In Need of a Rebound

A couple of months ago, I found out that one of my childhood classmates became a Rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers. Although I loathe the Lakers with a passion, I was amazed that someone I knew ended up in the NBA. I spent 1st through 5th grades in the same classrooms as Devin Ebanks, a really tall kid who grew up in the Queensbridge Projects not too far from my house.

Though there are many famous figures and celebrities who hail from Queens (e.g. Ray Romano, Lucy Liu, Christopher Walken, Nancy Reagan, Nas), it's a little bit more surreal when fame strikes someone you once shared the same space (maybe, the same textbook) with.

This news comes at an interesting point in my life since I just turned 22 and will be graduating in less than one month. With an uncertain future looming ahead of me, I find myself on an emotional rollercoaster ride, often jerking my thoughts and questions forward and back in a matter of seconds. Where am I going? Who have I become? Why couldn't I turn out like Devin Ebanks? =)

Most of my childhood friends left Queens - for college, for loved ones, or to simply go somewhere else. Not me. I was born and raised here, and I'm still here. Sadly, my life feels the most stagnant that it's ever felt. I'm starting to believe that one of the main causes is a sense of immobility and permanency from being in the same place for over 20 years.

Don't get me wrong. I love Queens and will always be loyal to it. But isn't it only natural to feel a little restless after years of routine? This is terrible - I feel like a shameful wife trying to justify divorcing a committed and loving husband. I also feel like I'm committing blasphemy against my own blog about Queens, but that's not my intention at all!

Lately, I've just been wondering if and when I would leave this borough, the only residence I've ever known... and whether I'd be able to call some place new, home.

How I wish someone could stop the shot clock.

Queens Is King: by Eric Durasko

Thanks to Eric Durasko for the following guest post, sharing with us his support and admiration for Queens! Don't forget to check out his blog, Empire Sports.

When a discussion about New York City boroughs comes up, most people think of Manhattan, the Bronx, or Brooklyn before they think of Queens or Staten Island. Staten Island has always had a bad rap with the other borough dwellers. Most consider it the worst borough, and some even refuse to acknowledge its status as one. Let's be honest, they have a point. They speak different and don't even have connection to the NYC subways. Staten Island has the ferry, but that's about it. I have no personal vendetta against the place, but there is no comparison when it comes to the uniqueness, variety, and attractions the other boroughs offer. But what about Queens? Why is it usually considered the fourth wheel, only beating out Staten Island? 

The Bronx has Fordham, Yankee Stadium, the Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. Brooklyn has the accent, Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the best pizza in New York. Manhattan has, well, everything. Queens, however, is often unfairly overlooked even though it has plenty to offer as well. As a Queens native, I feel what stands out the most in this great borough is its diversity.

Hispanics in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Greeks in Astoria, Irish Americans in Woodside and Sunnyside, Italian Americans in Howard Beach and Ozone Park, African American and Caribbean populations in Jamaica, Jewish populations is Forest Hills, a heavy mix of European immigrants in Maspeth, the expansive Asian communities in Flushing, and on and on. There are 138 languages spoken in Queens, the most of any borough. It is also the most sizeable borough and the second most populated after Brooklyn. 

New York is quite diverse as a whole, but Queens sets the standard. This borough offers an amazing mix of nationalities. As a result, it is filled with a myriad of colorful and unique faces, cultures, places, and dining opportunities. With a persistent flow of immigrants, a high percentage of the population is foreign-born. Queens also has the most evenly divided mixture of various demographic groups. Here is an interesting article that touches on this and more. The writer argues that Queens is not only the most diverse borough, but one of the more diverse places on the entire planet. The writer provides some fascinating facts and statistics to back up her claims.

