Monday, September 29, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
Vote for local makers in Martha Steward contest
Maker in Long Island City Participated in Martha Steward American made contest and need your vote to win this year's competition! Click on each company to vote daily through October 13 for this LIC- based finalists in the food and design categories.
Little bird chocolates
Buenos Angie's
Surname Goods
Noli Noli
Kirby & Kraut
sources & credit
Kirby & Kraut
Kirby & Kraut began making fermented foods in August of 2011, with facilities in Long Island City, NY. They are dedicated to provide recipes and resources for food enthusiasts interested in preparing pickles, preserves and fermented foods at home.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Noli Noli
NOLI NOLI products are thoughtfully handcrafted from up-cycled and regional hardwood fashioned into whimsical, sturdy and toys. The Noli Noli collection features distinctive eyes, which were inspired from the evening catch in the fishing village of Noli along the Ligurian coast of Italy. the creator of these toys takes the name of the fishing village "Noli" and add another "Noli" to it and you get a popular Japanese expression for something you are very happy with. “Noli Noli”
Noli Noli work space is just under a 1000 square feet in Long island city.
Noli Noli pieces are proudly made in the USA of sustainable, regional or up-cycled wood. The modesty of the design is focusing on using fine, local materials and loving craftsmanship making items high quality and unique.
Surname Goods
Surname Goods Inspired by bicycles, nature, and the buzz of the city that surround, They are committed to creative reuse and the pursuit of functional design through ethical materials. All the hand crafted wood products are made entirely from reclaimed wood sourced in NYC and upstate New York. Surname Goods had its humble beginning in a dingy Brooklyn basement in 2011. In 2012 they moved their shop to a real commercial space in Long Island City, Queens.
Buenos Angie's
Buenos Angie's Founder and CEO Angie was born in Queens, New York and raised on Long Island.She decided to start her business after having spinal surgery, she works at The Entrepreneur Space (QEDC) in Long Island City,NY. Always having a deep interest in baking, she attended and graduated (with her words) from the "Culinary Academy of my Momma". Her alfajores are 100% approved by Argentinians.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Little Bird Chocolates
Little Bird Chocolates is a small, family owned chocolate business based in Long Island City,NY. They specialize in Candied Jalapeños - tossed with sugar or fully enrobed in glorious chocolate.
They use a kitchen incubator established by the local economic development council (QEDC),
their chocolate have the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and salty.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Jora restaurant
JORA HITS THE JACKPOT
LICqueenstv food writer Eso Romero
Open for almost two months, Jora is Peruvian cuisine done well. On the corner of 48th Avenue and 11th Street, the restaurant is stylishly decorated with modern touches and a splash of Inca influence. If you’re just looking for after work drinks, there’s a bar in the back of the restaurant with a separate entrance, specializing in Peruvian pisco.
We arrived a little before six o’clock on a Sunday for a date night (sans kids), shortly after it opened. The menu was simple and straightforward: appetizers and entrees on the front, drinks on the back. They served complimentary fresh plantain chips with green aji sauce, which had subtle spice and great flavor. I would have happily taken home a jar of that sauce! It was much later that I realized that hiding underneath the plantain chips were enormous Corn Nut-like kernels, possibly lightly toasted hominy. The aftertaste was a bit dry, even with a quick dunk in the aji sauce.
A few tables were filled, and the number of servers outnumbered the customers in the beginning. As we munched on the plantain chips and sipped our Malbec, we felt a tad uncomfortable with the servers standing around, hovering. Loved the attention but it would’ve been better if they were not lingering so close to our table.
For our appetizer, we ordered the rocoto relleno, a hot relleno pepper stuffed with ground beef, hard-boiled egg bits and chopped raisins, topped with melted salty cheese and seated upon peanut black mint sauce. Wow! This dish packed a punch. If you can handle some heat, this dish is for you. Beyond the heat are complex layers of flavors, both sweet and savory. My husband named this dish as the best appetizer he’s had in NYC so far. (Mind you, we’ve only been here for 2 months.)
My husband ordered the bistec a la chorrillana for his entree. The bistec was grilled medium rare as requested, which more often than not ends up medium. Nicely caramelized onions and sauteed tomatoes rested upon the steak, contributing to a perfect bite. Tacu tacu style rice accompanied the skirt steak. A fried egg lay on top of the rice, cooked over-easy to allow the yolk to sink into the rice upon the first stab of the fork. The rice itself was a bit overdone and mushy.
