Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with queens

Iconic buildings/symbols of Astoria or Queens

unknowncommand — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:43:09 -0800

I'm wanting to do a project similar to this, but for Astoria (specifically, if possible) or Queens (generally, if that works out better). So basically, I'm looking for suggestions of iconic people/places/things that represent the neighborhood and/or borough, and would evoke fond memories for folks who have lived there. I'm not going to be taking photos, so I'm not limited to things that currently exist or that are concrete (as a terrible example of this, I mean that an apple could represent "the Big Apple"). I've already thought of Shea Stadium and the World's Fair stuff in Flushing Meadows (QMA, Unisphere, NYState buildings, etc.) What am I missing, Queens-folk?

Inspiration, Strike me!

alight — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:36:26 -0800

I love to stop and draw when I take walks in New York. I'm inspired by architectural details and monumental perspective, contrasts of space and light. Usually I wander aimlessly until I find an interesting spot to sit with my sketchbook, but that's a bit tougher when it's 20 degrees outside. I'm in the process of setting up weekly sketching adventures with a novice artist friend, and I feel there should be some planning involved. Help me compile a list of potentially inspiring places we can sit and sketch in the city without our fingers freezing off. No real requirements, but the places should be busy enough that we won't be bothered, not so busy that we'll be trampled by a crowd. Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan are all on the table. Past favorites of mine include Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Public Library, the view of the Manhattan skyline and bridges from Williamsburg or Roosevelt island, the steep slopes of Ft Tryon Park, and the leaning architectural quirks of Nancy Whiskey Bar.

So, AskMe, what are some inspiring indoor spaces where my friend and I can draw in NYC?

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff?

ch3cooh — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:50:27 -0800

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff? I've lived happily in Boston for two years on $300/month for all expenses beyond rent/utilities/internet. I love to cook, I bake bread, I bike everywhere, and most of the things I do for entertainment are cheep if not free. I really can't see ever spending more than $500/month on food and entertainment. So, I'd ideally like a nice kitchen attached to a shoebox containing a bed, a toilet, and a shower; an 8 minute walk through a garden full of sunflowers from my place of work. That said, I'm actually not married to living in Manhattan; however, a fast commute (ideally less than or around 30 min, certainly less than an hour) is definitely one of my highest priorities.

My prospective job in NY is one that I'm passionate about, but it's going to pay pretty poorly. Actually, the first prong of my question is "At what salary cut off should I turn down (or threaten to reject the offer if the salary isn't higher) the job? I don't care about 'what my time is worth' -- I mean this first question in terms of needing to know a minimum estimate for what I might live comfortably on, either living in or commuting a reasonable distance into the Manhattan area. Also, I honestly don't understand the tax system in NY, so please answer this question with 2 numbers: (1) how much money I'll actually get per month?, and (2) how much the job offer salary would need to be in order to result in that monthly paycheck?

My second question is then, where and how are the best places to look for housing given this circumstance? Where in terms of areas of NY, and how in terms of good sites to use to track down specific housing opportunities.

Any and all help/suggestions/insight appreciated. :)
And thank you so much!

Not quite ready for the land of artisanal snausages

Inspector.Gadget — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:21:27 -0800

Am I making a mistake in my choice of NYC neighborhood? Details within for your much-appreciated sanity check and suggestions. I'm on the cusp of my late 20s and have a great job at a big, stable company. I make about $80K annually (with ridiculously good benefits and perks) and have a minor amount of investment income.

My commute takes me to Exchange Place in Jersey City at least 4, and usually 5, days per week - my office is almost on top of the PATH station. Thus, getting to the World Trade Center area with relative ease and in under say 45 minutes is important for me. I will also be traveling to East Midtown relatively often (4-5x per month) at rush hours.

I'd like to live somewhere with easy access to good grocery stores, one or more dry cleaners and drugstores, and a reasonably good selection of sit-down, delivery and take-out restaurant options (including cheap ethnic food). Other cultural things are nice but not mandatory (because I can always get there via subway); large green spaces are a BIG plus.

I'm looking to spend around $1300 a month on a 1-bedroom apartment in a reasonably quiet area with relatively good quality of life (nobody bothering me on my walk to the subway or blaring music at 2 AM). I can afford to spend more, but am not really interested in spending more on housing in which I'll have no equity.

Right now I'm strongly considering and in-process with a medium-sized medium-fit-and-finish 1BR in Kensington (at E 7th and Beverly), which is in my price range and close enough to Cortelyou Road and some good food options. The Q-to-4/5-to-PATH commute via Atlantic Ave or Union Square transfers could be better, but I estimate about an hour door to door.