I grew up in Sunnyside, Queens. This diverse area is made up mostly of Irish Americans but is littered with various other demographic groups, particularly Hispanics and Asians. Students at the elementary school I attended were a representation of this. Kids of all shapes, sizes, and colors filled the school. My group of close friends included a Filipino, a Korean, an Italian, an Indian, and an Ecuadorian. We looked like a miniature UN congregation when we all hung out together. It was a cultural learning experience each time we'd visit a fellow friend's house. Their style, what they ate, and how they interacted with their families varied from person to person. I've never been to a place that matched the diverse range of people that I was exposed to growing up around Sunnyside, Woodside, and Astoria.  

Brooklyn can have the accent. Manhattan can have the flare. I'll take the diversity of Queens any day. Sure, my opinions may be quite biased since I was born and raised there. But there is no denying that Queens has plenty to offer and can hold its own in comparison to any of our great boroughs.

- Eric Durasko

Getting Comfortable, Southern-Style at Lowcountry NYC

[Edit: Here's a non-Queens related piece that I wrote for another New York blog, The Urban Tourist. Many thanks to its author, Chelsea, for letting me contribute! Check out my post on her blog here, along with her super cool NYC finds!]


I took a mini vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last weekend, with huge hopes of finally getting to eat traditional Southern cuisine once again (New Orleans, Louisiana was my first and only taste of the authentic South last year and I loved it!).

What actually ensued was a thoroughly disappointing experience for my tastebuds. Myrtle Beach's American fare crushed my drool-inducing dreams of devouring gumbo, shrimp and grits, Charleston red rice, collard greens, fried chicken, and buttermilk biscuits time and time again, with its plain and redundant offerings of hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries. After searching endlessly for South Carolina's rich, complex, and buttery comfort food all weekend, I solemnly boarded the plane back to New York City, still starving for some Southern grub.

Interestingly enough, I discovered just what I was looking for when I got back to New York City. Yes, I transported myself to the Carolinas by taking the 1 train down to the West Village and visiting Lowcountry an understated speakeasy-style restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine. Everything on the menu looked delicious! Check it out here.

I had the BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders to start, followed by the Carolina Shrimp & Cheddar Grits with a side of Collard Greens with Bacon. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Bourbon Ice Cream and Pralines. Amazing!

This meal definitely hit the spot and I immediately felt guilty for betraying my beloved city, for attempting to find better food somewhere else. Now I know it can't be done. Sometimes, as a native New Yorker, I take for granted and even forget the possibilities within this place, in terms of culture and cuisine. So, I'd like to give major props to Lowcountry and also to The Urban Tourist, for helping us all remember how much New York City has to offer.

Lowcountry
142 West 10th Street, NYC
Between Greenwich Avenue & Waverly Place

Fresh Mediterranean Seafood at Taverna Kyclades

If I had to choose one restaurant to represent the heart and soul of old Astoria, Taverna Kyclades would be it.

This Grecian seafood eatery is simple, fresh, and authentic. It's also a local favorite (check out its fantastic Yelp reviews). Its unadulterated dishes really showcase the freshness of the daily catch and the pure flavors of Mediterranean cuisine.

Let's let the grub speak for itself!

Peasant Salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, feta cheese)

Fried Whiting with Roasted Lemon Potatoes

Grilled Squid with Roasted Lemon Potatoes

The Last Bite: While I do appreciate creative chefs who carefully construct gourmet meals, use perfect flavor combinations and top them off with fancy presentations, sometimes I just want to eat a good plain meal that looks, feels, and tastes like it were made by two human hands. Perhaps it's the struggling beginner chef in my head that wants to believe that I can make great-tasting dishes too, without all the fuss! Perhaps it's the dormant prehistoric cavewoman in my body that longs for the gratifying feeling of eating something that I hunted or fished for. Or maybe, it's just honesty that I'm craving. Whatever it is, Taverna Kyclades fulfills it.

For its simplicity and sincerity, this Astoria gem has me hooked on the best Greek seafood in Queens.

Rant: Please Stop Renaming Queens' Bridges, Mayor Bloomberg!

The 101-year old iconic Queensborough Bridge is now "The Ed Koch Queensborough Bridge". What?! Why?!

