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Bicycle parking of every stripe is popping up all over Long Island City. Have you been noticing those racks? There are an absolute ton near the train stations at Court Square and Vernon/Jackson (on Jackson Ave).
Check out this film about a recent cycle race in LIC. And tips for living the cycling life.
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Have a walking tour of LIC on this sunny Sunday as things are starting to thaw out for March.
Highlight was this rad little lecture hosted by some artists that have built a weather station in LIC.
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The slightly oddly named "medical" hangout is pret a relaxer. Balance Medical Spa is in action on 50th Ave. Not totally sure what that's all about....but hey, one presumes you can get a massage or waxing or something done. Details
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The City Vet is now open and doggie locals have been poking around to say hello. They do grooming too, though it's the same folks behind the City Dog Lounge and they're not always super-friendly (sadly). They are however the only game in town (on Vernon, next to LIC bar) and much desired alternative to trucking to Wburg or Astoria.
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The NYT recently rode the G train. Probably for the first time in years!
The G train isn’t like other trains.
Over the years, innumerable articles, blogs and forums have referred to the G train as the stepchild of the subway system. But that’s not quite right — it’s not the stepchild, it’s more like that unwanted drunk uncle everyone has. It’s embarrassing and awkward and doesn’t quite behave like it’s supposed to, but you keep it around because, well, it’s family.
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The sometimes curious cultural locations around LIC -- two of them on Jackson, one is the Slovakian gift shop and the others is the Irish Center -- are probably features of the convenience plus low cost of retail space we find in the neighborhood.
LICNYC finally had a chance to check out the Irish Center -- a nice place! Friendly! Lots of things for Irish and non-Irish folks to participate in. Particularly, they host lots of baby playgroups. Apparently Mondays 2-5 and Thursdays 10-1. Some of the Irish Center events.
PS the other type of riffraff attracted by convenience, industrial chic, and low cost space are the artists: there are two artists that have apparently taken up residence in former storefronts (the flower shop and the former "DJ shop" on Jackson near 11th street). Here is one of those artists (Sam Still)
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As holiday season reruns ran, LICNYC was reminded of the great Queens films of past eras. We all know the iconic rowhouse shots of the Archie Bunker opening or the recent Entourage "I am Queens Boulevard!!" from TV. But film has a long tradition of showing and adoring Queens.
Adam Sandler's "I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry" was VERY Astoria, but let's not spend time there.
Instead, the great and possibly greatest gangster film: Goodfellas.
Locations all over Queens and near LIC, including:
For example, here is where the young hero lived (not in Brooklyn!)
And anybody can find Morrie's:
More
The amazing tiki bar where they have the "you think I'm funny? tell me how I'm funny" scene is gone now, but you can always try King Yum in Jamaica -- which is even better. Must see. Details
Iconic Queens lives!
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As you scurry off to your holiday party, you've got lots of convenient choices to drop in on for supplies. A few years ago, when LICNYC had its first holiday party, the only option was the Liquor shop on Vernon near 50th. Now there is lovely Vine Wine on Jackson near 11th Street, Court Square near the Citi building, Hunters Point across from Communitea, and...well, who needs more than that.
By the way, how many journos does Talitha of Vine Wine know at the big papers...??
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You may not know it, but all kinds of lovely businesses hide behind LIC addresses. Apparently, Santa's workshop is here too. From the WSJ:
Unbeknownst to most consumers, is the year-round planning it takes to execute this explosion of retail cheer that lasts a few weeks before disappearing as suddenly as it arrived. In Manhattan, some of the highest-profile work is performed by a small Long Island City, N.Y., firm called Holiday Image Inc. With $10 million in projected sales this year, the company handles decor installation from start to finish for New York City stores including both Tiffany and Cartier (a unit of Switzerland's Cie. Financiére Richemont SA), Barneys, Macy's, and Fortunoff as well as office buildings and hotels such as the Essex House. It also works with large retail chains like Gap Inc. and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA's Sephora to create designs that can be replicated nationally.
"The way I see our business is not just as a Christmas decorating business," says Matthew Schwam, chief executive officer of Holiday Image. "We are a global sourcing business."
This "sourcing" for the Christmas holidays actually begins in October the year before, when Mr. Schwam and other company executives travel abroad to research the latest trends in holiday displays. Holiday Image taps more than 500 factories in nearly two dozen countries, including China and India. Some venues desire only a simple tree and a few wreaths in their lobby; that might run around $10,000 including installation, maintenance and storage from year to year. But other stores have more grandiose visions that can run hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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The very charming though odd Art-O-Mat has some nice stuff you can buy and give to your non-LIC friends to try to convert them to our religion.
