We have Gus Rodriguez himself to thank for many of these signs of life. Expressive and endlessly driven to create, Long Island native Rodriguez has always been connected to Queens, but fell hard for it upon moving to the borough seven years ago. As a musician, booker, promoter, event curator, crowd-funding proponent and all-around creative, he has become one of our local artistic community’s greatest revolutionaries – and all by doing what he loves most. “At the end of the day, I’m a creative person. I just like making stuff.”

Rodriguez is equipped with the kind of industry savvy, musical and curatorial talent, seemingly tireless work ethic, and genuine receptivity to the needs of his fellow artists that have granted him countless connections and compatriots, as well as special experiences like those he’s had at the Gibson Showroom. Through it all, he remains humble and humorous, a stalwart supporter of Queens who is unafraid to break down boundaries between boroughs, and most importantly, to push our own local artists to do, be, and create more than they ever have before.

“Our vibe is different,” Rodriguez reflects on the car ride from Manhattan to the Jackson Heights coffee shop where he’ll be playing a gig later that night. “It’s a little more inclusive, because where we live is statistically, honestly, the most diverse place on the planet – it’s not just hyperbole’ing that. When you go into the places Where I work, I feel like you see a nice mix of people of different age groups, ethnicities, and walks of life that come in and mutually enjoy the same thing, which I don’t see in other places – and I don’t take that for granted.”

Rodriguez stays busy curating live music nights at LIC Bar, and has recently branched out into literary events by staging the Fireside Ghost Stories series in the cozy, fire-lit carriage house at the back of the venue. He is also the booking agent for the Queens Kickshaw in Astoria, and does freelance booking for other venues like The Living Room in NYC and The Astor Room, also in Astoria. In addition, he runs Spike Hill’s Tuesday night music showcase in Brooklyn, which is sponsored by RocketHub, the locally-founded online crowd-funding platform of which he is the Director of Creative Development and Special Events. “This is the most accomplished I’ve been creatively at this time in my life,” he says. “I feel really lucky – I was kind of adrift at sea for a lot of years… Had some growing up to do, I guess.”

“I kind of fell into this,” Rodriguez goes on to admit. “I had a day job in advertising and research, and music interested me, but I never thought of myself as someone who would be doing booking and promoting and all of that. I went to an open mic at [Long Island City bar] Dominie’s Hoek in 2006 or 2007, and I met a person named Jimmy Artache and friends like Justin Finley, Brian Meece [who went on to found RocketHub], and all these great guys – they changed my life. It led to LIC Bar, it led to working with [songwriter and Pogues frontman] Shane MacGowan – everything that I’m doing now musicially, especially in Queens, flows from that place. It changed everything.”

In recent years, Rodriguez produced the first ever Long Island City Jazz Festival, founded a website called LICNotes aiming to spark interest in local music, worked hard to bring artists like Gordon Gano of The Violent Femmes to play in Queens, and spearheaded popular LIC Bar events like the Queens of Queens local female musicians showcase, special tribute nights, and various themed shows featuring the borough all-stars of the Planet QNS band, which was created and co-produced by Woodside musician Neil Nunziato. He has also watched with pride as his friends and fellow Queens musicians have become increasingly accomplished, noting Aram Bajakian playing lead guitar for Lou Reed, Jeneen Terrana appearing on a Food Network program, and Little Embers’ music playing in films and TV shows.

“I enjoy very much what I do, and I love working with artists,” Rodriguez says warmly. “I enjoy their company, and I feel comfortable with them.” Of his experience as a booker and music event curator, he reflects: “I’m a musician myself, so I guess I have a vantage point of knowing what it’s like on both sides of the fence. I know how it feels to play a venue and have everyone be very cold or kind of indifferent to you, or even rude sometimes, so that always stuck with me. Whenever I do shows I go out of my way to make sure that the experience is nothing like that – that there’s always a personal touch.” In planning countless gigs in the NYC area, he has also come to take great pleasure in bringing Queens artists over with him to successful events in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as introducing artists from outside Queens to this extremely unique, but all-too-often overlooked, local territory.