The City Council voted to rename the Queensborough/59th Street Bridge after former NYC Mayor Ed Koch last Wednesday. Mayor Bloomberg first announced plans to rename the bridge in honor of Koch's 86th birthday last December, but no one thought it would actually happen... until it did. 

Borough representatives and residents have since expressed their outrage and disapproval of the new name. Regardless of one's feelings about Koch's 1978-1989 terms as Mayor, Queens supporters and the majority of New Yorkers (according to several polls) believe the change is inappropriate and disrespectful to a borough that is already too often overlooked and forgotten.

Although the bridge connects millions of New Yorkers from Long Island City to 59th Street in Manhattan and back everyday, no one would ever dare think about renaming the Brooklyn Bridge or the Manhattan Bridge. So, why the exception for the Queensborough Bridge? For absolutely no reason at all, except for the fact that Mayor Bloomberg would like to give Ed Koch a nice gift for his 86th birthday.

We've already lost the fittingly named Triborough Bridge (which connects Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan) to the name "The Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Bridge" in 2008, although no one actually calls it by the new name anyway. In this case, the aesthetic change came with an economic one, as the city had to spend $4 million to rename it and added a hiked up toll fare. Who knows how much Ed Koch's signs will cost us? At least his name is a bit shorter.

What did Ed Koch and Robert F. Kennedy do specifically for Queens, anyway? The borough saw no improvements or enhancements from their direct actions, so why should their names be tacked on to our arches? Why should inanimate structures be named after human beings at all? It simply takes too long to say... in the fastest city in the world.

Mayor Bloomberg, please don't mind the 3 million people that live in Queens who won't care at all that their tax dollars keep going toward millions spent on reprinting maps and road signs and not towards improving the quality of life in their surroundings. It doesn't matter at all. The people don't matter at all. Please change our entire borough name while you're at it. Just for kicks, you know?

A Healthier Burger at Bare Burger

Finally, the time has come to write my first blog post about the quintessential American fast food fare... the modern hamburger.

Since there are way too many blogs, reviews, and even television programs out there aiming to find the best burger in America, I'm not going to even attempt to do that. I would simply like to share with you a fairly new boutique burger spot in Astoria, Queens.

Enter Bare Burger, a local spot that serves up a great-tasting burger with the bite but not the grease. Bare Burger offers a new twist on the traditional hamburger joint: all of their ingredients are organic and the space is environmentally friendly (it was built using sustainable, reclaimed, and recycled materials).

At Bare Burger, you can even "build your own burger" by choosing from their selection of "meat" and "bun" options. The meat options include beef, turkey, lamb, veggie, portabella mushroom, elk, bison, and ostrich, which can all be sandwiched by either a Brioche bun, 7-Grain bun, wheat flour wrap, or iceberg lettuce.

I scarfed down the "Big Blue Bacon Burger" (see below) topped with danish blue cheese, sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, and peppercorn steak sauce.

"The Bare Burger Supreme"

colby jack, gourmet battered onion rings, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, chopped french fries, and bareburger special sauce

"Basket of Fresh Cut French Fries"

 with spicy chipotle mayo, curry ketchup, chipotle ketchup, and Bare Burger's special dipping sauce

The Last Bite: When it comes to burgers, the greasier and messier they are, the more I want to eat them. But I have to admit that I usually feel incredibly guilty and literally STUFFED after eating a big burger and fries. It feels like a hangover and no matter how silly it sounds, I really feel "drunk" off of food. I'm happy to say that those days are over. I've finally found a cure at Bare Burger: an insanely delicious meal without the bloated and lethargic side effects! Here's to burger rehab!

"5 Pointz," LIC's Landmark Aerosol Art Center in Danger

When I read this news article about a large-scale development project in the works that would potentially replace the iconic 5Pointz graffiti-covered factory building in Long Island City with two high-rise residential towers and a shopping mall, I immediately experienced feelings of surprise, confusion, and disapproval.

