Zara Realty’s New Jamaica Residential Building “The 88” Honored by Queens Chamber of Commerce

“The 88″ in Jamaica, Queens was just named 2024’s Top Sustainable Multifamily Residential Development by The Queens Chamber of Commerce at the 2024 Building Awards, which took place on October 10th at JFK International Airport’s TWA Hotel.

The 88, located steps from Jamaica, Queens’ historic Rufus King Park, is an amenity-filled, nine-story, 223-unit residential building that combines elevated living with a climate-forward ethos that surpasses the sustainability standards set by local lawmakers.

Building owner Zara Realty created The 88 in collaboration with Ismael Leyva Architects, Builder Monadnock Construction, and strategic partner Avery Hall Investments.

Zara’s ownership began envisioning the 218,000-square-foot project as far back as 2007, when it started acquiring parcels for the building site. The result is a residential complex that will be 40 percent more energy efficient than required under New York City’s emissions standards.

“Queens continues to grow and thrive, thanks to the incredible work of the real estate, architecture, and construction communities,” said Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “The 2024 Building Awards Gala will honor these talented professionals who are shaping the future of Queens.”

“At Zara Realty, we’ve always believed that sustainability and quality living can go hand in hand. The 88 is a prime example of how thoughtful design and advanced technology can create a better future for our city,” said Tony Subraj, Co-Managing Partner of Zara Realty Holding Corp. “We are thrilled that our efforts to prioritize energy efficiency, eco-friendly solutions, and community inclusivity have been recognized at this prestigious level.”

The 88 is home to a solar rooftop installation capable of generating 69 kilowatts of energy — equivalent to removing 282 combustion- engine cars from the road. Zara buildings collectively comprise the largest residential solar installation in the City of New York.

Additional sustainable design features include water-conserving appliances, energy-efficient insulation throughout its building envelope, and predictive heating and cooling systems that intuitively respond to environmental conditions, minimizing energy consumption without sacrificing residents’ comfort.

Outdoor space was a constant consideration in the creation and design of The 88. In addition to the solar rooftop garden, the building features a 10,000-square-foot infinity garden and roof deck vistas where residents can lounge, dine and look out over the hills of Jamaica and the nearby, historically significant Rufus King Park.

The 11.5-acre Rufus King Park, located just one block from The 88, is situated on the former estate of Rufus King, one of America’s Founding Fathers. King was a statesman, signer of the U.S. Constitution, and New York’s first U.S. Senator. His former home, The King Manor Museum, is situated within the park and appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

King was an outspoken leader in the anti-slavery movement, and his children went on to serve as Governor of New York and the ninth president of Columbia University, a founder of the Cincinnati Law School, and second president of the Erie Railroad, which would connect New York City by rail to the west side of the Hudson,eventually reaching Lake Erie and beyond.

With 30 percent of its apartments set aside for income-restricted tenants, The 88 continues the King family’s spirit of inclusivity. Residents enjoy a host of amenities, including a 1,272- square-foot fitness center, 3,167 square feet of tenant     recreational space, and 6,480 square feet of community facility space on the groundfloor. These include a library lounge, a mediaroom, a billiard and gaming room, a co-working space with private video-conferencing booths, aprivate event space with a wet bar/kitchenette,and a state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio. In addition, the 169-space valet parking garage includes charging capabilities for 10 electric vehicles.

This sustainable multifamily residential development is one of 14 prominent projects being recognized.

Amir Sobhraj, Co-Managing Partner of Zara Realty Holding Corp. said, “The recognition of The 88 by the Queens Chamber of Commerce is a testament to the vision and endurance that began in 2007 when we first saw the potential for this development. Much like Rufus King’s relentless pursuit of America’s promise as the land of the free and home of the brave, we remained committed over many years to realizing this project’s promise of sustainable living. Today, The 88 sets a new standard for residential buildings in New York City, blending cutting-edge green technologies with the comfort and lifestyle our residents deserve.”

The 2024 Queens Chamber of Commerce Building Awards will be given out at a gala on October 10, held at the iconic TWA Hotel, a New York City landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the TWA Hotel reimagined Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center, which operated as an airline terminal from 1962 to 2001.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce has hosted its prestigious Building Awards annually since 1926. On its 98th annual, the gala has recognized projects that contribute to the architectural and economic vitality of the borough, ensuring Queens remains a vibrant, sustainable, and livable community.

