Island hopping

You know all those stoies about “the next hot nabe” and “the next cool ’hood”? This isn’t one of them. Long Island City has already arrived. The question is, why haven’t you?

Not as painfully hip as Williamsburg, nor as obnoxiously pricey as the Meatpacking District, Long Island City was until recently “that place across the East River with the big Pepsi sign”—an industrial wasteland known for its smokestacks, closed-down factories and, in the late ’90s, cheap apartments for college students priced out of nearby Astoria and Williamsburg.

As more young folks moved in, the developers followed, luring fashionistas, Wall Streeters and the occasional family, too. This influx of new blood is reinvigorating the area, with funky eateries and watering holes taking up residence alongside mom-and-pop stores, factories and decades-old juice joints. “Industrial chic” is not only the neighborhood’s look but its lifestyle.

Its prime location minutes from Manhattan—seven, actually, on the 7 train—and the stunning, movie-set-evoking views of the skyline from the East River waterfront have helped push LIC to the top of the city’s real-estate market. The smell of bakeries and the quaint sight of old ladies in housedresses are now complemented by a parade of baby strollers and the sound of jackhammers, as the area has witnessed an unprecedented increase in new residential construction. In the Hunter’s Point area lining the borough’s edge—just west of long-standing warehouses, taxi depots and saloons—you’ll find several newly built, ultramod condos attracting the upwardly mobile set.

The transition from old world to new hasn’t been unanimously welcomed. Certain longtime residents and business owners aren’t thrilled with the influx of new people, venues and activity. While they gather in their old haunts and wring their hands in frustration, progress continues unabated, though it’s not quite complete yet, as the lack of a decent Laundromat or supermarket attests.

Still, there’s enough now for one to consider a move—and fast. Silvercup Studios, New York City’s largest film and television production facility, adds a bit of glamour, having been home to HBO’s The Sopranos, NBC’s 30 Rock, and countless commercials, music videos and fashion shoots. Other not-to-miss highlights are the charming LIC Community Garden on 49th Avenue; restaurant hot spots like Lounge 47; and the bizarrely colorful Titanic House (47-08 11th St between 47th Ave and 47th Rd).

Inside, you’ll find a guide to everything LIC. Read on, and consider a visit. The now-hot nabe is waiting.—Mike Diamond