#MonthlyPicks | May ’16 by Sharmeela Mediratta
Good Eats:
My absolute favorite restaurant is Dosa Hutt, located next door to the Hindu temple at 45-63 Bowne Street in Flushing. I love South Indian food, but it was hard to find in U.S. until I discovered this gem. To have such authentic and well-made cuisine is a real pleasure.
My second favorite is De Mole at 45-02 48th Avenue in Woodside. The enchiladas verdes are always delicious and satisfying. It’s just good, clean, fresh Mexican food. I go there a lot, and they never let me down.
I’d like to add that in January my family started a quest to eat at a different restaurant every time we decided to dine out. We have been exploring the borough and we’ve have some fantastic meals. And because it’s Queens, we still have so many great places to try.
Historic Feats:
I love the legacies of the World Fairs that took place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 1939 and 1964 (New York Hall of Science, Queens Botanical Garden, Queens Museum, Queens Theatre, Queens Zoo, USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center and even Citi Field, in a way). For me, the Unisphere is iconic. My whole life, I have always felt that it represents the real New York. All the countries are on the globe, and they’re also represented by borough residents. We also go to Queens Theatre a lot because the shows are so good.
Wander Streets:
I love to walk through Astoria. It has such an interesting hodgepodge of architecture. One moment you’re walking by a house with aluminum siding, and the next you’re passing by a house that hasn’t changed since it was built 100 years ago. Then you’re walking by a newly rehabbed apartment building. It’s not all necessarily attractive, but it’s all interesting. I also love how bustling and busy the neighborhood is. It has a lot of energy.
Unique Treats:
There are a lot of places, but I’d go with Sunnyside Gardens. The way it was built as a planned, utopian community is interesting and historically significant. Plus, it’s green everywhere. Residents are so connected to each other and neighborhood institutions. People really like living there.
Sharmeela Mediratta was born in Bangalore, India, but her family moved to the United States when she was three years old. She spent her first night in the U.S. at the Skyway Hotel near JFK Airport. Since then, she has lived in Jackson Heights and Sunnyside Gardens.
#monthlypicks #itsinqueens
Image: Moriah Aslan Wolfe
