Superbowl in Long Island City

Best Places to Watch the Superbowl in LIC
By Daniel Sennet

For those of you not having the male version of an Oscar Party, LIC actually has a wide variety of places to watch the game. There are three criteria for a successful viewing of the Superbowl: 
1) televisions (not just any, but the bigger, the better and HD, including sound), 2) Solid food and beers and 3) space to relax for the long haul. The third criterion becomes a moot point if the Giants or Jets were in the game, as you just want to be with the crowd. As neither of those teams put up a respectable showing this year, better to be comfortable and to enjoy the culmination of the football season.

Starting at the entrance to the 7 train on Vernon, you would probably have an easy time walking into PJ Leahy's, your typical sports bar, complete with low ceilings, dark interior, mediocre beers and mediocre food. What they do have going for it is the comfort factor, booths with individual tvs where you can easily settle in for the long haul, enjoy a decent burger, drink a bunch of beers and not break the bank.

A little down the street on 51st is Alewife, pretty much the complete opposite of PJ’s. This place is large (two floors) and boasts of a massive projection screen and 6 huge HD tvs. There’s no place within the bar that you can’t see or hear the game! They are known for their eclectic and massive beer list, as well as for a higher degree of pub fare. For example, it’s not just a burger here, but the “Alewife Burger” with Mizuna, roasted tomato, grilled onions… yet get the idea. This place will be packed on account of the excellent atmosphere to watch the game, so get here early and you’ll be able to grab a great spot to hunker down.

Going back to Vernon, you can find the perfect middle ground at Corner Bistro, the epitome of a burger joint. I’ve written about this spot before and I want to reiterate my complete and unabashed bias: it’s just awesome. Now, it’s not as big as Alewife, but the force is strong here, with taps that will satisfy beer snobs and traditionalists alike. It doesn’t have as large a pub menu as PJ’s, but really, what else do you need besides the best burger in LIC, nachos and chili? On space, I think you’d be fine to get here around 6 to settle into a four person booth. There are two large enough tv’s at opposite ends of the bar that will give you a good sightline to the game. Finally, nothing here is more than $10 or $12 bucks so you can spend some quality time without dropping a few bills.

On Center and 47th is Skinny's Cantina. Normally, I wouldn’t bother to mention this place, but to be honest, it ranks pretty highly on the criteria noted above. It’s a got a massive projection screen as well as quite a few tv’s at the bar. The food is solid, if not slightly pricey, and the drinks will do the trick if you’re not looking for a rare craft IPA.  There’s a high likelihood of excellent game-day specials to keep you ‘motivated’ throughout the game. There’s a ton of tables, but you might find yourself being rowdy sitting next to a family of four with two very young children. If you’re looking to be in a higher energy, if less traditional atmosphere to watch the game, go here and enjoy. You can probably even make a reservation to ensure yourself a spot.

The last spot on the list is John Brown's Smokehouse. Its BBQread my review, I know,read my review but if you wander towards the back, you’ll be surprised to see two pretty big televisions and a bar with eight very carefully selected craft beers. The benches and chairs won’t be comfortable for more than 2 hours, but the great beers and superb food more than make up for it. It’ll be cozy and likely a  fun place to hang out on account of there not being too many people to cramp your style.

Like any event, what makes or breaks it are the people you’re enjoying it with. Seeing as how the Giants or Jets, or don’t hate me, the Dolphins aren’t playing, I’m happy to grind out the game on my couch with a few neighbors and my dog, all of whom who are just as excited as me to gorge on copious amounts of chips, guac, salsa, sandwiches and beer. There’s no tv big enough, food delicious enough or space comfortable enough to make up for the people factor. Assuming you’re with good crew who want to go out to watch the commercials, oops, I mean the game, with you, my money would likely to go to Alewife if I was with my pool members or to Corner Bistro if I was with a few good friends that wanted to chill out.

See more restaurants options

Snow Day in Long Island City

Blizzard 2015

On Monday at 5:00 pm the blizzard is not here yet, winds reporting about 40mph right now.

