Posts Tagged ‘queens’

Edgemere Farm Opens this weekend!

Edgemere-Farm-Far-Rockaway

This Mother’s Day weekend the market at The Edgemere Farm will be Saturday and Sunday from 9am -1pm. You can pick up your tomato plants and many other garden must-haves to kick of this gardening season. For more info visit their website. The farm is located at  385 Beach 45th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691.

tagged in queens, rockaway, urban farm

The Trifecta Moment

Grandpa-and-myself-around-the-age-I-started-betting-w_-him

Previously published in The Wave My Grandpa Ralph loved to gamble. One vivid memory I have of us, is when we’d go to OTB.  He used to take me to the one in Bellerose, back when they had brick and mortar locations in the city.  I was around 15 years old, and I would place bets for him. He couldn’t see the racetrack program very well  because his diabetes affected his vision. This was also a good way for me to learn. Grandpa Ralph was teaching me how to bet […]

tagged in cooking, family, queens, rockaway

Maureen’s in The Wave – Veterans’ Circle

Very proud of my Mother-in-law Maureen (and Tomato Gal contributor!). She’s been recognized in The Wave for her dedicated service in the beatification of Veterans’ Circle. Check it out! Photo Credit Dan Brown: https://www.facebook.com/skininkmag    

14 foot bird feeder

serviceberry

The Serviceberry has arrived. Props to our neighbor Paul for helping us get this 500 lb tree of the truck. Our other florals were also delivered, more to come on that but for now take a look at this…

Tin Foil Sailing

Sailing a tin foil boat in Rockaway Queens

My sister Maria and I were creative kids. I know everyone says they were too, but we were really out there. We didn’t need toys to play with – gosh, the thought of having an ipad would be unworldly to us. When we did receive a new toy, it wouldn’t last a week. It’s hair would be chopped off or the board game pieces would be sacrificed for a secret time capsule burial ceremony in the backyard (just two examples off the top of my head). I recall playing “tent world” – making a massive tent structure […]

Alley Pond Park

alley-pond-park-3-queens

I remember going to Alley Pond Park as a young kid with my Dad, it was right by his sanitation garage. As I remember it, back then the park was dilapidated, overgrown and scary (thanks Dad!). A few times my friends and I went to Alley Pond to hang out and drink – that was around ’97.  The place was filled with litter and unkept. It felt more like a sump then a city park. Billy Joel’s line “hypodermics on the shore” always came to mind. Last weekend I went back to […]

tagged in nature, queens

Hike It Baby Branches to Queens

hike-It-baby-queens

Photo Source – Hike it Baby Queens Facebook Susanne Rieth, resident of Breezy Point has launched the Hike It Baby Queens Branch. Hike it Baby is a parents group dedicated to getting families together and out into nature with newborns and little ones. There are branches in over 200 cities around the country and internationally. We have a wide variety of hikes and urban strolls and the best part is being a member of Hike it Baby is FREE! The Queens branch is all inclusive – kids of any age are […]

tagged in hiking, nature, queens

Wild Bayberries – Jamaica Bay

bayberry

As the name indicates, Bayberry grows around coastal areas such as bays and bogs. Matt picked this for me a few days ago in Jamaica Bay. Who needs the florist? Just forage for a bouquet! Below are other beautiful plants you can find around the Jamaica Bay area. The leaves and dried fruit of the Bayberry plant are aromatic. It’s given Greek name Myrike means fragrance. If you crush the dried berry, a strong scent will release. Bayberry shrubs therefore are widely used in soaps, candles and oils but it has more purpose, such as insect repellent. It is used […]

tagged in fall, forage, queens

Lets Go…

tagged in queens

Creative Cuisine at Ornella Trattoria

ornella-1

Paula and I were invited to attend a tasting at Ornella Trattoria in Astoria, Queens. As we walked in the door, you could smell the garlic wafting from the kitchen, this was my first indication we were in for a treat. Owner Giuseppe Viterale recognized us immediately, “the bloggers!”. As I would soon learn, Giuseppe recognized all this patrons. His trattoria has a feeling of warmth and it’s because of Mr. Viterale’s charismatic presence in the dinning room, night after night. We sat down, the vino was poured and the flood […]

tagged in italian, queens