This Sunday, May 19th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Beach 91st Street Community Garden is hosting its annual plant sale fundraiser. Enjoy the spring air and vibrant blooms while spending time with friends and neighbors —bring a blanket and picnic to make the most of the day. This year, there are some exciting new additions you won’t want to miss!
A delightful selection of plants to elevate your greenery game will be for sale. Offerings include tomatoes, aromatic basil, peppers, chives, and other herbs perfect for culinary adventures. An array of perennial favorites such as the graceful walkers low, autumn joy, the ever-charming daylily, persicaria ‘red dragon’, and various beach grasses to add texture and coastal charm will be available to you. For indoor oasis seekers, look for these houseplants: the regal purple queen, spider plants, soothing aloe vera, stick plants, and more.
New this year, the B91 Garden will have a cute selection of garden tools and accessories for purchase. A raffle for two free Queens Botanical Garden tickets, and some freebies too! There will be a limited amount of B91 totes designed by artist Phil Rodriguez. The tote bag was screen printed at Kingsland Printing (WBE) owned by the lovely Sara Gates.
B91 garden member Mike Benigno, soap maker and owner of Holland Avenue Soap (@hollandavenuesoapco) will have a sampling of his spring and summer scents. A portion of the proceeds will be generously donated to the garden’s fundraiser. Many soaps in the Holland Avenue collection are crafted using soleseife methods, featuring purified seawater as the primary ingredient. Select bars incorporate B91 Community Garden homegrown herbs, infused into oils during the production process. Pretty sweet, right?!
Photo courtesy of Holland Avenue Soap.
Attention lemonade lovers: Ms. Elise and Ms. Natalie along with their crew will be serving up high-end lemonade drinks with a splash of sunshine. Consider supporting the young entrepreneurs of Rockaway’s future!
Proceeds from the fundraiser will contribute to enhancing garden infrastructure and supporting community events and activities. The B91 Garden extends gratitude to its supporters and the Rockaway community. Follow the garden on IG: @beach91communitygarden to learn more about the group’s community outreach, gardening tips, art projects, and more.
by Paula D.
on July 10, 2024 8:53 am in Food
While browsing the dollar store for hair nets, for my new career in the pizza industry, the pincushions hanging on the wall nearby caught my attention, because a pincushion is a tomato.
Did you ever think, “Why the hell is a pincushion a tomato?” I never did until this profound moment, where all the sound and busyness surrounding me in the store disappeared and it seemed as though there was a glorifying light around all the pincushions
Photo credit, Pook & Pook, Inc.
The history of the tomato pincushion is fascinating and I want to share this important information with you:
During the Victorian Era, it was believed that placing a tomato on the mantle of a new home would bring good luck and prosperity and ward off evil spirits. I’m guessing somehow the poised Victorian Women had a connection to a coven of spicy Sicilian witches and this is how they learned about all the mystical properties of the sacred fruit. The vibrant red hue wards off demons and the plump figure of the tomato signifies wealth, prosperity, and beauty.
When tomatoes were out of season, families improvised with round balls of red fabric filled with sawdust, horse hair, or sand, which they also realized served as a convenient place to store sewing pins. It was common in this era to see pincushions in various vegetable shapes. Despite this, the tomato pincushion prevailed and remains the most popular choice (obviously).
I initially thought the mini tomato tassel hanging off the big tomato was a different variety, most likely a plum. I found it curious though and decided to dig a little. Shockingly, I discovered that it was actually a strawberry?!
Tomato Pincushion.
Hesitating, I walked delicately towards the crowd of black suits standing in clusters on the sand at 94th Street. Why did I feel so nervous? I saw my friend Elise. She’s 9 years old. We started talking about Surf Camp and how excited she is to start it up again in June.
Photo By Frith Fraser.
This would be my first memorial paddle-out.
Our friend Sean organized everyone. He explained what would happen for the newbies… me. We’d paddle out, following his lead, a bit past the jetty. We’d embrace each other’s hands and form a circle. Words would be said in honor of Daniel King. Sean said, “Then, you need to create as much energy as possible in celebration of Dan!” We were told to splash our hands in the water and call out his name. And release the flowers we took from Earth into the ocean.
Photo By Josh Gallagher.
As the waves passed under us, Dan’s long-time friend Jodi Jordan Mulvanerty spoke in the middle of the circle. Her words were so touching:
“It is no substitute, but the last two days have been filled with so much love. I’ve seen people deepen their friendships and make new ones and all of that produced love is a result of Dan King. … because energy is never destroyed, just transferred, I can feel him here with us in the love we have for each other and in the ocean and in Rockaway. …I want to ask everyone to make an effort to tell your friends you love them, to make new connections, and to “Hug your mates.” Do it for Dan.” Keep him alive in your love.”
