Hanging out in Queens

[+ azdr0710]

1 hour ago, samhexum said:

Seems as if the holiday season is coming upon us quicker than ever! And if you’re running out of thoughtful ideas for gifts and stocking stuffers, here are some tempting offerings, courtesy of those innovative Made in Queens (MiQ) folks.

Need some gifting inspiration? Make sure to check out madeinqueens.org for special Queens-made creations and more places where you can find them. And remember, there are no rules when it comes to giving from the heart.

 

Bake Me Healthy baking mixes: an unexpected holiday gift!

Asian-American mom Kimberle Lau created Bake Me Healthy because she believes in healthy, plant-based baking. Her small business, which launched in May, is based in Syosset, Long Island, and her product is manufactured in Long Island City.

 

Bake Me Healthy is on a mission to help others bake better for themselves, their families and the planet. Lau, a former beauty executive, developed lactose and egg intolerances from pregnancy and then had to eliminate soy from her diet due to becoming high-risk for breast cancer. 

“First and foremost, these mixes are inclusive. They’re gluten-free, vegan and free of the top nine allergens, making it a great choice for those with dietary restrictions or allergies. Everyone can savor the homemade goodness without worry,” Lau noted.

“But that’s not all. We’re thrilled to share that our delicious baking mixes are not just kind to your taste buds but to the planet, too,” she added. “It’s crafted with sustainable, upcycled ingredients, appealing to eco-conscious consumers who prioritize sustainability without compromising on flavor.”

And the best part? These mixes are “incredibly easy” to prepare. With just a few simple steps — simply add milk and oil/water — anyone can whip up these delicious treats in no time. It makes a great gift for kids, foodies and anyone looking for a guilt-free indulgence. Visit bakemehealthy.co to place your order.

 

Tembo NYC: where cause, culture and fashion unite.

Founder Deb Chusid has been making and selling fabulous totes and more for fashion savvy New Yorkers since 2019.

“We sell online (tembonyc.com) and at various museums, craft markets and at fine travel retailers at JFK Airport. Our cotton goods are hand sewn in Queens by an immigrant women’s sewing cooperative,” Chusid said.

 

A native New Yorker, Chusid has spent over a decade volunteering around the globe for elephants and wildlife conservation (tembo means “elephant” in Swahili). When she wasn’t in the wild “enjoying nature’s beauty and saving God’s creatures,” she was creating campaigns for Fortune 500 companies at large New York ad agencies.

Living two very different lives, Chusid spent years wondering how she could bring these opposite sides of her life together. The answer came to her in a supermarket checkout line.

“Frustrated that I forgot to BYO [bring your own] bag, I thought if I could create a bag that was fashionable and functional – a bag you would want to carry – you would be less inclined to forget it,” she said. “Tembo NYC is a gift that gives back to the things your giftee may care about most, like music, food, women’s empowerment, travel/environment and New York City,” Chusid said. “Our products are created with sustainability in mind, using original and artfully designed prints created to send a positive message and make a positive impact on the world around you.”

Check out their beautifully designed, artful scarves, wine totes and home goods, as well. Get 15% off all products with promo code HOLIDAY23 through Dec. 26.

Cotton goods are printed in the U.S. and are hand sewn in Queens by women seamstresses earning New York City Fair Wages. Chusid said 5 percent of her company’s profits go to the non-profit organizations that work to serve the causes highlighted in their designs.

 

Jane Parker Baked Goods, LLC: bringing back an iconic product for the holidays.

Alex Ronacher was eager to talk about his tasty products and share his company’s unique background with readers. His small business is based in Flushing, where they pack and ship their cakes to customers.

The Jane Parker brand is an iconic American brand, which was once baked exclusively for A&P supermarkets. 

“The Jane Parker brand was baked for and was sold exclusively at A&P. There were over 100 different baked good items under the brand, and the demand was so great that there were seven Jane Parker bakeries located across the U.S. to keep up with all the demand and supply all the stores,” Ronacher noted.

 

“Fast forward to 2014, and after over 150 years of being in business, the A&P filed for bankruptcy, and the Jane Parker fruitcakes were thought to be gone forever,” he continued. “There were many articles written about the beloved fruitcake no longer being in production, and Jane Parker fans across the country were really disappointed.”

In early 2016, Ronacher and his brother Chris found out about a bankruptcy liquidation sale that was being held for all the properties of A&P and the Jane Parker brand. Ronacher said they put a bid in and won the rights to the brand… “including all of the copyrights, trademarks, logos, website domain and, most importantly, the original recipes for the fruitcakes!”

