LIC millstone, Queens Plaza, LIC

You probably remember our links to several articles about the saga of the 17th century LIC millstones which are currently in danger of damage due to the machinery and construction of the Queens Plaza reconstruction effort.

Quick update: supporters like the Greater Astoria Historical Society and others who would like to protect these artifacts have started a new website to pool info and get community input regarding where the millstones should be moved. That is, if they can get them out of the construction zone first. For that reason, there’s also an online petition you can sign to rally support to protect the millstones and other ways you can get involved.

From the LIC millstones blog »

Christmas party at Manducatis Rustica, December 2009, Long Island City

Unbeknownst to probably most liQcity readers, is that this Christmas marks the two-year anniversary of your favorite local blog. (Us!) Or not so favorite, depending on the particular topic at hand. With the addition of Audrey Dimola as blogger extraordinaire, as most of you have seen her bouncing around the hood, stay tuned for to more and more coverage about Long Island City in the new decade, which is close at hand.

We are happy and proud to be a part of this amazing Queens nabe, and will leave you for the X-mas holiday with a handheld, unedited, and heartwarming slice of LIC community in action.

Merry Christmas. Happy (belated) Channukah. Happy Kwanzaa. Jolly Festivus. And for everyone, enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Peace »

Snowflake on Vernon Blvd and 47th Rd, Hunters Point, Long Island City

Happy Holidays to you, liQcity readers, whatever you may celebrate.

If you haven’t already noticed, the nabe has been dressed in its seasonal best: the holiday lights are gracing Vernon Blvd thanks to the collective efforts of the Hunters Point Community Development Corporation, Avalon Bay, Rockrose, TF Cornerstone, and the Queens West Development Corporation.

As our holiday bonus to you, here’s a recap of Long Island City holiday events:

Friday 12/18 (TODAY)

• Arts and crafts from 1pm-3pm at the New York Irish Center, geared for seniors. 10-40 Jackson Ave, LIC, 718.482.0909

• Midnight Madness is TONIGHT in LIC. It’s one night of discounts, promotions, and freebies from select LIC businesses and restaurants around Vernon/Jackson. You can shop local and shop late for the holidays – most stores will be open until midnight and will be offering some worthwhile specials.

Saturday 12/19 »

Susan Woolf’s 2006 ‘Quiet Pieces’ installation at President’s Landing – Photo

Tragic news came through the wire this morning: LIC sculptor Susan T. Woolf, known for her bronze sculptures and site-specific installations, was found brutally slain in her loft on 10th Street near Tom Cat Bakery. Latest news is that her live-in beau, Tigren Tambiev, is being hunted as the prime suspect »

49th Ave & Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

A couple weeks back we announced and then did a recap of the CB2 public hearing regarding Hunters Point South and what is now becoming a bit of a hotbed issue, the traffic changes on 49th Ave – namely, the street becoming a one-way. An online petition had actually been started, but apparently certain LIC residents weren’t aware of the proposed changes at all »

Steeple of St. Mary’s Church, LIC

St. Mary’s Church on Vernon Blvd and 49th Ave has been celebrating their 140th Anniversary for the past year. There are photos and stories from past and present Long Island City on display, and some special community events coming up for the holiday season:

• This Saturday, Nov 21st at 6:15pm St. Mary’s will be hosting a Pasta Night consisting of a homemade Italian cooked pasta, meatballs and sausage dinner, as well as beverages, dessert, coffee, and tea for only $10/person.

• Next month, St. Mary’s will be holding a Holiday Flea Market in the parish hall on Dec 5th, as well as their Annual Advent Prayer Service and Organ Concert featuring Ms. Katie Maloan on Dec 6th at 5pm. 1008 49th Ave, LIC, 718.786.0705‎

Have any extra canned food and/or abandoned toys lying around? »

Benefit Auction at Lounge 47, 47-10 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Vernon Blvd restaurant Lounge 47 is holding a Benefit Auction on Thursday night to help their friend who desperately needs it:

“Our friend, Mike Yaniro, was the victim of a brutal assault on the evening of October 22nd, 2009. He was hospitalized for over a week with multiple face fractures and extensive damage to his right eye. He underwent a 9 1/2 hour surgery which left him with multiple metal plates in his face, plastic that serves as the floor of his right eye, thousands of $$$ in medical bills, and a long road to complete recovery. Please come out and help our friend. His artwork, along with that of many other talented artists, will be up for auction on this night.”

The Benefit Auction will be held Thursday, November 19th from 7pm-2am at Lounge 47, 47-10 Vernon Blvd, LIC. Call 718.937.2044 for more information.

