Queens Chronicle Holiday Guide 2013

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Queens’ Largest Weekly Community Newspaper Group

2013

Holiday SHOPPING & DINING GUIDE

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 2

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

Forest Hills and Rego Park have it all Central Queens’ bustling streets offer a wide range of gifts

Marc Pine, owner of Instant Replay in Forest Hills, holds a quirky sculpture of a rooster, one of the many unconventional items in his store. In addition to his popular selection of clothing and designer handbags, he also sells a wide array of jewelry.

by Christopher Barca

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

T

Reporter

here is no need to jump on a subway bound for the tourist-laden Manhattan streets to shop for your loved ones this holiday season.

Some of the best deals with the most personable customer service won’t be found on Madison Avenue or Broadway. Instead, they can be found right here on the busy streets of Forest Hills and Rego Park.

Big stores such as Old Navy and Abercrombie may offer bulk supplies of stylish clothing, but to truly stand out from the crowd, Instant Replay at 72-20 Austin St. in Forest Hills offers unique items you won’t find in your average department store.

Owner Marc Pine opened Instant Replay 35 years ago as a simple women’s clothing store, but the business has evolved into one that prides itself on selling designer handbags and elegant jewelry.

The small, yet intimate establishment seemingly has just about anything a woman would want for her bedroom or wardrobe.

And that’s not all — a painting of the Last Supper dating back to the 1630s can even be found leaning up against a portrait of The Beatles alongside the counter.

“I grew up in the retail business and I was given many good ideas,” Pine said.

“People say I have a good eye for retail. I sell a lot of different things here.”

Pine says that, despite the economic downturn over the last several years, his eccentric shop has actually continued to grow. Even in the face of an unstable market, the fearless businessman expects to enjoy success in the coming days prior to Christmas.

“Even when the recession hit, the store still did well,” he said. “I’m still quite optimistic. These objects are very strong gifts

Spin City Cycle owner Jimmy Yeh, left, and Ioshi Dussek pose in front of the store’s Christmas tree and some of the bicycles they hope to sell this holiday season. Yeh says he is marking all PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER BARCA models from 2013 and earlier up to 20 percent off.

and you’re going to get things here that you continued. “We have good prices and we give the right services. For 24 years, we won’t be able to get anywhere else.”

In terms of special holiday deals, Pine, have been treating the customers right. Treat Instant Replay’s only worker, says that there them right and they will recommend you to aren’t any, as there are no boundaries on his the next person.”

In Rego Park, providing customers with a items’ low prices.

“There are always specials here,” he said. chance to improve their health and their “I carry a lot of cheap clothing. Some of it lives is a top priority for Jimmy Yeh and his might be out of fashion but it’s quality stuff. bicycle shop, Spin City Cycle, at 98-73 It definitely is not what you would see in Queens Blvd.

“Get out of the car and ride a bike,” Yeh Macy’s or any other store.” said. “Exercise is A nother small, key, so come on under-the-radar Fordown here and buy a est Hills business that bike.” offers a wide range of Spin City Cycle, gifts is Go Antiques or 24 years, we have unlike Instant at 116 - 09 Q ue e n s been treating the Replay and Go Blvd.

Antiques, is having For the past 24 customers right. Treat a “subpar” shopping yea rs, the shop, season, according to owned and operated them right and they Yeh, even though

by Daniel Maman, will recommend you models from 2013 whose wife and four and older are 10 to sons all help run the to the next person.”

20 percent off for business, has been an the holidays. excellent source of — Daniel Maman, owner of Go Antiques Yeh, who runs the interior design gifts s h o p a lo n g w it h and other items. retail associate Ioshi “Paintings and jewelry are our best-selling items,” Maman Dussek, does have plans to brighten the said. “We have sales going on for jewelry business’ outlook, including repair tutorials right now where things are 30 to 50 percent for those cyclists with busted bikes.

“We have a lot of things here that you off. Chandeliers are 25 percent off as well.”

Much like Instant Replay, Go Antiques can’t get online or anywhere else,” he said. has also seen success this holiday season “We offer great customer service and soon despite the uncertain economy, according to we’ll be giving repair classes.”

Spin City Cycle features dozens of modMaman.

“You have to adjust yourself,” he contin- els ranging from mountain bikes to chilued. “Yes, the economy is not great but if dren’s training bicycles, and it may see a you can adjust yourself to the business, then bump in sales now that the city ban on e-bikes has been law for a month. you’ll be just fine. “ [Business] will improve somewhat, “Everything is pretty good right now,” he

“F

maybe,” Yeh said. “It will hopefully help a little.”

For holiday shoppers who spend their days in the corporate world instead of hitting the bike trails, Eric Shoes at 96-56 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park provides footwear for those seeking both comfort and style.

Dozens of stylish shoes for both men and women line the display shelves of the small shop and, because the need for shoes will always exist, manager David Lama says that business is going well so far this holiday shopping season.

“It started off very good, like it normally does,” Lama said. “We’re expecting more people before Christmas too.”

Eric Shoes, which has been in business for almost 20 years, is offering some sizable holiday discounts to shoppers as well.

A banner hanging outside the store advertises a clearance sale in which certain shoes and boots are being sold for 50 percent off, while therapeutic shoes designed for diabetics are free with Medicare.

“We have a lot of holiday discounts,” Lama said. “We have some good specials for people to take advantage of.”

