LIC Spot

If you look to the right of the post you’ll notice a link where you can post your events automatically on LIC Spot! Well, it’s somewhat automatically as we need to approve it first just in case you’re trying to post an event in Williamsburg (boooo! Brooklyn!).

The point is that if you are hosting any event in the Long Island City area, feel free to submit it at any time and we’ll have it up on our Calendar of Events in no time.

Photo by {a href="http://www.ten10studios.com/" target=”_blank”}Jesse Winter{/a}

Do you ever walk around Long Island City and notice names on some of the signs and wonder “Who is that?”. Well, we certainly do and we’re happy to share with you a few important people who used to be part of LIC.

If you come to the corner of 47th Rd. and Vernon Blvd. you are surely to see Sal Anzalone’s sign. Sal and Grace Anzalone opened Cassino restaurant on this corner in 1961. The couple ran the popular joint and it didn’t shut down until Sal passed away in 2005. Eric Gioia petitioned to have a sign put up and in 2006 it was approved. The restaurant was then reopened for a couple years by Andrew and Rosemary Anzalone.

Originally the sign pointed along Vernon Blvd but when they put in the stop light the sign was accidentally turned and now points along 47th RD. So don’t be confused, the block that is dedicated to the beloved Sal Anzalone is on Vernon Blvd.

Photo by Mister LIC

An inside source has informed LIC Spot that yet another Asian restaurant will be opening off  Vernon Blvd. This time though, it will be a Vietnamese joint taking over what used to be Krypton Neon. The restaurant is by the same folks who brought you Tuk Tuk and will be located on 47th Ave, next door to the other culinary masterpiece establishment (Pete’s Burger).

Note: Originally we reported that it was going to be a Korean restaurant. We are now being told that it will be Vietnamese (yum!).

There’s a brand new event popping up on Jackson Ave on June 6th. It’s called Lunch Beat LIC – it’s the first NYC edition of the Swedish “lunch disco” craze that started in Europe and is now making it’s way over to the US. It’s a monthly lunch-hour dance party that comes with lunch, and everyone is welcome.

Seriously – what’s better than going to a dance party in the middle of the day, especially if you’re stressed at work?! Nothing – besides a dance party WITH FOOD…plus, you won’t have to wait an hour after eating before you can start dancing! Lunch Beat LIC debuts JUNE 6TH from noon-1pm at the Uncanny Valley event space at 26-09 Jackson Ave in Long Island City, 1 block from the Citibank building. The 1 hour lunch party features beats by Dj Shakey, lunch by The Cinnamon Snail and it only costs $12. Oh yeah, and the tunes are on the house! Plus you’ll be able to experience a sculpture installation and live video projection by Patriots.

On the menu? Korean BBQ seitan sandwiches as well as BBQ seitan served with marinated kale, arugula and kimchi with chili butter. Oh yeah, we may not be vegans, but we’re still hungry for this lunch!

Get your pre-sale tickets here or pay cash at the door.

Photo by {a href="http://www.ten10studios.com/" target=”_blank”}Jesse Winter{/a}

Around a year ago I became acquainted with the vivaciously infused personality of LIC’s premiere art collector Daniel Dougherty and soon visited his brownstone near Court Square where he’s amassed a collection of over 200 pieces of art, all by local creators.  He moved to the neighborhood in 1987 with his partner who was dying of AIDS and within a year was building a new life in Long Island City producing a fashion show at the shuttered Cage 5 in 1989 and planting roots in the neighborhood which continue to spring life into our artistic community.

Daniel’s prolific purchasing has made him a bit of celebrity within the Hunters Point art corridors and his big heart for the human spirit placed him as a bit of a saint within the LIC congregation.  When he bought the historic brownstone in 1996, rather than evicting one of the tenants, a WWII Veteran named Alex, Mr. Dougherty set him up with his own room and adopted him as family, sharing and maintaining the house together. Over the years, at venues such as The Space, Art-o-Mat, LIC Open Studios and the Jeffery Leder Gallery, he built both his collections and connections to the local creative population.

Thus having produced 3 exhibitions here, first in 1997 for one of his tenants at the old Jackson Avenue Steakhouse, and more recently for local luminaries Ann Leggett and Sharon Florin, Mr. Dougherty has evolved from a cheerleader to a quarterback putting on both shows at TEN10 Studios within 8 months. As a curator, his passion for the work is infectious while his belief in and loyal friendship to the individual creator exemplary.  Mr. Dougherty will be opening a French/American eclectic restaurant with his brother in the early spring of 2013 in the Dutch Kills area that will include a lounge and art gallery to feature local artists.

