Perfect Weather Labor Day Weekend
Queens Expects Great Weather Labor Day Weekend
September 2, 2010 / Queens Buzz. EXCEPT FRIDAY. This weekend the weather will be nearly perfect with the highs around 80 and the lows in the 60's and 70's. Sunny every day except Friday which will be cloudy and with a 60% - 70% of showers.
We posted the September Queens Events calendar with new graphics to make it easier to navigate. When in the calendar, click the links as noted below in parentheses to go to the section of the calendar containing that event.
The U.S. Open goes on through the weekend [sports]. This is the last weekend to use public pools [sports]. The public parks and golf courses are open [sports]. So are most of the Queens art museums [art]. Most live theaters appear closed. There are a few wine tastings in the borough [Members Calendar].
On Saturday PS1 hosts its last Warm Up Party in LIC beginning at 2 pm [art]. Also in LIC at the Flux Factory on Saturday and Sunday there are a couple of exhibits by departing artists [art]. On Sunday there's kyaking along the East River [sports].
On Monday in Flushing there's an Asian 'Feastival' which in this case is a guided tour through some Asian delights which begins at 1 pm [Dining]. And there's always good shopping and dining throughout the borough, for which you can find maps and home pages containing slide shows of merchandise, food and ambiance in each neighborhood section located along the left side bar. Enjoy a beautiful Queens three day weekend.
Things To Do Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Weekend 2010 In Queens
August 30, 2010 / Queens Buzz. Ah yes, the fall season is finally upon us. The rustling of leaves under foot, while the bright browns, yellows and reds emanate color above us. Cooler, drier air. Crispy days. Warmer clothing and more of it. Fall fashions, food fairs, film festivals and street fairs. Art exhibit openings, garden rock concerts, dance and theater ... all begin anew.
This Labor Day there's plenty to do. We'll be posting the September Events calendar early for the first time in quite a long while - perhaps ever. But in the meantime here's a compendium of things to do the Labor Day Weekend so you can begin planning for a nice three day weekend in yours and my favorite borough, the borough of Queens in NYC.
Click here to see a compendium of things to do Labor Day 2010 in Queens - To be posted shortly.
Steinway Mansion Up For Sale
Lincoln Era Mansion & Queens History To Be Sold
Astoria / August 20, 2010 / Queens Buzz. On Wednesday afternoon I set to work on this story after returning from a fascinating four hour visit with Michael Halberian, owner and whose family occupied, the Steinway Mansion for the past 82 years. The mansion is located in Astoria, just north of 19th Avenue on 41st Street [map link provided at end of story].
I felt like I'd stepped through a time warp, back into the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The visit connected me to one of the legendary centerpieces of Queens history - the Steinway family and the mansion they occupied during their golden years ... but the mansion's history neither starts nor ends there.
Michael regaled me with anecdotal tales supported by the many books off his shelves, or by pointing to numerous remnants of the past, kept in pristine shape in this beautiful old Astoria mansion on the hill overlooking the East River.
Click here to read more about the Steinway Mansion For Sale In Astoria Queens.
Islam In America / Ramadan 2010
Ramadan Begins Holiest Month Of The Muslim Year
Astoria, Woodside & Jackson Heights / August 10, 2010 / Queens Buzz. On Tuesday night, August 10th, the month of Ramadan began. Ramadan is the holiest month of the year to Muslims and coincides with the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar which is based on the actual rotations of the moon. The moon actually circles the earth about 12 1/3 times per year. Western countries, such as the United States, work according to the Gregorian calendar which originated as a lunar calendar, but was later modified to provide more standardized dates to correspond with the seasons.
Ramadan is a month long period when Muslims are asked to fast and abstain from sexual activities from sunrise to sunset. During this thirty day period they are also required to increase their attendance at mosques, during which time verses are recited from the Koran, so that by the time Ramadan is over, the entire Koran has been read. The intent of the month is to spiritually cleanse onesself and get closer to god [Allah].
These practices bear many similarities to other religions, including Judaism and Christianity. In Christianity during the Lenten season which lasts forty days, Christians are asked to abstain from some personally chosen worldly desires. During Yom Kippur Jews are asked to fast for a day. And in all three religions, these abstinent periods coincide with the holiest time of the year.
Approximately 300,000 Queens residents and about one billion people worldwide are Muslims. The photo above is of a history book which includes numerous translations of original Islamic texts assembled by Professor William McNeill of the University of Chicago and upon which much of our report is based. Click here to learn more about Islamic culture, Muslims & Mosques in Queens NY.