My dish, the seco de cordero, was excellent. The braised lamb shank was tender, but all the more tasty with the amazing cilantro aji panca sauce. I only wish there were more sauce to dip each bite of lamb. The rice and beans were perfectly seasoned. To balance the heaviness of the dish, there was also a vinegared red onion and tomato garnish that refreshed my tastebuds between bites. Truly, that sauce was the star of the dish, bringing together all the flavors with much gusto.
Would I return? Absolutely. It’s a special occasion kind of place, but the atmosphere is family-friendly, service was good and the food was incredibly flavorful.
LICqueenstv food writer Eso Romero
Open for almost two months, Jora is Peruvian cuisine done well. On the corner of 48th Avenue and 11th Street, the restaurant is stylishly decorated with modern touches and a splash of Inca influence. If you’re just looking for after work drinks, there’s a bar in the back of the restaurant with a separate entrance, specializing in Peruvian pisco.
We arrived a little before six o’clock on a Sunday for a date night (sans kids), shortly after it opened. The menu was simple and straightforward: appetizers and entrees on the front, drinks on the back. They served complimentary fresh plantain chips with green aji sauce, which had subtle spice and great flavor. I would have happily taken home a jar of that sauce! It was much later that I realized that hiding underneath the plantain chips were enormous Corn Nut-like kernels, possibly lightly toasted hominy. The aftertaste was a bit dry, even with a quick dunk in the aji sauce.
A few tables were filled, and the number of servers outnumbered the customers in the beginning. As we munched on the plantain chips and sipped our Malbec, we felt a tad uncomfortable with the servers standing around, hovering. Loved the attention but it would’ve been better if they were not lingering so close to our table.
For our appetizer, we ordered the rocoto relleno, a hot relleno pepper stuffed with ground beef, hard-boiled egg bits and chopped raisins, topped with melted salty cheese and seated upon peanut black mint sauce. Wow! This dish packed a punch. If you can handle some heat, this dish is for you. Beyond the heat are complex layers of flavors, both sweet and savory. My husband named this dish as the best appetizer he’s had in NYC so far. (Mind you, we’ve only been here for 2 months.)
My husband ordered the bistec a la chorrillana for his entree. The bistec was grilled medium rare as requested, which more often than not ends up medium. Nicely caramelized onions and sauteed tomatoes rested upon the steak, contributing to a perfect bite. Tacu tacu style rice accompanied the skirt steak. A fried egg lay on top of the rice, cooked over-easy to allow the yolk to sink into the rice upon the first stab of the fork. The rice itself was a bit overdone and mushy.
My dish, the seco de cordero, was excellent. The braised lamb shank was tender, but all the more tasty with the amazing cilantro aji panca sauce. I only wish there were more sauce to dip each bite of lamb. The rice and beans were perfectly seasoned. To balance the heaviness of the dish, there was also a vinegared red onion and tomato garnish that refreshed my tastebuds between bites. Truly, that sauce was the star of the dish, bringing together all the flavors with much gusto.
Would I return? Absolutely. It’s a special occasion kind of place, but the atmosphere is family-friendly, service was good and the food was incredibly flavorful.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Hotel permit
38-42 11th Street, Long Island City
On september 17th 2014 , filings went up for another hotel, coming to 38-42 11th Street, mid-block between 38th and 40th Avenues, located directly north of the Queensbridge Houses NYCHA project.
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| credit:google maps/yimby |
According to the permit application, the new structure would rise 10 stories and 113 feet, and contain 133 rooms. The developer is Ian Cheng, and the architect is Think Architecture and Design
ID NYC
Municipal ID
Starting January 1st 2015, every New Yorker can get a municipal ID. That's not all you'll get....
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| Credit:cityofNY |
It will be a passport to many of the city’s best cultural institutions:
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
LIC Courthouse
Date Built: 1872-1876; 1904-1908
The Long Island City Courthouse is located near the corner of Thomson Avenue and Court Square.
In 1870, before the 1898 consolidation with New York City, the Queens county seat moved from Jamaica to the newly-formed township of Long Island City, which was near all of the train lines. Long Island City was made up of the towns of Astoria and Newtown.
The Long Island City Courthouse was built between 1872 and 1876, with delays, scandals and cost overruns. At two-and-a-half stories, built of brick and granite in the French Second Empire style, it became one of the most important buildings in Queens. It was designed by Massachusetts architect George Hathorne.
On the inside, a grand marble staircase rises up to wood-paneled hallways and courtrooms on three floors. A parking garage built at the rear of the courthouse in the late 1980s, replaced a jail that had been built after the 1908 reconstruction.
The building was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1976. It is also listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
credit:NYCpublicbuildingportofolio
Meet Lyla Tov monsters!
Meet the creators of Lyla Tove Monsters Sunday, September 21, 2014 - 2:00pm.
