Get to know Long Island City

Long Island City was a prime base of operations for giants in audio equipment, chewing gum, soft drinks, and many other industries in its past life. That history has not been entirely discarded, even as the area is now primarily residential. The most evident preserved piece of history is the neon Pepsi-Cola sign in Gantry Plaza State Park — formerly atop the company’s LIC bottling factory — a city landmark near-synonymous with the neighborhood. Another repurposed LIC icon is Silvercup Studios, a substantially-sized film and television production facility housed in a former bakery. MoMA PS1, a leader in experimental contemporary art, lives inside an unmistakable Romanesque Revival building that was previously a public school. For older architecture retaining its original function, check out the stellar 19th-century townhouses of the Hunters Point Historic District.

LIC is undeniably spread out, but its unending series of standout stores, eateries, and bars are distributed far and wide throughout its bounds. You’ll find the highest concentration of options clustered along Vernon and Jackson avenues and down 21st Street by Court Square and Queensboro Plaza. However, there isn’t a singular main drag or dining district. In some regards, the restaurant scene spills over the Pulaski Bridge from neighboring Greenpoint, with countless dynamic offerings ranging from Michelin-starred stalwarts to casual sidewalk cafes that are sure to please even the most finicky foodies. Venture into warehouse territory and uncover a sacred string of craft breweries to hit after sweating it up at a nearby rock climbing gym. In terms of shopping, a mix of newer Haute boutiques and quirky neighborhood holdouts stitch together a vibrant fabric one can spend entire days exploring.