BoroMagazine

BORO helps create ice cream flavor for the LIC Flea & Food

boromag — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:04:16 +0000

Opening day of the LIC Flea & Food

When LIC’s premiere ice cream and sweets shop, Malu, announced they would serving up a special new ice cream flavor for the LIC Flea & Food this summer, the public was invited to submit their ideas for a chance to have their flavor chosen. BORO is excited to announce that our very own Bradley Hawks conceived the winning flavor for the new Flea-tastic Sorbet!

“I thought suggesting a sorbet would be perfect, since the flea is outdoors all summer long,” explains Hawks. ”Sorbet is so refreshing, and also a great palate cleanser since people will be noshing on a whole variety of tempting eats in the heat. And what represents a summer market better than fruit and vegetables?” The Flea-tastic flavor Hawks suggested was cucumber melon, and the delicate sorbet actually has tiny pieces of each blended in, adding texture and little bursts of flavor. Thanks, Malu, for so deliciously developing a new summer flavor. “How awesome is this?” beams Hawks. “I can’t make ice cream to save my life. It’s beyond exciting to have my favorite ice cream shop turn my idea into something people enjoy all summer long!”

The LIC Flea & Food runs Saturdays and Sundays all summer long, from 10am – 6pm at 5-25 46th Ave in Long Island City. Check the website for directions, as well as ferry/shuttle info.

Malu is located at 12-09 Jackson Ave in Long Island City. www.malulic.com

Flea-tastic Cucumber Melon Sorbet

It may not be CitiBike, but it’s an option…

boromag — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:03:42 +0000

From this week’s press release from Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer:

As New York City’s new Bike-Share network, CitiBike, has taken off, attracting over 36,000 members and nearly 200,000 rides in just two weeks, other portions of the five boroughs have yet to be integrated into the “City-wide” initiative.

On June 13^th, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer rallied with leaders of Western Queens’ cultural, civic and business sectors to call for the expansion of CitiBike into Long Island City as well as other neighborhoods of Western Queens in an effort to provide residents with an alternate mode of transportation.

Western Queens has become one of New York City’s hottest destinations,” said Council Member Van Bramer. “The inclusion, and an eventual expansion, of the CitiBike program in Western Queens will give millions more of New Yorkers as well as tourists, both domestic and foreign, an exciting and healthy viable transportation option to visit our growing small businesses, world renowned cultural venues, and thriving neighborhoods. Until Queens locations are included into the map we cannot call CitiBike a city-wide bike share program. Queens deserves its fair share of blue bikes and we are here to let it be known, “We want bike share!”

In the meantime, consider this option available already (story from the June issue of BORO):

“The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world” (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)

The moment Tobey Maguire’s voice narrates that quote as the optimistic Nick Carraway in Baz Luhrmann’s recent film interpretation of The Great Gatsby, anyone who has ever been to New York City is immediately plunged into a whole maelstrom of sensory memories. Those who live—or have lived—here suddenly revisit an entire host of emotions. The potency of that westward view from the Queensboro bridge—the full span of Manhattan from tip to tip, the aching memory of the towers, the way the remaining bridges and buildings stencil patterns and silhouettes into the skyline—it can be magical. It is doubtful any other skyline in the world can simultaneously evoke wonder, fear, anticipation, hope, doubt, love, laughter, anxiety, a sense of accomplishment, failure, destiny, dreams, ambition, loneliness, belonging, poetry, music, food, literature, and every imaginable facet of life quite the way the New York skyline can.

In addition to marathon runners (the bridge is the first entry point into Manhattan), those blessed to live east of the Big Apple soak in the view from the windows of the N & Q train as it bends into Queensboro Plaza like a descending roller coaster, elevated high above Northern Boulevard and the mouth of one of the city’s remaining toll-free bridges. But for those who wish to drink in the beauty of the view without a car, subway fare, or a taxi ride into the city, consider the pedestrian and bicycle trail along the northern stretch of the lower level, beginning near Crescent Street. Could there be a better way to explore the century old bridge and its iconic views?

