WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES OCTOBER 17, 2019 29
BUZZ
Glendale short story collection captures
the neighborhood’s rhythm of life
BY MAX PARROTT
MPARROTT@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Queens-based author Craig Schwab spends
his daily life in Glendale spinning everyday details
into works of autobiographical fi ction.
The lines have become so blurred between
his daily experiences and work, he even signs
emails as Jonthan Kiddrane, a recurring character
in his literary universe.
“It gives me many of my bipolar tendencies. I
can live in both worlds at the same time,” joked
Schwab.
At the beginning of October, Schwab expanded
his Glendale-based body of fi ction even
further with a third collection of short stories
dedicated to his hometown. Aft er ruminating
on his hometown for decades, his new book,
“Glendale, NY – TIME,” centers on the theme
of time.
“In this collection, the premise of time plays
a role in shaping how we are all similar in the
ways we utilize this most precious commodity,”
Schwab wrote in the preface.
His literary inspirations came from “The
Time Machine” by H.G. Wells and “Einstein’s
Dreams” by Alan Lightman. He began wanting
to write about the theme aft er having
conversations with a childhood friend with
Alzheimer’s disease. He said that he was struck
by how diff erently his friend experienced
time passing.
“I have conversations with him and sometimes
it’s so fl uent how he remembers things
and then the next moment he can’t recall
the conversation we were just having,” said
Schwab.
The stories take a broader view of time than
as something we simply measure on clocks.
Schwab wants us to think of time in terms of
how it orders our lives. In “Our Crazy Cocoon,”
characters try to escape the regimented pace of
a bureaucratic work environment. “Borrowed
Time” presents a tick-tock narrative of 9/11.
Schwab said that he thinks the theme and
setting go together because growing up in
Glendale in the ’60s felt like being trapped in
a time capsule.
“When they started doing the construction
to make the Jackie Robinson Parkway,
suddenly everyone had to detour through
Glendale. People who were passing us for 20
to 30 years, suddenly had to ask, ‘Where did
this place come from?’” he said.
Central to the idea behind the new collection
is a wariness about the role new technology
and media play in modern life. When
he thinks about how social media and new
forms of communication have accelerated the
rhythms of life, in true baby boomer fashion,
he’s reminded of Bob Dylan’s line that “time
is a jet plane.”
“What was he a prophet or what?” he asked.
Schwab has lived in Glendale his entire life.
His biographical novel “Something in the
Neighborhood of Real” focused on growing up
in the ’60s and is chock-full of references Jack
Kerouac, Louis Armstrong and the Beatles.
His new collection is his 21st book and
is available on Amazon as a paperback or
e-book.
Forest Hills’ Aigner Chocolates reveals creative
batch of creepy chocolates for Halloween
BY MAX PARROTT
MPARROTT@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
In the tradition of Halloween
pranks, Forest Hills’ Aigner Chocolates
proves that even artisanal
chocolate-makers can embrace the
campy side of the holiday.
The chocolatier’s season batch of
candy is full of creepy and creative
details.
Aigner unveiled batch of Halloween
candy that includes a bloodshot
monster eyeballs, a disembodied
mouth oozing with green goo and
a “Halloween nose” with its two
phlegmy nostrils stuffed with
candy corn.
“Kids especially love the gross
chocolates like the eyeballs and
teeth. And unicorns are so popular
with girls, we figured, why can’t
they love one that’s a zombie, too?”
said owner Rachel Kellner.
In addition to their wacky new
candy creations, the store will also
have its annual favorites like witches,
ghosts and pumpkins. More than
30 individual items are available
in a variety of combinations or are
sold separately.
All of Aigner’s Halloween items
can be ordered online or picked up
at their Forest Hills shop, located at
103-02 Metropolitan Ave.
Aigner was recently named “Best
Chocolate Shop in New York” by
Mental Floss.
To see more Halloween items,
visit aignerchocolates.com/
category_s/104.htm.
Photo courtesy of Craig Schwab
Aigner Chocolates Halloween batch features one-of-a-kind creepy chocolates
Photo courtesy of Aigner Chocolates
/aignerchocolates.com
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