Blend, 47-04 Vernon Blvd @ 47th Ave, LIC 718.729.2800

Aah. Another restaurant. Even from the few short posts, it must be obvious how excited I get for new food in the hood. Blend popped up a few months ago on Vernon Blvd between 47th Rd and 47th Ave, nestled between longtime hood favorites Lounge 47 & Communitea. In fact, the first time I stumbled upon Blend, their opening night, I gossiped with the owners of Lounge 47 about the new kid on the block. Judging by the crowd on the first night, they seem to have hit a solid 2-run base hit.
Word on the street »

Blend on Vernon Blvd @ 47th, LIC

The Latino fusion restaurant, Blend is jumping through hoops of fire with the community board to get their liquor license, and seems to be getting burned. Which is too bad, because one really does crave wine with their food. Not to mention, it really sucks for a restaurant business to not get those precious alcohol sales…which is where they make the bulk of their money.

It seems though, from a fervently supportive tipster and general word on the street, that the trouble is not with the board itself, but with a disgruntled neighbor(s) brandishing a conspiracy theory »

After the Blend bloodbath ensued, we contacted Joe Conley, the chairperson of the Community Board (CB2), in order to gain some clarification and address concerns about businesses and residents living amongst each other on Vernon Blvd. He’s agreed to hold a Q&A with concerned LIC’ers residents, and we will announce the date and location of the Public Hearing when it’s been coordinated. In the meantime, Chairman Conley did pass along a response he wrote to a liQcity commenter who sent him an email regarding the Blend liquor license denial:

Dear LIC Resident »

Well folks. The epic battle between the Vernon restaurant Blend and the Neighbors continues tomorrow at a public hearing being held at St. Mary’s Church at 7pm. St. Mary’s is the church at Vernon/Jackson. You can’t really miss it. Tomorrow is Thursday. We recommend you wear some protective gear, as this topic seems to provoke bloodbath.

• Vernon restaurant Blend facing staunch opposition to getting liquor license

• CB2 responds to LIC community concern about life and bizz on Vernon