In fact, L.I.C. Bikes (at 25-11 Queens Plaza) offers extremely affordable rentals of several bicycle styles. Rentals start at $7 an hour, or $35 for the whole day. Helmets can be rented for an additional $5. Placing you directly at the opening of the Queensboro bike path, L.I.C. Bikes also provides complimentary bike maps, for those wishing to explore the boroughs, or perhaps Roosevelt Island. For an extra $1, guests can even bring a bicycle onto the East River Ferry at Hunter’s Point, to explore parts of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Governor’s Island.

L.I.C. Bikes
weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
25-11 Queens Plaza
(718) 47-BIKES

http://longislandcitybikes.wordpress.com

Eat a burger & keep theater thriving

boromag — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:19:37 +0000

What? APAC End-of-Season Celebration
When? June 26, 2013 5:30-8:30pm
Where? 5 Napkin Burger (35-01 36th St.)
Why? Help APAC meet their fundraising goals while celebrating the season

BORO is extremely proud to sponsor The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) End-of-Season Celebration. BORO is partnering with Kaufman Astoria Studios and We Heart Astoria to celebrate the end of APAC’s 12th season with a party at 5 Napkin Burger.

Join us! You’ll receive your first drink for free, free sliders, and drink specials. We’ll have a photo area and you can enter a raffle to win great prizes. Tickets are $20 each OR you can buy 2 tickets for $30. Tickets can be purchased here.

Why we need to celebrate with YOU.

In addition to producing really ambitious shows, APAC offers free community programs for children and senior citizens. With only 10% of their overall budget coming from box office sales, APAC’s work depends on the generosity of grantors, friends and community members…

These events are a great opportunity for people to meet other people who value arts and culture in Astoria. If this is the first you’ve heard of APAC, but want to get involved, you can get to know the APAC staff.

APAC set some ambitious fundraising goals at the end of this year, and they’re very close to meeting them! Their fiscal year ends June 30th, and they’re looking to raise an additional $2000, as they celebrate the end of their season.

Come join us!

Memory-driven menu: an interview with Michael Psilakis

Bradley Hawks — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:04:23 +0000

MP Taverna has officially opened on Ditmars like a mighty fortress dedicated to Greek cuisine. From meatballs to a pomegranate seed bulgur salad, to Greek paella and lamb sausages, to scallops with dried cherries in brown butter—the menu blends traditional Greek food with an American approach to cooking. BORO recently sat down for a private dinner with James Beard award-winning celebrity chef and owner, Michael Psilakis, where he shared his reasoning behind offering whole animal roasts on the menu (requiring five days advanced notice), and how the process reveals an entirely different approach to cooking. The following quote is an excerpt from that evening’s conversation.

“[Roasting whole animals] is something I did a lot as a child. When I first started in a professional kitchen, it was very much an art form. Like a painter uses a canvas, the plate was my canvas. And food for me was very articulate and cerebral.”

“When my father passed away, I stopped using food in that sense, and I started using it in the same manner that he did. It was just a platform for gathering. So the food became secondary to the relationship that you had with one another.

“The year that my father passed away I was out in my mother’s backyard cooking a lamb on a spit—traditional for Greek Easter—and I was there with my son, who is 3 years old. Like my father had taught me—in order for the seasoning to stick, you just wet the lamb with water. I told [my son] to cup his hand just like my father had done when I was a little boy—there was déjà vu going on—the water was hitting his hands, and hitting him, hitting me… he was giggling and laughing and having a good time, but during this whole time I was sad because I was looking at him and thinking, ‘you’re never gonna know dad… never gonna know your grandfather… never gonna know how special he was…’ and as I’m watching the water hit his hands I’m looking at it and all of a sudden I was like I was looking at my hands forty years earlier. It blew me away.”

“That’s when I realized, ‘oh my God, I’m using food all wrong.’ I knew at that moment I had made my father proud. But I also felt that my father knew that the moments we were sharing when I was a kid—him teaching me how to roast a lamb or scale a fish… It wasn’t just about the how to cook a lamb. It was really learning lessons about life. And how important it is sharing time with one another.”