Top High Schools in Queens, NYC in 2024

You send your child to one of our top high schools because you believe education is an investment. That has not changed for us. An investment in education pays off for their future. They have more choices, they are motivated in ways that other schools don’t even think, and they have an easier path to finding a passion.

At these schools, more resources are spent on giving individual attention to the student, hence there is a tuition. These schools give intense effort to create an atmosphere where students will thrive at ‘the next level’.

How to understand and improve your credit score in 2024

Credit is one of the most important aspects of a person’s financial life. This three-digit number affects nearly every facet of your financial life and makes it easier to achieve important milestones, like renting an apartment, buying a car, or getting a mortgage for your first home.

There are several components to credit that have an impact on you and your financial situation, so we’ve tapped the experts at Maspeth Federal Savings to help us become better informed.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know about building credit — even if you have no credit history whatsoever. In this month’s educational video, we explain what a credit score is, why it’s important to have good credit, how you can check your credit score, the factors that affect your credit score, and how to improve your credit score.

 

Q. What exactly is credit?

Technically, credit is a contract between a borrower and lender to borrow something (money, goods, or services, etc.) with the promise to pay over-time. The amount you owe is your debt to that lender. But borrowing isn’t free: It comes at cost. That cost is the interest rate the lender charges, which is the cost of borrowing.

If you want to purchase something but don’t have the cash on hand, you may be able to buy it through credit. Examples of buying through credit include:

  • “Buy now, pay later” programs like Amazon Affirm
  • Smartphone payment plans
  • Mortgage loans and rental agreements
  • Student and auto loans/leases
  • Credit cards

In essence, your credit is your capacity to borrow. That capacity is measured by your credit score—a number on a scale of 300-850 that represents how reliable you are as a borrower, i.e., how likely you are to repay what you borrow.

Think of your credit score as your financial GPA: Just as colleges use your GPA to decide on admission, lenders use your credit score to decide whether and how much they’ll let you borrow. The higher your score, the more likely they are to decide in your favor, but remember: Using credit is a privilege, not a right—no lender is ever obligated to give you credit just because you need or want to buy something.

 

Q. Why is it important to have good credit?

If you want to make a large purchase, rent an apartment, buy a house, buy or lease a car, apply for private student or business loans, or obtain insurance (basically, whenever you seek to acquire assets) lenders, insurance companies and landlords will look at your credit history and score to decide whether they will lend you the amount you want. Good credit increases your chances of getting not only approval but also a preferential (lower) interest rate. Conversely, bad credit may prevent you from getting approved for a loan.

What do lenders want to see? A person who is responsible enough to consistently take on debt and repay it in a timely manner. This is why “debt” isn’t necessarily a dirty word. In fact, having debt can be helpful: If you have zero credit history, meaning you’ve never taken on debt or you don’t have a credit account that’s at least six months old, then lenders cannot asses your credit worthiness. Without a way to gauge how likely you are to repay the debt, they might instantly decline your application for credit.

 

Q. How can I check my credit score?

Your credit score is tracked and managed by three major credit bureaus: Equifax®, TransUnion®, and Experian. You can access your report from each bureau for free weekly, which you can do easily at AnnualCreditReport.com. Check your reports once a year and look for unfamiliar entries, which may indicate fraud. You can also see your credit report for free whenever you apply for a loan. Just ask the lender to see the report they obtained from the bureau(s) they consulted.

Note there are two brands of credit scores available: A FICO® score and a VantageScore, which is just a brief summary of factors that affect your full FICO® score. Most lenders use the FICO® score to make their decisions, so go by that. Just be aware that when you’re viewing your score on sites like CreditKarma or your credit card dashboard, they’re likely showing you the VantageScore.

 

Q. How is my score calculated?

Each credit bureau has its own way of scoring based on different loan types and industries, and each lender has its own criteria when evaluating your credit report. But the key factors that affect your score and your approval include:

  • Payment history: Have you consistently paid off your debts in a timely manner?
  • Credit utilization: How much credit is available to you vs. how much do you borrow? Do you show restraint by borrowing a small percentage of what’s available, or are you constantly maxing out your lines of credit, which implies risky behavior?
  • Credit mix: The different types of loans you have, like credit cards, auto loans or mortgage.
  • Length of credit history: How long have you been borrowing and repaying debts? The longer your history, the more reliable you seem.
  • New inquiries: How many times has someone requested to see your credit report recently?