Holiday shopping season can be an extremely stressful time for some, and in a city full of big-box stores and name-brand retailers, the small business owner can often get overlooked.

Rego Park and Forest Hills residents have easy access to multiple large-scale shopping complexes, but, according to Maman, you can’t find personality or a family connection in the maze of aisles at Target or Best Buy. “We are a family company; my four sons and my wife work here,” he said. “They all know everything about this company and Q they love it.”

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

The holidays come to Myrtle Avenue Small retailers put service and loyalty to the customer first

Myrtle Sporting Goods owner Moon Kim, left, stands with manager Tom Deja in front of a section of the store’s extensive soccer cleat section, one of its best sellers. The Myrtle Avenue store also features a wide range of fitted hats and jerseys.

by Christopher Barca

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

W

Reporter

ith just under two weeks before Christmas, the masses are rushing to buy those last-second gifts.

But with grand Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales only available for a short time, some struggle to find great gifts at great prices.

Instead, many a shopper relegates himself to becoming just one frantic consumer in a sea of souls wandering the aisles of a large-scale department store looking for a good deal.

For residents of Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood and Maspeth, vibrant streets like Myrtle Avenue offer a tremendous wealth of small businesses that can be a reprieve from the season’s shopping mall monotony.

These independently owned shops can provide a great deal of fantastic gift ideas, and with the NFL playoffs fast approaching and the NHL and NBA seasons getting fully underway, sporting goods are always in demand around the holidays.

Myrtle Sporting Goods at 57-16 Myrtle Ave. is a prime destination for spor ts enthusiasts looking for a new jersey or the latest in athletic footwear, the latter of which Myrtle Sporting Goods offers a wide range of.

The economic recession of 2008 severely impacted small businesses nationwide, and the Ridgewood sports store is still recovering from the downturn in business.

But manager Tom Deja believes that, while the holiday shopping season is slower than normal, the store hasn’t remained a community staple for 21 years by accident.

“We have the biggest selection of fitted hats this side of Knickerbocker Avenue,” Deja said. “It’s been a slow year overall. The economy is still in the toilet but what’s

keeping us alive is our very dedicated soccer section. We have a whole slew of styles and we’re constantly getting new stuff too.”

Nearly half of Myrtle Sporting Goods’ entire back wall features dozens of top-shelf soccer cleats, and other assorted gear, which Deja claims is a hit with the many soccer fans in the area.

Aside from the soccer equipment, Deja says that the store has been moving a sizable amount of Yankees hats, as customers come just for their large selection of caps.

However, the most important aspect of the store to Deja, more than the rare Roberto Clemente jerseys or the fashionable Brooklyn Nets winter hats, is the connection it has with its customers, especially those who have shopped there for decades.

“People have come here with their kids and they say they remember when they were here as children too,” he said. “It’s tough in a major market like New York with all of the big chain stores. We have to provide what they can’t and that’s personality. We love providing trust and loyalty to people that come here.”

For shoppers looking to purchase a new suit or tie for their fashionable husband, father or son from a store with all of the same qualities of trust and loyalty, Domino Men’s Shop just down the block at 58-25 Myrtle Ave. can provide just that.

With over 100 years of experience of offering a wide range of male attire combined among the employees, store manager Manny Nicolosi believes that it’s the loyalty to their customers combined with that experience that draws people back.

“Grandfathers, fathers and sons all shop here,” Nicolosi said. “Here, we are familyoriented and we have a personal touch.”

Much like Myrtle Sporting Goods, Domino

Domino Men’s Shop owner Manny Nicolosi and manager Gina Gurujan, combined with their other employees, have over 100 years of experience at the store. Nicolosi says customers come from PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER BARCA all over the country because of the store’s personal touch.

Men’s Shop has seen a decline in business this year because of the still-struggling economy.

To attract customers during the holiday season, Nicolosi says that they have several suits on sale and that they are selling quite well.

“We also do alterations right away,” added manager Gina Gurujan.

“I encourage people to shop here locally because we live locally,” Nicolosi said.

“Everything is of good, quality craftsmanship too.”

When it comes to craftsmanship, do-ityourself gifts have become popular as of late. Art Cove, an arts and crafts store at 60-09 Myrtle Ave. can be of help to those who would rather make a gift than simply buy one.

The 43-year-old business has sold well despite the economic conditions, something general manager Josh Simone says is a result of pride and a dedication to the generations of customers who have come through the doors.

“We take pride in our business,” Simone said. “We get people here with their kids and they say that they came here as kids as well.”

A relatively small store in terms of floor space, Art Cove nonetheless offers more than 10,000 items as the tall shelves extending over 10 feet high are packed from top to bottom with various arts and crafts items.

“We use our space well,” Simone said.

“We make full use of it.”

Simone says that part of the reason Art Cove has been able to withstand a slow economy with little impact on sales this Christmas is because of its successful website, and also because of its care for the community.

“If you’re looking for a wide selection of products for your arts and crafts needs and fantastic customer service,” he said, “this is your place.”

For those who want to impress their mother, wife or daughter with a fashionable bag or a new addition to her wardrobe, Moda Boutique at 60-25 Myrtle Ave. has a wide selection for sale.

Longtime owner Ayse, who did not provide her last name, borrowed money from a friend to start her business 21 years ago and now owns the building in which the store resides.

