LIC Lunar New Year Launch + Networking Night Recap

Over the past two weeks, we celebrated the start of our 2025 LIC Lunar New Year Celebration with a launch event at Chi Chicken and a networking night at Han Dynasty LIC.

A Powerful Conversation on Black Community & Business in Long Island City

Tuesday, February 11, 6-8 p.m.

Join us for an engaging conversation about the dynamic and influential Black community in Long Island City—one that has been shaped by a rich history of artists, entrepreneurs, advocates, and business leaders. These voices continue to drive the future of LIC, creating lasting impact across industries and beyond. This event is about connection—bringing together those who live, work, or have strong ties to LIC and western Queens to celebrate this rich legacy and explore the opportunities ahead, especially for business owners, workers and entrepreneurs in the area.

Hosted at MoMA PS1, a world-renowned arts institution with a deep history of fostering inclusion and attracting diverse audiences, the evening will feature a dynamic panel discussion, networking, and guided tours of "Ceremonies Out of the Air: Ralph Lemon," showcasing over 60 works by this acclaimed Black artist.

Don’t Miss Out: LIC Lunar New Year Events Happening This Week

Church Street Boxing Celebrates Lunar New Year

Thursday, February 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Ring in the new year with Church Street Boxing's Lunar New Year sessions. Year of the Snake classes are open to all to reserve and explore what this gym has to offer. Details

Gallery Kit: Lunar New Year at The Noguchi Museum

Friday, February 7, 3-5 p.m.

Visitors of all ages are invited to explore Isamu Noguchi’s Lunar light sculptures through art-making at The Noguchi Museum. Details

Zodiac Animal Creative Movement Class for Kids at the LIC School of Ballet

Saturday, February 8, 1-2 p.m.

To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Long Island City School of Ballet presents a Zodiac Animal Dance Movement Workshop for children three to seven years old. Details

Lunar New Year Sip and Paint with Your Pup at Wag & Bone

Saturday, February 8, 7-9 p.m.

Create festive Lunar New Year-themed artwork, guided by professional artists, in a welcoming indoor dog park and bar setting at Wag & Bone. Details

Year of the Snake Themed Trivia at Fifth Hammer Brewing Co.

Tuesday, February 11, 7-10 p.m.

Join Fifth Hammer Brewing for a night of Year Of The Snake-themed questions hosted by Troublesome Trivia. Food will be available from Happy Bull Pizza. Details

Lunar New Year Celebration - Long Island City, Queens

PIX 11

International Security Services, Inc.

Founded in 1999, International Security Services, Inc. provides expert armed and unarmed security guard services across various sectors, including residential, commercial, bodyguard, executive protection, and event security. They also offer background checks, surveillance, investigative services, polygraph testing, and missing persons assistance. Their training schools specialize in security guard certification, Fire and Life Safety Director courses, and licensing support for handgun and security guard credentials. Additionally, they offer specialized F-89 and F-80 aircraft services, ensuring top-quality maintenance and repairs. Trust International Security Services, Inc. for reliable security solutions, training, and aviation services to meet all your safety needs.

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Legends of LIC - "The Cadence of a Sledgehammer"

By Bob Singleton, Executive Director, Greater Astoria Historical Society

"Long Island City has always been multi-national, multi-cultural and multi-racial. In the work gangs of its railroads, the production lines of its factories, and on the fields and pastures of its farms, it was your mettle, not your parents, which determined your value and worth. 

From the sandhogs tunneling under the East River to the gandy dancers laying the track for the Hell Gate Bridge, from the ironworkers who walked the Queensboro beams to the human jackhammers hewing massive granite blocks for its foundations, no one cared about ‘who your daddy was.’ 

The gimlet eye of a supervisor only focused on a quota to fill, a tier of bricks to lay, and a ship on Newtown Creek to unload. It was the cadence of the sledgehammer, not the color of one’s skin, that tapped out the measure of a person’s worth." Read on here

One LIC Neighborhood Plan Community Survey on Public Sites - Through Mar. 8

Share your design and programming ideas for three publicly-owned sites in LIC in this survey from Council Member Julie Won, the Department of City Planning, and WXY Studio:

• 44-36 Vernon Boulevard
• 4-99 44th Drive
• 44-59 45th Avenue

Take the Survey

Questions? Email LIC-Study@planning.nyc.gov

MTA Approves Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved the Queens Bus Network Redesign plan, a bus service improvement plan to transform the nearly 70-year-old bus system with updates to both express and local bus service to better match the growth and travel patterns the borough has seen over the years. Complementing a five-year planning process and extensive outreach process of over 250 events with more than 18,000 comments, NYC Transit will launch a large-scale public education campaign leading up to implementation of the new bus network, which will roll out in two phases, in alignment with regular seasonal service changes at the end of June and the end of August. The final plan includes a total of 124 routes (vs 113 existing): 94 local routes, and 30 express routes. Details

CitizensNYC Grants for Businesses and Leaders - Deadline Feb. 7

CitizensNYC is a nonprofit organization that makes direct cash grants to hundreds of New Yorkers each year who have ideas to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Neighborhood Business Grants support local businesses with grants of up to $5,000, and Community Leaders Grants support projects with grants of up to $5,000. Details

How Nonprofits, Faith Groups, and Businesses can Protect Immigrants - Feb. 13

Attend a briefing on how non-profits, communities of faith, and businesses can help protect immigrants. This event is hosted by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Council Member Alexa Avilés, African Communities Together, Immigrant ARC, and NYLP. Learn about:

1. NYC Sanctuary City Laws & Policy Changes Enacted by second Trump Administration
2. Know Your Rights
3. Training by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

Details

NYC Tourism + Conventions' Tourism Ready 101 Info Webinar - Feb. 13

New York City Tourism + Conventions’ Tourism Ready 101 is a free program designed to help NYC businesses and cultural organizations tap into the travel trade and grow business through tourism. Register here for an informational webinar - Tourism Ready 101 – Spring 2025 or contact Reagan Stulbaum at rstulbaum@nyctourism.com for more information.

Benefits of working with the travel trade include filling off-peak periods, building long-term business partnerships, gaining repeat visitor business, securing advance bookings, and boosting global exposure.

2025 Queens Community Board Application - Deadline Feb. 14

Looking for a way to serve your community? Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. is now accepting applications from qualified, civic-minded individuals interested in joining one of Queens’ 14 Community Boards, which play an important advisory role in considering land and zoning matters, city service delivery and more. Apply at bit.ly/communityboard2025.

NYC Free Tax Prep Services for Self-Employed New Yorkers

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)'s NYC Free Tax Prep for Self-Employed Filers offers free tax preparation services tailored to the needs of gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners. Many of these individuals face significant challenges when filing taxes and managing financial records. This program is designed to provide them with the support and education they need to succeed. Details

LICP Business Assistance Program

Our Business Assistance team provides free, one-on-one assistance to businesses in the greater Long Island City area, covering a variety of issues. We can help you: Access Financing, Find Real Estate, Grow Your Business, Navigate Government and Incentives, and much more. Details