04/25/13 1:30pm

$1,380,000
Park Ln, Douglaston
3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
Park Ln
Completely Gutted, Total Renovated Dutch Colonial In Water Community, Diamond Condition, Half Block To Seashore, 12 Min To Lirr, School. High End Material Throughout The House, Imported Hardwood Floors, Italian Ceramic Tiles, Updated Electric, Plumbing, Radiant Heat Floor, Keyless Open Technique, Cctv Security System.
See This Property »

 

$1,350,000
26-18 West Dr, Douglaston
5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
26-18 West Dr
Good Looking Ch Colonial,Nice Property, Needs Work
See This Property »

 

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There’s something special about a bicycle shop. From the attentive service and professional advice, a pro bike shop can outfit you with the custom bipedal ride of your dreams. Proper fitting and selection is always an issue, so you want the right bike for the job at the right size whether off-roading, touring, or just a joyride. But let’s face it: frequent use can lead to a lot of wear and tear, sometimes wheels get dented or pedals fall off. Rest assure, most large and small shops are full service offering a variety of assistance after the sale from tune-ups to parts replacement and repair whether for adults, kids, or professional cyclists.

It doesn’t matter if you’re cycling the entire Queens Green Belt or simply commuting to work, there’s a professional bicycle shop each with it’s own style, specialization, and deals so shop around. The weather outside is getting warmer and it’s time to ride. Visit one of these shops for a great experience:

  • Roberts Bicycles. For over forty years Roberts Bicycles of Bayside has been outfitting the community with hand-built models and a wide selection from BMX to mountain bikes to baby bikes and everything in between. Roberts Bicycles has something to suit the most consummate tastes including helmets and apparel. Trained technicians are on staff to answer your questions and guide you through the selection process.

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  • Peak Bikes. Offering free tune ups for life, Peak Bicycle Pro Shop of Douglaston focuses on the mountain bike crowd. Walk in and staff are eager to talk up bikes while the cycling community often gather here to organize rides in nearby Cunningham Park. Order a custom model, or restore your childhood cruiser.

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  • Spin City Cycle. Located in Forest Hills, Spin City Cycles encourages customers to come in for a test ride on all of their models. With cycling being such a popular activity in Queens, sometimes a repair shop can be backlogged, so for those eager to get back in the saddle minus the wait, Spin City promises to repair your bicycle in 48 hours or less.

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  • Bellitte Bicycles. You can’t go wrong shopping at the oldest bicycle store in the United States. Since 1918, Bellitte Bicycles of Jamaica has been family owned and operated offering 5,000 models to choose from. Service is a top priority at this huge shop but their low price guarantee is known to draw in customers for over 90 years.

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  • Tony’s Bicycles. Tony’s Bicycles of Astoria has an excellent track record in the cycling community. All of their mechanics are factory trained and certified by companies like Trek, GT, Cannondale, Giant, and many more. Founded in the 1970’s, this bicycle shop is known for their commitment to value and service.

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  • Bike Stop. While visiting Bike Stop you’ll find a wide selection from BMX to road bikes, even bicycles built for two. An eclectic staff offers expertise from different specialties all the while promising the only thing you’ll have to worry about is peddling. The site offers a comprehensive newbies guide to just about every subject ranging from parts and accessories to how to guides such as a buyer’s guide to rechargeable lighting systems.

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04/01/13 12:00pm

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Note: As the season progresses, we’ll update this guide. Please leave comments with new or updated information!

Forest Hills Greenmarket, South side of Queens Blvd at 70th Avenue  (GMAP) (Website)
Sundays from April 7, 2013  to December 29, 2013
8:00am – 3:00pm

 

Sunnyside Greenmarket, Skillman Ave btwn 42 & 43 Streets (GMAP) (Website)
Saturdays from June 1, 2013 to December 21, 2013
8:00am – 3:00pm

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03/22/13 3:00pm

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Image source: hermmermferm on Flickr

Queens has a lot going on in terms of sustainable construction, alternative energy, wildlife conservation, and other environmental initiatives. In fact, many of the finest tourist attractions – and special spots for locals – in the borough have a green streak. Here are our picks for the most environmentally sustainable attractions in Queens.

