September 11

Today is 9/11, which can be a pretty challenging day for many. We watched the reading of the names this morning, and it was very moving. We hope you have been able to take time during this day for whatever your needs are in remembering this day eleven years ago. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us, too.

We also came across this 1978 photo of the towers from an LIC perspective. Thanks to Dennis Ponsot for uploading to Facebook.

wtc-from-lic-queens-1978

Astoria has the best public high school in all of NYC

Congratulations to the Baccalaureate School for Global Education in Astoria! It was rated the top NYC public high school in US News & World Report’s rankings this year. The Daily News describes the program:

With an authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization to offer its Diploma Program, BSGE is among the best of the best. All prospective students must register for the school website’s admissions test, and each year less than 10% of the applicant pool is accepted. Every member of its ethnically and economically diverse body of students is expected upon completion to be a candidate for an International Baccalaureate Diploma. This rigor translates to staggering college matriculation results, as approximately one quarter of each graduating class attends an Ivy League college. The school also fosters a creative environment in which a broad range of electives and extracurricular activities is made available, from robotics to early morning fitness.

Where to drink beer outdoors in Queens 

Serious Drinks has a nice piece on where to drink beer outdoor in Queens. The list looks at Astoria and LIC, where there are quite a few places to enjoy a cold brew in the open air, including the amazing Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria, as well as newcomer Alewife. Here’s hoping people come forth with their faves further east in the borough.

The Oracle Club could be your new artsy home away from home

The Oracle Club, a salon/club in LIC, is a great resource for creative folks living in Western Queens. It is “a place where like-minded creative people could interact, commune, and be mutually stimulated and encouraged… a club with a social salon, extensive library, and studio and work spaces for visual artists and writers.”

There is a membership fee for this space. Artists can join for $175/month, which gives them access to shared studio space and a private locker; writers can join for $125/month, which gives them access the library. For $50/month there’s a social package, which provides access to the salon and library as a meeting place for friends and colleagues over coffee. They can access the Club from 8am to 11pm. The Oracle Club also produces events, like concerts and lectures.

Congratulations, Andy Murray

History was made last night in Flushing, when Andy Murray, the Scottish player who recently won the Men’s Singles gold medal at the London Olympics, beat Novak Djokovic three sets to two. A man from the UK hasn’t won this tournament since 1936, AND this was Murray’s first Grand Slam win so this is a Big Deal in the world of tennis. It was nice to see how gracious Djokovic was, too.


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment