By Dustin Brown and Jessica Kadis
In preparation for the arrival of Saint Valentine's Day, we asked a random sampling of locals, “Where's the most romantic spot in Queens?”
And the No. 1 answer?
“Manhattan.”
Something is terribly amiss.
Queens is a perennial sufferer of the grass-is-greener syndrome. Only the East River is our fence and the neighbor's lawn is made of concrete.
Manhattan may boast a fine skyline, but every New Yorker knows the best place to appreciate it is in Queens. To find out where, just chat it up with Barbie Alvarez, a concierge at Terrace-in-the-Park, who suggests you park your car along the Astoria Strip (Vernon Boulevard between 23rd and 27th Ave.) to admire spectacular views of the World Trade Center and the Triborough Bridge.
“That's not romantic, that's where everyone goes to make out,” quipped her colleague, Brenda Martinez.
Granted, every couple has its own sense of romance, and there are as many possibilities for Valentine's Day as there are couples to enjoy them. When Cupid comes calling this year, however, there's one place you won't have to go – Manhattan.
If you live in Queens but live it up in Manhattan, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to see how fertile your native soil can be. We begged Saint Valentine for a reprieve and celebrated his holiday prematurely, treating ourselves to dinner, dancing, some shopping and some romance – all without stepping outside of Queens County. To spend a home-grown Valentine's Day with the one you love, stop by any of the haunts we discovered on our enchanted evening.
If Cupid were to design his own lover's nook, he couldn't do much better than the Victorian Lounge, a den of romance nestled along a strip of rowdier hangouts in Bayside (47-39 Bell Blvd.). This establishment is designed for serious, mature romance – no one under 25 is admitted.
“As far as Valentine's Day, this place speaks for itself,” said manager Carla LaRosa.
The space is swathed in fabric, from the billowing red cloth draped across the ceilings, to chiffon hanging between the lounge and dining area. Lovers have an array of options for their rendezvous – whether it be the basic deuce tables in the dining room, private booths hidden by curtains, or the ever-popular lounge area, featuring over a dozen cozy couches and nooks. Although there won't be red hearts adorning the walls, the color of love crops up in much more subtle ways – from the deep somber red of the couches to the iridescent red of the candles.
Martinis are their specialty, the most popular being the Sour Apple and Chocolate varieties. In addition to drinks, they serve a standard continental dinner at reasonable price ($10-15), which can be enjoyed reclining on the couches or upright at the tables. There's also plenty of standing room, as the place tends to fill up later in the evening. If you're fortunate enough to secure a table, beware the two drink minimum per person per hour.
It's best to call ahead on Valentine's Day to reserve a spot, at 718-229-0167.
If you're a more active romantic and aren't afraid of looking ridiculous, the World's Fair Ice Skating Rink offers a fun daytime option (open on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. For other schedules, call 718-271-1996). Your jaunt around the rink will either transport you back to your youth (staff members claim they've been playing the same mix tapes for years) or give you a glimpse of your life to come (lots of kiddies to dodge on the ice). And for only a dollar, you can treat her to a cup of powder hot chocolate from a coffee machine that looks like it's been there since the World's Fair. On second thought, maybe save the cocoa for Starbucks.
Although bundling up in layers is necessary for the ice, you may wish to strip down to something more cozy as your post-skating attire. For late-late-evening wear, Victoria's Secret (with locations in Flushing, Astoria, and Forest Hills) caters to every taste, as Nathalie Hayon showed us on a brief run around the floor.
For cute, they have matching bra/panty sets adorned with little hearts; for sexy, red teddies and garter belts. A red chiffon nightgown is “subtle”; a less modest variety, “vibrant.”
How do the men usually fair with Victoria's selection? “A lot of them seem clueless, but some really know their wives' style – they really know what they're going for,” Nathalie said.
If you're in a more playful mood, Magic Corsets & Lingerie down the street at 70-10 Austin (with another location at 162-10 Jamaica Ave.) offers similar merchandise – only in edible form. The ladies at Magic tend to push the envelope a bit further than Victoria, offering such sundries as tiger print hot pants, fur-lined hand-cuffs, and whipped cream. Farnoosh Farhamud told us, “In general, our customers are ladies, but on Valentine's Day, most customers are men.”
When the sight of leopard print stirred our more primeval instincts, we headed for a romantic stroll through the natural beauty of Queens Botanical Gardens. Among their many attractions are a Bird Garden and a Bee Garden (appropriate for the holiday, wouldn't you say?)
Alas, we soon discovered why flowers are grown in greenhouses. Aside from a withered rose clinging stubbornly to an arched trellis, the gardens don't offer much floral inspiration at this time of year.
Doing very nicely, however, is the Compost Garden, where pails of rotting vegetation offer aromas one rarely gets to sample in the city – perfect for the country-bumpkin-turned-city-slicker couple. For a more traditional romantic, the Marriage Garden's footbridge, gazebo, and lattice archway render it the most appealing Valentine's haunt at QBG.
Unfortunately, the cute white-lattice gate is bolted shut, since this garden is only accessible to wedding parties.
If long strolls in sub-frigid temperatures are not your thing, you can turn up the heat by stopping in Cabana, a Nuevo Latino restaurant at 107-10 70th Road in Forest Hills. There we met Alexis and his friend Heather, who warm the barstools every Saturday night and treated us on this occasion to a Mohitos – a Cuban drink of rum, sugar (“a lot of sugar”), lime, lime juice, and mint.
Having already enjoyed more than his share of Mohitos, Alexis felt especially qualified to extol Cabana's “Spanish-Asian cuisine.” “It's chicken, it's rice – but the spices in the rice are so good. Spanish people do things different than everyone else. If you put a little lemon or lime on the top of the chicken, it enhances the flavor.” As for the decor, Alexis thought he was transported. “This… this is Miami!”
Manager Ellaina Gomez said, “In the middle of February, it's nice to feel like you're on vacation, and that's the atmosphere you have when you come in here.” She said the restaurant will offer specials for two on Valentine's Day.
Miami may be hot, but if you're looking to burn, head down to Mexico – or over to FM, a restaurant and night club at 69-47 Austin St. Wednesdays is Latin night, which speaks for itself. If you like to move and are feeling sultry, take a spin on their dance floor. Just beware of Temptation Island syndrome – the dance floor gets crowded, so you best keep your eye on your partner.
Finally, if you'll be away from your loved one on the special day and need to send some love-by-proxy, then Queens is the borough for you.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs' Valentine's Day Rose Survey conducted last year at this time, New York City florists hiked the price of roses an average of 34 percent just before the holiday. If you're anxious to save a buck, you could always buy your dozen a week in advance and hang them upside down in the closet. Or you can just get them in Queens, which in 2000 had the lowest average cost for a dozen roses – $61 – and only a 28 percent hike in honor of Saint V.
Reach Qguide writer Dustin Brown by e-mail at timesledgr@aol.com, or call 229-0300, Ext. 139.
