A Local and a Chain

We ate at two very good places here in NYC over the course of the last few days. The one we went to on the Fourth of July was the more special of the two for various reasons, but they both deserve mention.

Since it was too hot and we didn't feel like grilling on the Fourth, we went to a barbecue place in Astoria we hadn't tried before. It's called Butcher Bar, though the sign on the building just says "Smoke." Small but comfortable on the inside, there's also a backyard garden for dining though too steamy that night for us. We were drawn to Butcher Bar because its website said all the meat is grass-fed, free-range, hormone and antibiotic free, etc., and everything they serve is organic. There were even vegetarian options like veggie burgers for the friend my son brought along, but I wouldn't go in there if I were a strict vegetarian, because they do have a meat-market case and there's a lot of red, raw meat on display. Well, it suited me fine, but only because of the afore-mentioned natural-ness of the meat. I ordered a 1/4 pound each of the pulled pork and brisket (I wanted burnt ends but, like most good bbq places they were sold out by that time of the day) and mashed potatoes. My husband got ribs and potato salad. Everything was divine - I mean scrumptious! And very reasonably priced. However, as friendly, kind, helpful, and fast the waitresses were, the kitchen couldn't keep up with the rush. We waited about a 1/2 for our food and my son and his friend longer, as they came in after us. The waitress said they were always busy on holidays, but if that's the case, the management should plan ahead for it. Oh, and it took about 15 minutes to get our check back after we gave them the credit card, so maybe the waitresses got overwhelmed too. Anyway, I love the idea of a local place that serves great, natural and organic, sustainable food in a nice and friendly atmosphere. For this I rate Butcher Bar:
Extraordinarily sincere!

The chain restaurant we visited Friday the Fifth for lunch in Manhattan was Chop't - a place many readers may already be familiar with. I hadn't yet experienced the chopped salad phenomenon, but it sounded good, and Jon and I just needed a quick, light lunch. Jon ordered a Cobb Salad while I was still deciding, but when we looked at the amount of food going into it, decided to split it. He asked them to divide it into two bowls and I thought they would quibble, but they did it ever so cheerfully, at no extra charge. They were patient as he decided on the dressing, and in general were very friendly - something you don't always find in NYC. At the cashier, we were thinking about getting a drink, and she offered us a free cup of ice water. Very nice. The place was cool and comfortable - we even got a booth, and best of all, the meats are all free-range and hormone free. The veggies are not necessarily organic, but they try to serve local foods as much as possible. The salad was delicious and half of it was plenty for lunch. The whole thing, at 670 calories would have been way over the top for me, but most salads there had way fewer calories - between 300 and 400 for the whole thing, which is more like it. And one more super-plus: you can recycle the plastic to-go bowls and all other plastics, except the forks. They also have to-stay bowls that they wash and re-use, but we didn't think of it in time. I try to avoid chains, though this one is only in NY and Washington D.C. so far. I have to say, Chop't is one I'd try it again. So, though I would rarely give a chain our highest rating, I'll certainly rate it:
Pretty sincere!

Sugarfreak

We had been wanting to try Sugarfreak since it opened a few months ago, but Jon's gluten allergy, and my intolerance to sugar kept us away. When I first glanced at the menu one day as I walked by it on 30th Ave, all I saw were po-boy and muffaletta sandwiches (hence, the gluten), and that name...well it scared me a little. Still, I was intrigued by what looked like shower curtains covering the front window, and the New Orleans theme. Once my friend and co-contributor to this blog, Teresa Barile, reviewed it for the Queens Gazette and gave it a big thumbs up, we decided it was time, especially when, upon closer perusal online, we discovered buttermilk fried chicken and blackened catfish on the menu. According to Teresa, the name Sugarfreak came from the original intent to make the place a bakery. I'm so glad they decided to ditch that idea.

