p035

BM052016

Marion Duckworth Smith, who is only the third owner in the house’s 360-yearold history. Marion moved into the house in 1983 along with her late husband, Michael Smith, and has been restoring it ever since. She positively beams when discussing her home’s illustrious past and the treasure trove of items she has on display for her tours. A guided tour of this incredible home, enriched by Marion’s fascinating tales, is a MUST for any Queens resident. Besides the inside of the home, the outdoor area boasts beautiful plants and flowers throughout the property (there’s even a secret garden in the back complete with a key on the wall), a gingerbread house, and a cemetery with 132 marked graves (don’t miss the entrance gate with the name “Riker” on it). Marion’s husband took her to see the cemetery on their second date, which might seem ghoulish to some, but to Marion it was love: “This house has been waiting for me. I’m going to bring it back to life and it’s going to bring me back to life. And it did. It’s been wonderful ... My childhood dream was to have an old house that I could fix up and I’ve never regretted it.” Marion’s ultimate goal is to live out her days in the house and then donate it, where it can be open to the public forever as a park and a museum. Marion’s personally led tours are $25/person and are scheduled for Saturdays on June 4, 11, 18 and 25. RSVP by emailing info@ rikerhome.com. Private tours can also be arranged. This taste of history reminds me of a time when you had to do everything yourself, so why not stop by Optimistic Crafts (37-02 Astoria Blvd., Astoria, www.optimisticcrafts. blogspot.com), a DIY craft studio? Their mission: to be a crafty oasis for sharing projects, project inspiration and how-to’s. Optimistic Crafts is the brainchild of Elisabeth Prescott, a woman who learned to crochet at the tender age of 5! The studio is open on Saturdays and by appointment on other days. Classes are available in knitting, crocheting, embroidery and sewing (all of which the very gifted Elisabeth can do), as well as private project consultations for a mere $15/hour. Crafters can bring in their own project to work on in the space on Saturdays for a suggested donation of $5 to $10/hour. The studio is also a mini shop, featuring carefully selected yarns, supplies and “crafty” gift items. My mom was a big knitter back in the day, so maybe Elisabeth can teach me to “knit one, purl two.” A Mother’s Day special: the entire month of May, $5 only for 2-hour beginner knitting, crocheting or embroidery classes for joint mother and daughter attendees (check Facebook for scheduled Saturdays and/ or email optimisticcrafts@gmail.com for appointments on evenings and Sundays). Growing up, the baby grand piano in my living room stood testament to the role music played in my family’s life. And we weren’t just music players; we were music LISTENERS. And back then, it was all about spinning vinyl records on what my mom still lovingly refers to as a “Victrola” (a turntable for you younger folks). And there is a perfect place in Astoria to buy vinyl: Hi-Fi Records (23-19 Steinway St., www.hifi-records.com). Owner Javi MAY 2016 I BOROMAG.COM I 35


BM052016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above