The Same, But Different

Rarely does a new chain offering make us stop and take notice but the new Dunkin' Donuts has us doing a double take. Located just off Linden at Sutphin Blvd, this latest Dunkin/Baskin combo is worth a visit. The colorful "D" door handles are the just the beginning of a not-so-typical visit. Fashioned more like a coffee bar, this site has a wide and expansive floor area equipped with high tables and stools. There is a counter bar for individual moments and tables for dining and conversation. They have pulled out all the stops with a pickup station for beverages and a spot to sweeten which includes all the lo-cal favorites--pink, yellow and blue. There are even well-placed computer outlets. But wait, however tempting, the site isn't wireless. And the neighborhood, however much it is re-emerging, still has its sketchy moments. But the most surprising thing about this Dunkin'/Baskin is that the donuts are fresh and the coffee good!

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Coffee • Jamaica

Nubian Heritage of Jamaica

It's more than just shea butter! Nubian Heritage of Jamaica is your one-stop shopping source for all things Afro-centric. Incense and oils in a vast array of scents go several rows deep. All types of (yes) shea butter beauty products, black soaps and bath scrubs keep the ash away. The back of the store is pimped out with African-themed statues, drums, masks and even brooms for jumping. The book and audio sections are filled with uncommon titles exploring themes of the Black, African, and Caribbean experience definitely not found at other venues. They also carry a surprising collection of Nation of Islam recordings featuring the teachings of Elijah Muhammed. In-store events include author visits.

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Shopping • Jamaica

666 Sins of the Flesh

Nothing commemorates those exceptional life moments more than being inked. Getting hitched? Get Inked. Newborn? Pencil the date on your arm. Body art and piercing is worth the pain at 808. Thanks to today’s technology, their collection is expansive. If you can think it, they can ink it. They take custom orders and pierce in all the popular places. Yes, even there! 808 is closed Monday and open ‘til midnight on the weekend. That’s when it gets busiest as folks still follow the old tradition of get paid, get drunk, get tatted.

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Shopping • Jamaica

Animal Clinician with a Mission!

Is your doggie down? Does fluffy have the flu? Then take ‘em to Ira. He’s the pet doctor with the cure and the Ozone Park Animal Clinic is where to find him. Ira treats cats and dogs of all persuasions with a kind heart and a steady hand. Even the meanest of pets are charmed by his bedside manner. Prescriptions are filled with sound advice and clear instructions bound to get your pet barking up the right tree fast. The clinic also offers border service for cats and home visits by appointment. Make sure to leash your pet when you go, ‘cause sometimes the patients just don’t get along.

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Services • Jamaica

Thread, Don't Spend!

Conquer your unibrow! All that annoying facial hair is history with a visit to Roop and a little bit of string. Threading is the new waxing and thankfully so. Gone are the days of hot wax, breakouts and sanitary concerns about double dipping. Using ordinary thread, skilled craftwomen attack those problem areas with astounding closeness. The process isn’t entirely ouchless and be prepared to lend a finger, or two, to the removal process. Henna tattoos and facials are also on the menu. The price is right and process is quick and waiting your turn isn’t an issue which is good because area parking is crazy.

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Shopping • Jamaica

Hair You Go

In a time of hairpiece purchasing at malls and drug stores, there are those who still prefer to buy hair the old-fashioned way—off of someone’s head. Just kidding. At the hair store! Known to ol’ skoolers as Lugo’s, Barbie’s requires no appointment. Just walk in, wait your turn and place your order. Exact match, custom-color blends, straight, curly, long, short, kinky or jehri curl are all on the menu. Hair for weaving is stitched while you wait. Hair is durable and reusable so you can bump it, curl it, wash it, style it any way you wish. Prices are by the pound and they only stock human hair. Oh well.

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Shopping • Jamaica

Taste and See

Some people need a dare issued to try West Indian saltfish and boiled callaloo for breakfast. Others may require a risk-averse $5.50 price-tag to budget in an I-knew-I’d-hate-it McMuffin. Still others might need gratis dumplings, plantains, and oxtail gravy. Some just might have to settle for it because the Taste and See ran out of kidney on the breakfast menu and the Chinese-run Cajun Food counter next door seemed just a little too daring (it was probably just as good but we all have our own criteria). Well, whatever it takes, the risk is well worth it, and the syrupy sweet sorrell packs enough kilocalories to replace the regular breakfast caffeine injection, but with a more hey-mon kinda vibe. Too involved? Well, the Jamaican Market has other counters too (juice bar, Japanese, florist??) and lotto, but if you choose the latter, maybe choosing breakfast isn’t your biggest problem.

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Shopping • Jamaica