ZIKRAYAT, a Long Island City based Arabic Music & Dance Ensemble

The ‘Live at the Gantries’ summer performance series brought to us by the QCA continues tonight at Gantry Park with an Arabic Music and Dance Ensemble, ZIKRAYAT »

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 »

OCA/CUNY Dev Site, July 2008

The next BSA hearing for the very controversial OCA/CUNY development site on 5th Street is set for next Tuesday, August 19th. According to Queens Chronicle, the latest issue on the table is whether or not the OCA‘s granting of space to the Queens Council on the Arts (QCA) counts as an official community benefit:

“In a submission to the Board of Standards and Appeals »

Verizon Wireless coming to LIC

Well, maybe some will sing a happy tune for Verizon Wireless in LIC, but at liQcity, we’re always hoping for more independent commerce to serve the needs of the exploding community. A liQcity tipster sent a photo of the Verizon Wireless sign in the right ground floor retail spot of the Echelon condos. (No word on what’s happening to the left retail spot.)

Interesting »

5 Star Banquet, Long Island City

liQcity would like to say welcome to it’s newest sponsor, 5 Star Banquet, though it’s not a newbie to the LIC restaurant scene. The four year old Indian restaurant is more commonly known for the 5 Star Punjabi Diner, the cult and cabbie favorite, which is right next door. 5 Star Banquet is, as the name implies, is a huge banquet hall that can accommodate various events: weddings, private affairs, corporate events, TV/Film productions, and more. Eye (and stomach) candy »

Here’s a real estate video displaying a 5SL 2BR condo unit for sale, reduced to $799K. It’s interesting in the sense of following the video trend in real estate marketing… and if you never got over to 5SL to check out the lofts.

• All Sales Listings 5SL [Streeteasy]
• 5th Street Lofts [website]

Looks like Vernonites are expanding their business empires these days… and why wouldn’t they?

1) The Brasil Coffee house has an offshoot called Fast & Delicious around their corner of 49th Ave. Rather interesting Brazilian menu actually: rotisserie meats, steak, rice & beans, pita sandwiches, salads, and empenadas/croquettes.

2) Last week we spotted this seemingly new sign above the Butcher Deli on Vernon @ 50th Ave. A juice and hookah bar called The Butcher Cafe. Interesting combo. Well…many stranger concepts have succeeded in NYC so it’s fair to say anything has a chance around here. (Or does it?)

The Cangro building destruction in process, Vernon/Jackson, LIC”

The CANGRO building right at the actual corner of Vernon and Jackson is in the process of being torn down. Combined with the now empty lot next door, the site will host a 12 story residential glass condo tower. Hold on to those coffee cups.

• Vernon/Jackson Then & Now [liQcity]

Filming of Gossip Girl on Vernon Blvd, Long Island City

Is your legally parked car missing? Notice the film shoots in the hood? If you haven’t read the pink signs: it’s Gossip Girl. And they’re also looking to shoot scenes inside a LIC townhouse apartment. I received notice on my door this weekend. How cute.

The destruction of What Should Have Been Landmarked continues with the leveling of the Star Building. And here’s what’s to come in its place.

The NY Post article about inland LIC is a must read. It’s a decent chronicle of what’s going on around the Queensboro Bridge, though funny at times. It’s interesting who is considered (and considers themselves) pioneers of a neighborhood.

• Star building bites the dust [Queenscrap]

• LONG SHOT – Long Island City sprawls beyond the waterfront [NY Post]

• Sex in Long Island City

Looking at Queenswest through Hunters Point South, LIC

“Across from the United Nations in Long Island City, Queens, lies one of the last empty pieces of land on the East River. This 24 acre lot boasts dramatic views of the Empire State building from 30-foot-high cliffs, rolling hills covered in wild trees, and more access to the river’s edge than any other site in Queens. Currently it is an idyllic, private barbeque spot, with homemade swings and benches looking out across the water at Manhattan’s midtown rush.” -Nathan Kesinger

The rain’s coming folks.

