We Heart Astoria

Finally Fish Fry-Days

judith — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:28:56 +0000

It’s the Friday before Labor Day and we want to have some fun! After all, Fish Fries are typically held on Fridays–and they’re joyous celebrations with food, music and tons of people. So why not recreate our own here in Astoria and LIC with some of our favorite fried fish faves. Here are our top 5 fish fry recommendations in no particular order.

26 Corner Taverna – If you want an under-the-radar fish fry experience that’s oh-so-authentic, try 26 Corner Taverna’s fried whiting or any of their fried fish options, which come with a side of scordalia (cold potato/garlic spread). But you can also get Greek fries, if you’re a fish fry purist. 26-03 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.5511

Taverna Kyclades – Besides all the amazing fried goodies such as fish, scallops, sardines, calamari, and even baby shark, you won’t go wrong even if you stick to grilled seafood specialties. This is THE place to come to if you love seafood. And their Greek fried potatoes, which are circular discs of goodness are highly recommended. 33-07 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.8666

Sanford’s - For a more non-traditional, sophisticated take on fish, check out Sanford’s Pecan Crusted Yellowfin Tuna, served with a refreshing Mediterranean orzo salad. We call it the light fare of Fish Fries. 30-13 Broadway, Astoria. 718.932.9569

El Ay Si – Known for hearty, inventive comfort foods, you can turn to El*Ay*Si for your fish fry needs – they have a fried Shrimp Po Boy sandwich for lunch that sounds pretty damn good, served with garlic aioli and apple cole slaw. 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718.389.8781

Make Your Own - With so many wonderful fish markets in the nabe, you can create your own fish fry – and save some dough while you’re at it. We particularly heart some of these local fisheries: Best of the Sea – 31-01 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.3706; Great Wall Fish Market – 32-06 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.932.2493; Ocean 1 Fish Market – 35-08 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.726.6390

What To Do This Weekend, 9/2/10

megc — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:15:58 +0000

Welcome to the unofficial end of summer this weekend. I, for one, will be happy to see these scorching temperatures taper off and for us get back to a humane climate. Still, I always lament the end of summer – despite the heat we’ve had, there is a carefree-ness about the season that I enjoy. Fall means getting down to work. That, and pumpkin pie (always a good thing).

However, you can grasp the last bits of summer this Labor Day weekend. Astoria Pool will be open for one more week, closing on Labor Day. The gelato flows freely at La Guli (29-15 Ditmars Boulevard) - I love the hazelnut, myself (WHA Tip: if you love caramel, go for the La Guli Chocolate, which is riddled with thick bits of delicious chewy caramel). You can also catch the last Warm Up at PS1 (22-25 Jackson Avenue) on Saturday – They will be DJ sets, a performance by artist Andrew Lampert, and this is the last weekend to catch The Comfort of Strangers in the rotating gallery space. Water Taxi Beach (54-34 2nd Street, LIC) is holding their End of Summer Beach Bash from 1-11pm that day, too.

Personally, I’m looking forward to the bash at Hellgate Social (12-21 Astoria Boulevard) - from 2-8pm on Sunday it’s all you can eat food from the grill (including corn dogs), and a pie eating contest will be held at 6pm. Win a $50 HGS gift certificate if you win! Be sure to register by 5pm Sunday. Friends at The Q Note report that proprietor George is bringing homemade chocolate cream pies to the contest. NOM.

And remember, Astor Bake Shop is right next door if you want to quell your sweet tooth but don’t want to shove a boatload of pies down your throat. Movies so bad they’re good will be showing at sunset at HGS. More on Facebook.

On Monday, sleep in and enjoy a day off of work. I love long weekends.

Cool Off With…

judith — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:52:58 +0000

It’s still a total scorcher outside and tomorrow will be no different. While we’re psyched that the summer seems to be keep on, keepin’ on, we also appreciate a good cool down. Hence, this list of our 5 favorite ways to cool off, featuring our beloved Astorian restaurants and cafes. Enjoy them, and as always, let us know your personal faves too.

