Astoria Flower Shops

Astoria IL News

Apr 27, 2017

Posh public potty pops up in NYC with fresh flowers, art

Dan Biederman, the executive director of the Bryant Park Corp. The team behind the new posh public bathroom visited The Waldorf Astoria and other luxury hotels for inspiration. A few out-of-town companies provided donations not included in the facility's $280,000 cost. The Japanese luxury brand Toto contributed self-flushing, energy-saving toilets and hands-free faucets and wash basins. Brill Hygienic Products Inc., of Delray, Florida, supplied sanitary, electronic seat covers that rotate with each use. During warm months, attendants armed with mops keep everything clean from 7 a.m. until midnight, when the bathroom closes along with the park. By park rules, no tips are allowed. The bathroom is most often used by visitors to the leafy, grassy refuge of Bryant Park, which draws them with its seasonal attractions including a skating rink in winter, holiday shops, outdoor movies on summer nights and free-for-all tables and chairs. The park went through a makeover some years ago after decades of urban decay and crime that spilled into the bathroom, which was closed for years and reopened only in the 1990s. With the improvement of the park, the number of visitors has increased. So, too, has the daily use of the toilets, from an average of about 1,800 in 2013 to about 3,300 last year, or 1.2 million a year, park officials said. On the women's side, the wait could be as long as 20 minutes. On Thursday, with the line growing, park workers directed people to the massive library building and more public toilets, though not quite as fancy. (Allentown Morning Call)

Mar 30, 2017

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

The Washington Post marveled in 1908 that “the Waldorf-Astoria management alone bought 70,000 Egyptian Lotuses [from Shaw] last year at a cost of 2 cents each, and Lotuses are but one of a number of varieties grown, and they are not the most expensive by many a shining penny.”Shaw retired an affluent man, and after his death in 1921 the business passed to his daughter Helen. The Shaw Lily Ponds were almost destroyed during the 1930s, when the Potomac was undergoing dredging and Helen’s riverside land was condemned. Helen went downtown to plead her case and succeeded in convincing acting Secretary of War Louis Johnson to purchase the gardens as parkland for $15,000. The business came to an end, but the beloved Shaw lily gardens were preserved and added to Anacostia Park. Helen was allowed to continue living at her house in the park until she passed away circa 1960. ... (Atlas Obscura)

Mar 2, 2017

The Flower Shop, From Son of NY Giants Owner, Opens on Eldridge — and More Intel

No more Waldorf salads from the source. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel closed yesterday, after 86 years of operation. Over the next two to three years, Anbang will convert over 1000 hotel rooms into condos. — The Flower Shopis now open on the Lower East Side (107 Eldridge St.) in the spot that had been Fontana’s for over a decade. The bi-level restaurant comes from Dylan Hales, a co-owner who is also partner in the Randolph bars, along with William Tisch and Dave Turner. According to Bedford + Bowery, William’s father, Steve Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, is said to be an investor along with skateboard legend, Tony Hawk. The Flower Shop offers a mid-Century rec room aesthetic with wood paneled walls. The lower level also has a bar with a pool table, jukebox, and pink fireplace. Here’s the menu. — Another location for Dos Toros is opening in Chelsea (668 6th Ave.) and it’s giving away a burrito and tacos for a buck on Tuesday, March 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s the 13th location of the chain from Leo and ... (Eater NY)

Oct 5, 2016

45 things to do in Metro Vancouver on Friday, September 16

Royal Wood plays the Fox Cabaret, with guest Tami Neilson. DJs Nikki Nevver and Vanessa Turner spin cult-hit music from the 1980s at the Astoria Pub. American alt-rock singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur plays the Cobalt, touring in support of his new album The Family. English alt-rock group Band of Skulls plays the Vogue, with guests Mothers. Australian ukulele master Azo Bell plays Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre on his North of the Equator tour. Alt-country group TrailerHawk coheadlines the Rickshaw with Vancouver-based folk-rock ensemble West of Memphis, with guests Lawless. Vancouver blues-folk artist Leah Barley plays the WISE Hall, with guests Shiloh Lindsey and Chicken-Like Birds. Mississauga hip-hop musician Ramriddlz plays Alexander Gastown, with guest DJ Floetic. Local blues artists Jerry Doucette, Shaun Verrault, Al Wailin' Walker, and Rob Montgomery and His All-Star Band play Edgewater Casino's Blues Guitar Blast. ETCETERA The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (above) features musicians, magicians, artists, tea masters, martial arts masters, and storytellers. FOOD & DRINK The Greek Food Festival at the Hellenic Community Centre celebrates Greek food and culture with performances by the Elkelam Dance Ensemble from Greece, a Hellenic heritage room, and tours of St. George's Orthodox Cathedral. The Brews n' Chews neighbourhood house party and pop-up pub night at Gordon Neighbourhood House raises money for the organizati... (Straight.com (blog))

Apr 28, 2016

Get the most original gift for your mom at these two Mother's Day events in Queens

Hall Teaching Artist, was born in South Korea, but earned a BFA from Pratt Institute. She returned to Korea to master Minwha. Tickets are $10. 2. Astoria Tiny Market at Crescent Wines & Spirit, 23-40 30th Ave., Astoria  (Sunday, May 1, 1 – 6 p.m., free admission) On Sunday, May 1, Astoria Tiny Market, which pops up every now and then, will offer locally made items such as jewelry and cat-inspired tchotchkes. The market will operate as a one-stop pop-up with local artisans, bakers, and crafters at Crescent Wines & Spirit from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors will be able to choose from artisanal chocolate, baby stationery, greeting cards, homemade cookies, knitted cup sleeves, and wine. Astoria Tiny Market was formed about one year ago by local crafters specifically to sell locally made crafts on special occasions such as Easter or Christmas. Its founder, Widad Franco, is an illustrator who owns the stationary store WidyCat. She works on everything from calendars to children’s books to toys. But this Ecuadorian immigrant is also a cat lover, so many of her products are influenced by Mimosa, her feline sidekick and pet. Attendees can also expect Silly Reggie, maker of quirky and snarky greeting cards, Single Girl Cookies, and Chocolate Dances, which combines chocolate truffles and wild dance performances. (QNS.com)

Feb 3, 2016

Inside the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, the Year's Best U.S. Hotel

Courtesy Waldorf Astoria It doesn’t have a rooftop deck or celeb-chef restaurant, but the gestalt of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago—the no. 1 hotel in the U.S., according to our 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards—has always been about high-touch service. Now under new ownership and kicking off a $22 million renovation to both its interiors and exterior, the Chicago hotel promises more with an amenity boost. We take you inside the best hotel in the U.S., by the numbers. Zero tips allowed. The Waldorf Astoria Chicago’s long-standing no-tipping culture means gratuity for everything from your bellman’s assistance to the hotel’s personal concierge program are refused with a smile. 16 treatments in the 14,000-square-foot spa. Also being refreshed as part of the renovation, the spa’s most unusual treatment is its Ashiatsu massage, during which an acrobatically inclined masseuse hangs from parallel bars attached to the ceiling and applies deep pressure with bare feet—and hands. 12 works of art. This includes the mesm... (Condé Nast Traveler)