“I think the best hidden gems in New York City are scattered around Queens,” Rodriguez asserts. “People take for granted things we have like Flushing Meadows Park, Louie Armstrong’s house, Kaufman Astoria Studios, the Museum of the Moving Image. Queens has a great artistic legacy. It’s the heart of a lot of things that have happened creatively throughout the twentieth century, and probably before that as well.” He laughs, “It’s amazing we have to work as hard as we do to emphasize that!”

For whatever reason – its sprawling size, diverse neighborhoods that seem like worlds unto themselves, lack of creative interaction between communities, or complete absence of traditional music venues – Queens unfortunately finds itself in the shadow of Manhattan and Brooklyn and their respective art and music scenes. “That’s the thing we keep asking each other over the last few years: why is it so hard to get that kind of thing going here [in Queens]?” Rodriguez says. “It’s a tough business – venues come and go, it’s part of the cycle of artistic life. But given how many artists live in our community – because they can’t afford to live in Manhattan or Brooklyn – it’d be nice to have more places where they can ply their trade in the neighborhood, and I’ve been saying that for a long time.”

These quintessential questions and concerns are those that drive much of Rodriguez’s work in Queens and for Queens – aside from his general love of “seeing things happen.” “I can’t emphasize this enough,” he implores. “If you have a good idea, any kind of good idea that’s art-related, I’d love to hear about it. I love seeing things happen, especially in our neighborhood – any excuse to get something happening. I don’t care if I make money off of it most of the time! I just want to see it happen. If your passion is there and you really want to grow something and build an artistic community in any of the disciplines, whether it’s writing, dance, poetry, painting – there is a way to do it. It’s just a matter of having the will and the willingness to ask, that’s the first thing – and that’s kind of how I ended up doing what I’m doing.”

Gus Rodriguez remains open to the possibilities while steadfastly pushing forward with his ever-growing list of projects and pursuits. At this juncture, the night comes to a close with his gig at Espresso 77 in Jackson Heights, performing rootsy rock and roll under his musical pseudonym, Silbin Sandovar, in live collaboration with longtime pal Jonny Meyers for the first time. Patrons fill the cozy and clearly well-loved space, offering gracious applause. But then something interesting happens – while Gus and Jonny, who have never played together before, are making their own music, a few African musicians – who happen to be in-house after playing a gig down the street – spontaneously join them in a multicultural musical improv, adding their traditional hand drums and kora (a 21-string bridge-harp) to the rockers’ pair of bluesy voices and acoustic guitars.

This quite magical, local musical occurrence couldn’t be anymore apt. Literally right before taking the stage, Rodriguez shared one of his greatest wishes for Queens, which involves the borough truly embracing what makes it special. “What I think can happen in this neighborhood, as opposed to other neighborhoods in the city, is – if we could create more of a situation where different cultures are mingling in an artistic form – we could see some really unique things happening. What kind of cool hybrids could we come up with that would be so distinctly our own, if we embrace and open up and actually create spaces and stages where people can do their own thing?”

Our borough needs positive, enterprising locals like Gus Rodriguez to keep reaching out and asking questions. The importance of nurturing – and believing in – what exists here in Queens cannot be underestimated. “I am very optimistic,” Rodriguez says, “that’s why I do what I do. I still think there is tremendous opportunity here.” And in his usually humble but hopeful fashion, he adds: “I’m only one person, but I’d love to see more people run with [these ideas], and take the ball.” Yes, this true Queens creative may be only one person, but as history – local and otherwise – has proven, that’s all it takes to start a little revolution.

We’ll meet you on the frontlines, Gus.

By Cynthia Via 

Calm and often humorous, Kaitlin Monte was hardly bothered that most cafes were closed one early humid morning when the recently crowned Miss New York sat down for an interview with It’s Queens. She even joked about going to a Laundromat.   Luckily we stumbled upon Omonia Café on Broadway in Astoria, an area she often frequents.   While sipping a frappe, Monte reflected on the final stage of the Miss New York 2011 pageant and described herself as placid. She was even afraid she lacked enough energy. Most would expect a bit of sweat and nerves especially in front of so many spectators.

But Monte had reached a place of tranquility, she told Its Queens. “The results of this pageant don’t change what I am,” she said.

