Gothamist: Neighborhood Smackdown: Long Island City Vs. Williamsburg

set things straight

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:03:54 -0500

lets set the record straight here: there is a cool boutique in LIC, its called subdivision. second, LIC has been undergoiong the squattng artist phase... there is tons of community art space, free galleries and industrial workshops that display artistic works... and, we have no Starbucks! if that's not the definition of cool, i don't know what is.

ES

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:38:05 -0500

LIC is really ruined as a neighborhood by the LIRR railtracks. It divides the place, makes it difficult to navigate, and contributes to that strange deserted look. Also, gentrification there seems to have skipped the squatting artist/ bohemian phase and gone straight into the cute restaurants and condos for yuppies phase. Williamsburg has been ruined, but at one time it was a pretty cool place. LIC doesn't even have the past going for it.

Jersey City Mafia

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:56:48 -0500

Jersey City #1

rdc

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:09:31 -0500

Astoria beats out either of those two hellholes

bootsy

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:28:21 -0500

Astoria, bitches!

G

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:15:01 -0500

Bushwick, obvs.

uujjjjjj

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:05:54 -0500

Williamsburg's got some nice Italian and Polish restaurants, but that's the nicer part of the neighborhood where the original residents never really left.

Angry Asian

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 08:11:21 -0500

Greenpoint is where it's at.

corky

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:16:12 -0500

A contest between LIC and Williamsburg: It's like watching the Special Olympics.

jason

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:57:14 -0500

Where are LIC and Williamsburg? Are we talking about New Jersey?

Kevin Walsh

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:49:26 -0500

Can't make LIC-Williamsburg. I'll be at Flushing vs. Bayside. www.forgotten-ny.com

WIliams

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:39:02 -0500

Williamsburg kicks the shit out of LIC! Our Arugula is ten times more potent.

Matthew

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 19:28:06 -0500

There is more than enough to lament in Williamsburg, but at least there is SOMETHING there. Most of LIC feels like a barren waste land. Perhaps I am missing certain populated pockets, but I find very little draw to the neighborhood other than the occasional trip to PS1.

M

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:58:39 -0500

But I have to say as a woman I don't think I'd feel comfortable coming home by myself late at night in LIC. At least in Williamsburg there is usually a lot of people around, LIC late at night is a ghost town. And say what you want about the L but 7 minutes to Union Square is a hell of a lot better than 30. Of course I work near there which is why I live in Williamsburg in the first place.

anonymass

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:28:34 -0500

If I could live in either rent-free, I'd decline.

Rodney P. Sweetchops

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:13:05 -0500

Just comparing restaurants, LIC beats Williamsburg hands down. Tournesol, Bella Villa, Cafe Henri and Manducatis are far better than anything in Williamsburg, save perhaps Luger. On the other notes, it's much more debatable, but ask any chowhounder, LIC takes the culinary crown.

Robin

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:01:38 -0500

What about subdivison? http://subboutique.com/ ?