Posts Tagged ‘Rockaway’

A few weeks ago I wrote about how my cat Lefty went missing. I had spoken to my neighbor Jill Lauri about his disappearance. Jill is an animal communicator and her words truly comforted me, easing my anxiety throughout the ordeal. After speaking with Jill, she went home and connected with Lefty. She took the time without being asked, and wrote me these beautiful words… “Lefty says that he is fine and exploring. He is not far away and plans to return home. Lefty says that initially a noise startled […]

  Previously Published in The Wave. I believe I was 8 years old. We were at my Aunt Katherine’s annual block party on Herbert St. in Greenpoint. I was running for dear life down the middle of the block screaming because my cousin Tommy was chasing me. He had a bucket of ice in tow. Tommy was 5 years older than me, so naturally, he caught up quick, even with the ice bucket. He grabbed me tight around the waist and threw the ice down the back of my shirt. Ice […]

It just so happened I got booked with some freelance days in the city the very first day the ferry set sail. Perfect timing! Everyone has heard the details thus far, there are some kinks to work out, yada yada yada. But overall the response from our community seems positive, as is mine. After work on May 1st I headed to Pier ll for my voyage back to Rockaway. The ferry before us was at capacity so the line for the 6:30pm seemed endless. The mood was jovial despite this. […]

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.

Previously published in The Wave “Everyone’s Irish on Rockaway St. Paddy’s Day,” says everyone, or at least those of us that aren’t actually Irish. But that’s okay — St. Patrick himself wasn’t even Irish. He was born in Scotland and his parents were Roman. So who knows —  maybe St. Patrick’s Day should really be thought of as an Italian holiday (yikes!).  At any rate, I can at least use this as a justification for this Mediterranean girl’s enthusiasm for Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day, which has become a highly-anticipated ritual […]

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 […]

Why is it so much fun when it snows? I didn’t even mind shoveling the front of the house. Most people can work from home so that’s a good thing. It justifies day drinking (definitely a good thing) and it just feels like a special day. Everything slows down, it’s a break from the day to day frenzy. After shoveling so my housemates*  don’t slip and fall and sue me,  I walked around and took  some photos. My block facing the bay. I took this one by  Borders and the blvd. The police […]

I’m getting a strange feeling that at the Parks Dept. quarterly round table, while deciding what trees to plant near the new boardwalk someone said, “Lets plant black pines and junipers for Rockaway resident Paula DiGioia, she loves Christmas and booze!” If only our climate allowed for grapevines… I’ve been walking to the YMCA when the weather permits and I’ve noticed new tree plantings around the boardwalk, from 90th-70th. It’s the dead of winter, but the weather has been mild. I’m guessing that’s why the Parks Dept. decided to get’em in! Props to Parks! […]

Here’s a recap of the best instagrams of last week. If you want the day to day follow me here! Busy week! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Somehow I don’t have any Thanksgiving food pictures??? Above is Grandma Walsh’s beautiful blue glass hanging fixture. Throughout the whole renovation I’ve thought this and here’s another example of why people buy new things – new houses, new doors, new molding, new furniture, new fixtures… because it’s a lot of work to refurbish the old. Like really a lot of work. […]

Last summer we were so busy with renovations, it wasn’t even a summer for us. With most of the construction complete, this year is different. It’s only hitting me now… we have a beach house in Rockaway.  Friends, friends of friends, Great Aunt Mary’s second cousin, my co-workers and everyone in-between is dropping in. Text message: “Hey Paula, I’m down in Rockaway, can I park in your driveway? Oh, lets get drinks at Connolly’s too!” After two weekends of random drop-ins, it clicked. “This is going to happen every weekend, isn’t it? I need to […]