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The
No Popcorn Theater..................
Check your coat, forget the craving for popcorn, and don’t yell at the screen. The actor might yell back. The American Museum of the Moving Image (AMMI) has almost everything a film lover wants or needs. Despite repeated inquiries, popcorn isn’t allowed inside. Regardless, there’s not a bad seat in the house, because they’re all facing the big screen, where long forgotten, under appreciated, and soon to be blockbuster films flicker across. But films aren’t the only things inside. Fists fly and heads bob as two live DJ’s spin hip-hop music during a kung-fu film in an exhibit called “Hop-Fu.” DJs pour hip-hop beats over the soundtrack to other movies, including the Klu-Klux-Klan sympathizing film from 1915, “Birth of a Nation.” With exhibits like that, it’s easy to see why the stars aren’t just on screen. It’s a place where a polite jockeying for the armrest can have film buffs and celebrities rubbing elbows. Last year, Al Pacino and Winona Rider popped in to hear John Malkovich talk about his film, “The Dancer Upstairs,” which got its New York premiere at the AMMI. AMMI is in the heart of New York’s movie business. Forget theinside, a trip to its front door is an adventure. Next door is Kaufman Astoria Theater, which draws in a mix of notables like Nicole Kidman, Chris Rock, Don Imus, Al Franken, Woody Allen and Leonardo DiCaprio. Don’t be surprised if these famous faces stuff their bellies nearby. But if you can’t make it to the theater, you can still have fun at AMMI. At its website, you can check out the archived talks from directors like Martin Scorsese (“Taxi Driver,” “Good Fellas”) and Jim Jarmusch (“Ghost Dog,” “Coffee and Cigarettes”) and actors like Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Single White Female,” “Singles”) and Willem Dafoe (“Spiderman”, “English Patient”). — Azi Paybarah
It’s a churchgoer’s bar. Located across the street from St. Sebastian’s Roman Catholic Church, Donovan’s is the neighborhood go-to spot. It’s easy to imagine the traffic that flows from one gathering place to the other. Outside, the walls are white, windows dark, and no signs of life. The elevated train muffles what music and talk might normally be heard. But inside, men and women are in their Sunday finest, shuffling between the small aisle separating the bar, from the jukebox and trivia video game. Parents
gently tap their glasses, and the stories and alcohol flow. For the recluse, or hungry, there’s seating in another room. Unlike the garden-variety bars that pop up near colleges, Donovan’s brings together a diner crowd, and afternoon Scotch sippers. But don’t think the drinks are watered down, or that you can’t get a Fifth Avenue-style cocktail right off Roosevelt Avenue. The bartenders know their stuff. What appears to be a decorative shelf of whisky, scotch and wine bottles actually functions more like a well-oiled machine, operated by Donovan’s bartenders. And what they churn out is comfortable din where elbowroom is in short supply, but friendly faces and good company aren’t. — Azi Paybarah Donovan’s
Moments after corporate executives, elected officials and school children cut two flowered ribbons in Queens Center Mall’s newly refurbished basement – commemorating their $275 million expansion – the escalator stalled, making it official: the suburban mall experience was now in Queens. There are 175 stores, 794 parking spaces, and millions of things on sale. But since the mall’s new, most people head over there just to gawk, walk, and talk. Models,
plucked from every corner of Queens during an open casting call, now
cover the faces of stores that have yet to open. Construction workers and scaffolding still hover around the mall’s exterior, providing fashion conscious shoppers a loud and admiring audience. The new mall was built on a municipal parking lot across the street. Connecting the old and the new is a huge bridge hovering over 92nd Street much the way the Millenium Falcon in “Star Wars” would look if it took flight from LaGuardia Airport. Inside, the mall is a mall. Chunks of bourbon chicken at the end of tooth picks are offered free near the assembly-line like counter of McDonalds. Payless Shoes, which used to be around the corner from the mall on Queens Boulevard, is now one door down from Wild Pair – which as the name suggests – offers shoes not for the faint of heart. Die hard bargain hunters can still head to the mall. The old mall, employees in the area said, is a ghost town, compared to the bustling high end, new end. –Azi Paybarah Queens
Center Mall
