Business

The heat is gone, for the time being, and the news is back, in abundance.  First off is the annual release of the “Live At The Gantries” summer concert schedule which kicks off tomorrow(Tuesday) night.  The bands are mostly local, and the setting, as we know, is unparallelled!  Do not expect the huge crowds that descended on PS1 late Saturday afternoon for the initial 2012 Warm-Up.  Despite the oppressive heat, the swarms immersed Court Square like the Deadheads used to do when the band played small cities such as Harrisburg and Utica.  In lieu of tie-dyes, Saturdays’ participants sported lots of piercings and ink, but today’s genre seemed just as well-versed in “augmenting” the experience.  Whatever your musical tastes might be, the Series attracts people from all over the world and it’s pretty awesome to have this event linked to our small city!

Next up is a story about LIC notable Frank Carrado, aka The Mayor of LIC.  He is an LIC lifer who you may have seen hanging around Vernon Boulevard, and he held a not very well publicized photo exhibit this past weekend.  He has documented the recent changes in the neighborhood, and his photos and knowledge are fascinating for anyone interested in the recent and not so recent history of the area.  Check out the slideshow in the article for a dozen of his pictures.

Finally, the Indian restaurant we told you about on June 12th has opened.  It is called Aanchal, it is on 23rd Street between 45th Avenue and 45th Road, and as of now they do not have a liquor license, so you may want to bring along a few bottles of Chateau Lafitte for the time being.  If you happen to be out of stock, you can make a quick pit-stop around the corner, see the fourth article for details.  Bottoms-Up!

Live At The Gantries 2012 Schedule – Altamont, fear not

Long Island City’s Rapid Growth In Photos – “The old people don’t like it,” he said. “They are not used to the new things.”

Slideshow From The First PS1 Warm-Up Dance Party Of The Summer – I can only imagine what the old people think of this!

Bona Fides Bottled Up In Queens – cool wine store/warehouse hidden in Hunters Point and open to the public, just don’t expect anything in the $9.99 price range!

Kayak Tours Put New Yorkers On The East River – all about local stalwart the LIC Boathouse, another thing we are extraordinarily lucky to have in our backyard!

City Waterway Day – July 14th

5Pointz Gonzo, More Details On What Is Replacing It – as told by Crains reporter and LIC resident Amanda Fung

Manhattan Condo Inventory Plummets In Second Quarter – so you want to buy and you want a bargain?  Good luck!

Long Island City’s House Of Rust Has Detractors – Jackson Avenue condo building

Off-Duty NYPD Officer Busted For Drunken Driving After Crashing On Jackson Boulevard – nuff said

Pinch me!  Just when I think things cannot possibly get any better here in LIC we get the news above.  But wait, there’s more: there will be a beer garden attached!  But wait there’s more: there will be live music!  What else can I say? How about it is expected to open in mid-July!!!!!

I should probably stop now, but the weekend, for which I gave you sex and beer in my last post to revel in, is over.  So now it’s time to delve into the nuts and bolts.  Let’s start with a story ten days ago in the NY Times about the obsessed guide/historian of Newtown Creek, the waterway which separates Queens and Brooklyn and is spanned by the Pulaski Bridge.  His name is Mitch Waxman and he writes a blog called Newtown Pentacle that I have always found fascinating, and occasionally exasperating ecologically.  I had planned on doing a feature on the guy, but the Times beat me to it, and in reality can do it better and more thoroughly than my short attention span will allow.    If you have any interest in the industrial and manufacturing history of LIC and other nearby areas, read the article then go to his website, just make sure you have a few hours to spare.  Next up is a story all about the plumbers who maintain and turn on the sprinklers and water fountains in our local parks.  Like I said, BBQ notwithstanding, this is a nuts and bolts post.  We have FedEx groundbreakings, trains idling, new construction, possible Queens library layoffs, you get the picture: all business.

Ok, ok, I know what happened to Jack when he was so focused on work, thus I will pose the question: Who needs to go to Manhattan for culture?  Answer: not the residents of LIC.  There’s a new series of plays that will be taking place locally.  The final link provides all the information about the group staging them at the Creek and the Cave.  So remember residents of LIC: even though most of you work over there, there are now more opportunities than ever to play over here.

John Brown Smokehouse Moving, To Feature Beer Garden And Live Music – this is where I’ll be ‘summering’, who needs the Hamptons now?

Your Guide To A Tour Of Decay – really cool

Behind Those Cool Squirts In Summer

FedEx Breaks Ground On New $56 Million Facility

Van Bramer Wants To Quiet Idling Trains – your weekly VB appearance

‘Linc LIC’ Tops Out – yeah I know it’s a self-serving press release, but it contains all the info on a huge new residential project opening in 2013

Queens Library Workers Hope Layoffs Aren’t Looming – what does this mean for HP Library?

Platform Group Announces Line-Up For The Ladder Series