 

Q. What if I don’t have any credit history?

A long credit history increases your chances of getting a higher limit or a better loan, so start building credit as soon as possible. Here’s what I recommend (and what I did myself):

  • Become an authorized user: Starting at age 16, you can be added as an authorized user to a parent’s credit card. This can help you learn good financial habits and build credit. Please note the age requirement for being an authorized user on a credit card can vary by lender.
  • Get a student card: A special credit card designed for high school/college students. Terms may vary depending on the lender.
  • Get a “secured” credit card: You open an account with $200 and receive a credit card with that limit on it. So you’re essentially borrowing your own money but paying interest on your own money – for the sake of building credit. Make on-time payments for six months to a year until you see your score improve, then apply for a regular credit card and close this one out to get your $200 back. This is how I started.
  • Leverage your utility bills: Look into services like Experian Boost that allow you to integrate utility payments into your credit score.

Q. How do I improve my credit score?

The most important thing is to pay your bills on time. When it comes to credit cards, always pay more than the minimum amount due on your monthly statement if not the entire balance in full. If you only pay the minimum amount, you’ll still be charged high interest rates on the remaining balance.

The next thing is to aim for a credit utilization rate of about 30%. So if you have a credit limit of $1,000, cap your monthly charges at less than $300. Reaching a 90% utilization rate or maxing out your credit card implies you’re acting risky. If you absolutely must incur that extra debt due to an emergency, your score may dip temporarily but will rebound as long as you keep paying more than your monthly minimum going forward.

Additionally, don’t close out your first credit card. Use it periodically, pay it off, and keep it as long as possible. This will help increase the length of your credit history, which is the average length of each credit account you have. That also means that you shouldn’t be opening new credit cards every time a retail cashier offers you a deal at the register, because in addition to the inquiry showing up, each new account opening lowers your average length of credit history.

 

Q: What do I do if I have bad credit?

Access your credit report to find out why it’s low. Are there accounts you don’t recognize? If so, contact the credit bureaus to start a fraud investigation. Are there collections on your report? Reach out to the lenders for proof the debts are yours and ask to negotiate settlements in full or at a discount. This could be as simple as calling the billing department of a hospital and asking to claim hardship. Most of the time, lenders will work with you, but you have to ask nonetheless. In fact, this is part of what credit repair services do. They reach out to creditors to ask about settling on your behalf, which you can do on your own for free.

Once you’ve sorted your credit report, the most important thing is to continue paying your bills on time. It could take years to improve your score, but you’re on the right track.

 

Q. What are some common credit-related risks to watch for?

1. Fraud: Checking your credit report once a year is a good start, but if you’re not applying for credit or a loan anytime soon, contact the credit bureaus to freeze your account. When criminals try to open lines of credit on your behalf, they won’t be able to. When you’re looking to apply for credit again in the future, just unfreeze it.

2. Fine print. Whether you’re signing for a personal loan, an auto loan, a mortgage, etc., read the fine print. Take your time to ask questions and understand the final terms and numbers. You have the power to walk away at any point before you sign, even at the closing table. Trust your gut and don’t succumb to high-pressure salespeople or sketchy lenders.

3. Spending: It’s the best way to build credit and the best way to destroy it. Beware of spending money you don’t have and overborrowing. Avoid increasing your credit card limits or number of cards unless you absolutely need more borrowing capacity. Remember: Every swipe is a promise to pay with interest.

4. Balance transfers: Be careful of balance transfers as most are only for 1 year. After that, your balance will accrue interest at a high rate, upwards of 30%. Please note there is generally a fee between 3-5% charged by the creditor – please read the fine print.

5. Social media. While TikTok and Instagram shorts promise exciting financial strategies and payoffs, half of that stuff doesn’t actually exist—it’s just for content and you should always do your own research. Be wary of financial and real estate investment advice from social media.