At any rate, when we dropped by for dinner last night. we were immediately charmed by the interior. The "shower curtains," as it turns out, are actually vintage tablecloths that are also used for dividers between booths and on comfy back-pillows. Even the furnishings themselves made us drool - gorgeous antique kitchen tables and chairs that we wished we could sneak out with. We also were tempted to pocket the teeny mason jars used as salt and pepper shakers. And I was so in love with the bathroom: a bucket for a sink, colorful mardi-gras lights strung all around and a pull string toilet, I actually stayed a few minutes longer than I needed to and tried out a few Charleston steps to the Dixie-land music that was playing on a taped-shut CD player hanging from a towel rack. Sounds too kitschy? It somehow manages not to be, but rather walks the line between friendly family place and hip hangout. There were lots of well-behaved babies with their young moms and dads there the night we went - the place so crowded by the time we left at 8:00 we were glad our grown-up family had dined on the early side.

The food was good, but I'm not gonna say great. I tasted the fried chicken but still think I make better. The catfish was tender and delicious but I sensed a pre-made spice mixture was used. The sweet potato fries were probably the same frozen  brand I use, though I bake mine and they fry theirs. The mac and cheese was outstanding, however, and the chocolate bread pudding for dessert was so decadent I only had to smell it to know how wonderful it was. For a more complete assessment of the food, go to Teresa's review: http://bit.ly/wVVLLF because she tried many more things than we did. The service, though friendly, was a little slow, and when my husband ordered a salad, the server might have mentioned that another one came with the dinner, but the prices are right. Anyway, we liked it enough to definitely go back, and are looking forward to bringing out-of-town friends there. In a city (Astoria, Queens) where you could go to a different, great restaurant every night of the year and still not try them all, Sugarfreak is definitely a stand out.

Evaluation: 
Very sincere

36-18 30th Avenue ASTORIA (718) 726 5850

Sugarfreak.com

Pita Hot...What?

Sometimes you just gotta put the spotlight on the little guy. I doubt anyone cares about a tiny gyro shop tucked away on a busy street in Astoria, Queens, NYC, but my son is such a fanatic about their shawarma (sliced, ground lamb in a pita) that I had to give Pita Hot a try. First of all, the name is awfully cute, don't you think? A little play on Pizza Hut except that it doesn't really make sense, since in English, of course, we would say Hot Pita. I'm sure the owner either doesn't know or care, and why should he?

But I digress. Anyway, I went in to order a felafel (ground chick peas and spices rolled in balls and fried, served in a pita with veggies and sauce) and found the counter man, probably the owner, a large, middle-aged, middle-eastern type, as friendly as could be. He cheerfully took my order, then proceeded to offer me hot pita triangles dipped in fresh hummous (ground chick peas and spices in a paste.) It was phenomenal. He offered the same to all the customers who came in, and knew some of their orders before they spoke. My son tells me this is true of his - the guy knows to add extra hot sauce but no veggies.

I got my felafel in about 5 minutes and took it home to eat instead of there in the tiny restaurant with just a smattering of tables and chairs. It was good. Not as good as the fresh hummous, but good. Good enough to remain impressed with Pita Hot's level of sincerity, and want to recommend it to others. So if you are in Astoria anytime soon, drop by for a cheap, satisfying, middle-eastern sandwich, made to order. It's the friendliest shawarma you'll find anywhere.

Evaluation: Very sincere
25-15 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 932-8282

Word Books, Brooklyn

Luis Alberto Urrea signs Queen of America at
Word Books, Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of
WordBrooklyn.com

On a mild December night, I took my husband for a surprise visit to an independent bookstore in Brooklyn to give him his Christmas present: not just a hard-cover version of the recently released Queen of America by Luis Alberto Urrea, a book we'd been anticipating as the sequel to our favorite, The Hummingbird's Daughter, but a signed copy and a chance to meet the author.

Jon was delighted when he realized what his present was. We've been a fan of Urrea's for a long time and were both just thrilled to meet him. But we were also delighted with the venue in which this reading and signing were taking place - not a Barnes & Noble, not a Borders, or other Starbucks-ridden big-box behemoth, but a cozy, well-stocked bookstore in Brooklyn with a lovely children's section and a knowledgeable and friendly staff.

