#MonthlyPicks | April’17 by Maria Lisella
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Local residents chime in on their favorites place to eat, learn, walk, and have fun. This month’s picks are by Maria Lisella.
Historic Feats:
One of the first stories I pitched to Travel + Leisure magazine was about the Isamu Noguchi Museum. Back then, this corner of LIC was considered too edgy for T+L readers, but I convinced the editors to publish a short piece. By then, MoMA P.S. 1 was already up and running. Adjacent to sculptor Mark di Suvero’s barn was a field that functioned as an open studio. He founded the Athena Foundation that finally helped secure the space as Socrates Sculpture Park in 1986 with commanding views of the East River and Manhattan.
Good Eats:
I hit the streets every morning to work out in a Blink (gym, that is) on Steinway Street or breathe “Ommm” at Yoga Agora. My instant reward? Café con leche at the 24/7 Colombian café La Gata Golosa (or The Gluttonous Cat…sounds sexier in Spanish, doesn’t it?). This is my Astoria, or as I like to say: “Astoria, America.” On weekends, I switch it up a bit and walk to Gianpiero’s Bakery on 30th Avenue, a block east of St. Joseph RC Church in the heart of Little Croatia. Once again, coffee captivates me — in this case, cappuccino. I can also practice my Italian with customers from several Italian regions or eavesdrop on the patois of Istrian intermingled with Italian. Sabrosura Bakery’s empanadas are mini-meals, while around corner of 34th Street is the Mediterranean Shop, a virtual visit to Greece. Astoria is king, queen, and ace when it comes to fruit-and-veggie shopping at Elliniki Agora, where you might find cauliflower and broccoli the size of newborn infants. A stop under the El (elevated N train) takes me to Maria, master baker and owner of YaYa’s (grandma’s) Bakery for spanokopita or galactaboureko, quite possibly the best in Astoria. I find myself writing in such places, chattering with humanity.
Unique Treats:
Our national treasure is the Museum of the Moving Image on 35th Avenue, near pizza-pasta palace Napoli’s, one of the best values in Astoria. It is where you’ll find me just about every weekend for lofty director’s talks to the Fist and Sword martial arts series of films and the Martin Scorcese exhibit currently on view.
Wander Streets:
Master Lew leads a daily Tai Chi class at 6:30 am under the sky on a hillock between the Triboro and Hell’s Gate bridges in Astoria Park. In summer, I follow with laps under the majestic expanse of the Triboro (now RFK) in the historic Astoria pool.
About Maria Lisella
Maria Lisella is the Queens Poet Laureate, an official title bestowed by the Borough President. Lisella grew up in South Jamaica and Bellerose, but embraced Astoria as an adult, living in the Queensview co-op for many years. A travel writer by profession, the poetess has visited 62 countries. She’s also a New York Expert for USA Today, Europe Editor for Travel Market Report, and curator of the Italian American Writers Association’s literary readings.
April is National Poetry Month.
#monthlypicks