With only two months to get prepared after winning a local title in March and many homemade and borrowed dresses, Monte won the Miss New York 2011 title on Saturday, June 18 at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, and with it came a $8,500 scholarship, which went towards paying off her college tuition and loans.
The common thought about pageants is  always that it’s about beauty queens, Monte noted, but she wants people to “drop the stigma.”   “The girls who are winning these crowns are some of the brightest and most influential young women throughout the state and the country,” she said.

Her own professional journey began as a vocalist with a touring company, traveling to states like Colorado and Kansas. She moved to Florida at 16 to attend the University of Tampa and graduated with a B.A. in Performing Arts at 19. She had earned her first college credits in the 8th grade for engineering, allowing her to complete a whole college semester earlier.   By the time college rolled around, this metzzo/soprano had performed in over 40 musicals and plays. In 2009 she made her off-Broadway debut in the musical The Hole.   Monte’s sense of confidence stems from the reality of living independently since she was 16. Although daunting at first Monte said, she always wanted to be on her own.   In 2009, after being selected by the United Service Organization Liberty Bells in New York, the official entertainment troupe for the military, Monte moved back to New York.

With family living on Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, Monte opted to stay close by. “It felt like a small community, a secret hub almost,” she said when reflecting back on her introduction to the neighborhood. “You get to know restaurant owners and you become a familiar face.”   Monte admires Astoria’s “family-feel” and its mix of young people and nationalities.

Monte was born in California but grew up in in Pittsford, New York. Located in Rochester county, it is a community with a population of 27,219. “It’s very sweet. The kind of place you can run into people all day,” she said.  Monte is glad that places with a “specific personality,” such as Astoria and Pittsford, still exist.   Less than a week after being crowned, Miss NY went back to her hometown to receive an inaugural public introduction. “It’s a long time since an upstate girl won the title,” she said.

Being the title holder is a 24-hour job, she said. When she is not attending events she is doing research, communicating with organizations, planning and remaining updated and knowledgeable on current events. Despite this, Monte finds time to attend improvisation classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Manhattan.   For her, improvisation goes hand in hand with pageant work. “You become aware of your sense of humor and your personality,” she explained.   She also makes the time to practice yoga and even squeeze in some healthy home cooking.

Still, her time is heavily invested on her Miss NY platform: Anti-bullying. Every title holder dedicates a year to a unique endeavor often derived from a personal place. “I dated a guy that brought me down a lot. He wanted to control me and got to me emotionally,” she said.    Although it took her a while to part from the relationship, she finally distanced herself. “When you’re in the middle of being bullied it’s easy to think ‘this is all I deserve,’ ” she said.   Her older sister also dealt with bullying. Although severely dyslexic, she attended college and received top grades. But before graduating, she received poor treatment from one professor, who was insensitive to her disability. The situation reached a detrimental point that forced Monte’s sister to drop the class.   “He was being a bully and intimidated her away from her accomplishment,” she said.   These days Monte supporting Achilles International, an organization dedicated to enabling people with disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics.   Even before winning the title she served in the development board for the CityBarter foundation, a non-profit raising support for persons with disabilities.   The Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, a local program in Astoria, recently made Monte an official partner. “The environment that they provide for kids is so positive,” she said. “You don’t see kids bullying and you don’t see that negativity because everyone is included and supported.”   In June she attended and sang for the Bronx Art School Kindergarten Moving-Up Ceremony. Then she visited a classroom full of 5th and 6th graders and sat down for her first dialogue on bullying, which she plans to continue by visiting other schools while informing children and parents about the role that social media plays in bullying.   ”It’s a great way to teach them these habits early on and what their rights are as people being bullied,” she said.

In August, Monte plans to visit hospitals upstate and travel to seven different cites.   Then for four months it’s off to preliminary interviews and pageants before the Miss America 2012 pageant, which airs January 14 on ABC.   During those four months Monte is set on proving herself through her platform. “[It’s all about] getting in the barracks with people and getting your hands dirty,” she said.   When asked about the judging panel, Monte explained that the most important aspect in the competition is not the external.

“They can get your hair fixed, teach you how to put on make-up and get you to a gym. But they can’t make you a nice person and a smart girl,” she said.

