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

When I saw him Hudson River pier opening act was Marshall Crenshaw, I believe.

Rec for a place to drink and/or maybe eat near the forest hills tennis stadium?

― Virginia Plain, Friday, September 19, 2014 9:51 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Jack & Nellie's on Ascan is a decent gastropub with good atmosphere. Station House is a good beer bar but gets a little jocky at times. A lot of locals also like Dirty Pierre's but I haven't been.

no, that was Joe Jackson's opener!

This is not helping VPlain one iota. xp

Aha: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Concert_1982-08-27_New_York

You are right about Joe Jackson though.

How far is Nick's pizza from the stadium? Probably be rammed.

Not that far -- thought about recommending it, but it's more of a place to "eat and possibly drink" than vice versa. And as you note, not a lot of seating and probably will be crowded on a concert day. I also had surprisingly good food at Agora recently, and Bangkok Cuisine is decent thai. And there's also a Bareburger.

Thanks! I think I'll try Station House--seems most convenient.

Mutual friend of mine and Alex in NYC is going and has extra tickets he needs to sell. I'd go but am under the weather.

Anyway hardly ever go to rock shows anymore and usually only if
1) They are free and
2) Morbius and Ian are in attendance

you are describing ONE show there

Ha, yes. But one film too.

Could have added "or hstencil" to the latter and got another show. No wait, that was paid admission, never mind.

Was feeling knida shitty and only made it for the last 15-20 minutes, but glad I did. Inspiring to see that huge-ish crowd lit up by the anti-anthems.

...

I was going to guess Phil Lesh.

― Code Money Changes Everything (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, September 19, 2014 2:48 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

If not for the above, among other factors, I might be the among the select to make both shows.

Report: We went to Station House for one drink pre-concert. It was packed. We stopped in somewhere on Austin Street for drinks after--it was quieter. At the concert, I accidentally dropped a whole glass of beer on top of the people sitting in front of me. They took it remarkably well.

My friend who I went with was also at that '82 Costello concert. I loved the venue . . . would definitely see shows there again. It somehow felt very non-New York to me. Reminded me a bit of the vibe of the Greek Theater in Berkeley.

I want to see something there, but there hasn't been a thing I badly enough wanted to see yet, though I'm sure Replacements would have been good.

Austin St. was awash in middle-aged men in tye dye on Phil Lesh day -- it seemed a little surreal and took me a sec before I remembered what was going on.

I think they're going a little "safe" with the booking so far because of fears from the neighborhood.

(Xpost) Lol. Sometimes you run into people you haven't seen in years walking by a venue hosting a Dead-related show. At least in my experience.

It's like what the last episode of Freaks & Geeks was foreshadowing.

Sorry, benbbag, I still basically hate the Dead, Phil Lesh especially, although I do have a few token songs I don't mind as evidence that I have given them a fair shake and to ward off offers of Dick's Picks listening etc.

Think my hood must be the most parade-havingest in all five boroughs.

And today takes place the best of all parades, the Bolivian.

Anyone know whether Nixtamal might have changed owners, management or chefs? Went last night and the menu looked different, which I always consider a bad sign. The food was still good except that my carnitas tacos didn't really have what I think of as carnitas, it was more like pork belly or something and the meat itself wasn't very tasty (although the tortillas and condiments were good as ever). Maybe it was just one of those Sunday night things. I recognized the same waitstaff and not much else seemed different except I had a weird feeling that there were even more TVs than there used to be, which is a little annoying.

Not management far as I know. Friend was there recently and chatted with the wife as usual. Maybe just an off day? I also find carnitas generally can be pretty inconsistent, like sometimes they just grill up whatever pork product they have! I had a really bad experience recently with the non-Queens Grand Moreles diner, which I used to order from in Brooklyn. Twice recently had Pastor tacos that were super good, third time I think it had tripe and god knows what else in it, was sooooo bad.

That would explain it then, especially with it being Sunday night. It was just like really greasy, mostly fat, and not much other flavor. The posole was good as ever though. My 2.75-year-old daughter freakin' loves their posole and it's the cutest thing ever, whenever I bring her there she sits there with her giant spoon barely digging it out of the big bowl she can barely reach and smiling and shouting "posole!" and the waitstaff always gets a huge kick out of her.

Immediately before I had taken K to the fantasy forest amusement thingy in Corona park, at dark, and they only stayed open long enough for us to ride the carousel twice alone, and to me it was like the loneliest thing ever, riding the carousel alone in a dark park, but she was so into it and didn't care at all.

when I said "they", I didn't mean them specifically, just mexican restaurants in general. But could've been the case for you. Even if it's not as far as tripe or whatever.

