34 The Queens Courier • september 24, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Fall fun at the LIC Flea & Food and Astoria Flea Night Market BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAF editorial@queenscourier.com @QueensCourier Fall is finally here and although the summer sun has gone away, there is still time to enjoy some outdoor fun both in Long Island City and Astoria. This weekend marks the last weekend to grab a drink during the LIC Flea Beerfest where you can enjoy Queens brewed beers for $2 from noon to 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Breweries offering their selections include Big Alice brewing, Finback Brewery, SingleCut Beer Smiths, Rockaway Beer Company, Queens Brewery, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, and LIC Beer Project. HGTV’s “Flea Market Flip” will also return to the popular Long Island City market this weekend so visitors have the chance to stop by, shop oneof a-kind refurbished furniture, get a chance to be on television and meet host Lara Spencer. LIC Flea & Food is located at Fifth Street and 46th Avenue and runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the end of October. Just a neighborhood over, people can also check out the Astoria Flea & Food Night Market at Kaufman Astoria Studios. After a successful opening night last weekend, the market is back this Saturday night and offers great food, vintage finds, jewelry and much more. Guests can also enjoy drinks at the all-Queens beer garden, which found its popularity at the LIC Flea & Food. The Astoria Flea & Food Night Market will run Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 from 6 to 11 p.m. Live music at both the Astoria and LIC markets are sponsored by car2go, who also have booths at both locations where guests can learn more about their services. Information can also be found here. The Inebriators will perform at the Astoria Flea this weekend. For updates follow on Facebook.com/LICFlea, Instagram.com/LICFlea and @LICFlea on Twitter. Photos by Kelly Marie Mancuso Panelists from “From Food to Fashion: What’s Trending in Queens Real Estate” (l to r) Margaret Ling, event producer Judy Sahagian, Joshua Schneps, Faith Hope Consolo, Seth Pinsky and Justin Cole Panel of experts talk Queens real estate trends at LIC conference BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@queenscourier.com/@KellyMMancuso The latest news and trends in the “World’s Borough” was the focus of a panel discussion, “From Food to Fashion: What’s Trending in Queens Real Estate” at the 2015 Real Estate Subway Series Queens held at the Renaissance Event Hall in Long Island City on Sept. 21. Schneps Communications co-publisher and LIC Flea and Food founder Joshua Schneps was joined at the panel by fellow panelists Margaret T. Ling Esq. of First Nationwide Title, RXR Realty executive vice president Seth Pinsky and Justin Cole, assistant vice president of leasing for Macerich. Faith Hope Consolo, world-renowned consultant and chair of The Retail Group with Douglas Elliman Real Estate, moderated the panel. The panel discussed the ways in which cultural, social and economic trends in Queens have contributed to the boom in both retail and residential real estate throughout the borough. According to the panelists, the thriving diversity in both culture and cuisine is one of Queens’ best qualities. “I think the big difference between Queens and really any of the other four boroughs, but especially Brooklyn, is that Queens is a collection of communities,” Pinsky observed. Schneps agreed: “We have over 18 different publications because we recognize that there are different demos in all of the different areas of Queens and Brooklyn and beyond.” The LIC Flea and Food features more than 80 vendors representing roughly 85 different nationalities. “It reflects the diversity and that people are looking for diversity, especially when it comes to cuisine,” Schneps explained. “Cuisine could be a big driving force and an attraction for tourism.” “Food follows fashion,” Consolo said. Many of the panelists observed that growth and trends throughout the borough were often driven by the tastes and preferences of a younger demographic, or “millennials,” flocking to Queens in search of affordability, cultural diversity and great public transit. The panelists also noted that many of the changes happening in Queens’s commercial real estate are also due in part to a shift in the workforce. Pinsky believes that newer creative businesses ranging from tech start-ups to artisan goods producers are looking to establish outposts in Queens not only to be closer to the workforce here, but because they are seeking the unique architecture and character that Queens has to offer. “This is an interesting time for Queens on the office front,” Pinsky said. “We’re increasingly seeing the establishment of creative enclaves along the Queens waterfront. You now have a workforce that’s very entrepreneurial and looking to work in the areas in which they also live.” When asked to name some of the popular hot spots throughout the borough, Schneps said that both Long Island City and Astoria were at the forefront due to an abundance of diverse retail opportunities, eateries and a vibrant, growing population. He mentioned two Astoria streets in particular: the “booming” 30th Avenue and Steinway Street, which he said has “tremendous opportunity.” Schneps also observed that there was great opportunity for growth in Rockaway Beach, with its growing population of young artists and 20-somethings. Pinsky said that “a very long list of neighborhoods in Queens are hot for all different reasons. If you drive east from Flushing along Northern Boulevard, you will see how those neighborhoods heading all the way out to Little Neck have been completely transformed into Little Korea or Little China. There are phenomenal
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