Chipotle, Jamaica and More!

El Jarochito (30-11 29th St Astoria) is possibly the closest you can get to Mexico in Astoria, in terms of food products. Canned or dried hominy kernels stock the shelves just waiting for you to throw in some chicken and cook up a nice hot bowl of pozole. The Tostadas Buena Vista taste just like the tostadas made in Xochimilco, crispy and light. They carry a number of dried herbs, jamaica (hibiscus) flowers, peppers, spices and corn husks for making tamales. If you try the Dulce Vero Elotes (candy corn-on-the-cob) you will find that this small lollipop resembles spicy cornmeal on a stick. The Tamarindo juice mix comes in three deliciously sweet flavors: hibiscus, horchata (cinnamon rice milk), and tamarind. Just add cold water. This place also has a small grill where they make tacos, tostadas and many other small plates to go or sit at the side window-stand when weather permits. There are a few Mexican pastries here, but those are not recommended as you can find them at a higher quality somewhere else.

Pozole Made from Hearty Hominy

Spicy Corn Lollipops

7oz of Juicy Beef

The Fruits of Labor from the Open Kitchen

Famous for the steam grilled 7oz burger (that feels more like the 7lb burger) Jackson Hole Diner is a classic cliché of what makes a great diner. From the antique Pepsi Cola ads, and the red vinyl stools to the jukebox in the corner, it is a throw-back to the simpler days of poodle skirts and  bobby socks. Just like Happy Days, Jackson Hole was made in the seventies, but resembles the 1950s. No matter what time warp you are living in- the food is consistently tasty and the service is hospitable and timely at this old-fashioned roadside establishment. Made to look like an old train-car diner with an open-kitchen, you can perch yourself up to the bar with a hot coffee and watch your burger being prepared right before your eyes. There are about 27 different burger combinations to choose from- the Texas burger, topped with a fried egg, the pizza burger smothered in mozzarella and marinara sauce, the bacon burger and of course the classic burger- all ranging in prices $8.50-$14. The beef isn’t the only thing on the menu worth ordering. There is an extensive breakfast menu with hearty omelets and various pancake and french toast platters covered in heaping piles of fresh fruit. Despite this restaurant being a popular New York chain, it continues to impress patrons (like me) with quality comfort food and reliable service at the Queens location. I didn’t get the feeling I was eating a processed meal that just slid off the factory conveyer belt. The ingredients are markedly fresh and the food well made. Set far from the main strip, it’s a great place to take a Sunday stroll on a warm Autumn afternoon.

Greetings- As Local718 is in the middle of its second year, I would like to take the time to introduce a few new additions to the site. To the right —-> you will notice a Flickr photo stream. These are photos of Queens, NYC and wherever I may travel outside of the city. I thought it would be a cool visual distraction-  just in case you get bored reading. If you take a gander to the right you will also see a Twitter feed. These are my recent updates and info- like posts only shorter. Feel free to follow if you wish. If you take a look at the tabs on the top of the page, you will see a Local718 Video Shorts- these are short videos I create profiling the fabulous people of Queens. RIP is a new and well needed category I have just created dedicated to all of the fallen businesses of Queens. If you would like to add to the list of businesses that have been lost please send me an email at local718queens@yahoo.com . I also discovered that “Local718” is also a Boston Fire Fighters union. I shall now give a holler to those in the north fighting the flames. On another note, the company I worked for had a downsizing and my position was one of the many that were cut from the budget. But lets look at the bright side, unemployment is like being a part of some elite society into which only 10.2% of the population is admitted.  Mensa, eat your brains out! In other words I have lots more time to blog and blog and blog and I will. If you have something in mind you would like to see on this site, please let me know! Thanks for reading!

-C Smith

Remember the days when film was art and not an antique? Well the Queens International Film  Festival is keeping it reel this month with films from all over the world. November 12th will kick off the festival with an opening night showing of Cars of the Revolution with an after party at the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City. With films playing in venues like the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts, and festival happenings throughout Queens, there’s no excuse not to join this event. Check out the website for event schedules, film screenings and venues.

Eating in Translation guy has been lurking around Queens and here is what  he found in the way of trucks toting tasty food…

Tia Julia
Parked on Benham St. just south of Roosevelt Ave., Elmhurst, Queens
917-757-1633
11:00-10:00; closed Thursday

tlacoyo, which resembles an unsealed, pan-fried turnover stuffed with beans (first two photos below; $2.50), or meat and potatoes, and dressed with sour cream, hot sauce, and grated cheese…and much more

El Idolo-  Parked on the south side of Roosevelt Ave. near 104th St., Corona, Queens (One of several trucks with this name)

…serves a taco arabe ($3), in which the tortilla is rolled around grainy, flavorful, chipotle-sauced pork. Rather than a corn tortilla, this Pueblan variation on the top-loaded taco employs a slightly thicker, wheat-flour wrap — introduced, say many stories that seem to spring from the same source, by an Iraqi emigrant in the 1930s.

Once again our favorite borough has conquered all. This time in TONY ’s Own This City with a great Walk Through Flushing and Essential New York-Queens Museum of Art

And here is my own essential New York moment- capturing the 7 train platform:

Mexico City Theater in the Park

Do you ever wish you could see what the other side of the world is doing while you’re sleeping? Well now you can! LaGuardia Performing Arts along with The Internationalists are hosting Around the World in 24 Hours, a global theater in streaming real time with new events every hour. Performers and audience members will be able to communicate with each other in real time. You can share your experiences of the events via internet chatting with other participants and viewers.

The performances begin Nov 7 at 3pm and continue throughout the world until Nov 8 3pm.

