LIC Weekly (Inactive)

🍔 Food & Restaurants

Discover the Culinary Delights of Long Island City: A Foodie's Guide to the Best Eateries Featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

Long Island City, New York is home to a number of restaurants featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, including The Creek and The Cave, which serves Mexican fare and hosts comedy shows, and Bricktown Bagels & Cafe, which is known for its unique bagel flavors and signature breakfast sandwiches.

City Saucery tackles food waste by using overripe tomatoes in Long Island City

Brooklyn-based food manufacturing company City Saucery is using overripe and “ugly” tomatoes to create its signature homemade sauces, in a move to eliminate food waste. Founders Michael Marino and Jorge Moret self-financed the company, which now produces its products in its own facility in the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and has revenue streams from direct-to-consumer sales and wholesale to independent supermarkets and restaurants across the northeast US.

Savoring Cheese Culture: The Best Cheese Shops in Major US Cities including Murray's Cheese Bar in LIC

Discover the best cheese shops in major US cities, including Beecher's Handmade Cheese in New York and Seattle, Formaggio Kitchen in Boston, and Murray's Cheese in New York, which also has a cheese bar in Long Island City. These shops offer not only selection and quality, but also education through classes and expert cheesemongers.

🏠 Real Estate

The Struggles of Long Island City's Office Market: High Vacancy, Tough Competition and Optimism for Creative Industries

Long Island City's office market is struggling with vacancy rates of 43.1% in Class-A buildings at the end of 2022, as leasing slows and occupancy remains low. Some office owners face difficulty competing with sublease space in Manhattan, but local officials remain optimistic, pointing to the ability to attract creative and innovative industries.

ZD Jasper Realty Plans to Expand to Manhattan with Glassy Condos in LIC and Hell's Kitchen

ZD Jasper Realty has filed permits for an 11-story mixed-use building in Hell’s Kitchen. This is part of a larger plan to enter the Manhattan market with glassy, luxury condos in areas such as Long Island City and Jamaica.

Avison Young sells five lots in Long Island City for $22m

Avison Young has sold a Long Island City property consisting of five continuous lots for $22m to an LLC. Covering over 53,000 sq ft, the site includes a two-story 15,700 sq ft retail building, a 10,000 sq ft warehouse and three parking lots with current zoning allowing for over 69,000 buildable sq ft.

Turnbridge Equities Builds Multibillion-Dollar Portfolio in Long Island City and Beyond

Turnbridge Equities, the real estate investment firm founded in 2015 by Andrew Joblon and Ryan Nelson, has amassed a $2bn-plus portfolio through a mix of chutzpah and calculation. The firm has remained asset class-agnostic, building logistics centres, hotels, offices, multifamily and retail with equal zeal, and sees Nashville's 12 South as the next Music Lane, its Austin-based project, which Turnbridge assembles in four years.

1K Dream Room: Transforming a Long Island City Studio for $1,000

Host Will Taylor transformed a Long Island City studio apartment for just $1,000 on an episode of 1K Dream Room, adding bold wallpaper patterns, a pop of burnt orange, a checkered area rug, and a linen partition curtain to create separation between the bedroom and living areas. The finished space left the resident feeling safe, at home, and cozy.

Amazon Pauses HQ2 Construction in Virginia, Cancels Part of LIC Project Amid Criticism

Amazon has paused the construction of its second headquarters in Virginia due to slowdowns in consumer and corporate spending, with the timeline of the construction pause still in question. The company still expects to open the first phase of the headquarters, Met Park, in June, but it canceled a portion of the project in Long Island City, New York in response to criticism from community activists and officials.

Illegal Vacation Rentals on the Rise in LA, While Fines Decline: A Warning for Long Island City

The number of illegal vacation rentals in Los Angeles rose 25% between November 2021 and October 2022, with the city issuing 54% fewer warning letters and handing out 85% fewer fines, according to a report by Better Neighbors LA. The city has a $500-per-day fine for those breaking home-sharing ordinances, although only $57,000 was levied in 2022 and hosts have paid just $9,800 of that total.