Several months later, using the services of a contract bakery, the new entrepreneurs were able to bring the iconic fruitcake back into production, prepared faithfully to the original recipe, and relaunched the brand in 2017. This year will be their seventh season back in production, and they continue to grow the brand year after year.

You can place your order at JaneParker.com. They offer free shipping throughout the U.S. for all their fruitcakes and handle orders from one cake to hundreds of cakes. Many corporate customers use them for their holiday gifting, as well.

   

 

oh, c'mon, Sam!!......this is little more than one big internet ad!.......and most or all of it belongs in the Food subforum......

[samhexum]

FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THIS, BECAUSE...

1 hour ago, samhexum said:

something relevant:

“After over 150 years of being in business, A&P filed for bankruptcy, and the Jane Parker fruitcakes were thought to be gone forever,” he continued. “There were many articles written about the beloved fruitcake no longer being in production, and Jane Parker fans across the country were really disappointed.”  Using the services of a contract bakery, the new entrepreneurs were able to bring the iconic fruitcake back into production, prepared faithfully to the original recipe, and relaunched the brand in 2017. This year will be their seventh season back in production, and they continue to grow the brand year after year.

You can place your order at JaneParker.com. They offer free shipping throughout the U.S. for all their fruitcakes and handle orders from one cake to hundreds of cakes.

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by samhexum
for absolutely NO @%!*ING reason at all!

[Rudynate]

2 hours ago, samhexum said:

FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THIS, BECAUSE...

“After over 150 years of being in business, A&P filed for bankruptcy, and the Jane Parker fruitcakes were thought to be gone forever,” he continued. “There were many articles written about the beloved fruitcake no longer being in production, and Jane Parker fans across the country were really disappointed.”  Using the services of a contract bakery, the new entrepreneurs were able to bring the iconic fruitcake back into production, prepared faithfully to the original recipe, and relaunched the brand in 2017. This year will be their seventh season back in production, and they continue to grow the brand year after year.

You can place your order at JaneParker.com. They offer free shipping throughout the U.S. for all their fruitcakes and handle orders from one cake to hundreds of cakes.

 

FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THIS, BECAUSE...

My parents didn't shop at the A&P much, but I do remember the Jane Parker brand. In our town,  the A&P was a big, dingy old store right on Main Street.  Sometime, early in the 60s they relocated to a new building on East Main Streer.  The new store was one of those silly faux-colonial buildings so popular then - red brick, white trim, "early American" theme, American eagles over the doors. 

[samhexum]

On 5/1/2023 at 2:44 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Zum Stammtisch is really the only remaining restaurant in NYC that serves good German food.

 

Cake Boss Buddy Valastro visits Zum Stammtisch in Glendale as part of a new food travel show

[samhexum]

NYC earthquake: 1.7 magnitude tremor originating in Astoria

[samhexum]

Retired St. John’s environmental professor pens book on Alley Pond Park

 

The same year that William Nieter began teaching at St. John’s University in 1976, a group of environmentally minded community members opened the original Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard. 

Almost five decades later, with the surrounding park and its center unrecognizable from the early days, the idea to write all about it came to him. Nieter’s new book, The Story of Alley Pond: Past Present Future, chronicles the volunteers who continuously showed up with utmost care to rehabilitate and preserve one of the most ecologically unique areas in the city over the course of 11 chapters. Nieter was one of APEC’s first board members and served as president at one point.

After wrapping up his final class, he retired from academia in May 2023. A couple months later, his chronologically structured book filled with original photos he acquired over the years was released through Amazon Publishing. It was the culmination of months spent sifting through public sources at the Queens Public Library, and over a dozen interviews he conducted with those familiar with Alley Pond’s history. 

“Everything that happened at APEC was a giant group effort. There was a whole cast of great people, so that’s part of the reason that I wrote it,” said Nieter. “I wanted to sort of give tribute to them and honor them.”

He refers to the founders of the organization, Joan and Hy Rosner, as the greatest people he’s ever met. A chapter is dedicated to the two environmental educators who first envisioned turning the long-neglected area that used to be a construction dumping site into a community resource and educational center.  

But Nieter also wanted to inform people of the area’s unique history, noting that many of the center’s current employees and volunteers weren’t even born when the group was formed. He says it’s important for them to learn about the struggles and collective effort it took to transform APEC into what it is today. 

He added that especially for the teachers, who bring thousands of students through APEC’s doors on class trips each year, the book can serve as a valuable tool with insights into the diverse ecosystems home to hundreds of bird and wildlife species. 

