Neighborhoods and Local Communities in Queens Queens, NY Neighborhoods and Local Communities in Queens Neighborhoods are the heart of Queens where long-term residents feel great loyalty to their local communities. Though Queens is a borough of New York City, our neighborhoods can feel like small towns. Learn about the many different neighborhoods of Queens, NY. Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in! Quaint in Queens: Jackson Heights is cutest 'hood in the borough - NY Daily News Quaint in Queens: Jackson Heights is cutest 'hood in the borough Quaint in Queens: Jackson Heights is cutest 'hood in the borough The shared garden at the Chateau in Jackson Heights, Queens. (Warga/News) BY Theresa Braine Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:09 PM On an average Saturday, the main business drag bustles with people doing errands, many with children in tow. Saris, Muslim head scarves and J.Crew blend seamlessly. People stop and chat, greeting one another by name. While this may sound like an international Mayberry, it’s 37th Ave. in the Jackson Heights Historic District.

Drawing Manhattan and Brooklyn transplants as well as those from South Asia and Colombia , this small-town Queens neighborhood 30 minutes from Manhattan has a feeling of ­camaraderie and cohesion. “Everyone walks around say- ing hello,” said homemaker Radha Vatsal , 36, outside her apartment on a block of 1917 apartment buildings named the Greystones. “This neighborhood has the nicest apartments and best subway access.” Her comments echoed those of most people on the playground and throughout the 35 square city blocks that make up the historic district, about a third of Jackson Heights proper. The U.S. Census Bureau does not provide figures for this subset of Jackson Heights, but it’s a fraction of the 71,308 people who lived within the zip code in 2001, the latest official figures available. Residents are enthusiastic about the schools, the restaurants, the cultural diversity and the fact that the view from their window won’t change. Because the neighborhood is designated a landmark area, developers can’t just throw any building up on these streets. This gives the historic area a time-warp nature, something residents welcome in one of the largest cities in the world.

But there is great convenience to Jackson Heights’ historic district. As most New Yorkers know, walk under the 7 train to the north side of Roosevelt Ave. and you’ll find your choice of Indian restaurants, Colombian bakeries and chicken joints, and Mexican taco stands. What they don’t know is that the area is stately. When Jackson Heights’ buildings went up in the early 1900s they were marketed as a lusher alternative to Manhattan. Some said that wealthy New Yorkers even stashed their mistresses there. During the Great Depression some of the newest co-ops were rented out, costing above $100 per month for sprawling apartments. During the 1970s, the area teetered economically, as all of New York City did, and by the 1980s it had gotten run-down enough to earn the moniker “Crackson Heights.” Colombians started arriving in the late 1950s, drawn by low rents and plentiful work associated with the building of Shea Stadium and the World’s Fair.

Later on, South Asian populations discovered the area, starting what is called “Little India .” Today these groups are joined by an increasing number of couples from other boroughs in search of more space for their growing families. The ­diversity of this farmland turned urban oasis is a major draw. So is the history. The origins of the district start with the Queensboro Corporation , under president Edward Archibald MacDougall , who bought 350 acres from various farmers. The Queensboro Bridge was under construction then, and there were promises of a subway train and a bus line. MacDougall envisioned spacious and airy apartment buildings surrounding communal gardens, and the first planned communities in all of the United States were born. “It was the first to use the city block as the basic planning unit,” said Daniel Karatzas , a 50-year-old realtor who grew up in Jackson Heights and wrote a book on the historic district, “Jackson Heights: A Garden in the City.” Most of the buildings went up between 1917 and 1925, Karatzas said, with the last ones finished in the mid-1950s.

Apartment complexes sport names such as the Greystones, Linden Court, Hampton Court, Elm Court, Hawthorne Court, Laburnum Court, Cambridge Court, the Chateau, the Towers and Spanish Gardens. The streets and public spaces are kept up by the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, which meets regularly and sponsors events. Distinguishing the historic district itself requires a map from the New York City Landmarks Committee of Queens Community Board 3 or the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission . It was registered on Oct. 19, 1993, by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission and comprises a rectangle stretching roughly from the east side of 76th St. to the west side of 88th and from the businesses behind Roosevelt Ave. up nearly to Northern Blvd. In its heyday the district had a golf course, tennis club and other amenities, with community dances, bowling events and other activities. But all that fell by the wayside when the land was sold after World War II. The junior high school, for instance, sits on the site of the former tennis club. The Queensboro Corp.

’s 1940s land selloff left Jackson Heights with “a lot of private open space but not a lot of public open space,” said Karatzas. This is a sore point with many residents, though it doesn’t phase families who flock to asphalted Travers Park to play ball or push their kids on the swings. Two picturesque churches, a synagogue and a mosque are also part of the mix. At 81st St. and 35th Ave. the Community Methodist Church is graced with a small, red oval sign noting that Scrabble was invented there by one Alfred Butts , a parishioner and Jackson Heights resident who perfected the game with friends in the church’s rec room. Greystone residents would have paid the same for 400 square feet in a five-story Manhattan walkup as they pay for 1,200 square feet in Jackson Heights. Diversity comes in the form of age as well as ethnicity and religion. “It’s very quiet here. No police activity,” said 80-year-old Luisa Perdomo , in Spanish, her only language. “It’s safe.

Everyone speaks Spanish, and everything’s close.” Peter Barbera , 53, and Eleanor Barbera , 46, moved here three years ago from a fourth-floor lower East Side walkup in search of an elevator, a laundry room “and a place for her to play,” Peter said, gesturing toward 2-year-old Emma, adopted from China . They paid between $250,000 and $300,000 for a bit less space than they had in Manhattan, where a similar-size home would have cost them well above $650,000. In return they got a two-bedroom apartment with two baths, a separate dining room and a strong co-op board whose garden committee keeps the grounds beautiful. As in other city neighborhoods, prices decreased with the recession. Karatzas said the past nine months have seen a 10% to 20% drop. Closer inspection reveals the occasional facade in need of paint, and among private houses it’s not uncommon to see two attached homes that are mirror images of one another, except that one is carefully kept up and the other has chipped paint and an overgrown lawn.

