Despite Queens being one of New York’s largest neighborhoods, there seems to be much less to do than in the rest of the city. Still, we are curious and set off on a sunny morning toward the great unknown. I’d like to take you on a tour of this diverse and colorful neighborhood as well as tell you some interesting facts about Flushing Queens where Fran Drescher, aka The Nanny, is from. Let’s go!
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
We begin in the Astoria neighborhood, in eastern Queens. There are some (paid) museums that we don’t visit, but we still want to get to know the neighborhood a little bit. So, we go to the Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company: a great place for the tastiest bagels. And not only will you find a wide variety of bagels here, but you can also choose from a wide variety of cream cheeses. This place was one of the few where we had something to eat and I can tell you: it was worth it!
New York Flushing Queens: Chinatown
Did you know Chinatown in Manhattan is not the largest at all? You’ll find the biggest Chinatown, in fact, in Flushing Queens. As many as 55% of its residents are Asian Americans, making Flushing Queens the largest Chinese community in New York. The first Chinese came here in the early 19th century; thus, Flushing Chinatown has been around for more than 100 years. And did you know that the name Flushing is the English name for the Dutch city of Vlissingen? In the year 1645, the then city of Vlissingen was first inhabited by Europeans under the charter of the West India Company. Only later it became Flushing.
Besides Chinese, a lot of Southeast Asians, African-Americans and Hispanics live in Flushing. And let’s not forget the great Colombian community!
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Earlier I told you about Flushing Meadows, that beautiful park where you can find, among other things, small lakes, the impressive Unisphere and the towers from Men in Black. In my opinion, one of the most beautiful parks in New York and definitely not to be missed during a visit.
What else is there to do in Queens New York?
Believe it or not, but even two weeks in New York is too short to see everything. So we also had to skip a lot in Queens. Something we don’t mind at all: all the more reason to go back as soon as possible. What do we want to visit next?
- The free Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, in eastern Queens. Relax on the waterfront!
- All the way on the other side of Long Island City you’ll find Gantry Plaza State Park. Follow in the footsteps of Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman and enjoy non-stop views of the Manhattan skyline just like they did in the movie The Interpreter.
- The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria is said to be one of the world’s top film, television and video museums. Great for next time!
- Rockaway Beach, south of JFK airport, is America’s largest urban beach and the best in New York. Seems quite nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while during a hot summer.
These and more sights and information can be found in theLonely Planet New York City.
One of my favorite neighborhoods in New York
Flushing Queens Chinatown: one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York. Perhaps mainly because this neighborhood is so nice and chaotic but also quiet, as well as because there are few tourists around. I can’t wait to go back to New York again to explore more!
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