3038. PETER CARDELLA SENIOR CENTER, 68-52 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-497-2908. SUNNYSIDE SENIOR CENTER, 43-31 39th St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-392-6944. SELF-HELP MASPETH Senior Center, 69-61 Grand Ave., will hold beading, jewelry and bingo. Hot lunch at noon. Transportation available. For more information, call 1-718-429-3636. MIDDLE VILLAGE Adult Center, 69-10 75th St., will hold arts and crafts at 10 a.m., sit and be fit at 1 p.m., Tai-Chi-Chuan at 10:15 a.m. For more information, call 1-718- 894-3441. THE WOODSIDE CLINIC, 61- 20 Woodside Ave., provides support groups, human services, day activity program, food pantry, meals-on-wheels and senior assistance program. For more information, call 1-718-779-1234. SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES, 43-31 39th St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-784-6173, ext. 112. FOREST HILLS SENIOR CENTER, 108-25 62nd Dr., will hold various programs, plus hot lunch. For more information, call 1- 718-699-1010. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 BOY SCOUT TROOP 28 meets every Friday at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 86-20 114th St. in Richmond Hill. All boys age 10- 1/2 to 17 are welcome. For more information, call 1-718-478-5747. GIRL SCOUTS K to 3rd grade meet from 5 to 6 p.m. Grades 4 and up meet from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Andrews United Methodist Church, 91 Richmond St., between Etna St. and Ridgewood Ave., Cypress Hills. GIRL SCOUTS meet at 7 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Academy, 438 Grove St., near St. Nicholas Ave., Brooklyn. RIDGEWOOD OLDER ADULT CENTER, 59-14 70th Ave., welcomes new members 60 years of age or older. Weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Meals daily. For more information, call 1-718-456-2000. REGO PARK SENIOR CENTER, 93-29 Queens Blvd., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-896-8751. RIDGEWOOD-BUSHWICK SENIOR CENTER, 319 Stanhope St., will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-366- 3038. PETER CARDELLA SENIOR CENTER, 68-52 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, will hold various programs. For more information, call 1-718-497-2908. MIDDLE VILLAGE Adult Center, 69-10 75th St., will hold aerobics to music at 9 a.m., watercolor painting at 9 a.m. For more information, call 1-718-894-3441. THE WOODSIDE CLINIC, 61- 20 Woodside Ave., provides support groups, human services, day activity program, food pantry, meals-on-wheels and senior assistance program. For more information, call 1-718-779-1234. FOREST HILLS SENIOR CENTER, 108-25 62nd Dr., will hold various programs, plus hot lunch. For more information, call 1- 718-699-1010. MASPETH SELF-HELP SENIOR CENTER, 69-61 Grand Ave., Maspeth will hold exercise and bingo. Hot lunch at noon. Transportation available. Call 1- 718-429-3636 for information. CALENDAR -CONTINUED FROM PG. 61- Queens Library Lends Wi-Fi Hot Spots At Forest Hills, Flushing Branches -CONTINUED FROM PG. 21- Noshwalk Tour Of Ridgewood Showcases Area’s Diverse Delicacies Vegetables Market (56-11 Catalpa Ave.) and an array of international delights. Fancy Fruits is a Nepalese owned and operated market offering a wide array of ethnic cuisine. Alperson marveled at the large selection of dried fruit, nuts, jam, grains and noodles. The former Turkish market also offers a variety of whole bean coffee that can be freshly ground on the spot. Our tour continued up Catalpa Avenue to Seneca Avenue, where we stumbled upon a true New York story in diversity. Alperson had heard about the steam buffet of pierogis and other savory offerings at the Polonica Polish Deli and Grocery (901 Seneca Ave.) and was excited to explore the brightly lit corner store. Upon entering, we were greeted by Shyam, a native of India. He explained that, like Alperson, the store and its owners embraced the cultural diversity of Ridgewood. Unlike a generic convenience store, the shelves at Polonica are stocked with a wide range of hard to find European delicacies that reflect the growing Polish population of Ridgewood. The shop’s offerings run the gamut from savory to sweet. A butcher’s case features an assortment of Polish meats and sausages, including Kielbasa Wisniowa, Domowa and Kielbasa Weselna. The grocery shelves were filled with Central European fare, including spaetzle, preserves, wild mushrooms and a variety of Polish chocolates and confections. The assortment of candy stoked our sweettooth and led us two doors down to Rudy’s Bakery and Cafe (905 Seneca Ave.). The 85-year-old bake shop is a neighborhood fixture. They have expanded their menu to include savory dishes, such as quiche, as well as homemade chocolates. A seating area was also recently added for cafe patrons who wish to enjoy a decadent dessert while sipping one of many handcrafted coffee and espresso beverages. Not willing to leave empty handed, I purchased a small sampling of dark chocolate peanut butter cups and chocolate covered s’mores as sweet souvenirs of my culinary journey. A dash of history Our tour made its way back on to Myrtle Avenue and stopped in front of the Ridgewood Savings Bank (corner of Forest Avenue and George Street). As an added bonus, Alperson will pepper her culinary