The Laughing Devil cracks up LIC.

Mwuhaha. Or maybe heehee hawhaw? Whatever your cackle, chortle, or guffaw sounds like, bring it to the Laughing Devil Comedy Club, because you’re going to need it.

Proprietors Steve Hoftstetter and Jacob Morvay are hyperlocal LIC residents – both could throw a baseball or a pitchfork from their apartments to the Club, and can often be seen walking their respective pooches on a bright Vernon Blvd morning. (Or maybe scurrying around the Vernon dog run after the late show.)

These stellar examples of LIC residents, a professional comedian and CPA – both married, sorry ladies – have delivered to LIC a true comedy club, with live stand-up comedic performance 7 nights a week.

The Devil’s Lair »

It’s that time of year, when we give thanks and eat a lot of food and make resolutions that we have no intention of keeping and… oh wait, lets just stick to giving thanks. Here’s a shout out to the amazing current sponsors of liQcity – without them, there would be nothing for you to read about our lovely Long Island City. So please, check them out, pay them a visit, and best of all, tell them you read about their biz on liQcity.

Current Sponsors of liQcity »

New businesses opening up in Long Island City. – Photo by Jesse Winter

What a long, strange summer it’s been in Long Island City. As usual, LIC entrepreneurs have been busy bees and there’s so much new business about to pop, it’s mind-boggling. A perfect post to celebrate the Autumnal equinox with – we bring you, our favorite and faithful readers, this Fall’s bounty of biz »

Jora, a new Peruvian restaurant is arriving to LIC – photo by Ciprian Toma

After three and a half years of blogging about Long Island City, we’ve become very familiar with the neighborhood’s Circadian rhythm. Every winter, a whole bunch of new businesses quietly brew beneath the surface and then sprout in the Spring. Well, this Spring, albeit quite late, is no different – except for the business bloom is much more robust than usual. Or maybe it’s just been a really long winter.

Ok LIC, here’s the new biz coming at you »

Dunkin Donuts finally heading towards Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Top o’ the morning to you liQcity readers. Yes, you are reading correctly, and perhaps you need some morning coffee to go with today’s headline news in LIC. It seems Dunkin Donuts, who has tried before to find a spot Vernon Blvd, has finally succeeded »

Breakfast at the M. Wells Diner. Long Island City — photo:Jesse Winter

Ok Long Island City, you’re going to love this place. There’s been many a request by liQcity commenters for more independently operated specialty restaurants, hold the fusion please. Well, it’s fusion, but not anything anyone in LIC could have even known to ask for. Quebecois food is here! How do you say woohoo! in French-Canadian? »

This weekend, Long Island City’s Ethereal Boutique is holding the second installation of their open air market, ‘Fashion Al Fresco’, featuring independent designers selling handmade fashion in Ethereal’s lovely backyard patio. Selling one-of-a-kind pieces will include »

New Bistro for Long Island City? 49th Ave & Vernon Blvd

NEW New LIC Local Biz

• RUMOR: Buzzing about the Arris Lofts is the rumor of a full-service gym coming to the gigantic ground floor retail space. No pool folks, but an open community gym should still hit the spot. 27-28 Thomson Ave, LIC

• A funky sandwich/panini deli is opening up on Vernon Blvd @ 44th Drive, in the former site of the slated cigar lounge (Halo) which never came to fruition, and across the street from the Board of Ed building.. We say funky, because it’s got a stylie interior for a deli. Though it’s more than just a deli, there’s supposedly bubble tea as well. Should pop sometime in the late summer, early fall. The name and interior photos are currently under wraps, pun intended.

• RUMOR: Looks like the folks behind Café Henri are hooking up a new spot on 49th Ave. There’s been a new, bright yellow awning marked ‘BISTRO’ outside their extra-kitchen space on 49th Ave for while now, right at Vernon. Near where the fruit guy stands, who’s back btw!

• The Blue Sky Diner on the corner of 49th Ave and 21st St is also transforming into a new place, called M. Wells Diner, which will be featuring Quebeco-American cuisine, and is slated to open at some point this summer. It’s a new fusion combination for LIC, at least.