By Heather Senison

Strawberry chose to open Strawberry’s Sports Grill in Queens “because Queens is a family place,” he said.

“The Mets fans are here and you know I’m a true Met.”

Strawberry’s, which opened in August 2010, is located right off the Long Island Railroad at 42-15 235th Street in Douglaston. Along with wooden tables for families to sit at and eat their burgers off the grill, a bar takes up a good portion of the restaurant for those who want to go out.

“And I just felt like it was an area where I wanted an atmosphere for family and children to have a sports atmosphere where they can enjoy watching baseball [and football] games,” Strawberry said.

Strawberry, who lives between St. Louis and Manhattan, said owning a restaurant in Queens is more than what he hoped for.

“You have families, you have kids that want to come out and be a part of an experience,” he said.

Owning a restaurant is easier than playing professional baseball because “I don’t have to deal with the media,” he said as he sat across from a reporter at a table in the back of the grill, while fans tripped over each other, asking to take pictures with the 1986 champion.

“Playing baseball you have to deal with the media all the time and you have to deal with the ups and downs,” he said.

The restaurant is decorated with reportedly $300,000 in jerseys and other paraphernalia from both the Mets and the Yankees.

It represents Strawberry’s love for both teams.

As much as he loves the Mets, “I love the Bronx, I love the Yankees,” he said. “I love what I’ve been able to do.”

He said his heart lies with neither team, but rather with the city as a whole.

“I’m a New Yorker.”

As for the Mets as a team this summer, Strawberry said he’s proud of how Manager Terry Collins has handled obstacles he faced.

Collins “has done a great job with what he’s had this year,” the former Met said. “He’s had a lot of injuries, a lot of ups and downs, struggle with the team, but he’s done a great job.”

When he’s not running his restaurant and reminiscing with former teammates, Strawberry focuses on his foundation for children with autism, the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, which he founded in 2006 with his wife, Tracy Strawberry.

Strawberry’s publicist, Tracy Davidson, said he and his wife were touring a children’s hospital and were personally touched by the children in the autism wing and their families.

“They were very affected by it and wanted to help however they could,” Davidson said.

Strawberry said the foundation is doing well.

“We love it, it’s going great,” he said.

For more information on the Darryl Strawberry and his foundation, visit Darrylstrawberry.com.

#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

Grabbing a quick and tasty lunchtime bite just got a whole lot easier! Hungry Queens foodies no longer have to rely on random Midtown street corners or fight long lines at the Red Hook ball fields to satisfy yummy street eats cravings, thanks to the city’s first privately owned gourmet food truck lot, which is serving up rotating truckloads of deliciousness (pizza, ice cream, dumplings, cupcakes, barbecue!) all in one spot. Nestled in the shadow of the Citigroup buildings on an otherwise drab stretch of Crescent Street near Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, the 11,000-square-foot lot is Rockrose Development’s answer to the city’s recent enforcement of vendor parking laws that have forced many local food trucks fromtheir designated spots in Manhattan. The property owners have partnered up with New York City Food Truck Association’s 30 members, who offer a variety of mouthwatering treats from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, along with a few umbrellas and a couple of picnic tables set up for easy al fresco dining. The designated space can hold up to 16 different trucks and currently at least three park there daily. Plans to expand the lot to include weekend hours are in the works, but local lunch-goers should take note that there’s no better way to satiate those hunger pangs than with some of the best mobile bites from across the boroughs. LIC Food Lot is located at 43-29 Crescent St., LIC.

What You Should Know Before You Go
1. Check Social Media Sites. Updates announcing which vendors have parked are posted daily on Facebook (Facebook.com/LICfoodtruckLOT) and Twitter (@LICFoodtruckLOT).
2. Go Early! If foot traffic is slow, some trucks will close up shop
before the 3 p.m. cut-off.
3. Bring Cash. Most vendors aren’t set up to take credit cards

Desi Food Truck
EDITOR’S CHOICE
You certainly can’t miss this colorful, cheerful yellow truck and you’ll never look at Indian takeout the same again! It’s a delicious one-stop shop for authentic dishes that are easy to
eat. The signature dishes, including curries, chicken tikki masala, lentils and rice and kati rolls (veggies or meat wrapped up in fresh Indianstyle griddled flatbread) are the real deal, and all are $6 or less.