• Some great photography of Hunters Point South, LIC [Nathan Kesinger Photography]

• Made in Queens – Japanese artist Murakami nests in Long Island City [NY Sun]

• Art & Porn in Long Island City – PS1 MoMa [Art Cal]

• Nigel Rollins exhibit open at Art-o-mat, Vernon Blvd [liQcity]

Artwork on 5Pointz Studios, Hunters Point, LIC

Ok it’s time for the weekend. Looks like a bit of snow coming our way. If you missed Bjork’s screening of Wanderlust, you’ve got another shot tonight. It starts at 7pm, but get there early!

• Bjork’s ‘Wanderlust’ premiered in LIC’s Deitch Studios last night [Gothamist]

• Queenswest library set for 2009 [Times Ledger]

• Is Long Island City the next big thing? [Gridskipper]

• City View Raquet Club is now open in LIC [City View website]

• Music Events in LIC this weekend [LICpop]

Site of Long Island City’s first Green Building, 48th Ave between Vernon & 5th.

File this under ‘RUMOR’, though it seems to be confirmed by a few sources. Long Island City’s going green, and no we’re not getting a park though who would complain about that (actually someone probably would) but LIC’s first documented Green building. There’s no direct confirmation from the developers, who supposedly are the brains behind the Galaxy, but word on the street is that the existing building is to be razed, and a new, greener building will sprout in it’s place. They’re going for the Gold, in LEED certification. Maybe setting a standard? Blazing a green pathway? Or just a wise marketing gimmick? Regardless of what it is, it’s a welcome breath of greenness.

Reading this long but interesting article about the shortage of rental housing development in NYC, it feels very pertinent to Long Island City. With the high and rising cost of construction, not to mention the weak dollar, the expiration of the 421-a program, and the crazy credit crunch – developers are even less incentivised to build rental buildings, and that’s what we in LIC need the most of. Or at least, the condo needs in LIC will obviously be adequately met, despite the expiration of 421-a, but what about the rest of us who rent? Will we not be able to live in this neighborhood?

In honor of this question, here are two rental listings in LIC free of charge to all. liQcity knows nothing about the quality of these apartments, nor is benefiting in anyway from distributing the info. So good luck rental seekers in LIC – you will need it.

Listings, take it away »

For those music lovers out there, here’s a Press Release from a local Long Island City business, Amie Street, which provides a great website promoting independent music. Check them out.

Hello:

Today, 2/26/08, Amie Street is releasing the entire catalogs of Beggars Group (XL, Rough Trade, 4AD), Matador Records and Polyvinyl Recording Co. — more than 15,000 songs.

Thom Yorke, Cat Power, Interpol, of Montreal, Devendra Banhart, The New Pornographers, Sigur Rós, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Belle and Sebastian, and Architecture In Helsinki are just a few of the artists now available on AmieStreet.com.

This is an exciting new development in the digital music world, as more and more artists embrace fan-based pricing as a viable music sales model.

These artists, like all songs on Amie Street, are initially free to download and rise in price based on popularity, up to $0.98.

Check out the [press release] for more information, go to AmieStreet.com for the music, and feel free to call or email me with any questions.

Thanks, Zane

• Amie Street [Official Website]

Full Press Release »

Well well well. The 5th Street Lofts getting pricechopped. Is this a sign of things to come?

But wait, Purves and Badge have flippers in their waters, so what’s up with that? Good luck figuring it out at the Open Houses, and bring your skates – LIC is ICE city this weekend.

5th Street Lofts (5SL) 509 48th Ave, Hunters Point 23 still available Halstead Open House: Sat & Sun, 11-2PM

Complete list of Open Houses this weekend. »

Anyone remember this condo sale at the Arris Lofts last year? At $2.995M, it’s the most expensive condo sale in LIC (probably also Queens). So who bought it?

