Offering top-notch entrées, appetizers, beverages and desserts, exactly 49 vendors served samples of their products to more than 700 attendees in a festive atmosphere during Queens Taste 2014 at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel on April 29.
Hosted by the Queens Economic Development Corporation, the twelfth annual extravaganza included performances by a Big Apple Circus clown, two tables full of World’s Fair memorabilia from the Queens Historical Society and The Port Authority of NY & NJ, and special Mets ticket offers.
There was also a taste competition as judged by a team of local foodies and media types. Zenon Taverna, which serves Greek and Cypriot food in Astoria, took Best Entrée honors with a Mediterranean octopus dish, lamb meatballs and taramosalata. Sunnyside’s Murphy’s Seafood Grill, which gave out oysters on a half shell, won Best Appetizer, while DF Mavens, which makes a wide variety of dairy-free ice cream flavors, prevailed as Best Dessert.
“A great time was had by all,” stated QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “The food, the beverages, the networking, and the upbeat atmosphere were simply fantastic. I’m already looking forward to next year, and I am extremely grateful to our lead sponsor Fairway Market.”
Participants included Amerivents, Bill’s Balls, Brooklyn Brewery, Chee Bonnet Cheesecake Balls, Christos Steak House, Desserts that Matter, DF Mavens, Dog & Duck Gastropub, Drink More Good, Dutch Kills Centraal, e-Desserts, F. Ottomanelli Burgers & Belgian Fries, Fairway Market, Jam Jar Bakery, Granola Bar None, La Adelita, La Fusta, Little Bird Chocolates, Magna Ristorante, Mama’s of Corona, Manhattan Beer Co., McClure’s Pickles, Murphy’s Lobster Grill, O Lavrador, Pa-Nash Restaurant, Pine Restaurant, Ponciana Tree, Punzoné Vodka, Queens Brewery, Rose House, Rudy’s Bakery & Café, Sheraton Catering Company, Shiro of Japan, Smoke Kimchee, Soul Snacks Cookie Company, The Turkish Cultural Center, Take a Break and I’ll Bake, Tropisec Uncle Peter’s Restaurant, Yardie Treats, Yoli and Zenon Taverna.
Jim Silver is recognized as one of the preeminent experts in toys and play.
Silver is CEO/editor-in-chief of TTPM, the #1 source for all things play where consumers can research and find the best playthings. TTPM is the only site that combines expert reviews (video and written) with live price comparison, one-click purchasing, and product availability at major retailers including Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys”R”Us, Babies”R”Us, buybuy BABY, GameStop, Best Buy, Sports Authority and Modell’s Sporting Goods.
More than 30 years working in toys and play has enabled Silver to forge relationships with industry leaders and influencers. These relationships provide Silver with the inside track for industry trends, news, and analysis.
Silver appears in a wide variety of television, print, and online interviews each year.
At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation, the Audi A3 was declared the 2014 World Car of the Year.
Audi is no stranger to our World Car Awards program – now in its 10th year. Audi has now won a total of seven times, having previously collected the inaugural 2005 World Car of the Year title, three World Performance Car titles in 2010, 2008 and 2007, and two World Car Design of the Year titles in 2008 and 2007.
The Audi A3 was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-four vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of twelve, then three finalists: The BMW 4 Series, the Mazda 3 and the Audi A3.
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, said: “The Audi A6 was the first ever winner of this award and we are delighted that the Audi A3 has repeated that achievement by being voted 2014 World Car of the Year. The Audi A3 showcases Audi’s technical competence in all aspects of carmaking, not least in the areas of lightweight technology, drivetrain, mobile infotainment and driver assistance systems. This major award win is an achievement that the whole company can celebrate”.
The World Car Awards jurors observed that, “It might borrow styling hints from its bigger brothers, but the A3 still offers classic, chiseled contours and even better interior trim levels. With a superb choice of engines and 4 body styles, the A3 range packs a hefty premium punch in the small luxury segment. Audi should be complimented for making this A3 ride like no other A3. All the old shimmer over rough surfaces has gone, replaced by a silky smooth ride that approaches limousine quality”.
To be eligible for the overall World Car award, the candidates must become available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning January 1, 2013 and ending May 31, 2014.
Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of sixty-nine top-level automotive journalists from twenty-two countries around the world. Each juror was appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work. Through their respective outlets they collectively reach an audience of many millions world-wide.
Previous World Car of the Year winners are the Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Up! in 2012, the Nissan Leaf in 2011, the Volkswagen Polo in 2010, Volkswagen Golf in 2009, the Mazda2 / Mazda Demio in 2008, the Lexus LS460 in 2007, the BMW 3-Series in 2006, and the Audi A6 in 2005.
