Photo (c) John Roleke - Tunnel entrance
Got a new profile up of Fort Totten, plus photos, and while researching it, a great event came to my attention.
This Thanksgiving weekend (2009) the park rangers lead tours of the tunnels at the old fort. These are normally closed to the public.
Sure, it won't be as thrilling as real spelunking, but it sounds like a great Thanksgiving weekend activity. There's no shopping involved; it could keep a clot of 10-year olds enthralled; and the weather doesn't matter underground.
This weekend brings us Leaf Fest, right here at Astoria Park. The Astoria Park Alliance, working with the Queens Botanical Garden/Queens Compost Project, is collecting your fall leaves for compost (volunteers will turn the pile and gardeners will be able to partake in the compost come spring). Bring them with you to the Astoria Park parking lot on Sunday the 8th, between 11 a.m and 1 p.m., and volunteers will be happy to collect what you have. You'll be able to learn more about composting, too. If you can, please bring any non-perishable food items to donate to local food pantries. Leaf Fest continues on Sunday the 15th and 22nd, too.
Craving pork by chance? Head over to Sac's (25-41 Broadway) for the annual pig roast. Around 8 p.m. on Thursday night the pig (actually two of them) will be cooked to the point of juicy deliciousness, having roasted on a spit all day. Call 718-204-5002 for reservations on Thursday, November 5 and Thursday, November 12.
Rèst Âü Ránt (30-01 35th Ave), home of the diacriticals, is turning two this weekend! Saturday hails their anniversary party, complete with live music, specials, passed hors d'oeuvres, and more! Party starts at 9 p.m., yum.
Remember the crap weather on October 24th? It totally harshed the plans for It's My Park Day at Queensbridge Park, so much so that they had to postpone it! Good news: this Saturday's the day! The event starts at 10 a.m. and goes till 2 p.m. Consider registering if you're part of a group (contact greenshoresnyc@yahoo.com to register or if you have questions). Snacks and supplies will be provided for all volunteers.
Finally, Waltz Astoria (23-14 Ditmars Blvd) presents The Ultimate Singer-Songwriter Contest. Details for contestants are here, and it looks like it could be a really good time. The festivities start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and the Sunday finale starts at 8 p.m. Come see and support great local talent. Also try the pumpkin pie - it's totally NOM-able.
Updated: 11:20 p.m.
The race for mayor has been declared in Bloomberg's favor, but wait! The results are much, much closer than predicted. For outspending Thompson by millions and millions....such a close election must be a bitter pill for Bloomberg. He can take a third term, but can't claim a mantle of unsurpassed support.
John Liu has locked up the post of Comptroller. Congrats to Liu!
In City Council elections, it's a huge night for Republicans in Queens. The GOP in Queens is back. The GOP held its lone seat (Rockaways) and appears to have picked up 2 more - Flushing and College Point/Bayside.
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, you should see this as positive for the borough -- at least in my opinion. If local politics are dominated by one party, then local politicians are not challenged and slack in their service to us. Competition -- political or otherwise -- is healthy.
- Halloran, Republican defeats Kevin Kim and wins District 19, taking seat vacated by Avella.
- Republican Peter A. Koo defeats Yen S. Chou for City Council District 20. Koo takes the seat vacated by Liu.
- Ferrerras, incumbent, wins District 21
- Vallone, incumbent, wins District 22
- Weprin, newbie (brother of former), wins District 23
- Gennaro, incumbent, wins District 24
- Dromm, newbie, wins District 25
- Van Bramer, newbie, wins District 26
- Leroy Comrie, Jr., incumbent, wins District 27
- Thomas White, Jr., incumbent, wins District 28
- Koslowitz, newbie, wins District 29
- Crowley, incumbent, wins District 30
- Sanders, incumbent, wins District 31
- Ulrich, Republican incumbent, wins District 32