We were led into the basement where Urrea and his wife were setting up a slide show, we were offered refreshments and encouraged to enter a raffle for 18 signed books of all different titles offered by the bookstore. Then Mr. Urrea showed pictures of his real-life main characters upon which his historical-fictional novel is based. He answered questions, and finally did a memorized reading, more of an acting out, of a scene from Queen of America. The man should be on Broadway. Then my husband got in line to have his newly purchased copy signed and I had a great chat with a staff member about the book A Fearful Symmetry by another favorite author, Audrey Niffenegger.

And guess what...I won the raffle! However, that is not why I chose Word Books for this blog. They fit all the Sincerity criteria and then some (even providing lots of community outreach, according to their website). My husband came away feeling like he'd gotten the best Christmas present ever, and I walked off with a charmed impression of the shop. We don't have anymore independent bookstores where I live, Astoria, Queens, so Word Books is now my bookstore of choice. Merry Christmas to us!

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!
126 Franklin Street Brooklyn, NY 11222 | 718-383-0096
www.wordbrooklyn.com

The Most Sincere Pumpkin Patch

Searching For Sincerity was inspired by the idea of Linus and his sincere pumpkin patch. Ever since our son was small, we've gone on "expotitions" (to quote Winnie the Pooh) each fall, to upstate New York, or Long Island, or some rural area in search of the most sincere pumpkin patch from which to choose our Halloween pumpkins. Forget the patches with the big, balloon pumpkins in front, the corn mazes, the haunted houses...we wanted the real experience, a farm with pumpkins that they grew, a place where we could choose the perfect specimens without the extraneous Halloween commercialism. Some years we had extraordinary success, other years our search ended at the handiest roadside stand available. We rarely went to the same patch...our purpose was to explore...to always be looking for the most sincere of the sincere. So obsessed were we, we began to judge everything in terms of sincerity: restaurants, shops, businesses of all kinds - hence this blog.

Finally, we have found THE most sincere pumpkin patch in the world. How do we know it's the most sincere? It's ours. I accidentally planted pumpkin seeds in our community garden plot, thinking they were butternut squash and they grew like mad. Sometime in July we realized they were pumpkins, not butternut, and we became excited at the prospect of raising our own Halloween pumpkins. Only once before did we manage to grow a pumpkin there, and that attempt ended in tragedy...see video: http://bit.ly/pmEluU

Jon with two pumpkins across the street from
Two Coves Community Garden

The only thing lacking today, this glorious September day that Jon and I went to our very own patch to pick FOUR beautiful pumpkins, was our son, who is now grown and no longer much interested in pumpkin patches. However, we gave one of them to our little one-year old neighbor Valentina, because we knew she'd like it, and the other three sit on our mantle awaiting carving, or eating, or whatever we're inspired to do with them. It's still a little early for Halloween, but they'll probably last 'til then. In the meantime, it looks like more pumpkins may still come out of our patch, and we now get to revel in our own supreme sincerity. Don't tell me that the fact that we deem ourselves sincere automatically makes us insincere. No, no. We've earned the distinction. Sincere we are indeed.
Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere! (of course)

