Columbus Day and more in the QNYC Evening Edition for Monday October 8, 2012
It’s Columbus Day today Columbus Day is more than just a federal holiday to some, it’s a celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture to many in NYC. Over the years, Queens (and all over NYC, really) has been home to a substantial Italian immigrant population, so the holiday gets a lot of attention in certain parts…
It’s Columbus Day today
Columbus Day is more than just a federal holiday to some, it’s a celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture to many in NYC. Over the years, Queens (and all over NYC, really) has been home to a substantial Italian immigrant population, so the holiday gets a lot of attention in certain parts of the borough (Astoria had a parade this past Saturday). As for how the holiday got started, here’s a little insight into its history:
The celebration of Columbus Day was an idea put forth by the Knights of Columbus, a religious fraternal organization founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney to support recently arrived working immigrants of Italian descent.The Knights provided access to insurance, granted financial assistance to widows with families, gave academic scholarships and strove to advance the citizen status of the Italian immigrant in American society. After all, it was an Italian who discovered the Americas, and it was for that reason that they made the proud connection to the explorer, naming their fraternity after him in an effort to show the broader American public the patriotic and community-based values of the Italian people.
New cocktails at Diwine in Astoria
Fooditka wrote about three new cocktails at Diwine, a wine bar in Astoria. They are the bourbon-based Rhubarb Redford, with citrus elements; the vodka-based Southern Pumpkin, that sounds like boozy pumpkin pie in liquid form; and the mezcal-based Escobar, with ginger-lemongrass flavors. During Diwine’s happy hour (Monday-Thursday from 5-8pm) they cost $6.
You can change the name of that subway sign when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers (or for the right price)
New Yorkers are passionate about the way their subway stations are called, and are resistant to proposed changes, even if it makes it more technically accurate. The station on the M/R line that sits at the corner of Grand Ave and Queens Blvd is still called “Grand Ave-Newtown” even though the “Newtown” is no longer truly applicable to that part of Queens, not to mention when you cross Queens Blvd, Grand Ave turns into Broadway. According to MTA spokesman Charles Seaton, “Anytime we have tried to change the name, community residents have objected. Keeping the original name of a station maintains a historic link that is important to a lot of folks.”
A documentary is being made about LIC’s history and evolution
The Long Island City community Facebook page announced that they are working with local folks to make a documentary film about LIC a reality:
Currently working with a local company called Ragnarok NYC. We are creating a documentary on the history and evolution of Long Island City. Our goal is to release it early next and hopefully most of you come to the screening of it!!
We look forward to seeing it when it is finished!
Burger love from Sunnyside/Woodside
This morning we asked in our Question of the Day, “where do you find a great burger?” We had some responses – people are loving the burger action in Sunnyside/Woodside!
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/stellaaa/status/255329717127880704″]
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/jp001/status/255333108243640320″]
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/saraunderthe7/status/255345092527804416″]
Thanks for this awesome shout-out. Love the burger love from the Twittersphere too! Great stuff 🙂