These articles are appearing with more frequency lately, I'll be making fun of them while secretly hoping my co-op's value goes up:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/23/realestate/affordable-and-reliable-queens-real-estate-ascends.html?_r=0

Forest Hills gets a few grafs but unfortunately they focus on Parker Towers, an overpriced faux-luxury trap for ex-Manhattanites (and also on the new premo condo building going up on QB which is significantly more expensive than the rest of the neighborhood). Plenty of better options imo.

When we looked at apartments in Parker Towers the elevator had been broken for several weeks. One of the apartments they showed us required walking on an outdoor balcony to get to - it was the weirdest shit, never seen anything like it. The other was in a building where the hallways were "being renovated" with no clear end in sight. It really didn't have all that many amenities to speak of, and it was like 25% more expensive than the other rentals we looked at. Kitchen was old (the "renovated" units are even more expensive) and layout was super weird. I guess people are just drawn in by the name brand and fancy leasing office, whereas renting in other buildings in the area requires a little more legwork.

nuthin mentioned in there for anyone w/ less than $2500 a month (unless you are low-income)

One of the apartments they showed us required walking on an outdoor balcony to get to - it was the weirdest shit, never seen anything like it.

I've been in a Mitchell-Lama building in Manhattan like this. The elevators to each floor are in a heated interior space but then you go through a door onto an exterior balcony! Seemed un-Northeastern but interesting.

xp

Which is classically NYTimes, and also gives a very wrong impression. I mean, this is my zip, and there are cheaper neighborhoods in Queens:
http://www.trulia.com/for_rent/11375_zip

A year and a half ago we lived in a 1BR that was almost 1000 square feet, renovated kitchen, terrace, nice hardwood floors etc and we paid $1850/month -- and we later found out that the building was a little on the expensive side bc it was one of the only ones allowing dogs. Right across the street from Parker Towers.

if you search for parker towers on google maps it comes up labeled as new york apartments constantly breaking.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/parker-towers-forest-hills-2

I mean it's like a universally reviled building, the NYTimes RE section is such a joke.

But it's the only rental in the neighborhood I know of with its own fancy leasing office. It's kind of hilarious, the leasing office is like WAY nicer than the buildings/apartments themselves.

I read that article. Actually my mother sent it to me. Along with an article from a year ago about Woodside that I'd already read. Me an anyone I know who might be looking for housing is not the demographic for that article. People for whom 2600 for a 1 bedroom is a steal compared to Manhattan or Brooklyn do not get my sympathy or deserve my clicks and eyeballs. There's some relatively affordable housing in parts of Queens (emphasis on relatively) but also parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan but it's only a trend piece if the building has a new treadmill in it or something.

Gothamist dissects NYT piece above

http://gothamist.com/2014/11/29/brunch_hate_reads_irritating_people.php

"dorm room chandelier crowd"

Anyone been here?

http://www.finbackbrewery.com/home.html

curious. Apparently doesn't serve any food, which is a drawback to going since it's kind of nowhere.

lol @ russian mob taste
https://www.redfin.com/NY/Flushing/11014-69th-Rd-11375/home/20915998?utm_medium=email&utm_content=home_image&utm_campaign=listings_update&utm_source=myredfin

Going to Jackson Hgts for Indian buffet tonight wooooo!! I'm going to need my most kaftan-ish kaftan....

I'll keep an eye out.

btw forthcoming feature documentary by the legendary Frederick Wiseman is a portrait of Jax Hts.

Really? Does it mention Quintano's School For Young Professionals?

Not in JaxHts, but attended by various members of the NY Dolls.

Another great meal at Kyclades tonight, ordered literally twice as much food as we needed

Don't I will be making it, but Moneco is performing at Terraza tonight.

Forest Hills finally has an approximation of a brooklyny coffee place, with counter culture coffee, a proper marzocco machine, latte art, veg/vegan food, etc.:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RED-PIPE-Organic-CAFE/366466150198645

wife reports that it is still queensy but the coffee is good

how about $1200/month studios?

Maybe. Assuming you need decent subway access to Manhattan, I'd try Rego Park, Sunnyside, Flushing, Elmhurst, maybe Maspeth/Middle Village, Kew Gardens. I think Corona is a really interesting neighborhood too although you'd be like the only person who's not either hispanic or old italian holdout, afaict. But great food, access to Flushing Meadows/Corona Park -- you're a mets fan too arent you? The Queens Museum is a neat little contemporary art museum too. And probably reasonable rentwise.

You might find that in Forest Hills though. Especially if you can find a rent-stabilized building.