Long-timers John and Shirley Brodeur , 84 and 80, respectively, remember when their building had its own telephone service, an operator in the basement of a building in the Chateau complex. Mortgages were unheard-of when they bought. They paid $11,500 in cash for an apartment in 1960, sold it for $25,000 in the 1970s, and moved upstairs into a larger one they got for $24,000. Today the same apartment across the hall goes for about $400,000. “I feel like we have an incredible community,” said 42-year-old Jane McNamara , who purposely chose a historic district when she moved back East from California with her husband, John Oddy , 45, five years ago. “I feel really lucky,” she says. “I grew up in Manhattan, and if you had ever told me I’d be living in Queens I’d have run screaming.” Jackson Heights is 30 minutes from Grand Central on the 7 train. General Area: Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the northwestern portion of the New York City borough of Queens.

The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Boa - Trulia Voices Saved Searches Sign In Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the northwestern portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Boa Asked by Elias Borjas , East Elmhurst, NY • Wed Dec 24, 2014 Best Places to Live in New York (zip 11372), New York -Cost of living and housing -Crowded lifestyle -Weak future job growth What Bert Has To Say About New York-Newark-Jersey City Metro Area New York is the largest metro area in the United States. It includes the island of Manhattan, an eight-county area immediately north, western Long Island, and Staten Island. It is the fourth largest in the world behind Tokyo, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Regardless of how the area is defined, New York is among the richest and most complex places to live in America. (Read More about New York) Boroughs, districts, and neighborhoods define the city. The borough of Manhattan, a 10-mile-long, 2-mile-wide island, is the financial, commercial, and entertainment core.

Much of Lower Manhattan consists of narrow, haphazard streets, dating back to the city’s earliest days as a Dutch colony. With the exception of older areas, such as Greenwich Village, the rest of the city follows an orderly grid pattern of avenues and streets laid out in 1811. (Broadway, another exception, moves at a gentle diagonal across the city.) Filling out the island are distinct districts. Lower Manhattan contains the Financial District. Midtown is the commercial center, with corporate headquarters, various media businesses, and world-class shopping along Fifth Avenue. Large skyscrapers dominate Lower Manhattan, then retreat as does hard bedrock to build on in those areas, then reemerges in Midtown. The in-between area is dominated by older ethnic enclaves like Chinatown and Koreatown and the more famous artsy areas of Greenwich and Soho. “Hip” residential areas lie east and west, mainly popular with young single professionals.

North and west is Hells Kitchen, in the “40’s” (most Manhattan area locations are so approximated by their east-west numbered streets) is an old ethnic area and warehouse district enjoying a residential renaissance, to soon be aided by an elevated bikeway and commercial corridor along an old rail line. Times Square and the Theater District just west of Midtown contain the world-famous theaters and numerous restaurants. Surrounding Central Park, the Upper West and Upper East sides are predominantly residential, although both contain ample dining and shopping. The Upper East Side also contains posh enclaves unaffordable for most, outstanding museums, and the designer boutiques of Madison Avenue. The Upper West Side is dotted with large apartment buildings and is a favorite for working professionals and families. Farther north above Central Park, neighborhoods start to decline, although Harlem is undergoing a rebirth. The boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx are a patchwork of residential and commercial areas and parks. They have large industrial areas with a predominant blue-collar feel containing manufacturing and freight distribution centers for the area. All are close to the city and offer relatively more living space, and all are experiencing verying degrees of economic and residential revival.

Ethnic diversity is strong in all boroughs, while Queens is reputedly the most ethnically diverse area in the country. Brooklyn is large and diverse enough to function as a standalone city, with large and some upscale residential areas with a modern downtown and substantial commercial and retail offerings areas. Brooklyn is known for its large Olmstead designed (of Central Park fame) Prospect Park. Brooklyn shares the western end of Long Island with Queens, with excellent transportation service into the city by rail and subway and numerous beaches, parks and residential neighborhoods south and east towards the large JFK airport. Brooklyn is socioeconomically very diverse, with a mix of upscale, middle class and poorer areas, while Queens is more clearly identifiable as middle class. The Bronx area, on the mainland to the north of Manhattan, is the grittiest of the three areas, although its strategic location between the city and to better areas north is starting to bring some interest. Staten Island, a mainly-residential borough to the south, is connected to Manhattan by ferries and the Verrazano Narrows bridge. Finally, the New York metro area includes northern suburbs stretching up into Westchester County between the east bank of the Hudson River and the Connecticut border.

Westchester is generally upscale and expensive, with spread-out towns and a country setting. White Plains is the largest city and a modern corporate center with large facilities for IBM and a number of companies relocating north from Manhattan. Smaller but very upscale areas lie east along the Long Island Sound (Rye being an example) and north along the Hudson as the smaller towns of Tarrytown, Ossining and Croton-on-Hudson. Rockland County is more middle class with some working-class areas. West Nyack is a large family-oriented middle class area. Other suburbs give workers access to New York by freeway or by rail lines across the Hudson or to northern New Jersey. The New York area offers a rich assortment of amenities, with world-class dining, shopping, and performing arts including theater, symphony, opera, and live music. Museums and architectural attractions, large and small, draw global audiences. Numerous major-league teams play in the area, including the MLB Yankees and Mets, NBA Knicks, NFL Giants and Jets, and NHL Islanders and Rangers. An extensive public transit system with subways and buses serves the urban core and links the boroughs. A suburban rail and ferry network services surrounding communities in Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey.