“I hope Astoria grabs on to just coming here and having a beer if they want to. Or have a meal. It doesn’t matter what you come to this restaurant for. What matters is that you’re bringing people to share that experience with.”

MP Taverna, 31-29 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, Queens, (718) 777-2187, mptaverna.com.

Fitness as simple as ABC

boromag — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:02:02 +0000

Bokwa class at the Matrix

Story by Hayley Bridgewater

Having been a dancer and athlete most of my life, I have always been intrigued to experience various dance techniques, attempt the latest fitness trend, and try my hand at any competitive sport. I am that girl racing to the nearest studio or gym to sweat buckets in Bikram, channel my inner Van Damme, and hinge my face off while pretending my diminutive frame belongs in Ailey’s ‘Revelations.’ We can all dream, right?

So when I heard the rumblings of a popular world- wide fitness craze called Bokwa, I knew I would have to try it for myself. My cousin Tiffany—a fitness professional in the Midwest—had sent me video clips of a class, and insisted I find somewhere to try it. My search was short and quite productive. Apparently Bokwa is already present in Astoria and collecting fans, thanks to the efforts of Crystal Varellas (Bokwa Education Specialist, NY), Jamie Drye (Bokwa Education Specialist Trainer, CT) and Francesca Santangelo (Dance/Fitness Educator and Personal Trainer). Luckily for me, my local gym just happened to be adding it to the schedule. Considering it a sign, I was off to try my hand (or feet) at this rapidly-growing cardio phenomenon.

What is Bokwa?

Developed by Los Angeles-based fitness personality, Paul Mavi, Bokwa was born from his background as a South African dancer and musician. Set to energizing and addictive music, Bokwa is a combination of basic boxing moves—‘bo’—and South African Kwaito dance style—‘kwa’. It is a structured cardio conditioning class with elements of strength training and flexibility packaged in a dance party atmosphere.

The class is suitable for all ages, from tiny kids to older adults, and does not require the coordination that sometimes keeps people away from dance-based activities. The steps are structured around tracing numbers and letters on the floor with your feet. Once this collection of steps is taught, the class follows hand signals presented by the instructor, indicating the number or letter being used. The steps can be layered, sped up and slowed down to provide a well-rounded workout.

In fact, Bokwa is currently the only fitness system that uses a combination of American Sign Language and Bokwa hand signals to teach and cue the class participants, making it an ideal class for the hearing impaired.

The Bokwa Experience

Taught by the magnetic powerhouse that is Francesca Santangelo, I had the great opportunity of experiencing two Bokwa classes. The first was in an environment with people that had a few classes under their belt, followed by a first-time class for newcomers. Having attended some of her other classes, I knew I was in for a treat.

Francesca has an extensive background in dance, choreography, fitness, and costuming. You name it, she probably teaches it, and with some seriously electric energy. “As an instructor, I find it always a challenge to turn members on to a new format,” explains Santangelo. “The theory of using sign language to produce movement captured my curiosity. And Bokwa provides the flexibility to arrange these steps in any order, which inspires and excites me. It keeps me on my toes!»

During my first class, I picked up the choreography quickly, accompanied by counts in my head, much like I would have approached an audition or dance rehearsal. I let myself get caught up in the enthusiasm of my fellow classmates drawing from their previous exposure to Bokwa. I was aware of the letters and signaling, but found myself focusing on the steps and the music. All too soon, the hour was over and the class was a sweaty, happy bunch.

Since my second Bokwa experience was an introductory class, I wanted to wipe my mind clear, and focus on learning by the letters and shapes. I have to admit, this was difficult for me—but seemingly not so for a majority of the class. As Francesca broke down and led repetitions of each letter, solidified the corresponding hand signals, and varied the music tempos, the class– comprised of all ages and abilities—became a cohesive moving unit. By the end of the hour, steps had been layered, and everyone was smiling in party mode. «It can be taught to anyone,» she reminded me, «it has universal appeal.»

