“The people here are a little more relaxed than Manhattan or Brooklyn. They don’t get into fights in lines. Maybe it’s because they can see the sky.”
Jason Sheftell in April 2013
TEN years ago this publication pushed through the birth canal, shot to the stars and made a simple declaration. Life has never been the same for all those living in Long Island City.
At that time, something was crackling in the air, but only insiders knew, much like those fans in attendance when The Beatles played The Cavern Club. It took a few years to incubate, but eventually LICtalk (and LIC) would have their break-out moments – akin to The Beatles on Ed Sullivan – after which the genie was out of the bottle and the wine women and song flowed. Continuing with the same analogy, today both the publication and neighborhood have bypassed their Sergeant Pepper phase. The only question now is are we heading towards a ‘Let It Be’ finale?
Having already addressed the excitement of our first half-decade, the ensuing quintennial has basically been par for the course. Basically. Many towers were completed, built, and started, that was a foregone conclusion. Amazon came – which no one predicted, and then they left, which was unpredictable, unforgettable, and unforgivable. We eventually got those Chinese restaurants, and numerous other restaurants have come and gone. Ice cream vendors have waned, but have been more than supplanted by bubble tea. Artists and factories have slow-leaked their way out of town, and been replaced by dual income households and schools. While LICtalk has evolved from a fanzine to a full-blown local gazette replete with intern.
Though it may seem a bit self-congratulatory for The Editor to be writing this tribute himself, when I canvassed my peers David Remnick, Graydon Carter, and Danielle Steel, they all gave a low bow and insisted that no one was better equipped to memorialize this occasion than The Editor. Or at least that’s the way that I interpreted the trio of SMTP Server Authentication messages I received from them. Likewise, while I await the imminent announcement of funding for the LICtalk Presidential Library, our archives are currently being stored in the toddler’s section on the fifth floor of the one in Hunters Point. It’s kind of a secret, please keep it that way.
Finally I began this soliloquy with a quote from Jason Sheftell, who covered real estate for The Daily News and who would sadly pass away at the age of 46 a year after uttering the quote back in 2013 – back when things were ‘crackling.’ Nevertheless I still think it’s an excellent encapsulation of the neighborhood today and the people who live in it. Thank you for reading LICtalk, and stay tuned for decade number two…
Excavation Set To Begin For Queens Tallest Building At 27-48 Jackson Ave In Long Island City – a befitting honor for LICtalk
LIC Is Getting A Brand New Park – another befitting honor for LICtalk, it’ll have a slide too!
New K-8 Private School Coming To LIC – no, no you’re too kind, yet another honor (but please keep’em coming)
Rob basch says
March 9, 2022 at 7:00 pmCongratulations and continue the good work.
Anonymous says
March 10, 2022 at 6:20 amCongratulations! Best place for local news.
M says
March 14, 2022 at 8:31 pmgreat resource for LIC. thank you for your insights and enjoyable writing
Mitchell Hauser says
March 14, 2022 at 8:32 pmgreat resource for LIC. thank you for your insights and enjoyable writing
Anonymous says
March 15, 2022 at 10:23 amThank you for posting! Love your writing style.