LIC Spot

Hibino in Carrol Gardens

We’ve just confirmed that a new Japanese restaurant will be opening up in Long Island City.

Hibino, a popular high-end restaurant in Carrol Gardens, will opening a restaurant on Jackson Ave., where the Los Amigos deli used to be (next to PNT Fitness).

The authenticity is in the spelling…

If you haven’t noticed the banner near the police station, here it is.

A new Tuscan restaurant is opening which begs the question: Do we need another Italian restaurant (that can’t spell)?

Seriously, how hard is it to run “spell check” before pressing PRINT?

Thanks to Howard Adams for the tip!

There’s a housing boom in the Court Square area of Long Island City, but many residents are also noticing a scarcity in amenities like supermarkets, pharmacies and other kinds of shops (except pet stores, of course).

Rockrose Development is in the midst of developing a few more residential high rises, but with that a promise of more retail shops.

The first will be a high-end 15,000-square-foot supermarket, to be built on the first floor of a planned 42-story residential tower called Linc LIC, at 43-10 Crescent St. The building’s 709 luxury apartments are slated to open this spring, with the supermarket to follow after.

In addition, the company purchased a row of buildings along Jackson Avenue — located behind the site of another one of its residential projects, a 975-unit building planned for 43-25 Hunter St. — which are being reserved for retail tenants.

via DNAinfo.com

Coming to you in March…

The New York Times is reporting that the new Sweetleaf, located at 46-15 Center Blvd, will be offering coffee during the day and alcohol at night.

Richard Boccato, a partner at the cocktail lounge Dutch Kills, will join Rich Nieto and Al Arundel, two partners of the coffee bar Sweetleaf, to create a new bar that will serve coffee during the daytime, and alcohol in the evening. The new place will also be called Sweetleaf. “Everyone’s primary and ancillary vices shall be satisfied,” said Mr. Boccato.

Where coffee and liquor meet, you of course find coffee cocktails. Among the libations of offer will be the Long Island City Special, made of blackstrap rum, house coffee liqueur, fresh lemon juice, agave syrup, and seltzer; and the Revolver, a mixture of bourbon, house coffee liqueur, and orange bitters.

The new Sweetleaf is scheduled to open in March.

Launched just 6 weeks ago, Swallow My Words is one of a kind company that gives consumers the power to express themselves… with chocolate. The company takes customization to a new level by engraving 4X4 chocolate slabs with your words.  Whether you’re saying “Thank you,” “I love you,” or “You Suck,” nothing gets your message across more deliciously than chocolate.

The woman behind it all – Min Kim – was destined to be a chocolatier, spending her early days in Brazil where she consumed sugar in its rawest form – sugar cane. Min has over 10 years of experience in the food industry, where she got her start studying culinary arts. She basesSwallow my Words on her slogan of “affordable luxury.” Though her chocolate may be rich, you don’t have to be to enjoy it!

Min and her team of “mad chocolatiers” work their magic in their chocolate lab here in Long Island City. The lab is an immaculate and modern kitchen also known as Min’s oasis – where jars of perfectly placed ingredients line the shelves and wonderful chocolate creations in all stages fill the space with a sweet aroma. Though the lab is not a storefront, the witty words displayed on the window are sure to stop you in your tracks while walking down 44^th RD.

Swallow my words offers range of products that all come in a variety of exotic flavors. Currently they offer 14 types of chocolate slabs, 10 flavors of caramels, and 20 different truffles, as well as marshmallows.

Each of Min’s creations is tended to with the utmost care. All toppings are organic and made from scratch. The mad chocolatier uses ingredients in her products that are not typical of the pastry world. With curry truffles, and candied ginger chocolate slabs she attributes her culinary background as the inspiration for her unique candies. One of her best sellers is the Cereal Killa - orange balsamic caramel sauce,butter toasted pretzel crumbs, toasted corn flake crumbs, cap’n crunch cereal and  sweet dark chocolate (57% cacao). Another popular pick is the Startlet - roasted salted peanut butter caramel sauce, baked butter cracker crumbs and semi-dark chocolate. Swallowmywords.com offers a detailed list of the collection. Truffles and caramels are equally unique… with my personal favorite being the earl gray tea truffle…oh and the pumpkin…and strawberry balsamic…can’t forget pistachio…and of course lemon…okay maybe I really can’t pick just one.

by Anne Weslowski

RBC doorway on 5th Street and 46th Road

The Rockaway Brewing Company, is not, as its name might suggest, an evacuee from the storm ravaged Rockaway coast, but a new brewing venture set up in Long Island City.  Owners Marcus Burnett and Ethan Long are two friends who have been enthusiastic home brewers for years in their Rockaway bungalows and who decided last year to extend their hobby into a part-time business, employing 3 staff and taking up the offer of space in LIC to start up in April 2012.

Brewer Flynn stirs the mash.

Locally-produced food and drink are the current enthusiasms of New York consumers; aware that local jobs are important and that food is usually fresher when produced in the region. RBCO is a “Nano-brewery”, a technical difference from a Micro-brewery, terms that relate to the number of barrels of beer produced. The company is currently producing 8 barrels per week of four different ales, two light and two dark, which are sold to local restaurants, supermarkets and bars: The malty ESB (Extra Special Bitter), a more hoppy Pale Ale (both of these deliberately softer than the more common hard-hitting and hop-driven IPAs around from other breweries), a Porter and Stout (“Black Gold)”. Not content to stick to these four brews RBC) is also experimenting with new brews, including a Scottish ale and an IPA (India Pale Ale). They also sell their draft ale in growlers directly from the brewery, from taps behind a newly built counter, with music from Vinyl LPs and a 1960s Heathkit valve stereo.