Well earlier this week, we loudly delivered the rumor that Clay Aiken is in contract at Arris, and downplayed the purchases by a couple other celebrities. The Residence 800, as it’s known, was bought by DJ Danny Tenaglia. We’re imagining the sick parties he’ll throw on that terrace.

In curbed’s coverage of the Clay Aiken rumor, there was an interesting line:

…this could be some weird defining moment in the recent history of Long Island City as an emerging development hotspot.

Well, LIC’s been an emerging developing hotspot for a long time now, but for most of the last few years (or 10) the progress lagged far behind the hype. And still does. Amenities are barely catching up, though they’re definitely moving along. For those of us who live here and are witnessing firsthand the insane transformation of LIC, I don’t think it comes as a huge surprise that celebrities would consider this quiet, tourist-free neighborhood full of luxury development. Though, if they keep moving here, it might not be tourist-free for very long.

Hello metermaids of LIC – are you guys working on some kind of commission structure these days? I’ve noticed an unusual amount of parking ticketing going on lately, especially on 48th Ave. Apparently I’m not the only one.

A liQcity reader writes:

Was walking down 48th ave this afternoon – I swear more than 20% of the cars had towing chalk or remnants of tickets from the last few days (paper on the windshield marks) – is LIC and our bad parking signs / information about where it is legal to park nothing but a cash cow for the city?

A while ago I parked in front of a construction site on a side street just off of Vernon. There was no indication that parking was prohibited, and the curb was a lovely shade of steel grey (read: not yellow). Of course, they towed me anyway, and upon dealing with the police, it took them 5 days to even acknowledge they towed my car. Sigh. Watch out. Those construction sites are not allowed to prohibit parking unless they have a permit to do so. Most of them don’t. So technically it’s legal to park there… but that means your local police department has to have a clue and understand the law.

As a side note – though I’ve seen a lot of tickets, some of the paper remnants stuck to windshields is the postcard spamming being done by You Know Who. Between the police and YKW, our cars don’t stand a chance of being left alone in peace.

Teapot painting by Jon Fletcher on display at the Art-o-Mat.

It’s the weekend. Hurray!

• Discovery of toxic Swingline factory site in Long Island City leads to further examination of other potentially hazardous areas [Times Ledger]

• Briarcliff College opening a Long Island City branch [Queens Tribune]

• Urban agriculture comes to P.S. 1 [NY Times]

• Standard Motor Products Corporate Headquarters sold [Queens Tribune]

• Toll Brothers look to avoid drama in LIC [Curbed]

• Music events in LIC this weekend [licpop]

The weather’s not looking so good for this weekend, but we know there’s a bunch of die-hard condo buyers out there. Same round-up as last week and the week before. Don’t know what’s going on at the Foundry LIC – last week they had 12 available and this week they have 14. If anyone takes any good pics, send them our way.

The Foundry LIC 2-40 51st Ave, Hunters Point 14 still available Prudential Douglas Elliman Open House Sun, By appointment only

Complete list of this weekend’s open houses »

Tuk Tuk 49-06 Vernon Blvd 718.472.5598 718.472.5597

So far there are three Asian fusion restaurants at Vernon/Jackson; Ihawan and BANY Ten57 on the way, and Lucky Mojo’s operating on 51st Ave. Holding the Thai fort down, and not fused with any other kind of cuisine, is Tuk Tuk, a transplant from Smith St in Brooklyn. Tuk Tuk’s been on Vernon for a while and the food has been reliable from day one. I’m a Thai food fan, and Tuk Tuk offers all the standards, plus some interesting specials. Carnivores and herbivores can eat together in harmony – tons of options for everyone. They’re affordable in my book; entrees run from $8 to $16, and portions are generous.

The ambiance is chill and minimal; the service is very friendly and unobtrusive, and they definitely make an effort to get to know their regulars. Delivery is lovely – usually very timely and the food’s nice and hot. Tuk Tuk is definitely a staple in my diet, though sometimes that’s been because there are no other Asian restaurants. Doesn’t matter though – Tuk Tuk’s an established neighborhood fav, and we hope they stick around for a good while.

