Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

Kelly writes a blog about the vegan lifestyle.

Every day begins with an organic green smoothie. Kelly Bennett tosses some baby lettuce, kale, blueberries, a whole banana…

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

For Norm, life is the greatest classroom.

Don't let the rocking chair fool you. Sure, Norm Sherman is sitting in it shoeless, but he has…

Earlier this week, we reported on a toy gun-toting-tot that scared the bejeezus out of some local parents. The Gothamist reports that the man has been arrested.

The man apparently bought the realistic-looking toy gun in Poland and fired it toward a tree on the playground before handing it over to…

It's the LAST WEEKEND to apply for Queens International 2013! Calling all artists, practitioners, designers, thinkers: SUBMIT or PROPOSE work, a workshop, catalogue/exhibition design, and/or other programming by midnight Sunday, May 12: …

Yesterday I read this blog post...

http://www.whyleaveastoria.com/profiles/blogs/the-strand-s-illegal-smoker-barbecue-set-up-last-weekend?xg_source=activity

...but now it's gone. I would've liked to connect with the author to show my support. Anyone know what happened to the…

From the Build it Green blog:

It is International Compost Awareness Week and BIG!Compost is looking for Western Queens residents between the ages of 18-24 to join our summer Compost Corps Program! Compost Corps is an 8-week compost operations apprenticeship program where participants will work closely with BIG!Compost staff to increase the…

Our friends over at QueensMamas.com reported on a toy gun-related incident that happened Tuesday morning in Astoria.

Apparently, police were called when a father brought his 4-year-old to the playground for target practice with a toy pellet gun.

Sounds like a pretty thick-headed move--especially if it could cause physical (or psychological) harm to the other kids. Crazy.…

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

Giuseppe at Pachanga Patterson.

Giuseppe Falco pulls a chair up to the table and pours himself a cup of coffee. Pachanga Patterson…

Photo by Christina Santucci

A man was found dead Monday afternoon beneath a van parked next to Blackbird's Bar on 30th Avenue and 42nd Street. Neighbors were not able to identify the man who reportedly removed his shoes and laid down under the van as if to take a nap.

Here's the scoop from the Times Ledger:

Police are trying to identify a black man in his 40s or 50s who was found dead…

The viral site, Buzzfeed has named Long Island City's The Foundry among the Top 20 Coolest Places to tie the knot. It's easy to miss The Foundry--nestled on the East side of Vernon Blvd at the base of the Queensboro Bridge. 

Big congrats to The Foundry!

What are some of your other picks for best places for a wedding in Queens?…

Happy Cinco De Mayo, or as some might say, "Happy Mexican St. Patty's Day! LOL!

Hi! It's me. Miss Ella!  The gal that hardly ever updates her blog!  The gal in…

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

What you don't see much of on Ditmars: The Front Porch.

I live in what people in the neighborhood call one of the "big houses." The lot is only 20 by 100, which, by Astoria standards,…

The title of this article is a Beatles reference. Those guys were musicians. Hey, speaking of musicians, there are a bunch here in Astoria. There are also filmmakers, actors, designers, dancers, and other types of artists who have recently "come together" to launch a collective fundraising campaign via Indiegogo, a crowd-funding website similar to Kickstarter.

The goal of the campaign, entitled …

One of our favorite Astoria performers (and open mic showrunners) is hoping to hit the road this summer on a very unique Kickstarter adventure she's calling, Busk or Bust.

Laura Bowman and fellow performer, Jessica Ferguson are trying to raise $10,000 for video equipment and insurance to fund the equipment they'll need to document the…

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

Larry's made a name for himself making graffiti jewelry.

There's a matched pair of elephants on Yogi Lala's front sign. You can't miss them because each one is balancing a diamond the size…

Photo by Nancy A. Ruhling

Claudia is the voice of parents at P.S. 122.

The carrot-coconut-apple bread, just out of the oven, is cooling on a wire rack as Claudia Lieto-McKenna readies her boys…

A 16 year old girl was attacked recently on 43rd street in Ditmars. It was right by the LaGuardia Center mall. The man and the girl walked into an alley where he then proceeded to bash her head with a brick. The man who has not been identified yet fled the scene right after the attack.

Click here to view the surveillance video of the suspect: …

Fellow Astorians. I live on 31st street in between 28th and Astoria Blvd, and I've noticed an unacceptable amount of trash strewn along the street. We're talking piles of rice in styrofoam trays, liquor bottles, cigarette boxes, and a ton of other crap. You name it and it's been tossed onto 31st…

A transit worker was fatally struck early this morning around 3:21a by a northbound E train at the 46th st. stop. More details on the tragedy are available at Gothamist.

Sad reminder of the risk transit workers take every day. Our condolences to his family and…

Okay, I'll admit, I didn't go to the opening night, but I went tonight. 

GO.

NOW.

The mezzes are amazing--that's what I had, and what most of the folks around me were having.  Very generous portions and everything is made on-premises; even the pita.  As per the staff, the only things NOT made on-premises are the ice cream and the bread put out on the tables.

For the boozehounds (myself included): The bar is phenomenal; one of the best-curated selections that I've…