A few months ago, I found an Omakase hidden gem in Astoria called That Place. The restaurant has a cool speakeasy vibe, and the food is fantastic. You can choose a 14-course or 18-course dining experience. It is an amazing place for date night or a special occasion. Yelp has it listed as closed, but I’m hoping it is just for the Summer because I would love to eat there again.
Here are some photos of dinner.
Dad turned 82 this week, so we went to one of our favorite restaurants, London Lennie’s, on Woodhaven Blvd. in Queens.
Of course, we tried to spoil him rotten with multiple presents. Maxine and I also baked him a small cake.
We got Dad some shirts, funny socks and a napping blanket. I also got him some cute photo frames.
It was an amazing night. Cheers to Dad and many more birthdays to come!
My 4th was pretty low-key. I stayed local and spent time with the family.
We had Sonic hot dogs and enjoyed fireworks.
I enjoyed eating out during the weekend at Off The Hook in Astoria.
Summer is here, and I’m all for it! This year, I decided to turn my bucket list into a bingo game to motivate myself and keep me present. Most of the time, I get caught up with life, so I hope this will keep me focused throughout the summer and, most importantly, have fun with my family. I’ll report back on how I’m doing.
My friends and I have been exploring various restaurants in the city. Two weeks ago, we visited Restaurant Row and Jasmine’s Carribean Cuisine.
The restaurant had an amazing vibe, was filled with warm bright colors, and had yummy, flavor-filled food.
I was meat-free that night, as I was observing Lent, but all plates were empty by the end of it all, and my friends and I loved all the dishes.
I’m an only child, but my two cousins, Rosie and Lizzie, are the sisters I never had. We don’t get to hang out very often, but when we do, it’s always memorable.
In August, we took advantage of The Mermaid Inn’s happy hour menu. We had like five dozen oysters; it was ridiculous but oh so yummy.
In September, we visited the JACX&CO Food Hall in Long Island City and got amazing food from Sushi Nikko and Mexology.
We are looking to have at least three more outings this year!
I can’t believe summer has come and gone, and I can’t believe it is the last day of September.
Now that it is holiday season, I have a lot of baking in my future. It’s a good thing I’ve been incorporating some baking time with Maxine already.
In August, we made some yummy cupcakes.
We have yet to make them from scratch, but Maxine loves baking cookies. We made a few batches in September.
Putting it out to the universe this fall, I’m hoping to make an apple pie or tart, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and madeleines.
Summer wouldn’t be summer without a street fair happening somewhere. My family and I got to enjoy two in the past week.
Last week, I had a Mom’s night out and celebrated my good friend Louanna’s 42nd, I mean 24th😉, birthday at Watermark at Pier 15.
It’s an outdoor restaurant right by the water with a killer view.
I chose the messiest foods on the menu 🤣, but it was all yummy. I had corn, steak tacos, and a seafood platter with oysters and lobster.
The restaurant was a vibe, with a DJ and a lively crowd. The best part of the night was randomly catching a drone show celebrating Hip Hop. Second best, some drinks came in pouches!
I will say the only downside is the bathroom situation. There are no restrooms in the restaurant area; you have to leave and use public bathrooms with only a few stalls, or you can use the public porta potties.
Overall, a fun night and I would recommend it for a good time.
The family and I recently had lunch at Mad for Chicken in Astoria. It had a bar feel but was still family-friendly. We ordered the wings and drumsticks combo (soy garlic and honey bbq flavor), japchae, and fries. All yummy!
The Casual Explorer 