Yes, the music is great. Yes, the steps are fun. Yes, you are getting a great workout. But the great success of Bokwa is that it is super accessible. Whether learning by shape, pattern, choreography, or counts—whether you are a kid or adult, fitness newbie or seasoned professional—Bokwa is a fantastic class, and an exciting new addition to the Western Queens fitness scene.

Francesca Santangelo, Instructor

Local Bokwa Classes

Matrix Fitness club
matrixfitnessclub.com
43-60 Ditmars Blvd
astoria, NY 11105
(718) 267-8989
Francesca Santangelo (instructor)

The Rock
therockhealthandfitness.com
22-15 31st street
astoria, NY 11105
(718) 204-1400
Francesca Santangelo (instructor)

Simply Fit
simplyfitastoria.com
37-16 astoria blvd south
astoria, NY 11103
(347) 639-0489
Jamie Drye (instructor)

Gym-mazing
27-14 23rd ave
astoria, NY 11105
(347) 455-3661
Crystal Varellas (instructor)

How Pride can foster progress

Bradley Hawks — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:46:36 +0000

Photo by Jesse Winter

Two weeks ago, France’s first gay couple said ‘oui’ in a ceremony broadcast to the entire nation. In the U.S. same sex marriage is legal in only twelve states. An issue on which the fifty states are clearly less than united, the legalization of gay marriage promises to remain a hot topic for the unforeseeable future. Jimmy Van Bramer—the New York City Council Member representing Western Queens—is celebrating his one-year anniversary next month to husband, Dan Hendrick. Van Bramer is one of only four openly gay members of the New York City Council. Considering June is the month of Gay Pride in both Queens and New York City, Boro sat down with the Council Member for a very personal interview.

BORO: You ran for City Council as an openly gay candidate, so you were elected into office with your sexuality already public knowledge. Do you think it would be more difficult for someone already in office to come out, having been elected as an assumed heterosexual?

JVB: I think that might be very difficult. Personally, when I came out of the closet in 1989 and made the decision that was how I would live my life—that was certainly the only way I could live my life, was to be honest with everyone about who I was. I know that’s the right decision for me. You want to be honest with everyone, first and foremost, and if you get into office being dishonest about who you are and then have to come clean, well that is probably a pretty gut-wrenching moment. The best way to avoid that is to be out and honest to people about who you are. I think whether or not people agree or disagree, they will have more respect for you because you have that integrity.

BORO: In an ideal world, a discussion of sexuality would be irrelevant. But because we are still tragically far from universal equality and tolerance, how important is it to you to make it a topic of discussion?

JVB: I think it depends on the audience and situation, but I think that the more I can weave the story of my life into discussion just as any person would who is heterosexual and married, I think it has this effect of demystifying it. When I talk to high schools, in particular, I will tell my coming out story, and I do that because I know that somewhere in the audience there is probably a gay or lesbian teen who is still struggling with their sexual orientation, and I want them to know there is hope.

BORO: Though your sexuality has no bearing on your ability to fulfill your responsibilities as a council member, how frequently are you ‘made aware’ of it or of others’ awareness of it?

JVB: I am never not aware of my sexual orientation—it’s a part of my identity. Just as I am a product of a working class family in Astoria and grew up Catholic. I carry all of those pieces of identity with me all of the time, so I never check out of being gay.

BORO: In what ways have you experienced discrimination?

JVB: I was denied the right to get married for thirteen years. I am still denied the right to be fully married and fully equal under the law as it relates to the federal government. So I got married last July, and then I filed taxes for the first time as a married gay man. And the state recognizes my marriage as legal. The federal government does not. So we had to file two separate tax forms. We had to pay more money to an accountant who understood the challenges and implications for gay married couples in a state that does but a country that doesn’t recognize that as legal. So we are still discriminated against in that sense.