Rickshaw Dumpling
http://www.rickshawdumplings.com
The mobile outpost of this well-known Manhattan dumpling bar serves up a limited menu of pork, chicken and veggie dumplings with Asian-style sides.

Korilla BBQ
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.KorillaBBQ.com
Korean barbecue from a truck? Yep! And it’s mouthwateringly good. You can choose a burrito or tacos with your choice of meat all for $7. Love beef? Try the “Ribeye of the Tiger” which includes tomato salsa, lettuce, special Korilla sauce, Monterey jack cheese and kimchi (a sour and spicy traditional Korean condiment made of fermented napa cabbage, radish, green onions or cucumber). There are also pork, chicken and tofu options to satisfy every craving. There’s also the “I’m Feeling Lucky” bowl that includes meat, a random assortment of sauces, kimchis and wild veggies for those with a more adventurous palate. We’ll take one of each, please! If the guys behind the window look familiar, you might have seen them on Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race. (Korillabbq.com)

Frying Dutchman
http://www.fryingdutchman.com
Belgian-style and sweet potato fries with a variety of unique sauces and aioli, including walnut/cilantro pesto and caramelized pineapple with green peppercorns.

Mexique
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.rincon-criollo.com
This Midtown restaurant has taken to the streets to share some incredible, gut-busting dishes that will knock your socks off with tasty Tex-Mex fare. It’s a killer combo that will have you begging for more. With menu items such as melt-in-your-mouth smoked short rib tacos to BBQ brisket sliders to burnt ends chili with brisket, ground beef, cilantro lime crema, and house pickled jalapenos, you won’t regret waiting in line if you have to!

Eddie’s Pizza
Authentic Korean-style kimchi tacos with serious gourmet flavor.

Kimchi Truck
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.kimchitacotruck.com
Authentic Korean-style kimchi tacos with serious gourmet flavor.

Red Hook Lobster Pound
http://www.redhooklobsterpound.com
Succulent lobster rolls that will could even make your pals from Maine swoon.

And For Your Sweet Tooth…

Treats Truck
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.treatstruck.com
You can get your frosting fix and keep those chocolate cravings in check
with these outrageously fresh and tasty baked goods, which are often
a fun spin on classic faves like the oatmeal jammy cookie and pecan
butterscotch bar. You get loads of sugar for your buck, too. Portions are
typically generous and prices per item range from $1-$3. Plus, 10 percent of
the profits from the specials menu, which includes decadent treats like a
peanut butter and jelly cake sandwich or an ice cream cone cupcake, go to
various charities.

Andy’s Italian Ice
http://www.andysitalianices.com
Italian ice is a summer staple but there’s no reason not to enjoy the dozens of flavors served up here year round, including seasonal varieties like apple pie a la mode and pumpkin pie. Yum!

Cool Haus Ice Cream
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.eatcoolhaus.com/new-york
These delicious hand-made ice cream sandwiches take frozen treats to a whole new level and are like nothing like you’ve ever seen (or tasted) before. Crazy gourmet flavors such as pistachio truffle, mango saffron and balsamic fig and mascarpone is scooped between fresh ginger snap, snicker doodle or chocolate chip cookies.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
EDITOR’S CHOICE
http://www.vanleeuwenicecream.com
Artisanal coffee and ice cream made locally.

Cupcake Stop
http://www.cupcakestop.com
Over-the-top cupcakes with gobs of fluffy frosting in a variety of far-out flavors (French toast with bacon!) that will make you drool.

By LISA A. FRASER

Pia Toscano was glamorous as usual when she performed for a local Howard Beach event in October.

The former American Idol contestant and now recording artist, was clad in a bedazzling short, silver, sequenced dress and six-inch heels, which accentuated her already long legs as she performed her single, “This Time” for her friends, family and attendees at Russo’s on the Bay’s hosting of the annual fundraiser for the Angels on the Bay charity.

For her, it was great to be back home in Queens.

