for breaking news visit www.timesnewsweekly.com MAY 21, 2015 • times 25 Competitors come out for Ridgewood’s first-ever thumb wrestling event QUEENS BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO [email protected] @TimesNewsweekly Locals were all thumbs at the firstever Ridgewood Thumb Wrestling Competition held at Julia’s Beer and Wine Bar on May 14. Five brave competitors squared off in mini plastic rings in a fight for glory, honor, local pride and a free growler fill courtesy of Finback Brewery in Glendale. The thumb warriors included The Millionaire, The Russler, Mr. Clean, The Madison Assassin and The Gentrifier. William Reder, co-owner of Julia’s, was the event’s referee. Reder read from the Thumb Wrestling Association’s official rulebook regarding match guidelines, including a strict “elbows on the table at all times” policy. The winner of each match must also yell, “1, 2, 3, 4 … I have won a thumb war!” in order for the win to be valid. The first match of the night took place between The Madison Assassin and The Gentrifier. As the only female competitor, The Madison Assassin (a.k.a. Madison Street resident Beata Slazak Zalewski), proved to be a formidable opponent, winning her matches against Mr. Clean (Ridgewood resident Chris Dinon) and The Millionaire, as well as one against The Gentrifier. She donned a dramatic black and red satin cape, gold crown and blue lipstick, as well as one very strong thumb painted to resemble a Luchador mask. “I just thought that it is the most ridiculous idea and totally fun, plus the fact that costumes were encouraged and that it was being held at Julia’s made it an easy decision for me,” Zalewski said. She was ultimately, however, no match for The Gentrifier, the neighborhood’s most hated villain, clad in gold brocade and a silver Luchador mask. As he stepped up to the miniature ring, The Gentrifier, played by Cowardly Lot Costumes and Props owner Richard Callender, taunted spectators and his opponent by waving his handkerchief and promising to bring high-end retail to the area. The crowds universally booed the wrestling heel despite his early thumb wrestling victory over the Assassin. “I thought it would be fun and I like participating in things in the neighborhood,” Callender explained afterward. The Gentrifier and The Madison Assassin faced off against The Russler in the final rounds of the competition. The mysterious, plaid-clad Russler ultimately took home the championship, with The Gentrifier and The Madison Assassin placing second and third, respectively. The thumb wrestling competition was held in celebration of Queens Beer Week. Competitors and spectators sipped locally made brews, including Finback’s “Little Buddy” American IPA and offerings from Transmitter and Sixpoint breweries. Start flexing those thumbs, Ridgewood! Reder hopes the fun will catch on and hinted at the possibility of hosting more thumb wrestling competitions at Julia’s in the future. TIMES NEWSWEEKLY/Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Metacarpal strength was tested like never before during Ridgewood’s first sanctioned thumb wrestling contest on May 14. FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com dining out Photo courtesy of Galen Duncan/Duncan Burgers A late-night burger run to Duncan’s by KELLy MARIE MANCUSO Thursday, May 28, is National Hamburger Day and what better way to celebrate than with a free helping of the wildly popular Duncan’s Burgers. The handcrafted creations have gained a cult following in recent months and have quickly become a late-night fast-food staple in Ridgewood and Bushwick. Owner and chef Galen Duncan will be hosting a grand opening at 1 p.m. on May 28 for the first Duncan’s Burgers food cart, located at the corner of Bedford Avenue and North 12th Street at the McCarren Park entrance in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The first 250 patrons will get a free burger, and all patrons will enjoy $1 off all cart menu items, as well as specials released exclusively on Duncan’s Burgers’ social media pages during the four-day celebration. The Duncan’s Burger craze first began months ago during afterhours at The Rookery Bar (425 Troutman St. in Bushwick). When most people are wrapping up their evenings and preparing for bed, Galen Duncan would get to work, firing up the grill in anticipation of hungry late-night crowds seeking his renowned burgers and hand-cut fries. His two-week dry aged, grass-fed, allbeef burgers became a beloved neighborhood secret, popular among local night owls and bar patrons. Eventually word spread, and Duncan’s cheeseburger deluxe ($6.50) earned a regular spot on The Rookery’s pub grub menu. “There wasn’t a lot of late-night fare around here, and not a lot of variety for good late-night food,” he said. Duncan sharpened his knives and skills as a butcher’s intern at Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, located inside the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. All of the meat at Dickson’s is prepared and expertly carved in-house. Their small, family-owned and operated upstate farms are known for their healthy and Duncan’s Burgers 425 Troutman St. humane practices. This emphasis on locally sourced, healthy artisanal ingredients inspired Duncan’s approach to cooking. According to Duncan, his burgers are a mix of “highbrow” ingredients served up in a non-fussy, “old school, fast-food” way. “The burgers came from a place of really respecting and caring about high-quality meat,” he said. “I figured, why not make the sort of classic style burgers, but use awesome ingredients.” Duncan continues to use Dickson’s grass-fed, hormone-free, organic dryaged beef raised locally on a farm in upstate New York. Prices begin at a wallet-friendly $3.50 for a classic single hamburger served on a potato bun with special savory sauce. For a couple of dollars more, you can get lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles with a side of Duncan’s waffle-style fries. Hungry patrons can choose between the classic, spicy and bacon burgers. The burgers are available as single, double or triple patty combinations, with prices ranging from $5.50 for a single deluxe on up to $13.50 for a spicy or bacon triple. The Brooklyn Stack ($13.50) is a veritable fast-food feast, packing a mountain of flavor in its generous, three-patty serving. Duncan’s Burgers will also be available on weekends at Schwick Market, an artisan flea and food bazaar located at Six Charles Place off Myrtle Avenue in Bushwick, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on upcoming locations and events, visit www.duncansburgers. com. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com
RT05212015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above