Former exterior of the Titanic House on 11th St, Hunters Point, LIC

Anyone traveling down 11th St in Hunters Point would have a hard time missing the Titanic House. Started by Joe Coletti to fill the absence of a proper monument to the tragedy in NYC, his house became nothing short of a neighborhood curiosity – popping up on the internet and in the news, and of course, often stopping the unsuspecting passerby in their tracks.

The Titanic House has been a fixture in LIC for years »

Fashion Week Trunk Show & Poetry Open Mic Night at Manducatis Rustica

Tuesday 2/9

• Why Leave Astoria?! is hosting a Lost viewing party at Studio Square from 8pm-11pm. There will be drink specials of $5 sangria and $12 pitchers as well as “Lost on the Beach.” “Bring your Lost friends as we will again be playing Lost trivia in the commercial breaks. Each week, the winners will get VIP seats in leather recliners with their own 60″ tv and a round on the house. [...] The episode starts at 9, but we’ll have some surprises for the early birds.” 35-33 36th St, LIC/Astoria, 718.383.1001

Wednesday 2/10

• Help kick off Fashion Week and honor women past and present with a Trunk Show and Poetry Open Mic Night at Manducatis Rustica presented by Ethereal Boutique and Matted LIC. The Trunk Show takes place from 6-9pm, followed by the Open Mic from 7-9pm with Rishanna Blake – poet, teacher, and songwriter – as the lead opener. 46-33 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 718.937.1312

• LICBDC is hosting a Financing Seminar from 8-9:30am at the UN Federal Credit Union Building in LIC. “The presenters will help you understand your borrowing and credit needs, what banks need to approve lines of credit, installment loans, and commercial mortgages, and how to find the right financing product for your business.” No charge to attend, networking and continental breakfast, RSVP to Indra Smith: 718.786.5300 x 21 or ismith@licbdc.org. 24-10 44th Road, LIC

• Now playing at the Secret Theatre: ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Big Secret running February 10th-14th, 17th-20th @ 8pm; matinees on Feb 13th & 20th @ 3:30pm, tickets $15. “Wilde’s final and perhaps most recognized play is by all accounts a masterpiece of modern comedy. A century later, it strikes a wonderful balance by remaining both a respected and studied piece of literature, as well as a favorite with audiences.” 44-02 23rd St, LIC, 718.392.0722

Thursday 2/11 »

10-17 Jackson Condo, Long Island City

We’ve been following the unmistakable 10-17 Jackson development for awhile now, since somewhat around this time last year. It went up in the triangular lot on the corner of Vernon Blvd and Jackson Ave and is one of Long Island City’s recent developments to nudge the finish line, despite the current condo-buying climate.

Broker-blogger Andrew Fine initially broke the news about the project and has been delivering updates ever since. Until yesterday, it remained to be seen whether the Studio V-designed development would go rental or condo. In his latest update, Fine reports that 10-17 Jackson will in fact be going condo, and with light-flooded rooms, 11+ foot ceilings, and signature LIC views – even from the shower – to boot »

It has come to liQcity’s attention through multiple local tipsters that there’s been a bunch of recent muggings in the Hunters Point area, especially near the waterfront, that have apparently gone unreported through the local police. The buzz is:

• A woman was mugged on Friday evening around 11pm at 47th Rd & Vernon Blvd. She was struck from behind and robbed of her possessions, including her coat. She was also denied the ability to file a police report with the 108th precinct, since she did not have ID on her. (direct from woman attacked)

• A woman was mugged the prior weekend also at 47th Rd & Vernon Blvd, apparently also struck and robbed of her possessions, around 10pm. Police report supposedly unfiled. (from friend of woman attacked)

• A man was mugged by multiple attackers, also robbed of his possessions at 44th Road & Vernon Blvd at an unknown time & day last week. Police report supposedly unfiled. (from friend of man attacked)

• Four Vernon Blvd buildings/businesses between Jackson Ave & 46 Road were burglarized within the last two weeks. All incidents were supposedly able to file police reports.

liQcity has received other accounts of recent local muggings »

Subway transfer construction progressing (7,G,V,E), Court Square, LIC

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• Service cut to 7 line slashes biz for LIC merchants [Daily News]

• Housing boom, influx of commuters cause headaches for LIC drivers [Daily News]

• A visit to Con Ed’s LIC green roof & roof-painting potential [Scientific American]

• LIC CSA 2010 sign-up has begun [LIC CSA]

• The scoop on beer & bratwurst at LIC’s WunderBar [From Russia With Food]