Watching a criminal trial at the Queens County Criminal Court Building is not as dramatic as watching a “Law & Order” episode, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. As soon as you walk into the building and pass through security and the metal detectors you can view names of people whose trials or sentencing are being held as well as a list of cases. Your adventure can begin on any floor of the building since trials and judge’s sentencings are held in various court rooms. While watching a case, you may think your favorite characters from “Law & Order” or “The Practice” will emerge. Even though they probably won’t, you will still hear an occasional “objection” followed by either “overruled” or “sustained” from the judge. It may be hard to follow a trial from beginning to end since it can take weeks, but it’s fun observing the faces and actions of the defendant and the jury. Just step inside the building and observe the lawyers as they run to make it to their cases on time. It’s fun to watch the trial process as it happens in real time and not for one hour on television. —Nicole Burdett Queens
County Criminal Court Building
Everyone’s Italian at Spaghetti Park. From billionaire Boston native Mike Bloomberg to the hot dog vendor on the corner, everybody gets into the action. Bocce is a game similar to marbles, but with bigger balls. Just try watching a round or two of bocce without picking up a taste for the old country. Pizzerias, delis and neighborhood eateries surround the park. The long, rectangular court is tucked into the corner of Spaghetti Park, more formerly referred to as William T. Moore Memorial Park. Between the court and the park’s edge is a barbeque grill that sizzles to life under the tall green trees strung with electric lights. Some hurlers run after their balls, hoping to guide then with their sheer will and command. Others unleash their balls from a tightly wound, crouched position, standing up only after the ball stops ricocheting, giving spectators the idea the player and the ball are deeply connected. And they are. Players
justify their bad plays to onlookers, pleading for sympathy. Others
turn away modestly after they make a play, shunning the applauds and
backslapping from colleagues. —Azi Paybarah Spaghetti
Park
Deep in the heart of Jackson Heights, incense wafts out from the Indian shops and people of all kinds stream in and out of the cluster of Indian restaurants. On a Friday night it resembles more the 1920s than the new century while residents, all dressed to impress, walk the lively strip. And then, fitting perfectly at the crossroads of this neighborhood, is the Eagle Theater. A procession of eager moviegoers lines the sidewalk waiting for their turn to enter the art deco theater. But this is no Loews. And it is certainly no Regal Cinemas, although it used to be triple-x. Nowadays Eagle screens all Indian films hailing from Bombay, or Bollywood, as they call the movie capital of the East. The latest stars and starlets of Indian theater grace the silver screen every evening at the theater’s U.S. premieres. The Eagle opens films the same time they open in Bombay and most of them are subtitled to accommodate the ever-growing non-Indian population turning out for the also evermore popular Bollywood fare. So spend next Friday in Bombay, eat the best Tandoori in New York at the Jackson Diner and then make your way to Eagle Theater and get lost in the magical, mysterious and passionate world of Indian cinema. —Peter Gelling Eagle
Theater
Substitute
the blacktop for blue avenues of the East River. The morning crowd manages to quietly juggle newspapers and donuts, much the way their straphanging counterparts do. But on the ferry ride, the view and air enchant all. This might be the only commute with a view that can overtake people. As the ever-present Citylights building recedes, and the Queensborough Bridge slides along, the Manhattan skyline grows, and eventually surrounds. People who ferry seem to really believe in stopping to smell the roses. This is the New York City version of that ethos. It’s the rose-smelling without the stopping. The most coveted seats are the top deck, of which there are only 28. But despite the urge, resist the temptation to reenact the “I’m the king of the world,” moment from the movie “Titanic.” It’s not nearly as amusing to fellow riders in the morning. New York Water Taxi admits it’s about eight minutes per stop, and added, “since you’re never caught in traffic, you’re more likely to arrive on time.” Riders might get a little misty, but it won’t be from sweating out another log-jammed commute. And for evening riders, there is no more grand of an entrance into Manhattan than to pull up on a ferry, where the stars and skyline are within reach. —Azi Paybarah New
York Water Taxi
Roaring engines and bright lights are routine on 86th Street and 23rd Avenue by the College of Aeronautics in Jackson Heights. It’s one of the best places to watch airplanes take off and land from LaGuardia Airport. There are many days when residents in Jackson Heights and Astoria feel the vibrations of the roaring jet engines as they look like they are going to land on their apartment buildings or homes. It’s an adventure because you never know what day the planes will be taking off or landing. Another place to watch the planes is by the World’s Fair Marina. Watching
planes at LaGuardia is especially fun at night. The anticipation waiting
for the plane to fly over your head builds with each passing minute.