Maspeth Federal Savings hosts regular financial literacy sessions at local schools and college campuses. Follow Maspeth Federal Savings on Instagram to find out when the next one is, or reach out to finlit@maspethfederal.com to request a seminar at your school or organization.

Maspeth Federal Savings does not base their credit decisions only on credit scores, they also consider other important factors from the borrowers such as debt-to-income ratio.

Maspeth Federal Savings
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Watch Guard 24/7 hosts Holiday Toy Drive to benefit CCBQ

Help brighten the life of a child this holiday season by donating a toy to Watch Guard 24/7’s Holiday Toy Drive.

Drop off your toy donation at WatchGuard 24/7’s LIC (34-07 37th Avenue LIC, NY 11101) or Glendale, Queens (71-16 Myrtle Avenue Glendale, NY 11385) locations,

All toys will be donated to families of Catholic Charities and Phipps Neighborhoods.

Watch Guard 24/7 is a leader in providing security, concierge, and fire safety director services to hundreds of locations throughout NY & NJ, and their CEO, John Rafferty, is known for his dedication to philanthropic.

“Success in life does not come from what we have, but from what we give. If we can all give a little more to others, we will not only be be better people ourselves, but the world will be a better place,” said John Rafferty, CEO of WatchGuard 24/7.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to helping NYC neighbors in need with mercy and compassion since 1899. Their programs and services not only provide essential resources and support, but also help to build stronger, more connected communities.

“Kudos to Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens for uplifting New Yorkers in need. CCBQ feeds seniors through meal delivery, help the homeless access food and housing, provide financial assistance when people lose their jobs, enrich young lives through quality programs, help people with disabilities thrive through specialized services and so much more.,” said Michele Rafferty, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Watch Guard 24/7.

See Watch Guard 24/7’s Instagram account for additional information.

Russo’s Group opens luxury apartments in Douglaston

On Tuesday, October 11th, the Russo’s Group cut the ribbon at its new Luxury Apartment Building at 241-15 Northern Blvd in Douglaston, NY.

Mr. Russo, CEO and Owner of the renowned Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, is known for his exquisite taste for luxury and attention to detail. Although the development began many years ago in mid-2001, the search for a quality architect and builder that could meet the highest of expectations for this project was a careful process. After many years of planning, Russo ultimately chose the

Respected architect, Frank J. Quatela of Quatela Architects, and the highly-experienced builder Zucaro Constructing LLC, to bring this extraordinary community to fruition. Together, with an experienced team on board, the design of the building continued to evolve and take presence over the course of two decades, leading to the complete beautifully designed structure that Russo’s Luxury Apartments are today.

The building is a six-floor, 54-unit residence and a four-unit retail commercial space that has been meticulously planned with gracious layouts, custom finishes and up to 9-foot ceilings with dynamic views. This amazing 91,200 sq ft residential building – with studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans – has indoor and outdoor amenities that enhance the lifestyle and comfort of its residents. Each unit is furnished with luxury features such as vinyl wood plank flooring, polished quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, modern cabinetry, subway tile backsplash, and under-cabinet illumination. With spacious closets, energy-efficient windows, individually controlled central air conditioning and gas heating, the apartments bring style, comfort, and well-being to the Douglaston area.

The amenities include a tenant lounge that has a fireplace, double height ceiling, wine lockers, live/work seating areas, and Wi-Fi. The roof deck features lounge seating, fire pits and barbeques along with stunning city views. Tenants will enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness center, dog run, controlled access garage parking, electric car charging stations, full elevator service, and onsite building superintendent. No stone was left unturned when planning this elegant community.

“We are thrilled to launch this project and contribute to the development of the Douglaston area,” said Mr. Russo, CEO of Russo’s Group. He goes on to say, “I knew this team would deliver the vision we started many years ago. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. We are confident that our luxury apartments will provide a comfortable and enjoyable living experience for our tenants. Our entire team is extremely proud to bring this project to market for this community.”

To learn more about the community, visit their website.

Top High Schools in Queens, NYC in 2023

You send your child to one of our top high schools because you believe education is an investment. That has not changed for us. An investment in education pays off for their future. They have more choices, they are motivated in ways that other schools don’t even think, and they have an easier path to finding a passion.

