1) Long Island City: In anticipation of HoodWatch LIC, a reader writes, "It's not exactly rent-chopping, but (according to Craigslists ads) the new East Coast LIC rental building in LIC is offering one month free rent, which they weren't offering the past few months. That must suck for those who bought in early. I guess $20 blow jobs didn't help the neighborhood character." [CurbedWire Inbox]
2) Lower East Side: Ever wonder where the bar and noise haters from CB3 throw their holiday party? Give up? A Bar! A tipster reports from the scene: "I found it interesting that the CB3 holiday party was at the Magician last night—considering their generalized hatred of bars in the EVIL and LES. It was quite a large party, spoke to about 10 members about their lack of licensing new restaurants and bars—they were quite lively in discussing and still adamant that issuing more liquor licenses are detrimental to 'community living'—even licenses to restaurants. My favorite quote was that the problem is with gentility, 'new york used to be gentile'—huh? Not sure how the blocks of bucket dropping, rioting squatters and drug running kids constituted gentility. Old Hollywood movies depicting singing happy holiday crowds is not reality—nice thought though." [CurbedWire Inbox]