14 NOVEMBER 22, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Shalimar Diner will serve its last meal after 45 years
BY JENNA BAGCAL
JBAGCAL@QNS.COM/ @JENNA_BAGCAL
The Karayiannis family has
been feeding the community at
Shalimar Diner since 1974. But
next week, the Rego Park eatery will
be shutting its doors for the fi nal time.
According to Demi Karayiannis,
the wife of co-owner Chris Karayiannis,
rising lease costs forced them to
make the tough decision to close their
business.
“It’s very sad, but there’s nothing
we can do about it. Our lease is up
and we can’t afford what they’re asking
for,” said Demi Karayiannis. She
said that the last day for the diner at
63-68 Austin St. will be on Sunday,
Nov. 25.
Shalimar is the third restaurant that
Chris Karayiannis and his brother
opened since they came from Greece.
“We used to have the Shangri La by
Queens Boulevard and we used to have
the Talk of the Town in Manhasset,”
said Demi Karayiannis.
Karayiannis said that they had been trying
to negotiate a lease with the landlords,
but it “didn’t work out.” It was reported
that their lease would be up this November,
but they had denied the rumors until now.
Despite the “forced retirement,” in
Karayiannis’ words, she recalls fond
memories from the past 45 years. The
diner was used in Martin Scorsese’s
Academy Award nominated fi lm “The
Wolf of Wall Street.”
“We have customers here that were
babies in the strollers and now they
come with their babies in the strollers,”
said Karayiannis. “Everybody is very
upset. Everybody’s crying. My phone
doesn’t stop ringing. It’s been like a
family here to everybody.”
The 71-year-old grandmother said
that she will use her newfound free
time to spend time with her grandson
who was just born three months ago.
It was reported that Alderton Associates,
the owners of the property,
had not yet fi led their future plans
for property on the Department of
Buildings website.
Photo by Jenna Bagcal/RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Shalimar Diner set to close Nov. 25.
Rego Park resident helps citydwellers achieve balance
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
Feeling unlucky lately? Life getting
you down? Bad feng shui could be
contributing to your troubles.
Did you know that negative energy
fl ow in your home or offi ce space creates
blockages that may lead to blocked
opportunities? And that adding a pop
of red is a surefi re way to bring in good
fortune? It’s possible to transform
every area of your life, even increase
sales and profi ts for your business
with good energy or chi.
Understanding where to place furniture
and accessories for optimum
feng shui results is key.
It’s well known that feng shui has
a huge impact on the layout of living/
working spaces and the aesthetics of
interior design. But its remarkable effect
on the lives of people who dwell in
those spaces isn’t emphasized enough.
Prosperity, better health, love and
happiness can be yours in the new
year if you’re open to embracing the
“magic” of this ancient Chinese practice.
Feng shui Master Zhi Hai, whose
name means “Sea of Knowledge” in
Chinese, off ers valuable suggestions.
The Rego Park resident is a world renowned
feng shui master, as well as a
metaphysics master and architect.
Zhi Hai does residential and commercial
evaluations and has helped
business people, architects, famous
personalities, and others through her
knowledge and experience.
As founder and Chair of the American
Feng Shui Association, she brings
together feng shui experts, leading real
estate developers and brokers from
around the world, to discuss and work
on important feng shui developments.
Many TV stations, real estate and Wall
Street investment fi rms, and New York
City government unions, have invited
her to give seminars.
She is an author and radio host.
Her Chinese feng shui Column has
appeared in the World Journal and
other publications.
“I deeply believe that the practice
of feng shui can improve everyone’s
life in terms of positive energy, improved
performance in work and in
home, signifi cant growth in business,
better study results for students,
significantly improved personal
relationships and a deeply enriched
environmental space,” Zhi Hai said.
“It is my mission to bring Abundance
and Prosperity to as many people as
I can.”
Before coming to America in 1997,
she managed one of the foremost
architectural fi rms in China and was
responsible for many important public
projects.
She was head of the Henan Province
Culture and Architectural Design Department,
which took on design and
development of all provincial cultural
buildings (libraries, museums, theaters,
cultural centers, etc.).
“It was there that my interest in feng
shui developed,” said Zhi Hai, who
worked for an architect fi rm in Queens
when she came to the United States.
There, she noticed that the fl oor
plans they designed, which fell in line
with the city Department of Buildings’
rules, but didn’t follow the traditional
practices of feng shui.
“I saw that people would have a hard
time living there because of the inner
energy of the building,” she recalled.
“I started to realize people in America
needed a qualifi ed feng shui master
who had a background in architecture.”
Her knowledge helped a child who
was struggling in school. He simply
needed his study space improved.
With better harmony in his space, his
achievements allowed him to move
forward and do well, according to
Zhi Hai.
Most recently, she consulted with
developers of two Manhattan buildings,
assisting them in marketing
penthouse apartments worth more
than $12 million (and designed by
world-renowned Architect, I. M. Pei).
“For residential, we concentrate on
health, relationship and wealth, etc.,
as every client’s need is diff erent. In
the offi ce, we concentrate feng shui
in three ways: boss, manager and employee,”
Zhi Hai said. “Make the boss/
manager have higher energy, wisdom,
power and right decision-making.
For employees — create a positive
workplace. In commercial businesses
(restaurants, supermarkets, stores) we
concentrate on money feng shui — no
troubles, no law suits.”
In Queens, the busy master has
helped hundreds of residential owners
and businesses. She works with
people all over New York City, New
Jersey and beyond.
At her clients’ request, Master Zhi
Hai has started her own feng shui
jewelry brand, so they can carry good
luck with them.
“Good feng shui is good energy. Once
you have good energy, good life will
come to you.”
Credit: Courtesy of Zhi Hai
World renowned feng shui Master
Zhi Hai has been doing residential
and commercial feng shui work
and helps people achieve the benefi
ts of good energy in their spaces.
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