The density of Italian restaurants along the stretch of Metropolitan Avenue that falls within the boundaries of Forest Hills, 11375, probably surpasses some towns in Italy. Our informal count (including two pizzerias — one plain, one fancy) is eight. Pasta galore! Comment.

Two worlds converged last week at Flushing Town Hall for the New York City debut of “Noodle,” a 2007 independent film in which Israeli and Chinese culture make for an unlikely combination and set the scene for yet another in a long line of films about spunky children and the troubled adult charged with their caretaking. Comment.

Curtis “Bugzy−Nite” Taylor and Wesley “GSlim” Brockenberry are the musicians behind Queens Connex, an urban duo with a collaborative hip−hop sound that touches on genres of music ranging from jazz to rock. Beneath the layers of melody and beats, however, lie some powerful messages about social consciousness and the progressive optimism that fuels the duo’s musical ambitions. Comment.

This past January, Astoria resident Sam Riviello quit her full−time job as an office manager to pursue her passion of jewelry making. Comment.

Lucky us! We live in New York City, America’s cultural center, and there’s a lot to see and do. One of the great attractions is our theater — from the biggest Broadway hit to the smallest community production — all in great abundance. People come here from all over the country and the world to be part of the excitement. Comment.