Shop local, shop late this Friday for Midnight Madness in Long Island City

This Friday, December 18th Long Island City will have its very own Midnight Madness shopping event: one night of discounts, promotions, and freebies from select LIC businesses and restaurants on Vernon Blvd or Jackson Ave.

You can shop local and shop late for the holidays – most stores will be open until midnight and will be offering some worthwhile specials »

Get your java fix during Free Coffee Week at Sweetleaf, Long Island City

Several of our local sponsors have special events coming up, and others are offering promotions exclusively for liQcity readers:

• It’s Free Coffee Week at Sweetleaf from 12/7 to 12/13. “We are giving away 12 oz. cups of Stumptown Coffee all week to everyone. It’s one cup per person, per day.” 10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC, 917.832.6726

• LIC printer, Big City Graph-X & Printing is offering 1000 FREE standard business cards to all local businesses (design not included). It happens every Wednesday; mention the liQcity postcard special. Valid thru December 31st, 2009. 46-09 11th St, LIC, 718.706.9670

• Manducatis Rustica is offering the following daily breakfast special for those who mention liQcity from Monday through Friday, 10am -12pm: $2.50 for an American coffee and a cornetti, and $3.50 for an espresso drink (cappucino/latte) and a cornetti. Valid through December 31st, 2009. Cornetti flavors are plain, chocolate, pastry cream, and apricot. 46-33 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 718.937.1312

More specials after the jump »

Christmas decorations outside Manducatis Rustica, Vernon Blvd, LIC

We all know how rough this economy is right now, but there’s much to be said for doing your part to stimulate the Long Island City economy in particular by buying and shopping locally this holiday season. There’s a bunch of retail options on Vernon, and several LIC sites will be host to special holiday sales and markets as well »

Interior wall design in The Breadbox, 11th St b/w 47th Rd & 47th Ave, LIC

New Biz In the Works »

LIC’s Big City Graph-X & Printing offers free business cards to liQcity readers

Several of our local sponsors are generously offering holiday specials exclusively for liQcity readers:

• LIC printer, Big City Graph-X & Printing is offering 1000 FREE standard business cards to all local businesses (design not included). It happens every Wednesday; mention the liQcity postcard special. Valid thru December 31st, 2009. 46-09 11th St, LIC, 718.706.9670

• Sweetleaf is bringing back their $1 liQcity Latte this weekend from Friday through Sunday. Customers need to specifically ask for a liQcity Latte to get it for $1. 10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC, 917.832.6726

• Into White Dental is offering the following promotion: “Patients straightening their teeth with Invisalign will be eligible for free professional tooth whitening as part of their treatment.” More information here, offer expires December 31st, 2009. 47-43 Vernon Blvd, Ground FL, 718.361.3050

• Manducatis Rustica is offering the following daily breakfast special »

The Breadbox bakery nearing completion, 11th St b/w 47th Rd & 47th Ave, LIC

New Biz News

• A Korean/French Fusion Restaurant is rumored to have leased the former Brasil Coffee House space on Vernon Blvd. 48-19 Vernon Blvd, LIC

Old New Biz News »

Natural Frontier Market is coming to the ground FL of 12-01 Jackson Ave, LIC

New Biz

• Natural Frontier Market is opening a new location in LIC to add to its stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The market is confirmed for the 4000SF ground floor of 12-01 Jackson Ave, the brick rental building near the Pulaski Bridge. LIC’s Natural Frontier Market will offer a health food grocery, produce, nutritional supplements, bath & beauty products, and frozen organic meat & fish, in addition to a delivery service.

• Guitart & Jones restaurant serving American tapas will be opening at 5-09 50th Ave, between Vernon Blvd & Jackson Ave.

• SUPERRUMOR: there may be a Carmine’s, the well-known chain of family-style Italian restaurants, coming to the former Jackson Ave Steakhouse space. 12-23 Jackson Ave, LIC

• A Cuban restaurant is rumored be coming to the space where Spa DiSilva was supposed to but never manifested. 4729 Vernon Blvd, LIC

Recently Open »

Lolly’s Learning Center is coming soon to the ground floor of 5-44 47th Ave, LIC

New Biz

• A preschool is opening in the ground floor of an old engineering building on 47th Ave, just west of 5th St. Lolly’s Early Learning Center (website coming soon) will be ready for tours and full enrollment this October, and fully open for the new year on January 5, 2010. The space, which will be fully customized for the age group, will house an early learning center featuring classrooms for 2, 3, and 4-year-olds, as well as daycare hours for working parents. Lolly’s will offer partial to full-time enrollment and will be open 8am-6pm everyday. Call 646.351.6077 for more information. 5-44 47th Ave, LIC

• A new gourmet health food store is processing a lease for the 4000SF ground floor of 12-01/12-03 Jackson Ave, the brick rental building near the Pulaski Bridge.