You very rarely see two men walking down the street holding hands, for example. Part of that is because some people are afraid that if they did that people might stare, maybe they would say something, and in a worst-case scenario they might actually get physically attacked. So I think each day gets better—I am a very hopeful and optimistic person—but until gay and lesbian couples feel comfortable holding hands walking down the street where they live—everywhere—we still have a ways to go toward having a world where everyone is completely accepted and equal.

BORO: In light of recent hate crimes (and history, in general), what can concerned members of the community do to prevent hate crimes and promote tolerance?

JVB: I think about this a lot and I think a lot of people are thinking about this right now. I don’t think people should feel responsible for everything or believe that we have the ability to stop everything—particularly those in the moment. But what I think all of us can do—gay or straight—is to work to create a world that does not permit anti-gay words and epithets to be spoken, challenging homophobia when we see it and when we hear it. For so many years you’d be in a room or you’d overhear a conversation where someone would say ‘fag this’ or ‘dyke that’ and you wouldn’t say anything. I think that’s changing. I think that by being out and by being who we are we touch people, we change hearts and minds. They get to know us and understand us.

LIC Flea & Food vendors announced

boromag — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 23:19:59 +0000

It is finally here—June 15^th marks the highly-anticipated launch LIC Flea & Food, a brand new market running every weekend throughout the summer, showcasing some of the city’s finest artists and vendors, making Long Island City a summertime destination for visitors from all five boroughs and beyond.

The market is located at the corner of 46^th Avenue and 5^th Street in Long Island City. Visit www.liceflea.com for directions, ferry and shuttle information, and details about how to become a vendor.

BORO is thrilled to bring you an exclusive sneak peek at just a small portion of the starting lineup. We asked these charter participants to share a little about what they will be selling at the market, as well as why they are excited to be a part of this exciting new venture.

Butcher Bar | 37-08 30th Ave | (718) 606-8140 | www.butcherbar.com

“LIC get ready for some serious BBQ! We’re bringing our brand new Smoker to the LIC Flea & Food! We’ll be there every weekend, Saturdays & Sundays all the way till October! Hope to see you all there.”

Butcher Bar's new toy will be smoking at the Flea

Sweetleaf | 4615 Center Blvd, Long Island City | (347) 527-1038 | sweetleaflic.com

“We will be selling our 3 signature drinks: Rocket Fuel (cold-brewed coffee with chicory and maple milk), Voo Doo Child (cold brewed coffee with condensed milk and homemade sweet cream), and Strawberry Iced Tea (lemon black iced tea with strawberry puree). We are excited about the exposure LIC is going to get. The neighborhood has really blossomed and I’m proud to show people what we have to offer”

Mitchmallows | (212) 645-1121 | www.mitchmallows.com

“We will be serving up many of our uniquely flavored handcrafted mallows including the creamsicle, churros, mallopolitans and ginger wasabi mallows just to name a few… and the ridiculously delicious BLT S’MORE– a tomato flavored marshmallow on a crostini with a slice of applewood smoked bacon on top. Mitchmallows are shipped all over the country, but as they are created in LIC, the Food & Flea gives us the opportunity to showcase our amazing handcrafted marshmallows to our hometown crowd!”

DeepCuts | (646) 422-9720 | deepcuts.storenvy.com

“I’ll be selling canvas tote bags featuring my own art and design work. The LIC Food & Flea is really the launching point for my business, so everything about this feels new and exciting for me. I’m most excited for the customer feedback and business insight.”

The Chocolate Swirl | (718) 407-0034 | www.thechocolateswirl.com

“We’ll be selling our line of brownie & cake pops—over 25 flavors including ‘Booze-y’ alcoholic pops, ice cream cone pops, and our new girl scout cookie Samoa and thin mint pops. We’ll also have our deluxe Brownies—6 flavors including our most popular caramel pretzel brownie. Since we are based our of Astoria & LIC we are super excited for such a larger and more high profile market to be right in our backyard. We can’t wait to further connect with the community—it will give us a more semi-permanent outlet for our products.”

Luke’s Lobster | Locations in NY, Philly, & DC | www.lukeslobster.com

Luke’s will be selling their famous, fresh lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and crab rolls. “We’re excited to bring a fresh taste of Maine to Long Island City!”