New 50-day graffiti law requires city shop owners to come clean, LIC

On the agenda discussed at November’s Community Board 2 meeting:

• The CB2 roster remains intact for a fifth year, as nominations to replace any or all of the officers were sought but none was offered. Currently, CB2 is comprised of Joseph Conley as chairman, Steve Cooper as first vice chairman, Patrick O’Brien as second vice chairman, Diane Ballek as treasurer, and Lisa Ann Deller as secretary.

• The on-and-off matter of the adult entertainment palace coming to LIC is on again. GLC Entertainment has tried to open an adult entertainment facility on 21st Street near an upper level exit of the Queensboro Bridge, but then put off the effort. The opening is now said to be imminent, however CB2′s second vice chairman stated that if the State Liquor Authority holds hearings on the matter this month at a meeting in Harlem, he will attend to register the board’s disapproval.

• There is a new 50-day law on graffiti which allows the city to cite a shop owner for having graffiti scrawled or sprayed on the owner’s property and request it be cleaned off. If the graffiti hasn’t been cleaned in 50 days the city can do the job if the owner has also neglected or declined to file a formal report stating the city isn’t wanted on the property.

• The desire for a new 108th Police Precinct headquarters »

Hello liQcity readers. Regarding the particular topic of liquor licenses around Vernon Blvd, the anonymous commenting privilege on liQcity is unfortunately, regularly abused. liQcity is a small organization and we are not equipped, nor desire to spend time moderating the free-flowing discourse. Which is one of liQcity’s greatest aspects. However, allowing anonymous nasty comments about identified local individuals compromises liQcity’s ability to serve as an open forum about the neighborhood. For obvious reasons.

Moving forward »

Dogs welcome: dog run near Tennisport, Hunters Point, Long Island City

We recently received an email from a liQcity reader regarding the ban of dogs from Long Island City’s Gantry Park, and the “nascent effort to organize an LIC dog association, DOG LIC (Dog Owners Group, LIC).” Some highlights:

“It seems that dog owners in LIC (usually an easy-going pet doting bunch) are seething over NY State Parks & Recreation’s [decision to ban] dogs from the ‘old’ piers altogether. Of course dogs aren’t permitted in the shiny new showpiece multi-million dollar section of the park – which was built without any dog facility whatsoever – despite of course dog owners being a very significant percentage of the tax paying population and a large, sociable and visible part of LIC’s fast growing community. However we’re not asking for much! Just throw us a bone! A large/small segregated dog run and access to pathways. We’ll keep off the beautiful new lawns (though how about an old one?).

We’re all aware that NY State Parks & Recreation policy bans dogs altogether from all it’s park and dogs have been largely tolerated up until recently – well last Thursday (July 8th) to be precise when the diktat came down from 125th St. However it seems that this is a prelude to an impending outright ban of dogs from all sections of the Gantry State Park.

If there’s one thing that really set this all off, it’s the usual culprits »

St Mary’s Church, Vernon Blvd & 49th Ave, Long Island City

Remember that whole Vernon Blvd battle for liquor licenses we discussed back in June? A member of Community Board 2 emailed us with the details for the Public Meeting regarding this issue, happening tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14 in Long Island City.

“I’d like to inform you that the Community Board’s public hearing on liquor licenses will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2009, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The meeting’s location will take place at the basement of St Mary’s Church at 1008 49th Ave.”

Members of the local community are encouraged to attend and sign up to speak at the meeting. Written statements may also be submitted.

• July 14 CB2 Hearing Agenda [PDF]

Art-O-Mat closes this Sunday, May 31st. Vernon Blvd, LIC

Our only community retail store/gallery, Art-O-Mat is closing its doors this weekend. Sad news. Stop in during the weekend for the last of LIC goodies, and also for free tarot card readings in the late afternoon, 4-7pm.

A note from the proprietors »

Lost Dog on Vernon Blvd. 347-624-7678

Hey Hunters Pointers, anyone seen this dog?

Mike is a yorkshire terrier who accidentally got let out of a house near Vernon & 47th on Friday. Very small dog, 3 1/2 pounds, color is cream & brown, and has a silver back. His ears are erect and has 11 teeth missing. Please help us find him! There will be a reward. If found or seen please contact Lucy 347-624-7678 or Bianca 917-971-6355.

5th Street parking to vanish like this view? -Long Island City

Ok Hunters Pointers, here’s your chance to get involved some good ol’ fashioned community politics (if you dare). On the table, the very controversial issue of neighborhood parking, specifically in the Vernon Jackson zone on Vernon, and also 11th Street. One possibility is increased metered parking on side streets near Vernon. (Hopefully also the DOT will address the dangerous intersection at Pulaski & Jackson Ave.) And parking also might be temporarily (permanently?) removed along the entire stretch of 5th street.

According to many but confirmed by none »