The Chocolate Factory’s Sheila Lewandowski, honored for making Long Island City a sweeter place to live

The Chocolate Factory in Long Island City doesn’t make chocolate, but that’s its only shortcoming. The performance space has been written up in the New York Times to Artforum for its groundbreaking experimental work in dance, music and theater.

On May 15th, State Senator Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) honored Chocolate Factory co-founder and executive director Sheila Lewandowski as a “Woman of Distinction” for her work. In addition to leading the Chocolate Factory since 2004, she previously served as the first managing director of Queens Council on the Arts and co-founded A Taste of LIC – link to site, the neighborhood’s very own, and better run, GoogaMooga (get ready, it’s coming in June).