Old New LIC Local Biz »

It happened. Another grocery store in Long Island City! It’s a health food variety, called Natural Frontier Market, which is now officially OPEN for biz at the intersection of the Pulaski Bridge and Jackson Ave.

It’s in the ground floor of 12-01 Jackson Ave, a recently built rental building at the northeast corner of the crazy intersection. Clearly there’s still a vacuum for grocery in LIC, as shoppers have flocked to the store like bees. (Organic bees, of course.) It’s as though it’s been in LIC for years, even though the store opened on Friday. No ramping up needed. It’s already on. »

Special event coming up at Court Square Wines & Spirits, Long Island City

The next round of liQcity Sponsor Specials is here for the month of May, with the skinny on our sponsors and their general services. Shop local! »

First 3 rolling pins up on Breadbox Café, 11th St, Long Island City

Long Island City New Local Biz Quickie Update »

New Park Home Furnishings store, 44th Drive, Long Island City

New LIC Biz Updates »

The legendary Manducatis Italian restaurant, Jackson Ave, Long Island City

It’s that time again.. Happy Spring, Happy April, and here once more is liQcity’s monthly Sponsor Specials post. Meet our sponsors and check out their specials for the month of April as well as their general offerings. Support your local economy today »

Mickey Dee’s headed for LIC. Rock on.

New LIC Biz Updates

Yes folks, LIC lived in fear of Starbucks for a while there, but the economy threw out the baby with the bathwater and we got lulled into complacency with our Mom&Pop Vernon Blvd. Retail storefronts can sit empty and abandoned – doing absolutely nothing for the community, but don’t you dare put a fast food chain here please. Where are we, Martha’s Vineyard?

Well, cry yourself a river, and then get in a boat and sail on over to the Golden Arches, because McDonalds is secured for Vernon Blvd. It’s been a secret rumor for a while – yes we at liQcity keep more secrets about LIC than we reveal. The owners are aware there will be some serious backlash, so are asking for the exact location not to be revealed until Mickey Dee’s starts the transformation. Let’s just say it’s right in the fray. Fast food lovers, start unbuckling your pants now.

Other New LIC Biz Notables »

JetBlue is heading for Long Island City

After a lengthy debate between relocating to Orlando or staying in Queens, JetBlue, the only NY-based airline, has decided to stay in NYC. They’re moving their HQ from Forest Hills to Long Island City, Queens Plaza to be exact.

From NYT: “Keeping JetBlue is the first economic development coup for the city in a while. Instead of moving jobs to Florida, JetBlue plans to shift its administrative offices from Forest Hills, Queens, to a Citigroup building in Queens Plaza, according to the person who was briefed. The airline also plans to move an additional 70 jobs there from Connecticut.”

It’s not happening anytime soon, but chalk up another highly-publicized new commercial tenant for Long Island City. According to the press release, the new address will be 27-01 Queens Plaza North, where they’re expecting to occupy approx. 200,000 SF by mid-2012 in the historic Brewster Building.

The future of Queens Plaza is very interesting »

Lolly’s Early Learning Center now enrolling, 47th Ave, LIC – Photo

It’s the beginning of a new month, and that means it’s once again time for liQcity’s monthly Sponsor Specials post. Meet our sponsors and check out their specials for the month of March. Thank you all for your support!

Sponsor info after the jump »

Interior of Breadbox Café on 11th St, Hunters Point, Long Island City

New LIC Biz Updates

• Breadbox Café has been open on 11th St between 47th Rd & 47th Ave for several weeks now, looking more homey, furnished, and stocked up with bagels, sandwiches, salads, soups, treats, and more. And yes, the rolling pins on the facade (which have caught quite a bit of media attention) are coming! But they’re waiting to do it right (and with flair) when the weather improves – look out for details. 47-11 11th St, LIC, 718.389.9700

• A new cell phone store is going into the ground floor retail space of LIC’s 48th Ave green condo, Solarium. 5-43 48th Ave, LIC

• The owners/operators of the Tennisport Restaurant are still working on Madera, the Cuban Grill & Steakhouse they’re bringing to Vernon Blvd near the corner of 47th Road. A new website is up, signature lanterns and logos have appeared on the exterior, and the spacious interior continues to be built out and polished. They’ve also filed for CB2 liquor license approval and are aiming to open soon. 4729 Vernon Blvd, LIC

Other New LIC Biz Notables »

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 »

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.

