Featured Blog Posts – October 2010 Archive (34)

Astoria's Skate Park Not Just for Skates

Recently, pro BMX rider and blogger Joshua "Muffinman" Fuentes hosted Dah Streets Jam! at the new Astoria Skate Park and ESPN was on hand to prove…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 29, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

This Weekend in Astoria (10/29/10)

Our 3rd Annual Cocktails for the Cure campaign comes to a close this weekend in Astoria. Please show your support for the cause by stopping in any one of our three participating locations and ordering a CftC specialty drink.

You may have noticed a new toolbar at the…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 28, 2010 at 6:19pm — No Comments

Nothing but the tooth

Hey, folks without health benefits. Today, October 28th, score this dental deal from Groupon. Sixty-five bucks gets you a check-up and cleaning at Astoria Dental Group (3217 Broadway, Astoria), which retails for $470.

You have until midnight to buy this Groupon before it, ahem,… Continue

Added by Grace Bello on October 28, 2010 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment

Overheard in New York: Astoria edition

From my favorite blog of passersby quotes taken out of context Overheard in New York, here's a smattering of sayings uttered in Astoria:

Sulky waitress at family restaurant, complaining about management: I could be home right now having a threesome, but Chris won't let me leave.

--Astoria, Queens…

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Added by Grace Bello on October 28, 2010 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Astoria skate park garners praise

The Daily News covers the newly unveiled skateboarders' haven:

A brand new 21,500-square-foot skate park opened in Astoria Park last week. It's a true oasis for skateboarders of all levels. The park…

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Added by Grace Bello on October 27, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Steinway Mansion Sale Price Drops 50%...Sort Of

At a recent cocktail reception hosted at the mansion for prospective owners, lifelong resident Michael Halberian announced that the asking price of the mansion has been dropped from $5MM to $2.5MM in an attempt to move the property quickly. Not so fast, after some careful reading, you'll find that they've separated the adjacent two acres of land from the home--selling the land…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 27, 2010 at 12:30pm — 6 Comments

This week's top five most requested karaoke songs

Did Lady Gaga make the cut? Whither Journey? What, no Madonna?

According to Karaoke Shout (32-46 Steinway St, Astoria), here are patrons' top requested songs from this past weekend:

1. "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

2. "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega

3. "With… Continue

Added by Grace Bello on October 27, 2010 at 9:00am — 7 Comments

JJ's Asian Fusion: not your typical maki & sake

The House Special Tempura Roll, a maki of smoked salmon, yellowtail, and cream cheese, lightly battered and…

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Added by Bradley Hawks on October 27, 2010 at 3:00am — 6 Comments

Evan's Best: Halloween Treats

Not just Rice Krispies Treats, but Rice Krispies Treats made with little bits of Halloween candy in them.

The first Halloween I skipped trick-or-treating was the worst I've ever had. Dressed in my alien costume complete with green mask, huge purple eyes and matching cape I was ready to probe some homes and fill my pillowcase with that…

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Added by Evan LeRoy on October 25, 2010 at 11:00pm — 4 Comments

Will hookah bars go up in smoke?

Photo by Chris Goldberg

The New York Daily… Continue

Added by Grace Bello on October 25, 2010 at 2:23pm — 13 Comments

MexiQ is smokin' delicious

Build-your-own tacos with the Cazuela Tasting…

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Added by Bradley Hawks on October 23, 2010 at 2:00am — 5 Comments

Love 'em and leaf 'em: Project LeafDrop composts in Queens

Instead of taking your leaves and plant clippings to the trash bin, why not drop them off in the compost bin?

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 23rd, The Western Queens Compost Initiative sets up shop at Two Coves Community Garden. Give them your reusable, earth-friendly rubbish to help out their borough-wide effort called… Continue

Added by Grace Bello on October 22, 2010 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

This Weekend in Astoria (10/22/10)

You may have noticed the addition of a flashy, new Feedback tab on the left side of every WLA page--feel free to use this tab to pass along any ideas or questions you have about the site.

WLA is happy to introduce our newest contributor, Grace Bella. With a background writing for The NY Post, Flavorpill, and McSweeney's,…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 22, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Village Voice "Best of New York" pick: Agnanti Meze

The Village Voice sang the praises of this Astoria Park-adjacent taverna:

At Astoria's Agnanti Meze, the saganaki are about the size of softballs and come three to a plate, surprisingly wrapped in phyllo dough,…

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Added by Grace Bello on October 22, 2010 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Daily News Names LIC the City's Next Hot Spot

A day after AM New York called Queens the next Brooklyn, The New York Daily News posted a four page spread today about the sprawling development scene in Long Island City.…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 22, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

Will Astoria's 36th St become an outdoor film set?

Photo courtesy of Kaufman Astoria

The Daily… Continue

Added by Grace Bello on October 21, 2010 at 4:00pm — 10 Comments

Again, Astoria is the New Brooklyn

There was a huge write-up in yesterday's AM New York about Queens "becoming the new Brooklyn". We've heard it before, but this article points to some historical evidence of Queens' artistic heritage.…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 21, 2010 at 12:00pm — 7 Comments

Love blossoms on the R train

Someone (not me, I swear) posted the following on Craigslist's Missed Connections: "This was some of the most intense no-words flirting I've ever had. It was like playing a very intense game of chess. . . . I had you stuck in my head all day long, I practically didn't get anything done today!"

Aww! I hope this articulate fellow…

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Added by Grace Bello on October 21, 2010 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

NYC's Most Popular Baby Names of 2009

According to the Office of Vital Statistics, these are the City's most popular names of 2009:

They further break down names by mother's race and reveal some rather peculiar top ten choices by white people (ie: Chana, Chaya, and Moshe). Really?!…

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Added by Ran Craycraft on October 20, 2010 at 1:28pm — 4 Comments

Is Astoria's Rent Too Damn High?

New York gubernatorial candidate, Jimmy McMillan is fast becoming an Internet sensation thanks to his emotion-provoking, address for The Rent is 2 Damn High Party (RDH) earlier in the week.

McMillan faces stiff competition as he's running head-to-head against Manhattan Madam, Kristin Davis, Andrew Cuomo, and Carl Paladino.