#15 World Now
27-01 Queens Plaza North   Suite 502   Long Island City
worldnow.com

Eve rything these da ys is going web-based and mobile, and that includes the once-thought irreplaceable television set. But for tel evision stations that have for so long focused on presenting their product to you in the comfort of your own home, taking the next step and reaching you on the internet and mobile devices can be a daunting challenge. That’s where Long Island City-based Worldnow comes in, helping primarily local television news outlets brand themselves on the latest cutting-edge platforms, transforming them from a half-hour newscast three times a day to the go-to place for breaking news.

#14 Skift
skift.com
Long Island City resident Rafat Ali got the idea for Skift after he sold his small media venture – paidContent – and decided to travel the world. Skift is a one-stop “travel intelligence” company that offers news, insight, data tools and services to both the travel industry – which has grown into a $2 trillion a year industry – and traveling community. Skift offers information regarding every aspect of travel, from comparing hotels and airlines to news about airports and hotels. Users can also sign up to receive daily email alerts and analysis. Keep an eye on Skift; at a recent Queens Tech Meetup Ali promised that the first incarnation of the company as a news and info site is just the beginning of Skift.

#13 Darren Wan & Peter Lada
Easy Pairings
easypairings.com
Easy Pairings was created by Darren Wan and Peter Lada. As a restaurateur, Darren experienced firsthand how tedious the hiring process can be, and wanted a better way to find the right staff. As a technologist, Peter has a passion for solving everyday problems with well-designed, efficient solutions.
Thus, Easy Pairings was born. Easy Pairings is a recruitment company specializing in improving the hiring and job search process for restaurant front-of-house positions. Hiring restaurants receive a list of qualified candidates to interview, while jobseekers get specific job postings that fit their experience. The application process is simple, in the end everybody is happy. Just don’t forget to tip the wait staff.

#12 Gregory Gundersen
Q11
During the chaos caused by Hurricane Sandy, Gregory Gundersen of Astoria noticed that volunteer organizations had too much to handle. It all began when Gundersen’s brother went to sign up to volunteer and was turned away because the location was overrun with help. This led to the creation of Q11, which is an SMS-based platform that sends text messages directly to a user’s cell phone. Q11 allows users to text in a location to a specific number, and in turn receive information on what organizations in their area need volunteers. Users can also check-in and communicate with a real-time list of volunteers at a specific location. The benefit, Gundersen explained, is that in times of emergencies, when Wi-Fi is down, all a user needs to access the information is a cell phone signal. “The idea is that it works in any environment,” he said. Q11 has already won awards at NYTechResponds and AngleHack, and will soon be pitching their product to a major venture capital company in the city.

#11 William Etundi, Jr.
See Me
25-25 44th Drive   Long Island City
see.me
William Etundi, Jr., CEO and founder of See.me, started his LIC technology and art company in 2008 to provide a digital platform for artists to share their work with fellow artists and enthusiasts, with opportunities to show in art exhibitions and win grant money and awards. “We’re building a visual social network for fashion designers, where they can build a visual profile and they can view them all from their mobile devices,” Etundi said. “People who have profiles in the system can see their work anywhere.” The company is currently holding a competition, awarding the artist with the best profile $125,000 in grant money and the opportunity to a have a video about their work posted on a digital billboard in Times Square.

#10 Veronica Chan
Long Island City resident Veronica Chan has been involved in many tech startups, including Gojee.com and food52.com, but one thing that they have all had in common is they all have a focus on the culinary. A former food marketer, Chan is interested in exploring the ways that technology and the food industry come together. She recently co-hosted Hack/Meat, the first-ever “meat hackathon” in New York. Over the course of a weekend “steakholders” – or those who are involved in the meat industry – worked with technologists to rapidly prototype innovative solutions to industry issues posed by those in agriculture. Some of the ideas included an app that plugged into a scale to keep track of meat production and another that connected small meat farms with their customers. “So often, people come up with really creative apps, but they don’t actually solve any sort of problem,” Chan told It’s Queens. Chan is currently working on an idea for a project that would connect aspiring chefs and restaurateurs with diners, who would get an intimate dinner in exchange for their feedback on a proposed menu. “We’ll see if I can get that off the ground early next year,” said Chan. “I’ve got a lot on my plate!”

#9 Tietz-Baccon
47-17 5th Street   Long Island City
tietz-baccon.com
At Tietz-Baccon, Andrew Baccon and his team bridge the gap between the digital and physical, with an array of large metal cutting machines and imaging programs. Started in 2007, this LIC tech company utilizes these tools to turn concepts and forms, provided by artists and design firms, and turn them into mechanical parts along with a variety of physical elements. “We are architects by trade,” Baccon said. “We produce physical products, but it all has to do with the root in three-dimensional imaging.” Baccon received his masters from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design before setting up shop in Long Island City with his counterpart, Eric Tietz. “We take concepts and forms that designers have created and turn them into mechanical parts,” he said. One of their most recent projects can be seen at the Barclays Center, where they worked with the designers from SHoP Architects and Dupont Corian to create the unique three-dimensional wall at the arena’s VIP entrance.

