Curbside Christmas tree disposal and more in the QNYC Evening Edition for Wednesday December 26, 2012

Here’s how to handle disposing of your Christmas tree, eventually

While most of you with Christmas trees likely still have them up, you’ll have to take them down at one point. But what to do with it then? Good news: NYC has curbside pickup of Christmas trees and then there’s MulchFest (a different program), which invites folks to bring their trees to chipping sites, and that will take place on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, January 12 and 13, 2013, 10am-2pm. But back to curbside pickup – don’t wrap it in plastic, remove tinsel and ornaments, and take it off the tree stand. Then set it out at the curb for the “tree trucks” to take it and chip it at their facility. Mission accomplished.

Happy eating from @tastoriaqueens

Sue Yacka, aka @tastoriaqueens, has put together a recap of some of her favorite new and old Astoria food spots, and some reading recommendations (we’re glad you liked our story about commercial factories in Queens!). Happy to see Cafe Boulis and Leli’s Bakery, two great new spots in Astoria. Duzan also has some of most amazing hummus in the neighborhood. She highlights the epic post, Unsung Tacos of Astoria: Western Queens’ Overlooked Mexican Mecca over on We Heart Astoria, which was a serious labor of love for the participants and quite enlightening for those who love tacos in Western Queens.

New noodles and grilled meats coming to Ditmars as Honoo Grill & Noodle

Ditmars is getting another new restaurant (both The Thirsty Koala and Tufino have opened up in the past week), this time it’s grilled meats and noodles, aptly called Honoo Grill & Noodle. “Honoo” means “flame” in Japanese, and we are very curious about the grill part – will it be robata grill? Mongolian BBQ. If it’s Japanese-not-sushi, the locals will be happy (there is a lot of sushi in Astoria).

A whale – not Whalemina – washed up in the Rockaways this morning

According to The Huffington Post, a whale – possibly a humpback it’s a finback, according to the WSJ – washed up on the shores of Breezy Point this morning. The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation in Long Island came to assist. The whale seems emaciated and thin, and we hope the whale survives, though that seems to be a long shot at this point.

Queens pride, w00t!

This morning we asked what gets people’s Queens pride going, and we heard these answers:

@queensnycity, @singlecutbeer makes me proud.

— Mike Anz (@mikeanzz) December 26, 2012

@queensnycity > we have a bit of urban, suburbia, parks, waterfront and restaurants still owned by mom & pop! #❤Queens

— Laura Altimari (@Lann730) December 26, 2012

@queensnycity The Mets! No, seriously, the Mets.

— The Herald (@JHHerald) December 26, 2012