At these schools, more resources are spent on giving individual attention to the student, hence there is a tuition. These schools give intense effort to create an atmosphere where students will thrive at ‘the next level’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooklyn and Queens Flooded in the Midst of the Workday

By Oona Milliken, Matthew Fischetti and Charlie Finnerty | news@queensledger.com

From Rockaway Beach to Gowanus to Elmhurst, residents of Queens and Brooklyn faced the brunt of last week’s flooding as roadways, homes, subway stations and airports filled with water Friday in what has now been recorded as the worst storm to hit the city since Hurricane Ida.

Trash as a result of the flooding in South Williamsburg. Photo credit: Oona Milliken

Communities worked together all afternoon to clear drains and save neighbors from rising floodwaters but as the outer boroughs return to dry warm weather this week, questions remain about Mayor Eric Adam’s ability to communicate and prepare New York City residents for the historic severe storm.

Water rose to more than three feet high on the corner of Wallabout Street and Harrison Avenue in South Williamsburg on Friday Sept. 29 as New Yorkers across the city dealt with a bout of extreme flooding that prompted a city-wide state of emergency. Anthony Calderon, a Queens-based resident who works at Top Quality Management, a management company on Wallabout St, said he was cleaning up the trash from his office that the water had swept away and spread out across the area. Calderon said when the intersection flooded, he was reminded of storms such as Hurricane Ida, when New York City was shut down under a Flash Flood Emergency for the first time in recorded history and 13 people perished due to the rains. 

“Hectic. A lot of rain. It’s just kept coming, kept coming. On Wallabout and Harrison, the flood was coming up here, to your knees at least,” Calderon said. “I was afraid, like ‘Not again, what is this flood?’ I remember a couple of years ago when the hurricanes came, all the subways flooded and Queen’s Boulevard…That’s how I felt, I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Not again.’”

Mayor Eric Adams was slammed by critics for not giving proper notice of the flooding when his office knew of the dangers on Thursday evening and Governor Hochul had already issued a flash flooding warning for New York City earlier in the day. Adam’s office sent out an email alert at 11 p.m. on Thursday, but did not shut down schools and hosted a public briefing around noon on Friday, hours after the worst rainfall had subsided and the governor had already declared a state of emergency across the city. 

The New York City sewer system was originally designed to maintain 1.75 inches of rain per hour, but areas such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard were hit with 2.58 inches of rain per hour, as early as 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., according to the Mayor’s office.

“And so its no surprise, unfortunately, as a result, that that part of Brooklyn and a couple of other particularly (sic) part of Brooklyn have borne the brunt of this,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commish Rohit T. Aggarwala.

Right before noon, the mayor urged New Yorker’s to stay home or “shelter in place,” while many commuters were already at work. On the Wallabout St. and Harrison Ave intersection, Calderon said the flooding became so bad that community members stepped in and dealt with the problem on their own by removing a manhole cover and letting the storm water drain into the sewer systems. 

“People from the community thought of putting gates around, and I had to go do something, and when I came back I could just see a spiral [of water] going down right in the corner. It was amazing. I mean, you could see cars floating,” Calderon said. 

Community members gather around the open manhole drain. Photo credit: Oona Milliken

Sandy Spadavecchia was driving his car through the Wallabout and Harrison intersection when the water partially submerged his car, rising up inside and stalling his vehicle. Spadavecchia said he saw a couple of construction workers and Hasidic community members attempt to deal with the problem until someone finally pulled the manhole cover to drain the water. Spadaveccia said he was lucky his car stalled when it did because he could have driven right into the manhole as the water was running into the sewer system. 

“There was flooding and the car stalled out in the middle of going through it and that was it,” Spadavecchia said. “In some ways I was lucky because I stalled out three or four feet in front of that open manhole cover, I might have gone into that.” 

Spadavecchia said he felt the city could have prevented the piles of trash spread by floodwaters throughout the area had residents been told to keep trash inside during the storm. 

“In my personal opinion, they probably should have suspended trash pickup, because I did see a lot of trash bags that hadn’t been picked up clogging [the streets],” Spadaveccia said. “I mean, they knew this was coming so they probably should have told people to keep their trash in for the day.” 

Calderon and co-worker Peter Nieves, both at Top Quality Management, were mopping other stores on the street and picking up trash that had been spread during the floods Friday. When asked for a quote on the flooding, Nieves said he just wanted some help and maybe an alcoholic beverage.  