Who’s got the power?

1) Starbucks is coming to LIC. (deep sigh – c’mon we knew it was inevitable) One spot is the Eastcoast building, the other is an undisclosed location somewhere in Vernon/Jackson. We will keep you updated on that one fa sho.

2) The Zipper Building is not owned by Toll Brothers. We were misinformed. And strangely so, since the tipster was a Toll-er. Hmmm. Won’t be trusting that source again. Anyway, it’s a private owner (we could give you the property report page, but it’s boring) – the buzz is he’s holding for $20M. In the face of the July 2008 421-a expiration, we think that might be a long shot, but building owners in LIC (and NYC) can definitely be described as tenacious.

3) Trump’s son coming to Queens Plaza? Very random and vague tip about the progeny and a few partners from Long Island in contract on a conversion property on Jackson. Hmmm.

4) Stay tuned for some updates on the mystery dev located on Thompson & Purves, right near the Arris Lofts. Between Arris, the Purves siblings…there’s another condo building coming. Will they get the foundation poured by July 2008? Inquiring minds want to know.

5) The Powerhouse is looking nice, no?

E & I Deli, Vernon Blvd @ 50th Ave, Hunters Point

If you’ve been reading this blog for five minutes, you know that there’s a grocery store issue… as in we don’t have one. And I’m tired of hearing that C-town counts as a grocery store. Fine, technically C-town is in Hunters Point, but if you live in Queenswest or Vernon/Jackson, two of the other sub-neighborhoods of HP (which is a sub-nabe in and of itself), that C-town is as far away, if not further than The Garden in Greenpoint. Or really, let’s just leave it at that it’s far away. And my question is: is it a good grocery store? It’s too far for me – I just go to The Garden, lug my groceries from the city, or I go to the E&I Deli, aka the Korean deli on Vernon.

Surprisingly, E&I has a really savvy buyer. The deli is definitely stocked with some ‘yuppie’ vittles. You know, overpriced and organic. It also has a great selection of Asian foods as well… which is very much in line with the theme of our burgeoning restaurant scene.

Thank you E&I deli. If it weren’t for you, we’d have to walk the 5000 miles to C-town (aka 15 minutes).

Not much has really changed since last weekend’s open houses – same developments still on the market. Some of them seem to have sold a few. That’s about it. Overall, we’re looking at the same story, except the weekend weather is supposed to be sunny and in the high 40′s. Have fun.

Powerhouse 50-09 2nd St, Hunters Point 19 still available Prudential Douglas Elliman Open House: By appointment only

Complete list of this weekend’s open houses »

Toyoko Inn development site, Jackson Ave, Courthouse Sq

If you thought the only hotels going up in LIC were in Dutch Kills, oh boy were you wrong. A while ago it was announced that a Japanese hotel chain, Toyoko Inn, purchased 5 adjacent parcels of land on Jackson Ave for for $17.75M. The parcels are located in Courthouse Square at 2405, 2409, 2411-2415, 2417 and 2419 Jackson Avenue. It’s a huge footprint!

• Long Island City is turning Japanese [Curbed]

We seem to have accidentally tripped a nerve yesterday with Arris Lofts dwellers who are concerned that our citing a rumor about hookers at Arris Lofts will give a bad impression of the neighborhood.

Let’s get a few things right on the table. liQcity is a blog. Curbed is a blog. Blogs deal in rumors and hearsay. None of the information on this or any other blog is pure fact. In fact (ha), most of it is just opinion. So treat it as such.

More relevantly, LIC is a transitioning industrial neighborhood in New York City. That much I’m sure we all can agree on. While Hunters Point is definitely safer than one might expect, there are still plenty of shady spots, and illicit activity absolutely transpires. To what degree? Well that’s the grey area. I’ve seen used condoms strewn about at Gantry Park – where they hookers or an overexcited couple who just put down 20% at the 5th St Lofts? Who knows.

And yes, I’ve seen hookers in LIC »