Shopping & Dining
Buying and eating may be our two most favorite instincts and New York is a great place to satiate both needs. From authentic Italian food to authentic Italian leather, the Empire State is the perfect place to splurge and gorge.
Lemon Ice King of Corona
52-02 108th St., Corona
(718) 699-5133
Walking up to the small blue and white Lemon Ice King stand on the corner of 52nd Avenue and 108th Street in Corona, you’re instantly brought back to the hot summer days of the 1940s when kids would swarm around the glass windows with a quarter in hand.
It was 1944, the sun was beating down on all of Queens, and Peter Benfaremo had two recipes ready to cool off the neighborhood. Today, 62 years and some 3,400 Mets home games later, the Lemon Ice King still operates on that same corner, but now the original Lemon Ice King of Corona, old man Benfaremo, can sit on a stool dozing off in the summer sun as the family serves up 35 homemade flavors every day.
The tiny paper cups filled with ice and fruit chunks start at $1; sure it’s nothing too fancy, but to those sitting across the street at the park or playing bocce ball wearing smiles, and to the kids walking towards Shea Stadium with sweet sugar dripping down their chins, the Queens institution is one of the neighborhood’s last Italian glories.
Pesso’s Ices
203-20 35th Ave., Bayside
(718) 224-9130
In a borough that prides itself as offering some of the best delicacies in the city, the battle over the simple Italian Ice has been hard fought.
Though a lone winner cannot easily be declared – everybody has their particular preference – there is one place that has been reborn under new ownership and stands to lead the pack against the field of classic stand-bys, chain shops and pizzeria coolers.
Pesso’s (formerly Crispino’s) takes ice making to a new plateau. Located in inauspicious surroundings in a nook formed west of the Clearview Expressway and north of Northern Boulevard, people from as far away as Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Maspeth and Manhattan come to this corner shop to wait in lines around the block for the fresh-made treats.
It’s not just the Green Apple, Bubble Gum, Milky Way or Limoncello ices that bring the customers in, but it is also the friendly atmosphere of a neighborhood place that happens to serve great treats. On school days kids can be found in the afternoon doing their homework at the counter. Owner Gideon Pesso donates tubs of ices, gelato and ice cream to the local schools, churches and hospitals.
What are the favorites? Rainbow, by far, followed by lemon, cherry and chocolate – each in their own quite divine. The rainbow ice stands out with three distinct flavors of cherry, lemon and raspberry. The chocolate ice has a texture not far from ice cream and the vanilla chip ice tastes like it fell off a Haagen-Dazs ice cream truck.
All the frozen goodies are made on the premises – including the 14 flavors of gelato, 90 percent of the ingredients of which are imported from Italy.
“This is a happy place,” Pesso said. “People don’t come here because they need to – it’s not like we sell milk or bread. The fact that there are lines around the block for an impulse buy says a lot about who we are and why people keep coming back.”
Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices
Locations Citywide
With three locations in Queens, and various locations in the other four boroughs and Long Island, Ralph’s has had the reputation for making great-tasting water ices and sherbet since 1928. Although the amount of stores in the metro area may suggest that Ralph’s is a chain restaurant, the care and effort put into producing each and every one of the 35 water ice and 50 sherbet flavors make Ralph’s a hometown favorite at whatever location it may be.
Besides ices and sherbets, the store offers 14 ice cream flavors, milkshakes, fruit smoothies, and tea and coffee delights that give Starbuck’s a run for its money. In addition to all this, Ralph’s offers merchandise featuring its cheery mascot, a smiling lemon drop wearing a bowtie, at some locations.
Mr. Freeze would be jealous
One great delicacy of Queens is the water ice. Nothing hits the spot on a 100-degree day like a bubblegum flavored helping of crystallized water. There are dozens of ice joints around the city, but here are some of the best.
Picnic Buffet
Picnic Garden
Barbeque Buffet
147-42 Northern Blvd., Flushing
(718) 886-5050
Queens is loaded with buried treasures, and the Picnic Garden Barbeque Buffet is at the top of the list. This all-you-can eat buffet soaks your pallet with its mere mention and you don’t get hosed by prices.
From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the $9.99 lunch price is unbeatable, just like the food. The Picnic Garden has an array of at least 10 meats – beef, chicken, steak and more – and vegetables like kimchi. Squid is also available, as is spicy sausage.