Dragon Boats Grace Meadow Lake
August 8, 2010 / Flushing / Queens Buzz. Perfect weather contributed to a high turn out to the Dragon Boat Races held on Meadow Lake. The lake is located just south of Queens Theatre In The Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. There was a main stage which hosted bands, tents galore selling food & beverages and other things. But the main spectacle were the ancient Chinese dragon boat races. Each boat had a team of oarsmen [and women] and a drum beater sitting at the front of the boat to help them keep time and a tillerman at the back of the boat to steer it. Unfortunately the press boat capsized, but since I wasn't in it, I'll post a report and photos for you to enjoy by Monday.
JAMS Festival Attracts Tens Of Thousands
August 8, 2010 / Jamaica / Queens Buzz. The JAMS Street Festival covers over 15 blocks and is one of the largest street fairs in Queens. We counted three stages upon which numerous live bands played a wide range of music including the Motown sound, Reggae, Afro-Caribbean, jazz and rock. Meanwhile the crowd consisted of a spicy mix of Caribbean, Afro-American, Indian and Middle Easterners. There were a number of street shoppers / browsers of European descent too. We'll post a bit more on this event earlier this week.
Bix Delights Crowd
August 8, 2010 / Sunnyside & Woodside / Queens Buzz. Bix Beiderbecke, legendary jazz musician, reappeared in Sunnyside on Saturday afternoon. A group of musicians, drawn together by Sunnyside musician / artist Paul Maringelli, played a number of classic pieces from the 1920's to the delight of a large crowd which had gathered on 46th Street just off Queens Blvd. Canvas tent tops were set up to shield the audience from the hot sun and to good effect, as many stayed for the entire three hour concert.
Richard Meier Model Museum
New Architectural Model Museum In LIC
August 2, 2010 / Long Island City LIC / Queens Buzz. This past week we had the opportunity to visit the Richard Meier Model Museum in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. The museum began as a storage area for the models made and used by world famous architect Richard Meier, during the architectural design process. In the museum you will see some of the great buildings he's designed over his long career, such as the billion dollar Getty Museum in Los Angeles or the Smith House in Darien Connecticut. But there's much more ...
The museum reminded me a bit of the Noguchi Museum, where the artist had a vision of his own lasting legacy. In visiting the museum, I felt I not only had the opportunity to view the architectural process as managed by one of the great modern architects, but also to become a bit more acquainted with the man himself. Laura Galvanek, guide and curator, took me on this fascinating journey through the Richard Meier Model Museum [LIC / Queens NY].
Queens Reggae Festival Cancelled
7th Annual Irie Jamboree - On Hiatus Until 2011
July 2010 / Jamaica / Queens Buzz. Queens most popular annual reggae festival has been cancelled this year. The seventh annual Irie Jamboree will NOT occur in Roy Wilkins Park on Labor Day Weekend 2010. Event organizers cited several reasons, but it appears the most significant was economic / sponsorship funding. Event organizers exhausted potential options, before reaching the decision to cancel the event this year. They also asked us to communicate thanks to all of those who worked on, and / or supported the reggae festival, which they intend to revive Labor Day Weekend of 2011. The photo shown is of a performance given at the Irie Jamboree in 2009 and contains a link to our coverage of the Irie Jamboree.
Queens Farmers Markets / Street Fairs
Many Farmers Markets Are Open
Queens Street Fairs Began In Earnest
Updated September 2 / Queens Buzz. Click the link below for a listing of the Queens Street Fairs schedule of dates and maps showing their locations. In the events calendar you'll find a listing of the street fairs in the month as well as a listing of most of the fresh farmers markets in the borough. 
For both postings, we have added additional information to enhance your shopping outings, including information about local food and wine stores with links to many advertiser supported home pages on this site which include slide shows of local shops' inventory.
Click here for our updated posting of Queens Street Fairs - Queens NY. A listing of the Queens Farmers Market schedule of openings may be found in the Queens Events calendar.
Queens Jobs Market Bests NYC & U.S.
Queens Unemployement Rates / Updated September 2, 2010 / December 2009. Unemployment has been declining this year in Queens. The unemployment rate in Queens is about 1 full point better than it was a year ago, at about 8 1/2 percent. We'll include more on this at a later date.
This report outlines the general dynamics of the Queens Jobs market. Included in this report is a look at the composition of Queens industries and labor market. It appears that the employment picture in Queens improved from the summer into the fall, but in the December report unemployment ticked back up again. Click here to read our full report about the jobs market in Queens NY. Click here to read the whole story about the Queens jobs market, including an overview of the size and diversity of Queens jobs market.
