Thursday, March 19th, 2009
The Kettle restaurant at the corner of 51st Street and Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside was empty on a recent Saturday evening, with customers calling up and canceling their reservations at the last minute.
Patrick Tunney, owner of the restaurant for 14 years, knows the poor economy is hurting establishments like his. Nevertheless, he also blames the lack of business on the lack of parking in the area.
“Keep driving around, someone should get out soon,” Tunney said over the phone to a fed-up customer double-parked outside the restaurant.
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Friday, October 31st, 2008
It’s Friday afternoon at the Jamia Masjid Hanafia mosque in Queens, and congregants are spilling out of the two-story building. Some wear skullcaps and long robes. Others are clad in suits and ties as they slap each other on the arm and kiss cheeks in greeting. (more…)
Thursday, October 30th, 2008
Carmelo DePrima survived the Great Depression by shining shoes for a nickel a pair on Manhattan streets.
Today he relies on his Social Security check to pay his rent, which recently increased to $1,000. Still, the 92-year-old retired house painter from Sunnyside isn’t feeling sorry for himself.
“I feel sorry for you people,” he said. “I’m glad at least I already have one foot in the grave.”
For senior citizens, money is the top issue when voting. According to a 2008 Pew survey, 42 percent of people 65 years and older believe they are better off than their children, compared to 26 percent who say they are worse off.
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