Brand New Long Island City Climbing Gym Shuttered Over "Dangerous …
The Cliffs, a brand new climbing gym in Long Island City, has been shut down by the Department of Buildings for its “dangerous conditions”—the very last phrase you ever want to hear in association with “climbing gym.” In Restaurant World, it’d be like finding out a cockroach in a chef’s hat is preparing your flan […]
Upscale cafe to open at Hunters Point South Park
Concession area at Hunters Point South Park Nov. 14, By Christian Murray The owners of a popular Long Island City cafe will be opening a waterfront concession in Hunters Point South Park in January. The new establishment will be called ‘LIC Landing by Coffeed’ and will be operated by the same eco-friendly team that owns […]
M. Wells Steakhouse makes its return to Long Island City
Photo by Joe Anuta M. Wells Dinette continues at MoMA PS 1 even though owners Hugue Dufour and Sarah Obratis have opened a new steakhouse in LIC. By Bill Parry TimesLedger Newspapers The long-awaited opening of M. Wells Steakhouse in Long Island City took place when owner Hugue Dufour invited friends, family and associates to […]
Avonte Oquendo search enter 7th week
NEW YORK (WABC) — It’s now been six weeks since the disappearance of 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo, who was last seen running out of his school in Long Island City, Queens, on October 4. Still, his family is standing by its vow to find him. Crews will be out again Friday to continue looking for him. […]
Building Dept. closes Cliffs at LIC, leaves owner hanging
Mike Wolfert Nov. 13, By Christian Murray It’s almost enough to push him over the edge. The owner of the Cliffs at LIC, a gigantic indoor rock-climbing center located on 44th Drive, was ordered by the Department of Buildings to close down his premises on October 25 after claiming that he did not have a […]
Beautiful Long Island City shown bare-bones
In an era when a camera can be at the ready within seconds and an image can be posted on Instagram with just a few taps on a cell phone, photography has become an “everyman’s pastime.” That being said, the ability to truly capture the essence of a subject beyond taking a close-up of your […]
League recap: Washington extends winning streak with victory over Long Island …
PSAL Cup recap November 13, 2013 Adding to the longest winning streak in PSAL Cup this week, Washington beat Long Island City 26-6. The victory was the sixth in a row for the Trojans. Washington scaled the state rankings by moving to 506 from 551 this week, the biggest jump in the league. The Trojans […]
Dynamic duo of food returns to Long Island City
Warga, Craig/NY Daily News M. Wells co-owners Hugue Dufour and Sarah Obraitis at the now-closed M. Wells Diner in Long Island City. The husband-and-wife team are opening M. Wells Steakhouse this week in the neighborhood. A boundary-pushing Queens restaurant that put the borough on the culinary map is back. M. Wells Steakhouse, a carnivore’s smorgasbord […]
M. Wells to open for friends tonight, public on Thursday
Getting ready for opening Nov. 12, By Christian Murray M. Wells, the acclaimed Long Island City restaurant that closed in the summer of 2011, will be opening its steakhouse this evening. Sarah Obraitis, who owns the restaurant with her husband Hugue Dufour, said that the restaurant will be open to friends and associates tonight and […]
Guerilla gardeners go legit!
The guerilla gardeners of Long Island City are going legit. The Smiling Hogshead Ranch — veggie beds and fruit trees rising on the decommissioned Long Island Rail Road’s Montauk Cutoff along Skillman Ave. — wants to officially lease the site from the MTA, which hasn’t used the tracks since 1989. Gardener Gil Lopez and partner-in-vine […]
5 Pointz "graffiti mecca" in Long Island City faces imminent destruction
anchor 5 Pointz, Long Island City. Image © Hans Von Rittern, via http://newyorkcityinthewitofaneye.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/5-pointzc2a9.jpg The artists behind New York’s graffiti haven 5 Pointz have learned that their last-ditch legal effort to save the outdoor gallery will likely fail. “The building, unfortunately, is going to have to come down,” federal judge Frederic Block said in New York’s […]
City, New London Maritime Society to propose ‘Long Island Sound Gateways …
New London — The city announced Friday that it will partner with the state and the New London Maritime Society to “take the lead in preserving Long Island Sound’s rich maritime resources for Connecticut” as part of an effort to create a Long Island Sound Gateways National Maritime Park. In a press release, Mayor Daryl […]
Battle for 5 Pointz far from over, artists claim
Photo: By George Burles Nov. 11, By Christian Murray The battle to save the 5 Pointz graffiti Mecca is not over, according to the artists. These fighting words come just days after a federal court judge said he was doubtful that a lawsuit filed by the 5 Pointz artists to save the building would prevent […]
Judge set to allow demolition of 5Pointz
DelMundo, Anthony freelance NYDN The 5Pointz graffiti mecca in Long Island City is likely headed for demolition after a judge said Friday he was prepared to deny a request for an injunction to block planned redevelopment. The battle to save the 5Pointz graffiti mecca from demolition looks like a lost cause. A Brooklyn judge said […]
Avonte Oquendo search enter 5th week
NEW YORK (WABC) — It’s now been five weeks since the disappearance of 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo, who was last seen running out of his school in Long Island City, Queens, on October 4. Still, his family is standing by its vow to find him. Crews will be out again Friday to continue looking for him. […]
Long Island College Hospital not accepting any new patients
Only a day after its staunchest defender was elected mayor of New York City, financially troubled Long Island College Hospital decreed Wednesday that it would not accept any new patients and even banned ambulances from bringing people to the emergency department. SUNY Downstate Medical Center – which took over the troubled Cobble Hill hospital two […]
City announces more bike lanes for Long Island City
GENEVIEVE ALVAREZ/Alvarez, Genevieve / Freelance More bike lanes are coming to Queens, the city said Thursday night. The city will build more controversial bike lanes to accommodate a growing number of cyclists in northwestern Queens. City officials told Community Board 2 on Thursday night that new bike routes are slated to be installed in […]
Long Island City gym teaches art of stage fighting
Aaron Showalter/New York Daily News No, kick him here! Yip corrects his actors’ form so they fight looks realistic — even though no swing can come within three inches of another actor’s face. The first rule of this fight club is to break out the video camera. Long-time martial artist Lang Yip recently opened a […]
Strong demand for waterfront apartments
TF Cornerstone’s 4545 Center Blvd property Nov. 6, By Christian Murray TF Cornerstone is not shy about touting its success. The real estate giant announced today that 80% of its apartments at its 45-45 Center Boulevard complex have been leased—just five months after its June 1 launch. The 41 story building, which has 820 units, […]
Graffiti artists turn New York City into canvass
Over the past few weeks, renowned British street artist Banksy has taken New York City by storm, leaving a trail of spray paint in his wake. But graffiti is nothing new here: The city has long acted as a blank canvas to artists, who have left their mark in a variety of formats, from bulky […]