As a professor who taught various introductory and advanced courses on ecology and coastal systems, he brought his students on trips to APEC almost every semester. They would conduct research by profiling the water and sail through Little Neck Bay, which sits at the park’s northernmost edge. 

As the Director of Environmental Studies at the university, a position he held for 38 years, Nieler also coordinated internships for students at APEC. Many of his students ended up being environmental educators and professionals themselves.  

“I don’t know if other people who don’t know the area would be so interested in it. But I think there’s got to be a million people in northeast Queens that know the park in some way or other,” said Nieter, noting that he doesn’t expect the book to become a financial success. 

But he decided that the profits the book does generate will be passed along to APEC as a donation to support the organization. 

The first time that he visited Alley Pond Park was as a youth living in Jackson Heights. He recalls his father packing everyone into the car and driving out east to set up for the day in a picnic area. 

“It was like being in the country. For a city kid to travel out to eastern Queens in the 1950s, everything was green and open,” said Nieter, who ended up moving to the area in the late 80s and decided it was where he would raise his kids. 

Putting the book together was a family effort. His wife, Vicke Nieter, who taught at St. John’s in the English Department, edited the 158-page book and helped him polish it up. And his son, a graphic designer, created the cover. 

In December, Nieter attended the grand opening of the brand new building now home to APEC alongside dozens of others who watched the center grow over decades. 

While he previously served as president and treasurer on the board, today he runs APEC’s advisory council with six others who have a close connection, and care for APEC deeply. 

“It really is an amazing thought that the building will carry us into the rest of the 21st century,” said Nieter. “But we still have a lot to do. There’s more environmental problems now than there were when we began with very problematic climate change, and loss of biodiversity. APEC is going to be affected by both of those.”

However, he is optimistic about APEC’s future knowing that it is in the hands of “brilliant” directors, educators and volunteers who are carrying on the legacy. 

The Story of Alley Pond: Past Present Future can be purchased on Amazon as a paperback or kindle edition.

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, samhexum said:

insights into the diverse ecosystems home to hundreds of bird and wildlife species. 

I've been hiking back there. The biodiversity is pretty impressive considering it's in the middle of Queens and nearby to massive highway systems. You don't realize you're in the middle of the city.

[samhexum]

Teenager busted for taking subway cars on a joyride in Forest Hills

that must've been quite a sight, those subway cars rumbling down Austin Street... 

[samhexum]

Sunday, Jan. 14

Mixology Class at “The Last Word”

Take part in this unforgettable evening of cocktail making. Learn tips and tricks from experts in crafting drinks from the Prohibition era. (The Last Word, 31-30 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria. 2-4 p.m. Admission: $39.47)

On 1/10/2024 at 12:06 PM, pubic_assistance said:

I've been hiking back there. The biodiversity is pretty impressive considering it's in the middle of Queens and nearby to massive highway systems. You don't realize you're in the middle of the city.

Ice Age Hike

Hike through Cunningham Park and learn about how the area looked in prehistoric times. (Cunningham Park, Union Turnpike and 196th Street, Fresh Meadows. 1-2 p.m. Admission: Free)

Edited January 12 by samhexum
because he's bored as hell

[samhexum]

Somebody else has been hanging out in Queens:

 

Bald eagle spotted in rare sighting at Forest Park 

[samhexum]

European grocery chain Lidl to officially open at Queens Place Mall on Wednesday

[+ WilliamM]

On 12/3/2023 at 6:36 PM, azdr0710 said:

oh, c'mon, Sam!!......this is little more than one big internet ad!.......and most or all of it belongs in the Food subforum......

Completely agree

I like that part of New York,  but enough!

[pubic_assistance]

On 1/16/2024 at 10:46 AM, samhexum said:

Somebody else has been hanging out in Queens:

 

Bald eagle spotted in rare sighting at Forest Park 

Very kool.

I've gotten many blowjobs from bald Men at Forest Park, but I've never encountered a Bald Eagle !

[samhexum]

On 1/10/2024 at 12:06 PM, pubic_assistance said:

I've been hiking back there. The biodiversity is pretty impressive considering it's in the middle of Queens and nearby to massive highway systems. You don't realize you're in the middle of the city.

It ain't Queens, but here's an interesting place for you to (take a) hike...

Bannerman Castle — jewel-in-the-rough of New York’s Hudson Highlands region.

Linked to the heart of the Big Apple via Metro-North’s Hudson Line all year long — that and a boat shuttle departing the docks near the Beacon train station — this architectural oddity, over a century old, remains the focal point of life on little Pollepel Island all these years later.

