Look – inexpertly doctored photos from a visit to ToyQube, a “designer toy store, art gallery, cafe, and lounge” in Flushing, Queens.
Dennis, Heather, and Sarah A at ToyQube
Flushing is the site of New York’s largest and most prosperous Chinatown. It’s also a very long subway ride from most other parts of the city, so I don’t get out there more than a few times a year. Our main destination this time was Fu Ran, which took over the the site of a famous restaurant specializing in cuisine of Northeastern China, the now defunct Waterfront International.
As far as Fu Ran goes, the jury is still out for me and my pals. Heather and I had one exceptionally good meal there a few months ago – steamed pork & sour cabbage dumplings that tasted like they’d been made to order and whole fish with a hot, spicy sauce. But the meal we had on this occasion was not that great. We did have this, but didn’t love it. Not sure if it was our taste that failed or the preparation.
Vampire Toast
However, we did make our third or fourth visit to ToyQube, a designer toy shop right up Prince Street from the restaurant. I’m tempted to call it an adult toy shop, but it’s not sex toys. It’s just toys designed for adults (see detail – vampire toast). In the photo above, Heather is holding Gloomy, the Naughty Adult Bear, who is pink and has a propensity for violence.
Although small, ToyQube does make room for a bubble tea counter and two tiny tables. This time, they were excited to announce the debut of a new type of boba (bubble tea bubbles): “Popioca, the bubble tea of the future.” Popioca bubbles have a refreshing liquid filling! I was a little worried about a cum-gum effect, but it was good. In the picture, you can see some passion-fruit flavored ones glittering futuristically in the February sun. The boba also come in chocolate and yogurt flavors. Tea available in about 30 flavors. Sarah A had a rose tea with chocolate popioca.
15 responses so far ↓
Cait // May 29, 2009 at 6:57 pm |
OMG, maybe there is a blog I can read – one that’s full of food, New York, pictures of people I know and like, and vampire toast!
Enjoying this a lot and on a regular basis but it’s taken me a while to decide what name and address I should use/be here (typical). But thanks!
I’ve still never had bubble tea but I think I would choose both chocolate and yoghurt over tapioca which makes me think of my great aunt and sickbeds.
Jane Glaubman // May 29, 2009 at 9:25 pm |
Thanks, Cait! We’ll have to make a trip to Flushing when you’re here in the
fallautumn.Nancy // May 29, 2009 at 8:47 pm |
I, too, have never had bubble tea–I seem to keep moving just ahead of the trend. Nor have I ever had tapioca; clearly my culinary education is deficient. But I’m all over vampire toast.
Jane Glaubman // May 29, 2009 at 9:26 pm |
Vampire toast: the toast that eats you.
Auden // May 30, 2009 at 12:12 am |
Can Sarah be any cuter?
Vampire Toast looks like a “turned” Kogepan.
Our restaurant served something like the mung bean sheet salad. It’s spicy and there’s no peanut sauce.
I look forward to the day when Austin gets popoica. We’ve only just in the past couple of years gotten pinkberry-style yogurt, korean fried chicken and a Fogo de Chao.
Jane Glaubman // May 30, 2009 at 9:49 am |
OK I had to look a couple things up here! We don’t have Fogo de Chao in New York. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been to one of those Brazilian or Argentinian meat-o-rama places, though I’m sure we have them.
The version of the mung bean sheet salad we had was definitely not spicy, but IIRC it didn’t actually have peanut sauce on it either – I was surprised when I read that. But it did look like the picture.
I was not familiar with Kogepan, either. It does look a little like (her?) But I promise it was toast!
Auden // May 30, 2009 at 12:32 pm |
Apparently Willow and Tara has a Kogepan. I think Willow also has a Domo-kun plush. John and I thought Kogepan had a brother and he said they should be named Hemlich Toastman and Heinrich Toastman. Kogepan, like, Pankunchi, has a needlessly sad backstory (http://www.lazyjuice.com/!/kogepan/). Here’s a needlessly poignant plush toy (http://www.blippo.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=326).
Jane Glaubman // May 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm
That doll is disturbing.
That story isn’t … canon, is it? It looks like it was made up by the guys on the site, somewhat satirically. Or is Kogepan officially a burnt red bean bun?
Auden // May 30, 2009 at 12:43 pm |
I kind of want that doll.
It’s not satire, that site is legit. I wonder what the backstory of Vampire Toast is. Whatever it is I bet it loves to be slathered with strawberry jam.
Jane Glaubman // May 30, 2009 at 1:44 pm |
Satire is legit! But seriously – is that a fan site interpreting for an English language audience? or a company site?
I guess you’re right, the Vampire toast must be related. Sorry it was so much trouble to convince me
Auden // May 30, 2009 at 2:21 pm |
Yes! Satire is legit! As Messrs. Stewart and Colbert have shown. I think that fansite probably tweaked/translated the official Kogepan bio. Actually Kogepan is designed by Sanrio and Vampire Toast is designed by Dan Goodsell (http://theimaginaryworld.com/mrtdol.html). I think they look alike because both bread dolls have similar blank souless eyes.
Jane Glaubman // May 30, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I am going to add “bread dolls with blank, soulless eyes” to the tags.
Start planning guest posts, girlfriend.
Auden // May 30, 2009 at 2:55 pm |
“I am going to add “bread dolls with blank, soulless eyes” to the tags.”
I would be honored to guest post! I’ve always wanted to write a “How to shop at an Asian grocery store” post. My only concern is being discovered and fired like petite anglaise.
Jane Glaubman // May 31, 2009 at 3:14 am |
You will not be discovered! That would be an incredibly useful series of posts – I think it will run to several. We should get on IM tomorrow and discuss it (or email).
Auden // May 31, 2009 at 10:16 am |
Okay!