Jackson Heights Life

I found this online. Between MSN MONEY and SMART MONEY they covered a lot.  I always see something like this every year but I never save it and then can't remember what it said. So I decided to post it here as a reference since moving to a new place, well there's always things to buy:

The Best Time to Buy... Anything

AIRLINE TICKETS:
Best time: It depends on competition in the markets you’re flying to and the time of the year. Plan holidays in advance.  But usually on a Wed., 21 days (or a couple days) before you want to travel.  Prices jump significantly from 14 to seven days ahead of departure.

AIR CONDITIONERS:
Best time: Winter

BABY CLOTHES:
Best time: during your pregnancy at end-of-season clearances. Get things for half price.

BICYCLES AND OUTDOOR GEAR:
Best time: January.  Newest stuff comes out in February and March.

BIG APPLIANCES:
Best time: September and October.  That’s when newer models hit the floor and stock gets reduced.  Or Holiday weekends - big sale times.

BROADWAY TICKETS:
Best time:  hours before curtain rises. Several musicals offer same-day ticket lotteries that offer up orchestra seats at inexpensive prices. If you'd rather not gamble on getting a seat, wait in line at the famous TKTS booth in Times Square. There, you can get tickets for hit musicals for up to 50% off.

CARS:
Best time: Weekday mornings in September.  New model years begin appearing in the Fall.  Get previous year’s model at a discount.

CELL PHONES;
Best time: any time.  New phones come out so often it really depends on model and carrier.

CHAMPAGNE:
Best time: December. Due to fierce competition among the Champagne houses, prices are actually lower during the holidays than they are at any other time of year.

CLOTHING:
Best time: Thursday evenings, six to eight weeks after an item arrives in stores.

COMPUTERS and ELECTRONICS:
Best time:  Just after a new model is launched. July and August.

COOKWARE:
Best time: April and May; October and November.  Two big seasons for promotions: Spring for graduations and weddings and Fall/Winter for holidays.

FURNITURE:
Best time:  January and July.  New furniture hits showrooms in Feb. and August. Get clearances.

GAS GRILLS:
Best time:  Winter

GASOLINE
Best time: Early morning or late evening on a weekday.  Gas stations tend to change their prices between 10 a.m. and noon, so hit the pump in the early morning if gas prices are on the rise. Go later in the day if prices are falling.

GIFT CARDS;
Best time: A day or two before you give it.  (Too many hidden restrictions from expirations dates etc.)

GROCERIES;
Best time: Sunday with coupons from Sunday papers.  And in the evening for fresh items that must be sold by the end of the day.  Many stores change ads on Wed. so another good time.

JEWELRY:
Best time: Avoid the holidays, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.  More a matter of when NOT to buy.

LINENS and BEDDING:
Best time: January.  White sale strategy started in 1878 and remains today.

MATTRESSES:
Best time: Always.  Retailers always have sales.

PATIO FURNITURE:
Best time: after Labor Day weekend.

REAL ESTATE:
Best time: Spring.  Buying and selling season starts in March & goes thru summer.

SHRUBS, TREES AND OTHER PLANTS:
Best time: Fall.

TELEVISIONS:
Best time:  6 to 12 months after a particular model is launched.  A new TV drops in price after being on the market. And winter holiday sales and January.

VACUUM CLEANERS:
Best time: April and May.  Most new models come out in June

WEDDING DRESSES:
Best time: Between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Boutiques are stocked up but traffic is low. You’ll have room to bargain.

WINE:
Best time:  early Fall.  Fall harvest season releasing latest vintages.Good prices.  August and September is also good for “cult” wines since they have limited productions.

WRAPPING PAPER
Best time: after New Year’s

This place is really pretty inside.  The front has chaises and chairs and benches, all different colors and fabrics.   Plus different tables and art work... attractive.  A place you could hang out and enjoy some beer or wine.  They don't have their liquor license yet so you can't get anything else.

We ate an early dinner in their back yard.  Again SWEET.  Great colors and different tables with unbrellas.  Along the back wall were benches with the tables and an overhang to protect from the sun.  Throw pillows.  Art work. For this neighborhood, a step in the right direction.

Music in front was Spanish. We could just hear it outside which I was happy to say means it wasn't too loud. I'm supposed to go back later tonite for a drink to check out the front and the crowd and music.  Their menu was tiny.  Three salads.  Handful of appetizers.  Maybe 7 entrees.  They had two pasta dishes: fettucine alfredo and penne with vodka sauce (which I had - was okay but I'm not a big vodka sauce fan.  I prefer red sauce.)  My friend had stuffed chicken (spinach and ham) with potatoes.  Two fresh warm rolls, fragrant olive oil and balsamic vinegar when requested.  I had a glass of Chianti.  Other entrees were steak, salmon and I can't remember the others.

