Exploring Long Island City, from Luxury Waterfront to Abandoned Factories

Long Island City is a tale of two cities; one filled with glittering water-front skyscrapers and manicured parks, and the other, a highly active ground transportation & distribution zone vital to the New York economy — which will prevail?

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City, a historically industrial neighborhood that is currently experiencing the largest surge in residential developments in all of NYC. 

Led by Mitch Waxman, Newtown Creek Alliance historian and NYC water-front expert, our custom neighborhood experience will include:

• An overview of Long Island City and its evolution from a gritty industrial zone to New York’s next “destination neighborhood”
• A walk past abandoned warehouses and repurposed buildings reflecting Long Island City’s once booming manufacturing industry, including the Irving Subway Grate facility (which produced all of the iconic NYC Subway honeycomb skylights that line the Flatiron District and Herald Square), and former Bloomingdale's Warehouse (where the company once stored all of its NYC-based merchandise)
• A visit to a hidden urban farm, which sits on top of a deactivated train line
• A discussion around the bordering Newtown Creek, a Superfund site that is one of America's most polluted waterways

Our experience will end at the LIC Landing waterfront park with sweeping views of the New York City skyline!

Stick around afterward to purchase food and beverages at the cafe while soaking in the beautiful sunset.

Click here to see pictures from one of our last visits to Long Island City!

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!

**Please note that Mitch maintains a moderately fast walking pace throughout the tour.

About Mitch

Mitch Waxman (Newtown Creek Alliance Historian) grew up in Brooklyn and currently lives in Queens. A commercial artist, he’s drawn comics, worked on Madison Avenue, and obsessively photographs all things NY Harbor and especially Newtown Creek. He lives, breathes, and eats the history of Newtown Creek and its surrounding communities. Check out Mitch’s blog The Newtown Pentacle.

Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Categories: Tours, Active, Hidden Spots, Historic Sites