For such a small landmass, Pollepel has enjoyed a varied and colorful history, earning its stripes as a strategic site for holding the British back (at least for a time) during the Revolutionary War. In more modern times, it became a storehouse for a military surplus dealer based in Brooklyn, an immigrant from the British Isles named Francis Bannerman.

The remnants of that structure are what Hudson Valley residents now refer to as “the castle.”

And while those riding the train — passing just a stone’s throw away on the eastern bank of the Hudson — might not know to look at it, the Island is much more than its crumbling ruins.

In this diminutive paradise, there are gardens, appealing nature trails and picturesque viewpoints for all the photo and video you can take. The island hosts a full series of cultural events, along with year-round tours, conducted on foot, by boat and even kayak.

 

Essentially left to rot for the latter part of the 20th century, the island is now managed by the Bannerman Castle Trust, which, in partnership with New York State, has made continued investments in the site — new funds were just announced for additional improvements, prior to the summer season.

Getting there is easy — hop the Hudson Line train from Grand Central Terminal to Beacon, which can take anywhere from a bit over an hour to about 90 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Once in Beacon, the island’s trusty Estuary Steward boat will take you the rest of the way — a scenic, 30-minute ride toward Storm King Mountain, where the river shrinks down to truly earn its title as the only recognized fjord in the Eastern United States.

 

The best things to do at Bannerman Castle

• Bannerman Island Cruise & Walking Tour Join the classic island tour, available as a package with the boat ride leaving from Beacon. After 30 minutes on the boat, you’ll be given a 45-minute guided tour of the island, including the castle ruins and gardens.
• Kayak or Canoe to Bannerman Island Outdoorsy types favor this DIY approach — for complete details on how-to and where to launch from, see here. There are launch sites as close as 30 minutes of paddling from the island.
• 2024 Theater on Bannerman Island From June through September, hop the boat out to the island for a night of theater under the stars — 2024’s schedule includes Driving Miss Daisy and Always, Patsy Cline.
• Movie Nights at Bannerman Castle There’s movie night, and then there are the summer movie nights on the island — this year, expect a little of everything, from North by Northwest and Casablanca to Jurassic Park and Hocus Pocus.

For more information, visit bannermancastle.org.

 

 

[pubic_assistance]

29 minutes ago, samhexum said:

Linked to the heart of the Big Apple via Metro-North’s Hudson Line

Yeah...but I can also get to Miami from NYC by train.

Bannelmams is way North of NYC.

 

 

[samhexum]

If THIS doesn't get people to Queens, NOTHING will...

Charo performs one-night show at Queens Theatre March 2

I hear there's a scandal involving Ticketmaster & allegations of scalping for this...

City Gate Productions set to perform ’12 Angry Men’ at Ridgewood’s Stone Circle Theatre Mar. 1-10

[BSR]

1 hour ago, samhexum said:

If THIS doesn't get people to Queens, NOTHING will...

Charo performs one-night show at Queens Theatre March 2

I hear there's a scandal involving Ticketmaster & allegations of scalping for this...

City Gate Productions set to perform ’12 Angry Men’ at Ridgewood’s Stone Circle Theatre Mar. 1-10

I saw Charo here in Las Vegas ~12 years ago (comps).  Her show was surprisingly entertaining because, while she's not a great singer, she pours so much into the performance that her show is a ton of fun, even if the vocals aren't great.  She hired a crew of flamenco dancers, who were fantastic and fantastically sexy, plus she performed a few pieces of classical guitar (she studied with the legend of Spanish guitar, Andrés Segovia).

I'm not going to fly cross-country to see her, but if you're in Queens or close by, I would actually recommend going.  Glad to hear Charo is still alive & kicking.

[samhexum]

On 5/1/2023 at 2:44 PM, pubic_assistance said:

Zum Stammtisch is really the only remaining restaurant in NYC that serves good German food.

 

On 5/1/2023 at 7:03 PM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Re: German food

While it's not upscale, Manor Oktoberfest in Forest Hills is also always a solid choice. 

Great beer selection.  Solid, German comfort food favorites.  Nice crew of people who work there.

Did you ever go to Niederstein's on Metropolitan Ave?  There's now an Arby's at that location, so still some good eatin'!

And, of course, you used to be able to BUY German food more easily...

When ‘The Best Butcher on the Block’ reigned in Ridgewood and beyond

By The Old Timer

 

Are you hungry? If you happen to be a carnivore, you will be by the time you read about the history of one of Ridgewood’s most popular butchers, Karl Ehmer.

Karl Ehmer was born in a small village near Stuttgart, Germany, in 1909, and came to America in the fall of 1930 when he was 21 years old. He got a job in a butcher shop in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, and worked hard to save enough money to open his own store.