tours with interesting facts about local architecture and historical sites. The bank was built in the 1920’s and retains much of its original art deco style. Alperson marveled at the ornate exterior doors and high arched windows, but explained that the real attraction was the elaborate murals on the walls of the bank’s interior. She noted that she would take Noshwalkers on a brief pit stop to view the murals before continuing on in their gastronomic endeavors. Coffee and chocolate The bright green awning of Parrot Coffee and Grocery (58-22 Myrtle Ave.) marked the next stop on our tour. Parrot Coffee featured a host of Eastern European, Balkan and Middle Eastern fare. Baskets of brightly colored foil wrapped candy line the entryway. Once inside, savory aromas of meats, cheeses, and spices delight the senses. Parrot’s well-stocked shelves feature an impressive array of herbs, teas, honey, coffee beans and condiments. A buffet containing an assortment of olives and pickled delicacies stands at the store’s center. A butcher case boasts a wide assortment of Eastern European cheeses, dairy and deli items, as well as prepared dishes. Alperson purchased authentic Bulgarian yogurt and added it to her cache of culinary souvenirs from the neighborhood. “It’s a very interesting market,” she explained. “Last time I was here, I found a type of rice pudding they traditionally prepare for funerals. I had never seen it before.” Our path took us away from the bustle of Myrtle Avenue and led us to Norma’s Cafe (59-02 Catalpa Ave.), where I warmed up with a hot chocolate. Ridgewood residents Crystal Williams and Denise Plowman opened Norma’s back in 2012. Their focus was on bringing delicious coffee and handheld versions of comfort foods to the neighborhood. I took home Norma’s famous “Lumberjack,” a handheld bread pudding muffin made of sweet sausage, ham, egg and black pepper, to enjoy at breakfast the next day. Tour ends near church We crossed Forest Avenue and wound up in front of Morscher’s Pork Store (58-44 Catalpa Ave.). Slovenian native Joseph Morscher first opened the shop in 1957, making it one of the oldest butcher shops in Ridgewood. Morscher’s features a hearty variety of European smoked meats and sausages. “It’s a very old fashioned pork store,” Alperson explained. “They actually sell a mustard that’s made in Ridgewood—A. Bauer’s Mustard. It’s a really good product, so I always buy some when I’m here.” The tour concluded in the shadows of St. Matthias Church (58-15 Catalpa Ave.). Alperson will often include the church and its soaring spires as part of her Noshwalk Ridgewood tours. “When you go to the church, you feel like you’re in a European village because nothing is taller than the church,” she explained. “The trend is to take the elevated train back. You can see the church steeple from the platform, it feels like you’re traveling through Europe.” Alperson and I parted ways on the corner of Catalpa and Forest Avenues. I watched as she went in search of flaky, Balkan-style pastry pies at Burek’s Pizza (68- 55 Forest Ave.). Her zest for adventure and thrill in new food discoveries was truly inspiring and left me wanting to explore more of Ridgewood’s hidden culinary gems. Alperson’s latest book, “Nosh New York: The Food Lover’s Guide to New York City’s Most Delicious Neighborhoods” is available on Amazon.com. For upcoming tour information, visit www.Noshwalks.com. powerful technology into the hands and homes of Queens residents,” said Bridget Quinn- Carey, interim president and CEO of Queens Library. “It will boost computer literacy across all income and educational levels, promoting true digital equity. We are very grateful to Google; the Knight News Challenge, and the Robin Hood Foundation for making this possible.” “Providing internet access to all New Yorkers should be a priority in this increasingly hightech world,” added City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Thanks to support from Google, The Knight Foundation and The Robin Hood Foundation, our public libraries across the city will take a big step toward that goal. I’m proud of this achievement and look forward to finding even more ways to make access as universally available as possible for New York City’s residents.” “This $1.75 million investment into our City’s three library systems will work to address the “digital divide” that has gripped New Yorkers in need of access to broadband internet,” said City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, chair of the Cultural Affairs and Libraries Committee. “Through this innovative partnership we will expand internet access for families throughout the five boroughs. I commend Mayor de Blasio, Google, The Knight Foundation and The Robin Hood Foundation for working with our City’s three library systems. Their commitment toward tackling the digital divide brings us closer to a day when no New Yorker will fear a lack of access to one of our most precious resources.” For more information, visit www.queenslibrary.com or call 1- 718-990-0700. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 21- HHaappppyy HHaannuukkkkaahh FFrroomm TThhee Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times TIMES, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014 • 62
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