“Can I get a beer?” Nieves said.

Across Queens, where many residents are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Ida, floodwaters closed roads, impacted public transport and filled basements. Cars were overrun with flooding on Grand Central Parkway and in Rosedale, with a number of drivers abandoning their vehicles altogether. Waters engulfed Rockaway Beach, where nearly every home is considered to be at risk of flooding, suspending Long Island Railroad service

As early as 6 a.m. Friday, travelers at LaGuardia Airport were experiencing inclement weather delays. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the afternoon across the airport, stopping all departing flights due to the flooding and weather in the area, canceling or delaying nearly 40% of all flights Friday. Terminal A, the oldest section of the airport, flooded with several inches of water and shut down 11 a.m. Friday until early Saturday morning. Videos captured travelers trudging through ankle-deep water at gates across the terminal. Ongoing renovations in Terminals B and C have included flood protections that have not yet been implemented in Terminal A.

You don’t want to miss the Taste of Sunnyside food crawl and block party this year

Sunnyside, Queens is home to many noteworthy food establishments, and once a year, there is a huge event to celebrate. Organized by the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, The Taste of Sunnyside 2023 will feature a restaurant crawl, block party with live music, a local art exhibit, and more family fun activities on Sunday, October 15th from 2-7pm.

Over 40 restaurants will be set up outside of their storefront, serving exclusive items to attendees. Experience Mad For Chicken’s Kimchi Fries, Demole’s Ceviche, Limena’s Pico Sour, Chip City’s cookie, and many more popular brands.

The 2023 Taste of Sunnyside (TOS) will showcase the diverse cultural flavors of Sunnyside, Queens. With a wide variety of food, cocktail, and dessert offerings, and live entertainment, the Taste of Sunnyside is back and better than ever. Purchase tickets here.

Actor / model, Blaise Ffrench, can be seen in an AD campaign for The TOS. There is rumor that many other popular food influencers from around Queens will be visiting Sunnyside on the 15th to join in on the fun food experience.

This ticket provides all-inclusive access to the event’s offerings. Attendees will check in for the event at Lowery Plaza (40th Street and Queens Boulevard) or Bliss Plaza (46 Street and Queens Boulevard), under the elevated 7 train, and from there can follow recommended routes on our event map to try each ‘taste’ on the crawl. Attendees will be given a wristlet to get samples from participating venues.

Kimchi Fries from Mad For Chicken in Sunnyside

Ceviche from DeMole Restaurant in Sunnyside

Spicy Pico Sour from Limena Restaurant in Sunnyside

Attendees now have access to the Taste of Sunnyside Block Party, located on 46th Street, between Queens Blvd and Greenpoint Avenue, right under the iconic Sunnyside Arch. Get ready to party with DJ Kevin White, snap some pics at the Taste of Sunnyside photo booth, and lounge while enjoying live entertainment. In addition, Taste of Sunnyside will also host a local arts fair throughout the taste!

Several trollies will be available for those who would like transportation along the event route. In previous years, tickets have consistently sold out in advance, so attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets well in advance.

Stroll along Skillman Avenue, Queens Boulevard, 47th Avenue and 43rd Avenue— or wait for one of two trolleys making stops along the way to scoop them up and drop them off at their desired destination.

(Photo by Angélica Acevedo)

PARTICIPATING FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPONSORS: Their list of participating venues is growing and currently includes (list updated daily):

1. 43rd Bar & Grill (Home of the Atomic Wings)

