Eats

LIC REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT IN OVERDRIVE

March 1, 2013 by editor 10 Comments

Cranes, cranes, cranes, cranes... — Cranes, cranes, cranes, cranes…

As if what is visible to the naked eye is not enough, the wheeling and dealing and prospecting going on in this town makes Manhattan look like Arkansas. Especially on a per capita basis. Everywhere I look, both on the streets and in the news, deals and development are occurring at a frantic pace in Long Island City for both commercial and residential real estate. I have documented most of them here on this website, but they keep popping up like weeds and keeping track of their progress and locations is bewildering. All I can say is that if the building sales continue at this pace, and the construction(and financing) goes according to plan, three years from now LIC will look like Dubai .

Most people think of LIC as Hunters Point, Court Square, maybe Queens Plaza. But from a land mass perspective these comprise less than 50% of the acreage in LIC. The biggest “other” section is the area north of the Queensboro Bridge. Even here there are many different enclaves, but I’m just going to refer to them as the Northern Hinterlands. For those wanting greater distinction, the final two stories tell of a kooky local business and a just-reviewed by the New York Times restaurant located up there.

Developer Looks to Turn LIC’s Court Square into Nightlife Hub – beer hall, music venue, high end restaurants. You know, just like Disney World.

26-14 Jackson Avenue – 98-unit rental building scheduled to break ground in June (Google “Ekstein Development if this does not load correctly)

5-27 51st Avenue – 4-story condo building in the heart of Hunters Point, Condos!

Tower on the Rise In Greenpoint – relevant to LIC because it is just across Newtown Creek and is going to be a 210-unit rental building

$40 Million Paid for Innocuous Looking Industrial Building – in the hinterlands east, but another sign of all the wheeling and dealing

Corner Bistro LIC Review – hamburger good, beer cold

NY Times review of Bear – all of you clamoring for something different, this fits the bill

Legendary Indie Film Company – who knew on their way to Costco, that we were amidst cinematic greatness?

PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND, NOT IN LIC

February 15, 2013 by editor 4 Comments

Au Revoir or auf wiedersehn? — Au revoir or auf wiedersehn from LIC?

Presidents Day week/end brings no new news to LIC, as it is time to visit the Saints …Anton, Barts, Kitts, Moritz etc. Or, if you don’t have a life(a.k.a. have children), you may pick from a menu of three choices: Atlantis, Orlando, or Uncle Mo’s spare bedroom in Boynton Beach. If neither of these options is doable, may I recommend a quick get away to Poland? You will not need plane reservations, though a car would be handy, but not essential. Karczma, a Polish restaurant several blocks from the Pulaski Bridge, does a good job of transporting you temporarily from NYC. Furthermore, after a few $5 Okocim or Zywiec pints, you’ll quickly forget that you are not sunning, schussing, shuttling, or shuffleboarding like everyone else in New York. Best of all, this option is a great one whether you have a life or not. Oh wait, you want more? How about if I tell you that when the bill comes you will feel like the wealthiest man in Krakow? That should make you stop feeling sorry for yourself, GO!

Countries Largest Rock Climbing Gym Coming to LIC – yup, we know and can’t wait

LIC Artist Opens New Studio with Low Key Vibe

CRABHOUSE RE-OPENS AND CASA ENRIQUE GETS BOOZE

February 12, 2013 by editor 10 Comments

As another editor of a major news publication once opined to me after our fourth Knob Creek “What’s the point of breaking news other than ego gratification?” For justification, he continued “..it’s not like the information is actionable, unless it’s business news during market hours.” Well I couldn’t agree with him more. It’s the thought and analysis that go into the stories that make them worthwhile. As proof, have you ever noticed how long it takes the New York Times to post a story on the web? By my reckoning about 90 minutes after the Daily News and NY Post. Why does it take so long, are they still using dial-up service? Uhh no, it’s because they want to be definitive and get the facts right. Just like here at LICtalk, where a reader knows a little work has gone into it. Most importantly, one gets an assessment of what, if anything, the specific news means for the neighborhood.