Marcus shows Columbus hops, freeze-dried in WA, an ingredient of the new IPA.

Beer is basically a fermented mix of water, yeast, hops and barley malt. Variation is obtained by the addition of flavour enhancing ingredients (such as toasted woodchips marinated in single barrel bourbon, in the soon-to-be available Scottish ale) and using different types of hop that offer bitterness and aroma. For the highest quality, RBCO source their hops from Hop Union in Washington State, but have also used fresh local hops, with honey, in their seasonal summer ale. They use up to eight different varieties of hops in a form which is freeze dried so that enough moisture remains to ensure that the essential life qualities of the hop remain. All their ales are unfiltered, with no artificial ingredients; therefore, whilst the brewers strive for consistency in their brews they are aware that variation in seasons will create the kind of subtle differences that set craft ales apart from their mass-produced cousins.

Marcus draws some Scots beer to sample.

The brewery produces a mix of pressurised keg and hand-drawn, non-carbonated cask ales, which are destined for bars and restaurants (like “Alewife” at 5-14 51st Ave, between 5^th Street and Vernon) who have the skills and equipment to care for and serve beers in the traditional way. Demand is strong with the owners anticipating that it will outstrip supply in the Summer season.

As well as buying direct from the brewery, at the corner of 46th Road and 5^th Street in Long Island City; you can buy growlers from the “Food Cellar” supermarket on 47^th Avenue, by Center Boulevard, and drink at local venues Alobar, Alewife, John Brown’s Steakhouse as well as establishments in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and, of course, Rockaway.

For more information check out www.rockawaybrewco.com

Eric Hathaway

Sometimeinlongislandcity.com

Seriously folks, at this point, every LIC resident better be ultra fit!

Long Island City’s brand-new CrossFit Gantry will open it’s doors at 10-20 47th Rd this weekend with an Open House on Saturday and Sunday February 2 & 3, 11AM to 2PM, and Monday February 4, 4-8PM. Experienced CrossFitters and newcomers alike.

OK, folks, no more excuses.

The Cliffs, one of the largest climbing gyms in the country, will open in Long Island City this spring. The 30,000 square foot space features inset LED lighting and can accommodate 500 climbers at a time. Its walls will feature crack climbing, top-out boulders, 60 foot leads with up to 35 feet of overhang. There will also be a full-fitness cardio and free weights area.

You can check out their website here.

via Long Island City Partnership

Carolyn McPherson at Pranavah Yoga

Pranavah Yoga is a new studio created by Carolyn McPherson at 47-46 Vernon Boulevard (entrance around the corner on 48^th Ave., 3^rd floor). Combining her own and others’ talents in teaching a range of Yoga practices the space offers a range of classes and individual sessions for the local community.

Carolyn is committed to both the practice and philosophy of Yoga, seeing it as something that benefits adults and children, as well as families, workplaces and communities. Amongst other groups the center offers pre and post-natal classes and workshops for parents and children. She sees this as practical skill building and an investment in the wellbeing of future generations and recalls positive feedback from mothers that the yoga helped them to deal with pre-birth physical aches and pains, the birth process and recovery.

Originally from San Francisco, Carolyn has lived in the neighborhood for some years and is well known for the classes she has taught in local fitness centers, such as that at the recently flooded Powerhouse rental building. This new venture offers a central location for her own and others’ classes. It will become a focus for both walk-in and planned attendance. For some this can be a life-changing encounter with techniques that have their origins in ancient Eastern meditative arts, benefiting mind, body and spirit. Although often associated with Hinduism and Buddhism, Yoga, or more specifically Hatha Yoga in this case, requires no specific religious commitment.

Carolyn’s  background is originally dance, she recalls always having had an interest in her body and wellness, an interest which eventually led her to seek formal training as a yoga  teacher. She recognises that yogic breathing, posture and exercises can be taught across a wide age range and can therefore be of value to everybody. She explains that “Pranavah is the sound vibration when chanting the sacred sound of Om”.  Breathing is central to living, and good purposeful breathing is a key to wellness. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that the group of teachers that Carolyn has brought together includes singers and musicians.

The studio space has a sense of peace and tranquillity. The simplicity of the plain wood floor is balanced by plain walls with nicely chosen artwork and quotations. This is a place to leave the world behind, and an experience to take with you when you leave; to carry in your mind and body through busy days at work or with family.

For more information check out the website:

www.pranavahyoga.com

Eric Hathaway

www.sometimeinlongislandcity.com

October 2008 marked the ground breaking of 2 Gotham Center, the first phase of this 3.5-million-square-foot, mixed-use development in the heart of Queens. The project replaces the decaying Queens Plaza Municipal Parking Garage.

2 Gotham Center is a $316 million, 662,000-square-foot, 21-story tower on the corner of Queens Plaza and 28th Street that will include approximately 9,400 square feet of ground-floor retail space and approximately 180 parking spaces. Plus, the project will create about 1,400 construction jobs.

The tower will be home to the City’s Health Department. This state-of-the-art facility will increase the Department’s operational efficiencies by consolidating units that are now dispersed throughout the City.

Locating many of the Health Department’s non-field-based staff in the building is in concert with the City’s goal of bringing agency headquarters under one roof for both increased efficiencies and an improved work environment. The relocation of the Health Department employees is expected to be complete in late 2011.

Gotham Center will bring new economic activity to Long Island City, the gateway to Queens, helping to create a vibrant community and improving the quality of life.

via NYCEDC