About the World Car Awards
Now in their tenth year, the annual World Car Awards are now the number one awards program in the world based on Prime Research’s 2013 report. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. Peter Lyon (Japan) and Matt Davis (Italy) are the co-chairs; Jens Meiners (Germany), Mike Rutherford (U.K.), Eddie Alterman (USA), and Gerry Malloy (Canada) are the directors. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
World Liberty TV, Motor Team was on Hand and did an Exclusive interview with Mr Peter Lyon ,Chairman of The World Car Awards, in the interview you will learn all aspects , about committees, voting , Choosing The Winning Car, and everything at the end is tallied by KPMG, and the winner is announced at the ceremony, watch this exclusive interview right here in our World Liberty TV, Motor Channel.
As a part of today’s opening day ceremony, Governor Cuomo led the traditional parade of vehicles through the Javits Center by driving a 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. Governor Cuomo’s personal 1975 sky-blue Corvette Stingray, which he had restored, and his 2011 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide will be on display for the duration of the show, as well as a 1932 Packard Phaeton once owned by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and a 1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine once owned by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. The vehicles once owned by Governors Roosevelt and Rockefeller were provided by the New York State Museum.
Marcus Samuelsson was born into an eclectic culinary existence. Born in Ethiopia, he grew up in Sweden, cooking from its abundant local pantry at a young age alongside his grandmother, a professional chef. After graduating from the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, Samuelsson apprenticed in Switzerland, Austria, and France before finally coming to the United States—and bringing an already well traveled palate with him.
In 1995, he was hired as the executive chef at New York’s Aquavit, earning it three stars from The New York Times in just three months. Four years later, he was James Beard’s “Rising Star Chef,” and in 2003 the “Best Chef, New York City.” As plaudits came in, Samuelsson evolved from the wunderkind of Scandinavian cuisine (at a time when “Nordic” didn’t carry nearly as much weight) to exploring his roots. Again, his work didn’t go unrecognized. The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa received a James Beard Award for “Best International Cookbook” in 2007.
Since then Samuelsson has rocketed to the forefront of national and international culinary scene. He co-founded Townhouse Restaurant Group and wrote Aquavit and the New Scandinavian Cuisine, En Smakresa med Marcus Samuelsson, New American Table, and his memoir Yes, Chef. He’s appeared in myriad television shows, hosting “The Inner Chef with Marcus Samulesson” and judging for Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Most recently, he founded FoodRepublic.com and opened Red Rooster in Harlem and its sister speakeasy Ginny’s Supper Club. Samuelsson is an ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; he also is a StarChefs.com Advisory Board member and serves on the board of directors of Careers through Culinary Arts Program.
Volvo is a Swedish multinational manufacturing company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Its principal activity is the production, distribution and sale of trucks, buses, and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, and provides financial services. Although Volvo was established in 1915 as a subsidiary of AB SKF, a Swedish ball bearing manufacturer, the auto manufacturer considers itself officially founded on 14 April 1927, when the first car, the Volvo ÖV 4 series, affectionately known as “Jakob”, rolled out of the factory in Hisingen, Gothenburg.
Volvo means “I roll” in Latin, conjugated from “volvere”, in relation to ball bearing. The name Volvo was originally registered in May 1911 as a separate company within SKF AB and as a registered trademark with the intention to be used for a special series of ball bearing This idea was only used for a short period of time and SKF decided to use “SKF” as the trademark for all its bearing products.
In 1924, Assar Gabrielsson, an SKF Sales Manager, and Engineer Gustav Larson, the two founders, decided to start construction of a Swedish car. Their vision was to build cars that could withstand the rigors of Sweden’s rough roads and cold temperatures.
The company AB Volvo had no activities until 10 August 1926. After one year of preparations involving the production of ten prototypes, was set up to carry out the car-manufacturing business within the SKF group. AB Volvo was introduced at the Stockholm stock exchange in 1935 and SKF then decided to sell its shares in the company. Volvo was delisted from NASDAQ in June 2007, but remains listed on the Stockholm exchange.
In 1999, Volvo sold its car division Volvo Cars to Ford Motor Company for $6.45 billion. The Volvo trademark was shared between AB Volvo, where it is used on heavy vehicles, and the unit of Ford, where it was used on cars. Volvo stopped posting profits in 2005, and in 2008, Ford decided to sell its interest in Volvo Cars.
In August 2010, Ford completed its sale of Volvo Cars to the Chinese motor manufacturer Geely Automobile (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group) for $1.8 billion.
