The Boroughs of New York City:
Why I Love Queens!

When people ask me if I’m from Queens I answer, “No, my folks are straight”.

Tourists flocking to New York City all seem to converge in Manhattan - only one of New York City’s five boroughs. When your plane lands at either LaGuardia or JFK airports, you are actually in the borough of Queens. Take advantage of it, as accommodations can be less expensive in Queens, access to Manhattan is easy, and there are lots of things to see and do.

Long Island City and Astoria are the closest communities to that Broadway venue island. They are also both rich in culture and art. Check out P.S. 1 Contemporary Arts Center, located at 22-25 Jackson Avenue. It’s an affiliate of MOMA, and is a great starting point. Follow that with a visit to the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, 32-37 Vernon Blvd., which houses over 200 works by this world-renowned sculptor. Then tour the Socrates Sculpture Park, Broadway at Vernon Blvd. It just happens to be the only public space in New York City that is devoted entirely to the exhibition of large-scale outdoor sculptures.

Movie Magic.

Manhattan may be the home to the Museum of Radio and Television, but when it comes to movies, Astoria (the city’s largest Greek neighborhood) houses the Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. at 36th St., featuring historical movie exhibits and film screenings. Both Astoria and Long Island City are also home to a few movie studios. Unfortunately they are not open to the public, but if you happen to be celebrity hunting, no one says that you can’t stroll about Silvercup Studios, or the nearby Kaufman Studios. And if you’re looking to sample authentic Greek cuisine, try the Cretan S’Agapo, located at 34-21 34th Avenue), located just around the corner from the Museum of the Moving Image.

Queens in Queens.

You may find a hunk to two in gay-friendly Astoria, near the area that centers on a long shopping strip on Steinway Street. Wander into the Rainbow Community Center at 30-74 Steinway Street, or check out a bar called Albatross at 36-19 24th Ave. (718-204-9045) to find out what’s hot in Queens (or maybe I should have said, “which queens are hot”).

Flushing Meadow-Corona Park.

Back in 1939, the World’s Fair was located at what is now Flushing Meadow-Corona Park. You know how you can tell you’re in Provincetown the minute you see the Pilgrim Monument? Well, in the Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, you know you’ve arrived when you see the Unisphere. Hmm. P’Town has a phallic symbol, while Queens has a ball. Go figure!

The most historic building that still remains from the 1939 World’s Fair air is the Queens Museum of Art. After the fair, it became the location of the first General Assembly of the United Nations, and it was at this site, in 1948, that a proclamation was issued and signed, declaring Israel as a state. The building was then converted to a venue for both ice and rollerskating. Then, along came the 1964 World’s Fair, and the Building got yet another life when it was transformed into the New York City Pavilion (with a special indoor ride that allowed visitors to view an exact panoramic replica of the five boroughs of NYC). The ride is gone, but the replica has been updated, and is still current. Oh, yes, one half of the building has gone back to being an indoor ice skating rink, although the historic exhibits are there.

In close proximity to the Queens Museum of Art is the Queens Theatre in the Park, aka QTIP, formerly the 1964 NY State Pavilion. You’ll recognize the tower as the one used in the movie “Men In Black”. The theatre is an excellent alternative to off-Broadway shows and is a venue for some Broadway bound hopefuls. Expect to see the likes of Michael Feinstein, Linda Eder and Leslie Gore performing there. www.queenstheatre.org.

Walk across the footbridge and you’ll see the Hall of Science, another leftover from 1964. It’s one of the top hands-on Science centers in the U.S. There are a few restored space vehicles outside the building. The Queens Zoo is also nearby. It’s small, but in their case, size doesn’t matter.

Tennis, anyone?

Who’s your favorite tennis hunk? If you happen to be here during the U.S. Open, the Arthur Ashe Stadium, part of the newly named Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center , is in walking distance of the Queens Museum. And just across the way from the world of racquets is the home of the Mets, Shea Stadium. This entire area is quite accessible along the historic #7 line, which runs from Times Square to Main Street in Flushing. The mostly elevated subway is considered historic because it takes you from one ethnic neighborhood to another: Irish, South American, East Indian and ending in downtown Flushing, the best and by far cleaner alternative to being in Chinatown.

Yes, while in Flushing, you should sample the food!. Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Korean, just to name a few. If you’ve never tasted Bubble Tea, a flavored ice tea with large tapioca and milk, this is the place to do so. Bakeries, groceries, fresh fish, meats, produce and a variety of imports from Asia are found here. Be sure to visit the Tai Pan Bakery, located at 37-25 Main Street, where you can fill your tummy for less than $5. And stay awhile. Consider spending a night or two at the gay-friendly Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, in the heart of downtown Flushing.

Easy Access.

Downtown Flushing, also accessible by the Long Island Railroad, is a transportation hub. Buses will take you to many areas of Queens, including LaGuardia airport. Hop a bus to two entertainment venues situated in local colleges. Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College has some great concerts - jazz, classical and pop - as well as theatre and dance. www.kupferbergcenter.org. Queensborough Performing Arts Center at Bayside’s Queensborough Community College is equal in both music and theatre. Ben Vereen, Chubby Checker, Tom Wopat at Chita Rivera are scheduled to perform. www.visitqpac.org.

In the next issue I will discuss Brooklyn, the borough that abuts Queens. Brooklyn, home to Coney Island, has its share of ethnic populations, attractions, and a large gay community, thanks to the term, “gentrify”.