For all you have done and will continue contributing to our growing artistic community, it would be a sin to not acknowledge Daniel Dougherty as a person we love.

by Jesse Winter

Our friends at Crank Cycling Studio are hosting a National Hemophilia Charity Ride next Thursday, May 31st.  $50 doesn’t only make you feel better for supporting the bleeding disorder, but it also makes you feel better for exercising. You don’t have to be a member of Crank to participate, and the best part is you will be given a free ride voucher to use any other time at Crank Cycling Studios. Four different time slots are available that day. What else could you ask for? Free wine and refreshments? You got it!

Master of Whiskey Spike McClure - Photos by {a href="http://www.ten10studios.com/" target=”_blank”}Jesse Winter{/a}

If you missed the five-course whiskey pairing dinner last night at Manducatis Rustica, you missed your chance to meet one of the few Masters of Whiskey in the US. Spike McClure spends his average day going through cases of high-end whiskey, sampling for excellence. Besides consulting and hosting whiskey-paired dinners, he also happens to know Harvey Keitel’s favorite whiskey (Blue).

A busy evening at Manducatis Rustica

Spike McClure and Mamma Gianna

Photo illustration by Ella Jipescu via The Queens Chronicle

If you didn’t get the chance to see the cover of the Queens Chronicle last week, our Council Member, Jimmy Van Bramer, was sporting a popular super hero uniform and holding a Citi Bike in his hands. Yes, we can all agree that red tights look good on the man, but the story is more about how he was able to get the Department of Transportation to bring Citi Bikes to Long Island City in the first phase of Bike Share (instead of next year, as it was previously planned).

If you’re happy about the Bike Share program coming to LIC, feel free to thank him directly, or better yet, just call out his name. He’s bound to fly over with his new uniform.

A map of the Citi Bike stations in Long Island City

If you’re a whiskey lover and a food lover, Manducatis Rustica is hosting a night of malts. Master of Whiskey (yeah, those exist), Spike McClure (yeah, that’s his name) will be on hand to guide you through a five course menu paired with five different classic malts. If you think you can get a more interesting evening than this in LIC, we dare you to let us know!

An empty playground at Gantry State Park - Photo by {a href="http://www.ten10studios.com/" target=”_blank”}Jesse Winter{/a}

Over the last month or so, I’ve been approached by numerous parents who have been complaining about high school kids at our children’s playgrounds. A lot of them are complaining that these high schoolers have been “behaving belligerently” and have “no respect to our parks”. Many of them are “loud and obnoxious” and constantly using ”racist profanity” in front of children.

In fact, as a parent in Long Island City, I do see this often, especially at the children’s area in Murray Park. They’re often abusing the playground equipment and sometimes disrupting the play of young children.

According to an inside-source, LIC Spot has learned that the NYC Parks Department is completely understaffed in the area of policing and has zero personnel allocated for security in Long Island City parks. Our source also says that this has led to vandalism and theft, “It’s an ongoing problem and these kids have stolen the metal stools from the cafe area at Gantry Park (costing thousands of dollars each), the red adirondack chairs that used to be in the large lawn area, the blue light fixtures at the pier, a chess table, and even burned one of the wooden lounge chairs a few years back.”

LIC Spot recently reached out to both Senator Gianaris’ office as well as Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer’s to discuss this problem. We wanted to know, who could help parents on this front. Who do we call when we see this type of behavior? The response from both offices was quick and quite helpful.

Senator Gianaris said, “Excessive noise and abuse of property, public or private, are unacceptable in our community. It is important that any such incidents be dealt with quickly before they become an even bigger problem. I look forward to working with community leaders to develop appropriate responses to this type of behavior.”

Also, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer has been working with the NYPD and City Parks regarding this issue. “I have been working with local community residents as well as the 108^th Precinct to make sure that this problem is addressed in a swift manner,” said the Council Member. “My office will be working with both the Parks Department and the NYPD to ensure that Long Island City park spaces are preserved for visitors who cherish these wonderful spaces within our community. I will continue to pressure both of these agencies to protect our quality of life.” His office also recommended that we call 311 or 911 when anyone sees this sort of behavior.

Finally, there are plans to build a “Ranger Station” nearby where on-duty rangers will be there to help. Unfortunately, at this point, the library isn’t due to break ground until Fall 2013.

by mister LIC