Queens is the borough I’ve always wanted to spend more time in. Noticeably absent from my neighborhood travels are such places as Jackson Heights, Long Island City, Flushing and Jamaica. I did have the chance to spend time in Astoria, Kew Gardens, and most recently Forest Hills. Forest Hills is an upper class neighborhood and such people as Hank Azaria, Dale Carnegie, Donna Karan, Simon and Garfunkle, and the Ramones have at one point or another called Forest Hills home.
My host for the week was not famous, but he provided an excellent glimpse into this unique neighborhood. Michael is a law professor and recent transplant to New York City. He is a nomad by way of living in 12 different US cities over the last 12 years. It was interesting to hear about some of the places he’d lived and I think I’m more impressed by moving to a different city every year than I am by moving to a different neighborhood every week! Michael also is well versed in urban planning and explained to me that Forest Hills was one of the first “streetcar suburbs.” It’s easy to see a lot of the homes were built with the expectation a family might have one car, but not one car for the entire family. Check out the photo below. Doesn’t exactly look like New York City does it?
Staying with Michael was a unique experience. I think I finally have a good grasp of Kosher values after spending a week with Michael who keeps a Kosher home. I basically just stayed out of the kitchen, but we did have a meal at a Bukharian restaurant which was technically Rego Park, another neighborhood which borders Forest Hills. Austin street is the main street in Forest Hills and offers quite a few chains like Starbucks, but also some nice family run bakeries and restaurants. Among them, a place called Brownies and Cream that does macaroons and brownies.
Forest Hills also marks neighborhood number 52. I get tired just writing that, but look for some upcoming posts attempting to wrap up my project. It’s not going to be an easy task.
Related articles
- Astoria, Queens (thenycnomad.net)
- Brighton Beach, Brooklyn (thenycnomad.net)
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