• LIC’s Ravel Hotel lands on Valentine’s Day travel guide [offManhattan]

• Photo-walk around Hallets Cove and Socrates Sculpture Park [Tread Softly NY]

• Photos: Hunters Point gone green [Restless]

• Trials & tribulations of the Borden Ave Bridge [Newtown Pentacle]

• Queens Arts Express Mixer Series begins Feb 10th in LIC [QAX]

• Open call for digital art exhibition at LIC’s Climate/Gallery [The Artlist]

Little Closets children’s consignment boutique on Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

For this month’s Sponsor Specials post, we decided to take the opportunity to introduce our liQcity readers to our liQcity sponsors, in addition to outlining their specials for the month. Thank you all for your support!

Sponsor info after the jump »

Idiotarod hijinks on the waterfront in Long Island City’s Rainey Park – Photo

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• The storied Idiotarod passes thru Long Island City [Gothamist]

• New PS 1 website invites artists to virtually exhibit their works [Artdaily]

• Pictorials: QB Bridge, elevated trains, LIC, Sunnyside.. [Newtown Pentacle]

• Menu of LIC’s new Breadbox Café [Taste As You Go]

• Weighing in on LIC’s Five Star Punjabi Diner [Serious Eats]

• Valentine’s Day at LIC’s Testaccio Ristorante [Foodista]

• Tour of architect Richard Meier’s model warehouse in LIC [Architextures]

• Results of the morning B62 bus experiment [Musings of an Irate Commuter]

Mira Aldridge’s “Endgame”, exhibiting w/Kit Brown @ Dutch Kills Gallery, LIC

Monday 2/1

• Curious about what it takes to make a famed Steinway piano here in Queens? Greater Astoria Historical Society presents a film screening of Note by Note at 7pm, which “explores the relationship between musician and instrument, chronicles the manufacturing process, and illustrates what makes each Steinway unique in this age of mass production,” FREE. 35-20 Broadway, 4th FL, LIC, 718.278.0700

Tuesday 2/2

• The Creek is having a benefit in LIC for the people of Haiti starting at 7pm. Musicians (LIC Jazz Band, Michael Powers, Dharma Bums, Six Arm Tiger, Meghan Kerper, and more) and comedians (Sean Patton, Peggy O’Leary, Rob Cantrell, and Neil Stasny) will be featured in addition to a raffle, a Spare Change Bucket (bring any spare change you want to donate), drink specials like you’ve never seen, and a bake sale. $10 suggested donation, money donated to Doctors Without Borders. 1093 Jackson Ave, LIC, 718.706.8783

• THROW at Chocolate Factory Theater at 7pm, featuring work by Lindsey Drury, Kelly Hanson, and Milka Djordjevich. “Curated and moderated by Sarah Maxfield, THROW is designed to provide artists with a platform for ideas-in-progress, and to provide audiences with insight into the investigative process of performance-making.” 5-49 49th Ave, LIC, 718.482.7069

Thursday 2/4 »

Crossing 11th St near Jackson Ave & the Pulaski Bridge, Long Island City

This week began with a car jumping the curb into Masso Restaurant on Vernon, and ends with a report of another car-related LIC incident. From the liQcity inbox:

“Hi, I live on 11 Street and was walking to the subway this morning around 9.10am when I saw a pedestrian on the floor that was hit by a car on 11 Street between 47 Rd and 48th Avenue. Seemed as though the car that hit the person was making a right onto 11 Street from 47 Rd. Fire trucks and police were on the scene with ambulance on the way. The person hit (couldn’t tell if it was a man or woman or how old because they had blankets on them) was laying on a stretcher alive in the middle of 11 Street. How that person is okay. Just goes to show how dangerous the streets in Hunters Point are.”

• City and EPA to monitor toxic PCBs in LIC/Queens schools [Queens Chronicle]

• Volunteers search for homeless in LIC/Queens for city survey [YourNabe]

• 7 train: LIC tracks are “unusually maintenance-intensive” [Queens Chronicle]

• Credit union slated for LIC; tax prep help for locals [YourNabe]

• LIC High School in danger of closing? [YourNabe]

• Cuomo accuses Vantage of harassing tenants, plans to sue [YourNabe]

• VIDEO: a look inside a duplex apartment in LIC’s L Haus [Fox]

• Dutch Kills residents stand up to hotelier & overdevelopment in general [NY Post]

• Historical society outlines history of LIRR/Sunnyside Yards [YourNabe]

• The tale of a Long Island City painting.. [SJF NY]

• Secret Theatre’s futuristic ‘Romeo & Juliet’ stays true to the past [Queens Courier]

Hunters Point, Long Island City

Community Board 2, which represents Sunnyside, Woodside, LIC, and a portion of West Maspeth, is holding their regular Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing of the Full Board for: Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 7pm at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St, Ground FL in Sunnyside. It’s always the first Thursday of every month. The meeting’s agenda is available online; anyone interested in commenting can sign-up for 3 minutes of speaking time at the Public Hearing.