Suddenly you see bright headlights approaching and the large, looming
jet flies over your head. —Nicole Burdett Watching
Planes Take Off
Imagine you and a group of your friends hanging out together outside drinking pitchers of beer. It can happen at the Beer Garden. The Beer Garden offers a variety of European beers that are available by the glass, bottle, or by the pitcher. Beer lovers can enjoy Spaten, Pilsner Urquel, or Staropramen. The outdoor atmosphere is something to really take in. There are picnic tables set up in rows and at times you can forget that you are sitting in a busy part of Astoria and feel like you are in the middle of a European garden. They also have a grill where you can get burgers or bratwurst. When it’s cold outside you can take the party inside and sit along the bar or in the booths set up along the wall. The Beer Garden takes beer to a whole new level. Bring your friends and step into a different world. — Nicole Burdett The
Beer Garden at Bohemian Hall
Colorful horses spinning around and around to music with children laughing and waving to their parents as they pass. The Forest Park Carousel will bring back memories to anyone who has ridden a carousel anywhere. The music sounds like an old church organ, the horses are colorful and shiny and children usually pick the ones that move up and down. Children will kick their feet and pull on the reins as if they are riding a real horse. The carousel spins you around and the wind flies through your hair and is a refreshing feeling on a warm, summer day. Each time a child spots their mother or father they wave and anticipate the next time they’ll spin around and pass them again, hoping the carousel will spin them faster and faster. But eventually the ride is over and you will hear “Oh c’mon Mom, can I go on it again?” — Nicole Burdett Forest
Park Carousel
The barbecue is long over and the lemonade has been gone for hours. The fireflies are out and the sticky night air has brought the mosquitoes out of hiding. You’re stuck in traffic on your day off from work, and you don’t mind at all. You’re on the Queensborough Bridge, and no one’s moving – on purpose. They’re
waiting for the Fourth of July fireworks to start. Most
have their hazard lights on in the outside lanes. Of course, the police are out, sirens on and blowhorns loud, ordering people off the bridge for safety reasons. And the people do move. Just very slowly. Then, all of a sudden, the whole bridge turns black as the skyline closest to the waterfront goes dark. The first fireworks fly into the air, exploding into red, white and blue. Patriotic music is playing on the radio of just about every car on the bridge. Down below on the Long Island City waterfront, kids of all ages ooh and ah over the display. On the bridge, the cops finally succeed at moving some cars off, but they just drive on to the Long Island Expressway and pull over to the side. All along the expressway on both sides, empty cars are parked in the right lane with their hazards on, the people who drove them standing outside watching the fireworks from a distance. They’re over in 15 minutes, and everyone gets back in, drives home, and is satisfied at seeing the fireworks live rather than on television. There’s really nothing like it. –Angela Montefinise Watching
Macy’s Fireworks Display
This classy French bistro has all the trappings of an authentic Parisian meal. Its floor to ceiling glass windows opening up to the busy sidewalk outside are reminiscent of the 1930s Champs Elysee. Its outdoor terrace café transports you to Montmatre on any summer afternoon. It is the perfect place to feel a few thousand miles away in the exotic French countryside. It is also the perfect place to feel a little romance. Bringing a date to 718 Restaurant would surely impress. Its candle-lit interior creates a warm, intimate feel while its sleek bar offers one of-a-kind, love-inducing drinks. The three French owners collaborated to create a unique menu, one that is French with a Spanish flair. On weekend nights this restaurant is bustling much like Ditmar’s Avenue outside. It is a festive place to stroll after a monstrous multiple course French meal. The perfect date might be, after finishing up your meal with a warm apple tart with Tahitian vanilla ice cream, to mosey on down to Astoria Park and walk along the romantically moonlit river – although not quite the Seine, it is pretty close. —Peter Gelling 718
Restaurant
Sitting on the edge was never so relaxing. At