If that doesn’t have you dialing up directions in your navigation system, the open-flame grills installed in each table are the clincher. All meats are raw, resting in marinades and sauces waiting to be cooked by you. The PG recently renovated its facilities with new tables and a ventilation system that sucks up smoke from the grill.
Even at peak hours, when a meal could cost around $25, the Picnic Garden is pure bliss on the taste buds.
Fresh Produce
Farmers’ Markets
Throughout Queens
A handful of farmers’ markets, offering fresh produce from Hudson Valley farms, will open for the season in Queens the weekend of July 6-8. One new market at the New York Hall of Science will open Sunday, July 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will continue every Sunday through Nov. 18.
The Queens Botanical Garden Farmers’ Market will open on Friday, July 6, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and will be open every Friday through November 9. The Jamaica Farmers’ Market, located on 160th Street off of Jamaica Avenue, will also open Friday, July 6. The market runs both Fridays and Saturdays and will continue through Nov 17.
Also open are markets run by the Council on the Environment of New York City. They include markets in Jackson Heights (34th Ave. and 77th St., open Sundays), Long Island City (48th Ave. and Vernon Blvd, Saturdays), Sunnyside (Skillman Ave. & 42nd St., Saturdays) and Atlas Park (80th Street, Cooper Ave., Saturdays).
Good Eats
Cherry Valley Deli & Grill
12-29 150th St., Whitestone
(718) 767-1937
Atlas Park has a bustling farmers’ market. |
Imagine walking into a place that looks like a normal deli except for the massive blackboard behind the counter scribbled with the names “Beast,” “Mary Jane,” “Fat Cat” and “The Ugly,” along with a list of ingredients.
Cherry Valley not only boasts the most creative sandwich names in Queens, but quite possibly the best tasting ones, too. One bite into “The Bomb,” a hero or roll featuring grilled steak, bacon, cheddar, onion rings, and the famous “brown gravy,” will have your taste buds in heaven and your arteries in hell. Another must-have delicacy at Cherry Valley is “the couch” of waffle fries sprinkled with an optional zesty seasoning and of course, brown gravy.
Enjoy ices at Pesso’s in Bayside. (Tribune photo by Ira Cohen) |
If you’re a vegetarian or just want to eat a little healthier, Cherry Valley also offers many vegetable wraps and tasty salads. Along with its Hempstead location, Cherry Valley is a Queens classic that warrants more than a few trips per month.
Beer Buddy
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria
(718) 274-4925
bohemianhall.com
Behind the large stone wall along 24th Avenue lies a beer-drinkers paradise: rows upon rows of simple picnic tables filled with juicy sausages, smiling faces and, of course, overflowing glasses of delicious, malty suds.
The venue’s history goes back to almost the turn of the century, when a group of Czech and Slovak immigrants raised money to build a beer hall similar to those in their home countries. The football field sized outdoor section was completed in 1919, and continues to be packed on sunny evenings with beer-swilling merrymakers.
Among Manhattan’s young professional set, the beer garden has a prominent renown; for some, its virtually the only bar they know in Queens. But for Queens residents, the Bohemian Hall has been a cherished landmark, serving as a meeting ground for generations in the past and those to come.
Seafaring History
South Street Seaport
Fulton and South streets, Pier 17
www.southstreetseaport.com
Even though it’s a staple for tourists, with its sweeping river views and excellent shopping and food all wrapped around an authentic slice of history, South Street Seaport is a worthy destination for even the most longstanding New Yorkers.
On the pier, visitors can gaze at the towering masts of old ships, and only a few steps away, grab a drink and a burger. The docks are complimented with a cobblestone square across the street that adds to the area’s old-fashioned motif.
Several museums and arts galleries host exhibits regularly, and cultural events and musical performances take place throughout the summer.
Even with the Fulton Street fish market leaving the neighborhood, there’s still a strong odor that harkens back to the days when the seaport was a functioning dockyard. But once you get past the smell, South Street Seaport guarantees a pleasant experience.
Tangy Twang
Dallas BBQ
241 West 42nd St.
(212) 221-9000
There’s no need to fly to Texas to get a hint of Southern barbeque. Dallas BBQ at Times Square will have you licking the skin off your fingertips. The signature sauce is only the beginning.