Compton's Sandwich Shop Expands to Greenpoint, Bringing Award-Winning Menu to Brooklyn from LIC

Astoria-based sandwich shop Compton's is set to open its third location in Greenpoint at 99 Franklin Street, the former location of another sandwich shop with the same name. The restaurant has been awarded the title of the best sandwich shop in Astoria for the past two years and is popular for its extensive menu that includes cold subs, hot subs, wraps, burgers, breakfast sandwiches, salads, sides, and small bites.

New affordable housing initiative proposed for Long Island City and Midtown Manhattan

New York City officials are considering converting unused office space into affordable housing in an effort to tackle the city's worsening housing crisis. The move could produce around 20,000 new apartments to house 40,000 people, with potential sites for conversions including parts of Midtown Manhattan and Long Island City.

🗳️ Politics

LIC Retail Workers May Soon be Protected By a New Felony Law

New York legislators are introducing a bill that would make it a felony to assault retail workers, putting them in the same protected category as cops and firefighters to combat the city's shoplifting problem. The move follows demands from Collective Action to Protect our Stores, which represents nearly 4,000 independent grocers, and comes after incidents such as the brutal attack on Queens bodega clerk Andy Mendez, as violence has escalated across the city.

Contrasting Headlines: Political Investigation of Congressman Santos and Fresh Dog Food Delivery in LIC

The House of Representative's Ethics Committee is investigating Queens and Long Island City Congressman George Santos for possible illegal activities in his 2022 campaign. Meanwhile, Lucky Dog Cuisine is offering fresh, human-grade dog food delivery in LIC to satisfy your pup's cravings for something other than dry kibble.

LIC Plays Key Role in LIRR’s East Side Access to Grand Central Project Finally Commencing Service

After decades of planning and construction and over $11 billion spent, LIRR's East Side Access to Grand Central commenced service, with LIC as one of the transfer stations. The project was delayed multiple times, with costs increasing throughout, and numerous additional projects were required to support operational capacity.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Plans to Invest $7 Million to Upgrade Quisqueya Plaza and Create Vibrant Public Spaces Across All Five Boroughs, Including Long Island City

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a $7 million investment to fund upgrading of Quisqueya Plaza in Washington Heights and is committed to creating vibrant new public spaces in all five boroughs with his $375 million plan. The plan aims to support local small businesses and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers, including those living in poverty, across the city, not just in areas such as Long Island City or Midtown.

LIC's Mount Sinai Queens to Receive $1.5 Million Funding for New ICU, Providing Critical Care Services to Borough Residents.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has allocated $1.5 million in funding to create a larger ICU at Mount Sinai Queens to meet the growing need for critical care beds in the borough, especially in Long Island City where Queens residents no longer have to travel over the East River for complex medical and surgical services. The new 22-bed ICU will become a destination, eliminating the need for residents to go to Manhattan for such treatment.

Kevin O'Leary Slams "Uninvestable" Long Island City due to High Taxes and "Insane" Policies

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary criticized Democrat-run blue states such as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California, calling them "uninvestable" due to high taxes and "insane" policies. O'Leary also brought up Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's feud with Amazon, which led to the company canceling its plans for a Long Island City headquarters and the loss of thousands of potential jobs.

👗 Fashion

LIC Residents Can Save on Amazon's Bestselling Blackout Curtains for Energy Efficiency and Style with Sea Teal Option Available.

Save on Amazon's bestselling blackout curtains and your energy bills with discounts on all sizes and colors of curtains, including the beautiful Sea Teal, perfect for those who work graveyard shifts or have east-facing windows in their LIC apartments. With over 26,000 perfect-scoring reviewers touting their thickness, softness, and ability to block even the brightest sunshine, these curtains also impede 85-99% light and UV rays, provide maximum privacy, dampen exterior noise, and serve as thermal insulators, saving you energy and money.

💰 Finance

Former Atlantic Bank President Joins Alma Bank as Senior Advisor in Long Island City

Nancy Papaioannou, former President of The Atlantic Bank Division of New York Community Bank, has been appointed as Senior Advisor at Alma Bank in Long Island City. In her new role, she will focus on business development and relationship growth for the New York State chartered community bank with over $1.3 billion in assets.