Location: Tyni You 10-50 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY, 11101
Location: Tyni You 10-50 Jackson Avenue Long Island City, NY, 11101
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| Image credit:lylatov.com |
Meet the creators of Lyla Tov Monsters! The Queens couple will be at Tiny You Children's Boutique 10-50 Jackson Avenue on September 21st at 2:00 p.m. to do a book reading and a signing afterwards. Those who attend will receive a free giveaway. The adorable monsters and books will be available for sale.
Outdoor film
The LOTLIC music & films series
August 2- September 20, 2014
Music every Saturday 3:00-9:00pm
Film every Thursday 6:00-10:00pm
Full Program schedule
LIC Burgers
Writer for LICqueenstv Daniel Sennet
It seems like everyone and their brother has an opinion about the best burger in the city these days. Just typing in “Best burgers, nyc” will give you pages upon pages of peoples’ lists. And in Manhattan, there are chefs putting the burger on such a high pedestal that eating one no longer becomes about the joy of something delicious, but about attaining the unobtainable, like driving a Maybach or winning the lottery. The DB Royale Double Truffle Burger at DB Bistro Moderne in New York is $140! Are you willing to shell that out? Luckily, we’re not there (yet?) in Long Island City. We still have classic burger joints that cater to those people, like myself, that are just looking for a delicious patty between two buns and to hopefully share that with like-minded individuals. With that in mind, I went out to try, compare and contrast the house specials at Long Island City’s three dedicated burger spots: Burger Garage (25-36 Jackson Avenue), Petey’s Burgers (46-46 Vernon Boulevard) and Corner Bistro (47-18 Vernon Blvd – and yes, it’s the same as the West Village historical location).
A true burger enthusiast is probably thinking that I’m an idiot (my wife will undoubtedly agree);
comparing the pub-style burger at Corner Bistro to the fast-food style burgers at Lucky’s or Petey’s is like comparing coffee to tea. Let’s face it though: both coffee and tea are delicious, and like these delightful beverages, these three burgers may appear at first glance to be dissimilar, yet each has a unique taste, serves its own purpose and deserves its place in LIC’s burgeoning culinary scene.
Burger Breakdown:
B.G Burger at Burger Garage is a 1⁄4 lb patty served with a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and the “B.G. Sauce.” Along with fries and a can of soda, total cost was $10.
Bistro Burger at Corner Bistro is an 1⁄2 lb burger served with lettuce, tomato, cheese and a heaping pile of bacon. $9.75 before tax, tip and not including fries.
The Petey Melt at Petey’s Burger is a 1⁄4 lb patty served between a buttered and pressed bun with two slices of cheese, a slice of tomato and their own version of a secret sauce. $5.00 after tax. Let’s start with the bun. I’m of the personal belief that a bun is like sauce on brisket: good meat doesn’t need it. However, if done right, a bun becomes like a tomato or a slice of onion: a good complement to the meat and perhaps not a necessity, but a powerful force that completes the package. Petey’s 1/4 lb patty is flanked by a perfectly moist potato bun that adds more than a hint of sweetness to the burgers.
The Bistro Burger is your typical sesame seed bun and Petey’s steals home by evolving our primitive notion of a bun into a grilled cheese. They take their normal bun, butter it up and press it in their panini-press so that it is extremely flavorful, crunchy and simply delicious. This round goes to Peteys.
Corner Bistro focuses solely on the burger meat itself and ensures that all of your attention is on the patty and not the accoutrements. It obviously prides itself on the simple. The meat is flavored with a bit of salt and pepper, AND THAT’S IT! What follows is that each bite is the same as the last: just divine. The earthiness of the meat, the fact that it’s char-broiled to ensure an even cook throughout and the chunky texture of the beef make this patty the best of the Long Island City Burgers. Petey’s burger is all but drowned out by the overly rich flavors of the grilled cheese sandwich in which it is housed. Once you dissect it and taste the patty, you’ll find nothing to write home about. It’s tasty, grilled on a flatbed but not really satisfying to a discerning palette. Burger Garage takes a giant leap ahead of Petey’s by using a blend of chuck, brisket & short rib. The fattiness of those cuts lends extra flavor to the patty and makes it worthy of a return trip. The common factor underlying each of these is that the quality of the beef is really high; each place prides itself on all natural, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat. It makes a difference.