She says that, as it has with other area businesses, the fluctuating economy and increasing rents have made it harder to survive, but she has remained in business for a reason.

“People know us around here,” Ayse said.

“We have good, quality items for sale.”

As the rain poured outside, Ayse groused at the lack of customers on the dreary Friday morning.

She did, however, reiterate the cost-cutting deals that holiday shoppers would receive when purchasing items ranging from blouses and jeans to jackets and handbags.

“We’re having a sale where everything is 15 percent off,” she said. “It will be like that until New Year’s Day.” Much like other area small businesses, the familiarity factor reigns supreme inside Moda Boutique.

People who have lived in the neighborhood for years know of the best deals around as well as the best owners with the personalities that make customers feel like family.

“I survived 21 years here, I’m happy with that,” Ayse said. “We always try to help customers. I’m an honest person and that’s why Q people keep coming back.”

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 6

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

The best gifts are only a few steps away Neighborhood stores have the presents, food and swag you need

by Domenick Rafter

H

Editor

ad enough of driving to the malls or searching the internet for the best gifts this holiday season? Then take a few minutes, maybe on your way home from work, to shop at your local commercial district this holiday season?

For over a century, Jamaica Avenue has attracted shoppers from Wood haven a nd su r rou nd i ng neighborhoods.

From the Brooklyn border all the way to Lefferts Boulevard, stores answering nearly every need line the street under the J subway elevated tracks.

From Dexter Cour t on the Brooklyn border to 100th Street, the strip is overseen by the Woodhaven Business Improvement District, which heavily promotes its shopping choices along what Woodhaven BID Executive Director Maria Thomson calls the “Everything Avenue.” Along the stretch, holiday lights hang from the overhead trestle and Christmas music blares from speakers on lampposts.

Sports Lane at 85-15 Jamaica Ave. is a popular spot for those looking for athletic items including sneakers and sports gear.

Schmidt’s Candy store at 94-15 Jamaica Ave. has been a neighborhood fixture for nearly 90 years.

Today Margie Schmidt continues the tradition of making hand-crafted, hand-dipped chocolates her grandfather started when he opened the shop in 1925.

Christmas is a popular holiday for Schmidt’s, which offers a wide selection of holiday-inspired treats from ribbon candy to chocolate

Santas. Christmas trays, featuring cookies and candies, are a great gift to bring to your holiday gathering.

As the holiday approaches, Schmidt retreats to the basement of her shop to make the sweet favorites for her customers.

“We’re here for another two weeks making all the goodies,” she said as she worked Monday afternoon. “Just drop in and get some delicious treats.”

More information on the candy shop and how to place an order can be found at schmidtscandy.com.

Apparel stores such as Mary’s Fashion Boutique at 79-10 Jamaica Ave., Baby Blue Ladies at 91-17 Jamaica Ave. and Margarita’s at 95-07 Jamaica Ave. offer a variety of clothing for girls and women to keep them stylish in 2014.

Jo-Vin, a window treatment shop, at 94-23 Jamaica Ave., boasts “a designer touch at affordable prices,” and is having a pre-holiday sale for those looking to get an interior makeover for the new year.

Down Jamaica Avenue into Richmond Hill and one block north at 117-09 Hillside Ave., the Richmond Hill Flea Market offers the shopping experience South Queens once had in Aqueduct Race Track’s northern parking lot.

Located in the former RKO theater, the bazaar is the largest indoor f lea market in the borough and offers everything from jewelry to clothing to toys at the prices that keep people coming to flea markets.

The market is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on what it has to offer, call (347) 709-7661 or visit richmondhillfleamarket.com

Jamaica Avenue — especially between 100th Street and Dexter Court in Woodhaven — is one of the most popular shopping strips in Queens to find holiday gifts and boasts a wide variety of stores from sporting goods to clothing to candy.

PHOTOS BY DOMENICK RAFTER

G&R Audio Electronics is a longtime staple on Liberty Avenue.

The shop at 114-04 Liberty Ave. has been in business since 1977. Besides televisions and cameras, it carries a wide array of electronics, such as DJ equipment and home appliances from top brands.

It’s common for pet lovers to stuff a furry friend’s stocking with bones or other types of treats. Animal Pantry at 137-20 Cross Bay Blvd. in Ozone Park offers a wide selection of gifts for the canine, feline or fish in your life.

Puppy Paws at 94-33 Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park offers customers the traditional “puppy in the window” shopping experience, as well as a number of gift items for that special canine, including dog grooming.

South Queens doesn’t only boast places to shop for gifts under the tree, but is also home to one popular place for items to put on the tree.

Frances Bannon lost all of her Christmas decorations when Hurricane Sandy flooded her Rockaway home last year. Because of the damage to her house, no decorations went up last Christmas and she spent it with family in Pennsylvania while her home was undergoing mold remediation and her floors were being ripped up.

“We didn’t have a place to put A dizzying array of lights shine on artificial trees for sale in House of Holiday at 90-02 Atlantic Ave. in the Pathmark Shopping Center in Ozone Park, up a tree if we wanted to,” she said where people from as far away as New Jersey and Connecticut come to get standing on a long line waiting to pay for new decorations. their holiday decorations.