I was overwhelmed by the connection I felt as one person linked into the larger circle. It felt magical. What happened next I oddly didn’t anticipate. We all surfed and boogie-boarded together. Maybe 50 of us? The waves were a little messy, knee-to-waist high, and easy to ride. People cheered for each other on the waves. People talked about Dan. I felt the energy. It was warm and the sun peaked out. Dan’s people on land laid out their blankets and picnicked. It was a day perfectly suited to honor the life of our mate.
Photo by Lauren Giambalvo.
On Monday, March 18, 2024, we lost a dear friend, the vibrant and creative soul, Daniel King, in a tragic car accident. At 39 years old, he left behind his parents, Paul and Eva King, his sister Sarah King, his nephew Cassidy, and his loving family, near and far. Dan leaves behind his cherished Emma, the radiant beacon of his heart, whose love illuminated his every moment. In solidarity with his family and partner, his colleagues, the creative community, his widespread circle of friends, and his mates in Rockaway Beach, Dan is deeply missed and mourned.
Daniel King and his partner Emma Hastil were featured in the pages of the NY Times. Read about their creative endeavors and journey to Rockaway here.
Dan’s vast artist body of work can be viewed at DanielKing.com.
by Paula D.
on July 10, 2024 8:44 am in Animals
I don’t like going into pet stores because it makes me sad to see the animals confined to tanks and cages. Recently though, I’ve found myself inside a few. Betta fish especially, in their tiny tanks, pull at my heart. I had the thought, “Maybe I should save one.”
For months, the notion of bringing a fish into my family had been swirling around my mind like a persistent current, growing stronger and stronger until the direction was clear. I would save a fish. My floating thoughts meshed together into an exciting plan. I would choose a Betta that was in the smallest tank. The fish that was least showy. The fish without vivid colors. The fish without the beautifully fanned fins. The most sickly fish. I’d choose the fish that was the least likely to be bought and I’d give him the golden ticket.
I named him Swimmy before I met him. I’d give my lil, runty special dude the most beautiful home in a huge tank. I’d feed him the best blood worms and make his home a luxurious oasis. I’d build him a lawng-Island McMansion!
Swimmy livin’ large in his McMansion
I sourced pretty much everything for Swimmy’s opulent McMansion for free though. It started with a post on Instagram asking if anyone had a 10-gallon tank they’d like to give away – thank you Alexis for coming through! I scoured the beach for eye-catching stones and pebbles, which I then meticulously boiled and sanitized for fear of killing Swimmy, off the bat. At night I’d comb Facebook marketplace for a vintage rod iron fish tank stand. Nothing panned out. But a better idea manifested – Swimmys’ home would sit atop a stately DIY bookshelf that I already had.
The construction of Swimmy’s home was complete. I was finally ready to find Swimmy. I walked into the pet store. It didn’t take long. There he was, sad and stangnet in what looked like a stemless 8 oz. wine glass with bits of gross things floating all around him in the water. Swimmy looked exactly as I pictured – drab maroon coloring, sagging fins and a hopelessness in his gaze.
I brought Swimmy home and plopped him in his McMansion! He was clearly in shock by the size of his palace. He hid alongside a rock for hours. I was concerned. I put a few drops of holy water in his tank. The next day I woke up and went straight to Swimmy praying he was alive. He was!
I observed him over the next few days and he seemed off. I started watching Betta fish Youtube videos incessantly before bed. I learned so much! Betta fish, also known as Siamese fighting fish, originate from the rice paddy fields of Southeast Asia, where they have adapted to thrive in shallow waters. In their natural habitat, Betta fish encounter fluctuating water levels, which prompted them to evolve unique survival skills. One remarkable trait is their ability to breathe atmospheric air using a specialized organ called the labyrinth! This adaptation allows them to extract oxygen from the air when oxygen concentration in the water is insufficient. This is why pet stores and people feel it’s ok to put Betta fish in very small tanks. While they will survive, they will not thrive and it is an inhuman practice long-term.
The cultish online Betta fish community also taught me that these solitary fish are known for jumping remarkable distances (for a fish). They do this to navigate between isolated puddles during the dry season or escape predators. Betta fish thrive in the lush vegetation of rice paddy fields and in warm waters, which brings about their vibrant colors and lively personalities.
Meeting his brothers.
My research informed me that Swimmy’s McMansion required renovation. He was freezing! He needed a heating system STAT. He also needed more home decor… plants.
After the reno…it happened. Swimmy started Swimming! He’s living his best life in his beautiful, ecologically appropriate, new home.
The cats and I enjoy spending time with Swimmy, watching him twirl and swim around his cute plants. There’s something about the soothing presence of flowing water that brings calmness to me. Swimmy’s McMansion has not only enriched his life but has also brought me many moments of joy and serenity.
