Free Eggs !

Well, almost. Our newest natural food store, Greenline Organic, on Austin St., is giving away a box of eggs with any purchase of $12 or more. One of the employees told me this promotion will last another month or so, as long as supplies last. So if you’re into eggs, and haven’t paid a visit to this attractive new organic store, now is the perfect time!

Toys R Us on Austin

Image via Wikipedia

In case you haven’t heard – Toys R Us is opening up a temporary store on Austin St. where the Annie Sez/ Mandee was. It is part of a strategy by the retailer to greatly expand its storefronts for the holidays: Toys R Us Plans a Pop-Up Store Holiday Blitz

Organic Competition Heats Up

I stopped into the new Greenline Organic store on Austin today. As I walked inside I heard one lady exclaim: “Our neighborhood needs more places like this!” And that about sums up my impression too. I think it’s a charming addition to our local food shopping choices here in Forest Hills.

The first thing I noticed is the store is very upscale-looking, and it overflows with a very attractive arrangement of produce onto the sidewalk in front.

The store has everything you’d expect from an organic market, and everything they stock looks very fresh. I noticed they have some meats and salads like chicken salad and tuna also.

I’m not going to complain, but I have to point out that the store may test your shopping patience a bit! As you head to the back where the store splits into two sections, one for veggies and one for dairy, there is room for only one person at a time to fit into those spaces, unless you are thin as a rail. But like I said—as I munch on the delicious red grapes I bought from the place today—I am not going to complain. We definitely can use more stores that are as inviting and pleasing as this in Forest Hills.

Speaking of the grapes I bought, they cost me $3.38 for the bag. I also bought a couple of apples which together came out to 83 cents. I also bought a box of organic tea for $3.39 (the same box is priced $4.99 at Natural).

So there you have my report from my brief sojourn into our new organic store here in The Hills. I am interested in hearing your impressions as well, so feel free to share them below. Also see the previous post about this store for more info on it, including another detailed review of one shopper’s experience there.

Open 24 Hours

Just  a quick FYI — the new Greenline Organic store on Austin St., which opened today, is open 24 hours, according to one reader who stopped by there already. I will pay it a visit this weekend to check it out and then post my impressions.

The Hills Are Alive…

… with the sounds of stores opening — — Greenline Organic on Austin opens this Saturday, October, 16th — and lively chats  — such as the one in our chat room tonight at 9 pm with Michael Perlman, local preservationist. We hope you join us!

Retail Theory

I’ve had this theory for the past several years that you can tell when a neighborhood is improving by the appearance of very specific types of retailers or restaurants. I came up with the theory during the time I spent living in Park Slope and watching that neighborhood change. Let me explain.

The first thing was the appearance of Thai restaurants, believe it or not. Thai food places were among the first places to open in Park Slope when it began to gentrify. Here in Forest Hills we have certainly seen those open over the past few years, along with other upscale Asian fusion restaurants.

The other kind of retailer that began to move heavily into Park Slope were organic markets. And lo and behold, we have begun to see them begin to multiply here in Forest Hills as well.

And that leads me to the real reason for this post: the opening of another organic food place, Greenline Organic, this time on Austin St. between 72nd Ave. and 72nd Road.

Multiple Personalities

Isn’t it interesting how different Forest Hills can be from one day to the next?

Last night, we had helicopters buzzing overhead as a disturbed man went slashing people with a razor blade on Austin. While today, on a crisp, Autumnal morning it’s as if that never happened. We have a family-friendly street fair on Austin going on in the same place as last night’s craziness.

Chic Shopping

I like this new banner that the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce has come up with:

Morning Coffee

The homestead is being battered this morning by gusty winds from the tropical storm moving up the coast. I hope the old shanty holds together after the pounding it received a couple of weeks ago.

From one of my favorite meteorologists (yes, I admit it, I have a favorite meteorologist – major geek here) :

The eastern arm of rain that was drenching New York City is moving north, so they will probably have a significant period with little or no rain today. However, as the north-south river of moisture moves slowly eastward, the risk of heavy rain in Philadelphia, and then New York City, will increase.

Aside from that, here’s a little news:

• Still no word on the cause of death of that person found in our Barnes & Noble’s bathroom.
• The MTA is now thinking of keeping its unlimited metrocards, albeit at the higher price of $104.

On a lighter note, our annual Fall Street Fair returns this Sunday all along Austin!

By the way, if you have a chance, check out this blog’s new Local Shopping page and add to it as you see fit. It’s just getting started. And don’t forget the Local Restaurants page either. If you have recently discovered a store or restaurant in our area that you really love, I for one would love to hear about it, and I am sure so would the blog’s readers.

Man Found Dead In Barnes & Noble

This just happened this afternoon. Supposedly he is 25 years old and they have not yet released his name or the cause of death:

Man found dead inside Barnes & Noble bathroom in Queens – NYPOST.com.