Baking out of a tiny kitchen in Sunnyside, Sugar & Joe’s is serving up sweets of all kinds. This cafe is run by a mother and daughter team with the help of their baking assistant. See what inspires Christine and her daughter Emma to make such mouth watering delights day in and day out.

Decisions on where to eat that turkey plague us every November. Here are a few solutions for Thanksgiving in Queens, whether you are eating or giving the gift of food to others…

Food Bank New York will tell you where in Queens (or anywhere in NYC) you can donate your turkey and stuffing or get fixin’s for a meal if you can’t afford any of the options below.

Stove in Astoria offers hearty cooking in a cozy atmosphere. Check out their Thanksgiving menu for a hot home-cooked meal.

Sidetracks in Sunnyside features a delicious pris-fix menu. Here are just a few main entree choices- Turkey, Rack of Lamb and Butternut Squash Ravioli

Donovan’s Pub in Woodside will be open and serving a special menu with Turkey, Leg of Lamb and Roasted Ham as a few choices.

Dorian Cafe in Long Island City will be hosting a homestyle holiday selection with Turkey, Prime Rib and Fish entrees with Chesnut Stuffing, soup, salad dessert all for an affordable $20.95

Mojave- Astoria’s popular tex-mex restaurant is serving up Thanksgiving with a twist. Get a a complimentary cocktail and a pris-fix entree for $29.95. Some choices include Cider Brined Turkey, Pumpkin seed-crusted Salmon and Pecan Pie for dessert.

Mix in Astoria will also be open during the holiday serving their dinner menu.

Les Bistro Minots in Astoria will feature a Thanksgiving menu for $24.95

Busy knitting that holiday scarf for Grandma? Want to make your doggie coat in some good company? Checkout Saturday brunch at Mix in Astoria where like minded knitters gather to stitch and bitch…

There’s a lot going on this weekend in Queens. Here are some cool events to check out.

Sunnyside- Thalia Spanish Theater (41-17 Greenpoint Avenue, Sunnyside) presents A MUSIC & DANCE extravaganza- The best of the Mestizo Dance Companywith Grupo Musical Experience the colorful diversity and beauty of the music & dance of  Colombia,  Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Gorgeous costumes, dazzling dance, sizzling music!

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Long Island City- The City Ice Pavilion – Queens only roof-top ice skating rink is having the season’s grand opening reception in Long Island City- 47-32 32nd Place #7 train – 33rd Street

Saturday, November 21, 2009-12pm – 3:30pm – Grand Opening Party, 3:30pm- 3:45pm - Ice Theater of New York special performance 7:00pm – 9:30pm - Free skating & skate rentals & Sunday, November 22 12pm – 2pm – Free skating & skate rentals

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Woodside- Topaz Arts and Gallery in Woodside will kick-off this season’s opening reception with the 9th annual open house on Saturday November 21st 4pm-8pm See the performance Cabaret Solotaire featuring solos by talented dance choreographers, Molissa Fenley, Nicholas Leichter and Paz Tanjauquio. Art work includes Footnotes For Revelation- book cuttings by Roger Rothstein.

Fall in Astoria Park

Stomp & Howl Movement presents a benefit  for children suffering from neglect and abuse. Join them at Hell Gate Social.

In a weak economy, Astoria’s very own Ran Craycraft makes socializing his full time job. This Queens local gives Astorians a reason to stay in the neighborhood. With his site Why Leave Astoria?! folks can meet, eat, drink, spend and chat locally . Check out the story in the Daily News .

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

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.

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?

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.

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 discovered that “Local718” is a Boston Fire Fighters union. I shall now give a holler to those in the north fighting the flames. If you have something in mind you would like to see on this site, please let me know! Thanks for reading!

-C Smith

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.