...Restaurant Review...

Come Inn For A Meal

The Inn Bar And Restaurant
201-01 Northern Blvd., Bayside
(718) 281-3100
Cuisine: American
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Bar open until 4 a.m. daily
Credit Cards: All major
Parking: Meter


For a cozy atmosphere and a filling meal with the potential for a great night out, Bayside’s The Inn might have what you’re looking for.

The Inn Bar and Restaurant has several personas: a restaurant, chill bar and a place to watch the game; it’s the all-inclusive package. On summer nights the open windows allow the night breeze to infiltrate the surroundings. The dimly lit interior is anchored by candles at every table.

Starting the night with a glass of wine isn’t a bad pre-meal festivity. With a hearty list of appetizers, there’s something for every patron’s palate.

The mozzarella sticks aren’t too cheesy (pun intended) and don’t fall apart after the first bite. A portion of seven is more generous than most, and the potato skins with bacon and cheddar cheese may not be on the Atkins diet, but they’re a delicious indulgence. If you’re in the mood for fish, other starters include friend calamari, popcorn shrimp and mussels – any of which will run you from $3.95 to $13.50


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Mom Keeps Praying For Son’s Safe Return

Alex Jimenez Duran

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

Maria del Rosario Duran doesn’t know how much sand is left in the hourglass, but with each passing day she knows it might soon run out.

The Corona mother of Spec. Alex Jimenez Duran, one of three U.S. soldiers in Iraq rumored to be captured by al Qaeda almost three weeks ago, has held two vigils in the past week for her missing soon. Hope has begun to give way to desperation, and the proposition of bad news is starting to sound better than no news.

The family held vigils on May 24 and Wednesday in Corona attended by Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Corona) and Jose Peralta (D-Corona) with members of the community. A Monserrate spokesperson said Wednesday Rosario Duran hasn’t received any new information since last week’s vigil and is trying to maintain a positive outlook.

“This is too terrible for me,” Maria Duran said. “He’s only 25 years old. Alex, please. Come to my home. Come back.”

Spec. Duran grew up in Corona, but lived in Massachusetts with his father.

As of last week, U.S. troops had questioned hundreds of people and detained 11 in the search for Spec. Alex Duran, Pfc. Byron Fouty and Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack, Jr. who were feared captured by al-Qaeda during a deadly weekend ambush south of Baghdad, the military said Tuesday. Anzack was found dead May 23.

“We have conducted more than 450 tactical interviews and detained 11 individuals’’ as of last Monday night, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said.

The Islamic State of Iraq – an al-Qaeda front group that claims it has the soldiers – last week warned the U.S. to halt its search by about 4,000 troops and the Pentagon acknowledged for the first time that it believes the soldiers are in terrorist hands.

The three were last seen before a pre-dawn ambush Saturday that destroyed several Humvees in a U.S. convoy and killed four Americans and an Iraqi soldier traveling with them.

...Pol Gains Insight, 2 lbs After Week On Stamps...

Eric Gioia peruses the aisles for cheap eats.

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

Eric Gioia’s week-long hiatus into the life of those relegated to Food Stamp dependency is over. So what does he have to show for it?

How about being hungry and still gaining two pounds in a week.

That, in addition to fatigue and headaches, is what the Sunnyside Councilman endured through his “Food Stamp Challenge.” From May 10 to 17, Gioia lived on a $28 budget in an attempt to expose the deficiencies of the program and the devastating results potential cuts to the Farm Bill would render to the Food Stamps program. Gioia in turn quipped that more should be invested into feeding the hungry.


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...Cop Killers To Face Death...

By James J. Parziale
Cop killers could soon be staring at more than just a life sentence in the can: they might face the death penalty.

State Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) cosponsored legislation that has passed in the State Senate that will reinstate the death penalty for criminals who kill police officers, corrections officers or members of the Peace Corps.

“As a former Queens prosecutor and Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, I know firsthand that if we don’t fix the death penalty and get it back on the books, crime rates will undoubtedly increase,” Maltese said.