This particular meeting has no listed agenda items pertaining to Hunters Point, but in the future we’ll highlight anything having to do with HP as well as any Public Hearing info that CB2 alerts us to in advance. The next CB2 meeting is on March 4th, 2010.

• Community Board 2: 43-22 50th Street, Woodside, New York 11377. Phone: 718.533.8773. Emails: qn02@cb.nyc.gov; commboard2@nyc.rr.com.

• CB2 2/4/10 meeting agenda [CB2]

• Community Boards fear mayoral hit list [BoroPolitics]

While we’re at it, here’s the general contact info of some of our local politicians »

Murano Condo, Borden Ave, Long Island City

The luminescent Murano’s colorful lobby lights are still putting on a show on Borden Ave, but now they have to compete with the picturesque reflections of blue clouds and sky on the condo’s super-glassy facade. Of course, we’re holding our breath for the still-to-come moat-like “urban lake”, and the impending infamous lightclock »

Red light district on 48th Ave, Hunters Point, Long Island City

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• Van Bramer named Cultural Affairs director [Sunnyside Post]

• LIC’s Floating Hospital staff aids Haiti relief efforts [Queens Gazette]

• Local donations: from Queens to Haiti [Queens Courier]

• Weatherproof takes down Obama-themed billboard in Times Sq & LIC [NY1]

• JetBlue may move to Long Island City? [YourNabe]

• Green Shores NYC cares for Astoria/LIC waterfront & trees [Queens Gazette]

• Local production ‘Ugly Betty’ canceled by ABC [Why Leave Astoria?!]

• Upholstery workshops @ Furniture Masters in LIC [Furnish-d]

• Edible Queens event: showcasing the foods of Queens [Queens Courier]

• Local songstress Jeanne Marie Boes profiled; show in LIC Feb 3rd [The Q Note]

• Far Out Festival in Astoria benefits Haiti relief efforts this wkend [AM&A]

• Astoria/LIC weekend edition from Joey in Astoria [About]

• Erlich: LIC’s PS 1 is perfect setting for his ‘Swimming Pool’ [Bloginity]

• Cat’s meow: LIC’s Tom Cat Bakery starting a retail brand? [Snack & Bakery]

• Dinosaur Bar-B-Que joint eyeing Brooklyn or Queens? [Why Leave Astoria?!]

Manducatis Rustica’s cookies & cheesecakes at the Edible Winter Warm-up, LIC

With their RSVP list maxed out and then some, Edible Queens Magazine packed LIC’s L Haus Condo with hungry foodies this past Sunday afternoon for their very first event: an Edible Winter Warm-up. In addition to rounding up a group of local restaurants and food vendors for free tastings, the event also featured a book signing with the Astoria-based authors of “Forking Fantastic!”, a panel discussion about the Queens food scene, live jazz from LIC’s Steve Blanco Trio, and the kickoff of a month-long canned food drive at L Haus for local organization Hour Children »

“Sometimes I feel like somebody’s watchin’ me..” 44th Dr, Long Island City

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• New biz putting Hunters Point back on the map [Daily News]

• City officials sound off on 7 train service drama [Daily News]

• LIC: Kiss 7 train goodbye for next 10 weekends [Gothamist]

• VIDEO: Outrage over MTA’s plan to repair the 7 line [ABC]

• Would you like to hear more about the 7 train? Okay, here you go [Queens Courier]

• PriceChopper: Hallets Cove’s East River Tower gets a little bit cheaper [Curbed]

• Dutch Kills residents oppose hardship claim by hotel developer [Queens Crap]

• VIDEO: Dance, dance architecture – SO-IL’s PS 1 ‘Pole Dance’ [Archpaper]

• The final days of Deitch Projects before his LA move [L Magazine]

• Guano attack on new LIC building?! [Restless]

• Nice black & white Queens Plaza view from the N/W train [Solejourn]

Car accident on 47th Rd & Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Vernon Blvd isn’t the safest street in the hood, but it isn’t known for cars jumping the curb, either – that is, until a few minutes ago. Watch where you’re walking Hunters Pointers, because insanity just ensued on Vernon: a car crossing the Blvd seemed to be following a livery cab, the cab stopped short, and the car swerved out behind it into a streetlamp on the corner of 47th Rd (knocking it down completely) and then continued swerving right into the front of Masso Restaurant.