In 1932, even though the country was in the depths of the Great Depression, he decided to strike out on his own and he opened a Jersey Pork butcher shop in Manhattan.

But business conditions were difficult, and he struggled to keep his store open. Finally, he went back to work at his old job.

However, he still had ambitions of operating his own business and, a short time later, he tried again with his own store, again in Manhattan. This time, he prospered, and eventually, in 1941, he opened a store in the Ridgewood/Glendale area at 61-14 Myrtle Ave., offering a large selection of quality bolognas.

The store proved highly successful. Nine years later, on Nov. 2, 1950, he opened a much larger retail store and a manufacturing plant at 62-10 Myrtle Ave. Trucks lined up at the curb of the new plant and retail store, advertising quality pork products. 

As his business continued to grow, he moved to larger quarters in November 1958, at 63-35 Fresh Pond Road on the corner of Menahan Street. All of his products were made, at one time, in this plant.

The list of Karl Ehmer products is substantial, including frankfurters, knockwurst, bratwurst, Black Forest ham, Westphalian ham, kassler rippchen (brined pork chops), braunschweiger liverwurst, pinklewurst (Bavarian sausage), lachsschinken (smoked pork loin), head cheese, leberkaese (similar to bologna), schwaebischer farmers salami and Tyrolerwurst (an Austrian sausage).

Over the years, Karl Ehmer relocated upstate and opened his own farm on Noxon Road in La Grangeville, New York, where he raised many of the animals for his products. He also held an annual Oktoberfest there for his friends and family.

By the 1970s, Karl Ehmer had more than 50 franchises across New York City, Long Island Pennsylvania and even Florida, along with five cattle and livestock farms and a slaughterhouse. The company boasted a slogan, “The Best Butcher on the Block.”

During the 1970s and 1980s, it was not uncommon to find Karl Ehmer products and stores advertised on TV. The company’s namesake starred in one of the commercials, shot from the kitchen of his upstate farmhouse. In the spot, he boasts in his German accent about his bratwurst being so delicious, “it even makes the vegetables taste good.”

Along with fine cold cuts and other cuts of meat, a Karl Ehmer shopper could walk into one of the stores and find an array of imported German products including chocolate, cake mixes, pickled goods, spaetzle and preserves.

Karl Ehmer died in 1989, and his grandsons continued to operate the company that bore his name. However, the following three decades would see a variety of changes including economic downturns, shifting demographics in the Ridgewood/Glendale area where Ehmer gained a loyal following and dietary trends in which many people turned away from regular consumption of processed meats.

One by one, Karl Ehmer stores across the New York City area closed. The flagship store and manufacturing plant on Fresh Pond Road held out as other pork stores across the area closed down.

Finally, on Sept. 30, 2010, the Ridgewood store and plant closed. In a Ridgewood Times article published that same day (Thursday), Alan Hanssler, Karl Ehmer company co-owner, said that “rising labor costs and other expenses, combined with a struggling economy, brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy.”

“The 25 workers employed at the Ridgewood store and plant will lose their positions today; all were provided with a month’s notice of the shutdown in order to find new jobs,” according to the article. The store and manufacturing plant would ultimately be transformed into a self-storage facility.

The Karl Ehmer company continued producing its products outside the New York City area and distributing them to butcher stores and supermarkets around the area. The closure of the Ridgewood Karl Ehmer left just one butcher shop under the company banner in Queens: a location on Horace Harding Expressway in Fresh Meadows. However, that location would not last the decade; it closed in 2017, according to Yelp.  It became a SUBWAY that didn't last.

Today, you can still find Karl Ehmer products at grocery stores across Queens; the company also continues to operate stores in Long Island; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Danbury, Connecticut and Hillsdale, New Jersey. If all else fails, you can even order them online from the company’s website, karlehmer.com.

[samhexum]

On 4/19/2023 at 12:12 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Forest Hills, specifically The Gardens, is absolutely beautiful. 

And walking to the Stadium for summer series concerts is pretty awesome too 😀

Lawsuit seeks to silence Forest Hills Stadium concerts amid nearby residents’ quality of life concerns

A lawsuit filed against Forest Hills Stadium is calling for the operators to stop holding concerts at the historic open-air venue, citing a deterioration in the quality of life for nearby residents. 

The Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, a board that represents 900 properties on 175 acres, filed suit in July 2023 against West Side Tennis Club, which leased the stadium to Tiebreaker Productions until 2034. The lawsuit alleges that the venue’s concerts are excessively loud, causing nearby homes to vibrate and disturb residents late into the evening. 

