Jan. 7, 2022 By Michael Dorgan A new hookah lounge has opened in Astoria. Sands of Persia, which its owners tout as being upscale, opened on New Year’s Eve at 25-01 Steinway St. The operators have moved into a 1,850 square foot space that was previously occupied by Matigy, a Hookah lounge that closed in… Read more »
Jan. 6, 2022 By Michael Dorgan The founder of a Long Island City-based non-profit that provides services to the families of incarcerated women— and the women themselves—has left her leadership position. Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, who established Hour Children in 1992 and was the executive director, has taken a new position as president of the Sisters… Read more »
Jan. 4, 2022 By Michael Dorgan A near century-old building in Long Island City is being repurposed into a state-of-the-art facility that will specialize in life sciences. The seven-story building, which is nearly 210,000 square feet, is located in the Court Square section of Long Island City at 43-10 23rd St. The site will be… Read more »
Dec. 27, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a Queens senator’s bill into law that requires the state to publish a quarterly report about the origins of guns used in crimes — including who purchased them and where. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Michael Gianaris, aims to crack down on guns… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The city’s annual Mulchfest is back for another year, giving residents a chance to dispose of their Christmas trees in an eco-friendly way. Residents can bring their Christmas trees to a select number of city parks to be turned into mulch during the annual Mulchfest. This year’s event will… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A woman is dead — and two others injured — following a hail of gunfire outside an Astoria bar during the early hours Thursday morning. The shooting took place outside Solletto, located at 23-66 Steinway St., just after 4 a.m. and left a 27-year-old woman dead after being shot… Read more »
Dec. 21 By Michael Dorgan A new restaurant offering Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine is set to open on Vernon Boulevard. Sophra 2, which is scheduled to open next week at 47-31 Vernon Blvd., will serve items such as chicken shish kebobs, Turkish ravioli and a range of seafood dishes. The company will open at a… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Mayor-Elect Eric Adams announced Monday that he has selected Astoria native Lorraine Grillo to be his first deputy mayor when he takes office Jan. 1. Grillo, who currently serves as “Recovery Czar” under Mayor Bill de Blasio, will be tasked with helping Adams run the day-to-day operations of City… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Residents have been braving the cold weather and forming long lines outside testing centers in Queens—and throughout New York City—over the past few days in order to get a COVID-19 examination. The line for tests stretched an entire block Friday afternoon outside the CityMD urgent care facility near Queensboro… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Protests against showing proof of vaccination to enter bars and restaurants took place on two separate nights this week at the Queens Center Mall resulting in a number of arrests – videos of which have gone viral online. Four protesters were cuffed by police Wednesday while six activists were… Read more »