The Department of Transportation DOT is cutting the number of car lanes and installing a bike lane on Jewel Avenue and 69th Road between the Grand Central Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway.

The DOT proposed those changes and others to increase pedestrian safety and ease the flow of traffic in the area. The bike lane at this point is just a buffer between cars and the sidewalk, and is expected to become an official bike lane in the spring.

As spring and summer come to a close, many backyard and front yard gardens are being taken down for the cold months, but those in the know understand that fall gardening is just as fun and plentiful as spring and summer gardening. And as we enter October, it’s the perfect time to get outside for one last push for fresh veggies and beautiful flowers to adorn the exterior of your house.

Today’s subject comes to us thanks to an old upstate friend who just recently bought a home and is quickly scheduling a myriad of projects to keep him busy. Being a chef, most of his attention is pointed directly at the kitchen, appliances and all, and his first idea was to repaint his kitchen cabinet doors before putting on a set of designs; I almost immediately shot down the idea of putting various sorts of proteins on them. Honestly, who wants to see a chicken on a cabinet…when they’re about to eat chicken?

Today's subject comes to us thanks to my cousin's college roommate, who just recently bought a home upstate and sent me a kind e-mail telling me about some projects he was thinking about undertaking. Being a chef, most of his major wants surround the kitchen and his first idea was to repaint his kitchen cabinet doors before putting on a set of designs; we spit-balled and decided that cooking utensils and accessories would make a great theme.

At an afternoon press conference in Times Square Tuesday, Mayor Bloomberg presented a golden ticket to a British couple who were the 50 millionth tourists to enter NYC. While boasting about the Big Apple being the number one destination for international visitors, praising Manhattan institutions such as Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art, he neglected to mention the other four boroughs, including Queens.

Jack Friedman, the executive director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, is not surprised about the snub. Despite having famous attractions such as Citi Field and the Museum of the Moving Image, he said that NYC and Company, the city’s official tourism marketing organization, only focuses on Manhattan.

Pop-up fashion shows, a dessert bar, fashion displays throughout the center and exclusive deals highlighted Fashion’s Night Out at Queens Center in Elmhurst.

The Atlantic Diner held a festive grand opening on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The newly renovated family-owned diner, located at 111-16 Atlantic Ave. in Richmond Hill, features a menu that includes baked goods, a full bar, underground parking and valet upon request.

The Stand, a new grill in Ozone Park, has partnered with the beloved My Mother’s Place Ices on Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park. Longtime friends Andrew Puglisi and Michael Brown are working together to serve up heros from the grill and a variety of ices for dessert.

Workers at the new grill will also deliver the goods.

School’s out and, as usual, many of the kids are bored — and even some of the adults too. Deciding what to do and where to go this Summer becomes a lot more difficult and stressful when you take into consideration that our economy is pretty bad and gasoline prices went through the roof again at over $4 per gallon last weekend. So it’s pretty much a no-brainer that if you can find some great things to do that are closer to home, you can save a lot of gas and money. And, as it turns out, you can do just that if you come to Glendale and Ridgewood this summer. 

Heartless thieves stole 35 bicycles that were to be used by youngsters in a free summer program at Flushing Meadows Park.

“We are shocked and upset,” said Bike New York President Ken Podziba, whose group had scheduled the seven-week program. “We love this park, but we won’t be back this year.”

If you’re seeking a peaceful respite with terrific sushi, look no further than Whitestone, the home of Atami Japanese Sushi Buffet.

Atami is named after a city in Japan known for its hot springs, a soothing place to go to relax and regroup. That is an apt description of the sushi bar, located at 19-11 Francis Lewis Blvd.

A 17-month project to renovate the Meadow Lake boathouse, built for the 1939 World’s Fair, will open in July at Flushing Meadows Park.

The $6 million makeover will be finished in time for the major summer boating season. The faciity is used by TASKA, a sailing group; Row NY, a student program; and the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races, which are scheduled for Aug. 13 and 14.

Due to budget cuts, the outdoor pool at Fort Totten in Bayside will not be opening this summer, the Queens Chronicle has learned.

Patricia Bertuccio, spokeswoman for the Parks Department, said Tuesday that due to $24.6 million in reduced funding, her agency decided to close four outdoor pools this year and shorten the season by two weeks, which is expected to save the city $1.4 million.

   When Hollywood was just a twinkle in directors’ eyes, Kaufman Astoria Studios, home of the Astor Room, was the place to be when it came to the movie business.

   Stars from Rudolph Valentino to Gloria Swanson, from the Marx Brothers to the Gish sisters, filmed in the building. When it came time to eat, they walked down to the studio’s commissary to grab a bite.

   Despite its proximity to the ocean, Queens does not have that many outstanding seafood eateries. I discovered one of the best this week with a visit to Marbella Restaurant in Bayside.

   The 40-year-old dining establishment is located at 220-33 Northern Blvd. on the first floor of a hotel. The owner, Servando Cid, has run the restaurant for 35 years and is a charming host with a welcoming staff that will meet your every needs.

   The Guidici family knows food.

   Husband and wife duo Frank and Francesca Guidici grew up in Sicilian households in Howard Beach, and learning to cook came almost as naturally to them as breathing. So, when they started discussing opening a pizzeria next to the car wash they own in Ozone Park, it was not a hard decision to make.

In the tradition of Patch Adams, personified on the silver screen by veteran comic Robin Williams, Maury Fogel of Flushing has been bringing the medicine of laughter to cancer patients for more than a decade.