Now her home is “99 percent rebuilt” and she is hosting her family for Christmas in her new dining room. That requires decorations, and when the time came to buy new ones, she didn’t go to a big box store on Long Island or in Brooklyn, she paid a visit to House of Holiday, a two-story Christmas decoration bazaar at 90-02 Atlantic Ave. in Ozone Park across the parking lot from Pathmark.

Inside is everything from the standard light sets and window decorations to a large selection of artificial trees lined up to turn one of the many rooms into a plastic forest. There are train sets for under the tree, pieces for the Christmas village — right down to miniature raccoons on garbage pails — and even personalized Christmas ornaments, which Bannon was purchasing this weekend.

“We want to remember our first post-Sandy Christmas” she said, noting that her daughter-in-law is expecting her first child in a few months. “It’s the start of a new future.”

House of Holiday doesn’t only cater to the local crowd. Customers from as far away as New Jersey and Connecticut trek to Ozone Park to buy Christmas decorations there.

The store opens around Thanksgiving and stays open until New Year’s. After Christmas, many of the leftover items get marked down and residents come to buy cheap

decorations to save for the next year.

Bannon said some of her neighbors did just that last year.

“I know people who lost their decorations in the storm, but came by and picked up a few lights after Christmas because they were on sale,” she explained. “I just didn’t have the time for that.”

Bring the kids to meet Santa Claus, who will be at House of Holiday Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 3 p.m. and again from 5 to 8 p.m.

While not technically a “gift,” the Christmas feast is one of the most important aspects of the holiday.

For Italian-A mer icans, the Christmas Eve dinner of seven fishes is a tradition that still holds in many households.

Adrian and Rocky’s Caterers at 132-08 Cross Bay Blvd. has a full Christmas Eve menu out that includes a “Seafood Delight,” featuring mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari and scungilli, and “Fried Fish Royale,” featuring fried filet, fried shrimp, fried calamari and fried scallops.

Both dinners serve eight to 10 people for $259 plus tax. The menu features other seafood items including smelts, fra diavolo and lobster tails.

For those who don’t practice the seafood tradition, Adrian and Rocky’s offers pasta dinners and meat dishes including chicken Q and steak.

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

Stop in at any Queens Library for more information, phone 718-990-0700 or go to www.queenslibrary.org.

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 8

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

Crunch time for Chronicle toy drive

New, unwrapped presents sought for children living in Queens shelters

by Liz Rhoades

Justin, 14, likes to read and asks for a gift card from Barnes and Noble. “I would also like to take my family to dinner so some gift cards from Burger King or McDonald’s will be OK,” he wrote.

Bella, 3, asks for a Play-Doh cupcake maker playset, Dora the Explorer house toy and a fluffy stuffed animal, preferably a unicorn or pony.

Baby Levi’s mom requests a big bag of candy and a football — “and send my mommy a real man,” she writes.

Eileen, 6, asks Santa for a Lego friends set, a cash register and a Barbie car.

Arnold is seeking lots of DVDs including “Jake and the Neverland Pirates,” SpiderMan and X-Men cartoons and Marvel action figure sets.

Natalie would like a Barbie doll and a coloring set.

Nelson would like a toy airplane, Play-aSound board books and Disney DVDs including “The Lion King,” “Peter Pan,” “Cars” and “Toy Story” 1, 2 or 3.

The mother of Sandy, who is 10 months old, would like a Barbie doll, and Elmo doll and Baby Play Time set for her daughter.

Managing Editor

T

here’s still time for you to participate in the Queens Chronicle’s 19th annual Holiday Toy Drive, now underway. But time is running out and the need is great.

We are collecting new toys for children at the Kings Inn in East Elmhurst and the Metro Family Residence in Elmhurst, both city homeless shelters, and Dove House, a refuge for domestic violence victims and their children in Eastern Queens. There are more than 400 children living temporarily at the three facilities.

So far, toys collected barely scratch the surface of what we need. The drive continues to Dec. 20, a little more than a week away. The sooner we get your gifts, the sooner they can go to the shelters.

This week, we have some letters to Santa from youngsters staying at the Kings Inn. There are 250 children living there, mostly infants, toddlers and teenagers. Here are a few samples: Jerry’s mom writes for her toddler son that he needs floor mats for crawling, baby books and “to get me and my mommy out of the shelter.”

Alana would like the book “Evangeline Mudd and the Great Mink Escapade” by David Elliott, Junior Monopoly and a Strawberry Shortcake coloring/activity book.

Danny is asking for Legos, a jigsaw puzzle and a car, while David wants a big toy car or truck and some books.

We’ve also heard from Dove House residents. Denise, 4, likes to play with dolls, puzzles, Dora the Explorer and any thing computerized.

Lee, 4, would like action figures, especially Spider-Man, and cars.

We’ve also received letters from the Metro Family Residence. Here are some examples: “This Christmas is rough. I would like a doll with hair and a teddy bear,” writes Toni.

Brian would like a Nerf gun and a Nerf watch. “I hope you have a great day,” he wrote to Santa.

Candie asks for a big teddy bear and a blue roller book bag, while Nancy, 3, writes for herself and her 2-year-old sister, Heather. They would like dolls, toy cars and teddy bears.

And don’t forget the many teens who live in these shelters. Popular gifts for them include makeup, cologne and perfume, scarf sets, jewelry, basketballs and T-shirts.