Everybody likes chocolate!
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For the Columbus Day parade, the Italians like to strut their stuff. We think this Ferrari Testarossa sighting last night was the preparations. Little did you know that such hot stuff was parked on Vernon Blvd. (Lamborghini Countache too!)
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As posted in the forums, there is a park design in the works for this little street-end
Could become a reality. That's a really cool, quiet spot by the way in case you've never walked over there.
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Apparently these survey things work. The MTA did a survey and they found out exactly what any rider could have told you. The trains are too crowded!
Now this is a tough one to solve! There's only one big line going through the heart of Queens to Manhattan. The 7 is already the most frequent train, and the longest number of cars, and the bench format seating already accomodates the most total passengers...
The NYT reports that they are going to add more non-peak hour 7 trains (since they are already maxed out on peak frequency).
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Forgotten NY took a walking tour of everything old in LIC (via Curbed)
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From the Gantry Park
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NY1 has a video series on the past of LIC and how it got to be this way, embedded in their larger Queens series of late.
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It's fun to co-exist with the traditionally big LIC industries, like taxis and taxi insurance and taxi driver food joints.
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Keep an eye out when you head past the bridge to Roosevelet Island in Astoria.
You may see them working on the river power turbines.
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All the cool kids are riding bikes these days. Just try walking in Williamsburg without getting hit by one. Lucky you, though, because:
On Saturday, August 18, from 12-3pm, we are having a bike sale at our LIC location at the corner of 46th avenue and 5th street.
This event is the final project with our Summer Youth Employment Program participants. Six kids have been working at Recycle-A-Bicycle in LIC for the last 7 weeks to learn basic bike mechanic skills. They have also gained job skills and earned bikes for themselves with extra volunteer hours. As part of their curriculum, they have repaired bicycles and organized all aspects of a street sale to learn about retail. This program is operated in partnership with Henry Street and Jacob Riis Settlement programs and funded by the City of New York Department of Youth and Community Development.
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Long Island City-based Amie Street.com has an eye-catching proposition -- pay from 0 to 98 cents for a song download, based on its popularity. And now the company has an undisclosed amount of funding via a Series A round led by Amazon, announced this morning. -- from AlleyInsider
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New ones like this are peppering into the neighborhood. Replacing old ones like this:
Here is one of the new ones, on Vernon near 45th
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There are a few times of year -- summertimes mostly -- that everyone wants a friend in LIC.
The 4th is one of these.
When else...for Warm Up, for Water Taxi excursions, to go to Costco? OK maybe we're stretching. Discuss it in the forums.
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LICNYC supposes that if lightning is often like this over LIC, then maybe those Con Ed guys do have a valid excuse for blackouts. Source
That's the Citibank building getting hit in that pic, by the way.
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LIC's nearest outdoor pool (with water in it) is the one in Astoria Park. It is huge (330 feet long - the largest in NYC). It opens on 29 June. You can enjoy great views of the Triborough bridge while you cool off. For more information, check out: NYC Gov
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You probably knew that The Sopranos (which just wrapped) and Sex & the City were filmed right here in LIC at SiliverCup Studios.
Coming soon (currently filming) are Cashmere Mafia (Lucy Liu) and well they are currently doing 30 Rock which is hilarious.
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Rare sighting. Drawbridge up.
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It's big, green, sunny, and way underused. Where the pool oughta be. Apparently the pool opens June 29th...just in time for summer?
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You may not know there is a mega-FDR era pool in Astoria under the Triboro bridge. Just a 20 min bike ride from LIC proper. But it ain't open yet. Boo hoo.
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There is lots of coming-soon buzz about the D'Agostinos in one of the Queens West buildings and the Gristede's coming to the Arris Lofts building at Court Square. Almost as much as there is Fresh Direct activity around here, upgrades at the C-Town on 21st Street, and sheer throughput at the Korean on Vernon (will someone open another one already!).
But there's also another online grocer in the 'hood.
Apparently, an MBA whippersnapper has decided the world is big enough for two online groceries. This one is meant to be gourmet, social, and in all ways finer. And they push their groceries to you in carts rather than in door-to-door trucks (let's see how that works this hot hot summer).
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New. Just outside Grand Central.
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On the 'goodness' meter, City Dog Lounge is actually a very good shop. And therefore one of our favorite pet destinations. Especially for pet care like nail clipping and walking.
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