the crest of the meandering foot trail are a series of wooden benches
that leave even the “I’ve seen it all” New Yorkers
in awe. And it’s free! Along with usual park goers, Gantry attracts aspiring book readers who deep down, down want to turn a page; and landlocked residents amazed at the mere presence of the East River. Standing like gaping mouths at the view are two, black steel archways, remnants of when trains shuttled off goods delivered fresh from the boats. Next door is a fenced off plot of land that will house another tall, luxury co-op. Getting there now, before more buildings sprout, leaves park goers with a communal sense of being some place unspoiled, exclusive, and undiscovered. —Azi Paybarah Gantry
Plaza State Park
By midday, the sun fries everything around Spaghetti Park in Corona. Even the shade is warm. But slink along the darken edge of 108th Street, and there is an oasis. The gentle blue and white sign spelling out the name The Lemon Ice King of Corona has a seemingly magnetic attraction to passerbys. On warm, humid days, it’s easy to see why. In
white paper cups, The Ice King serves, well, just that…flavored
ices. They include chocolate, cherry, peanut butter and a zillion others.
(Yes, even fat free flavors.) They’re all made on premises. It’s
not formal, but there is a well-established way to order ices. Third, just say the price of the size you want, and the flavor: “Gimme a $2 peanut butter,” is curt, but preferred. Are the ices worth the trip to Corona? Stacey Van Dyke, who posted her thoughts online, said, “I have been dying for the chocolate chip ices since we moved away in 1978.” The Ice King opened in 1944 with just two flavors: lemon and pineapple. For Polar Bear Club members, and those who eat ices in the winter, The Lemon Ice King is open year round. —Azi Paybarah Lemon
Ice King of Corona
The surrounding neighborhood is reason enough to make the trip to the Kew Gardens Cinema. The rolling hills, tree-lined streets, quaint shops, welcoming pubs and home-style restaurants are the perfect pre-cursor to a night of independent film. The Kew Gardens Theater, with its interior brick and velvet drapes, is as classy as it is entertaining. But the theater is far more than a night out at the movies. Kew Gardens plays the latest in independent film screenings including films that no other theaters in New York, not even the big independent movie houses of Manhattan, are able or willing to procure. Although it saves room for the popular standards like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” with Jim Carrey, Kew Gardens understands its role in the vibrant film culture of New York City. Foreign films from places like Hungary are regular staples there. And it is not uncommon for film-obsessed Manhatttanites to make the trip to catch the often-elusive independent gem. What’s the best part about Kew Gardens Cinema? Well, this reporter like the all-day $5 ticket price on Tuesdays and Thursdays. —Peter Gelling Kew
Garden Cinema
Reading and drinking usually don’t mix. But then again, Bartini’s isn’t a usual lounge. After entering the posh Forest Hills Inn, located off the beaten track just south of the ever-bustling Austin Street in Forest Hills, follow the always-playing top 40 dance music downstairs to the dimly lit couch and candle filled lounge, where 20 and 30 somethings dress to impress and kick back after work. Take a seat on one of the comfy velvet seats, flag a waitress, and ask the ultimate question – “Can I see a martini menu?” The waitress disappears into the dark towards the bar, and comes back with a textbook-sized spiral book. You take it and browse over the lounge’s 600 plus flavors of martinis. That’s right – 600 plus. Everything from macaroon martinis to peach kiss martinis to chocolate orange martinis to honeydew martinis to margarita martinis to regular old perfect martinis are available, some with vodka, some with gin. This is all in addition to regular cocktails, beer, cordials and ports. Four single ladies sitting on one of the four couches in the middle of the lounge order Cosmopolitans, while the three couples sitting in the private cushy booths against the wall sip on wine and martinis of all different colors. A group of friends laugh it up in the large booth in the back, while a bunch of young single guys hang out at the bar. You
try an orgasmitini to be cute, a mix of crème de cocoa, Bailey’s
and vodka. As you sip, you sway to the music and glance at the lava
