Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on January-16-2008
First off, i want to apologize for not keeping everyone up to date on the skinny in LIC… its been a crazy few months, i finally moved out of my apartment in Forest Hills, and am now an official proud resident of LIC, been so for almost 2 months now. So now that im sort of settled, i can get back to sharing the insights on the hood… So i hope you all keep coming back…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on October-27-2007
This Sunday from 12-2pm experience the Arris Lofts… probably the most luxurious building in all of Long Island City, featuring more ammenities than you know what to do with. Including an 8700sqft Fitness Center with Lap Pool, a 4700sqft Lobby with owners Lounge and Sculptured fireplace, a 6000sqft Landscaped Courtyard with reflecting pond, a 6000sqft Roofdeck, a 3300sqft Media/Game room with childrens play area, 24hr doorman/concierge, fresh direct ready, onsite valet parking just $226 a month… Come experience the Arris Lofts rental tour, several brokers from several different firms are getting together to display a selection of units for rent… Just take the E,V or if your coming from Brooklyn the G to 23rd Street Ely Avenue, you can also take the 7 Train to Courtsquare, less then 4 minutes from Manhattan… 27-28 Thomson Avenue…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on October-21-2007
Controversal Architect Robert Scarano, known for designing practically every building to hit Brooklyn the last couple of years. Has now finally landed in Long Island City, and i have to say, im kind of excited. I think his designs are very innovative, modern and deffinately does not fall into the norm. His first LIC residential project is located on 2626 Jackson, and is about to get topped off this week. You cant miss it, its on the corner of Purves and Jackson Avenue, its supposed to house 43 units in all, and its actually a design he won an award for. Cant wait for the facade to show its face. Although this is his first residential project, this wont be his first, he also worked on a hotel on 43rd Avenue & Vernon as well as a small office building on 49th avenue, off of Vernon Blvd and next to Brasil Coffee House. Will keep you posted on the developments…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on October-6-2007
Just some more proof that Long Island City is becoming a hotspot for restaurants and shops, Jacques-Imo’s, a New Orleans Restaurant that has an Upper West Side Location, announced that it has lost it’s lease and will be heading to Long Island City, in the old Smokey’s BBQ 11101 location, i passed by the other day and they were doing some renovations on the space. Check out Eater.com’s take on it or just get a peak at there current menu in the Upper West Side… http://www.jacquesimosnyc.com/ Im getting hungry already thinking about that Cajun Fried Chicken….
P.S. i have some cool retail space on Vernon Blvd that would be great for a restaurant, so anyone interested feel free to contact me…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on October-5-2007
Ok so i know ive been slacking a bit on the blog the past week, been really busy… Will update it this weekend with lots of stuff, but thought you should know that Long Island City has been getting alot of press this week… Check out these articles
And if you got todays Post and were able to snag one of the inserts booklets titled Queens Tomorrow, then you would have read all about Silvercup Studios plans as well as all the other great development… If you didnt you might be able to get them inside one of the local papers that the Post owns i.e. Queens Tribune / Queens Courrier etc. Until this weekend, enjoy the reading…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on September-19-2007
Well some good news on Vernon is that a new restaurant will be coming real shortly, and all the way from Williamsburg. The people who own Juliettes on North 5th off of Bedford are opening up a new place on 47-38 Vernon Blvd, you know that great looking building with the chucky doll in the window. The restaurant will be done in two phases, Phase 1, take over the space where that chucky has been up against the window and turn it into a cool French sandwich shop, phase 2 take over the entire ground floor and convert to a really cool restaurant/sandwich shop, garden included. I ate at Juliettesa couple of weeks back and i can honestly say it was one of my new favorite spots in Brooklyn, the decor is amazing, alot of vintage lighting and cabinetry which they plan to create a similar ambiance over here. Keep a look out for this new space, that is slated to open later on before the end of the year…Could this be the start of a new trend?
In the meantime you can go check them out at 135 North 5th Street or check out there review on Eater.com
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on September-13-2007
Well i got a call that the newest edition to the Rockrose, East Coast Project had just opened, so i decided to take a tour, and boy was it impressive!!!
394 units in all, the building is amazing, the ammenities are rediculous, there is a huge roof top pool enclosed in a glass dome like structure, probably the largest outdoor deck i have ever seen, that will be landscaped, and have BBQ’s, the screening room is an actual movie theater, not some small cheesey screening room that most buildings have, and it will host film festivals. The fitness center, spa, and lounge are also impressive. In regards of the apartments and finishes, well you can tell they were carefully thought out. The building was built better then most condo’s you see, with very generous layouts and more closet space then you know what to do with. Click for more info…
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by Eric Benaim on September-12-2007
Well it’s Rosh Hashana, and Long Island City’s very own Rabbi, Rabbi Zev is holding services at PS 78 at the Citylights building, go and show some support and congradulate him on his new born baby boy. www.jewishlic.com
Ok so as many of you know, i live over at The Arris Lofts, and even though ive been living here for 2 months, ive been coming here practically everyday since last summer due to work, ive gotten to know many of the residents, and having been in real estate for over 6 years, dealing with predominantly luxury buildings, i have yet to see a group of residents so diverse, so eclectic, so social and friendly like in the Arris. Last night the developers held a party in the Lobby for all the residents and people involved., i left the building only to realize that the lobby had a complete makeover, it looked like the W hotel or something, everything in white, candles everywhere, a dj setup, it was crazy. The event started at 5:30, and the atmosphere was great, yes they had also invited many brokers, but there were alot of residents as well as the people involved with the project, there were probably somewhere around 2-300 people who attended throughout, everyone getting to know there neighbor laughing and enjoying the soiree. Afterwords at around 9:30pm, about 20 residents myself included decided to head to Manducattis for dinner, as i arrived there, i saw there was a table with Alex & Andrew Silverman (Andalex Group), along with several other employees of the firm in addition to Sunshine Corcoran, i stopped by the table to say hi, and that i enjoyed the event and later joined my neighbors and new friends from Arris, we spent the rest of the night, laughing and talking, towards the end of the night, Andrew & Alex had come over, to say hello, They told us they chose Long Island City to develop because they saw how great the area could be, they were happy to see that a real community had been created, 237 owners from all walks of life had found something special in the Arris and had developed friendships. They thanked us, promised that Arris will be a great building and then told us that they were paying for our check. it is great to see that we New Yorkers having a reputation throughout the world for being rude, abnoxious, and keeping to ourselves, are coming together, conversing, interacting and playing parts in eachothers lives… And ive been hearing that alot lately in this town, other buildings are coordinating meetups or nights drinking or for dinner with other people who have purchased in the same building, buildings like Badge, and Purves have done it, i believe 5SL as well, organizing yahoo or google groups. Its pretty cool i think… People are inviting one another to see eachothers homes, share design tips, where to get a good deal on window treatment, recommend local restaurants or whatever and from this, friendships are born. I have to say that Im glad to be part of this community… 
Well i got a call that the newest edition to the Rockrose, East Coast Project had just opened, so i decided to take a tour, and boy was it impressive!!!