Long Island City, a Queens neighborhood previously associated solely with drab factories and mundane manufacturing plants, has undergone several massive construction projects within the last couple of years. It is arguably one of the fastest growing areas in the borough and a popular living destination that young professionals flock to when they can't afford rent in Manhattan. Lying just a couple of subway stops from Midtown, LIC's new skyscraper apartments boast floor-to-ceiling windows that offer gorgeous views of the city from across the river.

While the renovations and city's efforts to clean the area up are definitely overdue and beneficial to the community, this particular development project is a bulldozer of a move that would not only infuriate graffiti artists in NYC and around the world, but it would destroy one of the only establishing relics that is truly indicative of LIC's old industrial neighborhood.

5 Pointz Aerosol Art Center is an outdoor art exhibit space that was created to signify a place where the five New York City boroughs could converge, in collective hopes of carrying out the mission, collaboration, admiration, and expression of graffiti or aerosol art. Breakdancers, Hip Hop and R&B musicians, and world-renowned painters have all visited 5 Pointz, establishing it as a cultural mecca.

Ever since graffiti became synonymous with vandalism, the value and technicality of the art form has decreased. The writers of today are perceived more like criminals than artists, as the graffiti bans have lead them to focus more on throwing up short "tags" that they can paint quickly before the police reprimands them. Larger works, murals, and other wall pieces have drastically declined, but 5 Pointz has welcomed intricate and technical portraits on its property. It is one of the only remaining canvases displaying urban art in the city.

The potential destruction of 5 Pointz strikes a strong chord with me for personal and aesthetic reasons as well. I have taken the N/Q/7 subway lines for years and have always loved the segments of the tracks that exist above ground. The colorful, panoramic views of urban art are impossible to miss when I look outside of the train car and across at 5 Pointz. I can't count how many times the brilliant collage of works has transformed before my eyes like kaleidoscopic images as the subway rumbled on along the tracks.

If this landmark image that I have seen daily for years was extracted from my view forever, I would definitely feel a sense of loss and disorientation... a feeling of being very far away from home.

A NYC Driver's Pet Peeve: Traffic Cops and Parking Tickets!

I am almost positive that every automobile driver in New York City will agree with my assertion that the NYPD Traffic Enforcement Authority is more often than not, biased and hypocritical!

Due to a number of awful experiences with traffic cops who have given me several undeserved parking tickets, I have been forced to use my cell phone to take photos like the ones below, in order to ensure that I have evidence in case the department finds a way to fine me when I am in no way breaking the law! Both are pictures of my car at broken parking meters with the word FAIL clearly visible. It's quite sad that I feel so defensive in my own city and quite silly that I have had to resort to keeping "proof" on my phone. We taxpaying drivers need a break!

NYC Traffic Enforcement is a force that will probably never let up, but they're a pet peeve that I'll definitely never get used to.

Ihawan: Serving Up the Heartiest Filipino Food in "Little Manila"

I think one of the most underrated cuisines in New York City is that of the Philippines. Although there aren't many Filipino restaurants in NYC, there are a few golden gems that food lovers have either overlooked or have failed to discover for the longest time. Given that New York houses one of the country's largest Filipino-American populations (right beneath California), it's a shame that very few have experienced this interesting culture and their delicious eats!

Filipino culture and cooking is influenced by Spanish, Chinese, Polynesian, and Southeast Asian traditions. The results are a common people with a rich, quilt-like heritage and a cuisine filled with a bold blend of sweet, sour, and salty flavors.

Last weekend I enjoyed a scrumptious meal at Ihawan, a Filipino restaurant located in the "Little Manila" section of Woodside, Queens. Ihawan serves up several hearty and deletable dishes, such as lechon kawali (whole roasted pig), sinigang (tamarind soup), bangus (deep fried milkfish), pork BBQ, and kare kare (ox tail stew in peanut sauce).

