Queens: What to Do, Where to Go (and How Not to Get Lost) in New York's Undiscovered Borough (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: flushing mall, tennis center, sculpture park, New York, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A trip through Queens is like a trip across the world.  No visitor to our City should leave without visiting this culturally rich and diverse borough."
--New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg "With this publication, Ellen Freudenheim has done what I urge everyone to do—Visit Queens, and See the World!"
--Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President

Product Description

Discover Queens, New York City's Best-Kept Secret! Manhattan is touristy; Brooklyn is turning mainstream; and Queens is now the up-and-coming borough in New York. With food from every corner of the world, major sporting venues, quirky nightlife, and rich history and cultural institutions to boot, Queens has just about everything a visitor could want.  This handy reference explores Queens neighborhood by neighborhood, and even those familiar with the borough will discover new hidden gems that they never knew existed.

This guidebook includes:
* Detailed coverage and maps of the major neighborhoods like Astoria, Jackson Heights, Long Island City, Forest Hills, and Sunnyside
* Daytrips to interesting but more far-flung spots in the borough like Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge
* The best restaurants serving every possible type of cuisine
* Cultural attractions and nightlife spots worth the subway fare from Manhattan.
* Contributions from major figures in the community, including the president of Queens College and the director of PS1.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312358180
• ISBN-13: 978-0312358181
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,456 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who knew?, November 3, 2006

By	Dpw "Brooklyn Guy" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm told Queens is the new Brooklyn, and as a long-time Brooklyn resident I thought, Fuggedaboudit! But that was until I read Freudenheim's book. Wow. And I thought Queens was famous for Shea Stadium, the old Worlds Fair and two airports. I stand corrected, and after reading just one part of the book I'm hungry. Having already wet my whistle at the beer garden I think I'll head over to Flushing for some authentic Asian cuisine. I suggest you read this book and head to Queens too, before all the trustafarians and folks priced out of Brooklyn and Manhattan over-run the place.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "New York's Best Kept Secret.", January 14, 2007

By	E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ellen Freudenheim's "Queens: What to Do, Where to Go (And How Not to Get Lost) in New York's Undiscovered Borough" is a delightful guidebook to an often forgotten part of New York City. As the author points out, "were it to secede from New York City today, Queens would be the fourth largest city in America." If you enjoy diversity and value history and culture, Queens is the place for you: 120 languages are spoken here, ethnic food stores and restaurants abound, and Queens features cultural institutions, historic sites, and sports venues that are well worth a visit. Like so many formerly underappreciated parts of New York City (many in Brooklyn), Queens is being rediscovered and is on the upswing.

After an informative and witty introduction, Freudenheim devotes thirteen chapters to neighborhoods from Astoria (named after the wealthy fur trader, John Jacob Astor) to Woodside. Within these chapters, she covers the basics: where the neighborhood is located, how to get there, its history, things to see and do, where to shop, points of cultural interest, restaurants, and nightlife. Sprinkled throughout the chapters are lively anecdotes and essays, some written in the first person by Queens residents. At the back of the book are sections about JFK and LaGuardia Airports, tours you can take, and recommended Web sites. The detailed and well-organized subject and alphabetical indexes make the book easy to navigate.

Even if you plan never to set foot in Queens, this guidebook is fun to read solely for its entertainment value. The author has a brisk and spunky writing style that makes "Queens" a browser's delight. Turn to any page, and you will find a fascinating tidbit of information presented with wit and verve. Did you know that jazz great Louis Armstrong lived in Queens for for twenty-eight years and that his house is a National Historic Landmark open to the public? I love New York (especially Brooklyn), but Ellen Freudenheim tempts me to board one of the many subway lines leading to the "hidden gems" of Queens.

5.0 out of 5 stars Library Journal Review , September 4, 2008

By	EF, "Author of 2 guides: Brooklyn: Ultimate G... (Brooklyn) - See all my reviews

The following was written by Library Journal:

Freudenheim, Ellen. Queens: What To Do, Where To Go (And How Not To Get Lost) in New York's Undiscovered Borough. Griffin: St. Martin's. 2006. c.336p. maps. index. ISBN 0-312-35818-0. pap. $17.95. TRAV
Freudenheim, who wrote about the New York City borough of Brooklyn in Brooklyn!: The Ultimate Guide to New York's Most Happening Borough, now tackles Queens. She organizes the book by neighborhood, with each section containing information on how to get there, things to see and do, history, shopping, restaurants, and points of cultural interest. Walking tours and brief essays by community members are also included. Small, detailed neighborhood street maps are helpful for finding attractions and navigating the area. Freudenheim presents some very compelling reasons to visit, such as the ethnic food, world culture, and proximity to New York's airports (you'll be passing through, anyway), and further provides practical information like tips on decoding Queens' complicated street addresses. Not every restaurant or attraction is covered and reviews are brief, but the guide is packed with useful and entertaining information and nicely fills a niche by covering the borough exclusively. Freudenheim's enthusiasm for Queens is contagious. Recommended for libraries with large travel collections, particularly for those collecting New York travel guides.--Louise Feldmann, Colorado State Univ. Lib., Fort Collins