Jon and Georgina's garden plot
Two Coves Community Garden
Astoria, NY

Napoli Pizza and Pasta

My friend and guest writer on this blog, Teresa Barile, is restaurant critic extraordinaire, her once a week contribution to the Queens Gazette Newspaper in New York. When Teresa recommends a restaurant, take her seriously. Many of the eateries we've touted on Searching for Sincerity came by her suggestion. For years she'd been telling us to try this ultra cheap, super traditional Italian place in Astoria simply called, Napoli Pizza and Pasta. I'd driven by it many times and seen the sign but didn't connect it to the one she was talking about. It looks like your average pizza-by-the-slice dive. But duck under the inner doorway to the tiny, unadorned dining room within, and prepare for the wonders that await you: a crisp and saucy Caesar salad, melt in your mouth garlic bread, and, my choice of entree the night we went, a totally authentic pasta carbonara that was...$6.50, I kid you not. It was such a huge portion, I combined it with Jon's perfect fettuccine alfredo and took it home for leftovers. They serve wine by the glass, but don't expect the swill you often find in cheap joints. I had a generous glass of Montepulciano that was excellent and inexpensive. There's nothing gourmet here, nothing pretentious, just friendly service, great food, huge portions and the perfect spot to meet your writer friends, as we did that night. Thanks, Matt and Julie Posner for the splendid meal and company!
(Matt and Jon exchanged signed books that night and we took home a copy of Matt Posner's beautifully inventive, Harry Potter alternative, The Ghost in the Crystal from his School of the Ages series. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. You can find it and other writing and music of Matt's here:
http://amzn.to/pYSQPN)
Evaluation: Very sincere
(718) 472-1146

33-02 35th Ave
Astoria, NY 11106

The Sandwich King of Astoria

Over the door the awning proudly informs us that this is Sal, Kris, and Charlie's Deli. More importantly it declares that this place is the the fabled Sandwich King of Astoria - which is what Georgina and I have been referring to since arriving in Astoria some 12 years ago.


On the way to board a plane that no longer bothers (now that I think about it thankfully so) to even pretend to serve food ? - Let's stop at the Sandwich King. Road trip? Sandwich King. Spontaneous picnic? Sandwich King. Etc..


Why is this place the stuff of legend? How do they have the nerve to self-declare that they are the Kings of the sandwich? The truth is in the fresh baked choice of rolls, the delicious deli meats, the available peppers, tomatoes, lettuce with a nice slathering of mayo. It is in the way the guys greet you and work together behind the counter in a dance of flying knives, happy banter and a concentration on making the best sandwiches one can possibly imagine. 


Hail to thee Sandwich King. Long may you reign! Huzzah!


Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

33-12 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11102

(718) 278-9240

Sorriso Italian Pork Store - Astoria

It was Good Friday. We'd spent the afternoon at St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery in Manhattan, rockin' out to the Good Friday Blues program in which Josh had performed. We'd planned an evening with Italian friends: Teresa, an Italian/American, and Elena, the real thing, who was going to cook for us at our house, after which we were all going to dye Easter eggs. But it was 4:00 and we were already famished. To complement Elena's meal, we decided to pick up some antipasti, and took Teresa's recommendation of checking out Sorriso, a neighborhood Salumeria, or "pork store," as they call themselves. We were unprepared for the extravaganza of homemade Italian delicacies that awaited us: fresh mozzarella - still warm - house made sopressata - spicy and sweet - fried ravioli and artichoke hearts, olives, prosciutto balls and Italian sparkling water. These were only the items we took home. We could have bought an entire "home cooked" meal of pastas, meats, salads and sweets, but we'd already spent a pretty penny. We weren't hungry any more though, as the proprietor had stuffed us full of samples. It was just the home-grown experience you'd expect from small town USA or Italy, but with every delicacy you'd expect to find in NYC...Queens that is. Manhattan may have it all, but I doubt it has anything to compare with Sorriso's combination of freshness, gourmet quality and friendliness.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere! 
4416 30th Ave
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 728-4392 

The Queens Public Library - Astoria Branch

I go into the Astoria Branch of the Queens Public Library the other day looking for books on Italian history. It's just after school has let out and the place is packed with rowdy kids (the days of "shhh! this is a library!" is long gone). I look around for the research librarian to see him sitting at a table surrounded by children, patiently and kindly helping them with their homework. He's tall, thin and very pale - the perfect librarian. He looks too busy to interrupt. I ask someone else to help me but she directs me to him. I timidly let him know I don't want to interrupt and he says with a sweeping gesture, "This is my everyday existence. You are special today." I'm fairly certain they don't have what I want but he runs around looking anyway and we finally decide I should find a title online and see if they can order it. I take two books just to make him happy, check them out with the very surly librarian who's been there for 100 years and keeps the place from being too ridiculously sincere, and walk home musing about how I have that library to thank for helping me write my past two novels and will help me write my third. Little poor Astoria branch library, only open 1-5 Monday through Friday, has my sincere thanks.

