The neighborhood where we live, where we're getting married and where we invite you to stay is called Long Island City. It is not in Long Island; it is in Queens right across the East River from Manhattan. Literally a 3 minute subway ride into the city on the E line.
Full disclosure: Our neighborhood is urban, gorgeous, and off-putting. It's a blend of tree-lined brownstone streets, abandoned warehouses, artist studios, art galleries and museums, cute cafes, fantastic restaurants, high-end cocktail bars, the beautiful Gantries State Park with boardwalks and piers, graffiti covered industrial sites, overhead subways - and all of this changes dramatically as you walk block to block.
We live on a cute little residential street where they film about 20 major TV programs and films. We are getting married 2 blocks away on a seemingly abandoned industrial street. Both the Wyndham Garden Hotel and Z Hotel are located another 2-3 blocks away from our venue in the midst of these warehouses. It might look a bit eerie, but it's just the nature of our neighborhood. A neighborhood that is growing rapidly.
So, don't freak out.
The Secret Theater: Our local theater always has something going on if you don't want to head into Manhattan for a show.
Laughing Devil Comedy Club: This recent addition is getting a lot of buzz and drawing in some recognizable names.
The Creek and the Cave Yeah, we have two comedy clubs. There is at least one event happening here every night.
Gantry Plaza State Park: The old gantries were used to unload ships on the East River, now they serve as awesome architectural focal points to the boardwalks and piers of this park. Get a fantastic coffee at Sweetleaf or Communitea and go for a stroll by the old Pepsi Cola sign.
Socrates Sculpture Park: Up for a longer walk? Walk about 1.5 miles north on Vernon Blvd up to this small park on the water filled with a constantly changing array of outdoor sculptures. And then right next door is the Noguchi Museum for those interested in understated Asian sculpture. A little further north from there is the Museum of the Moving Image for exhibitions and film screenings.
FOOD
We have amazing food all within an 5-10 minute walk from your hotels. A couple places are very close on 44th Road like John Brown Smokehouse and LIC Market, but most of our great restaurants are a few blocks south on Vernon Blvd. Here are some of our favorites.
John Brown Smokehouse: BBQ, smoked meats, comfort food and beer. Large portions for the price. Live music. Recommended: pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, cornbread (if you can't wait for/didn't get enough at the wedding).
LIC Market: Fresh, local and seasonal. Great small plates.
Alobar: Our local charcuterie uses a 100 mile local, and snout-to-tail approach, processing all meats in house and with a lot of creativity. A great rotating menu, some lovely, unique cocktails and nice brunch options. Three words: maple bacon popcorn.
Lenny's Pizza: You've heard about it all your life: New York pizza. It's the best in the world (not counting France or Italy)...and they deliver.
Blend: Latin American fusion. A wonderful brunch - get the arepas benedictos (this is where Christina stole her arepas recipe from).
BANY: Or maybe you just want sushi...the fish is fresh and the rice is decent. Try the BANY Summer Roll.
Tuk Tuk: Some of the best Thai food we've ever had. You can't go wrong here.
Cafe Henri: The buttery yellow walls and red varnished tables instantly trasnport you to LIC's cozy version of France. Bowls of cappucino, savory and sweet crepes, sandwiches, soup, entrees, wine. A great place for any meal.
The Creek and the Cave: Baja California style Mexican. It's also a bar and comedy/event space. Jalapeno poppers. What.
Looking to get boozy?
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