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BI-RACIAL COUPLE BEATEN UP OUTSIDE SHI SATURDAY NIGHT

August 19, 2013 by editor 15 Comments

All is not so idyllic along Center Boulevard — Ahh yes, but what does the night bring to Center Boulevard? Especially Saturday nights.

Wow, maybe our little neighborhood isn’t quite as idyllic as it seems. According to NY1:

As they left Shi restaurant with a gay friend, they said that three men attacked them, screaming racial and homophobic slurs.

“When I think about the slurs, the N-word and the F-word, it hurts. It hurts. It hurts.” Billie James-Vogel said. “It breaks my heart.”

The injuries were more than just emotional. Jacob said he was repeatedly bashed, hit in the face and tossed to the ground.

See the rest of the story in the links below.

In other local news, the LIC waterfront made the cover of yesterday’s New York Times, with a startling before and after picture highlighting all the changes that have occurred during the Bloomberg administration. Also, Christine Quinn picks up an endorsement from Sheryl Sandberg(didn’t know she was a New Yorker?), and in doing so cites LIC as the center of her plan to make NYC the new tech capital of the world. From campaign promises to reality is a long road… Finally, the building on the eastern side of the QueensWest field gets a name: The Maximilian. I wonder if one of the amenities they’re offering is a full-sized athletic field at your door step? Well at least it’s close to Shi.

Interracial Couple Attacked as They Leave Queens Bar – Hmm, Shi is now referred to as a bar. I wonder if this will hurt Shi’s expansion plans into the leasing office next door slated for 2014?

Victims of Alleged Queens Beating Say it May Have Been Racially Motivated – this is the full story, complete w/ video of the couple

Christine Quinn Talks Up LIC As the Hub of the Next Tech Capital of the World – not the first to do so, and last I heard Cornell Technion supposedly has no interest in the Queens side of Roosevelt Island

The Maximilian – new rental building in Hunters Point

SUMMER’S END NOT SO NEAR, AND LOTS OF BEER

August 15, 2013 by editor 5 Comments

Geez, the media parade about LIC no longer takes a rest, even as we reach the third week in August. Buttressed by a duo of local beer stories, there’s a lot brewing in our neighborhood at the moment. This includes an old stand-by: heavy leasing activity leading to quickly filling buildings. Then, we learn from a new architecture-focused blog, that our new park on the river, is in fact open, or was for a day this past weekend. Next up, a lengthy piece by the penultimate local historian, Mitch Waxman. Concluding with two different things to do locally. The first is a tour of The Cliffs LIC, being offered next week, and the next is a d-i-y eating tour through the borough. Good thing everybody else is still working hard on reporting, cause I’m certainly not.

Queens Gets Namesake Beer and Brewery – Queens Beer, if the Rockefeller’s made beer …oh wait, they do, this one

Big Alice Brewing Cooks Up Some Unusual Beers in Queens – the LIC brewery uses purple potatoes, lemongrass, and curry leaves in its beers

45-45 Center Boulevard 50% Leased – it’s the reflecting pool, gotta be it …oh wait, maybe the dog run, yeah that’s it

NY Kids Club Comes to Queens – the Manhattafication of LIC continues

Robert Wilkanowski, Architect – and local, talks about the new HPS park

Tour Dives Deep Into Dutch Kills – and never comes out

The Cliffs at LIC – take a free tour of this great new climbing gym next week, click link to do so

On the Menu in Queens – three guys walk into a restaurant …then another, then another …in Queens(LICtalk tip reminder: type in story title to google search to get around firewall)

VAN BRAMER ROBBED, BUT WILL PARTY ON

August 12, 2013 by editor 3 Comments

Nice and quiet on the river ...and off — Nice and quiet on the river …and off

The New York Post reported that the home of Jimmy V was robbed while he was away this weekend. There seems to be a rash of robberies going on in his section of Sunnyside. Thankfully it’s not going to stop him from celebrating:

Join Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer

To Celebrate his 44th Birthday!

Join Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer to celebrate his 44th birthday and thank friends, volunteers, donors, petitioners, and just plain supporters of his efforts to make a better NYC! Join the party at Shi Restaurant, 47-20 Center Boulvard, LIC on Monday, August 19th from 7:00 – 10:00 PM.