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 »

Neighborhood rooftops from a bird’s eye view, Hunters Point, Long Island City

The LICBDC‘s latest newsletter landed in our inbox yesterday and included a link to BID bits, featuring informative updates from the LICBID (Business Improvement District), a not-for-profit association of property owners, residents, and businesses along the triangle intersection of Jackson Ave & Queens Plaza North.

In general, a BID is a formal organization comprised of property owners and commercial tenants in a defined area who pay annual assessments. They promote local business development and improve an area’s quality of life through the provision of supplemental services.

“The Long Island City BID is comprised of much of the area that was rezoned as New York City’s fourth central business district in 2001. Currently, the District consists of properties with frontage on Jackson Avenue, from Court Square north to Queens Plaza, and along Queens Plaza west to 21st Street.”

Here’s some highlights from the January 12th LICBID update »

Get the liQcity discount at El Ay Si Restaurant, Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Ready to save in 2010? Check out the specials, promotions, and discounts our liQcity Sponsors are offering for the month of January. Thank you for your support!

Specials after the jump »

Kitty & Dog Lounge, Vernon Blvd, LIC

Now Open

• Kitty & Dog Lounge is now open in the former City Dog Lounge space with a total revamp. They’re offering pet supplies, food, clothes, toys, and even a lounge area with chairs, free coffee for humans and snacks for pets, as well as a pet-themed movie on a flat screen TV, in case you’d like to watch. 49-02 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 718.806.1219

• The former Getty autobody shop on 11th St between 47th Rd and 47th Ave has completed its ‘adaptive re-use’ transformation into the Breadbox Café. They’re dedicated to keeping their food fresh and homemade, and sticking to their goal of ‘redefining the bagel.’ They’ll be open from 6am-6pm for breakfast and lunch, and are currently in soft-opening mode, sans rolling pins on the facade (they’re coming!); grand opening set for Monday. 47-11 11th St, LIC, 718.389.9700

• Pooches Sport & Spa for the pets of Long Island City, is now open 7 days a week in the retail space at the bottom of Avalon Riverview North. The owners have been in the pet care biz for 10 years and are offering supervised day play, overnight stay with local 24-hour monitoring, grooming, a state-of-the-art indoor pet potty, and an antibacterial vac system for a safe and clean environment. Low intro rates and discounts for multiple dogs. 4-75 48th Ave, LIC, 718.391.0800

• Cranky’s Café is now open in the old Brasil Coffee House space on Vernon Blvd. They’re offering coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch. 48-19 Vernon Blvd, LIC

New Biz Still In The Works »

Film Biz Recycling boutique & prop house, 43-26 12th St, LIC

Film Biz Recycling, located on a super nondescript street in Long Island City, is a remarkably unique thrift store that is, quite simply, chock full of awesome.

Your jovial host is founder Eva Radke, whose 15 years in film have brought her to the conclusion that the biz wastes – A LOT – but that can be rectified by recycling, giving to charity, and setting up the craziest thrifty-type boutique and prop house for film/TV peeps AND ‘regular’ shoppers to buy and rent oddities & particulars. In addition, Film Biz Recycling is NYC’s only not-for-profit prop house »

Cranky’s Café coming to the former Brasil Coffee House, Vernon Blvd, LIC

Now Open

• Pooches Sport & Spa for the pets of Long Island City, is now open 7 days a week in the retail space at the bottom of Avalon Riverview North. The owners have been in the pet care biz for 10 years and are offering supervised day play, overnight stay with local 24-hour monitoring, grooming, a state-of-the-art indoor pet potty, and an antibacterial vac system for a safe and clean environment. Low intro rates and discounts for multiple dogs. 4-75 48th Ave, LIC, 718.391.0800

New New Biz In The Works »