Letter from the Editor
Jenna Bagcal
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jenna Bagcal
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
We’re waiting to hear from you!
Address your “Letters to the Editor” to
38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY
or send an email to
jbagcal@qns.com
Your feedback is very important to us!
We’re waiting to hear from you!
Address your “Letters to the Editor” to
38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY
or send an email to
jbagcal@qns.com
Your feedback is very important to us!
We’re waiting to hear from you!
Address your “Letters to the Editor” to
38-15 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY
or send an email to
jbagcal@qns.com
Your feedback is very important to us!
Victoria
Victoria
Schneps-Yunis
PUBLISHER
Schneps-Yunis
PUBLISHER
6 MARCH 2019 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
LONG ISLAND CITY COURIER
LONG ISLAND CITY COURIER
LONG ISLAND CITY COURIER
Publisher
Co-Publisher
Joshua A. Schneps
Editor-in-Chief
Jenna Bagcal
Art Director
Michael Kurov
Advertising Sales
Alan Gottlieb
Contributors
Bill Parry
Brownstoner Staff
Emily Davenport
Greater Astoria Historical Society
Jenna Bagcal
Mark Hallum
Orestes Gonzalez
Schneps Communications
38-15 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361
718.224.5863. Fax 718.224.5441
www.qns.com
e-mail: editorial@qns.com
ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2016 by
LIC Courier Magazine
LIC Courier Magazine is published monthly. No such ad or any
part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of
LIC Courier Magazine. The publishers will not be responsible
for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space
occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to LIC Courier
Magazine within five days of publication. Ad position cannot
be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps
Communications assumes no liability for the content or
reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the
content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold LIC
COURIER MAGAZINE and its employees harmless from all cost,
expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused
by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or
any reply to any such advertisement.
@jenna_bagcal
Hey, LIC Courier readers!
March is here! I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to
shake this winter chill and welcome the warm spring sunshine.
We at the magazine are excited to share some great stories
from western Queens and beyond this month.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced
his early retirement this month. After nearly 30 years in the
position, the DA confirmed he is retiring due to health issues
related to Parkinson’s Disease. His temporary replacement
John Ryan has been described by Brown as “a great colleague
and, more important, a close and trusted friend.” Learn more
about the acting Queens DA on page 12.
In the world of real estate, we take a look at two Queens
arts districts that reports claim are among the top 10 most
affordable in the nation. But are they? Check out if the reports
are right on page 16.
We’ve also found some great community news stories to
keep you abreast of what’s happening in your neighborhoods.
Although Jeff Bezos pulled the plug on the Amazon deal in
Long Island City last month, residents and community leaders
penned an open letter in the New York Times urging him “to
reconsider, so that we can move forward together.” See more
on the fight to revive Amazon on page 22. On page 23, we
report about how MTA fares are, unfortunately, going up this
spring. Weekly passes will run you a cool $33, while monthly
MetroCards will increase from $121 to $127.
Our features and food sections are fun as always. A new
Mediterranean restaurant called Mina’s is coming to MoMA
PS 1 in April. The eatery will be run by Chef Mina Stone, who
has been cooking in the art world for 15 years. See what
Stone’s plans will be for her new space on page 34. On 36,
we profile Astoria native Soraya Yd who got a sweet gig as
a suitcase model on the popular show Deal or No Deal and
on page 38, we catch up with LaGuardia Community College
President Dr. Gail O. Mellow, who announced that she will be
stepping down from the role in August.
Our arts and events calendars are great guides if you need
a fun event to go to this month. Whether it’s an open mic night,
a guided painting lesson or the latest art exhibit, we’re sure
you’ll find the perfect fit for your next night out.
If you have any tips or news stories you you would like us
to cover, feel free to reach out to me at jbagcal@qns.com.
See you back here next month!
8 SEPTEMBER 2018 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
Publisher
Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Editor-in-Chief
Jenna Bagcal
Art Director
Michael Kurov
Advertising Sales
Alan Gottlieb
Contributors
Alejandra O’Connell-Domench
Emily Davenport
Emma Miller
Greater Astoria Historical Society
Orestes Gonzalez
Ryan Kelley
Sunnyside Shines
718.224.5863. Fax 718.224.5441
www.qns.com
e-mail: editorial@qns.com
ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2016 by
LIC Courier Magazine
LIC Courier Magazine is published monthly. No such ad or any
part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of
LIC Courier Magazine. The publishers will not be responsible
for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space
occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to LIC Courier
Magazine within five days of publication. Ad position cannot
be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps
Communications assumes no liability for the content or
reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the
content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold LIC
COURIER MAGAZINE and its employees harmless from all cost,
expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused
by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or
any reply to any such advertisement.