5 top biggest snowstorms in NYC

"We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city.
-Mayor de Blasio

 "Likely to be historic amount of snow," but says Sanitation Department is prepared -Kathryn Garcia,Sanitation Commissioner

Here are the top 5 biggest snowstorms for New York City.

Indian Kitchen in Long Island City

Indian Comfort Food RAJ'S
by Eso Romero

Tucked away near the N/Q trains on Queens Plaza is Raj's Indian Kitchen. It is a small 4-table establishment with a connecting doorway to Gotham Fresh Foods and Subway, an unlikely partnership. I came at its peak lunchtime hours; a steady stream of diverse clientele eagerly waited in line to choose their ready-made entrees in a buffet line behind glass, served by employees. Customers ranged from corporate employees in suits to orange-vested construction workers to everyone in between.

The incredibly reasonable prices of the the Combo Lunch Specials were the main attraction, ranging from $5.99 for two mains, rice and naan to $8.99 for 3 mains, rice and naan. The buffet appeals to both the herbivores and the omnivores, offering chicken, goat or fish entrees as well as saag paneer, lentils and vegetables-only selections. They also offer a choice between basmati and brown rice.

My lunch companion and I each opted for Combo 2: Two Veg, Rice and Naan. I chose the Chana Masala (garbanzo bean) and Makhani Dal (black lentil), basmati rice and a chai tea. For the two of us, everything cost under $20. Quite a deal for the amount of food! I appreciated the simplicity of the meal in its bento box-like presentation, though I would have much preferred plates. But Raj’s is not that kind of place - no frills, straightforward and inexpensive.

My favorite was the Chana Masala. The flavor profile was complex with layers of savory spice, tomato overtones and perfectly cooked garbanzo beans. While the Dal wasn’t bad, it just didn’t have the same depth as the Masala. That said, my plate was still scraped clean by the end of the meal. The naan was the least impressive part of the meal as it is not made to order and sits inside a foil wrap. No crisp with this naan; quite the opposite, as the heat within the wrapper made every bite soggy. Was I still able to sop up the naan with delicious flavors of the Masala and Dal? Yes. The chai was a satisfying accompaniment to the meal, rounding it out with a subtly sweet and cardamom palate cleanser between bites.

While lunch was enjoyable, I hope to return at dinner time and order from their larger a la carte menu and explore items beyond the limited selection at the buffet counter. There are only a few Indian restaurants in LIC: Raj’s Kitchen, Aanchal and 5 Star Diner. Of the three, Raj’s is the most affordable and accessible. They offer free delivery and ordering online via Grub Hub, Seamless and delivery.com. When you’re in a hurry or strapped for cash, you’ll get more than your money’s worth for flavorful and authentic Indian food at Raj’s Indian Kitchen.

Rooftop Farm in Long Island City

Brazilian Live Music in Long Island City

Getting Juiced in Long Island City

Getting Juiced in LIC 

by Daniel Sennet 

It’s a New Year, and for many, the resolution of losing weight or getting healthy is still top of mind. There is an endless supply of information, blogs, magazines, commercials, people and media hammering all kinds of messaging into our minds about the right and wrong things to do to be a better version you. Personally, I think it’s all BS in that the amount of raw information is overwhelming, everybody has their unique set of facts and what’s right today is likely to be proven wrong tomorrow. I digress. Eating ‘properly’ and exercising are at the core of any healthy lifestyle (we all know that) and it is with that in mind that I visited a few LIC spots to sample their juices and smoothies as I explored my own desire to be healthier.

foodcellar/4-85 47th road

First on my list was Food Cellar, the all-too-familiar super market. Walking up to their smoothie counter that shares space with their coffee, pastry and bakery counter, I noticed what appeared to be a well-curated, but somewhat expensive smoothie menu. Amongst the various choices are the Soy Protein Vanilla Smoothie ($6.99) that was made with Vanilla yogurt, soy milk and protein powder and the Iron Fist Smoothie, made with blueberries, raspberries, soy milk, strawberries, chia seeds, protein powder, bananas and flax seed oil ($9.99). I went with the Protein Breakfast Smoothie ($6.99) that was blended with Acai berries, nonfat vanilla yogurt, peaches, bananas and juices.  Now, it was tasty, but pretty much anything can be made tasty with enough sugar (care of the juices). The texture was grainy and I was left wondering what I just spent $7 on. It wasn’t filling, so I couldn’t count this as a meal supplement and it wasn’t particularly healthy in terms of additives (like antioxidants or vitamins). My first impression was that particular drink wasn’t a good fit for Food Cellar. I’d be better off at a JambaJuice or my next destination on Jackson.

