General Daily Insight for March 07, 2024

Anything seems possible on a day like this, even if that’s not actually the case. We’re all in the mood to get along as the Moon moves through friendly Aquarius, encouraging us to link up with like-minded friends and acquaintances in order to find fulfillment. Things get a bit of a bump, however, when the Moon squares off excitable Jupiter in stability-loving Taurus at 4:08 pm EST, making it only too easy to overestimate our abilities. Retain a sense of reality.

The daytime soap opera world will welcome its first new series starring a predominantly Black cast in 35 years.

CBS, in partnership with civil rights organization NAACP, announced Wednesday its development of “The Gates,” a soap centered on a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.

The daytime drama will be written by Emmy winner Michele Val Jean, whose credits include more than 2,000 episodes of iconic soaps including “The Bold & The Beautiful” and “General Hospital.” The 72-year-old daytime veteran, who served as a script writer for the Black-led “Generations” in the early 1990s, will also serve as showrunner.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” CBS Studios/NAACP president Sheila Ducksworth said in a statement. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television.”

“With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, ‘The Gates’ will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture,” the former “Soul Food” producer added.

Once the dominating content of daytime, there are currently only three soap operas still airing on network TV: “The Young & the Restless” and “The Bold & the Beautiful,” both on CBS, and ABC’s “General Hospital.”

In 2022, “Days of Our Lives” moved exclusively to the Peacock streaming platform after 57 years on NBC.

Owner Amy Tichenor felt Queens’ best beach neighborhood was missing a proper tiki bar and filled that gap in April 2021. The magic is in the details at Rockaway Tiki Bar. Beyond just serving frozen cocktails, the bar is stocked with quality liquor, and the thoughtful food menu appeals to diners with all types of diets. The funky decor plastered all over the walls is carefully curated, with license plates from Hawaii and Mexico and photos from Amy’s travels to tiki bars around the world.

I showed up on a Saturday afternoon intending to try a frozen concoction or two, but I also brought a healthy appetite. Even in January, I found the bar packed, likely due to their weekend brunch program, which debuted this year on New Year’s Day. I was not in a brunch mood, though, so I ordered from the standard menu.

There’s a nice mix of plant-based and carnivorous options and even an entirely separate menu for gluten-free diners. Rockaway Tiki Bar considers dietary needs to such an extent that  all of their soy is gluten-free and all of their mayo is vegan.

The first thing that caught my eye were the different options for dumplings: chicken teriyaki, pork and cabbage, pan-seared shrimp or edamame. Having never had an edamame dumpling before, I went for the latter. They have two bao bun varieties, both vegan: miso mushroom or peanut tamari tofu. I ordered the mushroom.

The poke bowls are the best sellers, so I also had to go with one of those, topped with ahi tuna, and I threw in a kimchi hotdog for good measure.

The edamame dumplings were simple, steamed dumplings, filled to the brim with buttery, nutty, al dente edamame.

They say you eat with your eyes first, and the poke bowl definitely supports that theory. Like a rainbow on a plate, the bowl was piled high with morsels of deep pink tuna, pops of green edamame, slivers of purple cabbage and orange carrots, all decorated with black sesame seeds and salmon-colored spicy mayo. The taste brought just as much flair, and I can foresee my summer days in the Rockaways being fueled by a refreshing poke bowl taken to-go to enjoy on the beach.

The miso mushroom bao buns won the gold for me. The fluffy buns are stuffed with umami-packed meaty mushrooms, and the miso gives it just enough creaminess, which contrasted well with the tang and crunch of the marinated cabbage. I could’ve only had the mushroom bao buns at Rockaway TIki Bar and it would be reason enough to come back.

That said, I sure am glad I also ordered the kimchi dog. Even in the frigid New York winter, something about being near the beach makes me a sucker for a hotdog. The kimchi dog, priced at only $9, is topped generously with pickled, spicy kimchi, cabbage slaw, shredded cheddar, and spicy mayo on a Martin’s potato roll. Just as I could foresee fueling myself with the poke bowl on my more civilized Rockaway days, I can just as easily imagine sitting at Rockaway Tiki Bar with a kimchi dog, then knocking back a few frozen cocktails to work up my appetite for another.

Speaking of the cocktails, you won’t find premixed, products full of high fructose corn syrup here. All the juices and syrups are fresh, and the liquor in stock features several women-owned tequila brands, as well as local vodkas and gins. But don’t feel pressured to stick with sugary, citrus-packed drinks just because of the environment you’re in.