We haven’t heard of any injuries reported and police and fire dept are clogging the scene, so steer clear of the mess if you can. And, yeah, watch out for cars on the LIC sidewalk… and maybe falling bricks from the sky too. You never know around here. In any case, have a safe evening.

‘Pole Dance’ rendering from SO-IL for PS 1 courtyard, Long Island City – Photo

2009 whizzed by in a flash, and another summer in Long Island City will be here before we know it – at least that’s what we keep telling ourselves. Thankfully, PS 1 and its Young Architects Program once again give us something to look forward to: the annual summer installation in their courtyard, the setting of their storied Warm-Up parties.

This year, the winners of the coveted courtyard crown is Brooklyn architecture firm SO-IL. Their entry is called ‘Pole Dance,’ and although it seems oddly apropos given all the strip club drama in the hood lately, it’s actually “a metaphor for these uncertain times.” Interestingly, SO-IL’s pavilion is also “more pliant than anything yet staged” in PS 1’s courtyard, and the most expansive as well »

Forward Motion Theatre presents RE:Vision at Secret Theatre in LIC

Tuesday 1/26

• Secret Theatre is hosting a fundraiser for their current show, ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ at LIC Bar from 6-9pm. “$5 entry goes directly to the show and gets you fun and games with the cast for the evening. Hope to see you there!” 45-58 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 718.786.5400

Wednesday 1/27

• RE:Vision at the Secret Theatre’s Little Secret, their original, smaller space: Forward Motion Theater presents RE:Vision, a collaboration of live performances weaving multimedia and dance from a fresh critical perspective. The evening features six independent works by artists combining choreography, video, spoken word, and music; tickets $10. 44-02 23rd St, LIC, 718.392.0722

Thursday 1/28

• LICBDC presents a special Members Only Open House from 5-7pm. “Network with other LICBDC members and visit our new office in the MetLife Building.” RSVP required but there’s no charge – to verify your membership status and RSVP, contact Indra Smith at 718.786.5300 x 21 or ismith@licbdc.org. 27-01 Queens Plaza North, 9th FL, LIC

Saturday 1/30 »

Holiday bear hanging around on a fence, Long Island City

Last minute Sponsor Specials

• LIC’s Big City Graphics are offering a super deal: 5000 4×6 postcards for $99 [BCG]

• Shop this weekend at Ethereal Boutique’s $50 & under Super Sale [Ethereal]

Linkage

• LIC strip club sues city after losing ruling [The Real Deal]

• Doggie daycares mushroom in LIC [Queens Chronicle]

• James Franco discusses possible show @ LIC’s Deitch Studios [Gothamist]

• Controversial Obama coat ad still up in LIC above Midtown Tunnel [NY1]

• Attack of the 25-foot-tall pole dance @ PS 1 in LIC [Curbed]

• BK architects chosen for this summer’s PS 1 courtyard transformation [NYT]

• A zen moment on a trip to LIC’s PS 1 [Clean Hippie]

• SculptureCenter’s latest show focuses on the unexpected [YourNabe]

• LIC’s Fisher Landau Center: see 1500+ artworks, FREE [Prepare for CrossCheck]

• Bloomberg’s small biz plan unveiled @ LIC/Astoria’s Frank Sinatra HS [YourNabe]

• LIC High School lands on list of ‘weak’ NYC schools to fix or close [NYT]

• Woman charged in $90K scam at LIC/Astoria bank [YourNabe]

• More blank billboards making LIE commuters feel unloved? [Restless]

Abandoned construction site, LIC

Blogger Queens Crap posted this week about a rat-infested and dangerous construction site in Long Island City, at 45-64 Pearson St across from the storage place. A disrupted local resident wrote in to report:

“The DOH finally came and gave the stalled site on Pearson St a violation, but they did not bait the area – nor did the property owners clean anything up. Rats still patrol the street. If you look at the DOB site, the deadbeat developer didn’t even go to his 5 hearings. They are all in default for $17,000. [...] Now, the illegal fence has collapsed and the DOB has been notified. The illegal fence is obstructing the sidewalk and it is now partially in the street »

Phantom 7 train, Queens Plaza, Long Island City

Hot on the heels of the B62 debacle and the G train blues comes more disappointing news for LIC from the MTA: 7 train service is being suspended for 7 consecutive winter weekends, from January 29th through March 29th, 2010. Hunters Pointers can rejoice in the return of the nabe’s favorite MTA shuttle bus from Vernon/Jackson to Queens Plaza. Aah, fun times. And so convenient too! »

‘Ugly Betty’ filming Jan 20th & 21st in Hunters Point, Long Island City

‘Ugly Betty’ is continuing their shooting in the hood today around 11th St, Vernon Blvd, 47th Rd, and 47th Ave. Watch where you park!