I'm not sure in my price range that I can afford a nice place in Brooklyn that's less of a hassle and has the right mix of amenities, location, etc. I had considered the far UES and East Harlem but I think there I'm either out of a decent-sized space (UES border) or out of quality of life (East Harlem near 125th). I've seen Washington Heights and Hamilton Heights and was not impressed even though the commute would be great. Additionally, Jersey City seems to be an odd mix of extremely pricey apartments and shitty spaces/difficult transit to NYC, and Hoboken is going to be dysfunctional for a while after Sandy and I have the usual New York spit-take reaction when anyone suggests it (on the basis of zero evidence, mind).

I'm wondering whether I am making a huge mistake by not concentrating my search in Astoria - the prices seem to be a bit higher and the space a bit smaller, but the amenities and commute time seem to be slightly better. What are my options for $1250-$1400 up there?

Additionally, I'd be interested to hear your experiences in Kensington and surrounding areas - based on the above, will I like it there?

How are the Kings County Hospital area and the area up around Franklin Ave and Union? I was somewhat put off by the low-quality-commercial and residential mix up there but maybe I'm looking in the wrong areas.

Lastly, if I've made a total hash of things and you can fix it with a more thorough suggestion, I would welcome that too.

Hot happenings in Queens?

Neely O'Hara — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:07:49 -0800

Where can I find event listings for the greater Queens area? Before I moved to Queens, I would check out places like Time Out NY, the skint, and Nonsense NYC to find interesting things to do on the weekends. But now I'm realizing just how Manhattan- and Brooklyn-centric the listings are. Does anyone know of any good sources for more local events? (We have a car, so Long Island resources are welcome too.) Or do I just suck it up and ride the F train 25 stops to go where the good stuff is happening?

Help me find help to get a job

greta simone — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:10:11 -0800

Career coach or someone who can help me find/get a job in my field (social work/non-profit)? Getting desperate and losing hope after three years of no luck. In NYC. I'm seeking someone who can help me take my job search to the next level. I'm not sure what kind of person I'm looking for exactly, but I'll tell you a little about me and a little about what I want and maybe you can help me out.

I got my Master of Social Work in Spring 2009 in North Carolina, then my LMSW license for the state of New York in fall of 2009. I currently live in Brooklyn. I have been unemployed in my field since graduating (I have been waiting tables in the meantime, unhappily). I am not seeking clinical work--my ideal job would be program development (not fundraising, but creating and designing) and program evaluation.

Outside of this, I also find myself applying to volunteer coordinator positions a lot as well. I am willing to do case work or direct practice to get my foot in the door but I have no real desire to and that is not where my skills lie. I prefer to work with at-risk-youth, perhaps in work force development. I'd also be happy to work with families and women as a broader population.

I have been applying to jobs consistently for the last three years. I have volunteered as my schedule allows. I have sought advice from the few people I know in my field, and have done my best to network, making use of linkedin and whatever else. I feel like I don't know what else I can do, but obviously whatever I'm doing isn't working.

What I seek is a person who will actually give me constructive criticism of my résumé and cover letter practices. Someone who might have contacts in the non-profit or public services field. Someone who will help me with interview coaching. And most importantly--someone that is available for me to call/email when I need further advice. Ideally the relationship would start out by a session or a few where we work on my presentation (both on paper and in interviews), and would then continue with me being able to call/email/meet when I run into obstacles or just need general advice like asking 'what points should I emphasize in this cover letter?' or 'who can I talk to directly at this organization?'.

Please keep in mind that, as a waitress, my funds are very limited. Someone who allows for a sliding scale would be fantastic. My mother would likely give me a little bit of money to pursue this kind of help if I ask, but it also wouldn't be much.

I live in North Brooklyn, but will go anywhere within Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens to talk to the right person.

Where to live in New York

enn — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:26:46 -0800

Another Brooklyn (or maybe Queens) neighborhoods question. I'm thinking of moving from Chicago to New York, but I have no idea which neighborhoods I should be looking at to figure out if I can afford to live there. I'm looking at Brooklyn and Queens (I'm not interested in Manhattan).

On my most recent visit, I stayed in Bed-Stuy off the Kingston-Throop stop and I really liked the feel of the area and the housing stock—but ideally I'd be somewhere where there is a little more to do within walking distance.

I'd like to be able to go and hang out at a bar when I feel like getting out of the house without having to take a train or a bus. My tastes run more toward divey older bars and if I never see an artisanal cocktail list again it will be too soon, but I would like to live somewhere where there are bars that youngish people go to (I am in my late 20s). It would be also be nice to have a decent source of groceries nearby.

