LIC takes a few bullets; Old Hunters Pointer vs New; building Hallets Cove
Painted building on Jackson Ave, next to Dutch Kills bar entrance, LIC
To kick off the linkage, there’s tons of press about the shooting that occurred this week on 21st St near 41st Ave in Long Island City.
In other LIC media sightings, NY Mag compares the lives and haunts of two Hunters Pointers: a “Newcomer” and an “Old-timer”. A) it’s interesting just in continuing the battle (is it?) between Old and New in LIC (everwhere) and B) in the cataloging of many LIC hotspots.
Hallets Cove is getting some attention by New Jersey developers. Looks like 2400 units are in the works for Vernon down yonder where some say Astoria, some say LIC, some say both, and some say Why Bother? But if you do bother to go down there, Hallets is remarkably peaceful, and maybe someday there will be stores etc down there, considering the proposed development. Not to mention the Piano Factory Lofts, which are currently brewing.
Speaking of Astoria/LIC, seems some of our furry un-friend, the Rat, is wreaking havoc towards the waterfront, near the many construction sites. No shocker there. Though there is also heavy rat action reported in Ravenswood (huh?), where there isn’t so much development.
NJ firm seeking to build 2400 units at Hallets Cove [Daily News]
Shooting in LIC [NY Times]
More on the shooting [NY1]
Info about the forthcoming Gotham Center’s Green Building-ness [GreenBuildingsNYC]
Rats in Astoria/LIC [Queenscrap]
I agree #1. In this case liqcity’s headline re: re: the contents of the New York Mag. article was very misleading! I also thought that “LIC takes a few bullets” (re: the subway incident) was very flippant. Is she tryi ng to compete with the New York Post?
The battle is real and is being waged in BSA meetings CB meetings and any other forum where growth and expansion can be challenged.
re: #3 You may not be aware that there is a bridge generation. These are folks who came here in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They share a mix of views that includes pro-development minus the hyper frenzied market we’ve just seen. They believe in preservation but not to the extent where the neighborhood stagnates.
The unfortunate polarized environment that some like to feed and fan is IMO the biggest problem at present.
Well said #4. I am one of those “bridge” people - came here in 1992. I just want to repeat for #3 - my statement about liqcity’s headline indicating that the article had anything to do with a “battle” was totally misleading. It seems to me that she meant to stir up controversy when in reality it was just about two people - a new comer and an old timer- giving their reasons for loving the community in which they both live.
No. 3, there are plenty of newcomers who aren’t so crazy about the pace of development in LIC either and may have chosen to live in LIC because of its relative low-key vibe. On the other hand, many oldtimers (particularly some homeowners and business owners) are in favor of the steamroller approach to development or at least just accept the changes. By setting up this false dichotomy, you are making it difficult for people oof both POVs to reach healthy compromises on what the neighborhood should be.
Right, No. 5. I thought the NY mag piece was refreshing. It didn’t try to pick sides and showed in a respectful way how LIC embraces those with various interests, and they often overlap.
yeah, what’s not to like, new or old about duane reade coming, new restaurants, more choices, new grocers, sure if you are an old timer and your views became blocked by the hideous new waterfront buildings. or you are on a fixed income and food cellar is ridiculous, or if you live next to a construction site, but overall, as a new comer to lic, i really like it here, but would like to see it get a bit busier. manducatis rustica, was there the other night, only 4 people at 7pm. where is the love from the waterfront hobbits?
7, you know, I actually believe that despite all the hot air from the local media, the developers’ publicity machines, and our own assumptions about What People with Money Do, I think that most people in this country (including those in LIC) have really pedestrian tastes. They talk a big game about their love of wine tastings and greenmarkets, but that’s just meant to impress their friends. Actually, my theory is that people are generally cheapskates and their taste in food is shaped by their Middle American upbringing. How else could one explain why a fantastic place like Manducati’s is empty?
I am surprised when I tell people in the neighborhood about the new Manducatis and the say that they did not know about it. I guess that if you do not read these blogs you are out of the loop on what going on in the neighborhood.
9, either that or people head straight home after getting out of work at 9:30pm at their awful Midtown jobs and spend their weekends in Manhattan.
I think there is plenty of Italian food in Middle America.
Manducati’s is pretty decent, somewhat overpriced, and decorated like my grandma’s basement. Given that a lot of people are worried about their finances at the moment, its not a big surprise that the place isn’t packed.
I think very few people walk down that “far” on Vernon. Which is lame…but I’ve told at least five people about it and none had heard of it.
#12 is from Michigan, please disregard his shaggy-haired ramblings.
No offense to Manducati’s Rustica but we went last Friday for dinner and the food was great, however, they are highly disorganized when it comes to staffing and service. We will go back in a few months when they get some help, but when we went the waitress was overwhlmed by how many people were there, the owner was waiting tables herself, they took our menu before we even ordered because they needed it for another table, this was besides the fact we were ingnored when we walked in and then again for a good twenty minutes while we waited. So overall, a little too much fuss for some brickoven pizza and gelato for now.
Pizza was almost worth all the pain though, it was really good!
Wait… there are people in New York City that weren’t born here?
This thread got me hungry for Rustica. Got dinner there tonight, homemade fetuccine with a veal sauce, yum, and an italian pepper stuffed with bread crumbs, olives and pine nuts that was so unexpectedly delicious it made me shiver.
Well stated #6. And similar kudos to #4 and #5.
liqcity, why did you say that the New York Magazine piece is “continuing the battle” between the older and newer residents? Nonsense. There was nothing of the kind in the article. It just highlighted the favorite haunts of two different people (one of whom, Mrs. Romano, I know). If you look at their lists, you can easily see how both newer and older residents alike would enjoy the favorites on each of their lists. I’m an older resident, but I also enjoymany of the favorites on the newer guy’s list as well as many on Romano’s. Please, can we once and for all stop perpetuating this phony “battle”?