Unwrapped items may be dropped off Monday through Friday until Dec. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Chronicle office,

62-33 Woodhaven Blvd., in Rego Park, about a quarter mile south of the Long Island Expressway, exit 19, on the east side of the street.

After business hours, presents may be left at Barosa restaurant, next door to the Chronicle at 62-29 Woodhaven Blvd., or Barosa Brick Oven Pizza at 62-37.

Please leave your name and where you live with any gifts brought after hours so we may thank you later.

In addition, Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside) will donate a portion of the toys in his drive to the Chronicle’s. His office is located at 213-33 39 Ave., Suite 238 in Bayside. The deadline for his drive is Dec. 18.

Thanks to the following Chronicle readers who dropped off gifts over the last week: Ellen McRae of Queens Village, Pat Zatkowski of Howard Beach, Vicent Ciccia of Flushing, Kathleen Pearsall of Howard Beach, Joan DeChiricoGampat of Flushing, Ellen and Leon Bruno of Middle Village, James Lindener of Howard Beach, Myrna Colon of Middle Village, Joanne Giseppi of Woodhaven, Donna Conett of Kew Gardens, Marie Pasini of Middle Village and the Howard Beach Kiwanis Club, which donated an assortment of footballs, soccer balls and more with the help of Eddie O’Brien, store manager of the Sports Authority in Glendale.

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Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 10

C M Hol Sec page 10 Y K

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

Holiday season flourishes in Southeast Stocking stuffers to big-ticket items, all to go under the tree this Christmas

by Michael Gannon Editor

T

he look and feel of the holidays always seems to come to Southeast Queens right on cue at the start of December.

Decades ago the Christmas rush meant places like Mays and Gertz department stores with floor after floor of holiday bargains.

Nowadays the trend has switched from giant retail to smaller merchants, with “Urban Fashion” stores and vendors leading the charge.

But shoppers already laden with bags and boxes still stop to do window shopping at Jamaica Avenue storefronts adorned with tinsel, garland, lights and the ever-present “Holiday Sale” signs.

What throughout the region in November were simply nondescript stretches of sidewalk or small empty lots still seem to blossom overnight with fragrant Scotch pines and Douglas fir Christmas trees that soon will be decorated as festively as the windows in the region’s major shopping corridors.

At a major national appliance retailer in Queens Village, large red ribbons and bows adorned washers, dryers and dishwashers for big spenders looking to spruce up their kitchens.

And seemingly every shoe or leather goods store from Rosedale to Richmond Hill appears to be running sales on women’s boots.

Along Jamaica Avenue, rain is the only thing that can keep bargain hunters from pouring over the bins and racks out on the sidewalks with clothes, toys or just about anything else that will fit in a stocking or under a tree.

But in Southeast Queens, an entrepreneur doesn’t have to be a major chain to invite long time customers to share the Yuletide spirit.

Itram Ramchand, store manager, and Sam Schwartz, owner of Variety Drugs and Surgical Supply in Jamaica, with some of the toys that Santa may be putting under trees and in stockings on PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GANNON Christmas Eve. Variety Drugs opened up in the Rochdale Center shopping mall in 1988, and its window, too, is decorated as well as stocked with Christmas fare available inside.

“We have everything — toys, gifts, candy, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper and decorations,” store manager Itram Ramchand said.

Half of one aisle of the pharmacy owner has been set aside for holiday shoppers.

Owner Sam Schwartz said the care put into their holiday inventory and displays are as much a labor of love as good business.

Bargain hunters enjoy the spirit of the holidays in the atmosphere of a summer street fair in Jamaica, looking for good sales or that perfect gift.

Spending the holidays with family, if you will, is something Schwartz said has taken many forms over the years.

“We serve the community,” he said. “For 25 years we’ve given an award to the valedictorian at PS 80. We donate to churches that ask us for help. And we hire the children of the community.”

He recalled one young woman who made a large impression when she was just a little girl.

“I met her when she was 9 years old and she was in one of the aisles straightening the items on display,” he recalled with a smile. “When she was 14, she got a job here. Now she’s a veterinarian.”

Other former workers have gone on to careers in law and other professions.

And in the event Santa places a pet under the tree in some homes, Schwartz’s store sells medications for animals as well as people.

“That’s rare for a pharmacy these days,” he said.

“We’ve always tried to be part of the neighborhood — the community drug store you had in the 1950s,” Schwartz said. “Our customers are family.”

In a related matter, the Jamaica Center Business Improvement District is attempting to let drivers keep more money in their pockets for shopping, with a sale of its own on holiday parking rates in the downtown area.

According to the BID website, the fee for parking will be $2 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and will be $5 for up to five hours on Sundays until Jan. 2.

The five lots included are located at 90-15 Parsons Blvd. between Jamaica and 90th avenues; 89-35 162 Street between Jamaica and 89th avenues; 90-32 165 Street between Jamaica and Archer avenues; 90-01 168 Street between 90th and 91st avenues; and 90-02 168 Street between Jamaica and 90th avenues.

The website also is promoting a Holidays on the Avenues program at 6 p.m. sharp on Saturday, Dec. 14, complete with a community tree lighting at Rufus King Park.

The event is sponsored by Centro Hispanic Cuzcatlan and Cultural Collaborative Jamaica.

Rufus King Park is located behind the King Manor Museum on the north side of Jamaica Avenue between 150th and 153rd streets.

