Catlong lies back bent on a trash can
Flashing lights cut the night, dude in white says he’s the man
Well, you better learn to move fast
When you’re young or you’re not long around
Cat somehow lost his kitty down in the city pound
So get right, get tight, get down
Well, who’s that down at the end of the alley?
She’s been gone so long
Yeah, like that, yeah
Kitty’s back in town (here she comes, now)
THE Marathon’s back in town, oh, oh, all right! A front row seat to catch the Knicks play Sacramento in one of 82 regular-season meaningless games will set you back $3,000 a piece. A front row seat to catch the NYC Marathon is free, and unlike the Knicks the hometown team is a winner. So gather together your typical LIC family of 3.5 and get down to Vernon Boulevard. If you want to catch the professional runners be there by 9:45am, otherwise the waves start coming through around 11am and continue until ~2pm.
The weather is looking awesome and the field is back to pre-pandemic levels of 50,000+ participants from all over the world. Do not miss this great NYC event, and while you’re screaming your lungs out cheering on those 50k running 26.2, please remember that it was LICtalk who saved your family $10k.
//JULIE Powell died suddenly this week at the age of 49. She was the writer/blogger who penned the book/movie ‘Julie & Julia’ about her cooking and life travails and triumphs that took place in her Long Island City home. In reading the various obituaries about her life and writing, one little snippet that didn’t come up was her post-fame stint working as a barista at LIC’s Corner Cafe on Murray Park. Another local restaurant connection for her that we noted back in 2012 was with the owner of Lounge 47 (now Woodbines and with a new owner), whom she met at the Murray Park dog run. Ironically, Julie’s death coincided with the death this week of another well known NYC food writer who’s culinary passion was also frequently intertwined with sex: Gael Greene. The latter was fortunate to have lived a full and rich life of 88 years, but Julie accomplished a lot in her 49, and both had the talent and initiative to make something out of plain words that made the big city wonderful and crazy, yet intimate.
//TRADE-OFFS Dept. – we finish the week with two stories that require trade-offs. The first is the well-documented fight over Innovation QNS, the proposed 11-tower, 2,800 apartment project on the border of LIC & Astoria just off Northern Boulevard. More development (and possibly displacement) in the form of upzoning, in return for more housing as well as a chunk of affordable housing.
The second is the new ferry terminal proposal for the southern LIC stop near the Oval in Hunters Point South Park. Currently located just south of the food/beer stand formerly known as LIC Landing, the proposal is for a greatly expanded terminal just north of LIC Landing where the dining area is located. It would not displace the dining area as it will be built slightly offshore, but it will block some of the view, especially when ferries are in port. The rationale for the expansion and move is that the current terminal can only hold one boat, whereas there’s a need to be able to dock two based on increased ridership. Plus the current terminal is nearing the end of its useful life. Those opposing the new terminal cite the view being marred and the heavy pedestrian traffic.
I really don’t know whether the Innovation QNS developers are giving up enough for their gains, but given where things stand in late 2022 economically, as well as the current tight rental markets, as well as the forlorn location, I think there’s not much downside to granting the upzoning. Similarly, as someone who knows and loves that view well, I recognize the need for progress and feel the expansion is not unwarranted. As for the crowds, they’re there anyway and that’s the price of a beautiful view.
NYC Marathon Guide 2022 – “It will be a 26.2-mile celebration of you,”
Julie Powell, Food Writer Known For ‘Julie & Julia,’ Dies At 49
Julie Powell Was A Messy, Exuberant Keeper Of Both House And Head
How Julie Powell Changed The Food World From A Long Island City Loft
LIC’s Giant Innovation QNS Development Hinges On Who Pays For Affordable Housing – detailed article on the debate over this project
Plans Filed To Demolish Ferry Terminal At Hunters Point South And Build Larger Terminal Nearby
Anonymous says
November 4, 2022 at 11:49 amTwo rather important developments here. The first relates to a good faith negotiation between public and private entities – it’s important the project moves ahead to ensure we bring all those affordable housing units online. The other represents an important infrastructure need for an area which is being built to drastically increase headcount. Hopefully we see that the need for affordable housing and better infrastructure may trump other considerations – it’s important we put our support behind common sense, reasonable plans for current and future residents.