The FHGC complaint has the backing of many residents, 15 of which filed affidavits in support. Their qualms center around a reduction in their quality of life as the number of concerts increased. This past 2023 season, there were a record of 30 shows held at the stadium. Some residents, who provided affidavits in support to the suit, also complain that concertgoers are trespassing on their properties often to urinate, or have thrown up in their building’s vestibule. 

Among those who are seeking to bring an end to shows at the stadium are board members from Tennis View Apartments where I delivered newspapers in college, who recently joined the FHGC suit. Residents of the complex, which includes two apartment buildings on Burns Street leading up to the entrance of the stadium, argue they bear the brunt of the inconveniences. For instance, their street gets closed down and barricades go up on concert and festival days resulting in thousands of attendees passing the building to enter the stadium conveniently.

But some residents at the Tennis View Apartments, who cherish the concerts in their backyard despite inconveniences, say that they were not informed prior to their board joining the suit. They are unhappy that the board essentially filed suit in their name.

“There are some people that really don’t like concerts, and they’re acting for themselves and not for the majority, because the majority of our building was never asked. We were never given the option of whether to join the lawsuit or not,” said Jillian Grancaric, a former board member of TVA. “We should have been surveyed. And we should have just been given a heads up of the board’s plans to take this action.” 

But the operators of the stadium say that the noise complaints are unjustified, citing that when the stadium was renovated, it was designed in a way that minimizes the flow of noise to their neighbors. They also say that since concerts resumed, they’ve consistently offered perks as a show of respect to their neighbors.

Mike Luba, who helps manage the stadium and is credited with resurrecting the historic venue 2013, says that he has made consistent efforts to counter the inconveniences faced by Burns Street residents, recognizing that their day-to-day activities can be disrupted when a show is taking place. 

His efforts to placate complaining residents involved offering several free tickets per household to virtually every show. He would also host and pay for an annual barbecue for TVA residents inside the stadium. But this past season, the barbecue was not held given the tensions that emerged following the lawsuit.  

The stadium also would shell out $5,000 per show to FHGC at the end of the concert season. The payout totaled $150,000 last season, with 30 shows on the lineup, a recent record. But according to the suit, the FHGC is seeking a significantly higher payout.

Residents only found out that the TVA board joined the lawsuit through an email that was sent out to the building at the end of January. 

The email read, “Effective immediately, the board will no longer accept or manage the distribution of tickets to events at Forest Hill stadium,” citing the legal action taken. It went on to say that “the number of concerts has increased significantly over the past two seasons, while perks and accommodations that we receive have been reduced and we do not see any reason for this trend to reverse.”

But some residents, as well as Luba, say that the portrayal that the perks were revoked is inaccurate. They say that the board, which is composed of five people, chose to stop accepting the perks to strengthen their argument in court.

Keith Engel, the president of board of directors at TVA, says that they stopped accepting perks such as free concert tickets and the annual barbecue for local residents “on principle” in his affidavit.

The stadium is arguing that FHGC is engaging in extortion by asking for a significantly larger payout per concert, and fails to consider the local residents who enjoy having the concerts in their neighborhood, as well as the traffic it brings to local business owners. 

Operations Switch 

Prior to the 2023 season, the stadium handled all operations which involved traffic flow, guiding concert goers to the stadium, setting up barricades to prevent entrance to residences and clean up sweeps post concerts. 

The operations, in which the NYPD would assist with, were mainly along Burns Street which allows attendees quick access point just minutes from public transportation. While the street is privately owned by the FHGC, since concerts resumed the stadium has had free reign in allowing its staff to ensure that the attendees are safe, and don’t disturb the TVA residents. 

Despite thousands of people walking by her building on concert nights, Grancaric says that there were virtually no issues prior to the 2023 season. 

“We had no issues for nine years,” noted Luba, adding that hundreds of security guards and three rounds of cleaning crews ran like a well oiled machine. 

But right before the first major show of the 2023 season, FHGC sent a letter to the NYPD threatening to cut off public access to the stadium from Burns Street, which is technically a private street under their ownership.

They suggested an alternate route via Yellowstone Boulevard and Austin Street, which would force concertgoers to walk an additional mile from public transportation stops and further increase congestion to the already crowded corridors. 

The stadium filed an injunction in court to block the move, and a judge sided with their desire to maintain their operations. The concert season carried on but with the FHCG now in charge of operations, with no prior experience and more pressure on the NYPD to keep things in order. 

In their suit, the FHGC said that as a condition for using Burns they want $100,000 each for the first 20 concerts of the season and $200,000 for each subsequent concert. It would result in a sum of approximately $4 million for the season. They also requested that they hire their own security along Burns, without relying on the stadium. 