• A new children’s boutique & consignment store called Little Closets is set to open in the former Art-O-Mat space at 46-46 Vernon Blvd this month. The store will offer “a sustainable, ‘recession friendly’, community-oriented retail option for the rapidly growing population of small children in the area,” including “child-friendly décor” with a story corner & puppet theater. They are currently accepting donations; email littleclosets@yahoo.com for more info. PDF release

• Air-conditioned pet gym and lounge Dog Island City “will offer locals a new, convenient way to care for their dog(s),” specializing in attentive all day pet sitting, professional dog training, and more, including holistic pet food, wellness treats, and toys. Grand opening party is on Sept 12, 6-10pm featuring wine, cheese, and snacks for owners, and specialty pet treats and free gifts for the pooches – everyone is welcome. 5-29 50th Ave, LIC, 718.433.4545/ 917.379.7291

• The old Moviebank space at 5-35 50th Ave, between 5th St & Vernon, has now been replaced with a dancewear shop housing Sharifwear & Mambo Fateegz. Sharifwear says they will be having a grand opening party in the new LIC space on September 25th. 718.726.0526

Still In The Works »

The Yoga Room hosts a free class at Gantry Park, Sun, Aug 23rd @ 9am, LIC

Wednesday 8/19

• Shi Restaurant is hosting karaoke on Wednesday nights. 4720 Center Blvd, LIC, 347.242.2450

• Aaron visits Vine Wine for a tasting: “Aaron is a charming fellow, with a charming selection of wines to pour,” 5:30-8:30pm. Another tasting coming up on August 26: Spanish Wines, 5:30-8:30pm. 12-09 Jackson Ave, LIC, 718.472.9463

Thursday 8/20

• Live Music at Manducatis Rustica from 7:30-10pm, featuring an Italian jazz/funk band. 46-31 Vernon Blvd, LIC, 718.937.1312

• It’s Ladies Night every Thursday night at Shi Restaurant, offering 2 for 1 drink specials. 4720 Center Blvd, LIC, 347.242.2450

• Court Square Wine & Spirits hosts complimentary (yes free) wine tasting events every Thursday & Friday of the week from 4:30-7:00pm. 2420 Jackson Ave, LIC, 718.707.9911

• Wine Tasting from 6-8pm at Hunters Point Wines & Spirits. 47-07 Vernon Boulevard, LIC, 718.472.9463

Friday 8/21 »

Children’s boutique Little Closets comes to 46-46 Vernon Blvd in Sept, LIC

New Biz

• A new children’s boutique & consignment store called Little Closets is coming to the former Art-O-Mat space at 46-46 Vernon Blvd in September. The store will offer “a sustainable, ‘recession friendly’, community-oriented retail option for the rapidly growing population of small children in the area,” including “child-friendly décor” with a story corner & puppet theater. They are currently accepting donations; email littleclosets@yahoo.com for more info. PDF release

• The Getty gas station on 11th St @ 45th Rd has begun transforming into the ‘adaptive reuse’ Long Island City Bakery.

• The old Moviebank space on 50th Ave between 5th & Vernon has now been replaced with a dancewear shop housing Sharifwear & Mambo Fateegz.

• A couple doors down from the dancewear shop, an awning with the words Dog Island City has appeared over a storefront on 50th Ave.

Still In The Works »

Brasil Coffee House, Vernon Blvd, LIC

Yes it’s true. It’s been hard not to notice, with such a prominent retail location, but the dark windows and closed doors for a couple weeks now means that there is no more Brasil Coffee House. There are a bunch of rumors flying around about why, but all unsubstantiated, so we’ll leave the speculation alone.

It should be noted »

Sweetleaf Coffee & Tea, 10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC, 917 832 6726

The notorious intersection of Pulaski Bridge and Jackson Ave is graced with the presence of Sweetleaf, a locally brewed specialty coffee & teahouse, featuring the exclusive beans of coffee connoisseurs, Stumptown. Owners Rich Nieto and Al Arundel (“Freddy”) are longtime residents of Long Island City, and have painstakingly crafted their cozy, corner cafe with antiques and local artwork.

This is not just another coffeehouse »

Dutch Kills Bar, 27-24 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, 718.383.2724

Hang on to your hats folks, the long-awaited Dutch Kills Bar is opening their non-descript exterior doors to the public at 5pm this Friday, May 1st. The interior is anything but non-descript. But you shall see. Go. Imbibe. $9 cocktails.

