
Rendering of 10 Court Square, Court Square, Long Island City
We’ll just say it: the future of Long Island City is in Court Square. (Dissenters, take to the comments as usual.) The super-subway-connected area that is undergoing massive change at the moment is only going to be overhauled even further in the coming months. The subway transfer is in progress, Jackson Ave is being, er, ‘beautified’ while new businesses are slowly filling in, the tallest outer borough hotel is set for the area, and interestingly, Rockrose is looking forward to several drastic transformations »

The new 6-acre expansion of Gantry Park, Long Island City –photo
The 6-acre waterfront Gantry Park extension opened this morning with a public ribbon cutting, hosted by the Parks Dept and local government. Not to mention Rockrose and Queenswest Corp who were also in the mix, and contributed greatly to the execution of the new park space. Just in time for a Long Island City Fourth of July without fireworks. And who cares? The park is amazing. For those sticking around, it should be a very peaceful weekend, and what better way to spend it than swinging on a hammock at the East River? »

Proprietor Richard Boccato mixes it up on opening night at Dutch Kills bar, LIC
After all the hoopla about the Dutch Kills bar opening, not a word on the wire this morning about it!
Rockrose’s 3rd rental tower revealed [Curbed]
$12M Gold heist in LIC [NY Times]
Architects storm LIC [Curbed]
High Rises in Hallets Cove? [Queenscrap]
Dutch Kills getting a make-over [Queens Chronicle]
Review of San Remo Pizza on Vernon Blvd [Queens Courier]
Round up of last week’s Newtown Creek meet-up/walk-around [WNYC]
LeFooding coming to LeLIC [NY Times]
Serbian film in Tribeca Film Festival shot in LIC [YourNabe]
What’s going on at the Deitch Studios right now [The Moment]
Congress voting on naming LIC’s post office after Geraldine Ferarro [Congress Matters]

Start with a brownfield, add two parts human labor and one part sod, and… Insta-Park! The expansion of Gantry Park into the East Coast compound (and around the astroturf ‘park’) has made some serious progress – just in time for Spring to finally show up »

The View at East Coast condos, advertising on Vernon Blvd, Long Island City
If you thought it would be a cold day in hell before condo developers in Long Island City gave money back guarantees on sales…. well that day might be today. Cold Indeed.
Rockrose Development Corp, the developers behind The View at East Coast condos, are offering their version of a Money Back Guarantee to the next crop of buyers »
If you smell something, say something.

Queens West remediation, Hunters Point, LIC
There seems to be some continuing issues with the toxic remediation of the remaining portion of the Queens West site at the Hunters Point waterfront. There’s been a growing number of complaints about petroleum-like odors emanating from the site and causing illness in the neighborhood. This week on Vernon Blvd, the fire department responded to suspected gas leak. None were found, and it was concluded that the callers had mistaken fumes from the nearby development sites (OCA as well) for the gas leak.
Joe Conley of CB2 and Paul Januszewski of Queens West Development Corp are requesting LIC residents to confirm the presence of odors/fumes emanating from the site, and/or any suspected related illnesses »

SHI, New fine dining Chinese fusion restaurant, Queens West, LIC
The long awaited SHI is on its way to a soft opening a bit later this month… which will inevitably lead to the hard opening – no pix yet, but Queens Wester’s are about to get some fine dining in the mix.
UPDATE: SHI is currently open for take-out only:
Hello all,
First, I’d like to thank everyone in LIC for making us feel welcome and really showing us their support and encouragement. There is a sense of community here that we don’t see in the city. We can’t wait to add to the character of LIC.
After much delay, we’re finally ready to open our doors! (The Take-Out side at least anyways.) Perhaps another week for the dining room to follow. So please stop by and say “Hi” starting after 5:00 pm.
Thanks, ShiBrothers
SHI
4720 Center Blvd
Reservations: 347-242-2450
Take Out: 347-242-2448
Website: www.shilic.com
MENU

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 »

foodcellar market, 47th Rd between 5th St & Center Blvd, Queens West, LIC
Happy Daze. The long awaited foodcellar (formerly known as and still owned by Amish Market) is opening TOMORROW at 7am. It’s a soft opening, but as you know soft ice cream is still ice cream, and if there is food on the shelves that we can buy, it’s a grocery store »

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]
Open Houses This weekend in LIC: Feb 23rd – 24th
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.
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5th Street Lofts (5SL)509 48th Ave, Hunters Point 23 still available HalsteadOpen House: Sat & Sun, 11-2PM |
5pointz Studios
Hallelujah. It’s the weekend. The Idiotarod race starts tomorrow at noon.
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