#8 Audrey Tan
waggit.com
Audrey Tan got the idea for Waggit one Thanksgiving when a friend couldn’t find anyone to watch her cat while she was out of town. Inspiration struck, and Tan quit her job and started waggit.com, a website where pet owners can go and find reliable and trustworthy people willing to watch their dogs. But it’s more than just a convenient place to find a dogsitter, Tan tries to foster a sense of community by hosting meetups and get-togethers, all pet friendly of course. As it says at waggit.com, “Dogs make people happy, so lets come together and make them happy.”

#7 OK Focus
11-11 44th Road, #201   Long Island City
okfoc.us
Jonathan Vingiano, Jules LaPlace and Ryder Ripps are OK Focus, a tech company in Long Island City that has been making web apps, iOs apps and thinking outside of the box since their start-up took off in October of 2011. Most recently the company has been working on an iPad drawing app and something called “Where’s the Pixel,” an iOs game where you’re asked to find as many pixel’s on your iPhone or iPad screen, ultimately winning points. Today it is their most popular app. “I think we want to be able to create experiences for the internet that make people better understand living with all of these devices,” Vingiano explained. “We approach making these things from a very human place which can sometimes be rare, especially in software development.” Another recent development out of the OK Focus studios is “Overlayer,” an easy way to combine layers by adding images over another image or object. “With this we can see potential of partnering with brands like Adidas,” he added, showing how the app can easily add a photo taken from a computer’s webcam and combine it with a preset image, such as a t-shirt or a digital icon.

#6 Storybox
storybox.it
“A picture speaks a thousand words…but many pictures together express something even more,” is how the team over at Storybox starts off their description of their company, but it’s so much more than a place to store photos. Sure, at it’s heart, Storybox is a tool that allows users to make collages, but it also allows them to create a notebook of graphic ideas, embed their favorite social feeds, and so much more to create a modern-day digital scrapbook of their lives. Based in Long Island City, Storybox was founded by Angela Min, and now includes a team of four people, including Wes Chow, Radhika Chopra, and Liz Shim. Join today and begin sharing your own creations with friends and family to inspire them, or even just use them for your own inspiration.

#5 Krate
44-02 23rd Street   Suite 516   Long Island City
kratedesign.com
Jaime Kennard has owned and operated Krate, a digital technology and design firm in Queens since 2004. Today, he is currently responsible for developing a variety of apps for the iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices. “We have a graphic design background, but that is only part of what we do,” Kennard said. “If we don’t have the technology or capability for an in-house team, we want to partner with a technology company that is also design savvy.” When Kennard’s team of six, young, tech-savvy developers and designers can’t do the project on their own, they don’t hesitate partnering with other studios and companies. “That tends to bring interesting projects our way. I think that is also partially why we’re sort of an integrated multi-disciplinary shop here,” he said. “We don’t just do technology and we don’t just do design. We like that intersection and we sort of feel like one can’t really live without the other.”

#4 Shapeways
35-18 37th St.   Second Floor   Long Island City
Shapeways.com
If you have an idea for a product, chances are that Shapeways can make it come to life. Shapeways is the world’s leader in 3-D printing, and the company recently moved into a 25,000-square-foot factory in Long Island City that can print as many as 5 million products a year. How does it work? A designer designs an object – a ring, a vase, a funky lamp – and uploads their idea to the Shapeways website. Shapeways takes it, and brings the object to life, turning your average amateur designer into a professional manufacturer. It’s undoubtedly the future of manufacturing, and Shapeways is a leader in the industry, which is why the city chose it to be a major partner in its “New York’s Next Top Makers” competition, which promotes 3-D printing and innovation in New York City.

#3 Digital Natives Group
5-22 46th Avenue   Third Floor   Long Island City
nativesgroup.com
If you have an idea for a product, chances are that Shapeways can make it come to life. Shapeways is the world’s leader in 3-D printing, and the company recently moved into a 25,000-square-foot factory in Long Island City that can print as many as 5 million products a year. How does it work? A designer designs an object – a ring, a vase, a funky lamp – and uploads their idea to the Shapeways website. Shapeways takes it, and brings the object to life, turning your average amateur designer into a professional manufacturer. It’s undoubtedly the future of manufacturing, and Shapeways is a leader in the industry, which is why the city chose it to be a major partner in its “New York’s Next Top Makers” competition, which promotes 3-D printing and innovation in New York City.

#2 Chet Kanojia
Aereo
37-18 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City
aereo.com
Founded by Benjamin Guttman in 2011, Digital Natives is bringing the academic and social life of the current educational system into the 21st Century. Long gone are the days of kids bringing home notes with important information and parents combing through emails or calling the office to answer the simple question, “what’s happening at school today?” Rather than trying to get students, parents and administrators to connect on a variety of different social network platforms, Digital Natives’ Whisper app brings all of the news and information to one centralized location, including mobile access to district information, resources, and contacts. Meanwhile, Ringo is a social network for the student body, where each school club and organization gets their own website and can easily communicate with other groups in their own school or throughout an entire district. Joining Guttman at Digital Natives is Chief Operating Officer Vladimir Lackovic, who met Guttman when they were still students at Baruch (which wasn’t that long ago!), as well as Chief Marketing Officer Jonathan Jacobs and Chief Technology Officer John Botte. Together, they’re building 21st century school communities.

