It’s been exactly two months since I moved to New York City! Some pictures of my new neighbourhood follow.
It’s been about 60 days before I became a legal resident of the USA. I now call New York City home, though home is a relative term for this rolling stone.
You see, I have moved every 1 to 2 years since 2003. I don’t even remember all my addresses, but I’ve payed rent in Canada, France, Mexico, London and Hong Kong.
New York City also doesn’t feel like home yet because I have been travelling a fair bit. I officially moved here on June 14, but in the time since I’ve made trips to Texas, Panama, Ecuador, Barbados, and St. Lucia– a solid month away if you count up all the days.
Still, I have been enjoying the city on the days I am here– particularly my new neighbourhood. I technically live in the borough of Queens, in a little waterfront enclave known as Long Island City or Hunter’s Point. It’s bordered by East River, and thus right across the water from midtown Manhattan. To the north lies what I call “proper Queens” and to the south is Williamsburg, which is known to all as “hipster Brooklyn”. Long Island City is a rapidly changing area; once very industrial and not a particularly safe or nice place to live. However, extreme residential development (and admittedly, some gentrification) has turned the neighbourhood into a thriving community.
Now, don’t get it twisted, the part of Long Island City I inhabit is not the New York City of film and folklore. There is nary a brownstone to be seen, no long lines of yellow taxis waiting for their next fare. Here’s the view from my apartment window:
And L.I.C. (as Long Island City is affectionately called by its residents) is way more family friendly than fashionable. I swear that everybody along our street has a dog, baby, or both! But what L.I.C. lacks in cachet/trendiness it makes up for in beauty. There’s an expansive waterfront park right in front of my building (Gantry State Park) that has killer views of the Manhattan skyline, for one. How many iconic NYC buildings can you make out in the photos below, huh?!? (No pressure!)
There’s also a ferry that can take you over to 34th street in Manhattan if your little heart so desires. I’ve never taken it myself, but apparently the ride is only a few minutes.
But back to the waterfront. Liebling and I often walk along the promenade and delight in the beautiful sunsets. The unspoiled emerald patches o’ grass also make this a great place to loaf languidly or engage in contact sport. The weather has been amazing lately so as you can imagine, lots of folks have been out of doors, making the boardwalk quite the busy little thoroughfare.
Another fixture of L.I.C. is the neon Pepsi Cola sign that resides at the very end of Gantry Park. It’s one of the most prominent remnants of the now-demolished Pepsi bottling plant that was once an integral part of area’s industrial past.
Also of note is the area’s de facto main street, Vernon Boulevard. Chock full of nail shops and mom and pop restaurants, it’s a good place to sniff around if only to gain respite from the sizzling NYC heat (summer temperatures have rivalled Hades this year)! And so concludes a mini-tour of this little neighbourhood of mine. While I have no idea how long I’ll end up living here, I’m looking forward to exploring more and making it truly feel like home.
What do you think of my new hood? Have you ever been to this part of New York City?
51 Comments
Welcome to Queens! I live in Astoria and I frequently jog to Gantry Plaza State Park from my apartment. It’s one of my favorites! LIC has a growing number of great restaurants and things to do, so you’re in a good neighborhood 🙂
Oneika,
Your new neighborhood looks wonderful! The views alone! I hope you and Liebling are very happy there!
Kathy
Your pictures are so wonderful! I can only dream of moving to New York.
Welcome to New York! You also live near the studios that Sex in the City was taped, right off the expressway Silver Cup studios. Hope it becomes home very soon!
I wish both you and Liebling every success in your new neighbourhood. I’ve not yet been to New York but I’m looking to visit sometime next year. As much as I love visiting the United States, I prefer living in Europe or Asia. ‘Sorry! But I’d love to live in Hong Kong for a few years, for example. 🙂
However, I love the waterfront that is in your “hood” and the fact that the ferry and the Manhatten skyline is just in front of you. That would be neat!
I’ve been to Queens but I forgot which part. My college roommate is from there. I remember her father’s apartment was across the street from a baseball stadium.
I love your new neighborhood. I can’t wait to see what NYC has planned for you and you for it.
Welcome to your new neighborhood. It looks quite lovely. I wish you and the hubby lots of happy memories. The views are awesome. I remember one of my uncles lived in the area many many years ago, but l don’t remember it being this nice :-). It’s been a while since l visited Nu Yawk… Funny enough, my niece was just transferred there from London. Disfruta!
