#MonthlyPicks | What Does a Bike Rider/Tennis Enthusiast Love about Queens?
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Lifelong Queens resident Liz Weingart spent her formative years on the edge of Little Neck Bay in Bayside, where she still enjoys riding her folding bike. After a successful career in finance, the current Kew Gardens denizen transitioned to marketing consulting in the music, sports, and entertainment industries. A tennis enthusiast who learned to play on the Crocheron Park courts, Liz looks forward to working the U.S. Open every year. (Click here to read about where she was in 2022.) She was actively involved in bringing the Davis Cup back to Forest Hills Stadium in 2021.
Good Eats
Bell Boulevard in Bayside has been a restaurant-and-bar hotbed for many years. There’s something for everyone. For me, Avli The Little Greek Tavern is among the best. It’s my go-to for souvlaki and casual Greek food. I like to dine on their quiet backyard patio when the weather is nice. One of the more recent additions to Bell has become a fast personal favorite – Nonnas 1977. This Rock & Roll-themed pizzeria, which was founded on the Lower East Side, delights with gourmet thin crust and square slices with musical names, such as Roxanne, Rosalita, My Sharona, Proud Mary, and Sweet Caroline. The pizza is nicely presented and delicious, and with 15 enticing varieties to choose from, you will find yourself returning over and over to try them all. Kew Gardens is known for pizza, too. The pesto slice at Dani’s House of Pizza is legendary. But right up the block at Eternity (The Flavor Garden), a Halal restaurant, you can try Indian pizza baked in a Tandoor oven. With a choice of nine-inch or 12-inch pies, you can enjoy house specialties such as Butter Chicken, Chili Chicken Tikka or Beef Karai with additional toppings of your choice. The crust is wonderful, and the chili sauce adds a nice kick.
Unique Treats
One of the most surprising discoveries I’ve made is Bayhouse Waterfront Bar & Grille in Rosedale. Tucked away on Jamaica Bay, the American tavern is a favorite of Kennedy Airport employees. You may have trouble finding it at first, but when you do, you’ll be elated by this waterside getaway. It transports you to the Hamptons without the long drive, and the large outdoor deck is perfect for summer gatherings. The food and cocktails are good, the prices are reasonable, the breeze is refreshing, and the passing boats are a nice visual, which makes for a really nice summer afternoon or evening.
Wander Streets
Hermon A. MacNeil Park is the hidden gem of Queens. Situated on the College Point waterfront, this recently renovated, 29-acre property offers amazing evening views of Manhattan and a daily aviation show of jetliners landing at LaGuardia Airport. I love to ride my bike there on late summer afternoons, visit the Mr. Softee truck, and then settle down on a waterside bench to watch the planes descend through the magnificent red and orange sunset.
Historic Feats
As a 9/11 survivor, I’m drawn to memorials in the five boroughs and Long Island. Many people don’t know that we have a beautiful one overlooking Jamaica Bay in Rockaway Park. Tribute Park was built by Rockaway residents, many of whom watched the Twin Towers fall from this formerly empty lot on the waterfront. Today, the landscaped park, which features a piece of the North Tower, honors the 343 brave firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice, the 70 Rockaway residents lost, and all others who perished that tragic day. Never forget.
Top photo: Liz Weingart; bottom photo: Bayhouse Waterfront Bar & Grille