• Dutch Kills Bar [website]

Ethereal Boutique is hosting a shopping event to benefit a local Long Island City organization, Hour Children.

When: Thursday, April 30th, 2009: 5:30pm-8:30pm

Where: Ethereal Boutique 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC

What: “Shop the luxurious, art-inspired styles of MINT Jodi Arnold and view works by local Queens artist, Vicky Barranguet.”

Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to Hour Children, an organization dedicated to providing support to women and families involved in the criminal justice system.

To show appreciation, gift bags supporting local establishments will be given to the first 20 guests who purchase MINT Jodi Arnold styles. White wine will be served courtesy of Blue Streak Wines.

Well, it is the age of the internet, so it’s no surprise to find Long Island City businesses utilizing an application like Facebook. It’s 2009 and our little neighborhood’s mish-mosh of Mom & Pop’s is tapped into online social networking technology. You will find the likes of Subdivision Art, Domaine Bar a Vins, Lucky Mojos, Vine Wine, Dominie’s Hoek, and Manducatis Rustica.

Most of the businesses are doing exactly what you’d expect »

Sinks & Stones, 46-01 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

While we’re all waiting for economic bailouts to kick in, there quietly exists at least one way to actually help our local economy, which is to patronize local businesses as much as possible. In talking with many local biz owners, there is a spectrum of struggle; some are doing great, most are hanging in there but feeling a decline, and others are operating in the red. With that in mind, and also gratitude towards liQcity sponsors, here’s some opportunities to support local biz »

View from the Ravel Hotel at the Queensboro Bridge, Long Island City

It’s been a while since we’ve done a business openings post, for obvious reasons, but there’s still life brewing in Long Island City’s retail scene »

Baby’s clothes at Ethereal Boutique, 47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC

liQcity welcomes two new sponsors who also have some great stuff for Long Island City, especially if you’re staying local this weekend »

V-day cookies @ Manducatis Rustica, Long Island City

If you’re looking for something special to do in Long Island City tomorrow for Valentine’s Day, there are lots of options:

1) LIC’s popular teahouse and cafe, Communitea, is offering a special afternoon tea service for two. “Savories, Valentine Sweets and Chocolates and a big fresh-baked Scone on a three-tier display served along side a teapot for two!”

2) Manducatis Rustica has a special secret V-day menu »

A piece by Ayka, Subdivision Fashion show at the Foundry, Long Island City

Subdivision held a fashion show yesterday evening at the incredible Foundry event space, featuring the local designers who sell their masterpieces at the boutique on Vernon Blvd. The event, which was originally aimed towards press and fashion buyers, but then later open to the public and resulted in a great turn-out.

Local designers included »

Sage General Store, 24-20 Jackson Ave, Court Square, LIC (718) 361-0707

This fall really boosted Long Island City’s supply of food. Just a quick recap of what’s opened since August: foodcellar, SHI, Duane Reade, Manducatis Rustica, and Sage General Store. Not to mention what’s in the works: MetFoods, Sushi Siam. Though it’s not very new, let’s throw Ion’s Corner Romanian Cafe into the mix as well, since it’s new to us. And Ihawan‘s with us in spirit.

Over in Court Square »

LIC Corner Deli is no more. Vernon Blvd, Hunters Point, LIC

In case you were wondering what happened to the LIC Corner Deli »

August 08 Cover, Ins & Outs Magazine, Long Island City

LIC residents are quite lucky (we think) to have such a rich offering of community media. On top of the handful of blogs, forums, and misc sites, we have a glossy quarterly print magazine called Ins&Outs, which hits the streets today with their 12th volume. Founded by a longtime LIC resident closely connected with local artists, I&O covers news and events about the LIC community (kind of like liQcity, but not at all) as well as the Outside World. In their own words »

Duane Reade manifesting on 47th Rd @ 5th St, Long Island City

Queens West continues with its late summer bloom, as Duane Reade catches up with its neighbor, foodcellar, which has been open since Wednesday and already starting to pick up a decent bustle. The store is still being stocked, and there is a lot of grumble »

Strata Tower – Abhu Dhabi, UAE

from the liQcity inbox:

“”I am happy to announce the arrival of Asymptote Architecture, to the corner of 46rd and Asymptote Architecture is representing the United States at the Venice Biennale in Italy this year and will have over 50 architects working at this new location. They are presently renovating the building to become a state of the art architecture office, The principals, Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture are professors at Harvard School of Architecture and Columbia School of Architecture. This will represent new blood for the neighborhood and enliven culture in LIC.”*

Wouldn’t it be great »