“Things like this, being here is so special to me. I’ve performed here over the last four years,” she said as she spoke with It’s Queens that night. Toscano, a wedding and events singer up to her record deal, always performed around the borough with her band, Current Events, also on hand that night.

The fact that it was her birthday and also her grandfather’s birthday held an even more special significance. “It’s amazing,” said the 23-year-old. “I’m so glad that I could sing with my band again, I miss them. They’re the ones that brought me to where I am now.”

The band made a special cake for Toscano and presented it to her after her performance – to her surprise.

All through the night, the young starlet barely had a chance to sit for more than a few minutes as admirers and fans asked for photos and autographs. But it wasn’t something she minded in the least bit.

With her mega-watt smile and down-to-earth charm, Toscano gracefully accepted compliments and well wishes, and she graciously posed for photos and signed autographs.

And when she performed, her powerful voice filled the room as she belted out her single, “This Time,” as well as flawless covers of Alicia Keys’ “New York” and the classic, “Stand by You.”

For Toscano, the journey to where she is presently has been “quite the ride.”

Her shocking elimination broke the hearts of many Queensites and Idol fans. But within 24-hours after her departure from the show, she scored a record deal with Interscope Records.

Toscano just wrapped up the American Idols LIVE! concert tour in the Philippines and is now working on finishing up her debut album, which will be released in January.

Originally set to be released in November, the album was pushed back because, among other reasons, she and her team wanted it to be the perfect representation of who she is.

“I’m a down-to-earth girl. Family for me is first and foremost, I love my family time,” she said. “I like to lay low, I like my quiet time and I could be a little shy at times but I just like to have a good time.”

Though she wouldn’t reveal the name of the album, she promised it would be an eclectic mix of sounds.
“If [fans] don’t get the chills or they don’t want to get up and dance, I’ll feel like I’ve failed,” she said. “I want people to be able to relate to my story.”
The best part about her success, Toscano says, is making her family proud. “My family for sure has helped keep me grounded,” she said.

And about Queens, the Howard Beach native has an infinite appreciation for the borough.

“Queens has watched me grow and allowed me so many opportunities to perform when I was nobody,” she said. “That’s what special to me.”

On her rise to fame, Toscano says everything about the journey has been surprising.

“It’s all new to me. But most surprising is to know that you’re a role model,” she said. “I’ve always looked up to all those big voices – Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey – and now I guess I’m kind of that person for a young girl too, to look up to and that’s the best and most rewarding feeling ever.”

By Heather Senison

Boarder and rider Phyllis Schwab grooming her horse Roxy

In the constant bustle of New York City, it can be hard for residents to find a serene place to clear their minds. Many take trips to the countryside upstate, to the beaches on Long Island, and to neighboring states – but there is an escape that can be found without leaving Queens: horseback riding.
Lynne’s Riding Academy, located at 8803 70^th Road in Forest Hills, offers English riding lessons in its 80-foot ring. After riders take enough lessons to be comfortable with the unpredictable, but exciting situations horses can pose, they are offered lessons outside in Forest Park.
Katie Raszewski, a 28-year-old Jackson Heights resident who has ridden at Lynne’s for 2 ½ years and now is a volunteer at the barn, said the facility offers a way for fast-paced city slickers to take a break.
“It’s amazing that [Lynne’s] is in Queens because you don’t have to travel,” Raszewski said.“You’re in the middle of the city but it’s very quiet and you don’t feel like you’re there.
“Anybody who lives in the city knows that it’s amazing to just get out of it for a second,” she said. “Even if you don’t have the money to go so far out, you can just come to Queens, just for the day, and feel like you can mentally regroup.”
In addition to changing your scenery and providing physical exercise, riding horses is an excellent hobby for the brain and soul,