Grace Episcopal Church at 155-24 90 Ave. also will join in the festivities, hosting an event with games, prizes and Christmas carols.

Children must be present to receive a gift, and organizers are asking that children ages 1 through 10 be registered by calling either Centro Hispanico Cuzcatlan at (718) 298-5083 or Cultural Collaborative Q Jamaica at (718) 526-8700.

The sign of the times on Jamaica Avenue this holiday season.

C M Hol Sec page 11 Y K Page 11 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 12

C M Hol Sec page 12 Y K

H oliday Shopping & Dining Guide

Versatility is key on Bell Boulevard Shoppers in Bayside find the variety of goods they need

by Mark Lord Chronicle Contributor

W

hen the pages remaining on December’s calendar star t to wane and the pressure to find the perfect holiday gift begins to mount, a walk among the many diversified shops in Bayside could provide some surprising solutions. Here’s what’s offered at just a few of the stores that keep the area lively.

Karma, a tidy little boutique located at 38-27 Bell Blvd., takes its name from “the essence of life itself,” as owner Margaret Papacostas puts it, who says she is a strong believer in karma.

For 10 years, the shop had been known as Azure, but after a thorough renovation, it was rechristened as Karma on Feb. 1, she said.

The new design, according to Papacostas, was intended “to make a woman feel like she’s shopping in her own closet.

“I’ve worked hard to build trust in the community,” she explained, particularly to create a “stress-free environment” for her customers.

The one-stop shop for women, as its owner describes it, carries everything from evening to work attire. Most popular right now are the bandage dresses, she said, referring to a style still big with celebrities. “Women want to be like them,” she said.

Working much like a girdle, the dresses “make their bodies look absolutely amazing,” Papacostas said.

Regular prices for the dresses run from $99 to $180. But for the holiday season, shoppers are offered considerable discounts on their purchases: $10 off for $50 or more; $15 off for $100 or more; $20 off for $150 or more.

Nina Cassius of Turn the Page ...

Again!, a used book store.

Margaret Papacostas at Karma, a clothing boutique on Bell Boulevard, offers one-stop shopping for women along PHOTO BY MARK LORD with tips for happiness.

According to Papacostas, the store sells every accessory imaginable, including a full line of Laura Bling, which now comes with a 20 percent discount. Also available at 20 percent off are Michele Lovetri designer handbags.

An array of work attire and holiday dresses is featured, as are denim jeans, and “we’ve incorporated shoes into the store to complete the look,” Papacostas said.

Since reopening, business has been “very good,” she said. “The community has responded very well.”

On a recent visit, return customer Teresa Campanelli of Bayside said the store is “always good for the last minute to run to in an emergency,” a situation she faced the day before leaving on vacation.

Campanelli found something to her liking, a chic red dress, but needed a smaller size than was available. Papacostas promised to order it and give Campanelli a call later that afternoon, or the next morning at the latest, once it had arrived.

Signs around the store offer tidbits of advice such as “Teach others,” “Try new things,” “Love what you do” and “Live without limits.” “ Eve r y t h i n g h a s p o s it ive thoughts in here,” Papacostas said.

Karma is open Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Call (718) 428-1114.

Nearby is a well-stocked holein-the-wall called Turn the Page ...

Again!, a book shop run by Transitional Services for New York, a comprehensive, community-based mental health agency that provides a continuum of rehabilitative services to enrich the lives of people with mental illness. TSINY also facilitates their t ransition to increased levels of independence.

In addition to three professional staff members, 14 individuals are gaining valuable work experience in the store, working two or three days a week for up to 10 hours total per week. The work program generally runs for nine months.

Going on three years at 39-15a Bell Blvd., the store offers a wide va r iet y of used books, f rom romance novels (on sale this month at two for $3) and mysteries ($1 a pop) to classics, Jewish studies and black studies (also $1 each).

There are even small sections of free and 50-cent books, and no book costs more than $5 in the entire store.

All books are donated by the Queens Library and people in the community.

“Any books you could possibly need we usually have,” said Assistant Manager Nina Cassius.

Among the more popular writers represented are James Patterson, Danielle Steele and Stephen King. Frequently requested titles include volumes in the “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” series.

Cassius said the store is popular among teenagers and young readers, who have their own sitting area at the rear. Many students come in, she said, to stock up on their summer reading lists.

“A lot of people come before going to the big chain stores,” she said.

The store maintains a “wish list,” according to Cassius. “If the book comes in we will put it on hold.”

Frequent buyer cards, which get punched every time a purchase is made, offer one free book after 20 punches for adults and 10 for children.

All purchases must be made in cash.

Turn the Page ... Again! is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (718) 767-2341.

A shop with a much longer history is Bayside Florist, located at 39-19 Bell Blvd. The store has been owned for the past 17 years

by Gregory Amentas, who said it has been around more than twice that long.

Amentas admitted that business is “not as great as it was,” citing “overwhelming expenses. Everything keeps going up and you can’t raise the price on customers.”

The good news is that business has picked up a bit, though Amentas said, “People are cautious with their money.”

Among the special attractions for this time of year are poinsettias, orchids and wreaths.

“We try to give customers as much as we can for the value,” Amentas said.

In addition to stocking a large selection of exotic f lowers, the store caters to personalized wedd i ngs, of fer s exper t f u ner al designs, and sells fruit and gourmet baskets.

