Sunnyside Post

The Knicks visit Sunnyside—with a future hall of famer

Knicks fans outside Chase (46-10 Queens Blvd)

May 15, By Bill Parry

Basketball royalty visited the Chase bank branch on Queens Blvd. on Tuesday, turning a simple Knicks autograph signing promotion into a memorable occasion.

For the nearly 200 fans—many wearing orange and blue jerseys—the afternoon event was something they won’t soon forget.

Bernard King, the prolific scorer who carried the Knicks in the early 80’s, showed up and surprised the fans by high-fiving nearly everyone who waited on line.

Once inside he grabbed a microphone from a DJ to thank the fans for showing up and supporting his old team in their playoff series with the Indiana Pacers.

Former Knick Larry Johnson was also on hand to sign autographs but kept a low profile knowing the fans turned out to see King. “The man’s going into the Hall of Fame in September,” said Johnson.

That is why Bernard King treated the event with extra passion. “Going into the Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of the sport, the highest honor,” King said. “I’m an ambassador not just for the sport but for all of New York City.”

The Brooklyn-born King was a four-time all star playing small forward for the Knicks from 1982-87. He was robbed of two seasons in his prime because of major knee surgery.

Fans, young and old, were excited to see the legend in Sunnyside. “He was one of the best Knicks to ever wear the jersey,” said Kevin, who elected not to give his last name. Another fan agreed, saying, “I was a little kid at the time but he was one of my favorites; it’s a thrill to see him here.”

Nick Reiner, an independent filmmaker and unabashed sports fan, was happy to see King. “I remember when he almost beat Larry Bird’s Celtics single-handedly when Boston was at their peak,” Reiner said. “He was really something.”

Many of the fans asked King about the current team’s troubles in their playoff series with the Pacers. “Anything can happen in a seven-game series,” was the mantra repeated by King with a confident smile. He said, “They haven’t played their best basketball yet.”

The Knicks lost to the Pacers on Tuesday night and now trail in the Eastern Conference semifinals 3-1. If the future Hall of Famer knew that only 8 teams in NBA history have overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a postseason series, he kept it to himself.

Bernard King (L) and Larry Johnson

By Sunnyside Post on May 15, 2013. 9 Comments
Posted in General News

Children’s band to play at Thursday’s Jazz/Irish Music Festival

Children’s band

May 15, By Bill Parry

A critically acclaimed children’s music group will perform at Windmuller Park on Thursday—as part of the second annual Irish Music Festival.

The group–whose members range from 8-to 15-years of age– play in an Irish ceili band (party band), where they play fiddles, banjos and drums.

The group has won a number of regional events in recent years and has just qualified for the All-Ireland Fleadh, in Derry, for a fourth year in a row.

The band, known by the name Gan Ainm, is made up of a number of students from Sunnyside, Westchester and Long Island. The students attend the Niall Mulligan School of Music at the New York Irish Center in LIC.

Gan Ainm will be one of the several groups to participate in the Jazz/Irish Music Festival, which begins at 6pm on Thursday.  The event is being sponsored by Woodside on the Move, the grass roots community organization.

Gan Ainm garnered a great deal of local attention last year when it played in a number of pubs—as a means to raise funds for a trip to Ireland. This year, a St. Patrick’s Day performance at Flynn’s Garden Inn on Skillman Avenue raised the group’s profile even more.

Adrian Bordoni, the executive director of Woodside on the Move, noticed the band through social media. “The pub’s [Flynn’s] Facebook page was full of pictures and videos taken by customers,” he said.

“Folks still talk about the show the kids put on,” said Paul Flynn, the owner of Flynn’s. “They were supposed to play for two hours but they played for four– because of popular demand. It was the biggest crowd we’ve had here since the World Cup.”

UPDATE: THURSDAY: The concert is occurring. Woodside on the Move is referring to the event as a Jazz/Irish concert.

By Sunnyside Post on May 15, 2013. 6 Comments
Posted in General News

Ground broken on a 9 story residential building in Sunnyside

Rendering of new development

May 14, By Christian Murray

Builders have broken ground on a 9-story residential development in Sunnyside.

The development, located on 43^rd Street between 43^rd and Skillman Avenues, will consist of 38 rental units and 17 parking spaces. The apartments will all be one or two bedrooms, with prices expected to fetch about $1,600 for a one bedroom and $1,800 for a two bedroom.

The initial plan was for a six story building, but the developer revised his plan.  The developer, Hooshang Nemat, said he decided to reduce the size of the building’s footprint and build higher.

At 9 stories, the development will be much taller than other buildings on the street. Most are 6 stories.

Hooshang said the development will have a concrete and glass facade.  He hopes that it will be completed in 18 months—but it could take as long as 2 years.