Evaluation: Very sincere

Queens Public Library - Astoria Branch
Astoria Blvd. and 14th Street

 

Reward: for the return of the Christmas Lights of 30th Ave - Astoria, NY

Have you seen Steinway Blvd. in Astoria, Queens this year? It's all decked out in a brand new array of glittering orbs, putting throngs of dedicated shoppers into the financially correct Christmas spirit. Music blares from strategically placed speakers, and a world of high end shops warmly welcomes anyone with plenty of cash in their pocket.

Message? Merry Chri$tma$ to one and some?

Am I the only one who remembers last year and the year before when there were other areas of Astoria where pretty light display swags were installed for the wonderment of children and adults, rich and poor alike? Those lights were of the twinkling white variety, and they gracefully lined every other lamp post along opposite sides of the larger streets.

Something has changed this year. Things are different now. There are random nasty ol' lights strung up, looking left over from the Great Depression. What sort of message is being delivered to the citizens of Astoria? If you're not shopping on Steinway you don't need real Christmas lights? Can anybody explain to me exactly what "SEASON6 ylFIdGS" means? Is it a secret code telling everyone if they really want to see lights they'll need to take their chances on Steinway, or wander down into the lower East Side where there are currently displays of light swags strangely similar those used to grace our streets?

Let me just say this: $EA$ON6 ylFIdGS and Merry Chri$tma$ to all. And to all a  good night! 

Evaluation: You need to ask? Really? 

El Boqueron Tapas Bar and Restaurant

El Boqueron has been on the same funky corner in Astoria for ten years. Right next to the elevated train, between two subway stops, it doesn't necessarily have the ultimate location for an upscale Spanish restaurant. Yet it's a well-traveled corner, and El Boqueron's beautiful awning catches the eye of the passerby. This is a place you go for a creative Sangria, delectable Tapas, and traditional Spanish main courses. It ain't all that cheap - yet priced within reason for a fancy Astoria joint. They've hung on through the difficult economy and have earned the distinction of a neighborhood institution. The owner and his kitchen staff pay fierce attention to freshness, authenticity and also innovation (I recently had a grilled mushroom and squid crostini-type tapa that knocked my socks off). And the garlic, oh, the garlic. Almost everything is infused with it in heady, magical ways. I cannot imagine finding better food in Spain itself though I've never been there. The staff is friendly and professional and the interior is gorgeous. Go hang out there for lovely wine and appetizers or a first class dinner - they even do lunch!

Evaluation: Very sincere!

  

31-01 34th Ave.
Astoria, NY 11106
718-956-0107
www.elboquerontapas.com

Two Coves Community Garden

This is a place of wonder and relaxation. It is a green oasis contained in the midst of the community endlessly bustling around it. Trucks and cars whiz by, some slowing down to view the riot of colors provided by  flowers. Kids wander home from school and, whether they know it or not, are influenced by the beauty provided by their neighbors. These are neighbors who have come together to form something very special. This is not a park, though the Parks Dept. has provided some welcome support such as drinking fountains and a few benches. This is not a project promoting exclusivity but rather one that offers a chance for people from the surrounding blocks to create a synchronicity of cultivation. All of these unique urban farmers, some highly experienced and some who are, for the very first time, plunging their hands into fresh soil, find themselves on a mission: growing things that they can  take pride in, display as centerpieces, and serve as fresh produce that they personally have a relationship with.