@jenna_bagcal
Hello, LIC Courier readers!
Fall is in the air, so I hope you’re ready to kick off my favorite
season with some exciting Western Queens news and stories.
This month’s issue of the magazine is dedicated to Modern
Space’s 10th Anniversary. President, CEO and co-founder Eric
Benaim, shares the story of the company’s humble beginnings
in 2008 to finding success in the present.
Check out the new stuff happening in Western Queens
this month. The NYC Ferry Service just launched a route
that will take riders from Long Island City to the Lower East
side in 30 minutes. In Astoria, a local yoga studio is offering
two new classes for parents and their children and one for
Spanish speakers.
Sunnyside Shines is hosting their 6th annual restaurant
week running from September 23rd through the 29th. See
the full list of participating local restaurants, including De
Mole, Pete’s Grill and Sotto Le Stelle.
Speaking of food, a new Indian canteen opened up on
Thomson Avenue in Long Island City in September. Read
about the tasty, authentic and most importantly, “unapologetic”
cuisine that they’re serving up.
September brings with it some exciting community news.
The renowned music teaching institution Sage Music has
returned to Long Island City; a group of college students
developed an app to help you find halal food wherever you
are; a NYC councilman celebrated the installation of traffic
signals at a local Sunnyside school.
In our Features section, we profiled health and fitness coach
Michelle Cady from LIC, who talks about her new book ‘Self-
Care in the City’. The book gives big city dwellers tips and
tricks about how to take care of their minds, bodies and spirits.
As always, we have some fun suggestions for local events
and art exhibits to attend. If you have any tips or news you
would like to share with us, reach out to me at jbagcal@qns.com.
Have a great September!
47-42 Vernon Boulevard Long Island City, NY 11101 tel: 718-784-1110 fax: 718-784-0040
8 SEPTEMBER 2018 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
Publisher
Victoria Schneps-Yunis
Co-Publisher
Joshua A. Schneps
Editor-in-Chief
Jenna Bagcal
Art Director
Michael Kurov
Advertising Sales
Alan Gottlieb
Contributors
Alejandra O’Connell-Domench
Emily Davenport
Emma Miller
Greater Astoria Historical Society
Orestes Gonzalez
Ryan Kelley
Sunnyside Shines
Schneps Communications
38-15 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361
718.224.5863. Fax 718.224.5441
www.qns.com
e-mail: editorial@qns.com
ads@qns.com
Entire Contents Copyright 2016 by
LIC Courier Magazine
LIC Courier Magazine is published monthly. No such ad or any
part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of
LIC Courier Magazine. The publishers will not be responsible
for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space
occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to LIC Courier
Magazine within five days of publication. Ad position cannot
be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps
Communications assumes no liability for the content or
reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the
content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold LIC
COURIER MAGAZINE and its employees harmless from all cost,
expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused
by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or
any reply to any such advertisement.
@jenna_bagcal
Hello, LIC Courier readers!
Fall is in the air, so I hope you’re ready to kick off my favorite
season with some exciting Western Queens news and stories.
This month’s issue of the magazine is dedicated to Modern
Space’s 10th Anniversary. President, CEO and co-founder Eric
Benaim, shares the story of the company’s humble beginnings
in 2008 to finding success in the present.
Check out the new stuff happening in Western Queens
this month. The NYC Ferry Service just launched a route
that will take riders from Long Island City to the Lower East
side in 30 minutes. In Astoria, a local yoga studio is offering
two new classes for parents and their children and one for
Spanish speakers.
Sunnyside Shines is hosting their 6th annual restaurant
week running from September 23rd through the 29th. See
the full list of participating local restaurants, including De
Mole, Pete’s Grill and Sotto Le Stelle.
Speaking of food, a new Indian canteen opened up on
Thomson Avenue in Long Island City in September. Read
about the tasty, authentic and most importantly, “unapologetic”
cuisine that they’re serving up.
September brings with it some exciting community news.
The renowned music teaching institution Sage Music has
returned to Long Island City; a group of college students
developed an app to help you find halal food wherever you
are; a NYC councilman celebrated the installation of traffic
signals at a local Sunnyside school.
In our Features section, we profiled health and fitness coach
Michelle Cady from LIC, who talks about her new book ‘Self-
Care in the City’. The book gives big city dwellers tips and
tricks about how to take care of their minds, bodies and spirits.
As always, we have some fun suggestions for local events
and art exhibits to attend. If you have any tips or news you
would like to share with us, reach out to me at jbagcal@qns.com.
Have a great September!
47-42 Vernon Boulevard Long Island City, NY 11101 tel: 718-784-1110 fax: 718-784-0040 WE ARE HIRING
modernspacesnyc.com/career | info@modernspacesnyc.com
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