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THE DOCTOR IN THE ‘HOOD

November 12, 2013 by editor 8 Comments

The Doctor to you, Moitri to me — “Star Wars” starring Dr. Moitri Savard

Did you know there’s a doctor that both works and lives in Long Island City? Dr. Moitri Savard is a family doctor specializing in adult, pediatric, and gynecological care; and the founder of QueensWest Health & Wellness Center on 50th Avenue. Though she started practicing here in 2006, she took over the whole space in 2009, and the Center is now comprised of eight individuals specializing in things such as physical therapy, nutrition, and acupuncture. Dr. Savard shares the family medicine duties with her former roommate from medical school, Dr. Suzanne Cole, and the practice is affiliated with New York Presbyterian/Cornell in Manhattan, and Mt. Sinai Queens out here. In addition, because they utilize Ideal Medical Practices, the two doctors can spend more time with each of their patients.

You can read all about how Dr. Savard, or Moitri to most people in LIC, came to our ‘hood, in the story below(see link). As her family was featured in the NYT’s “The Hunt” real estate column shortly after they moved here. But her fifteen minutes of fame and busy medical practice aside, what might be most interesting to readers of LICtalk, is that Moitri is on Community Board 2. Now that 5Pointz is over with, she told us about other current issues facing the ‘hood.

CHEAP PINTS HERE!

November 8, 2013 by editor 6 Comments

Say it loud, say it proud: Beer Here! — Say it loud, say it proud: “Beer Here!”

While real estate prices get bid up all over Long Island City, there’s still one vestige of how things used to be in this town. A pint of beer costs roughly 25% less at a local bar than it would in Manhattan. In an exhaustive study, this reporter recently spent several weeks sacrificing his liver, well-being, and those who witnessed it also mention reputation, in order to bring you first-hand knowledge about the state of our local watering holes.

Dominies Hoek – well I don’t know what they normally charge, but it’s $4 for all pints in their M-F happy hour from 3-7pm. No TV’s, best jukebox in the ‘hood, and serious hipster drinkers: when I was there they sold a lot of “Rock n Roll Specials” = can of PBR and a well shot for five bucks. They have their core group of regulars, and I’m glad to see there’s still a little residual funk left in LIC. I’d bet that this is the bar in LIC where you’d most likely get a buyback.

Corner Bistro – $4.50 for Bud & Bud Light; $5.50 for craft beers and imports.

Woodbines – almost every draft is $6.

LIC Bar – Most pints $5, a few priced at $6, and a pint of Heineken is only $4!

Alright, I admit that I have concentrated on the Hunters Point area and also omitted a lot of bar/restaurants. In fact, I wouldn’t protest too much if you said my survey was anything but exhaustive, and was representative of the type of research one would expect from a free newspaper given out in subways. Or even worse, my investigative journalism skills are emblematic of the fact-less hysteria emanating from local blogs! That’s right, kick me when I’m down. Nevertheless you get the point, and the truth is undeniable: beer at bars in LIC is relatively inexpensive. Thus, when faced with the 7-train being shut down on weekends, and the cold weather, don’t trudge off to Manhattan or even Brooklyn to drink. Stay local. At the very least, the crawl home is easier. That’s one fact about which I am absolutely sure.

The M. Wells ‘Meat Temple’ Steakhouse to open Tuesday – Rumor??? How about you’re 72 hours late on this fact? How about some direct attribution? How about a thank you LICtalk?

M. Wells Steakhouse Opens Next Tuesday – here, this is how you do it correctly. Cheers! Now let’s see if the Times/Post/News get it right when they break the news’ on Monday.

Banksy Loses Fight to Save Graffiti Capital – the judge handed down the final ruling today

LIC Restaurant Group Wants to Skewer Brooklyn Hipster Image – is that really the rationale for forming a local industry group? Seems a little misguided, but hopefully my pitch above will help biz. I don’t think M. Wells worries much about this though.

LIC Flea & Food Holiday Market to Debut Next Month – we’re getting an indoor, pop-up version of the Flea for holiday shopping & Christmas trees

City Announces More Bike Lanes for LIC – I think we need a tricycle lane too

Hi-Rise Developer Purchases Dutch Kills Bar Building – Rockrose looking to make it an entryway so their big building has a Jackson Ave address

Not Exactly the Next Chelsea Market – Jamestown backtracks a little bit on their LIC plans

Newest Chocolate Factory Performance – one week only, next week

Queenswalk, Gantry State Plaza – everything, and I mean everything, you wanted to know about the gantries and local commerce. Cool stuff for LIC junkies like myself

WTC Spire Set to Shine Friday – ‘Look, up in the sky, it’s …visible from many LIC apartments’

LIC Gym Stages Art of Stage Fighting – bring out your inner Bruce Lee

M. WELLS STEAKHOUSE TO OPEN NEXT WEEK

November 5, 2013 by editor 11 Comments

The People of Court Square have Cleaners & Indoor Golf, and soon M. Wells Steakhouse — Residents of Court Square have Cleaners & Indoor Golf, and soon M. Wells Steakhouse

People of Court Square, your day has come. LICtalk is proud to announce the biggest culinary story since El Bulli closed. M. Wells Steakhouse is scheduled to open on Tuesday, November 12th according to a local resident who popped by recently. With its arrival, I expect all the new hotels built in LIC, to fill up with international foodies making a pilgrimage to this temple of meat. Hopefully a few of the locals will also be able to squeeze in. I know that in addition to their pride in being a resident of a gastronomic hub, they’ll be really happy to get a good slab of cow from somewhere other than just the Burger Garage.

