photos: Steve Azzara - steveazzara.com

Janice
Home: Astoria
Age: 24
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 120 lbs.
Stats: 34-25-34  

Twenty-four-year-old Astoria model Janice is as focused as the lens pointed at her.

The Connecticut native and Boston University graduate came to Queens just last year, to pursue her modeling and public relations careers.

The tall, dark and pretty Western Queens transplant said she likes her new neighborhood, noting its value and convenience.

“It’s great,” she said.  “You can’t beat the location. You get more bang for your buck as far as how much space you get.”

The novelty of Astoria’s dual-identity endears Janice, too.

“I have the excitement of the city and at the end of the day I can come back to my own little neighborhood,” she said, noting “all the little coffee shops,” “great food” and “even better dessert” available in Astoria.

Janice, who got her degree in public relations, is currently freelancing around the city.

Her modeling endeavors began at age 16, and have been keeping her busy as of late. Represented by UModels.com, her more recognizable work includes runway walks for Macy’s, a WWF commercial for the USA cable television network and catalog shoots for companies like Bright Side and Cordillera Imports.

“It’s always something different,” Janice said about modeling.  Her favorite thing: “You’re always meeting new people.”

When Janice isn’t hustling to get her public relations career off the ground, she’s at home with her only roommate – her cat – and dreaming about where modeling may take her. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to travel internationally, and she thinks that modeling is her ticket.

“I’d like to model for as long as I can,” Janice said. “I wanna see the world.”

The 'B' Word

    When someone says “Department of Education” these days, people are learning that they’re talking about the latest and supposedly greatest incarnation of the city’s public school system.

    The one formerly known as the “Board of Education,” right?

    Wrong!

    It turns out the term “Board of Education” is more formal than former.

    We recently got a letter from the school system — whatever it’s called — on Department of Education letterhead.  We were confused when it came in a Board of Education envelope, though.

    We were also confused when people who supposedly work for the Department of Education have email addresses that end in “@nycboe.net.”  Note the “b.”

    Yet you never hear Education Chancellor Joel Klein or Mayor Mike say the “B” word.

    So which is it?

    A spokesman for what he calls the Department of Education said the term Board of Education isn’t gone forever.  It’s State law, he said, and the Department isn’t allowed to completely abolish it. Even though it’d like to.

    In the war of words that’s underlying all the changes, you’ll hear Klein and Bloomie portray their “Department” as the antithesis of the former “Board.”  It’s new vs. old; good vs. evil.

            Perhaps there’s a lesson for the kids after all: words are powerful.

Harry Potter – No Thanks

Harry Potter hype has meant millions of sales for book giant Barnes & Noble, after the latest edition in the hit series hit shelves.

But not every book store is cashing in on the success.

Even though Barnes & Noble expects Harry Potter to be the highest selling book in its history, nearby Pastimes Book/Gift store on Continental Ave. in Forest Hills won’t be carrying it.

What’s so ironic is that Pastimes actually does carry some Potter-esque paraphernalia (like magic wands and wizard apparel). But that’s only a small part of Pastimes’ business. And its owner, Shelly Jacobs, doesn’t think Harry Potter really fits the image she’s going for.

Pastimes carries a large selection of books “you won’t find at Barnes & Noble,” says Jacobs. Most deal with spirituality, and the shelves are kept stocked with books on a wide variety of different religions and ways to spiritual enlightenment.

“We just want to show people different ways to get to the same place, which is universal peace inside yourself,” said Jacobs. “Harry Potter is neither here nor there.”

Touché.

Feelin' Groovy

    Overheard on the Manhattan-bound 7 train, by the 33rd Avenue stop (where MoMA QNS is):

    Female Tourist: “What a beautiful bridge, what is it called?”

    Male Companion: “That’s the Queensboro Bridge.”

    Female Tourist: “Is that the same bridge we came in on?”

    Male Tourist: “We came on the 59th Street Bridge.”

    Of course, our friends from out of town aren’t the only ones confused about the real name of the bridge.  New Yorkers are, too.

    So which one is it?

    If you ask the Department of Transportation, they’ll tell you the cantilevered steel structure is the Queensboro Bridge, “often referred to as the 59th Street Bridge.”

    If you ask Queens songwriter and singer Paul Simon, or his friend Art Garfunkel, they’ll just name one of their hit songs: “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”

    Just don’t ask a tourists visiting the MoMA!

The Mets Get Some Help

Let’s face the cold hard facts. This year’s NY Mets team is bad. How bad are they? So bad, elected officials introduce legislation which will protect them.

Well, sort of!

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. and Speaker Gifford Miller introduced legislation that would increase the fines for fans who run onto the field during professional sports games. The legislation would protect players like Mo Vaughn,  Roger Cedeno, and other players who may live in fear of  disgruntled fans.

Vallone Jr. who held a recent campaign fundraiser at Shea, admitted that by removing the threat of violence, maybe the Mets can turn around their dismal season.

He said the legislation increases fines for “publicity seeking punks” to one year in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Play ball!

Finding Nemo on Northern Blvd.  

When Robert and Mary Phillips of Fresh Meadows asked their six-year-old daughter Danielle what she wanted as a pet, they expected her to ask for a puppy or a kitten. “I thought she’d want something cute like that,” Mary said. “Something furry that would be very expensive.”

Boy, were they pleasantly surprised when she responded, “I want a fish. One just like Nemo.”

Standing inside of Fish Town USA on Northern Boulevard in Flushing, the pair told QConf that their daughter saw the hit Disney film “Finding Nemo,” and decided that she wanted an orange and white clownfish as a pet. The two lead characters in “Finding Nemo,” Marlin and Nemo, are clownfish.  

Danielle carefully searched the clownfish tank at Fish Town USA, and picked out the exact orange and white fish that she wanted. Of course, she excitedly told her parents that she planned on naming it Nemo.

She also told Conf, “I like Nemo in the movie. He’s cute . . . My Nemo is also cute. I love him already.”

According to a manager at Fish Town USA, the Phillips family isn’t the only one that has come to the store searching for clownfish. He said, “We always sold them, but now people want them because that movie came out. They’re really big now. We’re selling them like crazy.”

Clownfish sell for $4.99 and up, and he said, “Disney did a good job on this movie, I think.”

Danielle agreed, and told Conf, “It was the best movie I’ve ever seen.” As her father handed the cashier a measly $30 for the fish, tank and filter, he smiled and said, “Me, too.”