Natural Market/12-01 Jackson av.

And so, the next day, I ventured to Natural Frontier Market, a health food store at 12-01 Jackson Ave. (at the corner of 48th). This place epitomizes the organic, healthier food trend in a store, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the place offers a great alternative to Food Cellar in its selection and variety of staples. 

There is a dedicated smoothie & juice stand, which looked promising, but in reality, was somewhat of a letdown. Upon ordering a Tropical Tango smoothie, made with orange juice, strawberries, bananas and non-fat yogurt ($6.99, scratch-written over an older, and probably cheaper price), the second of two employees in the whole store went downstairs to grab the ingredients. At least five minutes later, the drink was ready, but in abundance. In fact, I was given two glasses for the overflow. The result was closer to a juice than a smoothie, dyed red by the strawberry, and noticeably less grainy than Food Cellar’s. Notwithstanding all of the above, the drink was very sweet, and again, probably miles away from being the healthy alternative to a traditional meal or snack. Perhaps some of the other offerings, like the Green Machine ($6.99), made with Soy Milk, Green Powder, Spirulina and soy protein powder, or the Mother’s Milk ($8.99) made with coconut water, coconut meat, avocado, raw agave nectar and ginger offered more nutrients for my dollar. Here’s the thing, if I don’t know what it is, I don’t want to ingest it. For example, what is ‘green powder’ or coconut meat (isn’t coconut a fruit)?

 Finally, the Paris Health New Direction store at 49-11 Vernon Blvd offered up my last hope. As I walked in, I couldn’t help but notice how unpretentious it was, how opposite it was in every respect to the counters at Food Cellar or Natural Frontier. This place was legit. Looking around, you notice a massive fridge with a (understated) broad assortment of commercial drinks and another fridge with nothing but raw ingredients. Upon ordering a Super Detox Smoothie ($5.25) blended with anti-oxidant berries, Acai, strawberries, bananas, blueberries and my choice of milk (skimmed, in this case), I was astounded by the fact that 95% of the blender was raw fruits; the remainder was the milk – no juice, no added sugar, and not artificial sweeteners. I think I had found the real deal. Then I started looking around the unassuming storefront and noticed upwards of 50 variations of smoothies, including an Oatmeal Smoothie, consisting of Flax seeds, oatmeal, soy milk, bananas and protein powder, or their version of the Green smoothie, consisting of spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, grapes and either water or aloe! The green coloring was explained! That was number 50 by the way. Not only was this an actual healthy smoothie, but it was delicious. Actually rich in texture, flavored by the fruits and not the juices and satisfying, owing to the proper ratio of ingredients to juices.

Unless you happen to find the unicorn (in this case, the Paris store), my quest yielded an interesting result to me: make it yourself. The best way to control your quality, your calorie count and your quantity is to just buy the ingredients and hold yourself to proper standards. Otherwise, you’re flying blind and likely to fall prey to an overly-juiced, deceptively-delicious calorie bomb that will undue your other efforts to live a healthy lifestyle.

Calling Artists-Singers-entertainers!!!

Calling all artists, singers, entertainers !!!

Would you like to show off your talent to our web and public tv audience? We'll promote you--at no cost to you!--and you'll get free publicity! Your appearance on our local community channel and LICQueensTV website will give you a great venue to entertain our audience--and bring YOU more adoring fans! (Yay!!)

Let's discuss the details: please contact us at LICqueenstv or directly Longislandcityqueenstv@gmail.com

Gantry State Park History

Rooftop Farm in LIC

Falun Dafa in LIC

Local Artists

Elinore Schnurr click here to see her Artwork

Long Island City Artists

Croissant Tasting

A Taste-Off: Where’s The Best Croissant in LIC?
byEso Romero

I love croissants. The flaky, buttery, crunchy, but airy kind of croissants. So where is the best croissant in LIC?