If you feel like sitting in a sweet back yard, check it out. Curious to hear how it progresses once they get their liquor license.  Oh and just two guys working: very nice.

It was enjoyable. I'm not raving about the food at this point but worth a try.

Tonight I decided to experiment. I'd never walk in here based on looking in the window or looking at their menu (with the ugliest photos of dishes EVER).  Not a chance!  First impression: YLEECH!    Wow, was I off.     We ordered from both sides of the menu. Chinese/Thai appetizer was shrimp spring roll.  Unlike most shrimp spring rolls these were jumbo shrimps, cleaned, and wrapped in crispy crust with a yummy dipping sauce. Then entree: Ginger Chicken-FABULOUS.  Indian appetizer: tandoori prawns. Grilled perfectly.   Entree: Chicken Curry-very tasty except the meat was on the bone.  Not crazy about that but it was still good.  Two rice dishes: jasmine and basmati.  The basmati was spicy and had cilentro. An order of Naan.  Food came with Raita.  I was shoveling the food in.  LOVED IT.  Went with a friend in my building and he almost cried when they said we lived too far away for delivery.  It just goes to show you: don't judge a restaurant by it's gaudy red interior and fugly menu photos.

How is it no one has written about this place?

And have you read anything really good?  Please share.
 
I'm reading Elizabeth Berg's OPEN HOUSE now. Loving it.  Reminding me of EAT, LOVE, PRAY by Elizabeth Gilbert (also loved)

Read more than once: Wally Lamb's I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE.
THE GLASS PALACE by Amitav Ghosh was a good read.
One of my old favorites was Jim Thompson's THE KILLER INSIDE ME. scary book.

A friend went last year and liked it.  It overlooks the river. Plus there are other activities listed for families.  Seems terrific.

Scroll down the page and it gives brief descriptions of each class or work shop.

                                      http://socratessculpturepark.org/Education/Education08.htm#yoga


                                                      Socrates Sculpture Park   
                                                        32-01 Vernon Blvd.
                                                    Long Island City, NY 11106
                                                           (718)956-1819
                         

Found this over on the Astorian site. Since I have go to the Upper Eastside 4 my favorite Wine Bar, I'm excited that one is opening up closer to home. I edited it to make it shorter since the poster talks about the Astorian site a bit.

Hi Astorians my name is Richard and my partners and I wanted to introduce ourselves to the community board.  ....We are three wine enthusiasts and our motivation from the beginning was to build a beautiful wine bar with wonderful food that would truly become a homebase to all members of the community.  ... The name came from a definition in the urban dictionary, it goes as follows: " The sensation of Euphoria over finding and experiencing the perfect bottle of wine, sought after for its region, make, or price. reveling in its first taste, while appreciating its rarity leading to a moment of pure bliss."  So in short it's just a name and the interior is actually, at least we feel, really beautiful. 

We have built this place from the ground up and have put so much heart into it that we hope it will show when you come and see it.  Now about the place itself...it has a rustic feel with exposed brick walls and intricate wood work.  The wine list is approachable yet ecclectic and the food is a tapas style menu with a French and Mediteranean influence.  We have communal tables as well as intimate seating in order to reinforce the sense of community we were hoping for.  We would love for everyone to come down, we are having a soft opening this Saturday (a limited menu will be available we are perfecting it) but come down for some wine and cocktails everything will be half price.  We are really excited about this new venture in our lives and would love to share it with you.  Thanks for your support!  To check out the menu and winelist go to winegasmeatery.com.   Richard, Laris and Dean

The address is:
31-86 37th Street
Astoria
bet. Broadway and 31st Ave.

I can't be the only person with odd musical taste.  I LOVE ABBA!  One of the reasons "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is a favorite film.   And I've been known to sing along to many Neil Diamond songs, LOUDLY: 

"I am," I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
"I am," I cried
"I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still.........

What about you?  Any of your friends making fun of your musical style???

Cheesesteak Shop Wins Discrimination Hearing

"The owner of a famous Philadelphia cheesesteak shop scored a victory in a racially charged debate over a sign he posted in 2005. The Commission on Human Relations panel found that two signs at Geno's Steaks telling customers, "This is America: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH,'" do not violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance." (from AOL News)

Since we live in a community where shops have signs up in their windows in languages other than English, I'm curious to hear peoples thoughts are on this ruling.