We Heart HourChildren Vintage Store in Astoria

This evening we met Pat Gallo, Thrift Store coordinator for the Not-For-Profit Hour Children "Love Makes A Difference" Thrift shops. The store is an amazing shop chock-a-block full of every kind of magic and inspiration: exotic fabrics, chests full of vintage fine china, a 1940's Japanese tea set, fine crystal, antiques, yarns, vintage clothing, beautiful childrens' books and so much more! One could spend hours browsing. Best of all, proceeds benefit the children of women in prison.

The 36th Avenue shop, one of three Hour Children thrift stores, is located at 25-09 36th Avenue and definitely worth checking out.

Queensboro Art Studios' (QAS) artists are getting ready for Open Studios weekend. Open Studios is the culminating event of a week long, Long Island City Arts Festival.

This year LICAO has expanded to include not only Open Studios, but music, theater and culinary arts as well! May 14th - 22nd promises to be an exciting week in LIC!

The two maps below are to help you find Queensboro Art Studios:

1) A close-up map of the QAS neighborhood
2) A bigger map for those coming from out of town

The Queensboro Art Studios loft building is located 2 blocks north the Queensboro Bridge on 21st Street in Long Island City (LIC) and a 5 minute drive from the Triboro Bridge.
Street parking is plentiful.

QAS is also close to all NYC public transportation; buses, subways and the Queensboro Bridge bike path!!! So ride on over.

For additional Long Island City Open 2011 Arts festival Information click here

We look forward to seeing you!

Gray Zone Parking Complaint to DOT

Great News!!! NNA has had tremendous success over the past three months in reaching out to local businesses to help solve illegal parking in community easements. With the exception of one business there has been 99% cooperation and the community drive is now nearly 100% free and clear.

The "Gray Zone" parking is NNA's next challenge. NNA contacted The Department of Transportation requesting the installation of 4 new signs and painting "Gray zones" next to the community drives yellow. Parked cars jutting into the drives restrict view of oncoming traffic as many residents have reported (see photo above) causing a dangerous situation.

All suggestions welcome.

Robert De Niro on 30th Avenue

Lights, camera, action! Movie magic came to 30th Avenue Astoria this evening.

As crowds gathered around The First Capital Savings Bank a cherry picker outfitted with a megawatt movie light shined right on De Niro seen wearing a trench coat and brown hat as a crew filmed him making out a deposit slip. All day long 18 wheelers arrived and catering trucks parked along the side streets all getting ready for filming "Another Night". Hollywood East Astoria residents had fun and enjoyed the excitement of big time picture making.

Gasland Screening in Astoria, Queens at MOMI

James F. Gennaro, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas,
President United Community Civic Association, Rose Marie Poveromo

This evening's screening of Gasland at The Museum Moving Image in Astoria, Queens was very well attended. The movie raises serious questions and concerns about whether our government is moving too quickly and not being responsible regarding a potential environmental disaster right here, close to home.

Every resident needs to be aware of the big energy issues and risks involved with natural gas extraction through fracking. What laws and safeguards should be in place to protect the drinking water of over 8,000,000 residents of New York City? Which of our elected officials are opposed to fracking or pro fracking?

How has natural gas extraction affected cities and residents across the United States to date? Does New York want a wild west grab-all run by gas corporations responsible for protecting our waterways and drinking water?

These critical issues must not slip by as the consequences could be dire. Corporations need to be environmentally and ethically responsible. Residents need to stand up for their rights.

Write Governor Cuomo to ban fracking in the Marcellus Shale or place a moratorium on fracking until more conclusive information is forthcoming.

Gasland: Grave Health Concerns & Fracking CALL TO ACTION

" The industry is currently exempt from Clean Water Act standards, and companies are not even required to disclose exactly what their fracking fluids contain."



NYC residents need to know about the hydraulic fracturing plan for the Catskills and the grave consequences fracking risks with NYC's drinking water.



GASLAND (a documentary) will be shown at Museum of the Moving Image, Thursday, 3/24 @ 6 PM, free! This is a critical issue for all New York City residents.

PBS - Poll (Vote Yes, No, Don't Know)

See you there!



Wiki

NPR

Mother Jones

Vanity Fair on Fracking's Dirty Secret

Queensboro Bridge rename? NOOOOOOOOO!!!

Norwood Neighborhood Association residents in Astoria, Queens say NO!!

The Queensboro Bridge (also known as The 59th Street Bridge) appears in films, literature and songs. The connection and identification with the Borough of Queens is strong. Why, Why WHY would the Mayor even consider renaming it the Ed Koch Bridge? His contributions toward saving NYC's bridges is extremely laudable but perhaps Former Mayor Koch would be happy with recognition in a more modest and less controversial idea.

Would the city think for even a milli-second of renaming the Brooklyn Bridge the Ed Koch Bridge? NO Chance! The Queensboro Bridge is the gateway to our borough and cultural symbol beloved by Queens residents.

Renaming the Triboro Bridge cost about $4 million dollars. Though the city plans to raise funds from private sources, wouldn't you think a city in fiscal crisis might have a better way to spend a few million dollars? How about on schools, parks, transit?

Mayor Bloomberg, you don't want to be remembered by the people of New York City's largest borough as the Mayor who took away our bridge, do you?

Norwood Neighborhood Association says NO to renaming the Queensboro Bridge.