The menu features starters, salads, burgers, chicken, ribs, steak, fish and combination and smokehouse platters. Most of which – except for salads, of course – feature a variety of barbeque sauces that are sure to please anyone looking to use a stack of moist towelettes.
Ribs – a personal fave – are a paltry $7.99 at lunch and $10.99 at other times. Ribs and steak is $15.99, a reasonable price to pay for a hearty portion. The combination platters – a bevy of ribs, chicken, steak and shrimp mixes – do not top $16.99. BBQ also offers smokehouse platters of pulled pork, hot dogs and brisket.
Flor De Flavor
Flor De Sol Restaurant
361 Greenwich St., Manhattan
(212) 366-1640
Live music. Candlelit interior. Pulsating atmosphere. That still does not fully illustrate the dining experience at Flor de Sol Restaurant.
The Spanish-style arouses the taste buds, leaving patrons wanting more even after their stomach puts up the stop sign. Flor de Sol has a healthy portion of Tapas, or appetizers, highlighted by chicken and ham croquets – which feature breaded exteriors and delicious ground meat on the inside (picture eating mashed potatoes to understand the texture).
For dinner, seafood, chicken, steak and sausage are champions of the menu. There’s a party on your palate whether you choose the filet mignon special (wrapped in bacon and Swiss cheese with a special steak sauce), Creole lobster (two tails in a zesty sauce with onions and peas) or a chicken and shrimp platter, which comes with saffron rice. Top it off with a pitcher of sangria, and you’ll never want to eat at home again on a Saturday night.
In all, a night for two at Flor de Sol can run anywhere from $80 to $150, but it is well worth the splurge. There is also a quaint bar area for those who want to kick back after work. Live music is featured Monday (starting at 7 p.m.) through Friday (starting at 9:30 p.m.).
ESPN Zone
1472 Broadway, Manhattan
(212) 921-3776
The ESPN Zone, quite simply, has it all. The smorgasbord revolves around sports, but spirits, food, parties, merchandise and arcade might have you feeling like you’re part of the game.
Admission is free, but the arcade on the top-floor consumes the entire area. It is littered with basketball competitions, football tosses, simulated race car driving and even a virtual boxing challenge. If that’s not enough to have you seeing stars, there’s a baseball simulation that clocks your arm strength (speaking from personal experience, don’t try this one in front of a lady friend for fear of condescending laughter).
Quite a Fancy Feast
Fancy Food Show
If you’re in the food industry set aside July 8 to 10 to attend the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade’s 53rd annual Fancy Food Show. In years past, thousands of food retailers, chefs, caterers and restaurant owners have descended on the showroom to taste more than 100,000 specialty items on display. Exhibitors come from around the world to present at the NASFT show.
The show prides itself in that 87 percent of attendees are responsible for purchasing decisions. So whether you’re looking to buy or sell, the Fancy Food Show is a must.
To exhibit at the show, you must first be an NASFT member. Call (212) 482-6440, Ext. 119 to see if your company qualifies for membership.
If you’d like to attend, you can register online at www.specialtyfood.com.
The show’s hours are Sunday & Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shopper’s Delight
Woodbury Commons
Central Valley, NY
www.premiumoutlets.com
Patrons of Beer Garden gulp down cold drinks. |
You name it, they’ve got it. It’s just that simple.
Outlet shopping has grown exponentially in the last 10 years or so, but Woodbury is one of the originators of a cluster of stores selling out-of-season merchandise to people who couldn’t care less once they see the 30 to 80 percent markdowns on everyday needed items. Come on, how does a frying pan go out of fashion?
Looking for clothes? They have everything from Armani to Zegna. Are housewares more your thing? How about Corning, Le Creuset, Mikasa, Villeroy & Boch, Wedgewood and Williams-Sonoma?
y ou can start the kids off at Carters and work your way up through Stride Rite and Osh Kosh until they get to Gap Kids.
Kids and parents party at ESPN zone’s arcade room. |
And the shoes – there are 32 shoe outlets, ranging from Kenneth Cole and Nine West to Saucony and Timberland.
While you’re there, be sure to refresh yourself with a number of restaurants – including Applebee’s and a host of food court classics.
Woodbury Commons is located just off Exit 16 on the New York State Thruway.
