Just in Time to Burn Down Starbuck's

I don't really know what that means. But, I do know that the new Starfxck's on Queens Blvd. doesn't roast their beans on premises. They won't vacuum pack a bag of fresh-ground coffee for you. They won't smile 'cuz they know ya'. Man. I don't really care about Starbuck's. You want an americano? Go ahead. No sweat off my back really.

But, if you're proud of the stuff you find that's good in this world, like I am. If you like for your friends and family to take notice of the little things you do, then do yourself, your friends and your family a favor -pick up some coffee at Baruir's. Queens Blvd and 41st. St. They've been there for forty years as of Sunday. They might have a thing or two on Starbuck's.

Oh, don't think we've forgotten about our friends at The Grind. Claire's been there, she's a convert. Me? Well. You'll get that mouthful later, I suppose. Right now, while we're at the party for Baruir's, I'll keep a civil tongue.

My blend: a mix of the double roasted french and the decaf hazelnut. I'm dialing it down a bit as I get older.

How to Turn Fire into Roast

Some jackass burnt down half the block. Were you here for that one? We lost a fine Irish pub, but like fine Irish children six more soon popped up to take it's place. What we could lament about - the losses of the great Queens Blvd. Blaze of '03- is the loss of the best deli in Sunnyside. But, what we COULD have lost, The Butcher Block, we did not.
It was indeed felled by flames, but she's up and running, all her sharp shining knives and white-hatted butchers rearing and smiling. The dishes are big and bountiful as always, though to pay for the bigger digs the prices have gone up a quarter. Still, seven f-bomb dollars for four pounds of a three-course meal -- glossy, fatty meat; shining and squeaking vegetables and creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. Oh! Those fuggin' spuds, men! You can't complain about that.
Big as your head sandwiches are still only 4 bucks.

And, there's The Knowledge. Don't know what kind of meat for that kind of dish for so many people? Worry not, lassie. They'll have you overstocked, big-family style in a jiff. Hauling home more pork loin than an Irish whore has seen since the County Cork fair.

Yum!

Skillman Welcomes Stray

Several years ago, Wesley and I were imprisoned in Columbus, Ohio for a period of 30 days. During our time there, we ate very poorly, because we like our burgers medium rare and you can't do that to a "frozen product," as we were told at one establishment that advertised itself as having good bar food. We know all about good bar food, but more on Donovan's in a later post, probably written by Wesley, who is an expert on the subject.

There was one thing that Columbus had in spades, and that was cool, funky vintage stores. I picked up a couple of choice threads while I was there. Wesley got himself a Canada keychain that he still uses today. If you're planning a road trip to visit vintage stores, make sure you stop in Columbus.

But back to Queens. Our stay in Columbus was brightened by the presence of a young lady named Tara, whose job it was to keep all of us sane and well-supplied with everything we needed to get our jobs done. Though Tara and her compadre often did not leave the 16th floor of the OSU dorm room for days on end, she always had a smile and never let anyone down.

Ms. Tara and her boyfriend Dan have opened an adorable store on Skillman between 48th & 49th. It's called Stray - Vintage and More, and it couldn't be cuter. They've got candles, scented lotion and the like, as well as records, vintage clothing, home furnishings, tchotchkes, and more. I wheedled Wesley into buying me a Tiffany-style stained glass mirror with a rose on it. My apologies to the women who were looking at it when I snatched it off the wall--I'd already called dibs at the register. That's Queens, baby.

The prices are right, the atmosphere welcoming, and the goods unique. Wesley and I say, "Stray, stay!"

StrayVintage@gmail.com
buy/sell/consignment
candles * oils * good smells * vinyl * cds * antiques * vintage clothing * MORE
48-09 Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside Queens.

Did You Vote Aqui?

The trouble that the elderly and ESL volunteers had "helping" me vote makes me very fearful of a time in the near future when the voting machines will involve technology beyond the lever. And still, I somehow imagine, they'll be using a sort of phonebook to misdirect me to three different precincts until I point out that the correct one is printed right here, on my voter registration card, and no, I won't be using a provisional ballot (AKA landfill).
Is it a wonder that we're aren't living with the bullshit of the Bush administration as complete overlords of the universe? Oh, wait...

Shameless Other Promotion

The Grind has Espresso, Ambience, and Good Cheap Food

Last weekend I ran the Poland Spring Marathon Kick Off Race, a 5-miler in Central Park. On the way home, I decided to stop in at The Grind, located on the corner of Queens Boulevard and 39th Place on the wrong side of the tracks.

I am a fan of the egg sandwich on the croissant, having fond memories of the way the Grey Dog did it in my old 'hood--the West Village. They used patty sausage but always used too much egg, and I'd end up having to discard half of it. So when I saw that the Grind was offering egg sandwiches on croissants, I thought I'd check it out. The first time I ordered one, I got just egg and bacon, and the bacon was a little undercooked. It also took a really long time to make, around 20 minutes, and given that I had just come back from a race (I think it was the 4M Anniversary Run back in May), I was not really happy about waiting. But the eggs were deliciously fluffy, scrambled not fried, and a croissant really is the best bread for a breakfast sandwich.

So last weekend, I ordered my sandwich (which is also very, very inexpensive), but when I got home, it had cheese on it. Quel horreur!! I have a deep-seated loathing of cheese and eggs together that I cannot explain. But I was really, really hungry after my run so I decided to eat it anyway. Quel surprise!! It was deliciously delicious! I have never enjoyed a sandwich more. So last week, for my birthday, I decided to repeat the experience & invite Wesley to join me. The Grind does not deliver, but it's a close enough walk and it was a nice, clear day. I phoned in my order, they said 5 minutes, and, to my happiness, the sandwiches were hot and ready the moment I walked in the door. We were sufficiently sophonsified, as they say.

The Grind also offers sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, tea, assorted pastries, and fondue, which we have not tried. They have flat-screen TVs playing futbol, lest anyone forget we are still in Queens. We met a friend there, a fellow member of the Sunnyside A/V Club, and I had a quesadilla that hit the spot.

Call 'em up, stop on by, get cheese on your eggs. Just keep 'em in business, please?
(718) 361-0396 3924 Queens Blvd

Running a Marathon on Horizon

Claire's been running. Maybe you read about the 'Y'. Like everything else, it's got it's good points and it's bad points. In Queens, as in life.

One of the good points about life with a woman, or a person for that matter, is seeing things change. Claire didn't always run. Like me, she ate, drank, thought about being merry, but ended up watching a lot of reality television and you know, gaining the 'Reality 15.' But, then came the change- the good point. Claire took up The Run. She ran like Gump, like Rocky, like oh, whatever - a woman who didn't want to go out like that.

So, I shouldn't have been surprised when she teared-up when we stepped out onto Crescent St., right under the 7 train, to watch the runners as they made the turn to the 59th St. bridge. I was, though.

And, I got to add another good point about living in Queens. Seeing the marathon, under the 7 train, as Claire wiped away a tear of inspiration. That's a good Sunday. You should try it next year.
We won't be there, though. Next year, it falls on Claire's birthday.

Claire ran all of her qualifying races this year and she will be listening for me to yell her name, to call out, 'Happy Birthday, Claire! Keep running, Honey! Do it for Queens!"

Everybody say, 'aawww.'