It’s a three-way duel: Caffeina Espresso Bar located at 44-02 23rd St, The Mill at 44-61 11th St and Carnelle Patisserie at 5-11 47th Ave.

Caffeina Espresso Bar is tucked inside the LIC Arts Center. A selection of pastries, sandwiches, salads and coffee is available and served by friendly employees. Frequented by regular customers, Caffeina is a neighborhood spot where the manager knows many people by name. Their pastry selection is provided by Balthazar Bakery in Manhattan. They have a classic looking croissant, moderately sized. Breaking apart the croissant is always my first test: seeing the cross-section of buttery layers. To my disappointment, the layers were not recognizable; it was quite doughy inside. Though there was a crisp and a crunch with each bite, there was definitely an absence of flakiness, a critical component of good croissants.

On to The Mill, a recent arrival and cute little cafe on the corner of 11th Street and 44th Drive. It offers typical fare of morning bites and coffee, as well as a few tables to sit and enjoy your warm drink on a cold day. There wasn’t a steady flow of customers as there was at Caffeina, but it was quite early on a blustery, snowy Friday morning. They have a more rustic looking croissant supplied by Amy’s Bread, which recently moved its bakery and company offices from Chelsea to LIC.  The cross section of this croissant is a striking difference to Caffeina’s. Pulling it apart, flakes and bits jumped out everywhere. That’s a good sign in my book. It was lighter and airier inside, with a crispy crunch on the outside. I couldn’t resist more bites of this one. 

Finally, the most recently opened one of the three: Cannelle Patisserie. They supply their own croissants, though they are not made on the premises. The original bakery is in Jackson Heights and was featured in a New York Times article a few years ago. Cannelle’s croissant had the most distinguishable layers of the three. There was an audible crunch and sweetness to the first bite. The inside was soft, with the layers collapsed into flavorful clumps.

Caffeina ranked last in the taste-off, much to my surprise. Given the reputation of Balthazar, I was counting on theirs being the best. There was no flakiness to the croissant and the inside was too dense. Cannelle came in second with a crispy exterior, and an airy, yet clumpy interior. Unfortunately, it was too sweet for my taste. The clear winner was The Mill. Theirs was the most buttery and flakiest of the three -- critical components. Having a plate scattered with flaky crumbs afterwards is a true sign of a good croissant. 

Winter in Gantry State Park

Tips To Sell Your Home

Tips To Sell Your Home on Your Own.

The Dreaded For Sale By Owner Agents Have a Love-Hate Relation

by Andres Soto
That’s it...you had enough! The broker you hired didn’t get the price you wanted or worse, no offers came in! Your home has been sitting on the market for six months and you won’t renew your agreement. Instead, you decide to take matters into your own hands and want to list the home yourself. This may not be your scenario. The other, which probably happens more often, is that you refuse to pay a broker's fee/ commission

For Sale By Owner. Four words real estate agents have a love-hate relationship with. At first sight of these words the real estate agents mouth starts to salivate. Their eyes begin to enlarge; they lick their lips while researching your address and contacts. Why? Because they want to sell your home! But by now you’ve been getting so many calls from agents “who want to help” and they don’t do anything other than annoy you with more calls. You then become frustrated and decide to write in the property description ‘NO BROKERS’. Hate might be a strong word but that's the point when agents turn from excited to angry.

I completely understand both sides of the FSBO views so I’ve written a handful of tips which, I hope, will help sell your home faster and for more money.

If You Don’t Use It, You Lose It.video/youtube 

Simply take 10 minutes to look around your home and you’ll come across items that you haven’t used, needed or touched in years. Go look now...seriously...I’ll wait...Throw them out! Or, at least, store the items you don’t use in neat decorative bins if you are going to keep them out or clear plastic bins if you are going to put them in a closet.  This means clearing, cleaning and organizing kitchen countertops, book shelves, desks, tables and closets. De-cluttering will help buyers concentrate on the homes main features and not the loads of knickknacks you have laying around. Providing a more comfortable environment and better showing experience for the buyer.

