Ever since I planned our first trip to NYC I've wanted to ride the number 7 train to Queens. I had read that it was referred to as the International Express because of the diversity of each area where the train stops. The train runs above ground through Queens. We never seemed to make it and I was determined to do it this time. On Tuesday we started our journey on the 7 train from the Times Square station. As the train left Manhattan it came out of the cave underground and climbed above the city toward Queens. It was exciting to ride above ground and see the city as we traveled. The first stop on the train was Long Island City. We got off the train to explore. LIC is very industrial. We wanted to walk toward Manhattan to the park that I read gave a great view of Manhattan. We never made it and decided to get back on the train. However, we did see lots of really cool graffiti in that area. Plus, there seemed like so much more room than in Manhattan. Already the buildings were lower, there were homes that resembled houses instead of Apt buildings.
Our next stop on the 7 train was at Sunnyside, Queens. It was a cute community with quaint homes on side streets. Down the middle of the street the elevated train overhead housed parking places underneath. This was an unusual sight since in Manhattan they stack cars on metal racks to make room for parking. I had a coffee shop on my list to visit. This particular shop was an Armenian coffee shop.
They roast their own beans in the shop. It was an old shop, like so many in NY and the woman running it was obviously Armenian with a thick accent. There was a big coffee roaster in the corner and many different types of coffee beans and ground coffee to purchase. We purchased an iced coffee since it was hot and humid and we wanted a cool drink. Instead of ice cubes, she added frozen cubes of coffee which meant the coffee didn't get watery. The coffee was smooth and delicious. We also bought a house blend coffee to take home. We walked through Woodside admiring the various businesses noticing how many nationalities were represented within a couple of blocks. We also saw a large elementary school. I always look for schools and in the past had trouble finding them. This trip I finally found schools and always take a picture when I find one.
From Sunnyside we traveled next to Woodside. Woodside, from what I had read had lots of different ethnic restaurants like English Pubs, Thai restaurants, Mexican and more. I wanted to time the trip to have lunch here because I had a Thai restaurant on my list that had been recognized by chowhounds and foodies. I love Thai food and this place was supposed to be authentic. We walked through Woodside admiring the neighborhood stores and businesses under the train tracks. When the train passed overhead it was so loud. I guess if you hear it constantly you get used to it. It's interesting how different life is in this city. There are so many ethnic groups and though they appear to stick together based on race, they also have learned to blend together as well. There are Mexican businesses next to Italian, then you might see an Asian business and even more as you walk just one block. We moved on looking for our Thai destination. We found the restaurant and the first thing I noticed was the space. Ahhhh, I could eat and breathe because we were not sitting in a cracker box at a table with someone we didn't know or right up against another family. This place was roomy and very new looking inside. I had read it was recently renovated and had a beautiful outside garden area to dine. The garden area was in fact very pretty but the heat drove us inside to eat.
The lunch special was only $13.50 and it included an appetizer, entree and drink. The food was great and spicy even though we requested mild spice. I read this place was known for the authentic Thai heat. Jerry isn't a fan of Thai food, but he thought it was good.
I loved it. I think it's the best meal I've had yet since we got here. Or at least I enjoyed it more than any other. I have a recent, new love for Thai food.
Once our tummies were full we jumped back on the train to go to Jackson Heights. In Jackson Heights there is what referred to as "Little India" right as you exit the train station. This was a unique place. It literally felt as if you were walking the streets of foreign soil. All the businesses housed signs with foreign languages to mark the businesses.
We had plans to stop next at Corona Park. Jerry wanted to see that big thing that was in the Men in Black movie. However we were beginning to tire because at every stop there were the infamous millions of train station stairs to climb up and down. At this point we had encountered many stairs and it was getting more humid as the day passed. Jerry knew I wasn't turning back until we visited the last stop on the 7 train which was Flushing Queens.
Yes Flushing is a real place, not just Fran from The Nanny's make believe TV home. Flushing is where the largest Chinatown exists. Flushing's Chinatown is actually larger than Manhattan's Chinatown. As you exit the train you feel you have just entered China. There is also a large Korean community in Flushing as well. I only know that because I read it. I hate to say it, but I wouldn't be able to tell if a person was Korean or Chinese. I don't understand the language so they could be speaking any Asian language and I wouldn't have a clue.