I don't really know what my budget should be—obviously I will be paying much more than I do here. I have lived in many studios and am not willing to do so again—I need at least a 1-bedroom.

Right now I work from home, and if that were to change I'm not sure what part of the city I'd end up working in, so commuting considerations are not foremost in my mind.

Thank you all in advance.

I want to know everything about life in Ozone Park in the 1930s/1940s

johnnybeggs — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:21:52 -0800

I want to know everything about life in Ozone Park in the 1930s/1940s I've been tossing around the idea of writing a story about a young man growing up in Ozone Park around the outbreak of World War II. How do I research this? I need everything from history of the neighborhood to everyday affects like what a grocery store would stock. I've only ever written about contemporary times. Where do I start?

I don't live to far from Ozone Park and would love to go interview residents but I don't have an inlking about how this works. Oral histories, photos, books, I'm looking for anything I can get!

Thanks!

Restaurant for vegan and non-vegan in NYC

ridogi — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:43:27 -0800

What restaurants would be good for a vegan and a non vegan in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens? I'm a vegan, and my girlfriend is not. Aside from Thai restaurants it is difficult to find common ground in a restaurant that we both really like. We're looking for recommendations that have options that we'll both want. We like smaller casual places with dishes from $10-20. East Village or downtown Manhattan would be ideal, but anywhere in Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn is also welcome.

Exclusively vegan restaurants, and restaurants that may have just one vegan dish are not what we're looking for—a variety of options for both of us would be ideal.

To the boroughs...tipsy-like.

lunalaguna — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:30 -0800

Five boroughs, five drinks. My boyfriend and I are both off tomorrow, and have decided to have a drink in every borough over the course of an afternoon. We've never been to Staten Island, and it's been ages since I've been in the Bronx.

We live in the north part of Park Slope, so we'll be starting in Brooklyn, probably at brunch. I'm thinking we'll go counter-clockwise, heading up to Queens next.

So, we need your recommendations! We'd like Brooklyn diner or weekday brunch options, various other bar suggestions near the train that are open in the afternoon and as distinctive as possible. A mix of high and low would be good. And we'll probably need a snack or a slice in Manhattan or Staten Island. If there's anywhere else near the bars you'd recommend checking out, we'd appreciate that, too.

Help me fix an eBay sale gone wrong.

jon1270 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:30:00 -0800

Electric motor/ tool repair in Queens? I live in Ohio. I sold an older electric hardwood floor sanding machine on eBay. The guy who bought it lives in Maspeth, which Google tells me is in Queens. I'm relying on Google because I've never been to Queens, and have only spent about three hours of my life anywhere in NYC. Anyhow, this very simple machine worked perfectly when I shipped it, but the buyer is having some problem with it. I'm having difficulty assessing the problem long-distance, and the buyer doesn't seem to know enough about motors to diagnose it himself. It's not practical to have the buyer return the machine, because it's really heavy and shipping costs rival the value of the machine itself. Can anyone recommend a company near Maspeth / Queens that could assess problems with a machine that basically consists of a 1HP motor driving a drum (via a pulley) and a vacuum impeller? I suspect this is the sort of problem I could diagnose in about 2 minutes if I were physically there, but I can't see or touch anything, and there's a language barrier as well. TIA for any suggestions.

Pick A Place To Party

The Whelk — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:52:48 -0800

I want to rent an event space in NYC. Where do I start? It's basically a wedding reception without the wedding, I'd like it to hold about eighty people, with an open bar and using my own caterers. It should be three hours booked at least. I'd like it in Manhattan but totally open to nearer Brooklyn and Queens. What do I need to know and where should I go in getting a space for late October? I've put on events before and been on the catering side of it but I've never actually been the booker and client for a non commercial event and I'd like to avoid stepping in shit, things I need to not do or know before hand? How can I make this as seamless as possible.

Also, costs I should expect? What's normal for a middleish, oh here's an open bar with some hot buffet THINGY in the area?

Advice for finding good sublet->rental on E/F train in manhattan.

lalochezia — Fri, 06 May 2011 07:43:28 -0800

NYC Realestate filter. Best ways to find an apartment sublet this August, and then a rental. Must be on the E/F subway line. Questions about subletting/renting -> Clinton/MidtownEast/LIC-queens neighborhoods follow. We're based in CA and likely moving back to NYC soon. We'll need

i) to sublet on near the E/F subway line in/near midtown manhattan for a month, and use that month to
ii) use a realtor (or other method) to find a rental in the same neighborhood.

