The Real New York Spring & Summer 2019
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flushing the real new york Spring & Summer 2019 Free Guide! Chinese English Flushing's Spring 1& Language World Fair Summer Exchange Program Calendar Page 8 Page 16 Page 22 @consuming_nyc @sarahecarey_ @flushingfantastic PUBLISHER Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce EDITOR Angelina Sun DESIGN Marcia Hu & John Choe Contact us at [email protected] for advertising opportunities. Cover: Springtime at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Unisphere. Photo by John Choe. In addition to our community partners, special thanks to contributors: Felipe Alexandre, Barry Arcuik, Jessica Brey, Alexandra Caggiano, Shawn Choi, Jasmine Jang, Anne Perl de Pal, Deborah Silverfine, Ran Yan THE REAL NEW YORK Photo by Juan Restrepo Flushing, Queens, is a one-of-a-kind destination that brings people from all walks of life together. You will discover a global village with real New Yorkers from around the world who have come to live, work, and play here, re-defining what it means to be American. Did you know Flushing has a Chinese-English language exchange program? Whether you are looking to master your Chinese, practice your English, or simply learn about the Chinese and American cultures, the Queens Chinese-English Language Exchange Group is right for you! This Exchange group pairs individuals based on their language level to ensure a fun and interactive experience for everyone. Flushing is home to the fourth largest commercial district in New York and a small busi- ness community that generates $1.5 billion in annual sales. Celebrate this small business community at the second annual Flushing's World Fair, a showcase of our diverse busi- ness community and resource fair for entrepreneurs and local business owners. Explore Flushing with special discounts through the "Passport to Flushing" week-long food and culture crawl starting June 28th! Visit some of Flushing's best local restaurants, cultural venues, and retailers to get your Passport stamped. Be sure to pick up your Passport at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel and at participating venues. For more information, please visit www.worldsfair.nyc/passport. Immerse yourself in Flushing's culture, history, or go on a food tour – whatever you pick, it is sure to be a memorable adventure. For more recommendations on things to do and hidden gems in this diverse and bustling neighborhood, check out our website: FLUSHINGFANTASTIC.NYC 3 plan your visit Via Public Transportation: Take the 7 train to its first stop, Flushing-Main Street Only 30 minutes from Manhattan on the 7-Express Train N20, 21 QM 2, 3, 20 Q12, 13, 15, 15A, 16, 17, 19, 20A, 20B, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34, 44, 48, 50, 58, 65, 66 Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Port Washington line connects Penn Station (Manhattan) to Flushing-Main St Only 20 minutes from Penn Station Commuter vans run to Flushing from Manhattan's China- town, Brooklyn's Sunset Park and New Jersey's Fort Lee. Taxi pickup on Main St. and Roosevelt Ave. Via Driving: Take the JFK Expressway (I-678) or LIE (I-495) to Main St. 15 minutes from LaGuardia, 30 minutes from JFK, 45 minutes from mid- town Manhattan, 1 hour from Downtown Brooklyn/Manhattan Accessibility Tips: Parking: Skyview Center offers 3 hour parking for $3 on College Point Blvd & Roosevelt Ave. The Parkopedia mobile app/website provides live information regarding other private garage locations and rates. Flushing Tourism Kiosk: A kiosk with ample information about Flushing transportation, food, and sights can be found in front of the Flushing Library at the intersection of Kissena Blvd. and Main St. 4 for the global adventurer HISTORY FOOD Jack Eichenbaum Joe DiStefano [email protected] [email protected] www.geognyc.com www.chopsticksandmarrow.com WELLNESS #MYFLUSHING Shweta Parmar Linda Fisher [email protected] [email protected] www.gutsierliving.com lfisherblog.blogspot.com 5 welcome to Flushing fantastic The FLUSHING FANTASTIC website is here to guide you through the neighborhood and help you discover endless new things to love about Flushing through the eyes of locals. Here's what we offer! A fantastic journey awaits the bold adventurer ready to explore Flushing's hidden gems. Not only do you step into a world blending unique, mod- ern, and historical architecture, but you will also discover a community where you can explore new things to do, see, and experience in New York. Here's a preview! www.flushingfantastic.nyc #MyFlushing /flushingfantastic 6 /flushingfantastic plan your visit Get to Flushing easily with the 7 train, over 20 bus lines, LIRR, and a range of parking options. Find special offers for dining through the site! Image by Access Queens Check out