12news 'JEOPARDY!' JOURNEY BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA “Jeopardy!” is in Diane Levinson’s genes. The 44-year-old Astoria book publicist is one of several family members to compete on the popular TV quiz show. Her cousin, Brian, represented the borough on the program in 2008. He became a three-day champion, winning about $73,000. “That’s what made me say ‘if he can do it, I can do it,’” Levinson said. A periodic watcher of the Alex Trebek-hosted show since its premiere 30 years ago, Levinson, like many fans, has always enjoyed shouting out the right answers. “Working in book publishing is actually good preparation for being on the show because you learn a little bit about a lot of different topics,” said Levinson, who is a publicist with Princeton Architectural Press and Chronicle Books. But playing at home in front of the TV is a lot easier than competing live. “What you don’t realize is that all three of the contestants know most of the answers most of the time and it’s really about ringing in first,” she said. Online tryouts are held only once a year, in January. After three attempts, Levinson finally made it to an in-person audition, and was picked for the televised version, which she taped this past December. In the first episode, airing on Thursday, March, 20, she won $16,800. Though she lost the following night, Levinson is happy with her one win. She plans on using the money to travel and saving some of it. “I am the winner on that one date Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc. and that can never be taken away,” she said. “It was a great experience,” she added. “Everybody who has ever thought about going on ‘Jeopardy!’ should try out.” Drinks at your fingertips BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO Western Queens residents can now have their favorite drink delivered to their door in under 60 minutes via a new app. Minibar, which first debuted in Brooklyn and Manhattan in February, launched in Queens on Wednesday. The innovative app, available for free in the Apple store and servicing Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside, allows users to order wine and liquor with just the tap of a finger. The app connects vendors with users based on zip code, and once a vendor is selected, a drop down menu, featuring available inventory at the local liquor store, shows up. The drinks are then placed in a cart and users can select an amount for delivery tips. Once the order , which requires a $25 minimum, is placed, an confirmation email is sent and the items are delivered in one hour or less. “We are incredibly excited to launch Minibar in Queens, making home entertaining as seamless and easy as possible in these neighborhood within the borough,” Lara Crystal, Minibar co-founder and co- CEO, said. “With virtually everything available at your fingertips, it’s time to make alcohol just as easy to order to your home.” Following legal age requirements for purchasing alcohol, Minibar users will have to confirm they are of legal drinking age before placing an order and upon delivery vendors are responsible for verifying IDs. The app allows its users to indicate if the order is a gift. Upcoming features will also include personalized order suggestion based on previous purchases and recommendations on what foods to have with the drinks. Images courtesy of Minibar
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