The new building, which will have an address of 41-18 43rd Street, used to be the site(s) of an abandoned home as well as a separate empty lot. The abandoned home was demolished months ago.

Photo of site: Dec 8, 2012

By Sunnyside Post on May 14, 2013. 54 Comments
Posted in General News

Police seek 40th Street burglar

May 14, By Christian Murray

The police are searching for a man wanted for questioning in regards to a burglary which took place on May 1 inside a Sunnyside/Woodside residence on 40^th Street.

The police said that during the course of the burglary a debit card was stolen that was later used by the suspect (see picture) to purchase a drill and a pair of glasses at a Home Depot in Western Queens.

A police spokesman was unable to provide the exact address of the burglary or the particular Home Depot where the card was used.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)

By Sunnyside Post on May 14, 2013. 4 Comments
Posted in General News

A wet grand opening for revamped Sunnyside pub

39-46 Skillman Avenue

By Bill Parry

Sunnyside, Queens: Thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the long-awaited grand opening of Jack’s Sunnyside Ale House on Saturday afternoon.

Young families scattered from the beer garden of the 39-46 Skillman Avenue pub upon hearing the sound of thunder.

“We knew the storm was coming,” said Jimmy McGowan, one of the three McGowan brothers (all firefighters) who own the bar. “We had to cancel the band we had booked to play out back ahead of time.”

Nevertheless, the McGowans did not want to cancel the grand opening, so they went ahead with the festivities that included giveaways and drink specials.

While the afternoon was a washout, the McGowans said their evening business was strong. “It was worth the wait,” Jimmy said.

Jack’s Sunnyside Ale House, formerly known as the Firewater Inn, was closed by the McGowans two years ago for renovations. The delay in the reopening was due, in part, to their architect who was unfamiliar with the new zoning code.

Once the construction was complete, the McGowans had to wait for all the permits before they could open their new kitchen.

“Starting today everything is moving forward,” Jimmy said. The kitchen is open and the pub is offering burgers and steak sandwiches, as well as fish & chips and salads, he said.

The bar offers a large selection of beers on tap, including craft beers from several microbreweries. There are 10 TV screens placed throughout the pub—with one to be added outside in the beer garden.

The brothers are planning to add a raw bar in the early summer.

“We still have a couple of things to do,” Jimmy said. However, “We’re really excited to be open again.”

beer garden

By Sunnyside Post on May 13, 2013. 12 Comments
Posted in General News

Cops seek thug who punched a No.7 train rider

A subway rider contacted the police about a horrifying attack he/she witnessed on the No. 7 train last week, and now the police are searching for the assailant.

According to police, the incident took place on a Queens bound train on Sunday, May 5 at about 1 a.m. In the video, an unidentified man punches a victim and then leaves the train at 69th Street.

The suspect is described as approximately 5’9″, 180 lbs with brown eyes and long black hair with a pony tail. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

By Sunnyside Post on May 12, 2013. 16 Comments
Posted in General News

Astoria Big Band takes its jazz to Sunnyside Saturday

Carol Sudhalter

May 10, By Bill Parry

Sunnyside, Queens: The free music concert series at the Sunnyside Reformed Church (48-03 Skillman Ave.) resumes Saturday night with the return of Carol Sudhalter and her Astoria Big Band.

The well traveled jazz band, which will play at 7pm, has been together since 1986 and has performed at the Sunnyside Reformed Church before.

“Carol was the first to perform here back in 2010,” said Pastor Neil Margetson. “She inspired the whole music series, so it’s a homecoming in a musical sense.”

Sudhalter, the band’s founder and director, recently received two grants to produce a tribute to three jazz legends from her home borough of Queens: Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Big Nick Nicholas. This will be the debut concert of that tribute.

“It’s the ideal place to do the concert,” Sudhalter said. “It’s just perfect in every way from the performance space to the acoustics.”

The 16-piece band will feature world famous composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram, who is also known for his collaborations with Jack Kerouac.

The group’s 97-year old tenor Fred Staton is unable to perform because of a fall; however, the band will feature a blind vocalist named Frank Senior. “He’s a really interesting vocalist.  You won’t believe his voice,” Sudhalter said.

Sudhalter will be playing the saxophone and flute. She was ranked 9^th  in the Best International Flutist category in DownBeat Magazine’s 77^th annual Jazz Readers poll last year.

Saturday will be the first time the Astoria Big Band brings its full complement of brass to the church. A professional musician before heeding the call, Pastor Margetson said he can’t wait to hear it: “We’re talking four trombones and five saxes!”

Margetson said the concerts are free and open to the public and are not a fundraiser. “We always lose money,” he said. “It’s about community building.  Everything is so fragmented and impersonal these days.”