she said.
“Riding gets you out of your head,” Raszewski said.   “It doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life, it doesn’t matter who you’re mad at, what bills you have to pay, what’s happening, what’s going on,” she said. “The minute you get on a horse, for me and I know for a lot of other riders, all of that goes away.”
It is necessary for riders to forget about their lives outside of the barn so they can focus on their communication with the horse, she said.
“You have to give your 150 percent to the horse and focus on them,” she said. “It’s truly an escape.”
As for a favorite horse, Raszewski said she couldn’t decide which one to pick.
“As a rider,” she said, “you have your favorites because of their own personalities but they’re all so different that it’s hard to pick a favorite.”
Lynne Holzhauser, the barn’s owner, inherited the stable from her father, who owned it for decades prior, Raszewski said. The barn offers lessons and boarding. It currently has 26 horses including boarders, she said.
She said Holzhauser is the reason why people prefer ride at her academy instead of the few others that exist in the five boroughs.
“Lynne’s an amazing riding teacher,” Raszewski said. “She’s very patient, which for any teacher of anything, is a key factor.”
Prices range from $45 for a 30-minute private lesson, $70 for an hour, or $45 for an hour group lesson. However, Raszewski said Holzhauser makes sure her students can handle horses in a group setting, where they tend to be less well behaved, before they can ride in a group lesson. She said there are about seven instructors at the barn total, including Holzhauser.
The stable offers lesson packages, such as five 30-minute private lessons for $214 and five 45-minute private lessons for $285. It also hosts birthday parties and pony rides.
Lynne’s also offers therapeutic riding lessons for people with emotional and physical disabilities, veterans returning from war, first responders and others with special needs through GallopNYC, a citywide program.
For more information, visit Lynnesridingschoolnyc.com or, for the therapeutic riding program, Gallopnyc.org.

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.

By The Dress Recycler (aka Holly Wilensky)

Working in The Dress Recycler headquarters one afternoon, the boisterous ringing of the superhero hotline startled me.  As I picked up the phone and answered, “This is the Dress Recycler; what’s your fashion emergency?”  I could hear the tension and fear on the other end.  I quickly realized it was a woman in severe wardrobe distress.
“Hi Dress Recycler, my name is Laura and I just moved to Queens last week from Dallas, Texas,” she said in a panic-stricken voice. As I was welcoming her to our great borough, I quickly realized there was no time for small talk.  This was a serious case that needed to be addressed quickly and efficiently.
“I found your number in the yellow pages under Fashion Crises,” Laura stated matter-of-factly.  “I’ve only been here one week and I am staring to go into wardrobe shock.  I have already been showing the symptoms – I spend too much time picking out my clothes, they don’t transition well into evening, and I feel really sloppy, not put together and unfabulous.   When I moved here I wasn’t able to bring that many things with me.  I only brought my core pieces from my wardrobe thinking that could last me until I could move the rest of my clothes here.  Unfortunately, I don’t feel that what I brought is enough.  I can’t afford to buy anything new at the moment and I don’t know what to do.  I am in sales and need to have a polished look for work.  I don’t have to dress up per se, but need to look fashionable and confident.  I don’t know where else to turn.  Can you help me, Dress Recycler?”

Listening to Laura’s plea, I knew that she had made the right decision in calling The Dress Recycler Superhero hotline.  As I assured her that there was no fashion crisis that I couldn’t solve, I comforted her with my confidence and understanding.  She was soon relieved that with the wardrobe-building skills and accessory tricks that I would teach her, she would be transitioning her outfits from day to evening with ease while giving the same pieces different looks throughout the week.  In a calm voice, I told her that since she was in a state of emergency, we need to get started immediately.
When I hung up the phone, I put all other fashion emergency cases to the side, tied on my hot pink superhero cape and flew to Laura’s apartment on Crescent Street. She greeted me with a look of relief when she opened the door. We didn’t waste any time as I darted straight to her closet.

From her closet we used:

• 2 dresses
• Silk burgundy surplice wrap dress
• Black tank mini-dress
• 3 bottoms
• Black pleated surplice wrap skirt
• Skinny jeans
• Black slacks
• 5 tops
• Striped long sleeve cotton tee
• Sequin long sleeve cotton tee
• Novelty bird embroidered cardigan
• Plaid ¾-sleeve jacket
• Gray pinstripe vest
• 3 pair of shoes
• Red pumps
• Black pumps
• Black high-heel suede boots

Laura is living proof on how a little wardrobe can go a long way.  She is now armed with the confidence and fashion sense to make the most of her wardrobe by mixing and matching ten pieces to create ten different looks.  Another fashion crisis solved by The Dress Recycler!