“The draft agreement was an exercise in extortion, proving that FHGC has no legitimate interest in preventing any alleged nuisance from the concerts, but instead seeks to collect millions of dollars from the concerts for its own benefit,” read the countersuit. 

The Complaints

One Burns Street resident, who sits on the TVA board and was chair of the concert committee, said that her disturbance with the increase of concerts in the past year led her to start a petition. In Jenna Cavuto’s affidavit, she said she gathered 250 signatures from residents who say they were also unhappy with the increase in the number of concerts this past season. 

A resident of Dartmouth St, Lawrence Perlstein, who has lived in his home for decades said that in the 1960s, there were only 10-15 concerts per year. 

“But the more than 30 concerts held at the stadium in 2023 is like nothing I have ever seen and it is devastating our community,” said Perlstein in his affidavit. 

But even before the increase, he says he spent more than $40,000 putting in modern noise attenuating windows and adding insulation to the house, but only in “marginally improved conditions” created by noise from the concerts. 

Many others cited the increase in concerts, which brings more noise filled nights, as their main gripe with the stadium. 

“The current conditions cannot continue and we genuinely fear that if the Tennis Club and its concert promoter have their way, the number of concerts will only increase from the more than 30 held last summer,” said Engel. “We are greatly concerned that these concerts, as they erode the quality of life in TVA and the surrounding community, will also diminish the value of TVA residents’ apartments.”

According to 311 records, dozens of noise complaints have been filed on concert nights. But residents also say that the noise starts early on in the day due to sound checks and rehearsals. 

The stadium also faces a second suit, filed by the Concerned Citizens of Forest Hills, calling for the stadium brings down the volume and stays in line with the city’s noise code. They also ask that concerts for the 2024 season are halted until a plan is enacted. Unlike the FHGC suit, it does not ask for concerts to cease.

In his affidavit, Douglas J. Gilbert, Co-founder of Concerned Citizens of Forest Hills, says that the noise and vibrations are “extraordinarily disruptive” in his Dartmouth Street home. Acknowledging that he contributed 311 complaints, he added that lightbulb sockets loosened from the vibrations in his affidavit.

But not all residents are bothered by the increase in concerts, or the noise that surrounds their home on concert nights. Especially those who reside on Burns Street and have been able to attend concerts for free steps away from their home. 

“I’m not bothered by the current amount of concerts because I feel like the trade off is amazing,” said Grancaric. “We are very lucky to live in a situation that we live in.“

Luba, who believes that those opposed to the concerts would rather see a condominium go up in the place of the stadium he worked to revive, has spent a hefty sum on legal fees as a top law firm was acquired to preserve the concerts. 

“The irony of the lawsuit is that the only way we have to pay for the lawsuit is by adding concerts,” he said. “I’m open to anything reasonable and rational, that’s in good faith.”

A conference before a judge is scheduled for Feb. 21, where the case will be discussed and the next steps will be decided.

The stadium’s recently released 2024 schedule features just fourteen shows, with three already sold out.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

12 hours ago, samhexum said:

Lawsuit seeks to silence Forest Hills Stadium concerts amid nearby residents’ quality of life concerns

FHS has had concerts since the mid-'60s.  This is nothing new and whether it's 12 or 30 concerts a season, if you live in the audio vicinity of the venue, you know what to expect.  Concerts are always over by 10.  That's mandated.

It would be a fucking shame to see these residents kill this and then end up with shitty urban sprawl instead.  FHS is a unique venue and one I've loved for a long, long time.

 

[samhexum]

On 4/19/2023 at 6:54 AM, cany10011 said:

The Noguchi museum in Astoria is amazing. Love the Egyptian food there as well. I’d love to visit Flushing for their superior chinese restaurants but it is a chore taking the 7. Going to Flushing is a foodie adventure. 

 

On 4/19/2023 at 11:33 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Totally agree and love eating through that neighborhood.  The Korean fare is legit.

 

On 5/1/2023 at 2:44 PM, pubic_assistance said:

When you want amazing Koran food, you always head to Queens.

 

On 5/1/2023 at 7:21 PM, samhexum said:

Where do you go when you want amazing bible or torah food? (sorry, I had to...)

😇😝😁

QCP to host “Evening of Fine Food” celebrating borough’s culinary diversity, community support

 By Czarinna Andres

The Queens Centers for Progress (QCP), a non-profit dedicated to providing services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, recently announced that it will be holding its 28th annual “Evening of Fine Food” event later this month.