Finally, the other stuff. By other stuff, I mean what else comes on the burger besides the meat. As noted above, the sandwich that is each place’s specialty is prepared somewhat differently. Petey’s separates itself from the bunch by not only creating a delicious grilled cheese, but by adding in sautéed onions along with its signature sauce. Corner Bistro ignores saucy additions and delivers a massive pile of thick cut, smoky bacon, fully melted and very high quality cheddar cheese and a slice of tomato with lettuce. Burger Garage was the only to put the pickle in the sandwich (Corner Bistro added it to the side) and included a signature sauce that was not markedly different than Petey’s, or Shake Shack, or McDonald’s. In fact, anyone can mix Ketchup with Mayo, add in one or two other ingredients and call it special sauce too. As much as the onions at Petey’s are important, when you toss bacon into the mix, you’ll always win and so big points to Corner Bistro for keeping to simple and creating the extravagant.
When push comes to shove, I’d much rather wait the extra 10 minutes and pay the extra $4 for the superior patty at Corner Bistro every day of the week. However, after a long night or to satisfy a fast-food cr.aving, I’d go to Burger Garage before Petey’s. Each spot is putting out delicious fare in their own right and each should be tried at your earliest convenience, if not for the simple joy in life of eating a good Burger.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Clock Tower in Long Island City
The Tallest building in Long Island City in 1927 Designed by Morrell Smith
Morrell Smith (1876-1947), was born in Springfield, Queens, New York. He was fluid in a wide variety of architectural styles, and was particularly active in the borough of Queens. He opened his first office in Far Rockaway, Queens in 1896. Starting in 1920, Smith developed an extensive relationship with the Bank of Manhattan, now Chase Manhattan Bank, by becoming the architect for their branch offices.
LIC Real Estate Directory
Avalon
2-01 50th Avenue
Long Island City, NY
Phone (718) 280-5375
website: http://www.avaloncommunities.com/new-york/long-island-city-apartments
Dream Property Group
47-46 Vernon Blvd
Long Island City, NY
Phone (718) 482-0222
website: http://dpgnyc.com/
Gantry Park Landing
50-01 second Street
Long Island City, NY
Phone ( 888) 379-8972
website: http://www.gantryparklanding.com
Modern Spaces
4742 Vernon Blvd
Hunters Point, NY
Phone (718)784-1110
website: www.modernspacesnyc.com
Nestseeker
4744 Vernon Blvd
Hunters Point, NY
Phone (718) 707- 0200
website: http://www.nestseekers.com/Offices/long-island-city
Silverman Realty
3235 47th Avenue
Long Island City, NY
Phone (718) 361-1515
Rockrose
4705 Center Blvd
Long Island City, NY
Phone (718) 606-1879
website: http://www.rockrose.com/residential/neighborhood/long-island-city/
TF Cornerstone
4545 Center Blvd
Long Island City, NY
Phone (718) 646-9440
website: http://www.tfc.com
The Maximillian
5-11 47th Avenue
Long Island City, NY
Phone (888) 471-0447
website: http://www.themaximilianlic.com
Art Locations Directory
Astoria Performing Arts Center
718-3937505
30-44 Crescent Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.apacny.org/
BrickHouse Ceramic Art Center
718-784-490710-34 44th Drive
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.brickhouseny.com/
Dorsky Gallery
718-937-631711-03 45th Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.dorsky.org/
Eduardo Anievas Studio
646-824-629210-15 48th Ave
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.eduardoanievas.com/
Fischer Landau Center for Art
718-937-072738-27 30th Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.flcart.org/
Green Space Dance Studio
718-956-3037
37-24 24th Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101Flux Factory
718-707-336239-31 29th Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.fluxfactory.org/
Fragmental Museum
47-10 Austell PlaceLong Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.fragmentalmuseum.net/
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
718-482-5151
31-10 Thomson Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac/
Laughing Devil Comedy Club
347-913-3845
47-38 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.laughingdevil.com/
Local Project
11-27 44th RdLong Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.localproject.org/
MoMA PS1
718-784-208422-25 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://momaps1.org/
Museum of the Moving Image
718-784-452036-01 35th Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.movingimage.us/
NEW YORK MINDED Gallery & Studio
(917) 615-580338-82 13th Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://newyorkminded.com/
Noguchi Museum
718-204-70889-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Blvd)
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.noguchi.org/
Radiator Gallery
347-677-341810-61 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.radiatorarts.com
Reis Studios
718-784-557743-01 22nd Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.juvenalreisstudios.com/
Resobox Gallery
718-784-368041-26 27th Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://resobox.com/
Sculpture Center
718-361-175044-19 Purves Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.sculpture-center.org/
Silvercup Studios
(718) 906-200042 22nd Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.silvercupstudios.com/
Socrates Sculpture Park
718-626-153332-05 Vernon Blvd.
