Cool places near JFK
December 4, 2014 11:05 PM Subscribe
I'm staying near JFK and have a couple of days in NYC. I have a bunch of work to do on a laptop and I like good coffee shops to work in (wifi + outlets), unusual food that I should try in NYC, and pretty nature. It's winter. Where should I go?
Response by poster: As near as can be to JFK, not in Manhattan or further out.
posted by 3491again at 4:25 AM on December 5, 2014
posted by 3491again at 4:25 AM on December 5, 2014
Hmmmmmmm well there are no cool places near JFK, so this will stump everyone. A couple options:
You have two semi-fast routes out of there to "cool" points nearest. One is Airtrain to Jamaica, and then taking the LIRR 15 minutes to the Brooklyn terminus at Atlantic Avenue. From there you're near a million cool places; the border of Fort Greene, Park Slope, Gowanus and Downtown Brooklyn. Two is taking the A train from where you are towards the same direction, but you can get off at Nostrand, Clinton Washington, or Franklin Avenue, where there's some cool places. Both can get you downtown Brooklyn, which can easily lead you into Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill as well.
This is not terribly specific but you have to know how far/long you're willing to go.
Pretty nature might best be summed up in Prospect Park, which I enjoy in winter. However, Fort Tilden and the Rockaways, both close to JFK, are pretty cool in winter as well. So is Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 5:12 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
You have two semi-fast routes out of there to "cool" points nearest. One is Airtrain to Jamaica, and then taking the LIRR 15 minutes to the Brooklyn terminus at Atlantic Avenue. From there you're near a million cool places; the border of Fort Greene, Park Slope, Gowanus and Downtown Brooklyn. Two is taking the A train from where you are towards the same direction, but you can get off at Nostrand, Clinton Washington, or Franklin Avenue, where there's some cool places. Both can get you downtown Brooklyn, which can easily lead you into Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill as well.
This is not terribly specific but you have to know how far/long you're willing to go.
Pretty nature might best be summed up in Prospect Park, which I enjoy in winter. However, Fort Tilden and the Rockaways, both close to JFK, are pretty cool in winter as well. So is Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 5:12 AM on December 5, 2014 [2 favorites]
Agree strongly with RJ Reynolds, I would come straight to Park Slope/Fort Greene and install myself in a coffee shop there. But if you want to stay close to JFK for the sheer challenge of doing so, there's interesting nature and walking, of a semi-urban variety, at Broad Channel and Rockaway Beach.
posted by oliverburkeman at 5:19 AM on December 5, 2014
posted by oliverburkeman at 5:19 AM on December 5, 2014
Here are some food options in Jamaica, near to JFK via air train. Not cute coffee shop variety but tasty (mmm, pupusas).
posted by ferret branca at 6:08 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ferret branca at 6:08 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I've been staying in Far Rockaway for a little while now, while my home in NYC is renovated. There are beaches right on the A train. Not perfect beach weather now, and where I am, no internet cafes, but this is a really interesting area I find. Boardwalk Empire is shot here, its a real time capsule in places.
The local community board calender shows all of the restaurant/cafe applications for an area at the west end of the peninsula, I've heard there are some nice beach cafes down that way.
To get to that area you would take the A train from the JFK/Howard Beach stop to Broad Channel (a few minute's ride) and change there to the A shuttle to Rockaway Beach (there's only a few more stops in that direction.) I'll ask around and update here if I get any more specific recommendations.
Just taking the above-ground subway in that direction and back (the train reverses at the end of the line), and then switching at Broad Channel back to the line going East, would make for an interesting little sightseeing jaunt as seen from the windows.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:02 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
The local community board calender shows all of the restaurant/cafe applications for an area at the west end of the peninsula, I've heard there are some nice beach cafes down that way.
To get to that area you would take the A train from the JFK/Howard Beach stop to Broad Channel (a few minute's ride) and change there to the A shuttle to Rockaway Beach (there's only a few more stops in that direction.) I'll ask around and update here if I get any more specific recommendations.
Just taking the above-ground subway in that direction and back (the train reverses at the end of the line), and then switching at Broad Channel back to the line going East, would make for an interesting little sightseeing jaunt as seen from the windows.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:02 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Echoing the suggestion to go to Park Slope...Prospect Park is beautiful, and there are a plethora of good coffee shops (I like Cafe Regular du Nord near Grand Army Plaza, in particular). You can also wander through the Botanic Gardens (free on weekdays, now that it's winter, or early in the morning on Sat).
posted by three_red_balloons at 8:03 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by three_red_balloons at 8:03 AM on December 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't schlep all the way to Brooklyn if you don't want to go too far.
The closest good nature to JFK, aside from Jamaica Bay [meh], is Forest Park, which really is nice. I would try Kew Gardens as a home base. Easily reached either on the Q10 bus from JFK, or the E/F/LIRR from Jamaica. There's a good coffee shop to work in (Odradeks), pretty architecture, a movie theater, and good food nearby.
posted by zvs at 9:19 AM on December 5, 2014
The closest good nature to JFK, aside from Jamaica Bay [meh], is Forest Park, which really is nice. I would try Kew Gardens as a home base. Easily reached either on the Q10 bus from JFK, or the E/F/LIRR from Jamaica. There's a good coffee shop to work in (Odradeks), pretty architecture, a movie theater, and good food nearby.
posted by zvs at 9:19 AM on December 5, 2014
Another option: you could also spend about as much time as going to Brooklyn but take a Penn Station-bound LIRR to Woodside in Queens instead. You'll be in a very-walkable area with a bunch of cafes, bakeries, and bars. Walk along Roosevelt Avenue deeper into Queens, and you'll be in Jackson Heights, which has great restaurants, particularly the Indian ones along 74th Street. Sri Pra Phai is also a wonderful Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. Queens is the place to be if you want unusual food, but, despite the name, there isn't a whole lot of nature in Woodside.
I agree that you're not likely to find anything without getting out of the JFK area.
posted by amicus at 1:41 PM on December 5, 2014
I agree that you're not likely to find anything without getting out of the JFK area.
posted by amicus at 1:41 PM on December 5, 2014
If you *do* schlep out to Brooklyn near the Atlantic terminal, you'll find *many* more cute cafes, etc.
I second the fact that Prospect Park is gooorgeous, though in winter when there's no snow it's a little sadder looking...a lot of bare trees.
As for coffee places, Gorilla Coffee is quite popular. You have to walk like 7-8 blocks from Atlantic terminal. (Not sure if it has a lot of outlets--anyone?) There are also two Hungry Ghost cafes around there.
BAM is also right by Atlantic terminal--tons of arts, plays, movies there if you want something cultural.
I'm not an expert on the Queens locales people described above, but that borough is definitely known for the best Asian food in the city.
posted by manzanita at 2:41 PM on December 5, 2014
I second the fact that Prospect Park is gooorgeous, though in winter when there's no snow it's a little sadder looking...a lot of bare trees.
As for coffee places, Gorilla Coffee is quite popular. You have to walk like 7-8 blocks from Atlantic terminal. (Not sure if it has a lot of outlets--anyone?) There are also two Hungry Ghost cafes around there.
BAM is also right by Atlantic terminal--tons of arts, plays, movies there if you want something cultural.
I'm not an expert on the Queens locales people described above, but that borough is definitely known for the best Asian food in the city.
posted by manzanita at 2:41 PM on December 5, 2014
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posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:23 AM on December 5, 2014