Posts categorized as Rockaway

You know the final scene in Titanic when Leonardo DiCaprio is in the arctic waters freezing to his death trying to console his beloved (also frozen) Rose (Kate Winslet)? Every day that clip flashes through my mind as my stomach fills with dread… then we arrive. LAST STOP BRAWD CHANNEL, Transfah to the A!!!! It’s essential that we Rockaway commuters have our winter gear situation down pat.  There’s the hoodie/hat combo, the double coat plus cap technique, the earmuff collar up style, the poofy coat /headphone combo etc. etc. I’m partial to the hat/scarf head wrap. My nose is like the peninsula, […]

Ok, so we’re obsessed with wood. It’s natural, beautiful and resistant to damage. Seven months ago we started hoarding unwanted material from a barn in Massachusetts, dumpsters in Far Rockaway and a gutted house in Ridgewood. It’s astonishing the stuff people throw out. We’ve put our collection to use, repairing floor boards, making paneling and adding features throughout the house. Our style inspiration is American Craftsman with a touch of “farmhouse”. We’ve seen exposed beams many times on our trips to Lake George and I’m always charmed by the Adirondack aesthetic. We salvaged the oak beams from an old barn […]

I’m not sure how he got out. We were loading in some gear from the van, and had the cellar door open, but the sliding door to the storage area was closed off. I think. Fivey could have escaped from the second or third floor, but he would have had to climb down from the roof.  I’ve been letting him explore upstairs. He knows there’s another world up there, and lately he’s been meowing at the top of the basement stairs to go up. I thought the chance of him escaping out […]

Like many neighborhoods in Queens, Rockaway has its share of relic signage. I’ve documented before in Ridgewood; I continue now in Rockaway. These beauties are on Rockaway Beach Blvd. around 90th. Hubert’s Golden Styles Salon. I always think while passing by, if you add another “o” to “Salon” somehow, this would be the coolest bar name ever. I know this building was sold not too long ago. I pray that this sign doesn’t disappear. I’m keeping an eye on it. I would buy this sign, I mean… “The science of hair” coupled […]

I recently discovered Elegante’s salads. I was waiting for a slice and decided to flip through their menu. With the house renovation (no stove or kitchen for that matter) it’s been difficult to eat healthy. I decided next time I would get some greens instead of pizza. A few days later, I resisted the carb temptation and ordered the Greek salad from Elegante. I was surprised when I sat down to eat. Along with the traditional Greek salad staples – feta, red onion, iceburg lettuce, kalamata olives and tomatoes (sans grape leaves and […]

It’s fall here in Rockaway and things are quiet. I’ve been walking more instead of biking – the wind while biking is pretty darn cold. Here are some shots I’ve taken during my daily wanders… Friar’s habit and Franciscan cords, looks like San Francesco to me! What is this about? Well, regardless it looks cool. Another person’s trash…! I found this on 97th and the beach block. I think I’ll make a planter out of it. The organic shapes created by beach pine are unbeatable. This Christmas season, I want […]

Big day this past Monday – workers from our siding company came to peel away decades of material from our home. It was unnerving to see our house torn apart. We didn’t plan to address the exterior for another year but we realized after installing the new windows it was necessary. We can’t risk putting up sheetrock with the potential for leaks. The house needs to be 100% weather proof. It’s frustrating because once we think we’re on track again another obstacle pushing back the timeline. Above you’re seeing the original sheathing from around 1890. The […]

When I wrote about the patriotic Johnny pumps appearing in Rockaway somehow I missed this one. It brings to mind a kind of patriotism Andy Warhol would have approved of. We’re not sure who is responsible for these paintings. Maybe it’s the Rockaway Civic Association, the RAA, or one very patriotic Rockawayite? Contact us if you have any information about these wonderful public art displays.      

So what’s up with all the patriotic Johnny pumps in the 90’s? I have one on my block (pictured above).  I thought it was a one-off thing, but the past week I’ve been noticing more and more. It’s cool, I like it. Anyone know what the story is? (Ehm… Katie Honan?) All of these are between 91st and 99th and many are on the Boulevard. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! This one is like a patriotic Johnny pump with an old world barber feel. Very creative. And this of course is not patriotic, but it […]

As summer comes to a close, here in Rockaway we are getting ready for the cold weather. Our bountiful garden is still producing the last of the vegetables that we all enjoyed this summer. The wonderful bright green basil has been picked and placed in freezer bags to sweeten every pot of tomato sauce we will enjoy this winter. Some of the basil has been transformed into tasty pesto, (not my favorite). With the daily picking of the tomatoes, I am able to create small batches of delicious simple tomato […]