Joan & Aaron
Things To Do
Flushing Chinatown
Downtown Flushing, the largest urban center in Queens, is also home to the second largest Chinatown in New York City. Unlike Manhattan's Chinatown, though, Flushing's Chinatown is a true American fusion. For food, there's everything from McDonald's and Chinese seafood restaurants to street vendors selling fried noodles. For drinks, there are Irish bars, Starbucks, and bubble tea cafes. The shopping ranges from the standard Old Navy and upscale Benetton to Chinese bookstores, herbal medicine shops, Asian groceries, and music stores that stock the latest hits from Shanghai.
Murray Hill's Koreantown
Just to the east of Flushing, the home of New York City's largest and fastest-changing Chinatown, is a sprawling neighborhood that boasts many of the city's most interesting Korean restaurants and food shops. I hesitate to call it a Koreatown. Compared with the few dense blocks of Manhattan's Koreatown, this part of Queens has a more open feel, with modest buildings, wider streets and more sunlight.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park-Queens Night Market
One of our favorite street food night market. Starting at 5:00 p.m. every Saturday, hawkers will be setting up shop in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and feeding thousands of food fans an array of dishes from all over the world, all priced low enough — usually $5 or less — to encourage hours of eating.
Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
Walk the Brooklyn Pier 2 Promenade, grab some pizza from Grimaldi's or a nice cold treat from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, and then stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge!
Gantry Plaza State Park
Whether you visit during the day, for sunset or when the lights of the skyline brighten up the sky during the night, Gantry Park is a must see. Close by you have Astoria, home to a variety of traditional ethnic eateries and trendy spots, beer gardens and the Museum of Moving Image.