In no particular order, 5 delicious ways to cool off!

1. La Guli’s Gelato – We totaly heart La Guli’s thick, creamy gelato. While it doesn’t come in a multitude of flavors, the ones that they do have totally rock. My personal favorite is the chocolate caramel. $3 for a small cup. 29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.728.5612

2. Manos Papaya’s Fresh Juices – If you’re getting of the subway at 30th Avenue, walk just a few steps to Mano’s Papaya (close to Sai Organics) for a cold, refreshing blended juice or smoothie. The prices are low and they even have an outdoor garden (if you like the heat). 30-15 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.5670

3. Seva’s Mango Lassi - One of our all-time favorite Indian restaurants in the nabe, Seva serves up a delicious, hearty and chilly mango lassi. On a hot day like today, it’s perfect. But fair warning, this drink is very filling, so maybe couple it with something light such as their bok choy crispy curls. 30-07 34th Street, Astoria. 718.626.4440

4. Astor Bake Shop’s Iced Coffee – Check out this sweet newcomer not only for their delectable baked goods but also for their interesting and delicious iced coffees. We recommend the dark and sweet, which contains the indulgence of condensed milk. 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria. 718.606.8439

5. BareBurger’s Organic Milk Shake – No one does it like BareBurger, melding the wonderfulness of organic food with amazing flavor. Their milkshakes fit this philosophy perfectly and if you order one (especially in this heat) you can’t go wrong. Our personal favorite is the banana strawberry, with real chunks of bananas and sweet strawberry preserves. 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.7011

Finally Fridays- Sweet Treats

mackenzi — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:41:33 +0000

Often, by Friday’s I’m in need of a good meal and a decadent sweet treat! Here’s my five favorite indulgences in Astoria.

(Wave Thai via. M.Cotner on Flickr)

Fried Ice Cream at Wave Thai- (21-37 31 st. Street) It might be an odd choice but this lightly coated ball of ice cream amazing-ness gets me every time. Whipped cream, crunchy ice cream, and decadent chocolate sauce all make for an excellent treat. For a mere five bucks, it’s a great way to end your meal and the perfect size for sharing!

(Note we couldn’t even wait to take a photo- it’s that good!)

Red Velvet Cake at Astor Bake Shop- (12-23 Astoria Blvd) I had the amazing fortune to stop into Astor Bake Shop this past week, and oh my god! So good! Their red velvet cake is perfection- moist and flavorful and coated in the most decadent, thick, and slightly tangy icing. Their website really says it best, though:

“Made with quality ingredients, never any shortening or prepared cake mixes. We believe in the use of butter, milk, eggs, cream and natural flavorings.”

(Photo via The Foodista)

The Baby Jesus Cake at Vesta- (21-02 30th Avenue) I don’t think you can truly be the same after trying the Baby Jesus Cake. What I consider to be a perfect dessert, this slightly sweet date cake is caramelized, served with unsweetened whipped cream, and drizzled with warm caramel sauce.

(Photo via Yelp! user Kelly B.)

The Semolina Helva Cake at Mundo- (31-18 Broadway) If you’re in the mood for something unique, run don’t walk to Mundo. Sure, we’ve talked a lot about cafe a lot here at WHA, but for good reason. Their expertly made entrees and appetizers are just a warm up for their stunning desserts, and every dish is made with love. The Semolina Cake is a small mound of cinnamon spiced grain cake stuffed with vanilla ice cream and topped with pine nuts. YUM!

(photo via Cafe Triskell)

The Dessert Crepes at Cafe Triskell- (31-18 Broadway) I’m not going to limit this one to a particular preparation of crepe, but the Lemon and Sugar one does stand out for me. Lemon, sugar, butter and crepe? It’s the perfect simple solution to what you’re craving. The other amazing sweet crepes sound amazing too, the Orange Crepe pictured above is next on my list!