The bill passed in the Senate May 14 but companion legislation is still pending Assembly approval. It has Gov. Spitzer’s backing, according to Maltese spokeswoman Victoria Vattimo.

“It is for law enforcement officers,” she said. “As far as the voters of New York, polls have shown they are all for this.”

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...Take A Walk Into A Congo Maison...

Jean Prouvé’s Congo Maison sits on a Queens lot — for now.

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

The peculiar structure rests on stilts, nestled underneath the Queens side of the Queensboro Bridge with the beautifully painted Manhattan backdrop and East River serving as a backyard. It’s obvious the setting is not this particular building’s home, as it is surrounded by some unwelcoming terrain.

Studying the peculiarities of this futuristic creation, you come to find out that not only was it not built on this continent, it’s from a different era altogether.

The Maison Tropicale, constructed in 1951 by Frenchman Jean Prouvè, rests in a lot owned by Silvercup Studies in Long Island City for all to see. What onlookers might not know is that this architectural oddity has a much more exotic home than Queens – having been built in the Brazzaville, the capital of Belgian Congo.


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...All Criminals May Give DNA...

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

Legislation pushed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer that would require DNA samples to be collected from anyone convicted of any crime – including youthful offenders – is gaining popularity in Albany – and Queens.

This legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), retools a law passed last year by mandating that authorities collect DNA from anyone convicted of a crime, registered sex offenders and individuals on probation, parole supervision or registered as sex offenders. Essentially, it expands the legislation to indiscriminately cover all convicted criminals.

“Since its inception, DNA technology has proven to be an invaluable tool for our law enforcement officials,” Maltese said. “Increasing the scope of the DNA database will certainly help identify, arrest and convict criminals.

...Gas Pipe Still Exposed...

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

No progress has been made to tighten security around Keyspan Energy’s new high pressure natural gas line above the Grand Central Parkway.

As first reported last week in the Tribune, the gas utility has rerouted a pipe that travels into the Jamaica rail yard on a major overpass. The original pipe travels beneath the Grand Central, while its new counterpart – part of a series of replacements Keyspan is making – is exposed to subway trains that access the rail yard, weather elements and pedestrians.

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...Water Hike Alternative Offered By Boro Pols...

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

New Yorkers, prepare to get hosed starting July 1.

The New York City Water Board approved an 11.5 percent rate hike despite rabid resistance from local leaders and communities. This flies in the face of most of the negative commentary at last month’s DEP-hosted public hearing, at which politicians and community residents pleaded against the rate increase. Now, a single-family household will experience a $72-per-year hike.

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...Take Con Ed’s Power By Giving Options: Pol...

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

In response to a proposed rate hike by Con Edison, local politicians are telling the power company to take a hike.

At the forefront of this battle is Assemblyman Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria), who has proposed legislation that he feels would rectify an unwarranted increase to borough residents and businesses after last July’s crippling blackout in Northwest Queens. The proposed rate inflation wouldn’t take place until April 2008, but Gianaris and others are stupefied at Con Ed’s gall and lack of responsibility. They feel dumping the burden on consumers is outlandish.

“I would say it adds insult to injury, but that understates it,” Gianaris said. “One thing that has been obvious since last summer is that they don’t feel accountable to the people they serve.”

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...Run, Bike And Swim To Fight Lymphoma...

By JAMES J. PARZIALE

Dennis McKeever’s tug-of-war with cancer has come full circle. He has transitioned from patient to survivor, and recovered to become and advocate for awareness about the disease that takes so many innocent lives each year.

McKeever will board a plane Friday and venture down below the Mason-Dixon Line to Memphis for Sunday’s Triathlon benefiting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research. The fundraiser, sponsored by Team In Training, which has raised nearly $700 million in almost 20 years, gave McKeever a forum to help out. There will be more than 2,000 participants pushing their bodies to the limit in the name of awareness.

His website (www.active.com/donate//tntnycDMcKeev), which allows for donations to be made for the triathlon through June 6, has raised $5,490, nearly $1,500 more than the required amount to participate.


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