Do Your Homework
It’s important to understand the current real estate market. Is there an influx of homes similar to yours in the area that are "sitting"?  Why aren't they selling? Is it price, condition of the home, location?  It may very well be other factors. One action I strongly recommend all owners take is to attend open houses in the area.  I mean, if you are going to list the home yourself, you might as well take some time to learn what’s out there.  By doing so, you’ll quickly learn what your competition looks like and how your home compares to others.  You'll also sound very educated on the market when other buyers ask you questions and you're able to answer them.

Search the Web
The web offers many websites to help understand the market. Websites like PropetyShark.com (Link PropetyShark.com)  or StreetEasy (Link StreetEasy.com) will provide vital information such as last asking price, actual closing price and days on market to properties in your chosen area. Nearly all closing information is made available to the public yet some of these websites will charge for extra details.

Market Your Home Like a Pro
Yes, believe it or not, your home is a physical object that needs to be marketed correctly. Marketing your home is a major process which directly impacts the amount of foot traffic you receive and more importantly, the amount of attractive offers you receive. Take a minute and think about all the ads you see on TV, print and on the web that features food porn, sexy cars, or funny beer commercials.  Would you ever order a pizza pie if it looks like it’s being cooked in a garbage pail? (Wait, I hope your answer is no) So why wouldn’t you take the same consideration when selling your home? It makes me cringe when real estate agents take cheap and dark photos with their phone. I mean why on earth would an owner think that’s adequate? (Maybe you do enjoy garbage pail cooked pizza) It’s also just sad when homeowners do the same.

If you are going to take marketing your home into your own hands, please hire a professional photographer who is experienced in the real estate field. The fee to hire one can cost anywhere from $150 to over $1,000 for a shoot depending on their experience of the photographer and size of home. Trust me, it’s well worth the investment.

If you are not going to hire a photographer then please do the following when taking shots.

Clean and organize your home before you take any photos! When it comes to showcasing your home, buyers will judge a book by its cover. The dirtier your home looks the less likely anyone will want to view it. Simple idea right? But it amazes me how many people don’t do this. Many buyers have a hard time looking through all the clutter so having a clean and organized home will also show better when they are in your home.

All photos must show how spacious the room is. Take shots where the outcome shows how large the rooms, kitchen or bathrooms are. Nobody cares about your ugly shower head, or the molding by the floor. Okay, fine maybe someone does. But if there are specific features you want the buyer know about, tell them briefly in the description, or better yet, tell them in person during the showing.

Make sure that everything in the photo looks clean and neat. That means doing the bed when taking the bedroom shot. I get it, I hate doing my bed too. Also, make sure nothing is under the bed sticking out.  When it comes to the kitchen photo, please remove EVERYTHING off the kitchen counters. And no, nobody wants to see your dirty dishes in the sink. Thanks for asking. Do you have toys or knickknacks lying around the living room floor? Put them away and retake the photo.

Create a Floor Plan
Having a floor plan really helps buyers view the layout and flow of your home. Where can you find a floor plan of your home? Well, if it’s an apartment, your floor plan is in the offering plan. What’s an offering plan? Do you remember that large book of pages (thicker than a bible) given to you during your closing? You probably don’t. No worries, you can ask the agent you used to help purchase your home or ask a fellow neighbor to borrow their copy. A last option you have is to call management and ask nicely for one. Chances are though they’ll force you to purchase the entire plan. Offering plans average around $150. Also, if you do eventually sell the apartment it’s your obligation to provide a full offering plan to the buyer’s attorney. So you’ll have to get a copy one way or another.

If none of the above options are available to you then I recommend hiring a professional to draw the floor plan. Hiring one can cost you anywhere from $100 or more depending on how experienced they are and the size of your home.

Another option to find your floor plan, which is my least favorite method and strongly discourage, is going on a real estate website like StreetEasy to see if a similar layout has been used before. Note, there are copyright and other legal issues you will violate when taking this route. Again, I don’t recommend it.

Last but not least there are floor plan websites and phone apps where you can create your layout. You can easily do a Google search or find them on the iTunes market.

