10/28/12 12:30pm

nyc-oem-hurricane-sandy-map

Image source: NYC Office of Emergency Management

As you are no doubt aware, we’ve got a hurricane nipping at our heels. Hurricane Sandy is on its way here and it looks bad – and it will become even worse because it’s scheduled to have a meetup with a Nor’easter – the collision of these two storms have caused some weather folks to nickname the whole thing, “Frankenstorm” – this is ironic especially since we are so close to Halloween. “Turduckenstorm” has also made an appearance as well – a storm within a storm.

On a more serious note, over on the Facebook page for Craig Allen – the meteorologist at CBS 880 AM, is some good information. Here’s a storm tracking map - all the possible predictable paths the storm could take.

Image source: CBS 880 AM

Would have been great if the storm took the path of that outer green path. And here’s the storm along the Southeast coast (click to enlarge).

hurricane-sandy-southeast-coast

Image source: CBS 880 AM

It’s a big one. (more…)

10/02/12 3:00pm

metro-north-train-nyc

Image source: HelveticaFanatic on Flickr 

The topic of building a Metro-North station in Queens – in particular, Astoria – is in the news again. The Daily News reports that Quinnipiac University sophomore Ali Fadil (he lives in Whitestone) “has launched a petition urging the MTA to open a Metro-North station in Queens.” (more…)

09/17/12 3:45pm

Table Wine has a deal on rum, just in time for International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Table Wine, a really nice wine shop in Jackson Heights, is honoring International Talk Like a Pirate Day with 10% off all rums in stock up until this Wednesday, arrr.

The weather and Italian food were stars of the weekend

Our Question of the Day today is, “what was your favorite thing you did over the weekend?” Here are some of the answers we got:

@ @ @ @ Spending time outdoors, Italian food from @ & Jurassic Park @!
@tastoriaqueens
tastoriaqueens
@ @ @ @ Being outside in the beautiful, cool weather & eating way too much Italian food. You?
@sacsplace
Sac's Place

New Metro-North service could come to the east Bronx, and could affect western Queens, too

Currently the MTA is considering bringing Metro-North service to the east Bronx, to serve the vicinities of Morris Park, Co-op City, Hunts Point, and Parkchester. These stations would provide connections to Penn Station, Westchester, and Connecticut. The cost to build it all would be around $350 million.

The new line would run along the Amtrak Hell Gate line in Astoria, LIC, and Sunnyside, and increased train service could affect the quality of life in western Queens, especially in the densely populated residential areas of Astoria, by the increase in train noise. That said, a number of local residents would love to see a Metro-North station built in Astoria, with the area near the Ditmars N/Q station (it essentially intersects with the Amtrak line) being their favorite location for a theoretical station. A new station in Sunnyside to serve LIRR riders is already in the works as part of the East Side Access plan.

One of the 50 objects revealing NYC history is the Flushing Remonstrance

The NY Times asked historians and museum curators to identify “50 objects that could embody the narrative of New York.” Three of the objects in this collection are from Flushing, including the Flushing Remonstrance, the Flushing Meadows time capsule, and a political sign in Chinese promoting Grace Meng, a New York State Assembly member who represents Flushing.

The Flushing Remonstrance has a connection to this very day, September 17 – today is Constitution Day, a day that commemorates the signing of the Constitution by the US Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Flushing Remonstrance is considered to be the precursor to the freedom of religion element in the Bill of Rights.

“Hands off my bladder”

That’s what was written on one of the signs in a photo featured in the recent Gothamist post called “Here’s Everything We Know About Bloomberg’s Big Soda Ban.” No matter if you are pro or con on this issue, it helps to be informed.

09/17/12 12:00pm

penn-station-access-bronx-nyc

Image source: MTA (click here for a larger image/pdf)

Currently the MTA is in the midst of a proposal to introduce Metro-North train service to the east Bronx, using Amtrak’s Hell Gate line (cool photos here). Four new stations are also being considered for this transit-light area, including the vicinities of Morris Park, Co-op City, Hunts Point, and Parkchester. These stations would provide connections to Penn Station, Westchester, and Connecticut. (more…)