54-46, that's my number: the Queens thread

Now I've gotta go pick up my kids a block from where I presume FB lives. Will be keeping an eye out.

Sorry if I outed them. Dave drew the Jack Heights cartoon character a few years back.

Haha, no worries. He drew that map of JH everybody was talking about a while back. I usually see his family at various events but he is not there too often. Never remember his last name.

Damn Nixtamal -- so good.

I feel like between that and Flushing-Meadows Corona Park I could probably stand living in Corona. It definitely seems like a great place to live if you're a latin-american family -- volleyball and barbecue in the park, nixtamal, all the kids stuff like the science center and the zoo right there, etc. And the neighborhood just has a pleasant vibe somehow.

Also check out this place when you're down there:

http://empanadascafe.com/

further away from Roosevelt but good.

Oh yeah, I've passed that place. Somehow I had a good feeling about it. It's directly on the way from Forest Hills (we either drive or take the bus up 108th).

Corona's a nice neighborhood but it is so crowded. The preschools are completely oversubscribed and the schools are overcrowded and the library is packed to the gills. So many children. Lots of opportunity/need there--if I only knew how to get some government grant or outside funding to serve the community/grow some sort of lucrative pre-school center or tutoring service or ESL school . Maybe one day the library will be 3X its current size and be able to begin to meet the demand.

Mrs. Redd sent me a text message the other day that she had walked by the JH library which had about an hour until it opened but a long line already queued up.

Oh geez that happens here too. Especially on beautiful days when the park or at least McDonalds should beckon.

Looked up Corona multi-family prices and they were higher than I thought (not that I can afford to or want to buy one right now). Hard to imagine they command the kinds of rents that justify those prices.

can make a lot in rent if you fit 20 people in them

lol at cruel Morrissey-like wit of VP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/02/queens-museum-_n_4200249.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Still have never been to the Queens Museum of Art but this seems like good news for the borough.

worth it for the panorama alone.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/arts/design/the-expanded-queens-museum-reopens.html?ref=design

looks pretty aws

any comments on last Sunday's Times real estate 'here comes Queens' feature? I am planning to move next July 1 and have narrowed it down to a miraculously cheap studio near the Slope, or the Pacific Northwest or Sunnyside.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/realestate/the-tilt-toward-queens.html?_r=0

(by which I mean I need to discover the miraculously cheap studio)

Just think it's funny that like every other feature that gives props to Astoria, Sunnyside and Jackson Heights, they neglect to mention the neighborhood that sits between all of them. Probably for the best.

Remember what Raymond Williams said about the organic society-"it's always been gone" - well Queens is like that, it's always up and coming.

building luxury condo towers in Jax Hts hasn't always happened tho

yeah and all of near brooklyn hasn't always been so expensive that people have no choice but to move elsewhere

Wouldn't mind if some of the new Jackson Heights trendiness eventually spills over into Forest Hills, but I kind of like that I'm not gambling on gentrification (closed on my co-op, btw) -- Forest Hills is what it is, good schools, relatively affordable. Probably will change slowly if at all. There is some new luxury tower going up on Queens Boulevard near the 71st stop though, for what it's worth.

so what's the ideal nabe for a single? who'd like to pay $1200 or less a month?

they neglect to mention the neighborhood that sits between all of them.

hey, I got that one right! even looked at a place there in '08.

Where is the JxHts trendiness again? Still have witnessed it firsthand despite extensive walking in the neighborhood.

Espresso 77 was the only thing that seemed to indicate further gentrification in JH, when I looked at apts a year ago.

I don't think there's actually that much of it, I was being half-facetious. I wouldn't be surprised to see some within a few years though.

Owner of 77 tried to team up with an owner of Molly Blooms in Sunnyside who lives in the neighborhood to put some kind of gastropub where Novo used to be on 37th Avenue between 78th and 79th but the rent the landlord was asking was crazy high so they backed out. Owner of Terraza also thought about doing something but same problem. Thought it was going to end up another 99 cent store or beauty parlor but Thai restaurant Arunee on 79th is moving in there. Not sure if that qualifies as gentrification.

There's a craft beer bar in Forest Hills now but it's always filled with jocks. There's also a gastropubby place that at least has the atmosphere right, although H went and said the food was just ok. There's also Banter now, an "Irish Gastropub" which at least does a decent brunch and isn't cheesy.

Keep thinking I would like to watch a soccer game in that last place.

Went to the opening of the museum last night -- the new wing is amazing. Nice event too -- great performances etc. The globe was all lit up and the fountains were going behind the museum and you could see it through the glass all the way from the other side.

Cool.

The distaff 3/4 of the Redd family went yesterday with Girl Scout troop to the Louis Armstrong House. Upon leaving each visitor was given a complementary packet of Swiss Kriss.

not

I was gonna say "holy shit"

will be in Astoria for a Hawks western tonight (unless there's another ER visit). I've lost track of the Greek diners that are still open, where should I eat?

I heard he tried to give some to the Queen of England but Tony Bennett stopped him maybe, so...

Actually, Mrs. Redd just informed me that they did have a Swiss Kriss postcard for sale featuring a photo of Satchmo on the throne.

Which western?

The Big Sky

yes there was def SK-related material in the gift shop.

Was also just told that in addition to the postcard the gift shop also has an ample supply of the product in question.
(Xp)

Based on the A.B. Guthrie, Jr. book?

Looks like it must be. Was on some summer reading list in high school. Wouldn't mind seeing the film, don't know if I can't make it.

On the Greek tip, I either go to no-name places or Kyklades, don't remember how close that is to museum.

If I can

Because it makes me feel like I'm a man

(Sorry)

yeah that's quite a haul from MOMI

the only place around there I regularly eat is Arepas Cafe. Not greek, but good.

thx dan

the globe on museum opening night (was visible all the way through the new wing glass, which was striking)

https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1458485_10153456310130304_694553516_n.jpg

"Globe"? Can't you call it by its proper name? How long have you lived in this borough?

RIP 5 pointz

Yeah :(