12/19/11

Where I Live

No, it's not Hong Kong

This is a two-part series involving two places where I spend plenty of time, if not most of it. It's not really specific to my apartment or work place but rather the areas around it. In other words, it's like walking with me and 'see' what I see whenever I walk in my neck of the woods. As someone whose travel itch has brought me beyond New York on many occasions, I feel it's now time to go local and feature this true melting pot I've called home since 2001.

Welcome to my neighborhood. Welcome to Flushing, New York!

Aerial shot of Flushing taken just as my plane was descending into nearby La Guardia Airport.
So thrilling to see something familiar from above, including the apartment building where I live.


Flushing is part of Queens, one of New York City's boroughs (the other four being Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island). I ended up living here because of a 'kababayan' couple from Davao. I lived with them for several months until I was able to decide where I'd like to live in the city. Somehow, those few months made me feel so at ease with Flushing that when I saw an opportunity, I signed an apartment lease right away. That lease has remained so till today and I haven't even thought of moving or living elsewhere.

Busy New Yorkers line up for cheap food on the go at a food stall on Flushing's Main Street.

While the population is just as diverse as anywhere in Gotham, Flushing is predominantly Asian, thus oftentimes being referred to as the city's second Chinatown. And when you say Chinatown, familiar food can never be far behind. I am not a cook so the convenience of plentiful Asian restaurants - from Chinese to Thai to Vietnamese to Korean - got me really hooked here (No Pinoy restaurants as of yet although those in Woodside isn't far). There are also Asian grocery stores, many stocked with Pinoy foodstuff.

The Bowne House, built in 1661, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and designated as a New York City landmark. I live close by on the same street.

Flushing didn't start as an Asian enclave. When it was established in 1645, English colonists built their homes  at a time when New Amsterdam (then New York's old name) was controlled by the Dutch and the Quaker faith was outlawed. John Bowne, one of the colonists, allowed religious meetings of Quakers in his home. The so-called Flushing Remonstrance - a petition for religious tolerance filed in 1657 - inspired  the inclusion of religious freedom in the Bill of Rights under the US Constitution. These days, the Bowne House still stands on the street named after the owner, on the very same street where I live.

Now that you know a bit of Flushing history and why I love it here, let's take a walk and see some more:

The Flushing Town Hall, built in 1862, now houses
the Flushing Council on Culture and Arts
Every American town has a Main Street. Flushing's Main Street
is its busiest, seen here decked for the Christmas holidays
No one gets hungry in Flushing. From seafood to farm produce
to Asian cuisine, there's plenty to choose from.
Even homesick Pinoys will find familiar items at Asian grocery stores.

There's shopping on the sidewalks to shopping in the malls.
Inscribed on the steps of Flushing Library is the title of one
Filipino folk story - Si Aponitolau At Ang Dalagang Bituin
For fans of the New York Mets, the Citi Field is home base
The Arthur Ashe Stadium is the venue of the annual US Open.
I hope to see Djokovic and Nadal play in the finals again next year.
For trips to Manhattan, the No. 7 train brings passengers all the way to the end line at
Times Square, a half-hour journey.  The same train also brings me to work 5 days a week.

15 comments:

  1. dennis, thanks for sharing your lovely community to us. bisitahin ka namin minsan ha! hehehe! *wishful thinking*

    maligayang pasko, kabayan! :)

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  2. Dennis, it's about time! You always showcase interesting places around the world and yet you never show where you usually are based. It hit me in the head earlier this year that this might be my last year in Buffalo, so I figured I start a Buffalo series, which started this summer. But oops, that's me ranting....

    Anyway, before reading, I saw the first picture, and thought, I was just there last weekend, in the Lower East Side! Turns out I was wrong; I thought that was Canal Street!

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  3. quite interesting photos and it's more personal because it's your home base. Seeing a folk story title on the steps is quite a pleasant surprise!

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  4. Good location - malapit ka sa lahat. How's the parking situation at your apartment complex?

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  5. Wow, thanks for bringing us to where you live, I've never heard of Flushing all I know is Manhattan hehehe, pretty interesting, busy environment and a lot of Asian food hehehe....I've been to New York last July but only at the Niagara Falls side I hope some other time I can see the main New York City (I wish I wish hehehe).

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  6. Hah! I really like seeing this part of Queens. I stayed in Queens when we went to NY and mingled with lots of Bangladeshis. There is an area where it's like little India and Bangladesh.

    I'm sure there's a Jollibee somewhere there.

    Season's Greetings.

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  7. your neighborhood is nice, andaming food stalls around! gusto ko jan! uso din pala dvd sa sidewalk jan. hehe =)

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  8. Krystal's at Woodside? hehehehe
    I should have explored Flushing when I was just in NYC 2 wks ago..another reason to comeback :)

    No.7 trains brings back a lot of memories..BFF kami nyan while I commute from Woodside to Manhattan :)

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  9. You are right. I felt like walking with you on this one. Very busy neighborhood. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas.

    Can't wait for part 2. :)

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  10. Nice to see a different part of NY for once. And I love that Datu Puti photo!

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  11. wow galing ng concept Dennis! pwedeng pamblog topic ng carnival! 'showcasing your neighborhood' -- galing kasi this is a personal look of your daily grind (pansatisfy ng mga stalkers! hehe).

    thanks for sharing your story of your place. New York pa, parang nasa Asia pa rin! hehe

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  12. bertN,
    there's a long wait list to snag one of the paid onsite parking garage, otherwise it's "good luck" finding a free spot on street-side parking.

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  13. Ooh... I miss Asian communities! If there's one thing that will make me want to come home from this RTW trip (second to family), it's the food!

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  14. nice urban views from there. if given the chance i would also accept a job in new york.

    oh asian groceries offer ligo sardines! hahaha...

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  15. i suddenly missed our trip to queens when i was in NY. sa woodrose ba ung pic na may Filipino store?

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