Long Island City, NY, 11106
Website: http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/
Space Womb Art Space
917-670-134222-48 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.spacewomb.com/
Thalia Spanish Theatre
718-729-3880
41-17 Greepoint Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11106
Website: http://www.thaliatheatre.org/
The Chocolate Factory
718-482-7069
5-49 49th Avenue
Long Island City, NY, 11101The Creek and the Cave
718-706-8783
10-93 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.creeklic.com/
The Secret Theatre
718-392-0722
44-02 23rd Street
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.secrettheatre.com/
The Space
25-17 41st Ave.Long Island City, NY, 11101
Website: http://www.licspace.org/
Uncanny Valley
26-09 Jackson AvenueLong Island City, NY, 11101
Website: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyvalleynyc
Wills Art Deco Studios
718-706-037043-01 21st St.
Long Island City, NY, 11101
Monday, September 15, 2014
PUPPY Party
Square Wine 's Annual Puppy Party
September 25th, 2014
6:30-9:00 pm
Square Wine will be pouring wine to support NY Humane Society as well hosting booth from Positive Tails and other NYC Businesses
Long Island City Post Office A LANDMARK
The Long Island City Post Office in Hunters Point is a historic Post office building located at 4602 21st St in Long Island City. It's design can be described as colonial revival architecture and was built in 1928.
The building is a two story, symmetrically massed bluff brick building with limestone accents. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
For everyone living in zip codes 11101 to 11109 it is an easily location to walk to from our homes.
referenceNationalregisterofhistoricplaces
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| credit image: Queens library Archives |
Facts about the Landmark building locate at 21st and 46th Rd in Long Island City. Today know as MoMA PS1.
This building was built in 1892 and served as the first public elementary school in Long Island City. In 1963, it was closed due to low attendance as the surrounding neighborhood had over time changed to become largely a manufacturing neighborhood. The school, following the city naming convention, was called P.S.1.
It has continued to use its historic name PS1 and became art studios in 1971 lead by Alanna Heiss. MoMA PS1 continues to be one of the largest art institutions in the United States dedicated solely to showing contemporary art.
Dads take your child to school
Tomorrow, Tuesday September 16th 2014 is National Dads Take Your Child to School Day
Call your school for specific events!
Socrates Sculpture Park Fall 2014
ARTISTS: MATT CALLINAN, JORDAN GRISKA, MEREDITH JAMES, FITZHUGH KAROL, LILIAN KREUTZBERGER, ZAQ LANDSBERG, HEIDI LAU, AMANDA LONG, CHRISTOPHER MAHONSKI, KIMBERLY MAYHORN, ETO OTITIGBE, BRIE RUAIS, EDWARD SCHEXNAYDER, DAVID WILSON, DANE WINKLER.
Socrates Sculpture park
Socrates Sculpture Park has a full day of programs and it's free check the link for more information
GreenMarket, Performances, Kayaking, Workshops, Fitness, Cinema
Socrates Sculpture park
Socrates Sculpture Park has a full day of programs and it's free check the link for more information
GreenMarket, Performances, Kayaking, Workshops, Fitness, Cinema
Sunday, September 14, 2014
This Little Piggy Went to LIC Market… and Never Had to Go to Another Brunch Spot Ever Again.
Writer for LICqueenstv Daniel Sennet
It is inevitable that every conversation between New Yorkers turns to the topic of restaurants. “Have you tried [insert famous chef’s name]’s new restaurant?” or “Have you been to that new burger joint on [insert name of avenue here]”. And so it was one day while watching our dogs have more fun than we were having that the topic of LIC brunch spots came up. I was asked if I’d tried LIC Market, to which I replied in the negative. At that point, every head in the dog park turned to me and looked at me as if I was an alien. How could I not have tried LIC Market yet? Rarely is there consensus amongst so many people on such a contentious topic: this was the best brunch in LIC.
This was a situation that I rectified late on a very sunny Sunday morning. Not quite comfortable amongst its neighbors, LIC Market is flanked by old industrial warehouses just a stone’s throw from the 7 and G subway tracks. What really catches us off guard is the crowd of people waiting. This isn’t Good Enough to Eat on Columbus or Bubbe’s in Tribeca…. Was it? We enter to find a gracious host that casually informs us of the 30-45 minute wait. We couldn’t believe it. And then, we experienced a miracle, like a sun parting grey clouds, when we saw two spots open up at the bar. Done. We sit down on stools very close to the closed off kitchen but in front of the staging area for drinks. The hustle and bustle of the staff showed us that they were all aware of the lineup and the pressure and were handling it. And quite well I might add. They knew that they were in the brunch business, and it was a boon.
