ANIMAL » QUEENS

Con Ed Was Really F*cking Nuts in the ’60s

Bucky Turco — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:00:56 +0000

The nuclear power plant at Indian Point is a mere 35 miles from NYC and that’s considered dangerously close should anything go wrong, now imagine one just two miles from Times Square as proposed by Con Ed in 1962. The New York Times dug up the decades old proposal that called for building a reactor on the East River in Long Island City, but was ultimately rejected. Thank goodness for these people.

Owner Mulls Going Over Five Pointz with High Rises

Bucky Turco — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:35:15 +0000

Sad news for muralists and fans of legal graffiti. Five Pointz, a sprawling spray paint covered building in Long Island City, may be buffed, permanently. Owner Jerry Wolkoff is looking to redevelop the storied spot into a massive residential complex consisting of high rises, a supermarket, retail spaces, artist studios, and in an effort to throw the street art community a bone, a dedicated wall for the aerosol-inclined to practice on.

Not surprisingly, some people are up in arms over the inevitable razing of the iconic location formerly referred to as the “Phun Factory,” but no one makes a more ridiculous argument for its preservation than Steve Harrington, author of a really crappy book on New York street art:

This is a cultural landmark, not only for New York, but for hip-hop culture worldwide,” says Steve Harrington, the author of the book “Street Art New York.”

Ha! If that’s the case, knock it down this weekend! (Photo: mogaphoto/flickr)

Congressman Weiner Wants to Sell “Sexist” Statue on Craigslist

Marina Galperina — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:55 +0000

Congressman Rep. Anthony Weiner thinks that this classical statue in Queens is “sexist” and “misogynist.” It’s been in Kew Gardens since 1941. Weiner suggests selling it on Craigslist to raise funds, instead of spending thousand to restore it. Why? Just because a big marble man representing “virtue” stands atop two twisted siren-women representing “political corruption” and “vice?” Oh.

Graffiti Complaints Drop Citywide

Bucky Turco — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:45:34 +0000

As graffiti complaints decreased across NYC, they rose sharply in parts of Queens and Manhattan according to figures cited by the Daily News. Does this mean there’s an increase in vandalism or just bitchy people willing to call 311? It’s probably a mix of both. The point is, the general public doesn’t like it. “It attracts the wrong element,” said one woman. And if by that she means bloggers, she’s absolutely right!

Weirdo Geek-Out at World Maker Faire in Queens This Weekend

Marina Galperina — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:13:00 +0000

World Maker Faire (the Burning Man of sciency-fairs) comes to Queen’s New York Hall of Science this weekend so you can pay witness to The Most Useless Machine, gawk at some mutant bikes and fly the Brooklyn Auerodrome.

See also: The Swimming Cities of the Ocean of Blood with “a six-foot fish-head chariot for the Charlton Heston-style chariot races” and Cyclecide’s bike rodeo featuring the Axe Grinder, “a 23-foot tower with a bike that plays a windmill of electric guitars” when ridden. Sep 25 & Sep 26

Street Artists Get Lines Crossed in LIC

Will Sherman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:15:43 +0000

MOMO and Sam3 finished their first collaborative painting last month, a head-scratching image in an abandoned Long Island City lot. The two street artists freestyled the single line portrait according to MOMO, who’s no stranger to continuous drawings after tagging Manhattan in 2007. Watch a stop motion video of the illicit action after the jump.

Photo via MOMO

Queens Couple Arrested for Kids With Guns Photoshoot

Will Sherman — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:46:24 +0000

A Queens couple seriously misjudged their friends and family’s sense of humor. When 24-year-old Angelea Haynes and 27-year-old Jesse Kendall emailed out photos of their 5-year-old and infant sons posing with handguns, one of them forwarded it to Child Services, leading to their arrest on a variety of charges. |NYP|

Strip Club Bouncer Doesn’t Beat Patron

Will Sherman — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:20:08 +0000

Booted out of the Rouge Gentlemen’s Club, a Queens strip club enthusiast sought revenge by beating the crap out of himself and blaming it on the bouncer. Unfortunately for Khuram Murtaza’s poorly planned plot, surveillance cameras caught the 34-year-old smashing his face against a parked car outside, resulting in police charges him for filing a false report. |NYP|

Richie Magic Breaks Disgusting World Record

Will Sherman — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:13:21 +0000

Performing his human ashtray stunt on Saturday, magician Richie Magic suppressed his urge to vomit long enough to break the little known world record for “orally extinguishing, chewing and expelling” 200 cigarettes. The cancer stick-chomping magician proudly proclaimed, “Kids told me it was so disgusting that they’d never smoke. I couldn’t be happier.” |NYDN|

Nicotine Addict’s Magic Moment

Will Sherman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:30:42 +0000

As some type of inspiration to others, a cigarette-smoking magician will close out his 40-year habit by stubbing out 200 cancer sticks in his mouth. Richie Magic will perform the human ashtray feat outside his Queens magic shop tomorrow night. After recently setting an unenviable record for “stuffing 20 lit cigarettes in his mouth in 29 seconds,” the 53-year-old former corrections officer has spent weeks training for his new publicity stunt. This month Magic has eaten more than 2,000 cigarettes, which he admits is disgusting. |NYDN|

Photo by Noonan/NYDN