Sep. 2, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Building permits have been filed for two, eight-story residential buildings on the same block near Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria. The plans call for an 84-foot-tall structure on a site at 31-61 Vernon Boulevard and a second 84-foot-tall structure on a site at 11-26 31st Drive, according to documents… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray A family-owned banquet hall that has served Queens residents for nearly 70 years has announced that it has closed permanently due to COVID-19. Riccardo’s by the Bridge, founded in 1951 at 21-01 24th Ave. in Astoria, announced today that it is closing for good. Anthony Corbisiero, whose family owns… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray The city is reducing the speed limit on a 7 mile stretch of Northern Boulevard from 30 MPH to 25 MPH. The DOT, as part of an announcement to lower the speed limit on nine city streets, is lowering the limit on Northern Boulevard from 114th Street in Corona… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Sunnyside Shorts International Film Festival is going virtual this year with an expanded line-up of 76 award-winning films from 26 different countries. The festival of short films will run from Sep. 26 through Oct. 10 and viewers can watch all the action online via the film hosting website… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City schools will reopen more than 10 days later than originally planned, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Public school buildings were set to reopen next week on Thursday, Sept. 10, but de Blasio pushed back the reopening date to Monday, Sept. 21 in a last-minute change… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray Council Member Costa Constantinides is calling on the city to come up with a plan to allow indoor dining. The council member said Friday that if the city is able to reopen schools and gyms then there is no reason why a plan to permit indoor dining can’t be… Read more »
Aug. 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two council members are pushing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to add a dedicated pedestrian pathway to the Queensboro Bridge as soon as possible. Council Members Ben Kallos and Jimmy Van Bramer want the DOT to open a pedestrian pathway on the bridge’s south outer roadway. Currently, pedestrians and… Read more »
Aug. 31, 2020 By Christian Murray A developer filed plans with the Dept. of Buildings Friday to build a five-story, mixed-use building in Astoria. The building, which would go up at 22-02 Astoria Blvd., would include 16 apartments and commercial space on the first floor. The plans show that the first floor would have 940… Read more »
Aug. 31, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A new advertising campaign has been launched by the NYC Parks Dept. to combat excessive trash being left in public parks. The agency kicked off its “Toss your trash” campaign last week and has released a number of targeted advertisements to encourage visitors to dispose of their trash correctly… Read more »
Aug. 29, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A private security firm began patrolling the Hunters Point waterfront Thursday night as part of a community-driven effort to clamp down on high levels of anti-social behavior in the area. On Point Security, an Astoria-based security firm, kept watch of the walkway outside Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters… Read more »