The Sunnyside Of Life

The Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Business Card Exchange. This is a FREE Community networking event and chance to meet members of the Chamber. If you’re new to the neighborhood or just looking to branch out, it sounds like a great opportunity to make New Business Contacts in the Long Island City – Sunnyside – Woodside area.  If we can get our SunnysideNYC.com business cards printed up in time, you may even see us there!

Monday March 3rd – Bliss Bistro Restaurant
6:30 to 8:30 PM
45-29 Skillman Avenue
Sunnyside Gardens
Complimentary Wine & Hors D’Oeuvres
For more information call: Luke 718.784.8437 or 718.482.6053. For directions to Bliss Bistro – 718.729.0778.

Beginning Feb 15th, the Sunnyside CSA is accepting new members for the 2008 season. Last year, our two-person household went in for a 1/2 share, which suited us perfectly for 26-weeks at $245 ($530 for the full share). We really enjoyed the “surprise” aspect of each week’s veggies and explored new recipes for our weekly treats.

From  Sunnyside CSA: Come to Sunnyside Community Services to sign-up, ask questions, and get to know your neighbors. As a friendly reminder, please bring your checkbook because there is a deposit due upon sign-up.

If you would like to stick around and join us for a potluck, please do so. Bring a dish to share or bring beverages. Not sure how much to make? At our last event we recommended that participants bring dishes to serve approximately 4-6, and we had plenty of food.

If you are currently a member, and have already signed up, please come anyway and join us for the potluck!!!!

Date:   Friday February 15, 2008
Time:   6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location:   Sunnyside Community Services
Street:   43-31 39TH STREET – 2nd Floor (next to NYSC)
Notes:   Sign Up Event and Potluck

This particular stretch of Queens Blvd between 39th Pl and 39th St seems to have bad restaurant karma. Our favorite local Japanese restaurant Yamakaze is undergoing another renovation. We’ve seen at least two incarnations of Japanese restaurants and two renovations as Yamakaze itself. Hopefully this time as HAMANI it will stick with a new name and interior. We’ll keep you posted.

Side note: Next door Vicky Punjabi Haandi (39-09 Queens Blvd.) has been closed for quite some time and in its place La Tavera de Zorayda (same address, 718.937.3380), serving Latin American Cuisine has sprung up. Their specialty seems to be their daily homemade soups, ceviches and casseroles.

I stopped in at The Grind last night for a couple of meetings, the perfect local joint for that. I mentioned the New York Times article to Mike the owner, who informed me that The Grind is officially for sale! So if you’re looking to become a part of the cafe society, stop in or call. We just hope that the new proprietors maintain the quirky atmosphere and special jazz & comedy nights.

THE GRIND
39-24 Queens Blvd.
Queens, NY, 11104
718.730.1050
www.thegrindnyc.com

As read in The New York Times… In this Sunday’s New York Times’ Real Estate section, The Hunt chronicled a young couple in search of a home. They settled briefly in Sunnyside but poor vetting on their part seems to have marred their choice. The lack of their due diligence aside, two things that did resonate from the article – “I read great articles about how Sunnyside is the new Williamsburg” and a shout-out to our favorite cafe;

There was a hip coffee shop nearby, the Grind, where they had a lunch of coffee and turkey wraps. “It was the cutest little coffee shop that made me feel I was in Greenwich Village,” Ms. Galbo said. “Any doubt we had, sitting there eating lunch eased our minds.”

I’d be a little wary of comparing ourselves to Williamsburg by any stretch but The Grind has definitely been a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Looking for love and a strong buzz? In honor of Valentine’s Day, The Grind is hosting a round of Speed Dating. Sign-ups are available now.

The New York Times: The Hunt – Queens Lives Up To Its Billing (February 10, 2008)