LIC institution The Waterfront Crabhouse re-opens today, just in time for Fat Tuesday, having finally completed extensive renovations after being flooded by Sandy. Three-and-a-half months later, it is a reminder that while the bulk of LIC got lucky, select residents and businesses continue to be affected. As another reminder of haphazard local fate, Casa Enrique finally received their liquor license, almost a year after they opened. Why it took so long whilst others get theirs simultaneously upon opening is beyond me. I’m glad to hear the news though, as there is nothing I like more than a Knob Creek to wash down tacos de lengua. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Boat Clubs In Spat – story about the fight over the LIC Community Boathouse

More Single People Live In These Nabes Than Anywhere in the City – dumbest, most unscientific study ever. Did the author ever think that by “single” it might include senior citizens???

LIC Bar Fundraiser Thanks The Who – it’s only teen-age wasteland!

Department Fines Crane Operator in Collapse

SUPER BOWL AND SUPER NEWS!

January 31, 2013 by editor 3 Comments

The Big Game - I got fifty on green n team! — The Big Game – I got fifty on green n team!

Ok readers, the big weekend is upon us, and there is also a lot of super LIC news. It starts with a great new addition coming to the neighborhood, and ends with a pig roast for the big game. In between there’s more meat than filler, kinda like the SuperBowl. So spend your time pouring through the news, and not my blather.

New Mega Climbing Gym Coming to LIC in the Spring – WOW, as if this town wasn’t great enough!

Stop Alternate Side Parking Now – over the last six months we have made mention of a movement to bring street cleaning to LIC, in turn this would require alternate side of the street parking to the ‘hood. Now a backlash movement has formed. Ayy caramba, I’m glad I park my Bentley in a garage!

Crane Operator Cited In LIC Collapse – first comes the accident, then comes the finger pointing

New 27-story Rental Opens in Court Square – the apartments are priced to compete, plus the author makes reference to “the famed Long Island City waterfront.” …”FAMED”, what have I been telling you all this time!?!

Here Is The Link To the New 27th Story Rental – great prices, but still rentals not condos

Noguchi Museum’s First Friday’s – an art party in LIC, this is where the weekend section begins

Colin Quinn At Creek And Cave – it’s FREE, but someone may want to let him know there’s another event going on simultaneously that might draw most people’s attention

Alewife’s SuperBowl Pig Roast – were I not going to New Orleans this weekend…

SMASH BANG POW: 2013 OPENS WITH LOTS MORE RESTAURANT NEWS

January 2, 2013 by editor 3 Comments

Pasta? I think we have enough of that already. — Pasta? I think we have enough of that already in LIC, but I’m still waiting for my turkey club.

So much for my parting words about nothing happening in LIC in my absence. To start with, the Empire State Building showed off its new lighting system New Years Eve by beaming a kaleidoscopic strobe light over its crown. Then, you would think it were Spring with all the new restaurants blossoming locally, as it was only three weeks ago when I wrote “Restaurant Bonanza” about the places coming soon. First off, Chickpea, the hummus/falafel chain, has just opened an outlet by Queensboro Plaza. How’s that for something much needed in the neighborhood? Next up, LIC is getting cupcakes, as Brooklyn Cupcake is opening soon, sharing space in the Uncle Louis G’s ice cream hole-in-the-wall on 48th Avenue. Given the demographics in Hunters Point, that ought to be like selling heroin to junkies. Finally, three updates on restaurants about to open, re-open, and close.

1) OpenDoor, which I wrote in the fall would be opening in October, then wrote in December will open by years end, is now looking to open by the end of January.

2) The Waterfront Crabhouse, which sustained massive damage due to Sandy, is expected to open again in February.

3) Lounge 47 on Vernon Boulevard is rumored to be closing by month’s end

Ay Caramba! In reading those three items, all I can think is ‘I’m glad I didn’t go into the restaurant business!’ But I am ecstatic about all the new things happening here, and will give you my New Years prediction: 2013 will be the Year of Long Island City!

Chickpea Website – call 718-440-9646 and order up a shawarma today!

Sandy Changes Hunters Point Library Plans – oh jeez, does this change mean a delay?

7-Train Service Suspension For Next 13 Weekends – yeah we told you about this weeks ago and all the “railing” in the world is not going halt it. Only one politician in NYC can alter this and his name starts w/ Mike. Thus, it’s a fact of life if you live in Hunters Point, always has been.

East River Ferry In LIC Here To Stay – does anyone from LIC actually use the ferry regularly?