Flushing's Chinatown is different than
Manhattan. Though they are selling items like Manhattan's CT they were not luring people to buy illegal items such as purses, watches, glasses, etc. This area seemed to reflect the everyday life of the people. You really felt as if you might be in China because the streets were so packed you could barely walk. Here the bubble tea shoppes were extremely plentiful. I finally found out about bubble tea. I've been wondering what it was because I had seen shoppes all over Manhattan. The waitress at the Thai restaurant told me the bubble in the tea is tapioca. That does not sound appetizing to me. However, the tea shoppes were packed in Flushing.
After Flushing we made our way back via subway to our apt. We stopped to eat along the way at a franchise restaurant named Chopt. There are several of these type salad places here. Another popular one is Just Salad. These places serve chopped salads. There are pre-determined ingredient salads or you can build your own. I really like the pre-determined because they have the right mix of things. They take the lettuce and all the ingredients and cram them packed full in a large plastic bowl. Then they dump on a chopping board and chop the daylights out of the salad. Once chopped they put in a large mixing bowl and add the dressing and toss it all over the salad and put back in your bowl. They are so good. I love them. I wish we had one of these places at home. I plan to make them at home myself. Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond made them on her show because she fell in love with them in NYC.
We had planned to also do a trip to Coney Island and had kind of talked us out of it because if some of the things I had read saying it was grimy and unsafe. Jerry really wanted to go so Wednesday we decided we would take the chance and if we got off the train and didn't like it we would just turn around and go back. Coney Island is part of Brooklyn but a distance away on the east coast of Brooklyn. It's actually not an island despite its name. We took the train and again. As you go out to the different boroughs the trains run above ground. I really like riding above ground seeing where I'm going. Plus you have cell phone service when riding above ground unlike the underground rides. It was interesting and somewhat ghetto looking on the ride out. The train stations were old and a little worn. There was a good bit of graffiti and the scenery was dirty and industrial. However once we got to Coney Island it was good. It's such a neat place and it reminded me so much of the the boardwalk at Daytona Beach that I went to as a child.
You don't see boardwalks much anymore. There is an amusement park right on the boardwalk with lots of hotdog stands and other types of walk up eating establishments. Jerry really wanted to ride the wonder wheel but the park was closed because the space needle had been swaying and they had to inspect it.
The ocean wasn't really what I expected to see in NYC, but it appears NYC has everything. Just a short subway ride and you can spend the day at the beach. The original Nathan's hotdog is at Coney Island, so of course we had to have one. Believe it or not I've never had one at home. One of the best things about Nathan's in NYC is that you can order it with the cooked spicy onions that you can get at every hotdog cart here in NY. We love them. One thing they don't do on hotdogs here is slaw.
Once we sat at a picnic table to eat our hotdogs we began conversing with someone else at the table. It just so happened the lady was a teacher in Jamaica, Queens which is extremely rough and inner city. She said she has to restrain kids on a daily basis. We enjoyed conversation and agreed to find one another on Facebook. We took her picture to go with the others of those we've met while here in NYC.
We walked the boardwalk enjoying the space, the view, the breeze and sunshine. We walked all the way down to Brighton Beach which is about a 25 minute walk. The boardwalk connects Coney Island and Brighton Beach. The area has a large community of Jewish immigrants who left the Former Soviet Union in 1970. Most of what I observed was Russian businesses, restaurants an lots of people speaking Russian. We stopped to ask a question of two older women. One was American, the other had a heavy Russian accent. They were so funny. Every question we asked they argued about the answer. Before we left we asked to take their picture. The American lady was fine with it, but the Russian lady wouldn't allow us to take her picture. The American said "she's afraid of the CIA". LOL.
The beach in Brighton had several Cafes right on the boardwalk. The other streets were much like Queens with the neighborhood businesses under the subway tracks.
We took the subway from Brighton Beach to Fort Green, Brooklyn to find an outpost of a restaurant we had visited on a previous visit to Manhattan. We made it there and enjoyed a quesadilla and their famous grilled corn. We sat outside and ate quickly because the lady behind us was talking so loud and every two words, no exaggeration, she dropped the "f" bomb. I couldn't listen to her another second.