You know what else Jimmy’s birthday means? Summer is almost over. Thus it’s time for us to take one of our regularly scheduled hiatuses, in order to escape the pressure of deadlines and to give others, aka those who don’t live in LIC, the opportunity to bask in our glow. But this time we’re going to do it a little bit differently: we’re going to publish right through our vacation! Why? Because what we have to share is just way too important to wait until after Labor Day. Plus, papa’s got a brand new ipad. So no matter where you may be headed, be it Nags Head or Nantucket, stay tuned right here and don’t miss a thing.

Councilman Robbed – they didn’t come in thru the bathroom window neither

New Bar on Vernon Blvd. Set to Open Thursday – housed in the former Lounge 47 space, to be called Woodbines and will serve craft beer and have an Irish themed menu

Chocolate Factory Announces New Season – let’s see, I’d like a dozen almond clusters, five champagne truffles, and a pound of fudge

3-D Printing Industry Finds Home in LIC – …oh, while you’re asking, tack on a Kate Upton and Heidi Klum

LIC Scarf Designer Creates Wearable Drama – a profile on local LIC designer Rachel Rowberry

Woman Almost Drowns Near Anable Basin – last night

Mentoring Students to Prevent the Summer Slide – huge story in the NYT all about a local man who created a great local mentoring program

Chinese Invest in Queens Real Estate – Quick, name a New York neighborhood that has investors from China buying properties. Midtown? TriBeCa? The Upper East Side? Guess again. They’re going to Queens.

AUGUST IS HERE, BUT NOT THE DOLDRUMS

August 8, 2013 by editor 3 Comments

The Pretty Ladies of LIC. Who would think that the Midtown Tunnel was across the street?

Come August, long weekends are de rigeur. Especially if one is not taking off the whole week, or like myself the whole month. Thus, it’s a great time to catch up on one’s summer reading …about LIC, and therefore today we provide you with a whole bunch to carry you through until Monday …or Tuesday, …or Tuesday September 3rd.

Before we start, let’s get the nasty business out of the way. First off, from a town in Spain called Brunete, comes a recommendation to push dog owners to clean up after their pets. Which The New York Times describes as a “worldwide battle.” Yeah, based on LIC that’s an apt description.

Next up, comes another nasty rebuke. This one involves a delay, or maybe even a postponement to a date unknown. It regards the play area that was supposed to be built for PS78 in front of Citylights. Here’s the back ‘n forth:

LIC Parent: “We were notified by the SLT, as well as announced at the June PTA meeting that the SCA was approved to build a playground in front of the school/Citilights building. Now summer is more than half way done and weve observed no work at all. Can you please give us a status on this project for ourselves,as well as an update I could communicate to other parents?

Response: “I looked into it and the project is on hold due to issues with the Co-op board.” Thank You – Monica Gutierrez, Project Support Manager, School Construction Authority, (718)472-8114

And there you have it: One small town’s response to a problem, and one large city’s response to a problem.

Let’s move on to something a little more fun. The New York Times is holding a contest looking for the “Unofficial Mayors of New York.” Whether you know it or not, LIC actually has an unofficial mayor, and it’s not Jimmy V. His name is Frank Carrado, he’s 82 years old, he’s lived here in LIC his whole life and documented it with photos, and there’s a good chance you may have already encountered him on Vernon Boulevard handing out a card calling him the Unofficial Mayor of LIC. We’ve got the link, if you know Frank and agree he should be nominated, please do.

Finally, a massive Kids Club/Pre-school is coming to the latest TF Cornerstone rental, aka “The Amenities Building.” They plan on catering to 1800 kids a week, with some packages totaling as much as $17K. At that price your kid better come out with a swing like A-Rod’s and speaking Mandarin.

Or, if you’re looking for something a little lower key, there’s always LIC Kids and the fabulous James Bobo:

Hello! We are having an upcoming Open House, on August 15-16 from 5-8pm, and we would love to promote this free event on your site. We are offering a diverse schedule of demo classes, orientations, and question & answer sessions all free to the public.

Best,

LIC Kids Team

LIC Kids Enrichment center, 5-02 50th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 718.392.KIDS (5437)

http://www.lickids.com/

Grow with us!

