10 DECEMBER 29, 2016 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM 2016 Year in Review The pop-up beach garden that wasn’t Long Island City-based Rockaway Brewing Company announced plans to open La Playa NYC, New York’s fi rst pop-up urban beach beer garden, starting on June 4, at 176 Woodward Ave., right on the Ridgewood/Bushwick border. Crews were to haul in 140 cubic yards of Long Island sand and decorate it with beach chairs, sun umbrellas, a thatched palapa, beach volleyball courts and kiddie pools to create an easily accessible urban beach experience that welcomes the entire community all summer long. The plan, however, never materialized as the organizers weren’t able to properly fi le the necessary paperwork to open.` Middle Village cemetery suff ers several small brush fi res All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village did not suffer any significant damage in spite of several small brush fires that broke out on the afternoon of April 18 at the site. The FDNY received a call about the fire at 2:16 p.m. and 12 units and 65 firefighters were on hand to combat the blaze at 67-29 Metropolitan Ave. The fire was brought under control just before 5 p.m. Weather conditions were ripe for brush fires that day, with a combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts in the area. Historic Forest Hills movie theater gets new VIP luxury seats The historic Cinemart Cinemas in Forest Hills announced this month that it would install VIP luxury seating within each of its theaters. The almost 90-year-old movie theater located at 106-03 Metropolitan Ave. is popular for its long history, as well as for being a treat gentle on the wallet due to affordable ticket pricing, making it attractive to dating couples and families alike. APRIL Former mob boss’ Middle Village restaurant hits the market The former Casablanca restaurant in Maspeth, once owned and operated by the boss of a major New York crime family, was put up for sale in April. The site, located at 62-15 60th Lane, previously belonged to Joseph Massino, who was at one point the head of the infamous Bonnano crime family. Massino made headlines in 2011 by testifying in federal court against his former associate, Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, aft er the former restaurant owner’s conviction in July 2004 for seven murders, including the killing of three rival Bonnano family captains in 1981. It was reported that Massino agreed to help federal prosecutors in order to avoid the death penalty for his own crimes.
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