Yay! Welcome to NYC! I’ve been following your blog for years (since you were living in Europe). I know the spots you’re talking about, I used to live in Astoria, although I’m a die hard Brooklyn girl now- lol. Long Island City/Astoria (the dividing line is always confusing to me) is a fantastic neighborhood. I still visit regularly because you guys have some of the best restaurants in the city. Have you been to Sugar Freak (on 30th ave) yet? I have a slight obsession with it. You’ve got to try it if you haven’t yet. Best!
Congratulations on your new move! I’ve never been to NY but it’s definitely on my to do list and these beautiful images only build my anticipation for taking that trip soon!
Wow, I’ve been to NY quite a few times but have never seen this area? Thanks for showing me a different side of NY, one that isn’t overrun by yellow taxi cabs and the like. I like that it sounds more “family-friendly” than “high-fashion. .Welcome to the BIG APPLE. Enjoy!
Oh my this place looks beautiful! I seriously need to visit the US before my visa for the USA expires! Debating whether to cut my time in Australia at the end of the year short so I can visit during Christmas….
NYC is always a good idea! Especially during Christmas (if you can handle the cold). It’s GORGEOUS.
Okay first of all you look so BEAUTIFUL! Your hair, your lipstick and your outfit! Wow!
This post definitely had me missing NYC. It’s going to definitely be one of the first places I visit when I leave China.
Thanks Kaila!!!!!! Where are you in China?
Lovely neighbourhood! Anywhere near water is a massive plus for me. Hope you and hubby make many happy memories here:-D
Awww thanks!
Welcome to my native city! I’m from the era when the city became famous for being the “Big Apple.” I’m also old enough to have the truer NYC accent–which I’m glad to be in the few New Yorkers who’s accent tells everyone where you’re originally from. I lived in Woodside Queens back in the day, the 1980s and early 2000s so I do recall when L.I.C. was to me a gloomy looking place. I’m originally from Manhattan where my family settled awhile back. You truly going to enjoy the diversity of the city.
Very cool! I loveeee the various NYC accents, though I’m unable to distinguish between them.
Welcome to LIC, NYC. Once upon a time Vernon Blvd. was a major truck route, the back streets that you now call home were cobblestone and Bloomingdale’s, Macys and Gimbels had their furniture warehouses there. When the stores had their furniture clearance sales this is where we would come to buy furniture for our house in Queens. Jackson Avenue had one diner and was lined with yellow taxi garages. The circus was housed at the Sunnyside yards and would travel from Madison Square Garden to the yards every night.
That’s an awesome point
That’s a great point
Wonderful views on that!
It’s nearly impossible to find educated people on this subject, but you sound
like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Just desire to say your article is as amazing.
The clarity in your post is simply great and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission allow me to grab your
RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the
enjoyable work.
Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your
blog on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look
when I get home. I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, excellent site!
continuously i used to read smaller articles or reviews which
as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which
I am reading at this time.
Generally I do not learn article on blogs,
but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me
to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me.
Thanks, very nice post.
This is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this
one. A must read article!
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or
did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out.
Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks a lot
Spot on with this write-up, I really believe that this amazing site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the
information!
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your website, how
can i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a appropriate deal.
I were a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered
bright transparent idea
Very good post. I will be going through some of these issues as well..
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect
against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would
really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.
Many thanks
wonderful submit, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this.
You must proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different web page and thought I
may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to going over your web page for a second time.
What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It
positively useful and it has aided me out loads.
I am hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its helped me.
Good job.
Awesome post.
It’s amazing to pay a quick visit this site and reading the views of all colleagues concerning this
paragraph, while I am also eager of getting experience.
Excellent way of describing, and nice paragraph to get information about my presentation topic, which i am going to convey in university.
excellent post, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector don’t understand this.
You should proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a great readers’ base
already!
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this
site with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my
followers! Wonderful blog and great design.
It’s actually very complicated in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, therefore I
simply use web for that reason, and obtain the latest news.
Everyone loves it whenever people come together
and share ideas. Great site, continue the good work!
I pay a quick visit day-to-day a few web pages and information sites to read articles, except this blog gives
feature based content.
Good post. I’m going through some of these issues as well..
Highly energetic blog, I loved that a lot. Will there be a part
2?
It’s not my first time to pay a quick visit this web site,
i am visiting this website dailly and get good facts from here all the time.
Excellent website you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover
the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really love
to be a part of online community where I can get opinions from other experienced
people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations,
please let me know. Cheers!
Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
Very helpful info specially the remaining part 🙂 I maintain such info much.
I used to be looking for this particular information for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Right on my man!
Comments are closed.