LIC Spot

Well, for all you folks who have almost been trampled by a speeding vehicle on 5th street, your prayers have been answered. In the next month (in the coming days!) the DOT will turn 5th St. into a one-way street going south bound between 46th Rd. and 50th Ave.

Even better, there will be speed bumps installed between 48th and 50th!

Do you have the urge to thank someone?

Photo by Jesse Winter

“Hey, I’ve seen that sign”

Yep, if you’ve ever walked on 47th Ave. and Vernon Blvd. you’ve definitely seen it. But who was Joe Imps? Go back to the 80′s in LIC and imagine a great food joint  run by Joe Imps himself. Born and raised in Long Island City, Joe Imps opened “JOE IMPS” on Jackson Ave. (and is still apparently a full-service restaurant)  that served great burgers to the community, but more importantly, Joe helped locals a lot and was quite active at St. Mary’s Church.

So what does he get for all of his love? A whole block in LIC. We think that’s pretty cool…and yeah, we’d like to see “LIC Spot Drive” some day too.

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.