#1 Songza
526 46th Avenue   2nd Floor   Long Island City
songza.com
Ever scrolled aimlessly through your iPod or stared blankly at the search box on Spotify, thinking to yourself, “What am I in the mood to listen to?” Well, you’ll never have that problem again thanks to Songza. Songza asks you to choose an activity, a time of day or a mood, and then it provides you with an expertly curated playlist of music to match the situation. For example, when you first visit the site you might see the prompt “It’s Friday Late Morning, Play Music for…” and then you’ll be offered choices like “Doing Housework,” “Sipping Gourmet Coffee” or “Working (With Lyrics),” depending on what you’re currently doing. Songza also lets you choose by genre, but also offers a comprehensive range of activities, moods, and eras, such as “Seductive,” “80s Rock” or “Pool Party” – all of which means you’ll never have to worry about someone hijacking the music at your special event and killing the mood. Songza rose from the ashes of Amie Street, an indie online music store and social networking site that was sold to Amazon in 2010. Shortly after that, co-founders – CEO Elias Roman, COO Peter Asbill, CPO Elliott Breece, and CCO Eric Davich – refocused their efforts on Songza. On June 12, 2012, Songza was listed as the top free app on iTunes for the iPad and the number two free app for the iPhone, and has since expanded to Android. And as more and more people turn to their phone as their primary device for listening to music, Songza is poised to be the source they turn to for their listening pleasure.

#15 Have Van, Will Tour

Doris Rivera del Valle
Borough Excursions Founder
After moving to Flushing five years ago from Boston, Doris Rivera del Valle was amazed by all the interesting and fun activities Queens had to offer. After taking weekend exploratory trips with her daughter to the Queens Zoo, other parks, and museums around the borough, del Valle decided she wanted to become a tour guide. “I was new to Queens and was really amazed by all
the cool things there are to do,” del Valle recently told It’s Queens. She took a course to learn how to set up a business plan and a website and entered a contest hosted by the Queens economic Development Corporation. Upon winning first prize in April 2011, del Valle was awarded money to start up her own tour guide business, along with a membership to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. After taking some more classes as
part of the competition and navigating her way through business law jargon, Borough Excursions was born. Armed with a 14-passenger van, del Valle takes groups of visitors and inquisitive residents to different sites in Queens. For example, she takes them to shop in Rego Park, to check out Kauffman Studios in Astoria, or to see the Panorama at the Queens Museum of Art. She said participants get a kick out of seeing
George Costanza’s fictional boyhood home in Astoria and other celebrity sites. Her business is advertised to tourists at their hotels and on her website, Boroughexcursions.com.

#14 A Dream Come True

Delicia Davis Burrell
Dream Dance Studio Owner
Delicia Davis Burrell’s dream came true when she cut the ribbon on Dream Dance Studio in St. Alban’s earlier this year. For the 25-year-old dancer and Laurelton resident, who grew up in the performing arts arena studying not only dance, but also drama, it was a proud moment. After consulting for various dance groups around New York, Burrell felt it was time to bring it all under one roof where she could build young talent. “When I was growing up taking dance classes it was very, very competitive and if you weren’t already at the top, you just were shut out,” she said. “This is a place where you can strive for excellence whether you or someone else thinks you have it or not.” Every December and June, students will star in their own choreographed shows. Burrell also plans to form core groups that do high-profile performances in the future. For this kickstarter, there was no doubt she would follow her “dream.”

#13 Tattoo You

Lisa Nikolopoulos
Tattoo Shop Owner
From her Astoria-based shop, Bleeding Image owner Lisa Nikolopoulos is starting a tattoo revolution in New York City. She opened her shop, located at 42-17 35th Avenue, to give herself space to explore her own artistic style, Nikolopoulos said. Now she focuses mainly on new-school, brightly-colored tattoos, portraits and realism. Although, she fulfills a lot of surrealistic requests, as well, she said. Her colorful art sets her apart from the rest of New York City’s artists, who focus mainly on old school, black and white styles. In addition, she said there is a problem with many tattooers not being artists in the first place, which results in poorly done work, leading to the hatred of tattoos by confused and disconcerted parents. Many artists are also only interested in the money, Nikolopoulos said, which is not her style. “I think that if you really wanna make money you have to make a difference,” Nikolopoulos recently told It’s Queens. “And if you’re going to be an artist, you really have to take a stance and really put your 100 percent into it.” Nikolopoulos wants to bring the color usage that’s more common in California and the South to the greyscaled tattooing world of New York City. She said her goal is to be known as a color specialist. “I want to show people that there are different possibilities, they just haven’t seen it,” she said. “That’s what drives me, really.”

#12 Healthy Outlook

Kevin Charlotten
Q Care Affordable Owner
In a world where the relationship between doctor and patient is often detached, Doctor Kevin Charlotten offers residents of Elmhurst and surrounding areas an alternative option: a “’medical home.’” Charlotten started Q-Care Affordable Medical Care PLLC, located at 47-50 78th Street in apartments 102 and 103, which serves as a clinic and local doctor’s office. The center combines a personal feel with budget-abiding care for uninsured and partially insured patients, while maintaining a respectful and culturally-conscious environment. Q-Care provides physical examinations, vision screenings, EKG’s and other routine procedures. It also offers cancer screenings for men and women along with family planning options. To further serve its Western Queens community, Q-Care provides services for the whole family. Infants and children can receive immunizations and other basic care, along with physicals for school and camp, treatment of minor skin conditions and assessments of growth and development. The company prides itself in its relationships with patients. It often asks for feedback after visits and the staff recognize that their patients come from different backgrounds and walks of life. In addition, Q-Care takes a range of insurance providers, including GHI, HIP and Medicaid. Charlotten started Q-Care after finishing up his position as medical director for AHRC medical care, which provides health care for adults and children with disabilities, in 2008. He has more than 10 years of experience caring for adults and children.