🎭 Performing Arts

SUSS brings Ambient Country to Long Island City's Culture Lab in Four-Night Series.

Long Island City's own ambient country band SUSS will perform a four-night concert series at Culture Lab this spring from March 31 to April 21, featuring all four sides of their self-titled LP. The 12,000-square-foot warehouse, which hosts two fine art galleries, an 80-seat theater, and an 18,000-square-foot outdoor venue, provides space, resources, and a sense of community for New York artists and audiences.

Queens Short Play Festival Shines a Light on Long Island City's Independent Theater Community at Secret Theatre in Woodside

The ongoing Queens Short Play Festival at Secret Theatre in Woodside features 150 one-act productions grouped into heats of seven to eight, with audience members voting on their favorites. Founder Richard Mazda believes the festival is a boost for the independent theater community, with one-act festivals having roots in the company's Long Island City days before shutting down during the pandemic.

🖼️ Art

Exploring Culture and Community: Michael Queenland's Latest Works on Display in LIC and London

Michael Queenland's second solo exhibition at Maureen Paley, London features new works produced for the show, including assemblages examining cultural and communal forms. Queenland's previous work includes the 2019 exhibition Searching the Sky for Rain at Sculpture Center in Long Island City.

Exploring Isamu Noguchi's Colorful Akari Light Sculptures in Long Island City

Isamu Noguchi's Akari light sculptures are well known for their minimalist design, but it turns out that some of the 170 iterations currently in production have added printed flourishes of color or pattern, making them less pure in their minimalist aesthetic. Dakin Hart, senior curator at the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, notes that these printed versions achieve both cultural specificity and the timeless, placeless universality of Noguchi's best work.

Adam McEwen’s Obituary Portraits of Living Celebrities Shine in LIC Studio and Gagosian’s London Exhibit

Adam McEwen has revived his series of chromogenic print obituaries of living celebrities for the first time in over a decade at the Gagosian’s London outpost, featuring Dolly Parton, Grace Jones, David Hammons, Greta Thunberg, and Lewis Hamilton, amongst others. The obituaries, which are McEwen’s unique form of portraiture, are aimed at highlighting the lies of capitalism and are accompanied by McEwen’s other works of art in his studio in Long Island City, Queens.

River of Life Tiffany Windows to Shine in Long Island City's Neustadt Museum After Restoration

The Allentown Art Museum has acquired two River of Life Tiffany Windows from the United Presbyterian Church in Pottsville, which will undergo restoration before exhibition in a specially prepared space. The windows will be shipped to Long Island City's Neustadt Museum for restoration before going on display.

From LIC to Chicago: Jessi Reaves' Bold Sculptures Take the Art World by Storm

The Arts Club of Chicago is currently exhibiting sculptor Jessi Reaves' irreverent and visually complex works, which often begin with found furniture and toy with functionality. Reaves' recent solo exhibitions include Now Showing: Jessi Reaves at SculptureCenter in Long Island City.

Long Island City: A Thriving Neighborhood in Queens, New York

No output. The given articles do not mention Long Island City or LIC.

🌲 Random

• LIC Residents Advised to Use Caution During Winter Storm Despite Alternate Side Parking Suspension and Subway Delays
• Urgent Need for Blood Donors in Long Island City: New York Blood Center Calls for Help
• LIC's Hoyt Playground chosen as testing site for NYC's new public toilets
• St. Patrick's Day festivities in Queens: From parades to pub crawls in LIC
More:
qns.com/2023/03/2023-st-patricks-day-parades-events-across-queens/
• Rocco's Italian Sausage expands beyond Long Island City with suburban success and new Bucks County location
• Equinor and bp to Transform Astoria Gas Turbines Site in LIC into Renewable Energy Converter Station
• Long Island City Gears Up for New Target and Expanded Astoria Bookshop
More:
patch.com/new-york/astoria-long-island-city/astoria-bookshop-relocate-bigger-space-spring
• March Fun in LIC: Women's History Month, St. Patrick's Day, and More!
More:
qns.com/2023/03/2023-st-patricks-day-parades-events-across-queens/
• From Long Island City to Tampa: How Sankul Seth Found Success in IT
• Queens Councilmembers Rally for Increased Safety Measures in Long Island City After Tragic Death of 7-Year-Old Naadhun Dolma

✅ What Happened

Astoria Food Pantry hosts fundraiser for Long Island City families in need

The Astoria Food Pantry, which faced a slowdown in donations this winter, will host a fundraiser at the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing to support their efforts in feeding underserved families in Long Island City. The event will feature live music performances and will go towards recouping some of the losses the food pantry had during the winter.

