250th Anniversary of this nation notwithstanding, there will be no Macy’s Fireworks for Long Island City in 2026. While there will be two sets of barges, they are centered around the Seaport and The Statue of Liberty/Jersey City. Thus, they will not be visible from here for the third year in a row.
Making my decision to skip town that much easier. Now I must decide to where? Manasquan, Montauk, Nantucket? Hmm, maybe I will forgo locations with Native American Indian etymology this summer and try one immersed in non-native Indian culture (but not etymology): Jackson Heights. Or perhaps immersed in East Asian culture: Flushing, a town whose etymology was grounded in Dutch. There’s no need to fly anywhere this summer as kerosene prices go through the roof. Just channel your inner Queens, cause there won’t be any fireworks in outer Queens.
//BEFORE we get to the 4th, we’ve got Memorial Day on deck. Keeping with the Queens-theme and last week’s NYT ‘Top 100 Restaurants in NYC 2026,’ I couldn’t help but notice the big uptick in number of Queens restaurants on the list versus last year: 23-15. Queens is in ascendance…
//BOOM – after ranking it number four on the list above last week, The New York Times follows up by giving Meju three stars in a just released review. Great story, and background, of our local food celeb. See link below.
//STAYING on theme: East Asian cuisine, we noticed a sign on the boarded up front of 45-06 Vernon Boulevard announcing that Sushi-O is coming to it’s ground floor. When? Looks like there’s a lot of work to be done. Where?? 45-06 Vernon is several blocks north of the main commercial district on Vernon, adjacent to the now shuttered, but never forgotten, Riverhead Gentleman’s Club. What??? Sushi-O looks to be connected to a location in Carle Place Long Island with the same name, see link below for details.
//DIGGING deep, that’s what we do here at LICtalk. Here’s an interesting tidbit for you investment bankers. The Paragon Paint Building was previously owned and the business was run by the father of Steven Rattner. Who knew?
Hudson River and Seaport Will Both Host This Year’s Macy’s Fireworks – boo hoo
NYT 100 Best Restaurants in NYC 2026 – 23 are in Queens
At the Korean Restaurant in Our Top 5, It’s All About Fermentation – 3 stars for Meju, three cheers too!
Sushi O – website
First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade
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