#11 We “Like” This

Dave Daraio
Maspeth Federal Savings
Dave Daraio, the vice president and marketing director at Maspeth Federal Savings Bank has found a way to make the bank’s presence grow on Facebook – and it’s a win-win situation for all parties involved. “This year, we’re trying to build up some steam on our Facebook page, we’re trying to push the whole social media package and we want to let people know what we’re doing in the community,” Daraio said. The bank runs a Young Savings Club program at two local schools in Maspeth where students could open up a savings account and deposit money every week. So he decided to employ the help of students to make the bank’s Facebook page more popular. If a school enables the bank to reach 1,000 “Likes” on Facebook, Maspeth Federal will donate $3,000 to that school. The bank already donates money to the schools involved in the three-year-old program but Daraio, who has worked at Maspeth Federal for 17 years now, thought it would be a nice challenge to spruce things up. So far the Maspeth Federal Savings Facebook page has 480 “Likes.”

#10 On a High Note

Lisa Terry
European Renaissance Musician
Woodside native Lisa Terry is on a mission to introduce 16th and 17th Century music into the lives of high school students at LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts in Manhattan. The Renaissance Music Club began this fall, and Terry is responsible for securing the $1,000 start-up grant from Early Music America, the national service organization that represents historical performance groups. This first of its kind after-school organization focuses on teaching students the recorder and the crumhorn, a curved woodwind instrument that produces a strong buzzing sound. Terry, an early-music performer who arrived at LaGuardia last year to lead some workshops on the viola da gamba (which she is playing in the picture), says that the European Renaissance music she has a passion for was popular at the time of Queens Elizabeth I. Terry also received a $1,500 grant from the Viola da Gamba Society of America to purchase a viola de gamba to start a Renaissance Viol Consort program for children at the The French-American School of Music.

#9 Brand of His Own

JP DiTroia
U.S. Columbarium
J.P. DiTroia is a master brander for the U.S. Columbarium in Middle Village. Meet with DiTroia and within minutes you will yourself in the bowels of the crematory atop Mount Olivet Crescent. DiTroia is a serial networker who has mastered the art of tackling the sensitive issue of death and making sure people know that cremation is a viable option. “Plenty of quite important people have been cremated here and have a nook in our facility,” DiTroia told It’s Queens. But his passion doesn’t end with his occupation, DiTroia is an active member of the Kiwanis Club – recently starting one from scratch in Middle Village – and a strong advocate for Project Eliminate, a program that provides a tetanus shot for expecting others, a simple act that could prevent the needless death of 40,000 infants each year.

#8 Coming Attractions

Steve Rahaman
Creator of Falling Leaves Productions LLP
After shooting his own films for six years and pulling all-nighters editing them, Kew Gardens resident Steve Rahaman felt it was only necessary to take the next step: create a production company. From there, Falling Leaves Productions was born. Falling Leaves Productions aims to provide a centralized medium to integrate the movie and music industry. His goal is to utilize talent in the movie and music industry to develop a one-step entertainment production company for independent film makers as well as artists. Rahaman always wanted to be filmmaker. His penchant is in the horror-gore realm. So far, he has made four feature films and is working on a fifth. His recent independent film, “To Be King,” has risen through the ranks at film festivals, local and international. It was the most popular film at the Long Island Film Festival this summer, raking in the most ticket sales ever in the history of the film festival. The film also made its way to the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and it was made Official Selection of the Chashama Film Festival and the New York International Film Festival, among others. The film opens in three cities on November 10, including New York. Rahaman makes it a duty to shoot scenes in Queens. Any Queens resident won’t miss the familiar streets of Woodhaven or Richmond Hill making their appearance in his films.

#7 “Tasty-Crafty”

Lucy Palacios
Agora L.I.C. Market Founder
Lucy Palacios did the corporate thing all of her life. But after being in that world for so long, she decided last year to explore her more creative side. She started a market in Jackson Heights that ran from May to November last year, which didn’t last long. But with the longtime dream of hers to bring local, handmade goods to people, like a true kickstarter she didn’t give up after the flop. “I knew I wanted to do something like it again, but I wasn’t sure what it was going to be,” she said. She decided to try the market model again, and this year the Agora L.I.C market officially launched at St. Mary’s church parking lot on 49th Avenue in Long Island City. The Peruvian-born Palacios wanted to create a space that blended wholesome food and creative crafts. She calls it the “tasty-crafty market,” a new kind of meeting place that she feels will soon catch on. “Anything you make by hand, you put your heart and soul into it,” she said. “I wanted to bring that whole energy and appreciation of handmade goods to people.” For more information, visit AgoraLIC.com.

#6 She Says “I Do”

Nancy Ma
New York Wedding Plaza Owner
Nancy Ma has been designing wedding gowns in Queens for almost 30 years. What makes Ma one of our Top 15 Kickstarters is her unrivaled reputation as an official gown designer for Miss New York, Miss New Jersey and Miss USA Pageants for the past 28 years. Walk into her studio at 43-18 Main Street in Flushing and you will see pictures of Ma with famous beauty pageant winners lining the walls. Come pageant time, she goes to work on these beautiful women and shows no signs of slowing down. “I have designed more than 1,000 gowns for these high-profile beauty pageants throughout the years,” she told us. “And you never get tired of doing it because every girl has a different look that inspires something new in the gown. It is quite fun and fulfilling to bring out the beauty in each of my subjects.”

