editor

Every Sunday morning, two worlds collide in Murray Park.  Soccer players from Central America use the playing field for a full roster of side by side doubleheaders.  While the men are competing, their spouses, girlfriends, and young children gravitate to the playground, and are frequently joined by the men after the games.  Meanwhile, around 11am, a large Sikh contingent flows into the park after a service at the community center across the street, which doubles as a makeshift temple, lets out.  Now there is no question as to who are the soccer players and who are the congregants, but when it comes to the children on the playground, the differences are nil.  The clothes are the same, as is the lack of accents.  My guess is that very few of these two groups actually live in LIC, and probably when they leave the park go back to separate enclaves where their respective nationalities and religions predominate.  Yet for several hours every Sunday, these two very different cultures have somehow been thrown together, a convergence I doubt either one would have imagined when they decided to emigrate here.  Only in Queens, and in this particular case, only in Long Island City.

Isn’t that a lovely story?  My gosh, Hemingway would be proud.  In maintaining the good vibes, I am happy to report that all the LIC news today is of the leisurely sort.  No new condo noise problems, school issues, beguiling internet start-ups, or Vernon Boulevard streakers to report on.  Just food, food, food, and for those interested in expanding their minds as well as their waistlines, a story about Open House NY, one of the most fascinating opportunities for the residents of NYC to learn more about their city.  It is really cool, it is happening this weekend, and I have to miss it(once again) to attend a bar mitzvah in Roslyn and an Indian sweet sixteen in Bridgewater.  So please, check it out for those of us who cannot.

Newcomers Alobar and Casa Enrique Make the 2013 Michelin List – as did Shi in prior years, make of it what you will

Daily News Top Ten New Restaurant Openings in Fall 2012 – and M Wells makes the list, no surprise there

The Architect Behind M Wells Dinette – the M Wells PR team is in overdrive!

Astoria To Celebrate Oktoberfest With Pig Roast – no need for Michelin’s imprimatur for this gourmand

Open House NY Comes To Queens – culture first, pig roast second

Last week, a friend of mine who just moved from Astoria into the newest tower on Center Boulevard asked me “Where do you buy groceries around here?”  I responded “Food Cellar”  To which he replied “Yeah but that place is pricey, any other suggestions nearby?”  With that sentiment in mind I certainly was not going to share my other go-to’s: Balducci’s, Petrossian, and a quarterly air shipment from Harrods.  So instead I harkened back to a conversation that drifted up from the balcony below my penthouse terrace, and recommended the following: Fresh Direct, Pea Pod, driving two miles north on Vernon Boulevard to Costco, or half a mile south over the Pulaski Bridge where there is a great Super Key Food.  Unfortunately my friend did not have a car, at which point I was out of suggestions.  Well just in the nick of time comes the news that the grungy C-Town on 21st Street by 44th Drive has been replaced by a Key Food!  It was just re-branded yesterday with a new awning and my guess is that other changes are in the works.  Confirming once again that LIC is getting better and better, but can still use a guiding hand such as LICtalk and an active, make that pro-active, citizenry.

With that problem solved, I have a question for you, “Does news get any more local than the above headline?”  More importantly “Does news get any more relevant than the above headline???”  I want you dear reader, to honestly ask your self, what will have a greater impact on your life over the next four years “Whether it is Obama or Romney occupying the White House come January, or the fact that Key Food has just replaced C-Town in LIC?”  Deep down I think you know the real answer to that question.  So going forward I want you to remember: read LICtalk first, then if time allows the NY Times, NY Post, or Daily News.

Tuning Up For A Good Burger – let’s start the weekend off right w/ a review of the Burger Garage

Casa Enrique Gives A Rare Glimpse Of The Cooking Of Chiapas – more fare for the weekend

Infrastructure Porn: Sandhogs Break Thru Between Grand Central And Queens – I like the way this writer thinks(see headline), and how he gushes over this topic like I do

LIC High School Soccer Players Field Needs Ample Time For Repair – sad, but true story, and exactly why we need a diligent and proactive citizenry here to prevent things like this just “happening”

Liu Plans A ‘Friends and Family’ Fundraiser – if one defines friends as anyone willing to cough up a hundy.  It’s this Saturday afternoon right here in the building at 47-05 Center Blvd, I may just fork it out to see who actually shows up at something like this …or maybe not.

Forget Eating At Your Desk, Lunch Time Dance Parties Could Be The Next Big Thing – looking at the picture, I don’t think anyone here missed a meal

Art Book Fair Returns to MoMA PS1 With rare Pricey Art Works – this weekend