Kids

QUEENS BEER WEEK AND LIC EASTER EGG HUNT NEXT WEEK

April 9, 2014 by editor Leave a Comment

We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I’m goin’ to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around,
Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson,
Look out Jackson town.

How’s that for a twisted pairing? Eggs for the kids, beer for the ‘rents, sounds good to me. We’ve documented the explosion of the Queens beer scene over the last 24 months, but who knew there was a burgeoning Easter Egg Hunt frenzy in LIC? [Read more…] about QUEENS BEER WEEK AND LIC EASTER EGG HUNT NEXT WEEK

“NO GIFTS PLEASE”

December 17, 2013 by editor 10 Comments

On January 1, 1994, China devalued its currency by 50% in a single day, and since then has experienced a manufacturing boom …in modern times there never has been free trade with China; the US has already been in a trade war for nearly two decades; and it is the only time in this nation’s history it surrendered without ever firing a shot. The United States lost six million jobs, indebted itself to China by $1.4 trillion, and received in return a host of consumer goods, many of which now reside in landfills across the country. -Paul Tudor Jones

Now that the year is about to turn, the parents of LIC will be starting a whole new round of birthdays for their kids. In return for cake, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and meet n’ greets with Eli Manning and Beyonce; young guests (or their custodians/handmaidens) are expected to bring a gift for the birthday child. While this is a time-honored tradition, I couldn’t help but wonder, having witnessed this orgiastic display firsthand(as a journalist), if maybe it hasn’t become a bit of an anachronism in the 21st century? [Read more…] about “NO GIFTS PLEASE”

HALLOWEEN + NYC MARATHON = AWESOME WEEKEND!

October 29, 2013 by editor 5 Comments

The Fall Classic? Summer's but a distant memory. — The Fall Classic? Summer’s but a distant memory.

Okay folks, it’s take two for the best weekend in New York. Twelve months prior, we were so rudely interrupted by Sandy, but this year it’s all systems go. Here’s my piece from last year, explaining exactly why it’s the best weekend to be a New Yorker. Re-read it, commit it to memory, then live it. That’s all.

The second most famous Halloween Parade in NYC takes place right here in LIC. It features the next generation of A-Rod’s, Madoff’s, and Miley Cyrus’. It starts at 4:45pm at Gantry Park on October 31st. Don’t forget your cameras, this is history in the making.

Oh, and if you want to read something really scary, check out all the real estate links below.

47th Road Project – just west of Vernon Blvd. Check out the diagrams and simulated facade from local architect Robert Wilkanowski.

Real Estate Developers Are Excited About Queens – developers also thought that Queens was poised to see the most residential growth.

Hunters Point South’s First Affordable Towers Are Rising – the latest pics, from Curbed

Renovated LIC Row House to Feature Storm-Resistant Features – which practically guarantees we won’t have another Sandy for a century.

Final Bids for Court Square Development Requested – asking $23.5 million, paid $10 mil two years ago

Judge Grants Artists Injunction to Block Demolition of 5Pointz – what did Yogi say about it being over?

Bikers to Get Dedicated Lane on Pulaski Bridge – the foot and bike traffic has gotten so big, it’s needed

Suspect Punches Woman in Face and Tries to Rob Her in LIC – happened on 44th Drive

LIC-based Skyline Restoration Among Crain’s 50 Fastest Growing NYC Companies

LIC TIDBITS

September 26, 2013 by editor 3 Comments

Look at how green that water is. You'd think it were St. Patrick's Day in LIC — Look at how green that water is. You’d think it were St. Patty’s Day in LIC!

Snooze Alert – My candidness will keep me in penury. I mean, how am I supposed to sell news with a headline like the one above and then a warning to readers that I don’t have anything very interesting to tell them? Simple, by keeping it short. Let’s share a few local activities and then get right to the news.