#5 A Tender Side

Yolanda Vitulli
Tender Care Human Services
Yolanda Vitulli, a native of Haiti, founded Tender Care Human Services in 2001 after her son Michael was diagnosed with autism. Michael was gradually able to learn to speak through music therapy, as many other children with autism have come to do, the kind of improvement that provides some very personal – and critical – evidence to Vitulli as to why arts programs dedicated to children with autism are so important. And it is the whole reason behind the Jamaica-based agency, which was created in 2001. It is an exemplary non-profit that provides educational, behavioral, residential and recreational services to individuals with autism, pervasive developmental disorders, and other developmental disabilities, and serves the entire New York City community. “Because of the love I have for my son, I saw the way that he learned and I wanted to share that experience with other families who were going through a similar situation,” Vitulli said. Lately funding from the state and private donors has been low due to the economic downturn and Vitulli has been forced to cut the art and music therapy programs from once a week to once a month. But she still pushes on. In June, she decided to open up a thrift store in efforts to keep their music and art therapy programs alive for the children and adults they serve. The aim is to raise funds for the at-risk programs while providing low-income families with affordable products and providing autistic adults a place where they can find a sense of purpose.

#4 Pieces of History

Michael Ragsdale
9/11 Collector
To say that Maspeth resident Michael Ragsdale had a hobby capturing memorabilia from events following 9/11 is an understatement. Ragsdale, whose work involved videotaping public and private events throughout New York City for CSPAN, figured the biggest names in the world would all come to New York to in the wake of 9/11, and he decided to chronicle it. So for the next seven years, Ragsdale attended and amassed items from 220 post-9/11 events. He saved a program from an event on June 1, 2002, at West Point, where then-president George W. Bush first spoke publicly about a preemptive strike. On October 18, 2001, when Dick Cheney came out of hiding and spoke at the Alsmith Dinner at the Waldorf, Ronin Tynan sang God Bless America. In Ragsdale’s collection is the program from the event, complete with Tynan’s autograph. “Attending 220 events is not as easy as it sounds,” Ragsdale told It’s Queens, “but I think, more than anything, it kept me focused in a way to address my own sadness and worry about 9/11. I just kept getting sucked in deeper and deeper to the collection. “ In September, Ragsdale’s collection was on display in the Rosenthal Library on the campus of Queens college. Images from his collection can be seen at collectorsquest.com.

#3 Keeping it eSafe

Edward Abel
eSafe Docs Founder
It might be the years of nursing training mixed with the savvy business entrepreneurial track record that allowed Edward Abel, a Forest Hills resident, to create the website eSafeDocs.com. Regardless of which background helped, his website makes it easy for people to store their important documents all in one secure place, especially for those with elderly parents who cannot keep track of documents such as their will, insurance, deed and other valuable information. The idea for the site stemmed from Abel’s own personal experience. He was in a meeting last December when he received a call from his elderly mother’s doctor stating that her health was rapidly deteriorating. “He started to ask me all of these questions: ‘Does she have a will?’ ‘Does she have a “do not resuscitate” form?’” he said. “All of these questions, and I really was not able to give an answer to any of them.” Luckily, Abel’s mother made it through, but the experience was a lesson learned. The next challenge he faced was overseeing her documents to make sure her bills were being paid on time and appointments were maintained. Once that was accomplished, he created eSafeDocs. For a fee, the service enables users to send documents to eSafeDocs, where they will then sort them, scan them into the account and categorize them on the website. The service can be done once a month. To find out more information, visit www.eSafeDocs.com.

#2 Taste Guide

Jeff Orlick
Jeffrey Tastes
Jeffrey Tastes loves food. And he loves Jackson Heights. So it was only fitting for him to merge the two. The 29-year-old Jackson Heights resident decided to start food tours a couple of years back and since then it’s been a hit. From midnight crawls in his nabe checking out the food vendors, to sometimes halloween tours (not this year) and all new, “Taste of the World” tours on weekdays around noon, Orlick (his real last name), leads other foodies and tourists on tours through Queens’ intriguing neighborhoods to try out the local, ethnic food. In high demand, he is now starting to do individual tours of Roosevelt Avenue. “It’s become apparent that somehow I’m the foremost expert on the food here,” he said. “How this happened I don’t know.” He blames it on his “everlasting” quest to learn more about where he lives, combined with a “strange schedule which preserves me from hanging out and keeps me up at 1 a.m.” Orlick feels that he eats so well in Queens, he has a responsibility to share. Orlick also runs Roommates Wanted NYC, a more attractive alternative to Craigslist or normal classifieds that connects like-minded potential roommates and takes out the hassles of dealing with broker fees. See more at his blog, iwantmorefood.com

#1 Silicon Borough

Jukay Hsu
Coalition for Queens Founder
Jukay Hsu thinks big. Hsu is the man behind the vision to turn Willets Point into what he calls Silicon Valley 2.0, a plan to lure a science/engineering university to the gritty industrial area and turn it into a tech hotspot. In fact, Hsu’s inspiration combines two city initiatives: the first to transform Willets Point, the second to build an applied science and engineering school somewhere in New York. Hsu, a Harvard graduate who served in the Army during the Iraq War, just put the two together. So far the city is dismissing the plan, but thanks to Hsu’s tireless energy, he is starting to get some big names on board with the plan, namely several Queens politicians who see the economic potential for the borough.