Rail lines on the Northeast Corridor make such cities as Boston and Washington, D.C. easily accessible. Many residents don’t own cars and choose to depend on public transit or an occasional car rental. Three major airports—La Guardia, Kennedy, and nearby Newark—provide air service domestically and abroad. Surrounding the city are numerous recreation areas: Long Island beaches, the Poconos, the Hudson Valley, and the Jersey Shore, to name only a few. The downsides are significant. The city is crowded and stressful, and some neighborhoods are run down. Violent crime rates are high, although not as bad as the stereotype. Cost of living is high in all categories and is rising. Median home prices of half a million or more don’t buy much, especially in Manhattan. Home prices there can be five to six times higher for comparable properties in surrounding boroughs. Income differentials between wealthy workers and others are high, and overall the Buying Power Index is usually the worst in the country, suggesting that incomes don’t keep up with costs. New York is a great place – if you like the lifestyle and can make ends meet. The New York City area exceeds 300 square miles and is located mostly on islands.

Elevations range from less than 50 feet over most of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to several hundred feet in northern Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The area is close to storm tracks, and most weather approaches from the west- producing higher summer and lower winter temperatures than would otherwise be expected in a coastal area. Summers are hot and humid with occasional long periods of discomfort. Sea breezes occasionally moderate summer heat and winter cold in Lower Manhattan. Manhattan and the inner boroughs are more likely to receive rain in winter while outlying areas get snow. Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Summer rainfall is mainly from thunderstorms, usually of brief duration. Late summer and fall rains associated with tropical storms may occur. Coastal “noreaster” storms can produce significant snow. First freeze is mid-November, last is early April. Bert Suggests test-driving a neighborhood in New York with an affordable short term rental. Click here to find the right place on Airbnb.

Highlights Time zone: Eastern Standard Time Elevation: 87 Jackson Heights travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Originally built as a planned community in the years between the World Wars, Jackson Heights today is a multi-ethnic community of well-maintained apartment buildings and single-family houses. To an increasing number of travelers and curious New York natives, the area offers a diversity of mostly reasonably-priced restaurants representing many of the world's cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, and Argentine, just to name a few. The original tract of land that became Jackson Heights extended approximately from Roosevelt Avenue on the south to Northern Boulevard on the north, and from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway / 69th Street on the west to Junction Boulevard on the east, an area of about a square mile. These are still the boundaries recognized by many residents, although sometimes the larger, low-rise area stretching north of Northern Blvd. to LaGuardia Airport is also considered part of Jackson Heights. South Asian businesses cluster around the block of 74th Street between Roosevelt Ave. and 37th Ave.

Restaurants and other businesses catering to the growing Mexican community cluster on Roosevelt Ave., which runs under the elevated #7 Flushing Line of the New York subway. 37th Avenue has many local shops. 82nd Street and Junction Boulevard are mostly discount shopping streets with a Latin flavor. Most of the other streets are primarily residential. Adjoining Areas[ edit ] Abutting Jackson Heights to the south, across Roosevelt Ave., is Elmhurst, a very ethnically diverse neighborhood that supports Latino, Chinese, Korean, and South Asian communities. But perhaps above all, Southeast Asians - from the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand - are a striking presence among the purveyors and clientele of its various shops and restaurants. Only about a 35-minute subway ride from Manhattan and a short walk from all the Indian and Latino clubs, shops, and restaurants in Jackson Heights, it is a neighborhood very much worth visiting for some excellent, inexpensive food. Very good restaurants such as the Georgia Diner are located in the district, as well as the Queens Center Mall. Get here by taking the R or M trains to Elmhurst Avenue or Grand Avenue. Corona borders Jackson Heights to the east, across Junction Boulevard.

It is a largely Latino neighborhood with many Latino restaurants. Corona also has a rich African American heritage, and is the former home of Louis Armstrong, whose house is now a museum, and Willie Mays. Get there by taking the 7 train to Junction Boulevard or 103rd Street, or the R or M trains to Woodhaven Boulevard or 63rd Drive. Subway[ edit ] The area is easily reached by subway from midtown Manhattan (in as little as 15 minutes, via the E or F) and other parts of New York City. The busiest station is known as 74th Street on the #7, and as Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave. on the E, F, R, and M trains. A free transfer is provided there between the lines, and there are also free transfers to the various bus lines that serve Jackson Heights, including the Q49, Q32, and Q33. Further east along Roosevelt Ave., the area is also served by the 82nd St., 90th St., and Junction Blvd. stations of the #7 train.

Bus[ edit ] The Q70 bus goes directly from LaGuardia Airport to Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Avenue, before continuing on to Woodside. It is useful if you are staying in a hostel in the area. Car[ edit ] Jackson Heights can be reached from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (or "BQE", also known as I-278), via the Roosevelt Ave. or Northern Blvd. exits. This road connects to the RFK (formerly Triborough) Bridge and to Brooklyn. Northern Blvd. leads west to the Queensborough Bridge and east to the Grand Central Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and Flushing. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Much of Jackson Heights is designated by the city as a landmark district, which provides a measure of protection to the area's distinctive architecture. Though many of the buildings are distinctive, the area is primarily known for its gardens. Some of these are visible from the street, but others are in enclosed courtyards, and they are mostly private spaces that can only be visited by invitation or during the annual "open house" day (see the website of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group - - for details).

Architecturally notable apartment complexes with extensive gardens include the Towers and the Chateau, which face each other across 34th Avenue between 80th and 81st streets, and Dunolly Gardens, on the block bounded by 78th and 79th streets and 34th and 35th avenues. The single block of 74th Street between Roosevelt and 37th Avenue is the nucleus of a bustling South Asian shopping district, with stores selling traditional garments (such as saris), gold jewelry (especially for use in wedding ceremonies), Bollywood DVDs, religious goods, and of course, food. The community has diversified somewhat in recent years, as Indian and Pakistani immigrants have been joined by people from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and other countries. 73rd Street is home to several Bengali businesses. A cultural highlight of the neighboring community of Corona is the Louis Armstrong House Museum (3456 107th Street, Corona, NY 11368, 718-478-8274, ), where the jazz legend lived from 1943 to his death in 1971.