Some of the highlights of the night’s performances include:

• Internationalist member Dina Keller will Skype in from Zurich to give an interactive introduction to the event as a whole and the layout for the upcoming 24 hours.
• Selling Romania by acclaimed Romanian playwright, Peca Stefan presents the harsh realities of the Romanian society to US audiences.
• Global Panel discussion, Translating Borders/Transmitting Culture.
• A solo musical-theater performance, “Mujer Invisible” with Puerto Rico’s captivating Nancy Millán.
• Staged reading of FOR RENT by Turkish Playwright Ozen Yula.
• Original music, dance, and theater performances from the students and faculty of the LAGCC Humanities programs.
• Premiere of Director Handan Ozbilgin’s live interactive Facebook project, “Creating a Character, Creating a Scene.”
• RESPARK/REVISIT–Actors and non-Actors alike participate in this talk show exploring the spark of the Trojan War.
• Tamilla Woodard stars in Jaz, a one woman show written by one of Africa’s most internationally acclaimed dramatists, Koffi Kwahulé (Côte d’Ivoire).

Little Theatre
General Admission: $24
$12 Midnight SPECIAL

Queens is jumping with creative people who are making a difference in the community. With inspiration from his dog Oscar, John Vega began designing his own doggie clothing line and started a petition for a dog park in his neighborhood of Ridgewood Queens. Watch how he got started in this video, the first in a series of videos about the creative and inspiring people of Queens!

For more information go to www.fleasandbiscuits.com

Fleas&Biscuits will be debuting at the Jumping Bulldog fashion show in Astoria this Thursday.

Pawject Runway

Thursday, October 15 @ 7:00 PM

The Jumping Bulldog’s daycare center/ Astoria Queens
26-11 23rd Avenue

In a tiny Queens apartment there are big sounds to be heard. When Jamie Stellini lets us inside her living-room turned studio where she writes, plays and records a new song every week, we not only catch a glimpse of her musical talents, but we also see what makes this candid musician tick. Her witty lyrics and unforgettable melodies are like windows that look into the singer’s life experiences and soul character. See how this self-taught musician is creating The Weekly Song right in Astoria and the obstacles she must push through to do it.

For those of you who missed it or just want to see it again, complements of KrisTees. Hitomi Nozawa and Shoh Eshiguro were  there from Japan showing off their dance moves.

Queens Council on the Arts is hosting a very creative event. Artists and entrepreneurs unite in this one day workshop next Saturday, Nov 7th. It is free to attend, but a donation is highly appreciated. Meet and mingle with other like-minded inspiring locals and share tips on “professional development, grants, and venues.”

Who? This citywide networking event brings together artists from all disciplines, 15+ Art Service Organizations and 5+ D.I.Y. Artrepreneur Speed Consultants to share information on professional development, grants, venues and the business of art.

Where? United Nations Federal Credit Union, 24-01 44th Road, Long Island City

When? Saturday, November 7, 2009, 2pm to 5pm

(photo of artists mingling- courtesy of QCA)

The Pink Juggler Martini at Mix Lounge

Mix is the latest addition to the gay friendly bar scene in Astoria. With Lavish Lounge and Albatross as old standbys, Mix offers a new kind of scene that draws straight, gay, drag and shoe lovers citywide. With inventive cocktails and martinis created by the bartender himself- like the Astoria Queer, Fuzzy Ass and Pink Juggler (photo left) this place has simply Divine taste. With flaming red decor, antique couches, lazar lights and a bra in a birdcage- Mix is a sensory overload. The owner’s sense of humor and campiness touches every inch of the bar- transforming an ordinary space into a haven for flamboyant expression. The lady’s room, labeled “Imelda” has shoes nailed to the ceiling, an homage to Miss Marcos’s extensive shoe collection. There are also two toilet paper dispensers- what a great idea!

Shoes Nailed to the Ladies Room Ceiling at Mix

I found that this place is fun, friendly and festive no matter your what lifestyle is. Even if there is nothing particular going on (the weekday nights seem to be more mellow than the weekend) there is enough general amusement in the atmosphere to keep you entertained. The drinks aren’t cheap- $10 for mixed drinks, but it’s worth it to try one of the fruity concoctions if only just once. There are also beers on tap. The bartender is down to earth and welcoming to all types of customers. There are plenty of promising up-coming events at Mix. They will soon be offering a brunch menu, singles events, drag shows and DJs on the weekends. This place puts the Queen back into Queens. There is a rumor that this place is the next best thing… but that’s just a rumor. Or is it?

Astoria's Living Landmark- George Kaufman

This is one landmark that will be hard to follow. Astoria’s own George Kaufman (founder of Kaufman Astoria Studios) will become an official living landmark next Wednesday Nov 4th, representing “the best of New York in talent, philanthropy and spirit”. With the recent publicity regarding the success of the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts it’s great to share a borough with such a distinguished presence.

NY,NY : On Wednesday, November 4^th The New York Landmarks Conservancy will bestow its distinguished “Living Landmarks” award to six outstanding individuals for their contributions to New York at Cipriani 42^nd Street at 7pm. This year’s distinguished recipients include the legendary New York County District Attorney Robert Morgenthau; Tony-Award winning prolific theatre man, Tommy Tune; the Italian Baroness and renowned philanthropist, Baroness Mariuccia-Marimo; noted playwright, author, screenwriter and “Newman’s Own” co-creator, A.E. Hotchner; real estate developer and film studio chief, George Kaufman; and renowned New York Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Here are some inspiring shots I took with a friend’s D50. The scene is the marathon from LIC- Vernon Blvd & Pulaski Bridge.