Oct. 5, 2020 By Christian Murray The owners of Queens Comfort, a well-known Astoria restaurant that opened in 2011, announced via Instagram over the weekend that they are closing their establishment for good on Oct. 11. “We are truly heartbroken to announce that Queens Comfort will be closing—October 11th will be our last day,” according… Read more »
Oct. 5, 2020 By Allie Griffin Regal will temporarily cease all U.S. and U.K. operations beginning Thursday as movie theaters in New York remain closed amid the ongoing pandemic. Cineworld, the parent company of Regal, announced the suspension today, which will impact 40,000 employees across the U.S. “This is not a decision we made lightly,… Read more »
Oct. 4, 2020 By Christian Murray Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to shut down all non-essential businesses—as well as public and private schools—in Kew Gardens and Kew Gardens Hills starting Wednesday. The mayor, in a press conference this morning, said that the shutdown would apply to nine ZIP codes across Brooklyn and Queens, including the… Read more »
Oct. 2, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than three dozen “affordable” apartments in a newly constructed building in Long Island City are up for grabs through the city’s affordable housing lottery. The building, called “The Cove,” is located at 43-12 Hunter St. and 37 “affordable” housing units are available for those who earn at least… Read more »
Oct. 3, 2020 By Christian Murray Police have arrested a Corona man for a stray bullet shooting that killed a Jackson Heights mother inside her 34th Avenue apartment early Wednesday morning. Issam Elabbar,31, who lives on 41st Avenue, was nabbed by detectives around 2 a.m. Saturday and faces multiple charges, including murder, manslaughter and possession… Read more »
Oct. 2, 2020 By Christian Murray A homeless man has been indicted on rape charges for the sexual assault of a 51-year-old woman who he allegedly attacked in Forest Park in July. Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, 32, allegedly followed the victim along a trail inside the park at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 before sexually… Read more »
Oct. 2 2020 By Michael Dorgan Video footage has emerged of a motorist spitting at a female cyclist in Astoria Wednesday afternoon after the pair got into a heated confrontation. In the video, which was shot and tweeted by the cyclist, the driver can be seen in the freshly-painted bike lane on Crescent Street blocking… Read more »
Oct. 2, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Long Island City-based owners of a family-run chain of cafés are set to open a new establishment on the corner of Vernon Boulevard and 50th Avenue, where the Dorian Café was located. Dan and Odehel Magor, a husband-and-wife duo who own Black Star Bakery and Café at 2-10… Read more »
Oct. 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin The number of candidates looking to run for the City Council seat to represent Astoria is narrowing. Rod Townsend, a Community Board 1 member and former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, has ended his campaign and endorsed the high-profile progressive Tiffany Cabán for the… Read more »
Oct. 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city shut down an Elmhurst special education high school for 14 days after two unrelated positive COVID-19 cases were found. The Department of Health closed John F. Kennedy Jr. School P721Q, located at 57-12 94th St., for two weeks beginning Sept. 29, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced during… Read more »