Armstrong and his wife Lucille chose to live in a modest single family house in an area that was once home to a number of African American performers and other luminaries. The museum preserves the furnishings and artwork pretty much just as Louis and Lucille left them, and also has a collection of Armstrong's recordings and other memorabilia. The adjacent garden - Louis' pride and joy and the only thing that distinguishes the house from its neighbors on the street - is occasionally used for concerts, notably on July 4 (Louis' stated birthday) and August 4 (determined after his death to be his actual birthday). Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Taste Good Malaysian Restaurant, 82-18 45th Ave (between 82nd and 83rd Sts, across the street from Clement Clarke Moore Homestead Park; Subway: G/R/V trains to Elmhurst Ave), ☎ +1 718 898-8001. The restaurant's name is an example of truth in advertising - or at least was until recently.

Many Malaysian residents of New York considered Taste Good to be the tastiest and most authentic Malaysian eatery in the five boroughs, but the Malaysian chef left several months ago, and there have been reports of a big falloff in quality since then, so be warned. edit Pho Bac, 82-78 Broadway (in a strip mall between Elmhurst and Whitney; Subway: G/R/V trains to Elmhurst Ave), ☎ +1 718 639-0000. An excellent Vietnamese restaurant whose menu goes far beyond the noodle soup that supplies its name. It is also quite inexpensive. Expect to pay no more than $15, even if you have a humongous dinner. One word of warning, though: The banh mi (roast pork sandwiches) are, seemingly inexplicably, very disappointing.

edit Upi Jaya, 76-04 Woodside Ave (between 76th and 77th Sts; Subway: E/F/G/R/V/7 trains to Jackson Heights-Broadway-Roosevelt Ave or G/R/V trains to Elmhurst Ave), ☎ +1 718 458-1807. Popular with Indonesians, Upi Jaya serves delicious, flavorful Indonesian cuisine. The owner is a Minangkabau from Padang . edit Jackson Diner, 3747 74th Street (Subway: E, F, R, M to Roosevelt Ave., or 7 to 74th Street), ☎ (718) 672-1232, [1] . 7 days, lunch and dinner. Best known Indian restaurant in Jackson Heights, serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian North Indian cuisine. Lunch buffet on weekdays. Inexpensive.

edit Arunee Thai Cuisine, 3768 79th Street (just north of Roosevelt Ave.) (Subway: E, F, R, M to Roosevelt Ave (at 74th St.), or 7 to 82nd Street), ☎ (718) 205-5559. 7 days, lunch and dinner. Tucked away behind a modest storefront on a quiet side street off bustling Roosevelt Ave., this little gem of a place has served authentic Thai food for over 20 years. Great noodle dishes, soups, fried rice, and seafood. Inexpensive.. edit Indian Taj, 3725 74th Street (Subway: E, F, R, M to Roosevelt Ave., 7 to 74th Street), ☎ (718) 651-4187. 7 days, lunch and dinner. North Indian cuisine. Known for its buffet, which is served at all times the restaurant is open. Goat curry, tandoori chicken, saag paneer, naan bread, many vegetarian dishes.

edit Chung Ki-Wa Restaurant, 4006 74th Street (just south of Broadway/Roosevelt Ave intersection) (Subway: E, F, R, M to Roosevelt Ave., 7 to 74th Street), ☎ (718) 478-0925. 7 days, lunch and dinner. Korean cuisine, also has a sushi bar. Korean Barbecue, with meats cooked right at your table. Also full Korean menu including bibimbap (rice with meat, egg, and vegetables in hot stone pot), hot and cold noodle dishes, soondubu (tofu stew), and many others. All diners get a selection of side dishes ("banchan"), included in the dinner price. Beer and Korean beverages (soju). Moderate. edit Chao Thai, 85-03 Whitney Ave (Subway: R to Elmhurst Ave), ☎ (718) 424-4999. This is an Isaan restaurant, featuring dishes from the northeastern part of Thailand which is near and culturally related to Laos.

That area of Thailand features salads, larb, sausages, soup with spare ribs, and curries without coconut milk. The food at Chao Thai is excellent and connoisseurs find it well worth a trip from Manhattan. Mains: $3.50-$10. edit NYC’s Micro Neighborhoods: Little India in Jackson Heights, Queens | Untapped Cities NYC’s Micro Neighborhoods: Little India in Jackson Heights, Queens Welcome back to our Untapped Cities series on NYC’s Micro Neighborhoods , where we delve into long standing ethnic enclaves. Lively Roosevelt Avenue. Photo via Netizen . Little India Jackson Heights, Queens Jackson Heights in Queens epitomizes the city’s most ethnically diverse county when judging by the countless cultural distinctions of its residents. Though the neighborhood has a large population of South Americans and East Asians, it is the concentration of South Asians who comprise the majority. Here, the heap of Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have founded a home of their own. To those paying attention, Jackson Heights will prove an authentic slice of South Asia in New York City’s largest borough. Jackson Heights is situated in the northwestern portion of Queens.

