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Manhattan could also be fanciest, and Brooklyn could also be hipper, however the borough of Queens, N.Y., has the very best tradition, at the very least based on the small cross-section of residents who spoke to Yahoo Native for this story. Sharing their expertise of dwelling in neighborhoods throughout the borough, these locals dished on all of the highlights and lowlights of dwelling within the linguistic capital of the world.
Check out our record beneath to search out what these Queens residents needed to say about their dwelling ‘hood, good and dangerous.
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Diany Salgado, a 42-year-old therapeutic massage therapist, has lived in Queens for greater than a decade, first on the Lengthy Island-Queens border within the neighborhood of Queens Village, and extra lately she’s been based mostly out of Whitestone, on the northern tip of the borough. Initially from Ecuador, Salgado completed school and knew she wished to remain right here.
When talking to Yahoo Native, Salgado enthusiastically stated the robust group spirit is without doubt one of the finest issues about her space. “What’s distinctive to the world is the group,” she stated. “For instance, my landlord is Chinese language. My neighbors are Korean and Italian. I’ve Spanish neighbors. They’re all from completely different nations, so though all of us have completely different backgrounds, we have now been in a position to get alongside and respect one another’s areas.”
When requested if she’d contemplate staying there when her lease is up, Salgado was decisive. “I’d like to purchase a rental or condominium, and I’d love to remain in Whitestone,” she stated. “{I’ve been right here 10 years … and the world has all the time been very snug to me and I really feel secure, even when I come dwelling previous midnight.”
2. Hate: Site visitors is dangerous, parking is an absolute nightmare
Whereas not distinctive to Queens, almost each respondent shared how horrible parking was within the space. One resident, 67-year-old retired enterprise supervisor Janice Facibene from Douglaston, stated, “The worst a part of Queens is the visitors and the shortage of parking,” she stated. “We will’t even go right down to the market and discover a house. Most days, it is not possible.”
Douglaston is a tree-lined, suburban group in Queens that largely consists of quiet, lush streets. In comparison with different neighborhoods, it may be troublesome to imagine that the neighborhood is a part of New York Metropolis. As Facibene describes it, “There’s been an inflow of cash and those who’s given the world a way of vibrancy it didn’t have 30 years in the past.” It might be vibrant, however good luck touring by vehicle.
3. Love: Queens is a foodie’s dream
With so many alternative cultures in Queens, it’s no surprise the world is a paradise for meals lovers. One such connoisseur is 27-year-old musician Ro L., a resident of Flushing, a built-up neighborhood in central Queens. Considered one of their favourite components of the world in Queens is the number of low-cost and scrumptious meals. “I particularly just like the pork dumplings discovered at varied meals stalls round Essential Road,” they stated. “I have never discovered any as tasty wherever else within the metropolis.”
L additionally loves the work ethic that is obvious within the individuals of the neighborhood. “Everybody’s hustling and attempting to make a buck,” they stated. “Sidewalk distributors hawk used clothes and pots and pans. Dwelling gardeners supply contemporary produce from their 6-foot by 6-foot entrance yard. Individuals give $20 massages in a therapeutic massage chair in the course of the sidewalk. Grannies with Tupperware of do-it-yourself meals on the market. You may’t assist however admire it.”
Flushing is not the one a part of Queens that’s nice for meals. The borough can be dwelling to the Queens Night Market, an occasion that runs weekly at Corona Park from April to October. Queens Village resident, and all-around borough superfan, Alana DeStefano stated: “My favourite factor is the Queens Night time Market. It’s 4 pm to midnight and I’m going each Saturday night time. It’s the epicenter of meals and tradition.”
4. Hate: The price of dwelling is pure craziness
Throughout city in West Queens is Astoria, the place 26-year-old non-profit employee Maya S. calls dwelling. A New York transplant from Washington D.C., Maya lives along with her accomplice and cat in a one-bedroom condominium. Maya’s expertise with the price of dwelling echoes many different residents.
“I’ve grown to tolerate a brand new actuality of what’s ‘cheap’ right here,” she stated. “However do I feel it ought to price this a lot to hire an condominium and pay for groceries, electrical energy, web, and exit to eat? No, I don’t … it’s unreasonable.”
Douglaston’s Facibene agrees. “The pandemic modified all the pieces, doubled costs,” she stated We dwell in a meals desert, there’s no grocery store inside strolling distance anymore.”
Ro L. echoed Facibene’s sentiment: “The price of dwelling is not cheap in New York Metropolis. The price of fundamental wants corresponding to groceries and electrical energy are almost unaffordable on my wage. They are saying hire ought to be a 3rd of your whole month-to-month earnings, however my hire is half.”
Everyone is aware of New York Metropolis is dear, however simply how costly would possibly shock you.
5. Love: Queens’s spectrum of big-city metropolis to suburban greenery
From inner-city Astoria on the west to the leafy-green avenues of Queens Village within the east, various ranges of city and suburban cityscapes exist in Queens.
“Queens is the middle of the universe, you don’t really feel caught,” DeStefano stated. “You need to go to Lengthy Island, proper there. Manhattan, proper there. Brooklyn, proper there. You go over the Throgg’s Neck Bridge, increase you’re upstate. You need to go to Connecticut, bada-bing-bada-boom, you’re proper there.”
On whether or not she would ever contemplate leaving Queens, DeStefano advised us, “If I needed to go away my home, I’d completely keep in Queens, both in Queens Village or a neighboring neighborhood. It’s half metropolis, half suburban and I simply really feel like I can breathe right here.”
6. Hate: Interborough journey is migraine-inducing
Whereas Brooklyn and the Bronx could also be neighbors, it may be a ache to journey wherever aside from Manhattan from Queens by way of public transport. “Since I’ve solely ever lived on the N/W [subway] line, it kind of ‘is what it’s’ that I’ve to switch a bunch of traces to get to Brooklyn or the Bronx,” stated Astoria resident Maya S. “Attending to midtown Manhattan is simple however for many journeys wherever else, even in Manhattan, I plan for an hour of journey.”
Ro L. agrees. “I am fortunate that I dwell close to the ultimate cease of the 7 prepare, or else it could be troublesome to get to the remainder of the town,” they stated. “Going to Brooklyn is hard, by automobile it is a 20-minute drive, however by way of subway, it is an hour and 20 minutes. On high of that, it is already troublesome to traverse Queens itself. The bus routes cowl a variety of space, however take double the journey time in comparison with the subway.”
Is Queens the very best borough?
From the highlights of Queens’s meals and tradition to the lowlights of its city sprawl, there’s rather a lot to like and like to hate in regards to the borough.
When requested if it was the very best New York needed to supply, DeStefano of Queens Village stated: “Queens is for everyone, it’s for the individuals. Queens is the epicenter of the world. I simply love Queens. Queens has the good individuals on the planet, multi functional place. Everybody brings their pleasure of the place they’re from however they’re all additionally proud to be from Queens.”
Facibene provided a extra tempered response. “Is Queens the very best borough? No. Sure. They’re all equally good. However I wouldn’t go elsewhere except I gained a billion-dollar lottery.” Then she would possibly transfer to Manhattan to dwell in a penthouse, Facibene stated.
Each one of many Queens residents we spoke to stated they plan to remain in Queens for the foreseeable future, and that in itself says one thing in regards to the borough.
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