Swallow Tail Studios debuted its new web series, Murray Hill, late last week on the company’s YouTube Channel, and in just four days the first episode has garnered over 2,000 views.
The series was inspired by Swallow Tail Creative Director Julian Kim’s love-hate relationship with Flushing, which is readily apparent from the dialogue in the premiere episode.
In the opening scene, we follow a young male as he runs through the streets of Flushing to catch the LIRR, only to arrive just as his train is leaving the station. As he stands there overlooking the platform, a girl runs past him to the edge of the platform and, seeing him there, begins to chat him up. Over the course of the short episode, the two realize that they’re familiar with each other, but it’s obvious that the male character was too shy to approach the girl previously.
While the episode is less than seven and a half minutes long, it spans the hour that elapses as the pair waits for the next train together. Without giving away the farm, we can tell you that the two begin to develop a connection that leaves the viewer ready to watch a second episode. This blog, for one, is looking forward to seeing what happens next.
The Five Boroughs Music Festival is coming to Flushing Town Hall, and this year it will celebrate 200 years of American music on Fri., September 5 at 8 p.m.
With cooperation from the Casement Fund Song Series, the Town Hall will celebrate the 200th birthday of the Star Spangled Banner with a concert that tracks the progression of the American song over the past two centuries. Pianist Spencer Myer will lead acclaimed vocalists Caitlin Lynch, Leah Wool, Michael Slattery and Sidney Outlaw in the performance.
Cost of entry is $25, or $20 for Members and Queens residents and $10 for students.
Pot holes and trash are a common concern among patrons of the Mitchell-Linden Pathmark.
After roughly a decade of complaints from residents and patrons, the parking lot of the Mitchell-Linden Pathmark at 31-06 Farrington St. continues to be a hazardous eyesore according to State Senator Tony Avella, who hosted a press conference about the issue last Friday.
“The owners of the Plaza make a lot of money from the many businesses that are here, but they have yet to put some of that money back into improving the infrastructure,” Avella said. “The potholes, street collapses, uneven patchwork, litter and grease stains must be addressed.
“I am calling on all of the owners to come together with members of the community to finally resolve this situation,” he added. “It’s hazardous, unsafe and unsanitary.”
About a decade ago, Mitchell-Linden Civic Association President Arlene Fleishman was severely injured when she stepped into what she thought was a minor puddle, but turned out to be a deep pot hole in the parking lot. For the past six years, she has been fighting vigorously for improvements.
“I thought I stepped into a puddle but it was a hole,” Fleishman said. “I had to wear a brace on one foot and a shoe on the other for six weeks.”
After her injury, Fleishman successfully sued Pathmark and began her campaign to see through improvements to the lot.
One construction boss who uses the parking lot as a mobile command center for his workers in the area said he was happy to see someone photographing the detritus in the lot. He pointed to a pile of trash next to his truck and said that while he makes sure his workers don’t dump, he’s seen local police officers, who also use the lot as a stopover, adding to the piles on their lunch breaks.
Several other Pathmark patrons commented on the pothole problem following Avella’s press conference.
Avella said that he inherited the Pathmark Plaza in a 2012 redistricting, and it has been an uphill battle since that time to try and get in touch with the five owners of the property, only one of which has to date agreed to sit down and talk about issues with the parking lot.
Beyond trash and potholes, a major concern is the volume of truck traffic using the parking lot as a layover, and as a result, says Fleishman, “You can’t see where you’re going when you’re backing up or coming out of your spot.”
“I have suggested numerous times that they designated one area for truckers,” she said. “They haven’t done it.”
She also reported having to call the police on multiple occasions to confront prostitutes who walk the lot.
Rufus Owens, who has been living in the neighborhood for 46 years, while supportive of the Pathmark’s role in the community, was critical of the conditions.
“We need this store in the area and they do a good job, but they need to help build a better road [surface],” Owens said. “You walk out here and you might get killed. I’ve seen so many accidents.”
Over 100 junior tennis players converged on the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park tennis courts last week to join tennis pro Thomas Blake for an instructional clinic hosted by CityParks Tennis and Coca Cola.
Blake gave personal tips to several players about how to improve their game, specifically schooling them on the basic forehand, backhand, serve and volley techniques that have helped him achieve success. “I’m just trying to give them basic fundamentals – move your feet, get set up early – mainly I’m just trying to stress that people have fun out here,” Blake said.
CityParks Tennis, a program run by the City Parks Foundation, provides lessons to kids of all ages and at all levels of play through its partnerships with Chase Bank, LaCoste and Coca Cola. The program is designed to make the sport less cost-prohibitive for interested young players.
The need for the CityParks Tennis program was highlighted at the event when John Ellis and his wife Dr. Meryem Bencheikh approached Blake asking him to advocate for lower court fees at New York City’s public parks.
“The USTA is making a push to get young children involved,” Blake said. “Obviously it’s been a long time since an American won there. I’ll certainly advocate that if I can.”
Borough President Melinda Katz will share her vision for the future of Flushing and Queens. Additional presentations will also be made by John Choe, director of One Flushing, and Alexandra Ruiz, director for Immigration Advancement Matters.
Police are looking for a man who tried to kidnap an 11-year-old boy in front of his Flushing school Friday afternoon.
The boy was waiting to be picked up by his father when the suspect approached him at the corner of Colden Street an 45th Avenue outside the East-West School of International Studies just after 2:30 p.m. He reportedly showed him a photo of a resort with a pool and offered to take him someplace nice upstate.
The boy, who has only been identified as Joseph, refused his offer. That’s when the man jumped out of the car and tried to force Joseph in. Luckily, that is precisely the moment that Joseph’s father pulled up and the man fled in his vehicle north on Colden Street.
The would-be kidnapper is described as an Asian man in his 40s, standing approximately 5’7” tall. He was last seen wearing a blue multi-colored sweatshirt and brown slacks. He was driving a dark blue four-door sedan.
Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Crimestoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
Get a taste of the HSBC Children’s Garden program as we plant seeds while learning about gardening and the environment. Plus, have a chance to register early for the Spring Session starting April 5! – Learn more here.
Assembly Member Ron Kim will be honoring the Legal Aid Society and presenting a New York State Citation to Sateesh Nori, Esq., the Attorney-in-charge of the Queens Neighborhood Office, today.
The assemblyman and the Legal Aid Society worked to provide bi-lingual free legal services out of the assemblyman’s office.
The Five Boroughs Music Festival is coming to 
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