On Thursday we debated about going to see the fireworks. We felt like we couldn't be in NYC and miss the fireworks, but on the other hand, we heard it would be packed and you would have to stand to hold your spot for as long as five hours. We didn't want to see the fireworks that badly. We decided to go as close as we could without being in the designated roped off area. We found a really nice park along with lots of other people. It was a nice place to plant ourselves for 5 hours.
Needless to say, all that takes away from the actual experience viewed on TV. I still don't regret seeing them this way. I don't love fireworks enough to stand in a hot and stinky place for hours. To me all fireworks are basically the same.
Friday we decided to visit City Island which is an island at the end of the Bronx. It required a long subway ride and then a transfer to a bus to go out to the island. I had read it was similar to a New England fishing village. I haven't been to a New England fishing village, but it didn't appear to be like what I expected based on the description I had read. The ride to the Bronx was also above ground most of the way. It was really a rough looking place. We had to transfer trains at one point and I didn't really enjoy the scenery as I did in Queens. Once we got off the train to transfer to the bus, it was hot and just rough looking, not an appealing area. Once on City Island we found a fairly nice seafood restaurant and had lunch.
We walked a few streets on City Island. There were actual homes with yards more like home. We didn't see much there that was appealing so we finally made our way back. The Bronx has been my least favorite Borough to visit.
Saturday we wanted to find a cooler activity because there was a heat wave in NYC. We purchased reasonably priced water taxi tickets and rode the boat to Dumbo first. Dumbo is in Brooklyn. It is short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. There is a nice park there and a well known ice cream shop as well as a few restaurants close by. We were going to eat at Grimaldi's because it is well known for its pizza. We really weren't in the mood, but never the less it was well known so we thought we would try it. We found a line out the door and no shade in sight. It was extremely hot so we decided it wasn't that important. Instead we ate at a little French cafe that served crepes we enjoyed a savory chicken, cheese and mushroom crepe. It was light and tasty. After Dumbo we rode the boat to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Williamsburg is across the river from the lower east side. It's referred to as a college town without a college. It's got that artsy fartsy, bohemian feel to it. It's easy to describe the type, young, grungy, tattoos, piercings, vintage. I refer to them as tree huggers. I actually love visiting those areas looking at the clothing stores, boutiques, Cafes. I currently follow a fashion photographer on Instagram and FB that photographs fashion weeks all over the world as well as other fashion events and I believe for magazines. She was so kind to send me messages and recommend a few places for me since she lives in NYC. She recommended a bakery called Bakeri in Williamsburg.
We stopped in this really hipster place and
enjoyed one of their cinnamon rolls. I think they may have been "somewhat" healthy. In comparison to our cinnamon rolls with tons of sugar and butter I'm sure they were. However, they were good.
Saturday evening we decided to venture out to Staten Island. We watch a reality show about hair and makeup salons called Jeseylicious. They are all in New Jersey and we wanted to go but thought without a car going to Jersey might be difficult. Three of the cast members are a family that own a pizzeria on Staten Island. We thought this was doable so we decided to go. We didn't really expect to see any of the cast there but thought it may be fun since we had seen the place on the show. We took the ferry over and for the first time, after riding that ferry multiple times we actually left the ferry station. We caught a bus and rode for what seemed like forever. As we rode I was beginning to get a little apprehensive. It was nearing dark. We weren't familiar with the area and I didn't see taxis. That unnerved me some because I always feel like if I'm in a place that makes me uncomfortable in NYC then I can always get a taxi. We hadn't needed it more than one time and that was only because I was feeling bad. We weren't sure how far the walk would be from the bus. We used an app on our phone that was great for directions, but the area was unfamiliar and people weren't walking as much like in Manhattan. There were more drivers on the road than walkers. We exited the bus and by that time it was dusk. We walked and walked past a few sketchy places and people. We finally found the pizza place and I was afraid about getting back at dark. Jerry found a bus right by the pizza place and it was well lit and populated so I relaxed and was enjoying the place looking around, eating salad and pizza. Not only does the Giove family own the pizzeria, they are also well known for great Sicilian pizza. They actually won a throw down with Bobby Flay. They are the old Italian pizzeria where they throw the dough and everything. Although I didn't see any dough throwing that night. While eating a young guy and girl walked past the window outside and Jerry said "there's Fillipo". He's one of the main characters on our show and his family owns the pizza place. I jumped up and ran outside before he could get away and told him I was a fan of the show and asked if I could I get a picture. He was very obliging and as cocky as he is on the show. He also has that stereotypical Italian attitude like we always picture from TV. I told him I came over to the pizzeria because we like the show. He asked me if I came to see him or eat pizza. I told him about my trip and that I was turning 50. Of course he flattered me by telling me how good I looked and he hoped his wife would look that good at 50. Ha ha. He asked where my husband was and if he trusted me out there with him. LOL.
