48 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JULY 10, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com VICTORIA SCHNEPS [email protected] I admit it – I’m addicted Last year, my son Josh and my daughter Elizabeth created the fl ea market in LIC, and this year, they created the Astoria Flea & Food at the backlot of Kaufman Astoria Studios. And I’m addicted to both. First I love a bargain, but most of all I love the creative people who bring their food and “objects” to the market. This past Sunday my friend Claire Shulman visited the LIC Flea with me. Although the number of vendors was reduced because of the holiday, I immediately was drawn to two new members of our market “family,” Liz Schiff and Deb Polokoff, who own Shade. They forged a dressing room and retail “store” out of a reconfi gured bus that they attach to their car and haul into the market! After I touched the soft cotton dresses, pants and tops for women and children I was hooked! I climbed the two steps into the “store” and Claire sat in one of the comfy armchairs on the “terrace” while I explored the merchandise inside. The patterns on the clothes reminded me of ones I’d seen in the south of France, and the women explained that they design them and a group from a town in India helping women does the sewing, benefi ting women on two sides of the world. I found a soft caftan that I will wear as a nightgown and two tops for my granddaughters. As I was leaving, one of the girl’s dress that matched my caftan. So of course I couldn’t resist buying it. I remember in my early twenties it was the rage for men and women to wear matching shirts and mother and daughter clothing was commonplace. From the clothing store there was a woman selling bracelets, bags and hats just like I saw on my trip to Vietnam. Beautiful colors that brought back sweet memories of my trip several years ago. When I was there I was impressed with the entrepreneurship of the people. And so it is here too! From that booth Claire and I were delighted by the sight of the children playing in sandboxes provided by the market and building mini sandcastles. We also encountered a performer who was getting ready to entertain, Bocafl oja, who gave a terrifi c live performance. It was a perfect time to head over to the food vendors to have lunch along the waterfront bordering the market. The Anable Basin, besides offering a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline, also has kayaks available for rowing along the East River. It was a million dollar view as we ate food from fi ve vendors whose cuisines represented the world, from hot dogs to sushi to Vietnamese specialties to passion fruit iced tea from China! All so tasty — an international feast and each dish reasonably priced from $5 to $9. A true bargain! We leisurely enjoyed our lunch and even met friends visiting the market Lisa Gneo from the Z Hotel and Tom Hurtubise from the Queens Zoo and Bayside friends from Centers for Progress. We just raised money for them at our wildly successful Women in Business event honoring Mary Ann McAleer, their devoted development manager. Each weekend there are the “old” reliables and new vendors too, so it’s always a great adventure going to the weekend markets. There are free special events and entertainers too! Try it you too will love it! Every Saturday in LIC on Fifth Street and 46th Avenue and Sunday at the Kaufman Astoria Studios on 36th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. victoria’s secrets tweet me @vschneps entrepreneurs showed me a little Cody Wells, master Lego artist, created the Lucille Ball portrait from Lego blocks and gave a plug to the Corkbuds vendor. Morgan, Addie, and Jonah with their golf ball sculpture. With thanks to Norm Brodsky On July 4, Josh had been invited by his friend Norm Brodsky, who operates the CitiView storage facilities along the East River, to a fi reworks barbecue near Josh’s home in Williamsburg. The kids and friends walked the few blocks to have a wonderful meal and to watch the Macy’s fi reworks display. They turned out to be way off in the distance, too far for us to hear the booms and the bangs — that’s half the fun. I’m a kid and in awe when it comes to fi reworks. How they create such shapes and colors and sounds is a remarkable talent. The Grucci family are geniuses at it and I respect the innovation they bring to the industry. What else can transfi x so many people? Then on Sunday night the Mattones invited me to watch the Grucci fi reworks with their family and they were sensational with a lot of booms and bangs. It was a fun-fi lled weekend and I hope you had a safe and happy one too! Josh, Hudson at the Norm Brodsky July 4 celebration. Dynamic $1000 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106
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