Category: queens

NYC Nineteenth Century Extravaganza 4/27 – 4/29

It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson (Sherlock Holmes Museum, London)

Wish there was something more to steampunk than just gears and top hats? That’s where the New York Chapter of the Nineteenth Century Society comes in. This organization serves as a niche where the historically-minded can gather and appreciate, and, most of all educate each other about the goings-on during the 19th Century.

On the weekend of April 27 – 29th, the Nineteenth Century Society presents their first ever festival of the arts featuring historical presentations, workshops, walking tours, pub crawls, and a fashion show.

The “NYC 19th Century Extravaganza” is an event not to be missed.

Here are some select events going on:

Listen to the event organizers speak about their fascination with the time period on Cityscapes podcasts. 

NYC 19th Century Extravaganza
April 27th – 29th, 2012

Greater Astoria Historical Society
Quinn Building, 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor
Long Island City, NY 11106

and

Old Stone House – Washington Park
336 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Sunday Brunch: Kickshaw

Commit storefront to memory, otherwise you’ll pass it by.

There are lots of restaurants that specialize in one type of food dish in New York City. There’s restaurants just for peanut butter sandwiches, dumplings, mac and cheese, and grilled cheese.

The Queens Kickshaw is no different.

Located in the heart of Astoria, Kickshaw has become a fast go-to place for a hip coffee shop that happens to serve one of the ultimate comfort foods, grilled cheese, with adult tastes. 

Gritty ceilings and construction-style lights.

Just to warn you it can be a bit difficult to find. Of course then once you’re inside you get the impression that you’re in Brooklyn and not Queens.

Really admired the lighting.
New York humor.
Remember you are in Queens.

The decor is very simple and rustic, complete with long community-style tables. Kickshaw is laptop friendly and provides wifi. And if you need a fix they also provide take out coffee growlers. But onto the most important part of the tour: the food!

A plain Gruyere and Brioche with tomato soup. Just like mom use to make.

The menu is simple — it is grilled cheese after all.  Each grilled cheese sandwich is paired with a soup or salad that compliments each grilled cheese flavor.  Isn’t grilled cheese just cheese and bread? How can there be more than one flavor of cheese?

This is not your ordinary grilled cheese with American Kraft.

You have your choice of Gruyere, Manchego, Mozzerella, Gouda, Feta, or Blue Cheese. And instead of white Wonder Bread, you’ve got brioche (fiance is a big fan of this), foccacia, cranberry-walnut, and multigrain for the boring types.

For more mouth-watering photos check out their website.  I thought I had some more photos of food, but apparently I decided it was better to keep this place a secret and not photograph the evidence.

Prices are pretty cheap for New York City ($8-$10), but remember to bring cash as Kickshaw doesn’t take plastic.  Big groups are fine, but the service will be a bit slower.  And if you are strictly a Manhattan person, Queens Kickshaw might convince you to venture out into the boroughs.

The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11103
718-777-0913

Sunday Brunch : Rose House

Rose House is popular go to place for Lolitas. It’s statisfies the hankering for tea and cakes with a decent price without a wait. The waiting part is most important in New York City when everywhere you go there’s a waiting list.

Located in the heart of Flushing in the Queens Crossing Mall, it’s pretty easy to find – that is if you are familiar with Chinatown’s bustling and crowded streets.

While majority Lolitas have found their comfort place to drink English tea and dine on tea cakes and sandwiches, this European style teahouse is a very uncommon in Asian metropolitans. There’s a strange fascination with the pseudo-European style in Asian culture. The English teahouse being the most popular to replicate.

True to its name, Rose House is decorated in all things roses and overwhelming smells like an English rose garden. It’s almost intoxicating. Even the water is sprinkled with a dash of rose water.

Since its located in Chinatown, the menus and waitstaff are fluent in both English and Chinese.  Most people feel customer service varies from experience, personally I think it’s no different than any Chinese restaurant. However the reason you go to Rose House is not to be waited hand and foot – it’s for the food!

Cream cake with a dash of rose water in the cream.

The menu selection is very simple and ranges from a typical Afternoon Tea set to full Asian entrees like curry beef. By selecting any sweets they have a faint aroma and taste of roses.

Unlike Alice’s Tea Cup, afternoon tea at Rose House has two versions: a two-tiered and three-tiered (both very good). And the top tier has a small scoop of ice cream, which tends to vary every time you go or if several of you order the same set.

One thing that is also standard about afternoon tea is that you’ll never go searching for another meal immediately after.  Rose House is no different. They also have a nice selection of Belgian waffles (I am personally fond of the waffle with ice cream or the tuna waffle), which is also great for a midnight snack.

Fun fact: Rose House is open until midnight.

For the most part, Rose House is a nice place to treat yourself to tea but, personally, conditions to go here must be right.

If you have the cash (they do take credit), time to venture out to Flushing, Queens (it is really out in the boroughs), and, of course, good company, then you should hop on the 7 train and head to Rose House.

Rose House
136-17 39th Ave
1st Floor
Flushing, NY 11354

Willkommen to Cafe Marlene

Ode to Marlene Dietrich 

As much as I enjoy being a foodie in Manhattan, Queens should get some love too.

Cafe Marlene is a cozy little cafe that reminds you of Old World Berlin. Inspired and named after And its no wonder, the owners were inspired to open this little spot after Marlene Dietrich, film noir Hollywood actress and singer.

Excuse the poor cellphone quality

Tiny hole in the walls like Cafe Marlene can be intimidating in size, but they make up in great decor and food that brings you back to try the rest of the menu. Two friends came over for the weekend a couple of weeks ago, and I decided it would be a perfect opportunity to sit down and check it out.

Marlene specializes in crepes and sandwiches, a perfect light lunch for a hot day.

Reminds me of a pizza. A sweet pizza

Although I had just an apricot jam crepe (considering I just had some dental work done), it was still cute and tastes great for a place just around the corner. (Course everything seems to always taste better when its within reasonable walking distance from your bed.)

While you wait for your order being made, you’re never bored with the decor. I couldn’t help but stare at the ceiling’s woodwork, making you feel like you are in a Manhattan speakeasy (and not in Queens).

Their website mentions that there is a performance space downstairs for private events and the occasional poetry slam.

My friends were quite amazed by the food, especially for the price – very reasonable and slightly less than a meal and a subway ride into Manhattan. Whether it was the company, the incredible woodwork decor, the baristas or the food you should go check out Cafe Marlene.

Beret and snapping fingers are optional

Cafe Marlene
41-11 49th Street
Sunnyside, NY 11104