Here are some drool-worthy photos:

1. Bangus

2. Kare Kare

3. Lechon Kawali

The Last Bite: Looking back on how much food I ingested that night and remembering my heartburn after, I would have to liken that meal to something like the "Thrilla in Manila" match between Ali and Frazier. Except, in this fight, it was Filipino Food Vs. Me... and I definitely got KO'd!

Neighborhood Pride

A few days ago, I engaged in an interesting conversation with two of my friends, one of whom is a native of Brooklyn and the other a resident of downtown Manhattan. We started debating over our respective boroughs and it eventually turned into a fun feud about why our communities were better than the next. We argued over several topics, ranging from which borough has the best pizza and brunch spots to which locale has the greenest parks. We even disputed over which borough has the most "street credibility" and the most "hipsters".

After my friends and I had thoroughly exhausted every reason as to why our own mini metropolis reigned supreme, it slowly hit me that most residents of Queens don't exhibit "borough pride," but rather, they harbor a whole lot of "neighborhood pride". By this, I mean that a Queens resident often identifies with his or her neighborhood more than he or she does with the borough as a whole. I am very guilty of this, since I often tell people I'm from Astoria and not from Queens right off the bat. I don't know why this perception exists or where it came from. But I do know that I am not the only one to notice this... the United States Postal Service is surely aware of it as well. Why else would it allow Queens residents to write their postal addresses with their neighborhood followed by their state and zip code as opposed to writing their borough, state, and zip code (e.g. Brooklyn, NY 11238, Bronx, NY 10458, Forest Hills, NY 11362)? For mail purposes at least, Queens is the only borough that permits this public display of neighborhood segmentation and affiliation.

I wonder if this "neighborhood pride" is detrimental to Queens as a whole. It seems to have perhaps created some disconnect and disunity between the residents of the borough. But at the same time, I can't help but think that there's something unique about a place that lets its multiplicity shine collectively.

Just a thought. Comments are welcome - even if they're about how your NYC borough is better than mine! ;)

Little Egypt, Big Unrest

Although I'm not at all an expert on Indian/Middle Eastern tobacco, growing up in Astoria has definitely primed me with a subtle craving to smoke fruit-flavored hookah and sip on mint tea once in a while. One of these urges took a hold of me last weekend, so I decided to go unwind at a hookah bar on Steinway Street.

My friend and I made our way to the Egyptian Coffee Shop, a cozy spot where I spent some balmy summer nights relaxing and tasting a wide variety of Middle Eastern tapas or "mezzes" in its outdoor garden. We were extremely surprised when we arrived and the Egyptian Coffee Shop was closed. There was a notice posted on the door from a NYC department (I think it was the Department of Safety?) ordering the business to cease, claiming that it would be dangerous for the store to stay open. Being that New York's Egyptian American community has been immensely prevalent in Astoria since the 1960s, I figured that this had something to do with the recent protests in Egypt regarding President Mubarak.

Though we felt unsettled and even scared for a moment, we noticed that the hookah bar next door, Layali Beirut, was open. We entered the Lebanese cafe adorned with rustic-colored tapestries and candelabras. Sweet sounds of Arabic music calmly filled our ears as we glided over to a comfy booth. All was well again... so we thought. An hour into our conversation and relaxation over peach-flavored hookah, we heard the voices of a man and a woman escalating with every word. We turned around and spotted two people frantically arguing with each other in a Middle Eastern language that was foreign to us. My friend and I could not decipher what they could be arguing about, though we had a huge inclination that it was politically charged. The argument got so intense that both parties had to be restrained by other people in the cafe. This was the point when my friend and I decided that we should leave before we were summoned to serve as witnesses in front of a judge.