What To Do This Weekend: 8/26/10

judith — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:45:57 +0000

We’re looking at a gorgeous weekend, Astoria – so why not stroll the neighborhood to uncover some new, delicious eats or maybe some unique shopping. Take your pick from the below options.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to head over to LIC, try out the new LIC Market, which opened just about a month ago. It’s mantra consists of using fresh and seasonal ingredients, which is always OK by us, and as of last week, they started serving brunch on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 21-52 44th Drive, Long Island City. 718.361.0013

More on the healthy, organic front…Nature’s Best Organic Market on Ditmars is now open and a trusted source (Meg) says it’s awesome. She was especially excited about their supply of Equal Exchange Coffee. Go get some…and other wonderful (and sometimes hard-to-find) organic goods this weekend. 31-28 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.777.1909

Whether you have a sweet tooth or a weakness for great deals, check out Cream Bakery every day before 11 a.m. to get a 12 oz coffee and a choice of three muffins including blueberry, banana nut and chocolate chip for only $2.50. Now that’s what I call a sweet deal. 31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria. 718.545.3800

Now on to shopping…

A new boutique called Ci Ci’s opened up on Ditmars near 37th Street. Meg went in to investigate and found some really fun, girly stuff such as bags and jewelry with a unique spin. Check ‘em out and see what kind of treasure you uncover. Ditmars Blvd, near 37th Street, Astoria.

And don’t forget that all WHA fans who “like” us on Facebook, get 15% off your purchase at our partner store, SITE Design. I can’t tell you how much I ”heart” them and have recently bought a really cool fork and spoon decal set for my new kitchen. It totally rocks! 32-90 36th Street, Astoria. 718.626.6030

Mackenzi Hearts- Supernova Tattoo

mackenzi — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:59:03 +0000

For those with a penchant for body modification, rejoice! Astoria has an amazing tattoo shop, and you’ve probably never heard of it before. Supernova Tattoo is the brainchild of Andreana Verona, a native of Milan. Open since 2004, Supernova specializes in portraiture, photo-realistic, truly unique one-of-a-kind work. The shop is clean, friendly, and for me most important- LOCAL! It’s nice not to have to travel to Manhattan or Brooklyn to get inked.For those new to the process, they are easy to work with and will step-by-step explain the process and procedures.

WHA Tip- Long time residents of the neighborhood might recognize a friendly face behind the counter: Cristian Zamfirescu, the punk rock loving former manager of Cafe Bar is now on staff. I had the pleasure of getting work from him last month, and I couldn’t be happier!

Supernova Tattoo
37-12 Ditmars Blvd
718-274-5712

Join Our 1st We Heart Astoria Giveaway

judith — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:17:39 +0000

It’s been 5 months now, dear Astoria, since we’ve started our blog and we must say, it’s been wonderful and a true labor of our hearts (pun intended). The incredible response we’ve received from all of you is flattering and we hope to keep engaging you with more Astorian scoop. To thank you for joining us on our journey and for hearting us, in return, we invite you to participate in our first We Heart Astoria giveaway.

In honor of our 5 month anniversary, we’re giving away a soft, comfy Queens pillow, courtesy of Mackenzi and her awesome boutique, SITE Design to the 500th person who “likes” us on Facebook. All other followers on Twitter, FB, as well as people who comment on this blog post will receive 15% off their purchase at SITE Design all weekend (8/28-8/29).

How to enter:

1. “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or comment on this blog post and tell us why you “heart” us
2. All participants will receive 15% off your purchase this weekend (8/28 – 8/29) at SITE Design
3. The 500th person to like us on Facebook will win the above, handsome Queens pillow

So get to it and show us your “heart” – we promise, the feeling is mutual!

Finally Fridays – Late Summer Fun

megc — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:38:43 +0000

I can’t believe that the end of August is closing in on us, and fall is just around the corner. Makes me almost want to cry! Here are a selection of things you can do before summer makes its final farewell…

PS1 Warm Up. There are only a few Saturdays left before PS1’s annual summer series, Warm Up, says adieu, so catch it quick! This week’s Warm Up features both live music and DJ sets for your aural pleasure, with plenty of visual interest, too. More details on the lineups can be seen here. PS1 is 22-25 at Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Ave.