Advice wanted for both these situations please. The plan is to get a large 1 bedroom/small 2 bed place. $2-$3k monthly preferably closer to the lower number.

We know about craigslist and realtors. Any advice on other places to look for sublets/rentals? Scams to avoid? Shady landlords/realtors? Good landlords/realtors? Things to look out for in manhattan apt hunting in general

Also Any advice about neighborhoods on the E/F line like Clinton/Midtown East/low-upper-east-side/Long Island City. Links to blogs or well informed posts? All advice welcome.....

I don't need advice on neighborhoods outside that area, thanks....we're pretty familiar with NYC having lived there for 8+yrs, but any protips appreciated.

Our long-term NYC hotel just canceled on us

Flying Saucer — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:58:23 -0800

We're moving to New York City in 8 days. Our extended-stay hotel, where we made a reservation weeks ago, just told us they won't be open by then. What do we do now? Me, the wife, and the cat are leaving Southern California for NYC. I'm starting a job there on Monday, May 2. Our flight gets into JFK next Wednesday night, the 27th.

We made a reservation with the Hotel Vetiver, whose upper floors are for vacation rentals and long-term stays. We knew the hotel was new -- the Google Street View shows it still under construction -- but we were never told that the hotel wasn't actually open for business.

This morning, we received an email from Scott, our contact there, that reads:

The expected opening date was April 25th. Due to delays in obtaining the necessary signoffs it looks as if we must push that date out.
Obviously we hope to hope as soon as possbile but to be safe we
suggest u make a backup reservation and any days that have been
charged will be refunded. Sorry for inconvenience.

That's the entire letter, with the misspelling and everything.

This leaves us with only eight days to find a place that allows cats and won't bankrupt us while we only have one income. An email to Scott was sent just moments ago. Phone calls to the hotel get either either busy signals or "We're sorry, all circuits are busy."

This completely destroys all our plans and even puts my new job in jeopardy. We've both quit our previous jobs and just sold most of our furniture.

Can any NYC MeFites recommend a similar place? At the Vetiver, we were going to pay $2218 for 28 days. It was in Long Island City, though my job is near Penn Station so the location isn't important. Is anybody in Queens who might want to stop by the hotel and see what in the world is going on over there?

You're not just helping us. You're also helping our cat.

Show me the fire

meadowlark lime — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:12:59 -0800

What bars in New York City have campfires or fireplaces? When I go out to drink and socialize, I like to sit by a fire. It's my thing.

In Brooklyn, I know of two places that have fires: the outdoor one at Union Pool, and the indoor fireplace at Union Hall.

There is also one at Roberta's in Bushwick, but it's by these tables where you have to be eating a meal, so it's a little more 'formal' than what I'm looking for, which is a place where you can

Surely there must be more?

Looking for a list of bars where people can socialize around a fire in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens.

Wanna go out for coffee? In Eastern Queens?

ThisIsNotMe — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:54:19 -0800

Non-bar first date ideas in (mostly eastern) Queens? O.K., so given that "Club soda is [not] a drink, too" (and that's also not me), I'm looking for non-bar first date ideas in eastern Queens.

I'm looking for fairly low-key things, e.g. coffee shops, tea houses (but not Starbucks), galleries, not marathon activities, to keep the initial investment low. Walk-in-the-park type things are currently problematic given the present arctic chill here, but you can suggest those for other seasons, I guess, though my focus is more immediate. I have lots of ideas for Manhattan, Astoria, Flushing, etc. but I want ideas that are closer so they're less pressure.

I live and work in downtown Jamaica, where I've not discovered much that fits the bill. In terms of neighborhoods, I'd like to keep it subway accessible and fairly far east, so Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, Jamaica, etc., (think E/F/R and tell me about the great place at e.g. 75th avenue or ) but places east of Broadway Junction on the J and Z which also end up in Jamaica might work.

Let me know if I haven't explained this well and I can expand.

How to get demographics on the New York State 10th Senatorial District?

Football Bat — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:14:12 -0800

Any idea where I could get semi-recent demographics on the New York State 10th Senatorial District? Got some on the the 10th Community District, but their boundaries don't, of course, match up. Thanks much.

Can anyone recommend a Japanese restaurant with equally strong sushi and non-sushi menus for a sushi first-timer?

jason's_planet — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:53:05 -0800

NYC-foodie-filter: A friend of mine wants to try sushi for the very first time. The game plan is to order a couple of pieces as an appetizer and either proceed to a full entree if she enjoys it or bail and order something different if it turns out that raw fish is not to her liking. Can anyone recommend a Japanese restaurant with equally strong sushi and non-sushi menus for this culinary adventure? I'd prefer a place in Manhattan or Queens, easily accessible from Midtown Manhattan and reasonably priced. Not too fancy. Many thanks in advance, as always!