• Has the market found its footing in LIC? Sales surge in Queens & Bklyn [Curbed]

• Signs of stability for NYC housing market – increases in Astoria & LIC [Daily News]

• LIC and Bklyn office markets show positive signs in 4th quarter [The Real Deal]

• ERDA credit union on way to LIC as early as April 2010 [Queens Courier]

• Boyfriend arrested & charged with murder of LIC artist Susan Woolf [YourNabe]

• G train service suspended for 3 more weekends [Daily News]

• LIC Fairfield Inn hotel collecting supplies for Haiti [Queens Courier]

• LIC-based Wild Edibles settles with workers’ group pushing boycott [NYT]

Las Vegas Restaurant, 21st St, LIC

Despite the continued flurry of new biz in Long Island City, a few adjacent storefront businesses along the corner of 21st St and 44th Drive seem to have all gone out at the same time.

The former Pickwick Discount Store space (which, up until recently, still bore the same dilapidated sign) is now mysteriously papered up but there are no signs anywhere dropping any hints.

Right next door, the store which once housed the Astoria Florist is also empty – apparently seized by the Marshal. The Las Vegas Restaurant on the corner was also closed by a court order at the end of December.

Wonder what lies in store for us there? Pun intended.

The writing on the wall, near Local Project, Long Island City

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• Assemblyman weighs in on B62 debacle [Musings of an Irate Commuter]

• LIC’s Housing Working Thrift Shop in the Lady Gaga guide to NYC?! [Time Out]

• Profile on the man behind LIC’s Deitch Projects & his next adventure [LA Times]

• Queens’ first food co-op heading for LIC [Gothamist]

• Case studies: LIC’s Powerhouse Condo [Adaptive Reuse]

• LIC Kids listed in Queens indoor play spaces guide [Mommy Poppins]

• Menu of LIC’s E&I Deli & Grocery on 21st [Taste As You Go]

• Irish language thriving in LIC thanks to NY Irish Center [Irish Central]

• Absurd, pointed wit rules @ Secret Theatre’s ‘Act 5′ [YourNabe]

• Review of ‘Loyalties’ in The Parlor @ LIC’s Cassino [Blog That Ate Manhattan]

• Another photog falls under 5Pointz’s technicolor spell [Explore Dream Discover]

Cat’s Pajamas Hotel, Hunters Point, Long Island City

New Biz News

• The Cat’s Pajamas Hotel – a cage-free boarding hotel for cats and other small exotic animals – has apparently settled into the old Wine Bar Antiques space between 11th St & Jackson Ave without so much as a peep – err, meow. Call 646.249.9063 or email them at thecatspajamashotel@msn.com for more info – no drop-ins, appointments only.

• A Mexican Taqueria is rumored to be coming to Queens West at 4705 Center Blvd, across from SHI. The Real Deal says its scheduled for fourth quarter 2010.

• A new café called the LIC Market is coming to the space next to Da Gianni’s Ristorante on 44th Drive just west of 23rd Street. They have an awning up and are supposedly opening any time now – website mentions breakfast, lunch, brunch, wine bar, and market. 21-52 44th Dr, LIC

Old New Biz News »

Citibank sketch, Long Island City – Photo/liQcity Flickr Pool

Happy Martin Luther King Day, LIC-ers.

• 1924 traffic congestion solution: drain the East River! [Gothamist]

• LIC movie wins a Golden Globe thanks to Meryl Streep [About]

• Miss Heather spots a website about the Glorious G Train [NY Shitty]

• Profile on new Edible Queens Magazine [YourNabe]

• Queens’ 1st Harvest Co-op set for LIC in 2011 [Daily News]

• Van Bramer celebrates City Council win [YourNabe]

• LIC’s Studio Square in 10 essential winter eating experiences [Time Out]

• In-depth article about PS 1’s ‘Rising Currents’ [Change Observer]

• Deitch Projects closing in June, owner moving to LA?! [MUD]

• Two more fans meet the Gossip Girl cast in LIC [On Location Vacations]

• State awards LIC library $950,000 for advocacy program [YourNabe]

• 5Pointz perspective with Ryan Brooks [5ptz]