Advertise Your Home on the Following Sites
Now that you’ve got your photos, description (you did write one correct?) and floorplan, it’s time to upload them into websites. I recommend the following sites: 

StreetEasy.com
NYTimes.com 
Zillow.com

Showing Times and Open Houses
Buyers are typically going to want to see the property either after work hours or during open houses. Make sure you are available for both options. Open houses during the weekend should run between 1 to 2 hours. If you’re selling during the slower summer months I would suggest hosting a weekday open house during a Tuesday or Wednesday from say 6PM to 8PM.

How to Deal With Offers
Once you get offers the first step you have to take is to qualify the buyer. If the buyer is working with an agent, the buyer’s agent should have already taken care of this. Furthermore, if the buyer has an agent PLEASE let the agent be aware if you are willing to pay a buyer’s agent fee.

Let’s say the buyer has no agent. It’s your job to qualify this buyer. If you live in a Coop you should be familiar with what the Coop wants to see in the buyers financial statements after closing costs. You don’t want to sign a contract, wait 2-3 months for the board to review and end up having the board decline the buyer. That’s a waste of everyone’s time.

How to Handle Offers
Let’s say you get an offer at a price you hate. Don’t be offended by it. Instead think of it as a positive sign that buyers are:

Willing to make an offer and
You might have listed your home at the correct market value price

At the end of the day, the best case scenario is to make a win-win bidding scenario for all parties involved.

Pricing Tip
If you’ve listed your home now for over a month, have impeccable marketing tactics, know the market well by doing your homework and still received zero offers, chances are the asking price needs to be adjusted. 

Pay a Buyers Brokers Fee
Question: How many qualified buyers do you work with that want to buy your home? My guess is probably zero. Yes putting your home on the internet will help bring in buyers but the majority of buyers work with agents who they know and trust. By offering to pay a buyers agents fee, you’ll allow agents to show your home to their arsenal of buyers. Not to mention, if you live in a Coop or condo, the buyer’s agent will be in charge of completing the board package / purchase application. 

Getting your home sold at a price you love is an amazing feeling. It's a rush unlike any others. Just ask my previous clients link. I can only imagine how much greater that feeling is when you sell your own home on your own. If you are planning on or currently are taking the FSBO route I do hope this guide has helped you. There are a large amount of other tools and tips I'd be happy to offer. Feel free to contact me to get the conversation started. 

Work out in Long Island City

As the New Year begins, many people think about improving their lives and make New Year's resolutions. Do you want to lose weight and keep it off? For local residents We have some suggestions!



CRANK LIC
YMCA LIC
PNT FITNESS
CIRCUS WAREHOUSE
NEXUS LIC
THE CLIFFS LIC
THE YOGA ROOM LIC

Credits

Queens Council on the Arts Anniversary

 

Queens Council on the Arts (QCA) is turning 50 in 2016, but They are kicking off the festivities a year early!

Thursday, February 26, 2015, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

LOCATION

The Paper Factory Hotel,  37-06 36th St, Long Island City, NY 11101

Queenscouncilarts.org 

CELEBRATE

The next 50 years of nurturing diverse emerging artists and arts organizations in Queens.

Sculpture Center in Long Island City

Sculpture Center 44-19 Purves St.
Long Island City, NY

Puddle, pothole, portal and more
Olga Balema, Joachim Bandau, Camille Blatrix, Teresa Burga, Antoine Catala, Abigail DeVille, Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys, Judith Hopf, Jamian Juliano-Villani, Allison Katz, Mark Leckey, Maria Loboda, Win McCarthy, Danny McDonald, Marlie Mul, Mick Peter, Chadwick Rantanen, Lucie Stahl, Saul Steinberg, Keiichi Tanaami, Lina Viste Grønli, and Jordan Wolfson.

BLVD BAR

Wine Bar 
by Daniel Mencher

The place looks alright at first glance. The post-chic warehouse ceiling presides over a bare concrete floor and unassuming walls with no molding and the occasional piece of art that, though the image is clear enough, leaves one wondering what precisely one is supposed to be looking at. The low-hanging light fixtures are industrial, in a trendy way. The lighting is low, but one can see fine; similarly, there is a din, yet there is no trouble carrying on a conversation. There is a shiny new cappuccino machine in the corner.