Sunday we went back to Brooklyn Tabernacle church. The previous week we had attended Times Square Church which was also a treat. We have really enjoyed visiting churches, hearing the choirs, which are huge. I am ready to get back to my own church though. I miss it. That evening Jerry wanted to go to the top of the Empire State Building. We in fact stood in an hour or more line and made the trip to the observation deck. Although beautiful, there was something about viewing the city at night that gave me anxiety. I didn't feel that way a few years ago when we went up in the daylight. Jerry, who says he's afraid of heights was loving it. I couldn't stand close long, it made me anxious. The view was great though.
I was happy when we got back to the bottom. After that, at nearly 10:30 we walked up to Times Square for dinner. Believe it or not, unless you are near TS most restaurants close at 10. After dinner we enjoyed sitting in TS one last time before our trip ended. It was less crowded than it had been the other times we were there. Jerry had developed a cold and was feeling bad so at midnight we made it back to our apt.
On Monday Jerry woke up coughing and feeling bad. I wanted to go back to Chinatown one last time for more knockoffs. He absolutely hates Chinatown, so I left him behind and enjoyed my shopping without him constantly asking if was done yet. I managed to score a couple of good items before finding a nasty looking little Chinese restaurant. They all look that way. You just have to accept that's Chinatown. You have to ignore the meat, duck, with heads attached that are cooked and hanging in the front of the window or restaurant. I wanted an egg roll but the gentleman waiting on me informed me they didn't serve egg rolls because egg rolls, according to him, are not Chinese, but American. I asked what they had that was similar. He said he had never eaten an egg roll but recommended something called a shrimp roll. It was different but actually good.
When I was ready to leave Chinatown, my phone app said walking to the bus or subway was actually further than walking all the way back to Wall St. So, I walked all the way back in the hot sun. It was a little cooler than the previous day. Jerry was dressed and ready to go so we headed up to SoHo to visit the NYC Fire Museum.
We wanted to see this because they have a section dedicated to the firefighters that died in 9-11 tragedy. The museum was very small and the 9-11 section was very touching, but we are really glad we got to see it.
Our plans had been to spend our last night having dinner at our favorite restaurant. They have recently moved locations. They had just moved a week after we got here and we went then too. However we were looking for a specific waitress, Anne that we had met three years prior. She is from Georgia.
We got to the restaurant while they were getting ready for the dinner hour so they just let us sit, enjoy a coke and some bar chips. The dinner did not disappoint. We had lemon chicken with pasta. It was delicious. We also saw Ann and spent most of the evening talking with her. Our waitress gave us dessert on the house and we took their homemade peanut butter cookies with us. We said goodbye and decided to walk down Columbus Ave which is where they are newly located. I had on my list to walk this road for good shopping. Why now, my last night did I discover this great road. We actually shopped a little, but I was pushing my luck at this point with Jerry since we had just mailed a. 20 x 30 box home full of the things I had already purchased.
We finally made our way to the subway happy to know this would be our very last ride. Of course, this train enforced how much we were looking forward to giving up subway riding. It was packed and it was like climbing in a sardine can. And of course my last trip had to include a crazy man singing songs about me trying to get money. We happily exited the subway excited that tomorrow we were going home.
I've shared the activities of our last week and a half and look forward to sharing my reflections of the trip after I return home. I'm sitting in the airport now beyond exited to go home. I can't wait to sleep in my bed tonight and take a hot bath in my bathtub. Home sweet home, please get there fast.
Cindy Pafford