Taking a look around, there’s a comfortable harmony between a low-ceilinged homey restaurant with exposed brick (painted white) and some renovations no-doubt made to modernize the place, bring it up to code and into the 21st century. While we didn’t get to sit outside, there was a very attractive outdoor patio at the back of the restaurant as well as a main dining room. Total occupancy couldn’t have been more than75 people. We take note of the constant flow of dishes being rushed out of the kitchen, and immediately decide to come back for another brunch as well as dinner – everything looked damned delicious. This wasn’t your typical home cooking atmosphere. We could tell by the presentation of the dishes that the chefs took their trade seriously.
Eggs were not just eggs here. On offer was a "Dirty Rice" Frittata made with long grain rice and sauteed with chicken livers, chorizo, onions & peppers in an open face omelet. I personally ordered a dish called Shirred Eggs made with two eggs baked in braised green lentils with roasted zucchini, chorizo and manchego cheese. My wife ordered Slow Roasted Duck Hash: crisp potatoes, red onion, peppers, dried cherries & pine nuts with two fried eggs. I mean c’mon – this place wasn’t giving any of the other brunch spots a chance. Compete with duck hash… I dare you. Her meal was complete – perfectly tender potatoes with a lot of paprika; crisp and rich chunks of duck, partially shredded and exquisitely prepared and the mixture of the other ingredients made it just the most delightful of experiences. It would be impossible to have a bad day after eating the Shirred Eggs. Baked in a cast-iron skillet, the lentils were obviously prepared by someone with many many years under their belt. Throwing in small chunks of salty chorizo into the mix was just the right complement to the earthiness of the lentils. These dishes were rounded off with a tasty, if not somewhat watered down latte and a tender, moist and very inviting home-baked chocolate chip cookie for dessert.
At $33 including tax and tip, LIC Market is an approachable, well-balanced, warm and welcoming restaurant that sits very pretty amongst the other brunch alternatives in LIC. In fact, having gone to the some of the best that Manhattan has to offer, LIC Market competes strongly. The only thing I can say more is that I can’t wait to try their dinner. If LIC is characterized by restaurants like LIC Market, I can feel very safe in saying that this will become the next culinary destination in New York.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Sunday, September 28th 6:00pm
Paws and Pints
Paws and Pints
LIC Landing by COFFEED
New York city and the surrounding area now has an event tailored specifically to Dog lovers!
at Paws and pints events, You and Your furry friend can enjoy a drink and socialize with other dogs and dog lovers in the city. location: LIC Landing / Hunter's point Parks in Long Island City.
Last event Rock and Rawhide were excited to announced that LIC Dog Walk will keep a Drop off Box for donation at their location. If you have any goodies you'd like to donate to shelter pets,contact Jenny directly at Jenny@licdogwalk.com
Last event Rock and Rawhide were excited to announced that LIC Dog Walk will keep a Drop off Box for donation at their location. If you have any goodies you'd like to donate to shelter pets,contact Jenny directly at Jenny@licdogwalk.com
Silent Disco
Friday September 12th
Silent Disco Party
LIC Waterfront
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York City Council member Jimmy Van Bramer and NYC parks Queens Borough commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski introduced the first ever Silent Disco in Hunter's Point Park South Park in Long Island City. Over 1,000 people were dancing together on the LIC Waterfront with wireless headphones. This event was presented by the Lincoln Center
Silent Disco Party
LIC Waterfront
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York City Council member Jimmy Van Bramer and NYC parks Queens Borough commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski introduced the first ever Silent Disco in Hunter's Point Park South Park in Long Island City. Over 1,000 people were dancing together on the LIC Waterfront with wireless headphones. This event was presented by the Lincoln Center
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Old LIC
Then and Now, Long Island City 1921-2014
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| vintage image credit:oldNYC |
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| vintage image credit:oldNYC |
A recent and welcome attraction in Long Island City
LICqueenstv writer Eso Romero
A recent and welcome attraction, Local Finds Queens Food Tour is a culinary and cultural walking adventure in LIC. Sergey, the tour guide, was knowledgeable and a true professional, providing a good mix of food tastings and LIC history tidbits. The food tour portion was a carefully planned sequence of variety, beginning with a five-cheese mac and cheese at Sage General Store and ending with Rocket Fuel iced coffee from Sweet Leaf.
Our first stop, Sage General Store, has been around since 1997, originally a catering company whose primary client was Silver Cups Studios, where The Sopranos and Sex in the City were filmed. Sage has continued in its commitment to local purveyors with a farm-to-table menu. We sampled their famous mac and cheese, which earned a spot on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The five-cheese mac (fontina, swiss, goat cheese, aged Vermont cheddar and bleu cheese) was saucy and rich with a faint crisp. It was topped with finely grated bacon so the bacon taste was subtle. The serving in a small bowl was sufficient; a larger serving would have felt quite heavy. Every bite was somewhat different from another, with the bleu cheese edge popping up every other bite. We had the side size, but an entree size is available.
