CoffeeWalk: Long Island City

May 14, 2026 · Long Island City, Queens, NY, United States

LIC is a neighborhood in Queens on the East River with views of Manhattan. I had plans to visit the Museum of Modern Art's PS1 art space, which was celebrating 50 years with a party. I had visited once before with Audrey years ago. At that time, I had no sense of where anything was. It always surprises me to revisit somewhere I had been before but now with a better mental map. It seemed so far away in the middle of nowhere to me, then.

And since I was in the neighborhood, I also planned to hop a ferry over to Roosevelt Island, in the middle of the East River. I had heard about the remnants of a smallpox hospital, so of course I had to go peep that.

A leafy sidewalk in Long Island City on the walk to MoMA PS1 — Walking from the bus stop to the museum.

The Teso Life storefront in Long Island City — Had to pop in to Teso Life. Inside, it was like a Japanese Walgreens. Ramen packets, plastic dishes, beauty products. I picked up my favorite sunscreen from Japan. Sadly, it is not as silky smooth as I remember it. Maybe it isn't made quite the same here.

A coffee cup reading Hello, Stacy at MoMA PS1 — The coffee portion of the coffeewalk! Today, flat white, skim milk.

Crowd gathered outside the MoMA PS1 building beneath its large sign — At MoMA PS1. I believe this was a former school, hence the name (PS1/public school #1). Huge crowd, a DJ spinning Latin jazz, dancing, a participatory chalk mural wall, cocktails, and exhibits.

Visitors reflected in a mirrored spherical artwork at MoMA PS1 — The piece most popular with influencers.

A silvery sculpture on display at MoMA PS1 — The piece most popular with kids.

Graffiti-covered stairwell at MoMA PS1 — Don't worry about me. Just taking the stairs at the museum.

Long Island City street looking toward the Chrysler Building in Manhattan — After the museum, I was headed to Roosevelt Island in the middle of the East River. Down that way... That is the Chrysler Building off in the distance!

Tap list at Fifth Hammer Brewing in Long Island City — But like all good Coffee Walks, something will inevitably cause a delay... in this case a brewery. I decided to accept what the fates laid out, and have a pint. 5th Hammer Brewing.

People sitting beneath lights inside Fifth Hammer Brewing — A pint at Fifth Hammer Brewing.

Stacy smiling beneath the historic Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City — This 1940 Pepsi sign is a remnant from the factory that was in this area. It sat on top. Now here as a protected landmark.

Roosevelt Island sign beside a riverside path and Queensboro Bridge — Roosevelt Island. It is a strange place with apartments, big open fields, landscaped walkways, and an old shell of a smallpox hospital.

Bright red pipes rising along the base of the Queensboro Bridge — I just liked these pipes running up the base of the bridge.

Stacy smiling with the Manhattan skyline across the East River behind her — Manhattan across the East River.

People walking beneath blooming cherry blossoms on Roosevelt Island — Cherry blossoms were drawing a crowd.

Manhattan skyline seen through spring trees from Roosevelt Island — The Empire State Building peeking through.

Open grassy field and paths on Roosevelt Island beneath a blue sky — Wide open space on Roosevelt Island

Walking shoes on a grassy Roosevelt Island path — You would never guess I was in NYC.

Strecker Memorial Laboratory on Roosevelt Island — Strecker Memorial Laboratory, possibly the first research lab in the US, built in 1892.

Stone ruins of the Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island — Smallpox Hospital, built 1856. In 1875 the hospital became the fourth nursing school in the nation. This and other related buildings were all deemed obsolete in the 1950s when operations were moved to newer facilities in Queens.

Side view of the Smallpox Hospital ruins on Roosevelt Island — The old hospital ruins from another angle.

Mural-covered Long Island City street at dusk — Back in Queens, I passed another brewery. But alas, it was getting cold and windy and getting dark, and I had a bus ride ahead of me... Another time, perhaps.

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