“The bartenders know what they’re doing,” Amy tells me. “If you want a martini, you can get a martini.”

But if you do find yourself there on a particularly hot day — or during their weekday happy hours from noon to 6 — you simply must try their Painchiller, made with three Caribbean rums, pineapple juice, coconut cream and orange juice, topped with fresh grated nutmeg.

Address: 6720 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Queens, N.Y. 11692

Phone: (347) 619-9369

Hours: Monday to Friday noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Prices: Tiki Bites $7-$13; Specialties $9-$20

Takeout and delivery available; no reservations.

Have a suggestion for a great hidden dining gem in your neighborhood? Reach out to Kaitlyn with your recommendations at nomannomad.net@gmail.com.

General Daily Insight for March 06, 2024

An active effort to heal can work wonders. The day begins with a pleasant shock as the Moon trines rebel Uranus, but the skies will reverberate with much stronger energy when action planet Mars makes a helpful sextile to soulful Chiron at 6:04 pm EST, giving us the impetus to work through old wounds and reach a happier destination. The Moon will then go on to enter free-thinking Aquarius where it will conjoin alchemical Pluto, ending the day on potent note.

“[There’s] a real emotion of fear around them when they get angry,” a source said of Van Ness, who uses they/them pronouns. “It’s almost like a cartoon where it oozes out of them. It’s intense and scary.”

The publication spoke with over 10 anonymous sources from the “Queer Eye” production team and others who have worked with Van Ness, with many claiming the star’s nasty behavior was creating so much toxicity behind the scenes that the other castmates were becoming hesitant to film with Van Ness.

Four people who held prominent roles on the production referred to Van Ness, 36, as a “monster,” a “nightmare” and “demeaning.”

Seven others told Rolling Stone the star would lash out at crew members, making filming “difficult in any capacity.”

“At least once a day, they would need to yell at somebody,” a source said. “It might be something small, but there’s always going to be somebody to point out and blame and make the villain of the day.”

Their “unprofessional” behavior and need to be the center of the show also sowed significant animosity amongst the other stars.

“[Van Ness] didn’t want to ever share the spotlight with anyone,” another source added. “There were times when we couldn’t even shoot scenes with certain members of the Fab Five together because it got so bad.”

Those certain members reportedly included interior design expert Bobby Berk, who announced in November his decision to leave the production after season 8, which recently premiered on Netflix.

Berk elaborated on his departure in a recent profile for Vanity Fair, discussing contract negotiations and a rumored rift with fashion expert Tan France, but didn’t make mention of any issues with Van Ness.

Commonly identified by their initials JVN, the grooming expert and internet personality has hosted the show since 2018 and is also a podcaster, bestselling author, comedian and owner of a line of non-gendered haircare products.

“Jonathan’s a person who contains multitudes and who has the capacity to be very warm, very charismatic, and has the capacity to make you feel really special that they are paying attention to you,” another source told Rolling Stone — though that persona appears to be constructed.

“There’s a real contrast between that and the way that they treat the people who are closest to them across the board,” said another insider who worked with Van Ness. “It’s the opposite of what this person is touted and paid to be.”

Reps for Van Ness have not yet replied to a request for comment on the accusations.

It seems Taylor Swift’s knack for writing runs blood deep — all the way back to poet Emily Dickinson.

The “Karma” singer and the “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” author are distant relatives, specifically “6th cousins, three times removed.” Genealogical site Ancestry.com revealed on Monday that the two writers descend from “a 17th century English immigrant” who settled in Windsor, Connecticut.

That distant ancestor was Dickinson’s sixth great-grandfather and Swift’s ninth, Ancestry.com added. Swift’s side of the family stayed in Connecticut for “six generations until her part of the family settled in northwestern Pennsylvania,” the site told Today.

“Guess we can truly say that all’s fair in love and poetry,” the site captioned an Instagram post unveiling its discovery.

The new Swift-Dickinson link brings some Swifties’ long-gestating theories full circle. Years ago, eagle-eyed fans of the “Bad Blood” singer noticed that she released her single “Evermore,” the evening of Dec. 10, 2020 — what would have been Dickinson’s 190th birthday. For those wondering, Swift — born Dec. 13, 1989 — and Dickinson share the same astrological sign: Sagittarius. Additionally, Swift’s song and album of the same name sounded similar to Dickinson’s “Sue — forevermore!”

Dickinson lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, and died in 1886 at age 55. She was known for short, lyrical poems that included “Success is counted sweetest,” “Wild nights — Wild nights!” and “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.”