What I’d like to try next time: spit-roasted half chicken.
At the Woodbines Craft Kitchen, an Irish gastropub, I had my first encounter with Scotch eggs, a common picnic food in the UK. A Scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage then coated in bread crumbs, baked or deep fried. Our serving was halved and exquisitely placed on top of a drizzle of spicy mustard and fresh greens. The dish was well-seasoned and flavorful with a nice crunch to the coating. Scotch eggs are a perfect bar bite that would be a nice accompaniment to a cold beer.
What I’d like to try next time: fish and chips and truffle fries.
Our third stop was at the Vernon Blvd location of Blend, a Latin-fusion restaurant. The airy, open space is dotted with colorful prints of Latin American hot spots upon the walls. The tasting included two kinds of Colombian-style empanadas: carne (shredded beef) and espinaca y queso (spinach and cheese). These small stuffed pockets had a crispy and thick crust, not the flaky, buttery kind, but a crust similar to the cornmeal content of an arepa. I preferred the spinach and cheese, which had more complexity of flavors from the mild cheese and spinach bits.
What I’d like to try next time: mofongo con sofrito.
Next up was Alobar, a restaurant offering New American cuisine and an extensive whiskey menu. Upon entering one may notice the detail of the ceiling above the bar area, which is made of reclaimed wood from an old schoolhouse near Philadelphia. Such detail in the design contributed to the comfort-food experience. We tried a customer favorite, the maple bacon popcorn. This sweet and salty treat was coated with maple syrup and dotted with thick-cut bacon bits. It was a bit heavy with the syrup which tipped the flavor balance and made it difficult to eat with fingers, as one would normally eat popcorn. It may have been an off day in the kitchen, but I’d be willing to try it again.
What I’d like to try next time: homemade fettucini carbonara.
We moved on to a beverage tasting at Rockaway Brewery, one of three different breweries in LIC. Rockaway started in a backyard in Far Rockaway and now the business is growing, going from 16 kegs a week to over 60 most recently. All their beers are unfiltered and unpasteurized. We sampled their ESB (Extra Special Bitter), a twist on an English ale. It was smooth and not overly hoppy. I’m not a regular beer drinker, but I did enjoy the flavor profile of the ESB and would be interested in trying their other beers.
What I’d like to try next time: $6 4-beer flight.
Our final destination was Sweetleaf, a Critics’ Pick of New York magazine. Its original location is on Jackson Avenue, but we stopped at the Center Blvd location. The ambiance is a striking contrast to the high rise building it lives in, with its dark reclaimed wood decor and antique stylings. The Rocket Fuel iced coffee was a perfect end to the tour, an 18-hour cold-brewed coffee with chicory, maple syrup and milk. The first taste was smooth with no bitter edge. Despite the maple syrup addition, it was not too sweet; it was rich but mellow, with a complexity to each sip. I’d definitely return for the refreshing boost of Rocket Fuel.
What I’d like to try next time: strawberry puree tea.
Overall,Local Finds Queens Food Tour provided an informative and varied peek into LIC history and food offerings. Priced at $56 per person, the tour is priced a bit high for the experience, given the size of the samplings. Sergey’s vast knowledge of the area was impressive and tweaking the food tastings to match would make the tour more appealing
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Court square Flea
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| image credit: courtsquareflea |
12-6:00 PM
free, Location/transportation
Court Square Flea is an open air market based out of Long Island City, Queens. Here you can expect to find all sorts of flea and hand-made goodies from clothing to gourmet food and everything in between.
The market debuts on Saturday the 20th of September from 12 to 6pm at 22-43 Jackson Avenue, LIC. A second market date will follow on September 27th. Court Square Flea Market is brought to you by the creators of Astoria Market, the first artisan/flea market in Western Queens.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
BREADBOX CAFE, a former Autoshop
A Pleasant Surprise at Breadbox Cafe
LICqueenstv writer Eso Romero
It’s only four weeks into Breadbox cafe’s new dinner menu, which includes an eclectic mix of tapas, entrees, cocktails, wine and beer. Arriving on a Friday night with my kids in tow, I was especially happy to see a kids’ menu as well. It was a sparse crowd with only a few other tables filled, but I enjoyed the mellow atmosphere. It took me awhile to notice that the windows are actually beautifully transformed glass panels of two garage doors. The brick walls and mid-century wood panels complete the look.
