Local reactions to Kosovo independence

The declaration of independence by Kosovo on 17 February has sparked interest and concern on the part of many Slavs of New York, not the least of which local Serbs.

On 19 February, Columbia University's Morningside Post ran Jackie Carpenter's "Independence Day for Kosovars in New York," documenting the celebrations in Times Square in support of the move.

The flip side showed up a few days later. The New York Times on 24 February ran an article, "Upheaval Over Kosovo’s Independence Echoes in a New York Enclave" by Anthony Ramierez, which features reactions by Serbs in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens.

Down the Jersey Shore, the Press of Atlantic City ran Amy Kuperinsky's "Independent Kosovo splits expatriates living in area" on 2 March.

And video from WNBC 4 of local Serbs (and Bosnians) at Stari Most in Astoria can be seen on the restaurant's website.

Below are photos from Sunday's protest near the United Nations.

End of Siberia

Last week marked the end of Siberia, the vaguely Sovietesque bar just beyond Port Authority. The Village Voice covered it in its "The Fall of a Perfect Dive."

The bar closed once before, but this time seems to be for real. Previously, it was located in the subway station at 50th street and Broadway, and had served in the past as a KGB drop point – if the rumors are to be believed.

Check out the Village Voice’s slideshow of the bar’s last night.

Photo: Tricia Romano for the Village Voice

Burek!

Last week, Gridskipper ran a feature on Burek in New York. Djerdan 34-04A 31st Avenue between 35th and 34th Streets in Astoria; 23-01 65th Street at 23rd Avenue in Brooklyn; and 221 West 38th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in Manhattan) topped the list.

Cevabdzinica Sarajevo (37-18 34th Avenue in Astoria) was there too. A few non-Slavic places were there as well, and just might be worth checking out:

• Zerza (Moroccan, 304 East 6th Street between First and Second Avenues in Manhattan)
• Café Roma (Kosher, 175 West 91st Street at Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan)
• Tony & Tina's Pizzeria (Albanian, 2483 Arthur Avenue in the Bronx)
• House of Pita (Middle Eastern, 32 West 48th Street in Manhattan)
• Tasty Shawarmy (Middle Eastern, 71 7th Avenue South at Bleecker Street in Manhattan)
• Aroma (Israeli, 160 Wooster Street at Houston in Manhattan)

And don’t forget Bosna Express (31-29 12th Street in Astoria), which somehow failed to make the list at all.

Previously on Slavs of New York: Another Cevapdzinica opens in Queens, Bosnian Grocery Shopping and Cravings takes on Bosnian and Polish cuisine

Cravings takes on Bosnian and Polish cuisine

Local foodie website Cravings recently published a feature on ethnic restaurants in the five boroughs, and singled out Bosnian and Polish cuisine for special attention.

They declared Burek of course as the highlight of Bosnian cuisine, after a visit to Djerdan (221 West 38th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues). Slavs of New York would go a bit further and also recommend the cevapci.

As for Polish cuisine, the star at Polam International Market (952 Manhattan Avenue between India and Java Street, Greenpoint) was the stuffed cabbage – at about 70¢ each!

Meanwhile, Cravings enjoyed the smoked bacon spread at Damis (931 Manhattan Avenue between India and Java Street, Greenpoint). The food at this jungle-themed restaurant apparently wasn’t up to snuff, but the meal was saved by this bacon spread which came free with the basket of bread before dinner was even served.

Slavs at the World Cup

We've gotten a few emails lately about where to watch the five Slavic teams compete at the World Cup, and so we figured we should blog it. Games begin on Friday, and not all bars will show all of the games so call ahead to figure out where's best to go. In no particular order, here's the list:

• Czech Republic: Bohemian Hall (29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, 718-274-4925). You can't go wrong with this big giant beer garden behind the historic Czech cultural center in Astoria. Aside from Czech beers, they're also having BBQs.

• Croatia: Scorpio (3515 Broadway at 35th Street. Astoria, 718-956-8233). We're not 100% sure they're playing the games, but if anyone is rooting for Croatia, it's Scorpio. Be sure to try the bijela kava (like a latee), certainly the best in the city.

• Serbia and Montenegro: Serbian Club (72-65 65th Place, Glendale, 718-821-9875). The mothership for Serbian fans. We've never been, but we hear it's well worth a visit. They've got cold beer, Balkan food and a big-screen TV. Can't go wrong.
  
  Fans of Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro can also check out Zum Stammtisch (69-46 Myrtle Avenue between 69th and 70th Streets, Glendale, 718-386-3014), which of course caters to Germans, but is also frequented by the x-YU communities in the area.

• Ukraine: Ukrainian Sports Club (122 Second Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets, East Village, 212-475-1340). If you're a Ukraine fan, there's no other place to be. Aside from the full bar with Ukrainian beer, there's a five-foot projection screen TV. The game schedule is on the front door, pass by and check it out.

• Poland: Smolen Bar and Grill (708 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, 718-788-9729). There must be a stack of places rooting for Poland, but we came up with nothing. Sage, a Slavs of New York reader, came to the rescue by pointing out Smolen, a neighborhood bar frequented by Russians and Poles serving up Polish beer.

UPDATE: Croatia's games will also be shown at the Croatian Center (502 West 41st Street, 212-563-3395) in Manhattan, open to the public and free admission. Croatia v Brazil (13 June at 2:55 p.m.), Croatia v Japan (18 June at 9:00 a.m.) and Croatia v Australia (22 June at 2:55 p.m.).
And Cafe Blue Light (30th Street & 35th Avenue, Astoria) also has a live feed on a plasma TV, as well as Balkan food and $3.50 beer.