The store, which employs three workers, delivers worldwide, with same-day service across Queens and Nassau if an order is placed before 3 p.m., the owner said. With pu rchases of f ive cut f lower bunches, the sixth is free (cash and carry only). Major credit cards are accepted.

Bayside Florist is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (718) 423-0900 or 800Q 362-5951).

Gregory Amentas of Bayside Florist says business has picked up of late.

C M Hol Sec page 13 Y K Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 14

C M Hol Sec page 14 Y K

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

Flushing can’t be beat for holiday gifts There’s something for everyone amid the hustle and bustle

by Mark Lord

H

Chronicle Contributor

idden among the many fast-food restaurants, nail and hair salons and corner pharmacies that dot much of downtown Flushing, holiday shoppers can find a variety of gift ideas that come with wide-ranging price tags.

For seven years, New York Deluxe Fucha Jewelry, located at 135-33 Roosevelt Ave., has been selling rubies, diamonds, sapphires and other precious stones to customers with pockets of a certain depth. The store also carries items to fit every budget.

According to manager Leslay Yang, 14k gold earrings start at $30 a pair. The higherend merchandise includes bracelets that go for $2,000 each.

For the holiday season, many items are on sale for 50 percent off.

Last week, Rosie Bernal, a Philippine native who has been living in Flushing for the past 20 years, stopped in, looking for earrings as a Christmas gift for her sister.

“I’m looking for rubies,” Bernal said.

“She already has a ruby ring.”

Bernal admitted, though, that this year she will be spending less on gifts than she has in the past. “My daughter got married in October and I spent a lot of money” on the wedding, she explained.

But, she added, “My sister does a lot for me,” so she hoped to find something with which to express her gratitude.

According to Yang, diamonds remain the most popular of the gems, though “business this year is very slow. Last year it was better. Everyone says, ‘No money.’ This year, everyone likes something smaller, cheaper.”

Store hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Call (917) 566-8708.

Also catering to those who prefer the

Anne, owner of Lai Lai Shoe Store, says winter leggings are selling well. finer things in life is Evergreen Shiseido, located at 159-19 Northern Blvd.

“We carry basic skincare products and makeup,” said owner Michelle Cho. “We care for our customers as VIPs.” The store also offers special party and wedding makeup assistance.

In time for the holiday season, the shop is offering specials on gift sets as well as a free gift with any purchase.

The holiday collection of Shiseido products includes special prices on most items, including the Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Cream Collection, valued at

Leslay Yang, manager at New York Deluxe Fucha Jewelry on Roosevelt Avenue, says diamonds are the most popular gems sought by customers.

PHOTOS BY MARK LORD

$345, for $260; the White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum+ Collection ($170 for a $232 value); and the Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Duo Collection ($100 for a $151 value). Prices remain in effect through the end of the year.

“We’re doing very well,” Cho said.

Store hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call (718) 888-9712.

Fox’s Gift Shop II, located at 159-02 Northern Blvd., offers what it describes as “unique gifts for every budget.”

Owner Barbara Abruzzo said the most popular holiday gift items include nativity sets, silk flower arrangements, glassware, holiday dinnerware and wine and coffee sets.

Special discounts are being offered on many gift items. Free holiday wrapping is available.

The store also specializes in favors for all occasions.

Store hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (718) 939-5307 or (718) 463-9674.

Lai Lai Shoe Store, located inside the jam-packed Ameri East mini-mall at 40-10 Main St., caters primarily to Chinese, Korean, Indian and Hispanic customers, according to owner Anne.

“A lot of customers like special warm leggings for winter,” she said. They sell for around $20.

“Only Chinese people make them,” she explained. “The department stores don’t sell them.”

Anne said customers come from as far away as New Jersey just to purchase them.

For Christmas, the store offers up to

20 percent off on scarves, hats and boots.

“During Thanksgiving week, business was okay. This week is slow,” Anne said.

“People don’t make money and they don’t come shopping. I hope business becomes better so I can make money. I want to make extra this month so I can pay the rent after this month.”

About a dozen booths in the mall offer a variety of goods and services, ranging from ladies garments to travel arrangements.

For information on store hours, call Lai Lai at (917) 608-6818 or (917) 667-8681.

Downtown Flushing really has it all, especially on Main Street and adjacent blocks.

There are dozens of specialty boutiques and shops downtown catering to women’s fashions. A longtime popular one is Joyce Leslie at 37-28 Main St. It features the latest designs as well as shoes and accessories.

And for a variety of clothing and gifts, all in one place, you can’t beat Macy’s at 136-50 Roosevelt Ave. For sporting goods, try Modell’s at 39-12 Main St. Its equipment and sneakers are also fairly priced as they are at Jj Sneaker Corner at 37-12 Main St. For children, don’t overlook the Magic Castle at 136-82 39 Ave. It has something for everyone, from stickers and Hello Kitty items to small toys and hair clips.

At Ten Ren’s Tea and Ginseng, 135-18 Roosevelt Ave., one can purchase loose or packaged tea from around the world as well as relax with a freshly made iced bubble tea.

Some say it’s the best in Flushing.

Cakes and cookies make great holiday gifts and there are plenty of good bakeries in Flushing. Two favorites are Tai Pan at 37-25 Main St. and Yeh’s at 57-25 Main St. Q

Michelle Cho owns Evergreen Shiseido and says business is good.