In other local news, though not really of the breaking kind, or even of the kind that will make it past the East River, the P.S. 78 PTA will be holding a Parents Night Out Fundraiser on the very same night: Tuesday, November 12th, from 7-10pm! Coincidence? I do believe it is actually. But the location, at Cavo in Astoria, seems to be as cultivated as any offal offering coming out of the kitchen at M. Wells. It’s a place I’ve secretly always wanted to check out, but never really had the excuse, or cajones, to do so. Thankfully, the P.S. 78 PTA has eased my entree into proper society by deciding to hold it’s gathering there. Now the only question that remains is, should I dress like Tony Manero or Vinnie Barbarino?

Finally, for the umpteenth time, Queens and the tremendous real estate growth expected in the borough, were highlighted in a front-page story in the Sunday New York Times real estate section. I mean it’s kind of sad when the most influential paper on the planet comes to the same conclusion a year after a local outer-borough rag has been pounding the tables about it. Oh well, my guess is they’ll only be a day or two behind me on the headline above. Sigh.

Cavo Parents Night Out – see all the details here and purchase tickets

The Tilt Towards Queens – “Queens may be on the rise, but it lacks the buzz that has turned Brooklyn into a global brand. Still, Queens fans say that is precisely why they like it. “Queens is Queens,” said Rich Buceta, the president of SingleCut Beersmiths, a new brewery in Astoria. “It basically doesn’t have to live up to any sort of hype or image like, say, Manhattan or Brooklyn. Queens is much more low-key. It’s much more unassuming. We’re not trendy. We’re not trying to appeal to the latest fad.”

BANKSY FINISHES HIS NYC RESIDENCY IN LIC AND WITH A PLEA TO SAVE 5POINTZ

November 2, 2013 by editor 2 Comments

Better Out Than In — Outside Art is Better

“All pictures painted inside, in the studio, will never be as good as those done outside.”

Cezanne

Coincidence? I think not. Okay, that’s the very last time I’ll use that saying as I’ve really overworked it in the last month. But I couldn’t help thinking it in reading the headline above. Everything about Banksy’s month long NYC residency seemed extremely well thought out. I mean how else do you put up graffiti, paintings, installations, sculptures etc. all over the five boroughs incognito, when a) everybody is on the look out for you doing so, and b) all those people have iPhones or some type of photography/recording device? Anyway, I think there is a meaningful takeaway from the fact that Banksy chose LIC over Soho, the LES, Wmsbg, Dumbo, TriBeca, or any other uber-trendy location to say goodbye.

And, I think his understated plug for not demolishing 5Pointz was extraordinarily tasteful, unpromotional, not overly dramatic, and completely in keeping with his ethos. Here’s his NYC sign-off, judge for yourself:

Banksy asserts that outside is where art should live, amongst us. And rather than street art being a fad, maybe its the last thousand years of art history that are the blip, when art came inside in service of the church and institutions.

Art’s rightful place on the cave walls of our communities, where it can act as a public service, provoke debate, voice concerns, forge identities.

The world we live in today, visually at least, is run by traffic signs, billboards, and planning committees. Is that it? Don’t we want to live in a world made of art, not just decorated by it?

And that’s it. Thanks for your patience. It’s been fun. Save 5pointz.

You want more vibrant art in the streets? Check out the NYC Marathon as it passes through LIC on Sunday. It’s as ethereal and noncommercial as it gets, and a fantastic New York City event. The front runners should be passing by on Vernon Boulevard around 10:30am Sunday, but don’t hesitate to stop by an hour or two later when the main pack starts gliding through. Let’em loudly know that Queens/LIC is the place to be in ’13. In fact, cheer twice as loud this year due to the cancellation of last year’s NYC Marathon and all they went through in Boston.Banksy: Better Out Than In – see his finale on Borden AvenueBanksy Thieves Arrested in LIC – capitalism at it’s best, or worstMusic at MoMA PS1, and Drama at LIC’s Chain Theater – two interesting arts events in LIC, noted by the New York TimesVillage Voice’s ‘Holiday Spirits’ Coming to LIC – bringing together more than 25 local distillers for the first time. Like moth to a flame.Check Out Jamestown’s LIC Project – aka Chelsea Market II

HALLOWEEN + NYC MARATHON = AWESOME WEEKEND!

October 29, 2013 by editor 5 Comments

The Fall Classic? Summer's but a distant memory. — The Fall Classic? Summer’s but a distant memory.

Okay folks, it’s take two for the best weekend in New York. Twelve months prior, we were so rudely interrupted by Sandy, but this year it’s all systems go. Here’s my piece from last year, explaining exactly why it’s the best weekend to be a New Yorker. Re-read it, commit it to memory, then live it. That’s all.

The second most famous Halloween Parade in NYC takes place right here in LIC. It features the next generation of A-Rod’s, Madoff’s, and Miley Cyrus’. It starts at 4:45pm at Gantry Park on October 31st. Don’t forget your cameras, this is history in the making.

Oh, and if you want to read something really scary, check out all the real estate links below.

47th Road Project – just west of Vernon Blvd. Check out the diagrams and simulated facade from local architect Robert Wilkanowski.

Real Estate Developers Are Excited About Queens – developers also thought that Queens was poised to see the most residential growth.

Hunters Point South’s First Affordable Towers Are Rising – the latest pics, from Curbed

Renovated LIC Row House to Feature Storm-Resistant Features – which practically guarantees we won’t have another Sandy for a century.

Final Bids for Court Square Development Requested – asking $23.5 million, paid $10 mil two years ago

Judge Grants Artists Injunction to Block Demolition of 5Pointz – what did Yogi say about it being over?

Bikers to Get Dedicated Lane on Pulaski Bridge – the foot and bike traffic has gotten so big, it’s needed

Suspect Punches Woman in Face and Tries to Rob Her in LIC – happened on 44th Drive

LIC-based Skyline Restoration Among Crain’s 50 Fastest Growing NYC Companies