Happy Holidays!

Where can I get a balloon arch in Jamaica Estates, Queens, NYC

Sticherbeast — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:15:48 -0800

QueensNYCFilter: Where could I most-inexpensively get a balloon arch for use at an event in Queens, Jamaica Estates, NYC?

Where was I born, officially?

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:46:10 -0800

Where was I born, officially? I live in the United States. I've been applying for a number of government jobs, and some private-sector jobs, that require background checks. These typically begin with a series of questions, of which one is "Where were you born?"

Of course I would like to answer this question accurately, and for most U.S. nationals it wouldn't be difficult: "I was born in City, State." But.

I was born in New York City, in the borough of Queens, in a particular neighborhood (say Astoria). At the time of my birth this neighborhood was, according to the USPS, part of Long Island City (one of five administrative "towns" within Queens; a partial explanation of this convoluted ridiculousness is here). This means that I can think of four legitimate answers to the birthplace question:

1. New York City.
2. Queens, NY.
3. Long Island City, NY.
4. Astoria, NY.

So which should I give? I've said "New York City, borough of Queens" in oral interviews, but I'd like to know what to use on a printed form.

Help me find this mystery bar!

Viola — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:41:09 -0800

ASAP Filter: Help me find this bar in Queens, New York: beautiful backyard area with a willow tree, photo booth inside, sort of out of the way. Maybe near Long Island City? The details are sketchy because I don't really remember the bar all that well - it was just one bar we hit on a night of drunk carousing - but it's a lovely little out of the way, neighborhood place (as far as I could tell). This super-time sensitive, so quick responses are really appreciated!

How do bike thieves steal bikes?

Michael Pemulis — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:05:33 -0800

Was someone tagging my bike for theft later? I park at the Woodside station in Queens a few times a week. I have a bike that's a cheap steel-frame single speed, but it's pretty attractive. I locked my bike with a U-bar and a chain through the wheels. When I returned from my commute, there was a hat from a local bagel shop (new) carefully placed on the handlebars, as if it was being marked for a truck and tools to come back later.

Am I being paranoid?

Recommend independent or well-treated Astoria cleaners

brainwane — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:57:48 -0800

Recommend a cleaning person or service in/near Astoria, Queens? If a service, one that treats its workers well. I need a big move-out cleaning done by the end of the month. I want to either pay an independent cleaner or a service that is some combination of worker-owned, fair to its workers (good pay & health benefits), and environmentally friendly. In or near Astoria is good, but anyone willing to travel here is fine.

The apartment will be totally empty, so I need thorough cleaning (including the inside of the oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher) rather than tidying, washing dishes, replacing linens, or anything like that. However, if the service is good, I'd be interested in hiring them for regular cleanings at my new place (also in Astoria), so trustworthiness and at least limited English competence would be good.

Do you have anyone to recommend? I'll pay a few hundred dollars to an independent, and will tip anyone from a service very generously. Feel free to MefiMail me if you don't want to share your independent cleaner's details publicly.

Previously: recommendation of Zen Home Cleaning, mention of Si Se Puede Women's Cooperative, recommendation of New York Maids. Right now I'm leaning towards Si Se Puede -- would love to hear your experiences, or knowledge of how these services fit my criteria.

Seeking beautiful indoor reading spaces in NYC and Brooklyn

greta simone — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:10:59 -0800

Seeking beautiful indoor reading spaces in NYC and Brooklyn. On a day like today which is kind of gloomy and chillier than it should be, I want to go sit in a pretty, quiet, public indoor space and get my read on. As a newish resident of Brooklyn, I am unaware of where to go to do this. My local library branch is a squat ugly windowless building with drop ceilings and beige carpeting. Of course I know about the grand reading room at the NY Public Library, but I’m looking for more places like this in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. I’m seeking spaces (I’m not limited to libraries) that have either interior beauty or a spectacular view, that welcome the public, and are peaceful enough (ie NOT Grand Central) to sit with a book. Does this exist outside of NYPL? If so, please lead the way…

Thanks!

Flushing the day away

mtheshark — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:19:51 -0800

What to do in Flushing, Queens this Wednesday? Some friends and I will be in Flushing this week for an event at 7 but will be arriving at 3. We are all in our 20's and want to try some new things How should we spend this free time? Where should we go eat?