms of relaxed non pub drinking 30th avenue is having all the fun, why not Broadway? So anyhoo, according to their website Thursday through Saturday enjoy happy hour from 5-7pm (a weekend happy hour, oh lovely) with 2 for 1 drinks and $15 Sangria pitchers (yay, another batch to try). A heads up for next Thursday 7-9pm "Around the World in 7 winesall inclusive food and wine tasting. I'll have to contact them and report back on cost and reservations. Since Waltz doesn't seem to be doing theirs anymore it's nice to know there's another one in the hood. Fridays are theme nights. What tonight is, I don't know! And weekends they're doing brunch, though the menu is not on the site. The only thing about them is, right now I think they are kind of pricey. But depending on their traffic and clientel we'll see how that evolves. I still want to try them out. I'll consider it part of my stimulating the economy (which reminds me to check if that came in yet).

There’s a couple of biking events going on this Saturday. Can you believe I actually forgot how to ride a bike? In all fairness, I was never any good. But as my friend Nikki learned the hard way after pulling me out of a few ditches and then me running her over on her bike yes, it is possible to forget how to ride. So this first event seems right up my alley! Well, if I still owned my pink Huffy that is. From 9am-5pm at the Recycle-A-Bicycle training center (corner of 46 Avenue and 5th Street) check out Savvy Cyclist. A free, one-day "introduction to cycling" program for adults and mature teens who want to improve their cycling skills. This class is ideal for new cyclists who want to learn the basics, those returning to cycling from a long hiatus, people who want to be more independent on their bike, and those who feel a little nervous while cycling in traffic. If you do not know how to ride a bike (that is, start, stop, balance and steer without falling down), this is not the right class for you. Participants must know how to balance and control a bicycle. More dates upcoming. Note that there is a $20 deposit for this. As long as you show up you won't be charged. Check out the site for all the deets.

For those of you who still have that skill check this out. Saturday (Rain or shine) Socrates Sculpture Park will present the first annual LIC Bike Parade (Registration 11:30 am Workshops Noon - 3 pm Parade 3 - 4 pm.). This free family and community event will invite children of all ages to explore the creative and functional potential of adaptive reuse, by using repurposed materials to repair and decorate their bikes! There will also be bike decorating, bike repair consultations, riding safety tips and helmet fitting. After all this the participants will parade their bikes around the park and down Vernon to Queensbridge Park. Pretty nifty.

Or if you're just not about the bikes just go to Socrates to gawk and to check out the new exhibit, Waste Not, Want Not.-a group exhibition themed around the interpretations and responses to the motivations, goals, realities, politics, and practices of recycling. It is an expansive exhibition encompassing many perspectives about the concepts and methodologies of adaptive re-use, and includes projects that address the creative transformation of the by-products of production and consumption. Whether celebrating the global trend toward “green” or critically examining the motives and results of a world-wide focus on sustainability, the works in this exhibition share a common practice of re-purposing wasted or cast off resources.

You know, Saturday is another big day in town for Green Events. We've got the 2 aforementioned bike events, the Socrates exhibit with a green theme and this: Astoria Stop 'N Swap 11am - 4pm at 3-17 26th Ave. (at 4th St ). Here's the deal bring: Gently used clothing, Plants, Kitchen items, Office supplies, Books and magazines, Games and toys Etc… Don't bring: Furniture/large items, Drugs/medications, Weapons/dangerous objects, Adult movies/magazines, Pets/pet hair covered items. You don't need to bring anything to take anything, but it might help if you brought a bag with you. A nice eco friendly reusable tote bag would probably work very well (sorry I've really been digging the ones I picked up at the Stop & Shop. Those suckers hold a lot, AND you can sling it over your shoulder). I may make my way up there to see what kind of books are lurking around. Even though I am running out of room on my bookcases.

Pub Quiz Sunday at the Rover-the Royal Wii will be in attendance in some form or another.

Neighborhood Scuttlebutt:
Hell Gate Social is now serving food. Well they have been for a few weeks. I just forgot to include it in the Weekender that corresponded. Oops! Here's what they have to offer:
beef: caramelized onion, shitake mushrooms, horseradish cream cheese onion stratto
turkey: applewood smoked bacon, avocado, charmoula aioli baguette
pork: pickled vegetables, cilantro, thai chili aioli baguette
vegetable: shitake mushroom, roasted tomato, caramelized onion, avocado onion stratto
salad: arugala, bacon, avocado, red onion, tomato vinegrette
Unfortunately everything seems to have something I can't have-meat (I don't eat red meat or pork and after 13 years without, it may kill me) Even the salad. Yes I see a vegetable option. I just happen to be violently allergic to mushrooms. Which is too bad since they are so good for you, and from what I have heard-tasty to boot. Between the meat and mushrooms I’m not cut out to be a food reviewer. (although I have a backlog of those to post for you).

And the Beer Garden is finally ready! Word on the street is that some Astorians took advantage of the lovely weather last weekend and got their beer on at the Garden. Sa-Weet!

Weather it's sunny or rainy this weekend, make it a great one folks (and yes I spelled whether incorrectly on purpose. Guess it's not a funny pun if I have to explain it, eh?).