It is bordered by nearby LaGuardia Airport to the north at Grand Central Parkway and Elmhurst to the south at Roosevelt Avenue. To its west is Woodside , cut off by the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and at its east you’ll find East Elmhurst drawn mainly by Junction Boulevard. Despite Jackson Heights’ large size, the E, F, M, R and the number 7 Subway lines serve the area at its southernmost border only running along Roosevelt Avenue, while the Long Island Railroad stops in nearby Woodside. Still, the neighborhood is among the most walkable. A peak into the garden at The Towers. Photo via Mike’s Historic Buildings . Jackson Heights is as unique in its demographic as it is in its structure. The neighborhood is believed to be the site of the first garden city community in the United States. These “gardens” or private parks are found within the numerous garden-style apartment buildings in the neighborhood and can only be accessed by residents, though some are visible to the public. About half of the neighborhood has also been designated a New York City Historic District to preserve the stately garden apartment buildings. The Jackson Heights Historic District encompasses the area found between 76th and 88th Streets, from Roosevelt Avenue to Northern Boulevard.

An Indian shop’s storefront in Jackson Heights. Photo via New York Daily News . Like many neighborhoods in Queens, Jackson Heights has historically seen influxes of various ethnic groups settling into the area. Prepare to be dazed by the plentiful sight of garments, especially the colorful saris adorned by the neighborhood’s Indian women. The many savory aromas in the air are also certain to arouse hunger. Here, any attempt at interpreting the great number of languages spoken is sure to overwhelm. The Jackson Diner. Photo via Solifestyle . Considering the abundant locales and eateries, Jackson Heights doubles as a global ethnic market. While walking down Roosevelt Avenue—the neighborhood’s busiest commercial thoroughfare—you’ll find Indian restaurants juxtaposed with Colombian diners that sit next to Mexican taco shops. Among the most popular restaurants is the famous Jackson Diner specializing in Indian cuisine. Their Tandoori specials are not to be overlooked by visitors. La Pequeña Colombia (The Little Colombia) is also a favored option for those craving honest Colombian food. Though Jackson Heights is home to enough eateries to satisfy the most exotic cravings, the neighborhood is also a strong business oasis. Along with the more familiar chain stores we can also find an excess of foreign mom and pop shops.

The Butala Emporium serves as a great resort for an Indian souvenir. You’ll be delighted by their extensive selection of Indian clothing, incense, prints, instruments, Bollywood films, etc. The iconic Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Photo via Preserving The Metropolis . Jackson Heights also caters to the nature lover with its close proximity to Flushing Meadows Corona Park . The nearly 900 acre green space was the site of two twentieth century World’s Fairs and continues to draw visitors with its recreational facilities, Queens Botanical Garden and Zoo , along with the stunning re-opened Queens Museum of Art and New York Hall of Science . These attractions are only a few stops from Jackson Heights and prove to be some of the greatest attractions in Queens. Still, the opportunity to experience through taste, sound and sight this dynamic enclave is a point of interest in and of itself. Get in touch with the author @Brennan_NYC . Jackson Heights guide, moving to Queens | StreetAdvisor 2yrs+ "Town with incredible food" Jackson Heights is an incredibly diverse neighborhood in Queens, with a pretty even mixture of South Asian and Hispanic residents.

The variety of food here is absolutely incredible; I could write an entire review just on the restaurants in Jackson Heights. Visit Little India for fantastic Indian food, Pio Pio for the world's best Peruvian chicken, Tawa's Nepali Hut for Nepalese street food, or Cannelle Patisserie for some awesome desserts. There are plenty of options for shopping too - particularly on 82nd street. As a previous reviewer stated, nearly every subway line runs through this neighborhood. There are also several bus routes that go through the area, so public transportation options are definitely very diverse. However, this is not a town in which you want to own a car. Parking is hard, particularly on the main streets where most of the restaurants and shops are located. While there are a few major highways nearby, the traffic on those roads is usually awful. The landmarked garden community area is a source of pride for residents. The co-ops and homes here are lovely, but getting permission to repair/renovate in this area can be time consuming. Jackson Heights is a great choice for people who are looking for affordability and convenience.

Pros Relatively low housing costs If you love ethnic foods then this is the neighhborhood for you as it is home substantial Latin American and South Asia populations and thus is equipped with many ethnic restaurants and grocery stores. Jackson Heights is well served by nearly all of New York City's subway lines and hence getting into the city is an absolute breeze. The Garden district is really quite pretty and reminiscent of England Cons The garden communities are mostly landmarked so owners need permission to make repairs. Residents often complain that the main streets like 74th street are very messy and not very clean and in fact the main subway station of the area, Roosevelt Avenue/ 74th Street has often been voted as the dirtiet subway station of the entire network. Though the Garden district is populated with lush private gardens the area lacks good public access green spaces, the neighborhood has only one public access green space in the form of Travers park Recommended for 2yrs+ "Your own private garden" Jackson Heights is an ethnically diverse and vibrant neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens. Jackson Heights is bounded by the Brooklyn Queens Expressway on the West, Junction Boulevard on the East, Roosevelt Avenue on the South and Northern Boulevard on the north.

Not only is Jackson Heights well known for its cultural diversity, it also has within its bowels, the historic Garden City district which stretches between Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard, from 76th to 88th Street. Developed in the 1920’s by Edward A MacDougall’s Queensboro Corporation, this area was part of the global Garden City movement. Hence the Garden City district of Jackson Heights consists of many picturesque co-op buildings and homes which are exponents of various forms of architecture such as Romanesque, Neo- classical, and Tudor. Most of these buildings have well tended gardens some of which are the size of Gramercy Park . Additionally many of the buildings located here have typical English names like Buckingham Hall, Windsor, Carlton, and Warwick in keeping with the Garden City movement which had its origins in England. The co-op apartments of these buildings are mostly ownership properties and access to the building's gardens is also restricted to the owners of the apartments. Once a year the gardens are thrown open to the public by the Jackson Heights Beautification group, a local organization committed to the upkeep and preservation of the district.

