LICtalk | Page 2 of 69 | A thousand reasons to love Long Island City. Tips: Editor@LICtalk.com

Nov 05 2018

AMAZON CHOOSES LONG ISLAND CITY FOR HQ2!!!

Amazon has chosen Long Island City as one of the two locations for its second headquarters according to The New York Times. Crystal City, Virginia on the outskirts of DC will be the other. Each location is expected to add 25,000 workers over the next few years, and be transformed in the process.

What that transformation will look like for LIC and how it will proceed is unknown at this time, but it is believed that the state and Governor made many concessions and offered many incentives to lure the company.

We have been covering the possibility of this happening from the moment the initial bake-off was announced with 40 candidates. Obviously Amazon felt as we do that Long Island City was the primo location for being a part of NYC – the greatest city in the world – they just had to go through the whole process I guess. In addition to all the wonderful attributes of LIC, it also had the logistical advantage of being near Amazon’s biggest customer, my wife.

Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 in Two Locations – interestingly, when push came to shove they tossed that whole ‘affordability’ criteria right out the window by choosing NYC & DC

Tagged amazon headquarters, amazon hq2, long island city

Nov 02 2018

JVB NO DINERO; CUOMO EL RIO AMAZON POR HQ2

LICtalk is having some technical difficulties this week, but rest assured that we have our 40-person programming team in Bangalore working 24/7 to fix it. As a hard-hitting (but non-partisan) news source, we get more than our fair share of hacking attacks from all over the world. Nevertheless we’re still able to spread the word from our secure backup location in Parsipanny, just no pics.

Some big LIC headlines out from The Daily News in the last 48 hours: JVB won’t take developers cash in his run for Queens Borough President, Cuomo would change name of Newtown Creek to Amazon if they choose to locate HQ2 in LIC.

Also comes the story of a dominatrix working out of an LIC hotel who got robbed of her cash and wares. See the video, maybe you know one of these gentlemen? Definitely going to get a lot of clicks given the subject matter.

//TROJAN horse? Crain’s speculates the rationale behind the $180 mil going to LIC is possibly a set-up for a big zoning variance. That would explain the intricate website LIC.NYC the city put together.

//THE ferry stop at Hunters Point South has re-opened

//DANCING With the LIC Stars is tomorrow night at the Plaxall Gallery, buy tickets here.

//FINALLY, the NYC Marathon is this Sunday and Long Island City is blessed with its (omni)presence.

Van Bramer Pledges Not to Take Real Estate Cash in Likely Queens Borough President Run – no dinero por favor

Cuomo Ready to Name LIC Creek the Amazon River for HQ2 – sure, why not

City to Invest $180 Mil in LIC Infrastructure – may presage upzoning

Group of Men Break Into LIC Hotel Room, Rob Dominatrix – they got more than they bargained for, $4k worth

All Aboard Again at Hunters Point South – read why it closed in the first place

Thousands of Queensbridge Residents W/O Heat As Winter Nears – raze…

Chinese Firm Takes 70% Stake in $253 Mil Condo Project – for $67 mil

NYC Marathon Chief Takes Measure of a Long Journey – w/ a stop at Sweetleaf

Tagged HQ2, jimmy van bramer

Oct 30 2018

1 Comment

Politics

$180 MILLION DEDICATED TO LIC BY NYC, WHY NO BRIDGE?

SO, the city made the announcement today that “Long Island City, New York City’s fastest-growing neighborhood, will get a $180 million infusion of capital to build and improve schools, streets and parks.” Before you get too excited note that $95 million of it will be spent on sewers, $60 million on a new school that had already been announced, $10 million on street improvements – all of which are necessary infrastructure for the fastest growing neighborhood in the U.S. That leaves $15 million for parks, so maybe a better headline is “City Allots $15 million for Long Island City Parks.” Continue reading →

Tagged long island city

Oct 25 2018

2 Comments

Booze, Eats, Real Estate

WHAT’S WRONG WITH RETAIL IN LONG ISLAND CITY?

Of course then there’s…

And if you say to me tomorrow,
Oh what fun it all would be
Then what’s to stop us, pretty baby,
But what is and what should never be

Given all the empty storefronts, anyone walking along Vernon Boulevard might wonder how Long Island City is the fastest growing city in the nation. Of course excessive retail vacancies abound through many stretches of Manhattan as well, and “retailing” as a concept is under siege nationwide due to Amazon.

