Queens/Flushing-Northeast

By subway

Take the 7 train to the last stop, Flushing - Main St. On weekday afternoons, take the express 7, rather than the local, if you are at an express stop. The express generally cuts the length of a trip from Manhattan to Main St. by at least 10 minutes.

By Long Island Railroad

The Flushing Main Street stop on the Port Washington Line of the Long Island Railroad arguably marks the exact center of Flushing. The LIRR station is about two blocks south of the Flushing - Main St. stop on the 7 train. On weekends, one-way LIRR fare within the city limits (including Manhattan's Penn Station) is $4.25 - still pricier and less scenic than the subway, but faster (19-20 minutes from Penn Station vs. about 35-55 minutes via the 7 train from Times Square), and the best way to reach points east of the 7 train's terminus.

By bus

There are many Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses that serve Flushing. Go to the MTA website to download a Queens bus map. While waiting for the bus, make sure you are on the right side of the street for the direction you want to travel. From LaGuardia Airport, you can take the Q48 bus.

By car

The center of Flushing - Main St. between Roosevelt Av. and where it forks with Kissena Blvd. - is accessible from exits from major highways like the Grand Central Parkway and the Long Island Expressway. However, be warned that traffic in Downtown Flushing is often very slow-moving, due to the narrow roads, heavy traffic and high number of pedestrians.

By plane

Flushing is close to LaGuardia Airport (LGA). For those arriving at or departing from LaGuardia, the MTA bus route Q48 stops on Roosevelt Av. at the corner of Main St., and taxis are also available.

• Flushing Meadows-Corona ParkThe site of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs. The area around the park still includes some architectural and artistic relics of the events (including the Unisphere, a 300 ton spherical grid of steel, the world's largest globe, as featured in "Men In Black"). The park is very expansive, so be prepared to walk, or rent a bike near the Passarelle Building at the north entrance. The park also includes:

• New York Hall of Science

  phone: +1 718 699-0005
  address: 47-01 111th St
  Originally a pavilion for the 1964 World's Fair, this science center is now full of hands-on exhibits for the public. Highlights include Sports Challenge, Rocket Park (featuring full sized Atlas and Titan tickets), and a science playground.

• Queens Botanical Garden

  phone: +1 718 886-3800
  address: 43-50 Main St
  Large garden and arboretum featuring a variety of plants, and also a Victorian-style wedding garden.

• Queens Museum

  phone: +1 718 592-9700
  address: New York City Building
  A visual arts center featuring the Panorama of New York City; a large architectural scale model NYC.

• Queens Zoo

  phone: +1 718 271-1500
  address: 53-51 111th St
  An 11-acre zoo featuring over 40 wildlife species including bison, mountain lions, and bears.

• USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

  phone: +1 718 760-6200
  Home of the U.S. Open and also the largest public tennis facility in the world. It features 3 stadium courts, 9 indoor courts, and 14 outdoor courts which are available to the public year-round.

• New York Mets

  address: Citi Field
  Built in 2009, the Mets' new ballpark has a unique architectural entrance which pays homage to the design of Ebbets Field, mimicking the old architecture of the Brooklyn Dodgers' ballpark with its arched facade. The name of the entrance, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, honors the first black player in modern Major League Baseball, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. A museum dedicated to the Mets is next to the rotunda and open on game days. If the Mets hit a home run, look for the Home Run Apple rising out of the center field wall; if you're not so lucky (this is the Mets, after all), you can still view the Home Run Apple from the now-demolished Shea Stadium between Citi Field and the 7 subway station.
  Unfortunately, there isn't much to do surrounding the stadium, so anybody looking for post-game activities will have to take the 7 train to other parts of Queens or go into Manhattan. The surrounding area of Willets Point is infamously home to a cluster of chop shops. However, plans for development and neighborhood revitalization are underway.

• A & C Supermarket

  phone: +1 718 359-3399
  address: 4141 Kissena Blvd
  This is positively the biggest Chinese supermarket in New York. There are several other large Chinese supermarkets in the neighborhood, but A & C is by far the best for most purposes. You want it, they've got it. A & C is patronized extensively not only by members of the Chinese community, but also by Indians and Anglos, because it has high-quality fresh produce, all sorts of condiments, meats, poultry, fish and seafood, prepared goods, etc.

