C R Y D E R P O I N T 10NOVEMBER Fragrance buyers like the scent of Queens BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA Just a month after its debut, a new scent that pays homage to Queens has become a popular product for a New York City-based fragrance company. But the eau de parfum, Bond No. 9 Queens, is not available at local stores. Selling for $195 for 50 ml., $270 for 100 ml., $110 for body silk and $105 for a candle, the scent can be purchased online, at Bond No. 9 New York’s four Manhattan boutiques, Saks Fifth Avenue locations nationwide and select Nordstrom stores. Its lack of availability in its own borough is not deterring sales, however. Though exact sales figures are not currently available, the company hasn’t been “able to keep it in stock” following its Sept. 18 launch, according to Lisa Rediker, public relations coordinator for Bond No. 9. “It’s been flying off the shelves,” she said. A unisex fragrance, Bond No. 9 Queens is described as wearable by “kings and queens, the edgy, the flamboyant and the buttoned-up.” Its key ingredient is tuberose, an “explosive and succulent” scent, according to its description. To reflect the borough’s diversity, there are also “citrusy” bergamot, “come-hither” blackberry and “haunting” cardamom top notes, tempered by “velvety” champaca and “tea-like” osmanthus, with base notes of sandalwood, musk, amber and benzoin resin. The bottle features the Unisphere, etched in gold leaf, which the company chose because of its status as a Queens and World’s Fair icon. The other side features a “Q” and the whole bottle is a “royal purple.” Bond No. 9 Queens is not the first New York City-centric scent for the company. Started 11 years ago, Bond No. 9 was launched with the idea of honoring the city through its fragrances. It will even use client suggestions for which products to come out with next. Some of the company’s other scents are named for Central Park West, Little Italy, Brooklyn, Hudson Yards and Andy Warhol. 10 cryder point courier | NOVEMBER 2014 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM Photo courtesy of Bond No. 9 New York A new eau de parfum captures the scent of Queens. KEW GARDENS HILLS SYNAGOGUES FACE EXPANSION CHALLENGES BY LIAM LA GUERRE The large and expanding Jewish community in Kew Gardens Hills has fueled the need for synagogue expansions, according to religious leaders, but some projects hinge on special permits which aren’t always easy to obtain. In the latest batch of synagogues seeking variances, Community Board 8 will host a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, regarding a structural expansion of one place of worship and special operational permits for another. This comes after the board denied an application in June for expansion of a third synagogue, which is still hoping to get approval from the Board of Standards and Appeals. The congregation of Torath Haim Ohel Sara at 144-11 77th Ave. is hoping the community board approves changes to an extant variance to allow it to operate without the lawfully required amount of space in its front, side and rear yards. They are also requesting an extension of time to operate without a certificate of occupancy. But this property, which is also undergoing construction, has Buildings Department violations for ignoring a stop-work order, according to city records, and has accrued penalties totaling nearly $100,000. Calls for comment from the synagogue were not returned. A synagogue just a block away, in a two-story building at 147-02 76th Rd., will also come before the board, hoping to get approval to add a floor to make room for a school and an office for the rabbi. Isak Ambramov of Sharey Tefilah Synagogue initially applied for a brand-new three-story building in 2010 on the site and architectural firm Gerald Caliendo was slated to design it. However, the Buildings Department did not approve the plans, city records show. And there hasn’t been any movement on the expansion application of Sephardic Congregation at 141-41 72nd Ave. The community board denied its appeal for a variance to expand to three floors in June, after community residents strongly opposed it due to the potential increase of noise and garbage along with 15 existing Building Department violations. The application then went to Borough President Melinda Katz for a public hearing later in the month. Community Board 8 District Manager Marie Adam-Ovide told The Courier she has not yet heard from Borough Hall on that variance. The borough president’s “recommendation is still being worked on,” according to a spokesman from Katz’s office, who said it would not be coming out on Oct. 16, but did not have a definitive time frame beyond that point. The Board of Standards and Appeals has the final say on all the applications. The community board hearing will be held at Parsons Junior High School, 158-40 76th Rd., at 7:30 p.m.
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