When you visit New York, a side trip to Long Island City is well worth the effort.
Long Island City New York, is located in the Queens borough of New York City. Located on the southwestern portion of Long Island, and adjoins the east bank of the East River. Long Island City New York, often abbreviated as LIC, was incorporated as a city in 1870, combining several communities, including Astoria, Bowery Bay, Dutch Kills, Hunters Point, Queensbrige and Ravenswood.
Long Island City New York surrendered its independence in 1898 and became part of New York City, although the term Long Island City is still used by locals in reference to the area south of Astoria. Long Island City is connected to Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge—made famous by a Simon and Garfunkel song. Long Island City has a strong arts presence, and, as such, many New York City artists call this section of Queens home.
Once known as an industrial area and not accounting for much in the way of New York tourism, much of Long Island City has undergone a dramatic conversion with new residential and commercial uses, and has begun to become a more viable part of New York tourism with each passing year. Long Island City offers some interesting bits of trivia, too: it houses the Wonton Food Company, the world's biggest fortune cookie producer, which bakes millions of fortune cookies each day. Long Island City is also featured in Steven Spielberg's film "Munich".
Tourists that visit New York should make time to visit some of the cultural attractions of Long Island City, including:
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center: an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, this museum is one of the largest museums in the United States dedicated solely to contemporary art. This museum is unique in that it resides in a refurbished schoolhouse, Public School 1, which was built in 1893.
Socrates Sculpture Park: this outdoor museum is home to the only park in New York City dedicated to large-scale art exhibits.
The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum: this former photo-engraving plant was converted to a workshop by famed artist Isamu Noguchi. In 1985 it was opened as a museum to house a comprehensive collection of Noguchi’s works.
Silvercup Studios: this studio complex, housed in the former Silvercup Bakery building, is the largest New York City film and television production facility. Significant works associated with the studio include HBO’s The Sopranos, ABC’s Hope & Faith, Sex and the City, Gangs of New York, Little Nicky, and Meet the Parents.
New York tourism is ever-changing, and seems to incorporate new must-visits on a regular basis. When one sets out to visit New York, visiting Long Island City will add an exciting, and perhaps unexpected, aspect to any New York City vacation.
