Aug. 18, 2025 By Ethan Marshall The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that the “Advantage Arena” immersive gaming lounge has returned for the 2025 US Open after debuting last year. Over 40 million gamers are expected to take part in the tennis-themed games offered on-site and online throughout the three weeks of the US…
Aug. 18, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Community Education Council 30 (CEC 30) has called on the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) to reinstate Ashley Rzonca after the union representative for Community School District 30 was dismissed from her position earlier in the year for what the CEC describes as “political” reasons. CEC 30, which…
Aug. 14, 2025 By Shane O’Brien The New York State Supreme Court has issued a temporary injunction against the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) planned protected bike lane under the elevated N/W subway tracks on 31st Street following a legal challenge from a coalition of local businesses. The court has ordered the DOT to show…
Aug. 14, 2025 By Ethan Marshall The median rental price and inventory of new listings increased year-over-year across northwest Queens in July 2025, but the number of new leases went down, according to a report by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Northwest Queens, which includes the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside,…
Aug. 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Council Member Tiffany Cabán have released a joint statement criticizing the NYPD for fatally shooting a knife-wielding man during an April encounter in Astoria, arguing that officers should have used more de-escalation tactics before firing 19 shots at a suspect experiencing a mental…
Aug. 13, 2025 By Shane O’Brien Porto Bello, an Astoria institution serving traditional Italian dishes for the past 26 years, will close its doors for good this Sunday, Aug. 17. The restaurant, which opened its doors at 43-18 Ditmars Blvd. in 1999, has been a community gathering place for the past two-and-a-half decades, with…
Aug. 13, 2025 By Ethan Marshall Rental properties across all of New York City experienced a slight jump in median asking rent from last year during the second quarter of 2025, which spans from April to June, according to a report by Realtor.com. There was a 3.7% year-over-year increase in asking rent for all…
Aug. 12, 2025 By Bill Parry An elderly Sunnyside Gardens man was the driver who died in a horrific multi-vehicle chain-reaction collision in Astoria that killed two pedestrians on Tuesday morning, according to authorities. Andrei Coman, 84, of 48th Street, was identified on Wednesday night by the NYPD as the motorist who was behind…
Aug. 12, 2025 By Jessica Militello Award-winning chefs are getting ready to practice their serve right onto customers’ plates at the US Open, with a list of delicious cuisine slated for the star-studded annual tennis event. The diverse and delicious food and drink menu was created by the United States Tennis Association and its…
Aug. 11, 2025 By Ethan Marshall After the average cost of rent in Queens exceeded $3,000 in June 2025, the number continued to rise in July, with average rents increasing across the board among studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units in the borough, according to a report by M.N.S Real Estate. The average rent in…