No, I did not just describe a Starbucks – well, actually yes, I did, but the intended object was BLVD, a new wine bar on Center Boulevard right next to Shi.

First impressions are deceptively unfair, though, so let us consider the larger picture. It is true that the place does not, as some lounges do, scream “COZY!” with such emphasis that it is like getting hit in the face with a pillow. But at the same time, not everyone is looking to go out for an evening just to find himself in a public reproduction of his own living room. BLVD offers something perhaps more in tune with what makes for an appealing destination. The modern look; the layout that leaves the place neither crowded nor empty; the waterfront boulevard providing a pleasant view out the window; the choice among bar, tables, and lounge couches (which are in fact quite comfortable); the wall behind the bar packed solidly with a tremendous selection of wines from all over the world: these all combine to create an atmosphere quite befitting the blissful renaissance that Long Island City is experiencing, and in the midst of which BLVD opened just a few short months ago.

Speaking of the wines, which are ultimately the most important facet of the experience, the ownership has done a truly wonderful job. The menu is large (barely short of 60 diverse wines) and divided into sections both professionally relevant and appreciable by layfolk: house wines, bubbles, crisp whites, rich whites, light reds, and bold reds. And craft beer, too, so that different folks of different strokes can all hang out together under one inclusive roof.

The wines are top within the $6-$25 per glass range, and the staff combines a friendly, attentive attitude with a great knack for explaining the choices and recommending good ones. When they bring the wines out, even though a separate vessel carries the pre-measured volume of wine, they still carry the whole bottle along and offer it for inspection. A really nice touch.

Among the crisp whites, I was not especially moved by the Cantina Fratelli Pardi Trebbiano from Umbria, though that was the only wine I tasted that left me unsatisfied. It is aromatic, but not too flavorful. I found myself more partial to the Carabella Pinot Gris from Oregon, which takes to the terroir in the Pacific Northwest as though it were native to the region. By far the best of the rich whites is the Saffirio Langhe Bianco: at $16 per glass it is well worth the money, offering oak and sweetness that complement each other in a way I have never tasted elsewhere, a pleasant surprise that is a treat to explore. What a beautiful wine, my favorite of the evening.

The best light red is the Covila Rioja Crianza, an excellent example of Spanish viticulture that, at $10 per glass, is a phenomenal value. Unlike many inexpensive light reds, this Rioja does not lack whatsoever for nuance or character. Those interested in trying something new and different in this category should probably go for the Sablonette Le Bon P’Tit Diable Cab Franc. The server described this one as “funky”, which is a bit like describing outer space as “big”. Within the category of bold reds, the Kuyen blend offers typical Chilean notes and style for those into the region, and one just cannot go wrong with the Vigilance Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County California, which is flavorful, a little sweet, a little spicy, balanced, and thoroughly pleasing. A superb wine at $12 per glass.

All in all, the service, wines, and atmosphere made it easy to forget the shortcomings of the décor pretty quickly (though I still wish that the stools at the tables had backs on them so that I did not have to hunch forwards). Besides, décor is easily augmented. There is a patio out back, and by the time warmer weather comes around, BLVD expects to be offering seating and service out there. Other items on the horizon include the activation of the kitchen, so that small plates (think tapas) will appear on the menu. Twelve months ago the location was the lease office for the surrounding properties; in short order is has been made into an upscale modern wine bar.

The analogy, actually, is too compelling to ignore. Long Island City was once a rolling catalogue of abandoned warehouses and crumbling edifices, a total waste of a waterfront community. Now there is luxury housing, upscale shopping, fancy dining, and craft foods – a typical item at a local supermarket’s deli counter is gorgonzola tortellini in a walnut cream sauce. (I mean, really now!) Similarly, a space in which, once upon a time, the nicest object to behold was a desk calendar, is now a wine bar complete with a lounge and patio, and a staff expertly able to recommend the best of the dozens of high-caliber wines on the shelf.

BLVD is a great place in a great place, and we can all be thankful for what it represents.