We ordered the crispy calamari to start, which was coated with cornmeal batter and served with a garlic aioli. I found the aioli more similar to a tartar sauce in taste and would’ve preferred a stronger garlic flavor. I probably enjoyed the accompanying salad the most, with fresh arugula and a light vinaigrette. My main entree was the grilled skirt steak and frites. I ordered it medium rare and it came more on the medium side. The paired chimichurri sauce had the consistency of salsa, very different from the olive-oil based chimichurris I’ve had before. The flavor profile was still a refreshing accent to the steak, however. Again, as it was with the calamari, the accompanying salad was fresh, crisp and well-dressed.
One of my children ordered the typical mac and cheese from the kids’ menu. There’s no boxed mac here! It was made in-house with penne and a mix of cheeses. Needless to say, she was a happy camper. My other daughter and my partner were also quite happy with their meals, a short rib burger and the chicken cobb salad. My girls especially loved their different flavored lemonades, mint and kiwi.
It was a satisfying dinner that would bring us back. Although I could have done without the somewhat intrusive TV in the dining area, it was a family-friendly kind of place with attentive service and fresh food.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
First Ward School in Long Island City
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| credit image: Queens library Archives |
Facts about the Landmark building locate at 21st and 46th Rd in Long Island City. Today know as MoMA PS1.
This building was built in 1892 and served as the first public elementary school in Long Island City. In 1963, it was closed due to low attendance as the surrounding neighborhood had over time changed to become largely a manufacturing neighborhood. The school, following the city naming convention, was called P.S.1.
It has continued to use its historic name PS1 and became art studios in 1971 lead by Alanna Heiss. MoMA PS1 continues to be one of the largest art institutions in the United States dedicated solely to showing contemporary art.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Dutch Kills Klotheing
SATURDAYS AT 5-25 46th Avenue Long Island City, NY
10am-6:00pm
Free
Inspired by the history of Long Island City neighborhood and using public domain images and personal photos Dutch Kills Klotheing appeal to a wide variety of people from "Hipsters" to Grandpas and even "Hipsters Grandpas"
Friday, September 5, 2014
Yoga in the Park
The Yoga Room is bringing back this once a month free yoga classes at the Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. Bring a friend and a mat, come early to secure your spot and get ready to have some fun! This is a great opportunity to bring your Yoga Practice to the outdoors with a Manhattan backdrop.
Sunday, September 7th 5:30pm to 6:30 pm
Water test kit
You can request free kit through the Free Residential Lead Program to test your drinking water for high levels of lead. Lead usually enters drinking water when plumbing contains lead corrodes. Lead does not have any color or smell. You can file a water complaint if your drinking water is not clear (has color) or has an odor or smell. this kit is for use in private residences only!
You can order only one kit at a time, If you are a landlord who wants to order more than one kit for your building, you must make separate requests for each apartment.
Dog License
Dog License
All Dogs living in NYC must have a license from the NYC Health Department. Licenses must be renewed annually.
In addition to being licensed, guard and serviced dog must be registered apply for a Dog License, Download a dog license mail application for more information
All Dogs living in NYC must have a license from the NYC Health Department. Licenses must be renewed annually.
In addition to being licensed, guard and serviced dog must be registered apply for a Dog License, Download a dog license mail application for more information
LIC History
Long Island City neighborhood profile 1940
In 1943, 4 Newspapers published a 'NYC Market Analysis" with photos,maps, data & a profile of Long Island City,NY. Thanks to CUNY Graduate Center for recovering this document, it offers a unique window into Long Island City from another era.
Market Analysis excerpt: "Motorists from mid-town Manhattan enter Queens through Long Island City. This district is joined to Manhattan by the Queensboro Bridge and the Midtown Tunnel. Long Island City is almost surrounded by water and railroad yards. It is a big industrial center.
Pictures:
In 1943, 4 Newspapers published a 'NYC Market Analysis" with photos,maps, data & a profile of Long Island City,NY. Thanks to CUNY Graduate Center for recovering this document, it offers a unique window into Long Island City from another era.
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| contributed by CUNY |
1943 Statistics
Total Population-58,158 (larger than York, Pennsylvania, at that time)
Native white-41,798
Foreign-born white-15,835
Black-485
other races-67
2010 Statistics
Total Population-56,911 (a change of only 1,274 people in 70 years)
Native white-17,841
Foreign-born white-10,722
Black-7,405
other races- 15,082
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| contributed by CUNY |
- 36 Avenue looking west toward 30th Street
- Crescent Street between 33rd Av and 33rd road
- 29th Street looking north from 34th Ave.
- Freight yards looking north of 49th Avenue
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