Ok, the weekend is here, and if you’re staying in LIC we’ve got the Sixpoint Beer Crawl on Saturday, a perfect way to lead into Shakespeare in Gantry Park that night. Also the LIC Flea, Yoga, and finally a big blowout at 5Pointz celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Hip-Hop on Sunday at 5pm. Who needs St. Tropez? But you may still want to take Monday off.

Special Delivery, of Sorts, for Wayward Dog Owners – this ain’t no birthday present

A Call for the Unofficial Mayors of New York – why not nominate LIC’s Frank Carrado?

Then and Now: the evolutionary arc of LIC – a profile of Mr. Carrado wrapped in the history of LIC

Manhattan Firm to Open Pre-School and Classatorium – the beginning of the road to Harvard

Sixpoint Craft Beer and Food Festival – nothing like a few mugs of Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout before sitting down to the bard

Back to The Roots – free party at 5Pointz for the 40th anniversary of hip-hop. 40th Anniversary, 40 Oz., coincidence? I think not.

Local Art Frame Collector Has Unparalleled Collection – which he keeps right here in LIC

Competition Bubbles Up for Local Craft Brewers – with a shout-out to LIC’s Rockaway Brewing

5Pointz Documentary by the BBC – where has everybody been all these years?

WEINER ROLLS ON IN LONG ISLAND CITY

August 5, 2013 by editor 2 Comments

Hey, isn't that Ti Hua Chang? — ‘Hey, isn’t that Ti-Hua Chang?’

The world famous LIC waterfront once again served as the backdrop for a politician making noise. This time it was celebrity candidate Anthony Weiner, who based on the number of reporters attending today’s fracas, one would think had already been anointed mayor. Acting very much the role of the politician, his delivery was erudite and smooth, and it is amazing how easy it seemed for him to act as if there was no 1000-pound gorilla in the …park. As for what he said, well we don’t really report on those kind of things at LICtalk, unless of course it actually contains some substance. What we did find of interest, was that he did not take the 7-train to get here. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have been 20 minutes late for his own press conference. Now that dear readers, is a matter of questionable judgment.

Talking about rolls, or maybe roles, did you know that the origin of the word came from the rolled up piece of paper each actor and actress received before a play back in the 16th century? Well you would know this fact if you had attended Shakespeare Queens in Gantry Park this past Saturday night. Didn’t catch it? Well it was not really well advertised. Even your entertainment hub, LICtalk, never listed it. Fear not, because they are coming back to the same location to perform The Tempest, this Saturday night, August 10, at 7:30. Now personally, I’m a pretty low-brow entertainment consumer, think Three Stooges. Yet the excellent and well-acted performance of Love’s Labor’s Lost this past Saturday night, contained enough ribaldry that even Anthony Weiner would have enjoyed it!

Finally, drifting back to LIC’s #1 topic, real estate, I couldn’t help but notice the final paragraph in an article in the Sunday Real Estate section of yesterday’s New York Times, about a group of rental buildings going up on the Manhattan side, directly across from Hunters Point South:

“We really wanted an iconic design,” Mr. Stern said. “This is a large-scale site, one of the largest residential developments to hit Midtown East in a very long time, so it is important not to miss the mark and to push the envelope.”

Doesn’t Long Island City deserve a similar iconic design? Yes it does, but that is very hard to justify when the buildings being built are to be 100% affordable housing. So instead of getting cutting edge architecture, the residents of LIC are relegated to looking at mediocrity, whilst the inhabitants of such get spectacular views, uber-amenities, and extremely well-situated housing, at a bargain price.

Anthony Weiner didn’t even go near that topic today, but at least we still get the bard.

High Rises to Replace an East River Eyesore – “This could be a harbinger of things to come in terms of getting more innovative design along the East River.” -but not on the eastern side!

Events Occurring at Gantry State Park in August – not only do we get Shakespeare, but every Thursday night we’re going to get “Movies in the Park” starting at 8pm. It’s all family-friendly footage, so Anthony probably won’t be there.

Hip to Hip Theatre Company – gives all the details about this wonderful group of local Shakespeareans

Gayle Baron, LIC Partnership Director, to Retire

New Restaurant, Queens and Paupers, Coming to Queens Plaza – looks like upscale pub grub and booze