The world famous LIC waterfront once again served as the backdrop for a politician making noise. This time it was celebrity candidate Anthony Weiner, who based on the number of reporters attending today’s fracas, one would think had already been anointed mayor. Acting very much the role of the politician, his delivery was erudite and smooth, and it is amazing how easy it seemed for him to act as if there was no 1000-pound gorilla in the …park. As for what he said, well we don’t really report on those kind of things at LICtalk, unless of course it actually contains some substance. What we did find of interest, was that he did not take the 7-train to get here. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have been 20 minutes late for his own press conference. Now that dear readers, is a matter of questionable judgment.
Talking about rolls, or maybe roles, did you know that the origin of the word came from the rolled up piece of paper each actor and actress received before a play back in the 16th century? Well you would know this fact if you had attended Shakespeare Queens in Gantry Park this past Saturday night. Didn’t catch it? Well it was not really well advertised. Even your entertainment hub, LICtalk, never listed it. Fear not, because they are coming back to the same location to perform The Tempest, this Saturday night, August 10, at 7:30. Now personally, I’m a pretty low-brow entertainment consumer, think Three Stooges. Yet the excellent and well-acted performance of Love’s Labor’s Lost this past Saturday night, contained enough ribaldry that even Anthony Weiner would have enjoyed it!
Finally, drifting back to LIC’s #1 topic, real estate, I couldn’t help but notice the final paragraph in an article in the Sunday Real Estate section of yesterday’s New York Times, about a group of rental buildings going up on the Manhattan side, directly across from Hunters Point South:
“We really wanted an iconic design,” Mr. Stern said. “This is a large-scale site, one of the largest residential developments to hit Midtown East in a very long time, so it is important not to miss the mark and to push the envelope.”
Doesn’t Long Island City deserve a similar iconic design? Yes it does, but that is very hard to justify when the buildings being built are to be 100% affordable housing. So instead of getting cutting edge architecture, the residents of LIC are relegated to looking at mediocrity, whilst the inhabitants of such get spectacular views, uber-amenities, and extremely well-situated housing, at a bargain price.
Anthony Weiner didn’t even go near that topic today, but at least we still get the bard.
High Rises to Replace an East River Eyesore – “This could be a harbinger of things to come in terms of getting more innovative design along the East River.” -but not on the eastern side!
Events Occurring at Gantry State Park in August – not only do we get Shakespeare, but every Thursday night we’re going to get “Movies in the Park” starting at 8pm. It’s all family-friendly footage, so Anthony probably won’t be there.
Hip to Hip Theatre Company – gives all the details about this wonderful group of local Shakespeareans
Gayle Baron, LIC Partnership Director, to Retire
New Restaurant, Queens and Paupers, Coming to Queens Plaza – looks like upscale pub grub and booze
PD says
August 5, 2013 at 9:51 pmThe Shakespeare performance Saturday night well performed and a lot of fun. They deserved a bigger audience than attended.
Robert Wilkanowski says
August 6, 2013 at 6:24 amAndrew,
I’m not sure I understand your comment about the lack of iconic design in LIC or HPS. SHOP Architects, the firm that is credited with the design of the Manhattan rental building is the same firm that has designed the HPS rental buildings, and they look pretty well designed to me. All of the buildings in Queens West have been designed by firms with international reputations: Avalon north and south: Perkins Eastman. Citylights: Cesar Pelli. All of the Rockrose buildings were design by Arquitectonica of Miami. HPS waterfront park: Weiss Manfredi. Queens West Waterfont park: Thomas Balsley and Lee Weintraub
How the developers build out the projects (very cheaply and poorly for the most part) in order squeeze more profits is another story altogether.
I also believe that providing affordable housing on the Queens waterfont is a good idea and should not perceived as a NIMBY issue.
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