Long green peppers, Apna Bazaar, Jackson Heights.

Never was there a dreamier donut than this PB&J donut made by Montana at Queens Comfort.  It’s a cake donut with whole strawberries swirled into the actual batter, like little bites of preserves mixed in with the cake. And they put the donut hole back in before serving it! Only available on the weekends.  www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com

Finally made the very worthwhile trip to Ridgewood to taste this Pho Ga at Bun-ker Vietnamese.  The smoked shallot broth with Bo Bo chicken takes almost eight hours to prepare, and I would find it hard to believe there is a better ‘chicken noodle soup’ anywhere else around.  The banh mi (with 5 spice house smoked pate), banh xeo (crispy egg crepe with bacon and veggies), crab spring rolls, creamed taro leaves, tomato garlic fried rice… well, everything was beyond exceptional.  Even the artichoke iced tea. But this noodle soup I will dream about. www.bunkervietnamese.com

Jackson heights at dusk #QueensLove

Ate at this very cart today, at the 2nd Jackson Heights Momo Crawl. More Himalayan dumplings than you can shake a stick at in such a tiny area! The guy at this cart told us momos are better with yak meat, up in the mountains of Tibet…but what can you do?

I will never tire of admiring Manhattan from Gantry Plaza…

Why do I love Queens? Among the many reasons are our elevated trains. To emerge from the tunnels of Manhattan into a deluge of sunshine is the best Welcome Home greeting after a long day at work.

Hell yeah, Tibet

74th/Roosevelt

Have you seen Blood Brothers at the Astoria Performing Arts Center yet?  The musical had a record run on the West End and took the Olivier for best musical.  This production features creative new direction and staging of the dark musical about twins separated at birth, setting them on different life paths that would ultimately cross again.  Hilarious, poignant, and gripping, it tells the story of their life, love, and ultimately perilous fate.

Performances of Blood Brothers run May 2 – 18 at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent Street, Astoria).  Visit www.apacny.org to purchase $18 tickets or to contribute to the center, or call (888) 596-1027. 

The Knockdown Center in Maspeth, Queens, is like DIA:Beacon + Roberta’s + The Foundry + post-apocalyptic landscape. Gallery here on papermag.com. It’s a 3-acre complex that used to serve as a glass factory but now hosts events and happenings and projects.

Preview of Mamak House, the new halal Malaysian restaurant opening in Flushing. #QueensLove

For Cinco de Mayo, Queens Comfort is running some insanely delicious specials this weekend, like these pork tacos—filled with a blend of tangy, tender stewed and smoked pork shoulder, then drizzled with creamy ranchero and salsa verde with a crunchy, cool nest of slaw.  Queens Comfort * 40-09 30th Ave, Astoria * (718) 728-2350 * queenscomfort.blogspot.com

Always something interesting here. It’s a handmade notebook - great stitching - found at butala emporium in the heart if Little India

By my count, that’s the 19th momo place opened in the neighborhood. That’s a lot of Momos for the 2nd Momo Crawl which takes place on Sunday May 19th. More info to come…

At the Grand Opening of
Friends Corner
74-17 Roosevelt ave, JH