The Last Bite: Given the incredible tensions going on in the Middle East lately, I guess I can't be completely surprised at what I observed in "Little Egypt" this weekend. This experience did, however, remind me that Queens is truly a mecca of diversity in New York. And although it is plain to see that New Yorkers dwell in this city and build lives here, for many, their souls and hearts still lie with their families and connections in other parts of the world. Even though Queens is my native borough, it is often difficult for me to wrap my head around a place that is made up of so many different cultures. It is even more perplexing to realize how all of these people remain overwhelmingly tolerant and welcoming of these disparities. Thus, I'm proud to be from Queens, a place that's home to "little" communities with big hearts.

Check out this WSJ article that directly comments on the Astoria community and its relation to the unrest in Egypt.

The Year of the Rabbit Celebrations in Flushing, Queens

Happy Lunar New Year!

The Chinese/Lunar New Year is tomorrow (Feb. 3) and I figured that the least I could do was write a shout-out entry in honor of my ancestors! I also thought it'd be nice to shine some light on Flushing, Queens, one of the largest Chinese and East Asian populations in New York City.

My fellow Asians and non-Asians alike, 2011 is supposed to be a lucky one. Here's how we celebrate!

To ring in the Year of the Rabbit, the Flushing, Queens community will host the 15th Annual Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday, February 12th, 2011. The parade will begin at 11:00 AM at Union Street and 39th Avenue and end around 1:00 PM at Main Street and 39th Avenue. About 4,000 people will march the streets of Flushing and take in the sights of red lanterns, paper dragons, fireworks, and lion dances. More importantly, I'm sure there will be tons of food!

There will also be a Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown (Manhattan, NY) the weekend prior on Sunday, February 6th. Some think that this event normally outshines the Queens parade with its grandiose decorations, community organization sponsors, and martial artist performances. However, it is usually very loud, crowded and packed with tourists who are in the midst of finding their way through Chinatown and its neighbor, Little Italy.

If you'd like to celebrate the year of the "lucky bunny" without these nuisances, take a quick trip on the 7 subway line to the last stop - Main Street - Flushing. Half of the subway ride is above ground, allowing you to see some great views of Queens and even Manhattan (but from the other side than you're used to!). Better yet, if you're hungry, you can grab some dim sum, or Chinese brunch delicacies right in the neighborhood.

Here are couple of links to dim sum places in Flushing, Queens:

Jade Asian Restaurant

Ocean Jewel Seafood Restaurant

I'll make sure to post a more elaborate dim sum entry soon (with pictures)!

For now, Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Martha's Country Bakery: A Sweet Little Spot for the Cupcake Connoisseur

Hello Bloggers! Welcome to A.CULTURE.ATE!

For my inaugural post, I thought it would only be fitting to pay homage to the Queens neighborhood that I was born and raised in. So here's to Astoria and starting this blog off short and sweet!

For those looking for the quintessential cupcake but want to avoid the hyped crowds and long lines at the popular Magnolia Bakery or Crumbs Bake Shop in Manhattan, visit Martha's Country Bakery, a lesser-known Astoria-based dessert heaven just a few stops away from the city. Serving American dessert classics, Martha's feels like your grandmother's house with it's warm, cozy ambiance and sweet aroma of its beloved buttercream cupcakes. Martha's Country Bakery also offers fresh fruit pies, strawberry shortcakes, muffins, scones, cannolis, cappuccinos, and assorted gelato.

All baking is done on the premises which features an open kitchen, inviting visitors to watch the pastry chefs in action. With homemade wall signs declaring, "Stressed Spelled Backwards is Desserts" and "A Balanced Diet is a Cookie in Each Hand," how could you resist?

Martha's Country Bakery
36-21 Ditmars Blvd.
Astoria, NY 11105
718.544.0088

Nearest Transit: N,Q subway lines to Ditmars Blvd.

The Last Bite: When I was a young girl living in the neighborhood, Astoria was home to a predominantly Greek community. The only bakeries around that I remember were Greek-owned and influenced, like Lefkos Pirgos, one that is still popular today. Interestingly enough, before I knew cupcakes, I knew baklava (filo dough pastry, walnuts, & syrup) and loukoumades (a Greek doughnut).