Weekend Events in Queens — July 25-27, 2008
Friday
- 30th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer Pow Wow at Queens Farm Museum - July 25, 26, and 27 - Top Event
Saturday
- Warm Up at PS 1 - Saturdays through September 6
Astorian Weekend Edition - July 23, 2008
By Foodista of Joey in Astoria
Check out Summer Restaurant Week in Queens at high-end Water's Edge Restaurant (4-01 44th Dr, LIC, 718-482-0033). They're fussy and you need to put your credit card down for a reservation but the place guarantees an evening to remember (or at least a view).
Kafene (23-08 Hoyt Ave South, Astoria, 718-274-6525) is also a fun spot on the weekends. They offer delicious appetizers and drinks for a fair price, and the ambiance is fabulous. If you go for brunch, you can walk over to Astoria Park after, just a few blocks away.
If you have a pet or want to meet one of the cutest bulldogs named Oscar, visit The Jumping Bulldog (28-10 23rd Ave, Astoria) pet boutique on 23rd Avenue. Tanja the owner is lovely and welcoming, offering a friendly atmosphere, useful pet products, and even some adorable outfits for your four-legged friends.
Come on by to Astoria Park's The Great Lawn (Ditmars and 19th St)for the first annual Astoria Music Now festival. The event is free and will feature various music acts such as Little Creatures, Bliminal, Pop Mafia, I Am Darien, and more. This is a full day event, so come prepared to party from noon to 9 p.m.
Every Tuesday until August 26, enjoy Queens' finest artists and performers at the Live at the Gantries event series at Gantry Plaza State Park (50-50 2nd St, LIC, 718-786-6385). Next week features a concert from a student jazz ensemble from York College.
And don't forget to check out the free screening of We Need Girlfriends at LIC Bar (45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718-786-5400). Watch some of the episodes and even mingle with the talent on-site. Thursday, July 24, from 8 p.m.
- Previously on Joey in Astoria
- Neighborhood Profile - Astoria, Queens
Ukus - My Queens Restaurant Tip
A Reader Writes
I've got a restaurant in Queens that I've become a fan of to recommend to you. It's a Bosnian restaurant on 30th Avenue near 42nd Street in Astoria, Ukus (42-08 30th Ave, Astoria, 718-267-8587). They describe themselves on their business cards as a Balkan Pie and Grill (Cebabdzinica-Buregdzinica), so primarily focused on grilled meats and bureks.
I found it from a Village Voice review by food critic Robert Sietsema: A Pair of Bosnian Cafés Compete on a Queens Corner.
I'm sure that these places are particularly appreciated by meat-eaters, so as a vegetarian, my five-plus experiences enjoying Ukus aren't completely representative. The three things I've loved there are the amazing unique bread they bake (comes with the meat dishes I think), the fantastic huge chopped salad (tomato, cucumber, feta, onion, and romaine I think – all amazingly fresh with a zesty delicious dressing), and especially the baked-to-order spinach and feta burek.
Ukus is also always fun to go to, comfortable and friendly, a small restaurant usually filled with Bosnian families and young people. There's a lady who is ALWAYS working in the kitchen in her hairnet who looks like she's direct from the recently war-torn old country. I hope her life is better here. She runs a great kitchen.
- Mark Misrok
Queens Eats, Restaurant Roundup - Dee Thai Restaurant, Pa'Oun, Poodam's, Arepas Cafe, Xinjiang Lamb Skewer, Upi Jaya
- NY Mag's Eat Cheap 2008 is out and recommends a few in Queens
- Rising Thai
Dee Thai Restaurant (46-17 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside, 718-786-3137), Pa'Oun (53-21 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, 718-205-6063), and Poodam's (44-19 Broadway, Astoria, 718-278-3010) all receive laurels and get named the "new-Queens-Thai tour."
- Arepas and Empanadas
Cilantro-garlic is the word and the sauce at Venezuelan Arepas Cafe (33-07 36th Ave, Astoria, 718-937-3835).
- Beggars Can Be Choosers
The Xinjiang Lamb Skewer cart in Flushing Chinatown (41st Ave, east of Main St) is the "Critics' Pick" for best cheap meat on a stick in the city: "Meatier, smokier, and spicier, this skewer dominates."
- Word of Mouth: Best Indonesian in the city [Eating Translation]
Upi Jaya (76-04 Woodside Ave, Elmhurst, 718-458-1807) was the crowd consensus, at last weekend's Indonesian food bazaar, for the best Indonesian food in Queens (or NYC, I'll add). If you've never been, it's a nice place, and accommodating to newcomers to the cuisine.