This annual event is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and celebrates the rich culinary diversity of Queens, while supporting the organization’s mission that focuses on promoting independence, community involvement and an enhanced quality of life for the individuals it serves. The event will showcase an array of gourmet dishes and beverages provided by top restaurants and beverage purveyors from across the borough.

The event will feature returning favorites, such as Bourbon Street, Austin’s Ale House (Kitty Genovese was killed in the vestibule leading to the apartments over it), One Station Plaza and many others, alongside newcomers, offering attendees a taste of the borough’s unparalleled food scene. From fine dining to sweet treats and international flavors, the variety of offerings aims to highlight the diversity that defines Queens.

The “Evening of Fine Food” serves as a major fundraiser for QCP, with proceeds directly supporting over 1,200 individuals with developmental disabilities. Tickets are available for $150 per person, with the event running from 6:30-9 p.m.

For tickets and more information about the “Evening of Fine Food,” click here.

[samhexum]

Entertainment giant Top Trumps USA will launch a Queens edition of board game classic Monopoly this fall and is seeking the input of Queens residents and businesses to capture the true essence of the borough.

Top Trumps has collaborated with leading toy company Hasbro to launch Monopoly: Queens Edition and is asking well-established local businesses, organizations, and non-profits to nominate their favorite locations in the borough for the new board game.

The two companies are inviting members of the public and local businesses to put forward submissions through the Monopoly Queens submissions page until March 15, with the official board game set to be released in the fall.

Manufacturers are encouraging people to make their submissions as early as possible to maximize the chance of your favorite spots being featured in the new Queens edition.

Since launching in 1935 with iconic tokens like the Racecar and Top Hat, Monopoly has remained a beloved classic, virtually unchanged in gameplay. Today, it remains a favorite family game, enjoyed by over a billion players in 114 countries.

Monopoly Queens will replace the famous squares from the original Atlantic City game, such as Boardwalk and Park Place, with iconic Queens landmarks, businesses, and non-profits.

The upcoming board game will also include several Monopoly staples, including customized Community Chest and Chance playing cards, Monopoly money, and property deeds.

Hasbro and Top Trumps said they are hoping to ensure that every detail of the new board game pays homage to Queens and its most famous locations and businesses.

Top Trumps representative Tim Barney said manufacturers are hoping to receive input from all sections of the Queens community.

“Queens is such a unique community with a rich history and vibrant and diverse culture. We aim to ensure that Monopoly: Queens Edition is an accurate portrayal of what Queens locals and tourists love about this charming borough,” Barney said in a statement.

“From little hole-in-the-wall spots to historic Queens staples, we would love for everyone to get on board and send us recommendations of their favorite businesses and organizations from all industries, as well as attractions and landmarks from all around town. It’s very much a game made by and for the people.”

Rob MacKay, Director of Queens Tourism Council, said the game is an opportunity to showcase Queens’ diversity and culture.

“Queens is the most diverse county in the entire world right now and more than half of residents were born in another country. Obviously, the restaurants are beyond incredible, but the borough is also a hot spot for culture, recreation, entertainment, shopping, hotels, history, and even surfing,” MacKay said, adding that Queens has “a lot to give” for the upcoming board game.

To submit a location for the Monopoly Queens edition, click here or visit: www.toptrumps.us

Edited February 13 by samhexum
because he's bored as hell

[samhexum]

They took PDA to new heights.

A pair of “reckless clowns” had a mid-day tryst while riding on the top of a moving subway train in Queens, according to photos of the apparent death-defying sex act.

“Men appear to be having sex on top of a NYC MTA train. What is the MTA doing about this?” an X user posted along with two images showing three people on the roof of a 7 train as it crosses raised tracks above the Van Wyck Expressway.

The X account — which describes itself as “transit workers against corruption” — said the subway surfing romp happened last Friday afternoon, but the MTA was not able to confirm when it occurred.

The transit agency slammed the obscene and dangerous stunt.

“The only thing dumber than riding on top of a subway train is dropping pants in the process,” MTA Communications Director Tim Minton said in a statement to The Post. “Those reckless clowns aren’t thinking about the mess cleaners and other transit workers will have to deal with when their stupid stunt goes tragically wrong.”

The MTA has tried to crack down on subway surfing with a campaign in September discouraging youths from risking their lives atop moving trains after a huge uptick in both incidents and deaths.

[mike carey]

So, after all the sweet stuff about how wonderful Queens allegedly is, we finally see its real character? Lol.

[CuriousByNature]

15 hours ago, samhexum said:

 

The MTA has tried to crack down on subway surfing

🤣