Two Coves opens doors where none existed before. Communication amongst its members is as precious a commodity as the foodstuffs they place on their tables. Fall is upon us and Winter is on the way so the garden will soon begin to sleep and replenish itself. Come the Spring, life will begin reassert itself again with new greenery, and the air will fill with the scent of renewal. Together then, we will all move forward, growing together, sharing an experience of incredible depth and fulfillment.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

 

Socrates Sculpture Park

Sitting in the warm, breezy summer air watching a foreign film under the stars, or wandering through exhibits of displaced subway mock-ups, this is a place of peaceful wonderment. The art changes with a certain amount of regularity, but the welcoming atmosphere is always in place. The people who run the show are generally in the background, not seeking praise or glory, they seem content to let visitors have their own experience.

There used to be an exhibit of wind-blown bells that would fill the air with subtle tones of wind-chimes taken to another level . I've seen everything from the eviscerated body of a whale made of plaster; a greenhouse-like bedroom, enclosed behind windows; a recreation of an ancient city that never existed; a delicately balanced metal tower, and a kitchen complete with all appliances, plunked down at a hazardous angle as though snagged up by some giant hand  and dropped from the sky.

Children come to play around, and sometimes in and on the works being displayed. Animals are welcomed with open arms, and available poop containers. People from the neighborhood mingle with visitors from across the various waters of the world.

For our family, it's just around the corner and we visit it often. It's just up the block from the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum which is also an extraordinarily beautiful place to visit, but the difference between the two is substantial.

Socrates is free.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

 

socratessculpturepark.org

3205 Vernon Blvd
Long Island City, NY 11106
(718) 956-1819

Viva El Mariachi - restaurant

Over dinner last night, Georgina and I were talking about this project. We realized that the idea of searching for sincerity is really as much about stumbling into a place that somehow delivers that extra something that compels us to want to share its existence here, as anything else. Clearly, we've been very lucky in our encounters. The place where we were eating last night (a "Latino" restaurant in Jackson Heights) actually had very good food, our waiter was pleasant, and the atmosphere was nice enough, however it just didn't deliver the goods. On the other hand, Viva El Mariachi, little dive that it is, does. Why is that? Well, that's always the point on this blog isn't it? - We really don't know the answer, but we do  know when it's there and when it isn't. Mariachi is a place that very often has loud Mexican rocanrol, delivered via jukebox, blasting from big speakers at either end of the place, and simultaneously broadcasting an ongoing Spanish language soap-opera on each of the big flat screens that adorn the front and back of the dining room. The food is stunningly good, reasonably priced and nicely presented. The waitresses bemusedly tolerate my bad Spanish, and delights at Georgina's perfect Mexico City accent. There's no host nor hostess, and everyone just chooses a table that they feel comfortable at. Coming from the Southwest, we're always on the lookout for good, authentic Mexican food, and trust me this place is the bomb! Service is quick and friendly and no question about it, Viva El Mariachi is decidedly sincere.

Evaluation: Very sincere

 

www.astoriamexicanrestaurant.com/
3311 Broadway, Long Island City

(718) 545-4039

It's only pizza, right?

What you see in this image is a restaurant called John's Pizzeria which (let me state for the record) I have never been to, and two doors down is a Papa John's Pizza (where I have no interest in going). So what's my point? The John's Pizzeria has been in that location for as long as I've lived in Astoria, while the Papa Johns opened shop about a year and a half ago. As I see it, this was a deliberate and callus attempt to suck business away from a local establishment that presumably has a following of loyal customers -  a calculated move done solely in the name of, "business" (and when I place the word business in quotes I fully expect you to read it as an explicative). When free enterprise is demonstrated as nothing more than a money grubbing drive to run the other guy out of business - something has gone terribly awry.

This is not an evaluation.



John's Pizzeria Restaurant
2339 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria
Phone: (718) 721-6904

Papa John's Pizza
2333 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria
Phone: If you really want to call them after my tirade - look 'em up in the yellow pages.