2. Arcobaleno Gelateria NYC (Italian)

3. Ariyoshi (Japanese)

4. Blended Smoothies

5. Bliss 46 Bistro

6. BK Dim Sum (Chinese Fusion)

7. Bolivian Llama Party (Bolivian)

8. Brookside Market

9. Cardamom Indian Cuisine (Indian)

10. Chakra Café (Turkish)

11. City Tamale (Mexican)

12. Cool Beans (lattes, hotdogs, coffee, and more!)

13. Danubius (Romanian)

14. De Mole (Mexican)

15. Elio’s Ice Cream (Ice cream, donuts and more!)

16. Empire Shop (Sandwiches, acai bowls, and smoothies)

17. Fat Puppies

18. Jack’s Fire Department

19. Kaprichos (Colombian)

20. La Adelita (Mexican)

21. La Pollera de Mario (Colombian)

22. La Vienesa Bakery (Colombian Bakery)

23. Limena Pisco Bar (Peruvian)

24. Maison De Gateaux (French)

25. Mad For Chicken (Korean)

26. Moa Coffee (coffee, sweets, and more!)

27. Mr. Buncha (bubble teas)

28. Makina Café (Ethiopian)

29. Pete’s Grill

30. Ricas Pupusas and Mas (El Salvadorian)

31. Riko Peruvian (Peruvian)

32. Sanger Hall (American)

33. Senso Unico (Italian)

34. SoleLuna (Italian)

35. Sotto le Stelle (Neapolitan Pizza)

36. Spicy Nepal (Nepalese)

37. Sweet Avenue (taproom devoted to local brews)

38. The Spot Café (Craft sandwiches and Burgers)

39. The Globe Tavern

40. Tito Rad’s (Filipino)

41. Chip City

OG PapaFern: Bringing Argentinian Pizza to NYC

Argentinian pizza is making its way to NYC, thanks to Argentian born-NYC raised maestro pizzero, OG PapaFern. He hopes to popularize Fugazzeta, an Argentian staple that he grew up loving. 

Fugazzeta is Argentinian pizza similar to a traditional pie, but with a thick crust and topped with onions and cheese. The name “fugazzeta” comes from a combination of the Italian word “fugassa,” which means focaccia bread, and “cibuletta,” which means green onions in Italian. 

Early memories of Argentina for PapaFern include the time spent at his father’s restaurant, Traka Traka, where Fugazzeta and Empanadas were sold in the same vicinity. You may be asking yourself How did they get Italian food to Argentina? Or What do Argentians know about pizza? 

In the late 19th and early 20th Century, Italians flocked to Argentina in search of economic opportunities. Leaving behind a country riddled with poverty and taxation Italians were able to thrive in Argentina. The scarcity of food in Italy led immigrants in Argentina to create exaggerated versions of their traditional meals. Pizza is one of them. Fugazzeta has a lot of dough, a lot of cheese, and a lot of toppings. 

In the hands of OG PapaFern, Fugazzeta has had the opportunity of immigrating to America. Initially, he created his pies only for friends and family. Attending a pizza event, curious about Ooni ovens, Fern ran into Nicole of Last Dragon Pizza who introduced him to Nino, a seasoned pizzeria owner, who was skeptical to try a pizza with large amounts of onions on it. After indulging in the fugazzeta, Nino retracted his previous skepticism and even invited Fern to the NY Pizza Festival to showcase his pizzas alongside him. 

Fern was given the opportunity to witness the public reactions to his pies. He was shocked by the general curiosity and love he received from the public. Fern a Maestro Pizzero has continuously innovated Argentian Pizza since then by experimenting with the best ingredients, cold fermentation, and varying flavor palates. 

 He charged himself with the task of introducing people to the delicacy that is Argentian pizza. For the past three years, he has garnered a reputation on social media for his pop-up shops, involvement in pizza expos, and constant support of charitable organizations. He has also been embraced and encouraged by Felix of Happy Bull Pizza and Serhan of Next Level Pizza. Without the support of all of his pizza colleagues, there may have been no OG PapaFern Fugazzeta. 

Additionally, OG PapaFern strives to give back regardless of whether it is voluntary or through donation. 

“A lot of my existence is based on helping people,” Fern says. 

During Hurricane Sandy, in late 2012, he would ride his scooter to and from Breezy Point, NY. He carried with him boxes filled with supplies. The Maestro Pizzero works with charities like Slice Out Hunger, which fights food insecurity nationwide, and Direct Relief Organization, which provides humanitarian aid following disasters. 

 Fern’s success in popularizing Fugazzeta shows how food can be a bridge between cultures and bring people together. Be on the lookout for his collab with Nino’s AQ in Astoria as well as other restaurant pop-ups and books in the near future.

 “I am very happy to collaborate and do pop-ups with people who want to expand Argentinan Pizza,” Fern cheerfully expressed. 

 Stay connected with his journey on Instagram @og_papafern.

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