- More - Restaurants in Queens
- And - Previously on Queens Eats
- Got Tips? - Email recommendations, openings, and closings to queens.guide@about.com
- Keep Up With Queens Eats - Newsletter and RSS
The Biggest Month? August in Queens
August is the biggest month of the year in Queens, New York, because August brings the US Open, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, to the borough's heart in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. And before the Open, there's Arthur Ashe Day, one of the best family events in NYC, and the Qualifying Tournament, one of the best deals for real tennis fans. If you haven't been to the Open, try it. You might find yourself a fan of a new sport. If you've been before, go again; we even might see Federer lose his crown (or set a new record for most consecutive US Open titles in the modern era of tennis).
If you're not at all interested in tennis, the borough still brings out a bunch of summer highlights: here are the best events in Queens this August. And don't forget WarmUp and Passport Friday nights. Enjoy your last full month of summer.
Photo (c) John Roleke - At the US Open, Elena DementievaMake the Most of Your Summer - Top 10 Summer in Queens
Summer is marching along, in spite of the heat...well, or because of the heat.
This July and August there's even more reason to keep your weekends local, as gas prices eat up your budget. So here's my annual take on the best things to do in Queens during the summer. Enjoy.
Got more ideas for keeping cool locally and saving gas this summer? Please share in the comments.
Photo (c) John Roleke - Lemon Ice King of CoronaWeekend Events in Queens — July 18-20, 2008
Top Pick of the Weekend
- Colombian Independence Day Festival - Biggest Party at Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Friday
- Brazil Night at Passport Fridays at QMA - Free Dance and Outdoor Movies at Queens Museum of Art - Fridays Through August 22
Saturday
- Warm Up at PS 1 - Saturdays through September 6
- Canoeing at Fort Totten Park and Lemon Creek Park and Kissena Park
Astorian Weekend Edition - July 17, 2008
By Sooz of Joey in Astoria
If you needed reminding, Winegasm (21-86 37th St) is a great place to check out Friday night for themed music nights. Take our word for it: the bacon-wrapped prunes are the bomb!
I was already a fan of Sai Organics (30-21 30th Ave), but now that I found out you can get some classes there, I think I love them even more! Saturday 2 to 5 p.m., catch the CSA/Greenmarket Class (Tickets are $85 each or $150 for two. $10 of every ticket to benefit The Hunger Action Network of New York State and The New York City Coalition Against Hunger). For more info and to rsvp, write to skoullias@gmail.com.
Random but I think a good bit to know -- we still have a tattoo parlor here! I thought they were all closed by now. Fat Cat Tattoos has a semi-new location under the subway line at 31-32 31St St. Stop in and get to know your local artist. Who knows what you could end up with, no need to head into the city!
And just because I love where I live, thought you would also enjoy this cute view of Astoria Park.
- Previously on Joey in Astoria
- Neighborhood Profile - Astoria, Queens
Queens Eats, Restaurant Roundup - My Kitchen, Luna de Juarez, Winegasm, El Anzuelo Fino
- My Kitchen [Eatery Row]
"Comfort food with class" at My Kitchen (106-17 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, 718-544-5644) wins praise, especially for the roast pork and almost candied chicken.
- Winegasm - A Group Tasting Worth Repeating [Joey in Astoria]
"Bacon wrapped prunes," excuse me? I'm still not convinced about getting beyond the name of Winegasm (31-86 37th St, Astoria, 718-932-3331). Judith continues her review at Foodista.
- Best Bites for Less: Luna de Juarez [Daily News]
Mexican food at Luna de Juarez (25-98 Steinway St, Astoria, 718-274-4350) is well-beyond the Tex-Mex, and the place is not a simple taco takeout but a real sit-down restaurant. The Daily News recommends the soups: "rich chicken broth fragrant with lime, cilantro and corn."
- Off the Beaten Path: Serious Ceviche at El Anzuelo Fino [Serious Eats]
Delicious photo and description of the ceviche -- I'm guessing flounder-esque white fish -- at the new Jackson Heights branch of Peruvian El Anzuelo Fino (86-01 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, 718-426-8660; and 98-01 Jamaica Ave, Woodhaven, 718-846-0909).
- Best. Empanada. Ever. and Sacrificing for Fuego [Shauna Eats Sunnyside]
Shauna eats corn-based empanadas at Antojitos Colombianos Restaurant (54-08 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside).
- More - Restaurants in Queens
- And - Previously on Queens Eats
- Got Tips? - Email recommendations, openings, and closings to queens.guide@about.com
- Keep Up With Queens Eats - Newsletter and RSS
Billy Joel Sings Farewell to Shea Stadium
I don't think they could have picked a more Long Island musician than Billy Joel to play the final concerts at Shea. Both evenings sold out almost as fast as they went on sale, and there'll be plenty of folks who grew up with the Mets and the Piano Man taking an emotional walk into Gates A, B, and C.
A NY Times article, "Just the Way He Is," captures the musician's career and special place in the hearts of Long Islanders (and, yes, technically, Queens is on Long Island).