Whiskers Holistic Pet Care

We live with two cats, Thisby and Renfield. Thisby we retrieved from a cat-lady out near Coney Island. She (the cat) tends to be heavy, and occasionally resembles a wedge when she sits in the kitchen staring at us with that look of disdain. Or is it reproach? Renfield was found one Halloween night several years ago. Renfield is a cat completely at home with himself in the belief that he is the king of all things. He is also the creature who has incurred a couple of medical bills that caused a certain vet to rub his hands gleefully together whenever he saw us come in the door. This is how and why we discovered Whiskers Holistic Pet Care. The vet, in his great wisdom, had prescribed a particular dry cat food (Hill's Prescription Diet® k/d® Feline) that could only be purchased from him, or as I discovered after paying that exorbitant price a couple of times, through an online source that nevertheless insisted on seeing that damned prescription (clearly someone was afraid that I might eat that very special food for the high!). So Georgina and I asked a woman at Whiskers what could be done. The first thing she said was "don't feed your cats dry food." What do you know? It turns out the cats have been correct in their assertion that they are just smaller versions of their ferocious-snarling-beasts-of-the-jungle cousins. They need meat. They are thriving. We don't need prescription cat food. Whiskers gave us straight from the hip knowledgeable information. The cats are happy. We are happy. The vet? His Mercedes payments are late.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!



Two locations:
235 East 9th Street, New York - (212) 979-2532
1925 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria - (718) 626-8590
whiskers.com

Welling Court - neighborhood

So you might well be asking yourself, "what the hell? Isn't that the street you live on?" The answer is, yes it is. Yes! We're giving ourselves a well deserved pat on the back.

This is indeed the street we live on, and I can say without reservation that it is quite possibly the most sincere neighborhood in NYC if not the entire USA. How do I arrive as such a bold statement? How about this: a few weeks ago we held a block party in celebration of the 40+ internationally recognized artists who came to paint the walls of the neighborhood. The artists came because they were invited by our wonderful  corroborators in this effort Ad Hoc Art Gallery, and permission had been obtained from all the owners of all the wall spaces. The community came because this is were we live together, people of all ethnicity and all backgrounds celebrating our neighborhood. But it was more than that: when the artists began to arrive, individual neighbors from all up and down this small street began to bring them juice and food and ice. They offered paint and donated whatever they could to support the transformation. They stood and watched the progress of individual works. they were inspired. This was a community of people with a uniting common interest: a better more beautiful place to live, and that interest was coming alive right before their eyes.

The artists were moved. The people were moved. The residents of this formerly somewhat forgotten and obscure little neighborhood helped each other to grow that day. The artists came together in that growth as well. Ask any of them.

Everyone here stands just a little taller now, and when we speak of home - that home is not located on a grungy little street tagged with gang-graffiti anymore. It is located on the best street in Astoria, New York. Welling Court.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere! (What else?)
 


Check it out - search the net, "Welling Court Mural Project."

Build It Green - Building Supplies - Astoria, NY

This amazing place is right around the corner from my house and I'd heard about it for a while before taking a walk over to see what the buzz was all about. There was no way the buzz could possibly do justice to this handy-person's paradise. I started by wandering around open mouthed at huge lots of doors, windows, bathtubs, sinks, dressers and all sorts of other things that very few people outside of studio prop-masters could possibly have an interest it... I kid you not, the last time I went in there were like six coffins available. Were they used? Recycled? I dunno I never asked. So, Georgina and I decided to replace our medicine cabinet because the one we had was made of plastic, falling off the wall, and generally crappy. We wanted something like the sort of cabinet we grew up with - you know, those solid metal things from the 50s and 60s? Well, we found just the one - exactly what we wanted. It cost 20 bucks and the super helpful guys who priced it for us - asked it as a question. $20 okay? OMG - this is so not Home Depot.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

 

www.bignyc.org

317 26th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 777-0132

Shore Towers - Condo - Astoria, NY

Vast stretches of bare paint-gray concrete surround a building that hogs some of the best views of Manhattan from Astoria. When this monstrosity went up, it blocked about 50% of the view from Astoria Park. A "public" walkway along the river is scrupulously monitored to keep us riff-raff out...

Evaluation: You need to ask? Really?