By Danielle McClure

Everyone loves a sandwich, whether it’s grilled, pressed, piled high, or just a plain  PB&J. From India to Cuba to Italy, sandwiches cross every cultural divide, and in a borough as diverse and delicious as our fair Queens, there are more mouth-watering combinations of bread, meat and cheese than imaginable. We rated five of the best to determine which ‘wich reigns supreme.

Cherry Valley Deli & Grill
12-29 150th St., Whitestone | (718) 767-1937 | www.cherryvalleydeli.net
EDITOR’S CHOICE | It’s Queens Rating: 94

Fans of the outrageous, gut-busting “grease truck” sandwiches, which notoriously squeeze everything from mozzarella sticks to French fries to brown gravy and cold cuts inside a hero, certainly don’t have to trek all the way to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to satiate their crazy cravings — especially when there’s Cherry Valley Deli in Whitestone. This neighborhood fave has an equally egregious reputation (and cult-like following) for its selection of sinful sammies and 24-hour service. It might look like your average corner deli, but it packs a serious palatal punch with a daunting menu that includes dozens of deliciously kooky combos that are sure to test the limits of your waistband. With names like The Beast (chicken cutlet, bacon, Swiss cheese, onion rings and brown gravy), The Fat Cat (two burgers, bacon-fried onions, French fries and American cheese), and Macho Man (grilled roast beef, mozzarella, Swiss, fried onions and brown gravy), ordering is half the fun. The somewhat basic TSC — a chicken cutlet with brown gravy and American cheese on a toasted hero ($6.99) — is really the way to go and it’s good till the last bite. No matter what crazy combo tingles your taste buds, these sandwiches are so mouth-watering good that no matter where you are, you’ll definitely wanna come back for more.

Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli
3312 23rd Ave., Astoria | (718) 278-9240
BEST VALUE | It’s Queens Rating: 90

There’s a reason why these guys are known as The Sandwich Kings of Astoria. The superb service, stellar quality and generous quantity of their amazing, massive sandwiches have become legendary in the hood. It’s not uncommon to find a line winding around the block during a busy lunch hour. With a large variety to choose from, it’s The American ($7), otherwise known as The Bomb, where you’ll get the biggest bang for you buck. It’s a whopping 13-inch ‘wich on a sesame hero piled high with, well, everything in the deli pantry: ham, turkey, salami, roast beef, pepperoni, mortadella, American, Swiss and provolone cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onion, roasted peppers, mustard, mayo, and dressing. It’s so thick and hearty that it’s certainly big enough for two meals (for novice patrons), and definitely not for the faint of heart. While some might argue that it’s just too much to put between two slices of bread, diehard fans are more than willing to stretch their jaws and their stomachs for the sloppy goodness, which surprisingly lives up to its hype in girth and flavor. No matter what you order, Sal, Kris and Charlie’s sandwiches are, you guessed it, the bomb.

Leo’s Latticini-Mama’s
4602 104th St., Corona | (718) 898-6069
It’s Queens Rating: 89

Walking into this neighborhood mainstay is like stepping into grandmother’s kitchen. The cozy vibe, heartwarming smiles and aromas envelope you like a familiar hug. The food served up is truly comforting for the soul. Steps away from the 7 train, this adorable little Italian market is a can’t-miss landmark; the place is practically an institution and has been family owned and operated for over 80 years. They go out of their way to make every patron feel right at home, and the hearty, delicious cold-cut sandwiches are lip-smacking good. Mama’s Special ($7) is a traditional Southern Italian hero comprised of sweet prosciuttini, spicy salami, and fresh mozzarella that melts in your mouth, along with marinated mushrooms and tangy peppers on a fresh-baked roll that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. While it’s somewhat small for the price, Mama’s Special still delivers a stellar sandwich.

Mumbai Xpress
256-05 Hillside Ave., Floral Park | (718) 470-0059
It’s Queens Rating: 88

Grilled cheese sandwiches are typically nothing to write home about, but the super-tasty triple-decker  (and vegetarian friendly) Mumbai sandwich ($4.99) from this far-flung Indian restaurant elevates the kid-friendly staple into serious sandwich territory. What sets it apart? Creamy Amul brand butter and cheese (straight from India) to start.  The vibrant green color, from the surprisingly mellow coriander chutney, along with thinly sliced potatoes and crisp green peppers and onions, which add a nice crunch, make this sandwich undeniably unique and so unforgettable it’s definitely worth the trek.

Rincon Criollo
4009 Junction Blvd., Elmhurst | (718) 639-8158 | www.rincon-criollo.com
It’s Queens Rating: 83

Nothing beats a killer Cubano and Rincon Criollo does it right — for the most part. This cozy, family-friendly restaurant has loads of old school charm and an expansive menu of exceptional Cuban eats, but the basic sandwich, comprised of roast pork, ham, mustard, crunchy pickles and gooey Swiss cheese, is a definite standout. While the pressed bread is somewhat unconventional and not quite as crisp as anticipated, it was still traditionally super-thin and didn’t overpower the other ingredients. The thick-slices of pork are tasty, if somewhat dry and there’s not nearly enough cheese for this ‘wich  lover, but it’s still stands up to its reputation as one of the best in the borough.