Harold & Maude Vintage | haroldandmaudevintage.tumblr.com

“We will be selling 40s to 80s men and women’s authentic vintage clothing, such as ‘Gatsby’ party costumes. We look forward to meeting and sharing our world with new people in Long Island City.”

Alobar Restaurant | 46-42 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City | www.alobarnyc.com

“We will be serving ginger pulled pork sliders with pickled cilantro carrot slaw, fresh sweet corn & onion relish dogs, chorizo baked bean dogs, and the Alobar ‘Big Dog’—an all beef hot dog topped with the ginger pulled pork and pickled carrot slaw. The fact that we are 2 blocks away—it doesn’t get any more local than that! It’s a great way to get people that don’t already know LIC to come here and enjoy what the neighborhood has to offer.”

Chef Ian Kapitan from Alobar

Relevant Furniture | www.relevantfurniture.com | Winner of HGTV’s ‘Flea Market Flip’

“I’ll be selling kickass mid-century modern furniture, lighting, accessories and handmade Persian rugs. It will be a one-stop shop for modern, atypical, sophisticated home decor. I choose vintage pieces that are relevant now. I also restore old furniture and build new furniture out of solid wood. LIC is an untapped resource. I’m interested and looking forward to understanding the new demographic. I want to supply the modern furniture and handmade rugs that they are seeking.”

J&L Farms | 42 Old Church Rd, Monroe Twp, NJ | (908) 331-0467

“We will be selling our locally grown fruits and vegetables with an emphasis on heirloom varieties. We will also have fresh cut flowers. We are very excited to expand our markets and provide the residents of the greater LIC community with our high-quality locally grown produce and flowers.”

Vintage Robot | (347) 952-0640 | www.thevintagerobot.com

“I will be selling Made in America Robot apparel (t-shirts, onesies, bags, as well as, other garments) and Robot accessories (necklaces, earrings, rings, cuff-links, and bracelets) made from recycled computers, watches, remotes, and jewelry. While other boroughs have had similar events, Queens needed a large scale event to increase tourism and showcase the County. I look forward to being part of this new and exciting event and cannot wait to meet everyone who attends.”

JJs Asian Fusion | 37-05 31st Ave, Astoria | (718) 626-8888 | www.jjsfusion.com

JJs will be serving up a variety of their homemade dumplings with gourmet dipping sauces.

Floresta | 51-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC | (347) 642-8108 | florestanyc.com

Image from Florestanyc.com

Manducatis Rustica | 46-33 Vernon Blvd | (718) 937-1312 | www.manducatisrustica.com

Not only does Mamma Gianna have brand new bottles of her own virgin olive oil to sell… rumor has it she may have an even great surprise up her sleeves. We can’t wait to see what this Italian oven brings to the flea.

Blend LIC | 47-04 Vernon Blvd, LIC | (718) 729-2800 | www.blendlic.com

Just wait until you try the array of homemade empanadas from this Latin fusion kitchen.

New Yawk Baking Co. | (855) 639- 9295 |www.newyawkbakingco.com

“We are selling packaged gourmet cookies with seven different flavors (Chawcolate Chunk, Peanut Butta n’Jelly, Cran Oat, Mishmosh, Big Apple Caramel, Coco Mint, and Dulce de Leche). We are thrilled that LIC Flea & Food asked us to join their market. We’re thrilled to introduce our brand to Long Island City and seeing people’s reactions when we introduce our delicious cookies.”

Steve Tibaudo Bowties|www.steventibaudo.com

Steve Tibaudo Bowties will be selling 15 to 20 pre-tied bowties with funky, crazy colors and cool prints. “I’m really excited about the new opportunity of the LIC Flea. I’m pretty much launching my company with the flea market, this is really my coming out to Long Island City.”

from www.steventibaudo.com

Exclusive bar discount for BORO at The Thirsty Koala

boromag — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:05:45 +0000

Lamb Lollies at The Thirsty Koala with a glass of Chardonnay

The Thirsty Koala isn’t nearly as ‘thirsty’ now that it officially has its liquor license. The same hot spot that has been offering kangaroo burgers and continental Aussie cuisine is now serving beer, liquor, and wine. In celebration, The Thirsty Koala is offering two exclusive discounts to readers of BORO Magazine for the month of June (offer expires June 30).