what's happening in our neighborhood! EXPLORE AWAY! Immerse yourself in cultural activities! Check out our online events calendar for the latest on perfor- mances, art openings, film screenings, workshops, festivals, social events, and more. Image of 'Gruffalo' courtesy of Flushing Town Hall our local bakeries are a foodie's dream! Grab a cup of coffee and a fluffy piping hot roast pork bun at one of many bakeries in the neighborhood. You will be spoiled for choice. There’s usually a wide selection of cakes, pies, seasonal baked goods, sandwiches, and drinks to choose from. Try the irresistible Yuanyang, a popular drink that combines sweet black milk tea with brewed coffee. From left to right, images by Woks of Steamed & baked Life, Vittle Monster, roast pork buns, Chun M., Joanne C. available in bakeries all over Fresh HK & Portu- guese egg tarts from 'New Flushing Bakery' Sweet Mango cake from Taipan Bakery 7 BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER MEETUP PROMOTES CHINESE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXCHANGE BY FELIPE ALEXANDRE Ever since I first set eyes on Flushing in I loved languages ever since I was 2008, I was fascinated by its energy, a kid. I learned Chinese and lived in diversity, and amazing food selections. China for some time before ever even I truly felt that it was an enormous priv- hearing of Flushing. Seeing Flushing ilege to walk these streets and witness for the first time was like running into American immigration happening right an oasis in the desert! It was a place before my very eyes. With that wave where immigrants lived, worked, and comes amazing opportunities for us to hustled after their American Dreams. I experience different cultures, food, cus- first came to Flushing when I accom- toms, and language. I knew then that panied a group of Brazilian school eventually I would have a law practice principals who were selected to come here and I consider myself blessed to to Queens and learn about the local have achieved that dream and to be school system. I stayed at the Marco able to serve clients in Flushing on a Polo Hotel (as it was formerly known) daily basis in their quest to obtain lawful on Northern Boulevard. Since we ar- immigration status. Plus, I get to practice rived at night, I didn’t notice anything my awful Mandarin on a daily basis! about the neighborhood that jumped out at me. I struck up a conversation ing and I hit it off from day one. I loved with the concierge assistant. It turns out going into the several businesses and that he was from Shanghai, China and I talking to people in their native lan- had actually been living in China at that guage and learning more about them time, only a couple of hours away from and this exciting neighborhood. For me, his home city. We exchanged stories it was an incredibly privileged peek into and then I asked him if there were any the lives of a fascinating community. good Chinese restaurants in the area. He laughed, told me to go to Main However, I also realized that not every- Street, to make a left, and that I would one was able to enjoy Flushing like I had see it. Well, I saw it and my life was for- been enjoying it and a major reason for ever changed. that was not having the language skills or cultural knowledge to communicate I loved studying the Chinese language with the locals. Non-Chinese individu- and culture, and because of that, Flush- als would be too scared to strike con- 10 versations beyond ordering food by have even had karaoke gatherings in pointing to it on a menu. I also realized Flushing where we learn language as that the locals equally avoided situa- we sing English and Chinese songs tions to interact with non-Chinese indi- (Spanish songs find a way to pop their viduals because they also lacked those heads in too). We currently have 570 communication skills and cultural com- members and growing. petencies, and were too embarrassed to expose themselves, feeling bad for It is my vision to expand this meetup be- not knowing the local language of their yond the reaches of meetup.com for the new home. I realized that both sides community at large to enjoy. With large were truly missing out on opportunities gatherings, we can pair people based to create unique friendships and cultural on language level and make it a fun experiences. For that reason, I decided and interactive experience for every- to launch the Queens Chinese-English one. I love seeing folks relish in the ex- Language Exchange Group on meetup. perience of interacting with each other com. It was my vision to bring togeth- and I am moved by the thought of know- er non-Chinese individuals interested in ing that they probably would not have learning about the Chinese culture and a chance to interact like this if it wasn’t language with Chinese individuals who for the meetup.