Outdoor Dining. Eating al fresco continues on into fall but it’s sweeter in the summer. I won’t list every place in town where you can eat outside, but some of my favorites include the backyard garden at Il Bambino (34-08 31st Ave), sidewalk dining at Bare Burger (33-21 31st Avenue), and sipping long and slow on a frappe at any of the 30th Ave cafes (Athens is a big fave).

Swimming in Astoria Pool. The end of the season in just a couple of weeks away, *sob*. Lap swimming for adults continues at 7 in the morning and 7 in the evening, and regular swimming continues as is. It’s a fantastic element of our community, so give it some love.

Ice cream while it’s hot. My favorite is La Guli for old style gelato, but iced sweet dairy products can be found at Martha’s Bakery (36-21 Ditmars), The Side Door (19-33 Ditmars), Igloo (22-26 31st Street), Twirls, and the newly opened Red Mango (30-58 Steinway St). And remember, it only counts if it drips down your hand while you’re eating it.

Street Fairs. You know you love those bags of tube socks, hot mozzarepa, and fried food of all kinds. There aren’t too many left in the year (they do go til October) but the last one of summer is on the last “unofficial” day of summer, September 6. Head to 30th Avenue from 29th Street to 41st Street. Have a funnel cake for me.

What To Do This Weekend, 8/20/10

mackenzi — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:40:42 +0000

It’s time to take advantage of the last days of summer! Perhaps a trip to Astoria Park is in order? On your way over, check out KrisTees (24-01 23^rd Ave.) for some great transitional clothing options for a stylish entry into Fall. We also hear they’re stocking select kids and baby items, too. Grab a bite to eat at Ornella (29-17 23rd Ave.) on your way back; the gnocchi are out of this world as is their wide selection of handmade pastas.

WHA Tip: Mention this write up and take an additional 10% off all KrisTees sale items! T-Shirts, sundresses and more are now on sale.

The ladies of WeHeartAstoria had the pleasure of dining at Cafe Triskell (33-04 36th Ave.) the other evening and it was great! Check out their large selection of truly fantastic crepes, both sweet and savory. Rumor has it the quiche/tarts were also to die for.

Local Project in Long Island City has an amazing zine collaboration and art project worth checking out. Their latest project is ‘Twelve Lives in Queens County: A Collaborative Zine,” is an amazing artistic project featuring twelve individuals stories of their lives in Queens. A great way to showcase the diversity of our borough. (45 Davis Street, LIC)

Saturday Got Empanads? (25-08 34th Ave.) finally opens! Stop in to check out their selection of what hopefully is an amazing selection of yummy treats.

Sunday try yoga in Gantry Park, another fantastic way to spend some quality time outdoors! The amazing staff at The Yoga Room has partnered with the park to bring us free yoga, the event starts at 9:15 and is located at Pier 1.

LIC Arrivals – The Burger Garage

judith — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:46:49 +0000

We’re excited to report that a new burger joint called The Burger Garage officially opened in LIC as of Monday. Why the name you ask? Well…it’s actually a literal reference to the industrial garage that used to exist there not long ago. The decor elements in the restaurant are highly reflective of this car garage motif – think vinyl, tires as wall fixtures, road signs and such. We dig the concept and can’t wait to check it out.

Image by The Burger Garage

In terms of the cuisine, it’s your trusty burger, greasy spoon food but done in an intelligent way with Pat la Frieda burgers, hand selected produce from quality, organic suppliers such as Eli & Ali’s, hand crafted premium ice cream and more. They even have a gluten-free menu (and gluten free burger and hot dog buns), which is pretty rare for a burger place.

We’ll share a full review in the near future, but in the meantime, we hope this whets your appetite.

The Burger Garage is currently open from Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.

The Burger Garage - 25-36 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City. 718.392.0424
theburgergarage.com