One of the problems lies with the entrepreneurs who start these businesses. Continue reading →

Tagged long island city, Vernon Boulevard

Oct 18 2018

2 Comments

Arts and Entertainment, Kids

HALLOWEEN PARADE AND FALL FESTIVAL WILL BE ON OCTOBER 28

Getting in the spirit

The Star Chamber of Long Island City has passed down through their disciples that the LIC Halloween Parade on Vernon Boulevard will occur on Sunday, October 28 this year. You know the drill: kids wear costumes and get candy from the local merchants. In addition, Continue reading →

Tagged PS78Q, Vernon Boulevard

Oct 16 2018

DANCING WITH THE STARS COMING TO LIC

Egg and ham but no poutine hoy

PULL that white 3-piece suit out from the back of the closet because Dancing With The Stars is coming to LIC on Friday, November 2. It will take place at the Plaxall Gallery between 6-9pm and feature local residents competing in a fundraiser for the Floating Hospital and the Queensboro Dance Festival. The glitz, glamour, and glory are sure to make this contest resemble Dirty Dancing and Footloose and not They Shoot Horses Don’t They. Tickets include open bar and a buffet by Woodbines & M. Wells and an open dance floor after the show. Continue reading →

Oct 12 2018

2 Comments

Eats

WHAT’S UP WITH ‘THE SANDWICH KING’ IN LONG ISLAND CITY?

“I could really use a sandwich, woof”

Excellent question sir and one that’s been eating at me all summer. Originally scheduled to open by early May according to owner Nick Giovanniello, the storefront has sat undisturbed since. Recently though, Continue reading →

Tagged The Sandwich King, Vernon Boulevard

Oct 08 2018

5 Comments

Business

INDEPENDENCE HAS ITS VIRTUES AT LIC PHARMACIES

Scripts, organics, and …toys

Simple business plan “Just get’em to like me” -Josh

Everybody wants to support their local retail merchant, but given the chance to save a few bucks most still gravitate to the lowest bidder. One industry whose prices are basically fixed ((due to insurance, medicare, and medicaid)) is prescription drugs. Nevertheless there’s a misconception that the chains offer lower prices than independents. Furthermore, with the exception of some loss-leaders, many non-prescription items are actually more expensive than their local peers, CVS and Rite Aid are no bargains. Given this background and several favorable anecdotes and endorsements by residents, I decided to profile the two independent pharmacies in Hunters Point. Continue reading →

Oct 02 2018

3 Comments

News

IS THAT NEWS LIC?

Is this news?

Welcome to this month’s version of “Is That News LIC?”

Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter opened its doors in LIC this week, is that news? If you’re a parent of a child aged 2-6 I would say that it is, or will be once the winter begins and you’re cooped up at home in your converted one-bedroom.

If a fire burns on the industrial portion of Borden Avenue on a Saturday night, is that news? Maybe, but definitely if you’re a firefighter groupie as the most in-depth stories plus full video are only to be found on websites like Firefighternation and Firehouse.com

The 7-Train will not be running into Manhattan every weekend in October, is that news? ABSOLUTELY if you live in LIC!

If Gantry Plaza State Park changes it’s dog laws to allow them on the paths only instead of an outright ban, is that news? Not if the rules in both cases go unenforced. You show me a summons, I’ll write it up…

If a 100-person start-up based in LIC is acquired by Walmart is that news? Yes, especially if you’re plus-sized.

If Trader Joe’s announces it is opening on Jackson Avenue in 2019 is that news? Continue reading →

Tagged lic

Sep 28 2018

CORNER BISTRO 2.0

All this and the Stones in the background

“I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.”

Unlike directly across the East River, nothing really newsworthy occurred in Long Island City this week and I was pretty much resigned to publishing a single post with a photo and links to others tepid news. Then I passed the Corner Bistro, and like Wimpy I couldn’t resist popping my head in for a burger, as it’s always been a magnet for me time immemorial. Lo and behold what did I find – the classic joint had undergone a renovation.

Furthermore signs announcing “Corner Bistro Reboot” indicated a revamped menu would commence on October 1. So I spoke with Elizabeth McGrath, daughter of the owners of the original Corner Bistro on West 4th Street, Bill & Lorraine O’Donnell. She told me that in addition to the traditional and current hamburger-centric offering, the LIC location would Continue reading →

Tagged Corner Bistro LIC