There are sign boards on lamp posts located all along the Garden City district trail that point out the unique and noteworthy individual features of the various buildings. Jackson Heights has over the decades has largely been inhabited by New York’s Latin American and South Asian communities though the district also is home to smaller Russian, Polish and Irish populations however today this historic Garden district is also becoming popular with young families and professionals who are being priced out of Manhattan. The restaurants and stores which are located within Jackson Heights reflect the ethnic makeup of the locality. Along 74th street and Roosevelt Avenue are stores that cater to almost all the needs of the South Asian community of New York. Supermarkets like Patel Brothers, Apna Bazar, Sabzi Mandi carry vast varieties of South Asian spices, nuts, vegetables, frozen and prepared foods, toiletries and magazines and newspapers which are imported from the subcontinent. Trade Fair on 37th Avenue caters to the Latin American community while New York Hap Chong Market which is a Korean Supermarket located on Broadway caters to the needs of the area’s Korean community. Along 73rd street is the little Bangladesh area of Jackson Heights which has stores that sell fruits, vegetables, condiments, spices, and ‘Halal’ meat.

Near 72nd street and Broadway is the little Pakistan section of Jackson Heights which has some wonderful Pakistani restaurants like Shaheen and Kebab King which are famous for their succulent kebabs. The Latino Flavor of the neighborhood can be experienced at restaurants such as Pio Pio which is located on Northern Boulevard and serves Peruvian cuisine, La Porteña which is located at 37th Avenue and serves typical Argentinean Fare. Other popular Latin American restaurants located here include joints like Novo and La Nueva. Jackson Heights is also well equipped with great schooling opportunities and the district has within it a number of top ranked public, private and parochial schools. The Renaissance Charter School is an excellent school located within Jackson Heights while some of the other public schools that are located here like the P.S.69, P.S.2, I.S 230 and I.S 145 all offer gifted programs. The Garden School is a good private pre-K-12 school of the neighborhood while Saint Joan of Arc, Our Lady of Fatima and Blessed Sacrament are some of the good parochial schools that are also located here. Jackson Heights is well served by a plethora of subway lines and bus routes.

In fact six subway lines( E,F, R, V, G and 7 trains) come into the area’s main Jackson Heights station which is located at 74street and Roosevelt Avenue. The E and F trains which run express from this station provide convenient links with Manhattan while the G train runs local and connects the area with Brooklyn. Pros Jackson Heights is well served by nearly all of New York City's subway lines and hence getting into the city is an absolute breeze. If you love ethnic foods then this is the neighhborhood for you as it is home substantial Latin American and South Asia populations and thus is equipped with many ethnic restaurants and grocery stores.

The Garden district is really quite pretty and reminiscent of England Cons Though the Garden district is populated with lush private gardens the area lacks good public access green spaces, the neighborhood has only one public access green space in the form of Travers park While ethnic groceries abound, Jackson Heights doesnt have the regular groceries of Manhattan like Food Emporium, D'agostino's Residents often complain that the main streets like 74th street are very messy and not very clean and in fact the main subway station of the area, Roosevelt Avenue/ 74th Street has often been voted as the dirtiet subway station of the entire network. Recommended for 2yrs+ "A good neighborhood for social observer" I lived in Astoria right before I moved here. And I was wondering all along --- can there possibly having more green compare to what I got now. Well, when you see those parks are right at your backyard, that speaks a lot. This is a area with the most diverse ethnic, and that carries along with an abundant types of restaurants you can pick out from.

Indian cuisine kind of rare and hard to find in the city, but here you got a lot of choice – although one of my India friend suggest that this is not that althentic compare to her homemade dish. Also, under Roosevelt avenue you can visit a lot of different shops and commercial activities, noise can blow you away during the weekend. 7 trains constant vibrated above your head but you just got to get used to it. This is the hub of queens, every train except N has to go through this junction. It’s a 5 level station, not as labyrinth as Time Saure but can be quite an exercise to just transfer the train. Walking on 37th avenue is very pleasant with its wide sidewalk, I believe its wider than the car lane. On this avenue, you can fulfill your need, restaurant, post office, salon, grocery, supermarket …. Even has a new Starbucks from last year makes you feel like you are not that unconnected from the globalization. Another important thing to check out during you visit is to pay attention to those post /prewar coop apartment. It is proof the old building with motar and brick stand still aged nicely are sometimes even better than those new constructed ones.

These building got detials, and the red/ brown brick looks relax to me than the new glass wall you see everywhere now. To dig in this might be another big story I suggest you to go on wikipedia to touch basic. 35th avenue can be a charming area for a cyclist like me, again with tall and wide canopy trees, this road is very pleasant to ride – although some area need some repair work. Seems this is a area pet friendly cause many coop accept the pet in the building not like some other places don’t. The sidewalk is in pretty good shape and very easy to find the place you want to go. I find it quite easy to get along with people here and eveyone kind of laid back a bit to live in a much slower pace than in the city. Some annoying thing did happened here. It is quite nosiy – especially in summer- from time to time at night. 100% contribute from the nouty drivers. Although there is this sign said - no honk or penalty, I don’t see much police here for addressing this particular issue. If this get fix, there is not so much I can complain about this interesting neighborhood.

I would say if you are an outgoing, socialize individual / couple young profession like me, you will find the dynamic in this neighborhood can quite entertain you. Recommended for 2yrs+ "Private Parks and Gardens Throughout the Area" Jackson Heights is a northwestern neighborhood in Queens and is known as an urban melting pot that is rich in ethnic diversity. Most of the neighborhood is a National Register Historic District, and approximately half of the area is noted as being a New York City Historic District. The area is comprised of mainly large garden apartment buildings and many private home groupings. Jackson Heights was the first garden community built in the United States, as part of the international Garden City movement at the turn of the last century. As a result, there are more private parks within walking distance of each other than in any other city in America. The parks or gardens are tucked in the mid-blocks, mostly hidden from view by the buildings surrounding them. Several approach the size of Gramercy Park, in Manhattan, and others are slightly larger. As befits private parks, unless given an invitation, the key to gain entry is to own a co-op around its perimeter.

