Happy Birthday, Mrs Queen…

June 16th, 2012 Heather Kovar

As London continues to be in the news with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, her birthday June 16th and preparations for the Olympics, I’ve heard more and more people in New York comment how glad they are the Olympics aren’t here.
Reason number one: traffic.

Remember New York made a gallant effort to get the games.

But back to the 86th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton issued an official statement on the occasion.

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as you celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday this June 16. The United States has long viewed the Queen and her service to her nation with the deepest respect. In this Diamond Jubilee Year, her tireless dedication is a beacon of hope to peoples and countries around the world.

Our nations have a special history of friendship and close cooperation based on shared democratic values and respect for the rule of law. I am looking forward to the London Olympics where the international spotlight will shine on your country’s culture, commitment to democratic principles and human rights. Our nations are united in the pursuit of a more just and democratic future and these Olympics will give us the chance to once again come together in celebration of these values.

I send Queen Elizabeth II and the British people my most heartfelt congratulations on this special day. Best wishes for a year of peace, prosperity and happiness.

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Seventh Annual Taste of LIC

June 5th, 2012 Heather Kovar

Areas in New York City are always changing.
Within a year of moving to West 92nd street, a PetCo opened on my corner. My dog was thrilled, but also still scratched on the door of what used to be the small pet store which was now a frame shop.

Just walking around New York City, I notice how many new skyscraper have been built in the last two years. I’m going to have to relearn the skyline soon!

Back in I think 2004 I looked at an apartment in Long Island City, Queens. Great view. But I didn’t feel enough was happening. (No Duane Reade? How would I survive?) I went back in 2009 to take some headshots and I noticed some cute restaurants and coffee shops and wondered how much that apartment with the great view was going for then.

So I recently received a press release about the Seventh Annual Taste of LIC being held Tuesday, June 5th at Gantry State Park.
More than 50 restaurants and 100 restaurants are coming together to show off what the area has to offer. It’s also in support of The Chocolate Factory Theater.

I had not heard of this theater, and no it doesn’t make chocolate. It has dance, music and multi-media performances, but sounds rather unique. Click on the above link for more information, but the some of the work showcased is summed up as “multi-disciplinary collaboration combining movement, music, video and text to devise a means of storytelling that is immediate, collage-like, highly visual, and dependent on new technologies.”
Click here for a list and links of restaurants participating in Taste of LIC.

If you use the subway, Take the 7 to Queensboro Plaza. You know this is basically the area behind that famous Pepsi Cola neon sign.

So I looked at that apartment in 2004. If this is the seventh annual event, that means it started one year after I was browsing around.
Which also brings in another part of the event. According to the press release, Taste of LIC is co-sponsored by TF Cornerstone, a real estate development firm that is developing residential and mixed use community along Long Island City waterfront.

LIC has views of Manhattan. I wonder if there will ever be a day when someone in Manhattan has the better view?

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