We are excited to announce the launching of SOUL Karate with our first offering of classes beginning October 16 in Long Island City!Please visit soulkarate.com to check out the class descriptions, instructor bio, registration information, and more. Feel free to leave comments, or questions on the page…your feedback is appreciated! The LIC Fall 2013 session will be 9 weekly classes running on Wednesdays from October 16 through December 18 at the New York Irish Center located at 1040 Jackson Avenue.

On Tuesday 15 October at 4pm, the LIC Community Garden will be launching its Little Free Library. Little Free Libraries are local community based and run book exchanges, that are springing up all over the world, from Perth, Australia to Anchorage, Alaska, and everywhere in between. You can find out more about Little Free Libraries at littlefreelibrary.org. The Community Garden’s Library will be themed around children’s books.

Teen Skateboarder Dies after Falling Underneath a Truck – 18-year old from Sunnyside

Garde Robe: High End Clothes Storage – the NYT writes up a local biz that charges more to store your clothes than it costs to rent an apartment in LIC.

$18 Day Pass for The Cliffs at Long Island City – Grand Opening Saturday, October 5th

Ravel Hotel Plans $10 Million Expansion – it’ll have an ice rink. Check out these pics!

Rockrose, M Wells Beef Up Court Square Foodie Cred – the restaurant will supposedly be the attraction that brings renters to the thousands of new apartments they’re building

Long Island City Is Having a Moment – this guy’s a little late to the party, see the opening sentence. The rest pretty much reads as a love letter to Justin Elghanayan and Rockrose, like he was so smitten just to get an interview.

Renters Start Your Engines: Apartments Are Scarce and The Competition is Fierce – this guy needs to subscribe to LICtalk. He is so three months ago!

Developer Shows Off Star of the New LIC – more on the new amenities by TF Cornerstone

BACKPACKS VS. STROLLERS = BEER?

August 28, 2013 by editor 5 Comments

To the city that she loved. R.I.P. — To the city that she adored, R.I.P.

Warning: This article is not suitable for single adults

Freakonomics comes to Long Island City this week, as a reader of LICtalk emailed us a story about a study which analyzes the ratio of kids aged 5-9 years old to those aged 0-4, in a given neighborhood. The gist of the article tries to explain why:

“…in some city neighborhoods – even those where the sidewalks are full of strollers – backpack-toting kids are scarce. That’s because many urban parents move to the suburbs once their kids are ready to enroll in school.”

We already tackled this topic, albeit from an anecdotal and observational perspective as opposed to a quantitative one, in our Pulitzer Prize winning article “The Culling of the Herd.” So I will just cut to the chase and tell you that LIC came in with the lowest ratio in New York, i.e. the fewest # of 5-9er’s to 0-4’s. So let’s hoist a locally-made nano-brew this long weekend, in celebration of the fact that once again LIC is at the top of the heap. Even if this honor doesn’t really convey much esteem on our neighborhood, we here at LICtalk are always looking for a good excuse to drink another cold one. Enjoy the weekend.

Hey readers, keep those articles, story suggestions, and tips coming. You can reach me at editor@lictalk.com and I promise to get back to everyone in a timely manner. – The Editor

Backpack Vs. Stroller Neighborhoods – “if you’re looking for housing where the neighborhood where housing is hot, follow the strollers, not the backpacks.” And LIC is an “Extreme Stroller Neighborhood”

Two Shot in Queens Strip Club – now this is more up my alley and I wanted to write about it, but publisher trumps editor!

HPS Park South Opens in LIC – yawn, we told you about this on Monday, but Mayor Mike was in da ‘hood today, along w/ the usual cast of local p.r. photo-hogs.

HPS Park heralds New Era for Queens Waterfront – an architectural analysis of the new park

Might LIC Be the Home of the Next Pringles? – read about these two young entrepreneurs and their experience at the previously chronicled Queens Entrepreuner Space

LIC’s 27 on 27th Rentals Fully Leased – proving one again that if you price-em right, they’ll move