Years ago before the nearby Flushing Mall opened, Prince Street near 38 Ave. was well known for the "octopus guy", a friendly gent who grilled up skewers of baby octopus, among other things. When he vanished, we barely frequented that block. The other restaurants just never held much appeal; instead we stuck to Little Pepper, a nearby bastion of fiery Sichuan flavor. Largely because of the crowds and the huge posters of its specials Gothamist had always been curious about a spot with the auspicious name Canton Gourmet. Thanks to a Chowhound post that whet our appetite, we finally ventured inside last night. more ›

At the Ethnic Market highlights international specialty foods and ingredients that you're very unlikely to find at your local Gristedes more ›

The shopping mall represents, for most New Yorkers, everything that is bad about suburbia. But the Flushing Mall, which caters to a predominantly Chinese clientele, is not your usual mall. It’s a sprawling place, pieced together ad-hoc from several different buildings, and the various stores have a quirky, entrepreneurial feel. Some have no ceilings and resemble stalls in a convention hall; others are cloistered along narrow corridors like doctors’ offices. There’s one place that sells ornately crafted combs, another where kids can paint their own ceramic cartoon characters, and another where you can slip into a “capsule sauna” (30 minutes for $5). more ›

Sunday’s are great for food walks as long as the weather holds out for you. So do a bit of research, grab a partner and hop a subway to one of the following destinations: more ›

It's only two days into the Chinese New Year, so here's some more information on the festivities in the city from NYC Visit. The Post looks at places to eat and shop in the Chinatowns of Manhattan, Queens (Flushing) and Brooklyn (Sunset Park). Some of their picks: Gum Fung (Main Street and 39th Avenue) for food and Flushing Mall (39th Avenue and College Point Boulevard) in Queens; Jade Plaza (6022 Eighth Avenue at 61st Street, [718] 492-6888) for food and Tien Lung Aquarium (5822 Eighth Ave., at 58th Street) in Brooklyn; and Mandarin Court (61 Mott Street between Bayard and Canal streets) for food and Great Wall of China (277 Canal St., between Broadway and Lafayette Street) in Manhattan. Citysearch has suggestions as well, including tomorrow's parade. Perhaps Gothamist will see you there, in the middle of the dragon dances. more ›