There seems to be lots of fret and anticipation about when the impending Dutch Kills bar is going to open in Long Island City. It will open when it opens. From proprietor Richard Boccato:

““We just got our refrigeration in this week, so we’re back to a construction site for just a couple more weeks. We’ll be opening in April.Our sinks, our plumbing, and the refrigeration are things we take very seriously. We’re juicing fresh to order behind the bar, so all of that has to be meticulously planned, and we can’t just slap that together and expect the same level of quality that we have at the other bars. We’ll also be introducing a hand-cut, made-to-order ice station behind the bar, so when you order a drink, someone will actually cut the ice right in front of you.”"

Yum.

• Dutch Kills will open in April [BlackbookMag]

• Fretting over the Dutch Kills bar opening [NY Barfly]

• Grub Street waiting for Dutch Kills bar [NY Mag]

• Pulaski Bridge pedestrians fear bicyclists [NY Daily News]

• White Van & Missing Kids in LIC? [CityNoise]

• LIC’s Dial-A-Mattress going bye-bye [Crains]

• Firesale to come at the LIC Harley-Davidson? [Racked]

• Why a business would remain in LIC [Globest]

• Free lecture about the Queensboro Bridge [Historic Districts Council]

• Spotlight on Noguchi [The Moment]

• Photos du Jour of LIC [NY Shitty]

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 »

Cars getting smarter in Long Island City.

Long Island City linkage galore. Highlighted is a very long but extremely thorough analysis of NYC’s current condo glut:

“In recent years, ordinary New Yorkers saw new condo construction transform their neighborhoods. This is especially true in hotspots like Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Long Island City, where large rezonings by the Bloomberg administration have spurred the rise of sleek luxury residential towers seemingly overnight. But as New York City’s economy rapidly worsens, people wonder how many of these new condo apartments will languish vacant. Precise numbers are difficult to come by, but government leaders and housing industry experts agree: The condo market is in serious distress. It is not just the vacant units that are worrisome. In many neighborhoods, half-built projects sit stalled and land cleared for development shows no signs of activity, creating a nuisance for residents who now must live indefinitely with deserted construction sites.”

In other LIC news »

Dutch Kills, 27-24 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, (718) 383-2724 –photo

First of all, it’s not a $15 cocktail. Proprietor Richard Boccato is very clear about that. Drink prices at the impending Dutch Kills bar, will range from $6-$12ish and include beer (on tap & bottled), wine, signature cocktails, and top shelf sippers. The main focus here though, is on the classic cocktail. You can munch on the artisanal vittles of Sage General Store listening to some live music, while marinating in the sultry atmosphere with its deep dark walls and dangling crystal chandeliers.

You can also steep in a little LIC history »

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 »