By Sunnyside Post on May 10, 2013. 3 Comments
Posted in General News

Update: Police arrest man wanted for carjackings and armed robbery

Wanted: Nicolas Almonte

May 9, By Christian Murray (update: 7pm)

The police have arrested a Long Island City man who allegedly went on a carjacking and armed robbery spree that took place throughout Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City this morning.

The police said that Nicholas Almonte, 27,  stole a a woman’s Mercedes at gun point at 9:37 am near the entrance to the Queens Mid-Town Tunnel.  He took the vehicle and drove the victim around—before the terrified woman was able to flee near Queens Plaza. The woman was not hurt and Almonte ditched the car.

The police said at about 10:00am Almonte pulled out a gun and took a man’s 2007 Lexus at Thompson Ave and Vandam Street. The victim was not hurt and the car was recovered a short time later at 38th Street and Hunters Point Avenue.

About 10 minutes later, Almonte tried to steal car keys from a woman walking her dog near 50th Avenue and 39th Street – but fled after she told him she didn’t have any.

At 10:20 am, Almonte allegedly held a truck driver up at gunpoint in the vicinity of 38th Street and Hunters Point Avenue. Almonte allegedly stole cash and fled on foot, according to police.

Then at about 10:30am, he allegedly carjacked a man driving a 1996 gold Mercedes at 39th Street and Greenpoint Avenue.

He was arrested in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, this evening.

By Sunnyside Post on May 09, 2013. 8 Comments
Posted in General News

Italian restaurant to open into Sunnyside

44-07 Queens Blvd

May 7, By Christian Murray

An Italian restaurant is moving into the space that was occupied by the now-defunct Tapenade Bistro (44-07 on Queens Blvd).

The restaurant, which has yet to be named, will open in about two months and is going to offer Italian-inspired cuisine, using products from the local greenmarket.

The restaurant will be owned and operated by three people who run restaurants in Astoria.

The new owners—Giusepe Falco, Leonard Sacco and Michelle Vido—will model the Queens Blvd. restaurant after “Vesta trattoria and wine bar”, a restaurant they own located at 21-02 30^th Avenue.

The owners also have a restaurant called “Pachanga Patterson”, which offers Mexican-styled cuisine. It is located at 33-17 31^st Avenue.

By Sunnyside Post on May 07, 2013. 36 Comments
Posted in General News

Sunnyside gastropub to offer duck burgers at Queens food event

May 6, By Bill Parry

The Dog and Duck, a Skillman Avenue gastropub, will be attending this year’s 11^th annual Queens Taste and will be offering attendees an assortment of burgers—including duck burgers.

The Queens Taste 2013 has been marketed as “the borough’s premier networking and culinary event” by the Queens Economic Development Corporation. More than a thousand people are expected to turnout for the Tuesday, May 14, event, where attendees will be able to sample a variety of food from 50 Queens restaurants.

The event is being held at the Citi Field Caesars Club between 6pm and 9pm and will cost diners $125 per ticket or $225 for two.

“It was great exposure last year,” said Padraigh Connolly, the owner of The Dog and Duck. “All year long people have come in saying they wanted to try the restaurant after tasting our duck confit at last year’s event.”

This year The Dog and Duck will be marketing its burgers.

“It will help us promote our Burger Week that begins June 16^th,” Connolly said. The selection of gourmet burgers will include beef, pork, short rib and a special duck burger.

Two other Sunnyside restaurants—Dazies and DeMole—will also be participating in this year’s event.

The Queens Economic Development Corporation runs the Taste of Queens to attract and maintain jobs in the borough. Proceeds support that effort as well the Entrepreneur Space, a business incubator in Long Island City.

By Sunnyside Post on May 06, 2013. 25 Comments
Posted in General News

Small turnout for Woodside group’s business conference

Adrian Bordoni and Jimmy Van Bramer

May 6, By Bill Parry

Woodside on the Move, a grass roots community organization, held its 1^st Annual Queens Business Conference last Wednesday and while it failed to draw much of a crowd, the 20 people that did attend gained a great deal of knowledge.

The event, which was held at the Anoroc Democratic Club (45-23 47^th St.), featured an array of business leaders–and representatives from city agencies–from all over the borough.

“It was a really good networking opportunity,” said Woodside on the Move’s executive director Adrian Bordoni, who is hopeful that the word will get out and there will be a larger turnout next year.

The conference was split into morning and afternoon sessions where panels of business people shared their experiences and offered advice for those hoping to start or improve a small business.

The US Small Business Administration, The Queens Development Corporation, Astoria Federal, NYC Business Solutions, Sunnyside Shines and business enterprise instructors from PS 152 took part in the panels. “They all asked to be invited back next year,” Bordoni said, adding, that “they offered to have on-going workshops as well.”

“It may have been a small turnout but it was a successful day,” Bordoni said, who added, “We’ll get there.”

By Sunnyside Post on May 06, 2013. 4 Comments
Posted in General News