C M Hol Sec page 15 Y K

Western Queens has it all for the holidays Stores provide good experiences and high-quality products

by Tess McRae

W

Associate Editor

known for its delectable eateries, but the neighborhood is also PHOTO BY TESS MCRAE

Long Island City location at 10-50 Jackson Ave. in December.

On Dec. 14, Santa will be at the Sunnyside store where a professional photographer will be available for optional photos.

Though business has been tough, shop owners are promising that patrons will not be disappointed if they shop locally this holiday season.

“It’s all about providing a good experience for the customers and making sure they enjoy the time they spend with us,” Tangen said.

The gift wrapping, special late-night events and unique gift items are what puts Matted LIC, Tiny You, LIC: living, Lockwood and the dozens of other small businesses in Western Queens over the top.

So before you clip out some coupons for whatever Best Buy’s deals are, pop into some of your neighborhood stores because their merchandise and the experience they provide may be better than anything you’ve ever gotten at the bigger Q chain stores.

Jackson Avenue, above, and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island PHOTO BY TESS MCRAE City have an array of shops.

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

hile the holidays are all about being thankful and giving back, the shopping can be stressful. Standing in lines, clipping coupons and fighting over the last flat-screen TV is not something most people enjoy.

However, Western Queens is home to some of the finest shopping, dining, and arts in the city, and with the holidays just around the corner, there is sure to be something for everyone on your Christmas list.

While big box stores such as Target, Best Buy and department stores like Macy’s and JCPenney get all of the attention for their big deals and major savings, small momand-pop shops in Sunnyside, Astoria, Long Island City and more offer an experience you cannot get at a major chain.

“I’m never going to have the same thing as Target,” said Mackenzi Farquer, owner of Lockwood in Astoria. “I don’t do Black Friday or anything like that. You can come to me for a beautiful handmade scarf and I can tell you specifically why I bought this product. We go above and beyond to make shopping here a warm and inviting experience.”

Lockwood, a gift and lifestyle store, is located at 32-15 33 St. in Astoria and provides everything from housewares to stylish clothing and handbags to modern furniture, greeting cards, art pieces and books.

Farquer is a long-time Astorian and interior decorator who is truly passionate about her neighborhood and the people who live in it. She is also the co-creator of the neighbor- The Sunnyside shopping district along Queens Boulevard is most hood blog We Heart Astoria. home to many small retailers.

“I plan everything to a T,” she said. “Even down to the “We pride ourselves on high-quality, well-curated prodincense scent I’m burning. Everything is set up to give my ucts,” Tangen said. “We pick the best of home and style customers the ultimate experience.”

Such attention to detail and willingness to please her cus- from vendors who do great work.”

Though the store opened just over a year ago, LIC: living tomers has made Lockwood a popular spot for shoppers of all ages. Farquer has even befriended a few of her frequent is having a more successful holiday season as they are more established. patrons.

They recently began selling locally made watches from a In addition to the usual merchandise, Farquer hosts the occasional trunk show where a local jewelry maker comes vendor who lives on the Upper East Side in Manhattan.

Nearby along Long Island City’s stopping strip at 46-36 in to showcase his or her work. She also hosts cocktail Vernon Blvd., Matted LIC can offer you nights when customers can mingle and the tools to give a creative and personal browse while sipping on free drinks. gift that your loved ones can cherish for Though businesses like Lockwood years to come. experience an uptick in customers durThe small yet cozy shop offers items ing the holiday season, small shops including bags, wallets, jewlery and have to rely on one another to increase other accessories, but is more known sales. for its framing work.

Recently, Small Business Saturday Along the wall there are sample slic— a day dedicated to small business es of well-finished wood frames of all shopping — gave stores the opportunity sizes and colors. for cross-promoting to ensure the word Though Matted has the usual plain was out there. black frames, it also offers intricate This cross-promotion has become frames with designs and carvings that vital in the Western Queens small busican add a touch of beauty to any paintness community. ing or photograph you wish to place “We love people to shop small and inside. support local businesses,” said Jillian The shop also has vintage New York Tangen, co-owner of LIC: living. “We City posters. love to stand by our fellow small busiTiny You, a children’s merchandise ness owners and help one another out.”

Tangen and fellow owner Rebekah Matted LIC framing shop. FACEBOOK PHOTO store located in Sunnyside and Long Island City, has original and beautiful Witzke curate every item they sell and rely mostly on New York Cit y vendors to supply products for your little ones.

“We really focus on unique products and one of a kind merchandise.

“Previously in Long Island City, there really wasn’t any- locally made items,” owner Jill Callan said. “I find a lot of where to shop, and we wanted to give them something beau- items from independent artists on Etsy.”

The store caters to infants and children all the way to 8 tiful where they can shop for any aspects of their life,” Tanyears of age. gen said.

This year, Tiny You will have the big man himself visit LIC: living, located at 53-05 51 Ave., sells many items both the Sunnyside location at 46-21 Skillman Ave. and the including children’s clothing, home decor and women’s clothing.

Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 16

C M Hol Sec page 16 Y K

Holiday Shopping & Dining Guide • 2013

And w e ha ve all these r easons to shop with us f or all the December Holida ys!

(And don ’ t f or g et bir thda ys anni ver saries , etc .!)