FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 2, 2017 • VALENTINE’S DAY • THE QUEENS COURIER 43 valentine’s day This baker who creates custom cakes in her Glendale home is ready for Valentine’s Day Melody of Love at Royal Star Theatre.JPG “Melody of Love” at Royal Star Th riving in their venue at ICC (Immaculate Conception Church) the Royal Star Th eatre continues their winter season with “Melody of Love, a Valentine’s Revue”. For just one weekend (February 4 & 5), the troupe will musically celebrate our most powerful emotion— Love! Director Maryellen Pierce and Musical Director Paul L. Johnson are leading their multicultural cast on the venue’s smaller stage. But what can we expect? One of the performers, Amanda Montoni explains in detail; “Th e revue is a musical fundraiser focusing on the diff erent kinds of love in the world; friendships, marriages, unrequited etc. It also explores the eff ects love has on an individual; experiencing what it feels like to be in love for the fi rst time...” Some previous productions utilized the large main stage. Th ey had also created special scenery and costumes. Not this time. Amanda clarifi es; “Th ere are no sets. We are setting up tables with table cloths and chairs to portray more of an intimate feel. We’re putting red, black and white decorations on the walls and costumes to a lesser extent. We open the show and introduce the cast with a group number; ‘Love Changes Everything’ . During the last song, ‘Take a Chance on me’ from Broadway’s ‘Mama Mia’ the cast goes into the audience, dances and sings with them and ends back onstage with a fi nal bow.” Th e troupe will off er popular favorites from the past and present. Th ey’ve included “Friendship” from the classic Cole Porter musical comedy “Anything Goes” and “It Takes Two” from “Into the Woods”. Amanda continues; “Th ere are also some old favorites such as ‘My Funny Valentine’ and ‘You’re Just in Love’…Some of the cast members show character development and go through a sort of story line. Th ere is a couple who end up getting married, some fi nd love …one couple is portrayed as an older married couple.” Along with “Love” the troupe has begun auditions for their spring production of “Little Women, Th e Musical”. For “Love” the talented performers’ roll call is Jeff ery Tierny, J.K. Larkin, Amanda Montoni, Dena Civello, Edwin Polacio, Bryce & Anne Klatsky and Lisa Bondi. For information on this and future projects, call (718) 428- 8681, email the troupe at royalstar. theatre@gmail.com, “like” them on Facebook or surf to www.royalstartheatre. org. As always, save me a seat on the aisle. A VIEW FROM THE CLIFF BY CLIFF KASDEN BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport As Valentine’s Day rapidly approaches, one Glendale resident is using her baking skills to spread the love and create delicious custom cakes, cookies and more, perfect for you to give to your sweetheart. Carla Buiuc, 26, has lived in Queens for most of her life and has been baking since her teenage years. She recently decided to begin selling her baked goods that she makes in the kitchen of her apartment off Central Avenue in Glendale, and she calls her business “Cakes by Carla.” Buiuc says her adventure into selling her creations all began when a co-worker asked her to bake her a birthday cake a few years ago. Although she didn’t sell too many cakes right away, she has learned from her fi rst experience and is quickly gaining followers on her Instagram page and raking in orders. “It was more of a thing I was doing on the side because I liked it,” she said of her baking. “I was like yeah, I’m eventually going to sell cakes and I want to do this. Th is is something I’d like to make money off of and be able to give people something diff erent. But I didn’t really start doing it until recently because I had 100 other things going on.” Although people have always told her to bake with love, Buiuc uses baking as a way to de-stress and recharge her batteries when no one else is around. She even gave herself the moniker “the insomniac baker” because she enjoys baking at all hours of the night. “I’m a person that likes meticulous activities and I have a lot of patience,” Buiuc said. “It’s something that keeps me busy, keeps me focused. And when I’m stressed out, it releases my stress.” Buiuc currently works in a restaurant in Manhattan, but has hopes of opening her own restaurant or bakery with her mother in the future, where she can sell all the things she makes. As a way to get her name out there, Buiuc is looking to feature her goods in the upcoming Ridgewood Food Festival, as well as other local markets and festivals. She is also evolving her craft to create gluten-free treats, allergy-specifi c foods, as well as some vegan products, to cater to a diverse set of clientele. Some other things Buiuc makes and sells — besides cakes — include cake pops, cookies, doughnuts, soft cookies and more. If you’re interested in placing an order, visit her Cakes by Carla Instagram page or email her at cakes_by_carla@yahoo. com.
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