Meg Cotner

Newsstand

03/22/13 2:00pm

An alternate plan to the Queensway – reactivating the line as a working rail line

The LIRR line in question, when it was active

After hearing about the feasibility study RFPs issued by the Trust for Public Land, we’ve learned of a concerted push for the alternate plan for the abandoned rail line – turning it back into a working train line. Two Congressmen representing southern Queens - Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) and Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) plan to “endorse the proposal and push to allocate federal transportation subsidies to study a plan for bringing rail service back.” (more…)

elevated park, federal transportation subsidies, Greg Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries, LIRR, Phil Goldfeder, QueensWay, rail line

Real Estate

Bayside

03/22/13 1:00pm

QNYC real estate listings of the day – homes in in Bayside, Jackson Heights, Beechhurst, and LIC

by Meg Cotner

Here are some of the properties we’ve featured in QueensNYC this week – three co-ops and a condo in Bayside, Jackson Heights, Beechhurst, and LIC.

23-35 Bell Blvd, #5J, Bayside, NY 11360 (GMAP) - This 1 bed/1 bath co-op in the Bay Country community in Bayside is priced at $249,000. There is a lot of sunlight and newly refinished hardwood floors throughout the unit. The kitchen is a good size for a galley kitchen, with stainless steel appliances, and has an eat-in area, and a breakfast bar. There is also a separate dining room. The building even has its own tennis courts for residents to use. The unit has winter water views and has ownership of two parking spots. The building is right across the street from the big Bay Terrace shopping center, and is convenient to a numer of bus lines (Q13, Q28). It’s located a little over a mile from the Bayside LIRR station.

(more…)

city views, co-ops, condos, dryer, fitness center, laminate flooring, parking spot, roof deck, stainless steel appliances, washer, water views

Nature

Rockaways

03/22/13 11:00am

Coley the osprey is back in Jamaica Bay

by Meg Cotner

Image source: Ranger Dave Taft, Gateway National Recreation Area

We learned via the Osprey’s Journey blog that Coley, the osprey that scientists have been tracking throughout the winter, has made it back to Jamaica Bay! He was in South America during the winter, but as of 5:20pm on March 20, Coley was spotted by Jamaica Bay naturalist Don Riepe. Coley was “sitting in the marsh by his nest with his mate while she was eating a fish.”

(more…)

Coley, Colombia, Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay, naturalists, osprey, Osprey's Journey

Question of the Day

03/22/13 10:00am

Question of the day – what have you read lately?

by Meg Cotner

The gorgeous library at The Oracle Club in LIC – lots of books!

It’s always fun to hear what people are reading these days. So what have you read lately? Are you a book fiend? Devoted to magazines (newsy and trashy alike)? Or maybe you’re fully online and you primarily read content on the web? Let us know – leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity!

books, magazines, online, reading, websites

Music

Astoria

03/22/13 9:30am

Queens represents in Best NYC Buskers list

by Meg Cotner

Image source: Natalia Paruz Facebook page

Gothamist has put together a list of the 7 Best Buskers in NYC and we’re happy to say that buskers from Queens made the cut.

First up is Natalia Paruz, better known as The Saw Lady. You’ll find her playing her musical saw throughout the subway system, the hauntingly beautiful sounds emanating throughout any particular station. (more…)

buskers, International Musical Saw Festival, Joya Bravo, musical saw, musicians, Natalia Paruz, subway, The Saw Lady, violinist

News

Middle Village

03/21/13 3:00pm

Congress on Your Corner events with Grace Meng start in Middle Village

by Meg Cotner

The good folks at Patch reported on an upcoming outreach program by US Representative Grace Meng (D-Flushing) called “Congress on Your Corner,” it will be a chance for neighbors to voice their concerns, discuss community issues on their mind, or just stop by and meet Representative Meng.

(more…)

Congress on Your Corner, Grace meng, Middle Village Library, Representative

Arts and Culture

Astoria

03/21/13 2:00pm

Queens – especially Astoria – makes it big on Jeopardy!

by Meg Cotner

We can’t tell you how tickled we were to learn from CBS that long running game show Jeopardy! featured Queens in a big way this week. On Tuesday, they devoted an entire category to Queens in the second round. They called the category “The Queens English” (nice) and featured an airport (JFK) to Queens history (Peter Stuyvesant) to sports (John McEnroe).

(more…)

Astoria, game show, Jeopardy!, JFK, The Queens English

Real Estate

Hunters Point

03/21/13 1:00pm