The basis for the private ownership of the parks of Jackson Heights is derived from its founding principle--as a privately owned little garden city, built largely under the oversight of one person. The gardens of the co-ops help make the historic part of the neighborhood highly desirable. Jackson Heights has more school choices within walking distance than any other city America, except for some sections of Manhattan. Students attend P.S. 69 or P.S. 212 for primary school. Middle schools in the neighborhood include I.S. 145 and I.S. 230. There are also other private schools and parochial private schools. The community is also home to many houses of worship from a wide array of religions, due in part to the rich diversity this community holds. Jackson Heights has the highest density of trees and greenery in New York City along its residential streets. The trees provide not only shade during those hot New York summers, but also a great look for its residents. Recommended for 2yrs+ "Not too far from the city, features lovely garden apts" This neighborhood isn’t too close to the city, but it’s not too far either (I can think of plenty of neighborhoods that would make for a longer commute into Manhattan).

The train ride into the city takes about twenty minutes or so (that is, once you actually get on a train). There are a lot of immigrants from Asia and South America who call this area home, and there are also some really nice amenities, like the garden community apartments. The neighborhood’s historic district is home to those garden co-ops in question, a place about which books have been written. Helpful Jackson Heights in Queens, New York – Dining, Shopping and Nightlife Maharaja Quality Sweets & Snacks 73-10 37th Ave., 718-505-2680 Ask a New Yorker to recommend a good neighborhood for Indian food, and you'll most likely be steered toward Jackson Heights. Ask for a specific recommendation, and you'll be told to visit Jackson Diner. The heart of Queens' Little India is 74th Street between Roosevelt and 37th Avenues, and Jackson Diner is almost smack in the middle. This neighborhood institution has been serving food from North and South India since 1980. The abundant lunch buffet is particularly packed.

Delhi Heights also features a beloved buffet, as well as entrées from the tandoor, a clay oven. The all-vegetarian Dosa Delight lives up to its name and does do delightful dosas. A specialty of the southern subcontinent, these pancakes are made from lentils and rice flour, then wrapped around fiery potatoes, spinach, cheese and even chocolate and cashews. Speaking of sweet stuff, Little India has several snack shops selling savory fare like chaat, as well as colorful mithai (sweets). Rajbhog and Maharaja both boast ginormous selections, from hot pink cham cham (made from milk and sugar) to coconut-covered gulab jamun (like a syrup-drenched donut hole) to fudge-like burfi sprinkled with chopped pistachios. Shak trak at Phayul. Photo: Garrett Ziegler Himalayan Heights Lhasa Fast Food 37-50 74th St.

The number of restaurants specializing in Tibetan and Nepalese food in Jackson Heights now almost exceeds those specializing in Indian food—hence the neighborhood's newest nickname: “Himalayan Heights.” Phayul, which means “fatherland” in Tibetan, serves specialties from Central Asia in a nondescript second-floor space. Thanks to liberal use of Sichuan peppercorns known as emma, dishes like shoko sil sil ngoe ma (shredded potatoes and green chiles) and laphing (noodles made from mung bean jelly doused with chile sauce) are shockingly spicy. Two other sit-down standbys are Himalayan Yak and Mustang Thakali Kitchen, both known for thalis, small portions of various dishes on a metal tray. To find Lhasa Fast Food, you have to walk through a cell phone store (locally known as Tibetan Mobile), past rows of DVDs in Tibetan and Hindi, and beneath portraits of the Dalai Lama and prayer flags. Keep going until you smell butter tea brewing in the far back. Your perseverance will be rewarded with, among a handful of other things, made-to-order momos, dumplings that are plump as a coin purse and crimped on top.

Traditionally stuffed with yak meat, versions in Queens tend to swap in beef, vegetables or chicken, along with garlic, soy sauce, scallions and ginger. La Porteña Restaurant. Photo: Will Steacy Tastes of Latin America La Gran Uruguaya 85-06 37th Ave., 718-505-0404 Almost every country in Central and South America has a representative eatery in Jackson Heights: the steaks and wine of Argentina can be found at La Cabaña Argentina; the juices and soups of Ecuador at El Pequeño Coffee Shop; the ceviche and other seafood preparations of Peru at Urubamba; and the pupusas of El Salvador at Tierras Salvadoreñas Restaurant. You can get your fill of Colombian food like caldo de costillo (short rib soup) and chicharrónes (deep-fried pork rind), with lulo juice to drink, any time the craving hits at the always open, neon-lit Cositas Ricas. La Boina Roja has a following equally devoted to its restaurant and its butcher shop.

Local chain Mama's Empanadas makes a variety of these stuffed, fried pastries, including chorizo, rice and beans, and for dessert, fig, caramel and cheese. La Gran Uruguaya displays row after row of delicacies like cakes, flan and macarons. Can't decide what you want to try? Long lines at this bakery and café will give you plenty of time to consider your options—and keep in mind that everything goes well with café con leche. Espresso 77. Photo: Joe Buglewicz Thirst Quenchers Espresso 77 35-57 77th St., 718-424-1077 The menu at El Palacio de Los Cholados is as limited as its flavors are big. Several of the items on offer come with a straw, a spoon and a dozen or so napkins. You'll need them all to thoroughly enjoy the “super combinación” cholado: crushed ice, fruit syrup and condensed milk poured over strata of banana, mangos, strawberries, coconut and pineapple. The concoctions at Jahn's also blur the line between drinks, desserts and mind-blowing mixes.