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1. In the upper reaches of Astoria, the Steinway & Sons piano factory (which gives awesome tours) has been using solar energy since 2009. In fact, the factory is home to the world’s largest parabolic solar installation – a setup that involves solar troughs that focus the sun’s energy to heat fluid, which in turn helps provide the cool, dehumidified air that is necessary for the manufacture of pianos. Other sustainable features of the factory include replanting trees to replenish its wood supply; and efficient closed-loop systems to collect dust and scraps for use in other parts of the manufacturing process. And above all, what makes Steinway instruments so sustainable is that they are built to last at least 80 to 100 years.

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03/06/13 11:00am

A while back we posted about the Mid Winter Nocturnal Hike at the Alley Pond Environmental Center – an event we thought was pretty rad. They posted photos of the hike to their Facebook page but we wanted to highlight some of our favorites. It was a hit for kids, too – here is a summary of the event:

Children gathered together at dusk for a mid winter nocturnal nature hike. Our evening hike began indoors with some fun sensory activities where the young nature enthusiasts learned how nocturnal animals use their senses to get around in the dark. Then we ventured off along the trails. We were greeted by the sound of a huge flock of Canada geese flying over the salt marsh. Along the trail we used flashlights to look for animal tracks and animal hiding places. Back at the nature center the children got to meet Chilly, our Chinchilla and Boots, our rabbit. We wrapped up the hike with some hot chocolate and owl s’mores that everyone really seemed to enjoy. Happy hiking everyone!

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Image source: elidr on Flickr

Last week we wrote about the basic concepts and types of yoga, and here in Part 2 we focus on where to find a yoga class to attend in Queens. This borough has all kinds of yoga venues, and this listing is designed to provide a sampling of studios with different personalities offering different kinds of yoga throughout Queens.

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02/18/13 9:00am

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Image Source: Alley Pond Environmental Center

The list of nocturnal animals is never-ending. Raccoons, foxes, possums, cats and mice are just some of the critters. Add to this list various owls and other little-known birds. On February 20, the Alley Pond Environmental Center will lead a walk through its paths and by its waterways so participants can see nature at night. Just in case there’s no action, APEC will host a live nocturnal animal demonstration on site with hot cocoa and food. An early evening walk for children ages 7 and up, is also offered. Pre-registration is required.

Mid Winter Nocturnal Hike
Alley Pond Environmental Center
228-06 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston
Wednesday, February 20
5pm – 6:30pm | $13/$7 for members

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Image source: raganmd on Flickr

Today in 2013, it’s rare to find anyone not familiar with at least the basic idea of yoga. The colorful mats, the sanskrit symbols, that pose, “downward facing dog.”  In an age where you can never be earning enough, losing weight fast enough, or doing a variety of other things perfectly enough, the message of practicing without ego, of being present in the moment, and of cultivating stillness is actually pretty profound, and it’s no wonder yoga has spread like wildfire. Whether you are preparing yourself for a visit to an ashram, need an hour of peace and quiet, or are just looking to get in shape, yoga offers pathways to all of these goals.

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Queens-Astor-Bake-Shop-Astoria-cupcakes-Halloween

Nothing is more fun than a good costume party and Halloween is the perfect occasion to get creative and let your hair down, blowing off work-related stress and enjoying the good spooky spirit of others. If you want to host a get-together and you’re not exactly a food stylist – you just want great, filling finger food, there are excellent resources right here in Queens to make your party a culinary hit. Queens is like no other borough with its unparalleled global marketplace – you can give your guests hearty, Fall fare that is somewhat unexpected but unquestionably delicious. (more…)