editor

CONTROVERSY, INDIFFERENCE, AND COMMENTS

October 9, 2012 by editor 9 Comments

PepsiSignBkwds3 — Look closely for the gremlin, maybe he is the one stirring the pot here in LIC

Last week a reader wrote to me telling of a big controversy in LIC about which I was unaware: the push to implement alternate-side of the street parking so the streets can be cleaned regularly. He positioned it as those who are for it want cleanliness and the eradication of any health and vermin problems as well as for aesthetic purposes. Those who oppose it want to continue to be able to park their cars long term on the streets without the hassles of having to move it regularly. I am indifferent as to where the pendulum swings on this issue, as I park my Bentley in a climate controlled garage, but for those who do have an opinion on it you are welcome to express it here in the comments section. Also, I have provided a link to a petition being circulated in favor of street cleaning.

Yet the controversies in LIC do not end there. One of the biggest lightning rods of the last year in our town has once again reared its head. I am talking about the strip club at the bottom of the Queensborough Bridge on 21st Street and its renewed request for a liquor license. Ok, maybe it’s more sordid than controversial, and I cannot tell if the furor over this is real or just something that politicians love to grandstand over, but once again …I am indifferent. But do not let my insouciance keep you from spewing vitriol for/against this topic, because maybe it is the bane of your existence and deserved to be issue number one in last weeks presidential debate. Let it out dear readers, let it all out, in the comments section.

Next up we get a resolution to some controversy of the last two weeks, as M Wells has decided not to serve horse meat at their just-opened restaurant at MoMA PS1. While I, once again, was indifferent on this topic, I will note that the first signs that there was controversy brewing came in …the comments section of our September 25th story on it.

Finally, we get to controversies on the horizon. In a Daily News story last week about the library, they mention the completion date as being …2015! I do not know if it is a moving target or questionable editing, but we have now seen 2013, 2014, and 2015 posited as the finishing date on this project. Oh well, I guess we cannot expect the same high standards or level of rigor as one gets here at LICtalk. Also, as inquired about, ranted about, and responded to in the comments section recently, comes an article on the new project being built adjacent to the Powerhouse. It contains a drawing of what it will look like upon completion, though I am sure that any north-facing, west-facing, or prospective condo owners are already aware of what is coming, per your comments.

Thank you very much for those of you who comment, or keep me apprised separately, of all the controversies, happenings, and other shenanigans going on in our town, and please keep them coming!

Street Cleaning Petition – also gives a whole litany of arguments for street cleaning

Controversial LIC Strip Club Once Again Tries To Get Liquor License – proving once again: you gotta fight for your right to party!

Outcry Scuttles Plan to Put Horse on The Menu at M Wells – on or off the menu, it proves once again that the proprietors of M Wells are masters in generating publicity

Hunters Point Dream Library – is it 2013, 2014, or 2015? Vegas odds favor the latter

$51 Million Loan From CIBC Funds Lightstone Multi-Family – check out pic

7 TRAIN WEEKEND CLOSINGS ANNOUNCED – STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT

October 4, 2012 by editor 4 Comments

QnsPlBronstones2 — Excuse me sir, is this the way to Queensboro Plaza?

Geez, it is not even Halloween and they are already dumping 7 train closures on us. It keeps getting earlier and earlier every year, might it be due to global warming? Nah, probably just aging as these old rails need lots of nursing. For you newcomers, this is an annual event in LIC and has been for a long, long time. It is not just, nor should one ever expect it to be, a one year project or something that actually gets completed. Worse, the trend recently has been for a double dip: a fall season and a winter season. My recommendation is to plan appropriately: Green Bay this weekend, Pittsburgh for the Cowboys next weekend, the Chiefs at …finishing with New Orleans for the Superbowl -> Aspen, South Beach, Gstaad, and a month in St Bart’s for the winter track work, that should do the trick.

WEEKEND CLOSINGS
11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon
Oct 5-8 • Oct 19-22 • Oct 26-29
Nov 9-12 • Nov 16-19 +additional Steinway Tunnel maintenance work and other work along the line are scheduled to take place between January and March of 2013

MTA Announces 7 train Weekend Service Changes – D’oh!

New Visions For Queens Waterfronts – how about a heliport? Now that would be an appropriate shuttle!

Gantry Park Esplanade Gets New View Into East River

Math Murals In LIC

MURRAY PARK CONVERGENCE

October 1, 2012 by editor 3 Comments

100_1409 — How do you say “Goooaalll!” in Punjabi?