#15 Peter Cardella

Community Leader
This Ridgewood patriarch is the man behind a bustling senior center that bears his name and an Italian-American federation that runs the annual Fresh Pond Road street festival. Cardella enjoyed a successful career in coat manufacturing before turning to the business of running the Peter Cardella Senior Citizen’s Center in the 1970’s. Since then he’s emerged as an influential spokesman for the greater Ridgewood area; an interview with him is a required campaign stop for elected officials and political hopefuls seeking office. And at 94, the hands-on do-gooder has shown no signs of slowing down: the senior center is expanding this year.

#14 Robina Niaz

Founder of Turning Point
When Robina Niaz started Turning Point for Women and Families in 2004, she never thought that the organization would gain as much acclaim as it has in its six-year existence. In recent years, Niaz, and her organization, have been recognized by CNN Heroes, NY1’s New Yorker of the Week, and last  year she was named a recipient of the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award, which recognizes local leaders who are making a difference in their communities. Niaz founded the organization when she reached her own turning point after a stormy marriage. The organization is the only nonprofit in New York City that caters to the needs of Muslim women regardless of ethnicity and addresses domestic violence in the Muslim community,  offering free services. So far, it has helped over 400 women.

#13 Chana Porter

Playwright
Growing up in Maryland, Chana Porter struggled with a stuttering problem, and so turned to writing and acting as a way to overcome her communication issues. What started as a emotional release has since turned into a career. So far she has written five plays, three of which have been performed on stage, and her latest, Besharet, recently was produced by AliveWire Theatrics and had a run at the 9th Space theater in March. Porter’s goal is to be a part of growing the art scene in Queens, and she says she is inspired by the diversity of her new home. “I want my plays to be about everyone, and Queens is the best place to start,” she recently told It’s Queens. “I really love Queens so much; you really get the sense of this is where people’s lives are. There are so many people who care and take pride in themselves and what they have.”

#12 Rekha Malhotra

DJ
Well known for her Basement Bhangra music that blends the South Asian style with hip hop beats, Rekha Malhotra might have been born in London but she is a Queens girl all the way. More famously known as DJ Rekha, she grew up in Queens and got a degree in Urban Studies from Queens College. In 1997, Rekha created a New York dance party which takes place every first Thursday of the month at Sounds of Brazil (S.O.B.’s). The party has since put Bhangra music on the map. She has collaborated with numerous artists and in 2007, released her debut album, DJ Rekha presents Basement Bhangra. But that’s not her only passion. Always an activist in college, Rekha is also involved with many nonprofit organizations including CHHAYA Community Development Corporation and Breakthrough, a human rights organization.

#11 Richard Mazda

Founder of The Secret Theatre
A London native who immigrated to New York in 2004, Mazda is the founder of one of Long Island City’s premier places to check out: The Secret Theatre. Located in the heart of Long Island City, the venue – formed in 2007 – shows that great theatre can happen in Queens. The theatre produces roughly seven to ten  shows a year, with varying productions from outside companies. This spring it will host a production of Parade, the Musical. Mazda is a strong voice for the borough, which he says is often overlooked even though the neighborhoods of Long Island City and Astoria are no strangers to the film industry. “Anybody who has a business in Queens is fighting the perception that if you live in Queens you go somewhere else, and that’s really ridiculous,” he said last year at the press conference for the Astoria/Long Island City Film Festival. A record-producer and actor, Mazda is also currently the festival director of The LIC Arts Open, as well as the founder and an executive director of The Queens Fringe Festival, set to happen in May.

#10 Alia Akkam

Founder and Editorial Director, The Q Note
Want to be up to date on all of the ultra-cool and creative things, events, and people the borough of Queens has to offer? Well then, you better get on the mailing list of TheQNote.com right away. TheQNote.com is the brainchild of Alia Akkam, a Queens resident who spent her young years in Laurelton before being dragged to Long Island by her parents, but now she is renewing her love affair with the borough through her website. TheQNote.com features cultural happenings, tips on new places to eat, and will even let you in on something as mundane but necessary as a good hardware store. Queens may get overlooked by Manhattan and Brooklyn, but TheQNote is quickly working to change that.

#9 Nicki Minaj

Recording Artist
Since Run-D.M.C. burst on the scene in the mid 1980’s, Queens has emerged as a training ground for some of hip hop’s biggest stars, from Nas to 50 Cent. They set music and fashion trends, dominate the blogosphere and rule the airwaves all summer long. The borough’s MC du jour is Nicki Minaj, a multi-talented transplant from Trinidad and Tobago who gained prominence after releasing her first mix tape in 2007. Today, she’s a major recording artist with a long career ahead of her. Here’s hoping she never loses her saucy Southeast Queens accent.

#8 Daniel Leone

Executive Director, Queens Public Television
Daniel Leone controls the airwaves in Queens. Well, actually, to hear Leone tell you, you control the airwaves, he’s just the man who keeps the shows up and running. Leone has been executive director of QPTV for the last 5 years, and in that time has worked to make sure QPTV reaches as a broad an audience as possible, one that reflects the diversity of the borough itself, and at the same time improving the quality of the programs and making them as relevant as possible.