🏀 Sports

CityPickle Brings Air-Conditioned Pickleball and More to LIC

CityPickle, a new facility featuring four air-conditioned pickleball courts, a restaurant, and a bar, is set to open in Long Island City later this year. The 10,100 square foot facility located at The Woodworks will also include a store for CityPickle merchandise and offer instruction classes for residents of all skill levels.

Long Island City's Ian Strong Commits to Rutgers, Adds to Growing List of NYC Football Talent

Sarasota safety Teddy Foster received an offer from USC and has a long list of offers from schools like Tennessee, Rutgers, and North Carolina. Additionally, safety Ian Strong from St. Anthony's in Long Island City committed to Rutgers, joining two other New York athletes.

Delmi Exo Takes on Taya Valkyrie for MLW Women's Championship in Long Island City's War Chamber

Delmi Exo will challenge Taya Valkyrie for the MLW Women's Championship at MLW War Chamber on April 6 at the Melrose Ballroom in Long Island City. The event will also feature appearances from several MLW wrestlers and personalities.

Shore Conference Girls Compete in NJSIAA Wrestling State Championship, Long Island City Fans Excited for Memorable Event

Four Shore Conference girls, including sisters Jayla and Jade Hahn, have advanced to the NJSIAA Girls Wrestling State Championship finals taking place on March 4 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, preceding the boys' state championship bouts. The Hahn sisters and two other girls from the Shore Conference will compete in the tournament final, while wrestling enthusiasts from Long Island City anticipate a memorable event.

👩‍🎓 Education

Long Island City Graduate Becomes First Muslim-American on NYPD's Handschu Committee

Muhammad Faridi, a graduate of CUNY Law School in Long Island City, has become the first Muslim-American to serve on the NYPD's Handschu Committee in New York City, which regulates police policies and practices regarding the investigation of political activity. Faridi is a partner in the litigation department of the law firm Patterson Belknap and has devoted a substantial part of his legal practice to pro bono work, including the representation of refugees, death row inmates, and children with disabilities.

🤔 Opinion

Challenges of the Carter Presidency and a Call for Improved Restroom Access in Long Island City

Readers remember former President Jimmy Carter as a good man but acknowledge the challenges of his presidency, particularly high inflation and the oil crisis, leading to his defeat by Ronald Reagan. A Voicer calls for better public restroom access in New York City, citing the difficulty of finding a place to use the restroom, particularly for those with medical needs.

Addressing Shoplifting and Violence in Long Island City: Towards a Culture of Peace

Shoplifting continues to be a major issue for businesses, with some taking measures such as employing security guards and K-9 unit dogs to combat the problem. Meanwhile, a writer from Long Island City calls for a shift towards a culture of peace and non-violence, stating that a lack of regard for human life is at the root of many violent acts.

📰 In Other News

Protecting Marine Life During Offshore Wind Farm Construction: New Monitoring and Research Initiatives

As dead whales continue to wash ashore on the US East Coast, officials and academics are planning a wide array of monitoring and research to prevent harm to marine life during construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Among the initiatives is the placement of listening devices on the ocean floor and the use of undersea gliders to detect the presence of whales and other marine mammals in specific areas. (Note: There is no mention of Long Island City in the original article, so it cannot be included in the shortened version.)

New LIRR Schedule Brings Mixed Reviews for Commuters in Long Island City

The new Long Island Rail Road schedule, which includes Grand Central Madison, has caused some commuters to struggle with transfers and longer commutes. However, for others, like commuter Chris Bear, the additions have improved their commutes, leaving later from home and finding it more convenient, even for those not accessing Manhattan's east side through the new station.