1) 15% off the entire drink tab for customers sitting at the bar

2) 15% off any bottle of wine for customers dining in the restaurant with a minimum food bill of $30

All you have to do is ask for the discount you saw on BORO Magazine online.

While there are several wines and craft beers from Australia and beyond (try a bottle of Crabbies–a refreshing alcoholic ginger beer), co-owner and bar master Alex has whipped up an enticing list of specialty cocktails. Here’s a sneak peek at just four of the tasty concoctions now offered:

Give a Pash — a refreshing cocktail with rum, coconut juice, cucumber, lime, and cilantro.

Dingo — a bourbon ‘sour’ with chambord, agave nectar, and fresh lemon juice

Oi, Oi, Oi — Gin with fresh basil, cucumber syrup, elderflower liqueur, citrus, and soda

Hooley Dooley — Cachaca, lime, strawberries, raw sugar, and fresh basil

The Thirsty Koala
35-12 Ditmars
Astoria, NY 11105
(718) 626-5430
www.thirstykoala.com

Kangaroo burger with 'the lot'

Wig-filled parody of Tom & Katie opens tonight

boromag — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:09:29 +0000

Wendel (as Cruise) & Altomonte (as Cruz) in rehearsal

Alex Altomonte and Blair Wendel were working a restaurant shift together at Sugar Freak last summer when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes broke up, and they did what every other pop-culture-savvy pair of friends would do—they decided to write a play about it. “We got together on July 4th to see what would happen, began writing and almost a year later are puttin’ on the show,” explains Altomonte, a refreshingly down-to-earth comedian who plays the female characters with deadpan dry wit. Along with his partner, Wendel–who plays the male roles—the two embark on a wig-filled, whirlwind, one-hour satire, portraying over twenty characters, including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Suri Cruise, and Mary Hart.

The play’s title, TOMKAT, is derived from the notorious celebrity couple’s mash-up moniker. According to the TOMKAT Facebook page, the play is “an original hour-long parody about the ups, downs, and cray-cray of the brief union between Tom fist-pump-the-floor Cruise and Katie too-nervous-to-speak Holmes. Was Katie really brainwashed? Will Tom ever find true love? Is Suri too young to wear child kitten heels? How does Oprah really feel?”

More than just a four-performance event, TOMKAT The Play will serve as the launching performance for what Altomonte has developed into a sketch/ improv show following in the same vein. The comedy troupe, called the ‘Mock Stars’, aims to perform sketch shows based on pop culture, along with longer sketch shows staged as reality TV series, such as The Real Housewives and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Performances of TOMKAT are tonight through Sunday, at The Secret Theatre, located at 44-02 23rd Street in Long Island City. www.secrettheatre.com. Tickets are $10 in advance through Smarttix.com or $15 at the door.

Ready to recycle your fashion?

boromag — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:06:30 +0000

According to this report in Crain’s, the former Hallmark store at 29-16 Ditmars is set to become a popular consignment retailer–Buffalo Exchange–later this fall. This being the first location in Queens, the article claims the company was drawn to Astoroa’s influx of hip, young people.

From to the Buffalo Exchange website:

Buffalo Exchange is unique, because clothing and accessories are bought, sold and traded locally with store customers. Bring in your former favorites for trade or cash on the spot! Our ever-changing inventory includes designer labels, vintage, jeans, leather, current basics and one-of-a-kind items. You’ll also find brand new merchandise and accessories.

Our clothing is by the community, for the community. Buffalo Exchange stores are located in the heart of progressive, urban neighborhoods, minimizing pollution, congestion, habitat loss and urban sprawl. 80% of our clothing and accessories are bought directly from local customers.