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The Unisphere - Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Flushing-Northeast is a large area of Queens, a borough of New York City. Flushing contains a very large Chinatown, more diverse than Manhattan's Chinatown. It also contains a large Korean and a large Indian neighborhood, with various other ethnic groups represented. Consider taking a trip there if you are visiting New York for more than a week, or if you would like a delicious meal before or/and after watching a game at Citi Field or matches at the U.S. Open.

Get in

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 St. 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 $3.25 - still pricier and less scenic than the subway, but faster, 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 [1] 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.

See

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
  • Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (Subway:  7  Train to Mets Willets Point; LIRR: Port Washington Line to Mets Willets Point). The 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 (NYSCI), 47-01 111th St (northwest corner of the park, scross Grand Central Pkwy), ☏ +1 718 699-0005. Sep-Mar: Tu-Th 9:30AM-2PM, F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM. Apr-Jun: M-Th 9:30AM-2PM, F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM. Jul-Aug: M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM. 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. $11 adults, $8 studens/senoirs/children. Free admission (Sep-Jun only) offered F 2PM-5PM and Su 10AM-11AM. 
    • Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St (east end of the park), ☏ +1 718 886-3800. 8AM-6PM daily Apr-Oct, 8AM-4:30PM daily Nov-Mar. Large garden and arboretum featuring a variety of plants, and also a Victorian-style wedding garden. Admission is charged Apr-Oct: $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 studens and children over 3, free for children under 3. Free admission for all Nov-Mar. 
    • Queens Museum of Art, New York City Building (west end of the park, behind the Unisphere), ☏ +1 718 592-9700. W-Su noon-6PM. A visual arts center featuring the Panorama of New York City; a large architectural scale model NYC. Suggested donation $5 adults, $2.50 seniors/children, free for children under 5. 
    • Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St (west end of the park, across Grand Central Pkwy), ☏ +1 718 271-1500. Apr-Oct: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-5:30PM. Nov-Mar: 10AM-4:30PM daily. An 11-acre zoo featuring over 40 wildlife species including bison, mountain lions, and bears. $8 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children (3-12), free for children under 3. 
    • USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Take a right after entering the north entrance from the Subway or LIRR), ☏ +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. 

Do

Citi Field
  • New York Mets, Citi Field (Subway:  7  Train to Mets - Willets Point; LIRR: Port Washington Line to Mets - Willets Point). 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. Tickets range from $12 for outfield seats to over $100 for a seat behind home plate. 

Buy

  • A & C Supermarket, 4141 Kissena Blvd (across from the Flushing branch of the Queens Library), ☏ +1 718 359-3399. 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 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. 

Eat

  • Spicy and Tasty, 39-07 Prince St, 1H (north of Roosevelt Ave), ☏ +1 718 359-1601. 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. Expect to pay roughly $15-22/person for lunch or dinner. 
  • Lu's Seafood, 38-18 Prince St (at 39th Ave). 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, 46-45 Kissena Blvd (at Laburnum Ave), ☏ +1 718 888-8998. 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, 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, 40-66 Main St (directly under the LIRR overpass). 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, 137-40 Northern Blvd ( 7  to Flushing - Main St, then walk north on Main St. and east [right] on Northern Blvd. [about a 10-minute walk]), ☏ +1 718 353-1808. 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, 41-25 162nd St (Can be reached by either the Q13 bus or the Q12 and is a 1 minute walk from either). Specializes in Colombian cuisine, particularly of the region of Medellín. 
  • Fu Run, 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, 3250 Francis Louis Blvd, ☏ +1 718 886-4733. Monday-Thursday 11AM - 10:30PM Friday 11AM - 11PM Saturday 12:00-11PM Sunday 12:00-10:30PM. 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, 18312 Horace Harding Expy (between 183rd and 184th Sts), ☏ +1 718 359-9245. Open 24 hours. 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. 
  • 1 The Sandwich Bar, 71-32 Main St, ☏ +1 718 544-1014. 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. 

Drink

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.

Sleep

There are a number of hotels in Flushing, including:

Stay safe

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.

Go next

Routes through Flushing-Northeast
Midtown Manhattan ← Jackson Heights ←  W  E  → END



This district travel guide to Flushing-Northeast is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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