lamps and the flourescent purple lights. Only one word for it – cool. —Angela Montefinise Bartini’s
You can hear the jukebox from down the block. It’s coming from a café on the the less crowded part of Austin Street; a dark restaurant with a bright yellow awning nestled amongst closed storefront retail shops. Inside of Five Burros, the rock music blaring from the 50s-like jukebox gets louder as you squeeze your way through the crowd of young singles and couples hanging around the bar sipping Coronas and frozen peach margaritas. People sitting and laughing at the close-together tables are eating cheese-covered, Mexican specialties, from lobster tacos to quesadillas. People
are playing pinball in the back room while groups of beer-guzzling sports
fans are toasting a homerun hit in the game being broadcast on small,
silent televisions hanging from the ceiling. You manage to find a stool at the bar – which has a five-foot fake Corona bottle on the awning above it and always stays open until 4 a.m. – and try to decide between one of the specialty drinks, all mixed perfectly by the bartender. A nice guy sitting next to you says hi, then warns you to watch out for the Red Death. It’s a doozy. Cheers. –Angela Montefinise Five
Burros Cafe
“Pick a card, any card.” You
quickly scan the fanned out deck of cards in front of your face and
hastily choose one in your head. It’s the 10 of diamonds. You sit back in your fold out chair and say you do. Wind,
standing in the narrow middle aisle between the 40 or so chairs set
up, places a card in your hand. “Is that your card?” You
turn it over. Three of diamonds. You shake your head no. You
turn over the card and see the 10 of diamonds. He then puts the card in the middle of the pile, places the pile on your palm, waves his fingers over the deck, and suddenly the cards move in your hand. They all lean to the left except one – the 10 of diamonds. He’s still not done. He has you write your name on the card. He then places it in the middle of the pile. He tries to find the card, but it’s no use. Then he hits his stomach, makes a distressed face, and pulls a folded up card out of his mouth. It’s the 10 of diamonds. And it has your name on it. Performers like Wind show up at the Rogue Magic and Fun Shop every Saturday at 9 p.m. to put on shows on the small stage in the back. The store’s shelves filled with hundreds of magic tricks, videos, and jokes are covered with black cloth while the show goes on. Magicians practice their new tricks while young up and coming wand wavers watch and learn. And you can see everything up close and personal – if you watch closely, who knows what you’ll see. –Angela Montefinise Rogue
Magic And Fun Shop Magic Shows
As you walk towards P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, ready to take in the multitude of eccentric modern art pieces that the MoMA affiliate has to offer, you hear music playing from down the block. You walk up to the wall-covered entrance, and see a party going on in the outdoor art space in front of the stairs that lead up to the museum door. You
ask someone what’s going on. “It’s the warm-up series,”
a well-dressed trendy art fan answers. “It happens every summer.” Each summer from July 3 to Sept. 4, an artist is chosen to decorate the space, and a party is held every Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. A different DJ spins music each week, and because the party is sponsored by Brooklyn Lager, there’s always plenty of inexpensive brew to go around. There
are always lots of 20 and 30 something artists at the weekly event who
discuss the art scene and who sold out. Fun, fun. –Liz Goff P.S.
1 Contemporary Art Center
After sitting closed and under construction since October of 2001, the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum in Long Island City is set to reopen this June. The museum, which displays the life’s work of the famous sculptor in an indoor garden setting, was renovated to give the galleries better light and climate control, as well as make more room for more of Noguchi’s work. The industrial building that the museum is located in, however, has not been altered dramatically so the sculptures can be displayed in the same urban setting that Noguchi intended. The tranquil space was designed by Noguchi before his death in 1988. The
13 galleries within the converted building include more than 240 works,
all displayed in a natural, peaceful atmosphere. –Angela Montefinise The
Isamu Noguchi Museum
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