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

LIBRARY MAY, HORSE MEAT NAY, DICKEY YAY!

September 28, 2012 by editor Leave a Comment

5Ptz4 — For a never ending canvas, the spool is running out…

I’m feeling ornery, which is unusual because this feeling tends to come more often at the beginning of a work week than at the end. Maybe I’m just jonesing for a little Oktoberfest, or maybe it’s the actual LIC news this week. Take for example the announcement about the new library dedication occurring next Friday, October 5 at 10:30am. The rationale for holding the dedication is to “symbolically plant the seed of the library.” What the heck does that mean? We all know it is just a meaningless photo-op for politicians, but of course it could backfire if this thing doesn’t get built. Alas, I’ll have to miss the extravaganza as I am flying to Munich next weekend for a little rehabilitation. More importantly, the article mentions that the library is now scheduled to be completed in 2014, not 2013 as previous reports had indicated. No surprise there really, as anyone passing by the empty lot this whole summer would not have seen any work being done. Some other details about the library is it will include an amphitheater, a reading garden with panoramic views, a children’s area, a teen area, a cybercenter, a conference room, and an adult reading collection(consisting solely of the 50 Shades trilogy). How about a massage room and a car wash too? All kidding aside, Steven Holl is a big name architect and between his involvement and the location on the water, this will be a world class building, if it ever gets completed. Think Bilbao!

Guess what parents, there are a whole lot of small group classes all around LIC for your young’uns in all different disciplines: music, exercise, sports, language. Unfortunately they are all fragmented and not always well publicized. Several weeks ago I mentioned Super Soccer Stars and at some point I will try to cobble together a comprehensive list and publish it. In the meantime, here is another recommendation from UnderPressure Mom:

Hello everyone – I wanted to let you know that the Yoga Room will be doing a 3-5 year old class on Wednesdays – starting this week. The teacher Jodi is terrific and my kids love her/ the class. There is a two class intro for new students for $30. $15/ class. For those of you that work (like me)… I think they will be able to do it on their own – or your sitter can go

New Hunters Point Library Is On The Way – will you still be here for it?

Horse Meat On Menu Raises Eyebrows – get ready for PETA protests in LIC

Aerosol Cans Run Dry, 5Pointz Out of Time – wistful departure

Inner City Roof Farming

Latin American Artists Meet LIC – new exhibit at art gallery on 44th Ave.

Illegal Sewer Line At Hallets Cove? – the downside of all the growth going on

Greenpoint: New Developments and What To Do – TONY’s spin on the ‘hood just below us

R.A. Dickey Wins 20th Game for the Mets – Center Boulevard resident shows the country that 37-year olds can still have game!

M WELLS, M WELLS, M WELLS, SCHOOLS!

September 25, 2012 by editor 6 Comments

5StarDiner2 — Can someone please tell me at which diner I can just get a turkey club?

Organ meat lovers your ship has come in, M Wells Dinette is opening at MoMA PS1 this Thursday. In addition, another outpost from the M Wells dynasty, a steakhouse, is expected to open …well that is a good question. According to the two stories below it is either “at the end of this year” or “sometime next year.” Either way the M Wells publicity machine is back in action after a summer break. If this restaurant thing doesn’t work out, the proprietors should consider going into advertising or public relations because the press their little restaurants receive is unparallelled, but certainly not undeserving. Kudos to them for bringing this unique restaurant to LIC, and kudos to you readers, for living in the place that has such a unique restaurant!

While we are giving out kudos in abundance, I think we here at LICtalk would like to take a bow as well. Why? Well it is not official, but we hear that the “powers that be” have heard our cry and are going to turn PS78 in the CityLights building into an early learning center(Pre-K thru 2nd grade), as we had advocated in our posting LIC We Have A Problem. While that news is awesome, there still is alot to do in regards to the schools in the neighborhood. We appreciate all the concern and comments this topic has received, promise to keep you up to date on the continuing news flow that comes out on this very important issue, and will let you know what can be done to help when the need arises.

Now that we have that problem solved, what else can we here at LICtalk tackle? Because we are not only your #1 source for news, but a problem solver as well. Hey wait, is it too late to get on the ballot for the big election in November?

Fresh And Tasty Raw Horse Meat Coming To LIC Soon – who says Canadians are bland?

M Wells Returning to LIC With MoMA Flavor – El Bulli closes, M Wells re-opens …in LIC

A Chance To Dine With The Chef of M Wells – three, count’em three stories including this one in the New Yorker!

Photo Tour Of LIC – in Time Out New York