#7 Dr. Uma Mysorekar

President, Hindu Temple Society of North America / National Spokesperson for Hindu Religion
For the past 17 years, Dr. Uma Mysorekar has been president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America, a position that includes managing the day-to-day operations of the 30-employee organization, which oversees, organizes and assists with major Hindu events and celebrations throughout New York and the country. Mysorekar, a Flushing resident, is widely regarding as the spokesperson for Hinduism in the United States. She must be articulate, spiritual, highly communicative and be an unwavering leader. Mysorekar fits the bill flawlessly. Articulate and spiritual, Mysorekar is continually initiating discussion forums, organizing awareness campaigns and diversity programs, and meeting within cultural and political circles in order to quietly and effectively approach issues which promote diverse religious tolerance and acceptance. Her appearance on “The Colbert Report” in June of 2008 is a telling example indeed. Although host Stephen Colbert tried quite hard to poke fun and trivialize the Hindu religion, Mysorekar took it in stride, held her own, and in fact was able to use the show to educate.“The mind commits sins, not the soul” she told Colbert’s rabid audience.

#6 Katha & Don Cato

Film Festival directors
Long-time Jackson Heights residents Don and Katha Cato made their mark in March when they revamped last year’s controversial International Queens Film Festival, transforming it into the Queens World Film Festival with over 400 films from all parts of the globe. Don Cato is an award winning filmmaker and has made over 35 films of all different lengths, styles and genres. Katha  Cato is the director of After-School and Camp Services at Henry Street Settlement. Both are passionate artists and relish working together. The Queens World Film Festival was an opportunity to bring all of their passions together and contribute to the cultural fabric of Queens.

#5 Gabriela Granados

Dancer and Artistic Director of American Bolero Dance Company
Gabriela Granados is a Flamenco firestorm. The Peruivan-born dancer put Queens on the map as a destination for a good night of Flamenco dance and song when she opened the Long Island City-based American Bolero Dance Company in 1996. Since then, the acclaimed performance of Tablao Flamenco is a much anticipated event each spring where the audience enjoys a table seat while local and national singers and dancers gather in a one-of-a-kind showcase of the intricacies and beauty of the classic Spanish dance at the Auditorium Centro Espanol in Astoria.  Growing up in Peru, Granados knew her life would involve dance. She studied Flamenco in Spain before moving back to Queens to start the company, which also offers classes. She has plans to take Tablao Flamenco to different boroughs soon, even though she is glad to have made her start in Queens. “Queens is a good place to be,” she said. “A lot of people here support what I do.”

#4 Kristie Foster

Boutique Owner
The owner of KrisTEES boutique in Astoria, Kristie Foster has been in the fashion industry for 13 years. The contemporary boutique started four and a half years ago, creatively weaving fashion into community by collaborating on events with other local businesses. Keeping in line with Astoria’s diversity, KrisTEES showcases small designers from around the world in a gallery-like style while also working with main-stream fashion industry professionals like Peruvian stylist Peter Valcarcel.  Since opening KrisTEES in 2006, she has enriched the neighborhood creating a platform for young emerging local and global designers to shine while focusing on understated looks that have a contemporary edge. In addition to unique pieces to wear, Foster seeks out local artists to display their work alongside her collections, blending seamlessly.  To Foster, fashion and art go hand in hand, so why not show them together? Foster has been featured in Lucky Magazine and Time Out NY. She has also been recognized numerous times by Mayor Bloomberg for her commitment to enriching Astoria.

#3 Tom Finkelpearl

Executive Director, Queens Museum of Art
When Tom Finkelpearl took over the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the museum was mostly known as the home to the scale model of New York City known as The Panorama and as an homage to the two World’s Fairs held in the park decades ago. Today, it is respected in the New York City art world as a museum at the cutting edge of modern art, hosting exhibits and shows that draw serious art connoisseurs from all over the city. And the museum is currently undergoing an expansion that will double its size, and no doubt its reputation as one of the top museums in New York City.

#2 Lidia Bastianich

Celebrity Chef
Lidia Bastianich may not have been born in Queens, but she’s become a Queens girl through and through. At the age of 14, Bastianich and her family moved to Astoria, where she began working in Italian restaurants, her first introduction to the food industry. In 1971, she opened her first restaurant, Buonavia, in Forest Hills. From there, the Bastianich restaurant empire continued to grow throughout New York City, and in 1999 the James Beard Foundation named Bastianich the best chef in New York City. In 1993, Bastianich was invited to appear on Julia Child’s cooking show, and her own successful television career soon took off. When it came time to film, Bastianich shunned a studio kitchen and instead filmed her show in her own kitchen in Douglaston, the neighborhood she still calls home.

#1 Darryl Strawberry

New York Mets Outfielder / Restauranteur
Darryl Strawberry may have finished out his career with the other New York professional baseball team (we think they’re called the Yankees), but to most baseball fans, especially here in Queens, Strawberry will always be the property of the Mets – the ‘86 World Championship Mets, to be exact. As passionate on the field as off it, Strawberry was hated by opposing teams, but adored by Mets fans. Long since retired, Strawberry is making more news in Queens, opening Strawberry’s Sports Bar & Grill earlier this year. So head out to Douglaston and bask in the memorabilia of Straw’s days with the Mets (and some from his days with the Yankees, too), and enjoy a cocktail and one of the best pulled pork sandwiches in the borough.