Astorian Weekend Edition - February 23
By Sooz of Joey in Astoria

Friday night go exploring. There's a new kind of performance space/venue in the area, and it goes by the name: Last Resort Art Space (8-63 Astoria Blvd). The show gets started around 9 p.m. and a $4 donation is suggested - a small price to pay for a hot new party! P.S. It's BYOB, so don't show up empty handed.

The Ditmars area has gained a lovely eclectic furniture shop. Nooks & Crannies (Ditmars, between 29th and 31st Sts) has joined Inside Astoria (37-20 Ditmars Blvd) in the ranks of "new" non-bank/nail salon/$.99 shops! It's a pretty small space that used to be a dry cleaners, but seeing as how the stock moves really quickly -- they restock constantly -- there is always something new/old and affordable to catch your eye. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, and no go on Sunday. Good news too, they take donations, so feel free to recycle your old kitchen chairs there.

After visiting and loving Il Bambino and all the deliciousness there, I sought out many of the ingredients to try at home. Luckily Dave & Tony's Salumeria (35-18 30th Ave) is not only open on Sundays (8 a.m.-1 p.m.), but they carry yummy gorgonzola dolce and my other new favorite, speck ($11 a pound is so do-able). Grab some crusty bread and there you go, a perfect Sunday lunch.