• Spicy and Tasty

  phone: +1 718 359-1601
  address: 39-07 Prince St, 1H
  Spicy and Tasty used to be arguably the best Sichuan-style restaurant in New York, but they have changed management, and recent reports have been mixed.

• Lu's Seafood

  address: 38-18 Prince St
  A popular Taiwanese restaurant. They serve thick and thin soups which are big enough for a meal with or without a cold dish. For those who want it, there is offal available, notably including pig intestine dishes.

• East Manor

  phone: +1 718 888-8998
  address: 46-45 Kissena Blvd
  A Zagat Survey rated restaurant that serves some of the best Chinese, Korean, and Japanese food in New York City. This restaurant is often packed during the weekdays, and serves many lunch and diner specials. A buffet room is located on the top floor. It can be on the pricey side for weekends, but much cheaper than Manhattan.

• Sunway

  address: Prince St and 38th Ave
  Delicious dim sum all day as well as a full menu. Come for the dim sum, stay for the specialty drinks with fun names.

• AA Plaza

  address: 40-66 Main St
  Serves fast and inexpensive take-out food for commuters. The scallion pancakes ($1) are particularly good. No seating - eat on your feet, or if the weather permits, sit on the steps of the public library across the street.

• Hunan House

  phone: +1 718 353-1808
  address: 137-40 Northern Blvd
  Authentic, very tasty and spicy Hunanese food in a quiet, historical part of Flushing about a half mile from the subway stop. Expect to spend about $20/person for a large dinner, and to leave with your mouth buzzing.

• El Rincón Antioqueño

  address: 41-25 162nd St
  Specializes in Colombian cuisine, particularly of the region of Medellín.

• Fu Run

  address: 40-09 Prince St
  Fairly cheap place to try Chinese Muslim food, particularly from the Northeast. They have all the standard offerings (including, somewhat surprisingly, a large pork selection), but the standout is the lamb dishes. Try lamb's kidney if you're adventurous.

• Sushi Village

  phone: +1 718 886-4733
  address: 3250 Francis Louis Blvd
  Asian restaurant which makes a little pricey sushi and other Asian goods, but all keeps it nice. Service is kinda slow. Think the restaurant's full? Think again! This restaurant has a tiny staircase that brings you down to the basement, where the service is obviously slower. Those are the good and bad about Sushi Village. Try the Kamikaze Roll if you want a hint of spice!

• Bagel Oasis

  phone: +1 718 359-9245
  address: 18312 Horace Harding Expy
  Often regarded as the best bagels in Queens, with an excellent variety of cream cheese spreads and sandwiches available. However, the location is a little far from anything of tourist interest.

• The Sandwich Bar

  phone: +1 718 544-1014
  address: 71-32 Main St
  If you like "make your own", this is your place. Choose from seven types of schnitzel (or any of the other entrees or salads); then select sauces and toppings to your taste. Order something different every time; it won't get boring. Kosher.

Flushing is full of bubble tea places. For great tapioca, milk tea beverages, other flavored tea, ice desserts, slush and many kinds of fancy drinks, you can also visit Quickly, located at 41-40 Kissena Blvd or their other location on Roosevelt Avenue.

There are a number of hotels in Flushing, including:

• Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel

  phone: +1 718 460-6666
  address: 135-20 39th Ave

• Comfort Inn

  phone: +1 718 939-5000
  address: 133-43 37th Ave

• Best Western Queens Court Hotel

  phone: +1 718 888-1900
  address: 133-51 39th Ave

• Red Roof Inn Flushing New York - LaGuardia Airport

  phone: +1 718 886-8884
  address: 36-31 Prince St

• Flushing YMCA

  phone: +1 718 961-6884
  address: 138-46 Northern Blvd

• Marco LaGuardia Hotel

  phone: +1 718 445-3300
  address: 137-07 Northern Blvd
  Upscale boutique hotel, clean, free Wi-Fi.

Walking on Roosevelt Av. between Citi Field and Main St. is not a good idea. The route is very unpleasant, going past automobile body shops and across bridges spanning the polluted Flushing River, with broken glass on the walkways. This naturally means that few pedestrians will be found on the streets and maximizes the chance of meeting weirdos. The walkways are primarily used as a bicycle route for local workers. From Mets - Willets Pt. to Flushing - Main St. is one stop on the 7 Train. Take the train.