Finding Peace in LIC, Part 2
Friday, May 27th, 2011As of Wednesday, I have moved to Long Island City for a whole week. How do I feel about my new neighborhood?
I love it!
I am originally from California and grew up in a small community called South Pasadena. Imbedded in my life style is the strolling in the park walking speed and the infinite love for open spaces. After I moved to New York, I adapted to the New Yorker speed walking and charming studios (isn’t it funny that brokers descript small studios as “charming” or “cozy”). When I moved to LIC a week ago, not only did I find my “California”, but even better, “California” in NYC!
My apartment is in one of the new developed high-rises along the Gantry Plaza State Park. Every morning around 8am, I walk about 8 to 10 minutes to the subway stop at Vernon Jackson Ave. The walk is pleasant. I pass by a couple half empty newly built parking lots, a semi-new condo called The Gantry and a children’s playground named Andrew. There are trees along the entire walk and the streets are very clean. If I have to compare my commute to the subway stop to any of that in Manhattan, it will be the walk from The Aldyn at 60 Riverside Boulevard along 65th street to the subway stop at Lincoln Center; minus the noises of course. (Although, I have been warned that LIC is very windy and cold during winter and there WILL be days that the walk seems 100 miles long.)
At night, the neighborhood is quite. Not the Financial Center after work dead silent, but the central park on a misty spring morning quiet. The Piers at Gantry State Park attracts locals for an evening glass of wine with its ready for tanning beach chairs. Needless to say, my wife and I are regulars; she even has a favorite seat with a front row view of the Manhattan skylines. The atmosphere is both romantic and peaceful: couples holding hands strolling along the pier, parents pushing strollers and dog owners chatting with each other while their dogs rob noses.
How’s the view from the pier? Fascinating! The buzzing Manhattan composed a curtain of lights across the East river. Standing on the Cove, if you look toward the south, you will see the newly erected Beekman Tower at 8 Spruce Street, the tallest all residential building the entire Western Hemisphere. Look straight across the river; you will see all the architectural wonders that have defined New York Skyline for generations: Empire State shining in 3 colors, Chrysler with is spiky crown, United Nations which is currently undergoing complete window treatment, marble black Trump World Tower and even the new addition, Bank of America tower, with its ever-so-pointy “light saber” into the sky. Turn to the right, there is the Queensboro Bridge painted yellow and red by the busy traffic. If you take a picture in any direction, you will get a postcard perfect shot of Manhattan.
But LIC is not Manhattan. What I truly miss is the convenience of fabulous restaurants and bars around every corner; 24 hour convenience store, a surplus of yellow cabs (except when it rains). And Lincoln Center, Central Park Festivals, 5th Avenue shopping, Union square markets… just to name a few. And once in a while when the 7 train breaks down (happened twice last week), I will get a harsh reminder of the convenience from NYC subway system that I used to enjoy so carelessly.
So is it worth it to move to LIC. For me it is. My son enjoys the quietness of the neighborhood and my parents, whom are staying with me to help with the baby, enjoy the benefit of the extra bedroom.
So should you move to LIC? Up to you! Different people have different opinions. How would YOU know? Just call me and I will be happy to show you around my new neighborhood!
Vincent Zou
May 27th, 2011
The Pier at night
My wife’s favirate chair (The one that is “occupied”)
The View
