LIC Spot

Where’s the water? – Photo by {a href=”http://www.ten10studios.com/” target=”_blank”}Jesse Winter{/a}

An inside source has informed LIC Spot that the kid’s water pad at Gantry State Park will be opening on July 4th (of this year, we hope). This inside source, however, has been wrong about other rumors and is not all that sure about this one either. Our inside source is obviously unreliable.

But another inside source claims that they are indeed on track to open the water pad “this summer”. This inside source has also been wrong about certain stories but there is one fact that we can actually verify regarding the water pad. The inside source states that “the water pad has been nothing but a three-year cluster f***”.

Wow. We love our inside sources.

If you’re looking to enjoy an intriguing Asian photography exhibition this weekend, we invite you to Ten 10 Studios to check out Micah Rubin’s newest work from his recent trip to Asia entitle Uncommon Threads.

The exhibition starts tonight at 6pm and runs throughout the weekend, including live jazz on Saturday night!

Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer at the Queens Library in Long Island City
Photo by Anthony DelMundo for New York Daily News

The Daily News reports that the Queens Library in Long Island City has installed a few junk food vending machines to help with the budget crisis. Last time we checked, libraries were here to help us get smarter…but not necessarily fit. And besides, isn’t food not allowed in libraries?

 Apparently King didn’t take a look at what was inside the current vending machines as they are stocked with fudge-striped cookies, M&Ms, chips and a variety of water, ice teas and soda.

Read more at The Daily News.

Kayaking from LIC - photo by Ted Gruber

If you’ve ever seen kayaks going by the East River on the LIC coastline and wondered “geez, I wonder where they’re coming from?”, well we’ve got answers for you! The Long Island City Community Boathouse is actually located in (duh) Long Island City!

They are a volunteer organization and have weekday and weekend paddles. Best of all, you can do some FREE kayaking from Hallets Cove on Sundays.

Check them out at  licboathouse.org

A nice trimming on 48th Ave. - Photo by Brent O'Leary

Well there you have it. When good people in the community get together (with gloves and trimmers), good things happen!

Last week about 15 volunteers got together on their day of rest to trim the divider on 48th Ave near Gantry State Park, and we must say, it’s looks pretty nice!

The job’s not done yet. A little more trimming and some mulching is up next, and if you want to help, feel free to contact us. We’ll lead you to the right place!

If you ever see these guys in the 'hood, say "thank you".

Tired of being promised a ground breaking at Hunters Point for the Long Island City library? Do something about it. Become a friend of the Hunters Point Library or at least come and participate in the next meeting taking place on Tuesday, June 19th at St. Mary’s Church Parish Hall at 6:30pm.

Make your voice heard so that our great great grandchildren may witness the library being built some day (yeah, that’s sarcasm…but it’s not funny).

Feel free to answer our “Quick Poll”: When will the LIC library open? 

Pooping geese at Gantry State Park

Well, it’s that time of the year again, when geese flock to Gantry State Park and happily defecate throughout the green pasture that is mainly there for humans to enjoy.

However, if haven’t noticed already, there are less geese than ever at the park this summer. That’s because this time of year the geese refuse to step foot in the park without their babies (or goslings…yeah, I didn’t know that’s what they’re called either). Park rangers informed us that a fence was placed at the water level throughout the park and that makes it difficult for the goslings to make it up to the grassy area. Therefore mom (and dad, we presume) also don’t make it to the park and the result is less poop on your picnic blanket. Thank you NYC Parks and Recreation and their friends!

by Mister LIC

Things are getting out of hand on 48th Ave. - Photo by Brent O'Leary

If you’ve ever noticed the divider on 48th Ave. near Gantry State Park, you’ve probably seen monster bushes of weed taking over the street.  Apparently whoever is in charge of trimming back this weed is simply not responding to the community’s needs (after all, we just don’t pay enough taxes and maintenance fees, right?).

The solution is to take matters into our own hands! Come and help trim the weeds this Sunday, June 10th starting at 2pm. Meet up at the City Lights Building at 4-74 48th Ave. and bring some old gloves (unless you really want to get your hands dirty).

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

When you find a great doctor, dentist, mechanic or therapist it’s a like discovering an essential tool in life maintenance. Some would say the same for a hairdresser.

It’s with great relief that I found Rita, a hairdresser at David’s Barbershop on Vernon Blvd. When I moved into my LIC pad back in 2003, there were not many options besides David’s Barbershop. However, I got lucky with Rita, because I instantly found a confidant, a friend, and a trustworthy hair-care taker. She’s been exclusively chopping away at my head ever since.

Rita was a cosmetologist in her native Guyana before moving to Queens in 1997. She started working at David’s in 2000 and has since amassed a large following of devoted customers.

In a time when LIC is experiencing so many changes, there’s something very reassuring and grounding in this old school barbershop. The original barbershop opened in 1919 and David became it’s new owner in 1986, carrying on the legacy this veritable haircutting institution.

In describing LIC, Rita said, “there’s a real neighborhood thing, where you know people personally.” She loves working at David’s because of “all the beautiful people.”

As our community grows and new hair salons are born, new generations will keep passing through David’s Barbershop. With any fortune I’ll still have hair for Rita to sculpt and she’ll keep making the people of LIC beautiful. Since Rita always brings love to her work, she’ll always be someone we love.

Story by Jesse Winter

Our new feature entitled “LIC Then and Now” is part of numerous books sold by the Greater Astoria Historical Society. We will be featuring these “before and after” pictures of Long Island City from now on and we are grateful to the society for allowing us to publish them for your viewing pleasure.

Yeah, that means go to their site and buy some of their cool stuff!

LIC THEN: Monitor Square, facing north from the intersection of Vernon and Jackson Avenues in Hunters Point. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church towers in the distance and is still an iconic structure in downtown Hunters Point. Vernon Avenue (now Blvd.) was established in 1838 and Jackson Avenue opened in 1861. Courtesy Greater Astoria Historical Society

LIC NOW: A new condominium at the corner of Vernon and Jackson Avenues in Hunters Point. To the left is St. mary’s Roman Catholic Church and to the right, looking northeast along Jackson Avenue is the 663-foot tall Citicorp building. Courtesy Gary Vollo