LIC Real Estate AppraisalReal Estate Prices & Availability Discussed LICBDCLong Island City LIC / Queens / May 19, 2010. I attended a breakfast hosted by the Long Island City Business Development Corporation [LICBDC] which focused on real estate. They had a panel of four knowledgeable speakers, all of whom presented differing perspectives on the current and long term prospects for real estate in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Click here to read our report on real estate prices and inventory in Long Island City LIC. |
Queens Real Estate
Real Estate In Queens Neighborhoods: Astoria, Jackson Heights, Long Island City LIC Neighborhood, Sunnyside, Woodside
Queens NY / December 2009. This is a report on the Queens real estate market in Queens for the latter half of 2009. This analysis includes looking at apartment rental prices, as well as condo, co-op and home prices and availability in the Astoria, LIC / Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside and Woodside neighborhoods. While we found these neighborhoods mirrored / trailed many of the national trends, we found some interesting differences, including differences from neighborhood to neighborhood. Click here to read the Queens Real Estate market analysis 2009.
Queens Restaurants - Queens NY
Click this link to go to the Queens Restaurants section of this site or use the search function below or the Business Directory above to look for something specific.
Thai Restaurants In Jackson Heights QueensJackson Heights / Elmhurst / Queens Buzz. Tonight I ventured out to a Thai restaurant in Jackson Heights that I had discovered on pure happenstance. I arrived at the restaurant around 7.30 pm on an cool overcast Saturday evening. More than half of the sixty seats had already been filled and it seemed the waiting staff had fallen a bit behind. As I sat there waiting, I began to doubt my choice. As I surveyed the restaurant I noted that many of the customers were Thai, which I took to be a good sign, as I was looking for real Thai food, not some Americanized version of it. Within the next five to ten minutes, things completely turned. The waiting staff turned up the energy and within minutes it seemed that everyone who had been waiting now had a drink or appetizer sitting in front of them … myself included. Click here to read the full review of Arunee Thai restaurant including photos. |
Donovan's Pub
Irish Pubs In Queens
Woodside Sunnyside Restaurants / Woodside / Queens Buzz. I had occasion to visit Donovan's Irish Pub in the Woodside section of Queens NY. Donovan's is about as Irish an Irish Pub can get outside of Ireland. We took a different tack in this review and decided not to review their hamburger, but rather take a look at some of their other pub food offerings.
Click here to read our review of Donovan's Irish Pub in Woodside Queens, including a short interview with former detective Jack Donovan, brother of the pub owner.
Cavo Greek Restaurant
Modern Greek Cuisine Astoria
Astoria Restaurants / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I had occasion to visit Cavo, a haute cuisine restaurant with an aesthetically beautiful restaurant decor located in the heart of the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. Cavo is run by Tommy Demaras and partners who seem to pay attention to every detail to ensure one's visit is quite apart from whence one comes. Richard Farnabe recently started as the Executive Chef and has brought the modern Greek cuisine to new heights.
Click here for a full review of Cavo, one of the leading Greek restaurants in Astoria.
Queens Shops / Shopping - Queens NY
Click this link to go to the Queens Shopping & Shops section of this site or use the search function below or the Business Directory above to look for something specific.
Yoga In Queens
Astoria Shopping / Long Island City / Queens Buzz. This is a report about my experience taking a hot vinyasa yoga class at the Yoga Room studio in Astoria on New Years Eve. I came to it a bit skeptical but walked away with a changed opinion. Hot yoga is a combination of sauna and a yoga workout.
Click here to view our full report on hot yoga in Queens NY.
Astoria Furniture Stores Have It All - Queens
Astoria Shops / Astoria / Queens Buzz. The furniture stores located on the southern end of Steinway Street in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens seem to have something to offer to just about everyone. This part of Steinway is a furniture shopper's mecca, offering plenty of choices from classical colonial, to urban apartment living to bedding to suit nearly every spine.
I took a quick trip there, which is easily accessible via the N, W, G, R or V subway lines and within a sturdy walking distance from Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside and Woodside. Just up the street from Steinway is Broadway, where you'll find the Omonia Cafe where after a good morning or afternoon of shopping, you can kick back along one of the sidewalk tables ane enjoy a bit of coffee and some delicious baked goods. Click here to learn more about the furniture stores in Astoria Queens.
Mens Clothing Styles - Queens
Shopping Queens / Astoria / Queens Buzz. Esquire Men's Clothing Store continues to serve the greater Astoria and Queens area, as it has for nearly thirty years.
The shop is owned and managed by Frank and Kevin Adhami, and their father, who is in his eighties, still visits the store on an almost weekly basis.
Esquire is located along Steinway Street between 30th and 31st streets. The store contains a wide selection of men's coats, suits, casual wear, shoes and men's accessories like belts and ties.
This story will provide some information about the store itself as well as fashion recommendations for the Spring and for job hunters.
Click this link to view a story written on Men's Clothing In Astoria Queens NY.
Queens Neighborhoods - Queens NY
Click this link to go to the Queens Neighborhood section of this site or use the search function below or the Business Directory above to look for something specific.