Depending on your appetite (and the size of your party), you might go in for the famous Kitchen Sink Sundae, which purports to feed eight. It comes in a bucket with a ladle. Or you can order a milkshake, an egg cream or a malted from this family-owned diner, whose decor harks back to a time when there were Jahn's throughout the New York City area. (The very first one opened in 1897.) Another important community fixture is Espresso 77, which serves coffee drinks and teas, and uses its walls as a gallery, playing host to rotating displays of work by local artists. Patel Brothers. Photo: Alex Lopez Shopping Patel Brothers 37-27 74th St., 718-898-3445 Once upon a time, Jackson Heights boasted not one, but two theaters showing Bollywood hits. Those days might be gone, but you can still get your fill of style, romance and song along 74th Street. Sidewalk stands sell prayer rugs, clocks, prayer beads, toys and DVDs and CDs from South Asia.

Butala Emporium has your icon and incense needs covered, as well as a large selection of Hindi magazines, literature and dictionaries. Among the street's most eye-catching windows are those at India Sari Palace and Lavanya: the jewel-tone saris, shalwar kameez and other authentic pieces of apparel sparkle with glittering trim in silver and gold. If it's actual gold you're after, browse the wares at Sona Jewels of London. And on weekends, cars will double- or triple-park to pop into Patel Brothers for the perfect ingredient. Walking the store's aisles of pastes, prepared foods and powders, or looking at the bins of okra, onions, honeydew, jackfruit, pumpkin, spinach, taro and other produce, provides a powerful reminder of the commonalities among so many regional cuisines. The Arepa Lady. Photo: Joe Buglewicz Roosevelt Avenue Street Food Jeff Orlick, Queens Food Tours You can eat cheaply and well simply by walking along Roosevelt Avenue, especially at night. As the sun goes down, vendors appear on their customary corners or spots along the blocks beneath the elevated 7 train.

Music from their carts competes with the thump-thump-thump spilling out of the area's bars. It's a two-plus-mile-long party, catered by cooks from El Salvador, Mexico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the scene is simply to follow the crowds. Try tortas and gorditas (types of sandwiches), tacos, chuzos (meat skewers), quesadillas, roast pork, raspados (flavored shave ice), esquites (corn mixed with mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder and salt), tamales, salsas and halal lamb with rice. The most famous vendor on this strip, the so-called Arepa Lady (aka Maria Piedad Cano), sells—you guessed it—arepas, a compact snack from her native Colombia that she packs with cheese. Cano is usually at 79th Street and Roosevelt on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 pm to 4 am; check her Twitter feed for details. If you're looking for guidance, Queens resident and street food connoisseur Jeff Orlick leads several types of tours, such as a midnight food crawl.

Going at midnight gives you all day and most of the evening to work up an appetite. Terraza 7. Photo: Joe Buglewicz Nightlife Amaru Pisco Bar 84-13 Northern Blvd., 718-205-5577 Open daily from 4 pm to 4 am, Terraza 7 provides a dizzying array of entertainment. Freddy Castiblanco, the owner, wanted his place to be a bar, club and performance venue, so he regularly books poetry slams, DJs, film screenings, musicians who jam and musicians who play standard sets, and vocalists in Afro, Middle Eastern, Caribbean and other traditions. The performers do their diverse things on an elevated stage above the ground-floor bar area, which has tables, couches, hammocks and statues of saints. You can eat, drink, canoodle or some combination thereof at La Gloria, a dimly lit, maroon-hued lounge and popular restaurant serving primarily Cuban food. Down the street is Amaru Pisco Bar, offering roughly 20 types of this potent Peruvian spirit.

You can drink the stuff straight or get it mixed into a house-made cocktail, such as the Alturas (puree of prickly pear, aloe vera, lemon juice, gum syrup and Pisco 100) or the Ichicgo Pisco (cava, simple syrup, strawberries cured in Ty Ku soju, lime juice and Pisco 100). Photo: Alexander Thompson Bum Bum Bar 63-14 Roosevelt Ave., 718-651-4145 Jackson Heights is the epicenter of gay culture in Queens. The annual Queens Pride Parade & Multicultural Festival takes place in the streets around 37th Avenue and 37th Road in early June; everyone is invited to participate in this celebration of diversity and tolerance. As the area's primary LGBT community center, Queens Pride House has hosted discussions and events related to social and political issues, as well as many kinds of free, drop-in referrals and counseling sessions, since its founding in 1997. “Where strangers become friends” could be the motto of many bars, but, as the oldest gay bar in the borough, Friends Tavern has probably earned more of a right to use it than most.

With drink specials and events most nights of the week, this bar is consistently crowded. Its younger sibling, Club Evolution, calls itself a “gay Latino nightclub” and attracts a high-energy crowd. A bit further afield, Bum Bum Bar caters to lesbians, though all are welcome. The music tends toward merengue and salsa, and the small dance floor fills up fast. Travers Park. Photo: Daniel Avila/NYC Parks and Recreation Green Spaces St. Mark's Episcopal Church 33-50 82nd St., 718-639-8893 Travers Park, the neighborhood's largest outdoor recreational space, features basketball courts, handball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, spray showers, benches, trees and many, many happy children. A few years ago, 78th Street adjacent to Travers Park was designated as a permanent car-free zone. Pick-up games of soccer and kickball take place around the planters and picnic tables. And this expansion will continue: the City plans to create even more green space on 79th Street. While Travers Park was named for prominent community and political leader Thomas J.

Travers, the tiny Manuel De Dios Unanue Triangle honors a Queens journalist assassinated for his investigations into, and outspoken critique of, the drug trade. Located where Roosevelt meets Baxter Avenue and 83rd Street, this park has several shady spots at which to enjoy whatever you buy from the avenue's food carts and trucks. One of the loveliest resting spots in Jackson Heights is the garden surrounding St. Mark's Episcopal Church, particularly when the cherry blossoms are in full flower. Photo: Garrett Ziegler

Question: Jackson Heights is a neighbourhood in which New York borough?
Answer: Queens