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 Allie Griffin A Queens-based cookie chain is opening a location in Forest Hills next week. Chip City, which was founded in Astoria, is opening a store at 72-34 Austin St. The grand opening will be on Friday, Jan 14 at 11 a.m. and the first 100 customers will receive a free… 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. 5, 2022 By Christian Murray Jimmy Van Bramer, whose term in the city council ended Friday, started work Monday as a member of the executive team at the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. “The Girl Scouts of Greater New York is thrilled to announce that Jimmy Van Bramer has joined our leadership team as Chief Growth… Read more »
Jan. 5, 2022 By Christian Murray The City Council unanimously approved a developer’s plan last month to rezone a section of 31st Street in Astoria—making way for three large buildings that will collectively bring 278 units along the strip. The city council voted 47 for and zero against the rezoning plan—the final step in the… Read more »
Jan. 4, 2022 By Allie Griffin Council Member Julie Won officially took office representing District 26 Monday and is now offering constituent services remotely. Won said she and her staff will be working remotely for the time being due to the current surge of COVID cases. Once it’s safe, her team will move into her… 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 »
Jan. 4, 2022 By Christian Murray Huge Ma, who founded the TurboVax website last year that helped connect New Yorkers to COVID-19 vaccine sites, announced last month that he is running for Assembly. Ma, 32, a Democrat who was raised in Astoria, is running for the Assembly District 37 seat, which has been occupied by… Read more »
Jan. 3, 2022 By Allie Griffin Applications to serve on one of Queens’ 14 community boards are now open, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Monday. Residents interested in becoming community board members must submit their applications online by Feb. 16. This is the second year that the borough president’s office has offered the application… Read more »
Jan. 3, 2022 By Allie Griffin A woman was fatally stabbed on New Year’s Day in Astoria in what police said was the first homicide in New York City this year. The unidentified woman, who is believed to be in her 40s, was found lying unconscious on the sidewalk near the busy intersection of 23rd… Read more »