Upon receiving the songwriter-artist of the decade award from Nashville Songwriters Assn. International in 2022, Swift, 34, said the poetic feel of her music was no coincidence.

Swift will seemingly take her love for poetry up a notch with her forthcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which she announced at the 66th Grammy Awards in February.

“I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years,” she said, “which is that my brand-new album comes out April 19.”

Swift, the self-proclaimed chairman of the Tortured Poets Department, made history at the Grammy Awards, setting a record for the most wins by an artist in the category for album of the year.

Since her big announcement, Swift has slowly doled out information on social media about her newest release. Since announcing “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift has revealed her tracklist, featured artists and the album art.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

General Daily Insight for March 05, 2024

Finding opportunities won’t require much effort today. The Moon in capable Capricorn begins with a supportive sextile to masterful Saturn, helping us identify what needs to be done, but then a special lunar trine to fortuitous Jupiter at 1:30 pm EST will show us the best and most exciting way forward. The Moon will go on to sextile the Sun before forming a square to Chiron, so we will need to look inward to ensure our outer actions are aligned with our deepest desires.

If it’s homemade, you really can’t lose with chicken noodle soup, can you?

One of the world’s most beloved comfort foods, a bowl of the nourishing liquid instantly makes you feel better when you’re sick or lonely, and is just so warm and soothing when it’s still a little chilly outside.

It can be ladled into a cup to enjoy on the living room couch, or be paired with bread and a salad for a quick and casual supper. Sliced carrots add a bit of color and crunch and who would say no to a finishing sprinkle of flaky salt.

This deliciously simple recipe from Milk Street for sujebi, a traditional Korean noodle soup, achieves the perfect balance of umami and spice. It combines shredded chicken breast, carrots and sliced zucchini in a rich and satisfying broth flavored with onion, garlic and three staples you’ll find in every Korean kitchen: soy sauce, chili paste (gochujang) and chili flakes (gochugaru).

Fresh, hand-torn noodles that take just minutes to make with flour and water add a lovely chewy texture to the soup, which has a slight (but absolutely terrific) kick. My soup probably had a little bit more chicken than called for since the bone-in chicken breasts were really big, but there still was enough broth to keep the dish from turning in to a stew.

The noodles only need a few minutes to cook in the simmering broth; you’ll know they’re done when they float to the top.

Firefighters continue to battle East Village blaze

Korean Hand-Torn Noodle Soup with Chicken

PG tested

1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

Kosher salt and black pepper

1 3/4 — 2 pounds bone in, skin-on chicken breasts

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

4 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens reserved separately

4 medium cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons soy sauce, divided

4- 5 teaspoons gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

1/4 teaspoon gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), optional

2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 -inch rounds

1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut crosswise 1/4 -inch thick

Make dough: In large bowl, stir together flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add 1/3 cup water.

Using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, begin incorporating the flour by starting at the center and gradually drawing in more, until a shaggy dough forms. Don’t add more water even if it feels dry at first; it will hydrate during kneading and after a few minutes become supple and tender.

Using the heel of your palm, knead the dough in the bowl, swiping along the sides to incorporate dry bits. Lightly flour the counter and turn the dough onto it.

Lightly flour your hands and knead until dough is smooth, about 4 minutes. Form dough into a bowl, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature while you make the soup.

Make soup: In large pot, combine 2 1/2 quarts water, chicken, onion, scallion white, garlic, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, cover partially and simmer until a skewer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken meets no resistance, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together scallion greens, remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, gochujang, sesame oil, sesame seeds and gochugaru, if using. Set aside.

When chicken is done, transfer to large plate. Add carrots to broth and bring to a simmer over medium-high. Cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, use 2 forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces; discard the skin and bones.

Unwrap the dough. Working beside the pot, hold dough in one hand. With your other hand, pull and stretch small sections of the dough, flattening it between your thumb and forefinger, then tear off a piece roughly 1 1/2 inches long. Drop the piece into the broth.

Continue until you have used all the dough. Stir in the zucchini and shredded chicken. Return to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender and zucchini is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.

Off heat, stir in the gochujang-sesame mixture, then taste and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 4-6.

— 177milkstreet.com

©2024 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

General Daily Insight for March 04, 2024

A balance of ingenuity and reality is the best way for us to handle the day. The Moon in outgoing Sagittarius starts out with a square to Neptune in flowing Pisces, making it easy to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Mercury will then sextile rebel Uranus, encouraging us to think outside the box and take an unusual approach to life. Plus, once the Moon glides into grounded Capricorn at 4:15 pm EST, we can still find a constructive path forward.