#MonthlyPicks | What Does the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races Organizer Love about Queens?
BY QEDC It's In Queens
Henry Wan is Chairman of the Board of Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, a nonprofit that organizes and produces the eponymous annual festival on Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In 2023, the free sporting and community event will take place on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. More than 180 teams will compete for fun and glory in speedy and colorful vessels.
It’s a blast, but let’s find out about Wan and his favorite Queens things.
The boathouse in Meadow Lake is one of two remaining buildings from the 1939 World’s Fair. It was refurbished for the 1964 World’s Fair, and an annex was added as a food stand. It was further refurbished in 2011, and the facility is now used for the Dragon Boat festival.
Walking around Meadow Lake in the summer is a truly interesting experience. Always full of activities, you can see dragon boats practicing, sailboats gilding, and rowboats training on the water. There are baseball fields to the south, cricket fields to the north, and three playgrounds — Triassic, Jurassic, and World’s Fair — all around the lake, which happens to be the largest body of water in New York City. For those who prefer a quiet experience, take a walk to Willow Lake, just south of Meadow Lake, to enjoy the peacefulness of a wetland preserve. It’s truly an oasis in the city. The half-mile wood chip trail is an enjoyable walk through plant life, migratory bird habitats, and wildlife. True to its namesake, Willow Lake lies among a wide variety of willow trees.
For a more colorful experience, Queens Botanical Garden is only a short walk to the east of Flushing Meadows Corona Park. It was a part of the Gardens on Parade horticulture exhibition during the 1939 World’s Fair. Now it’s a place where people, plants, and cultures are celebrated through inspiring gardens, innovative educational programs, and real-world applications of environmental stewardship. The 39-acre site features rose, bee, herb, wedding, and perennial gardens; an arboretum; an art gallery; and the Visitor & Administration Building, NYC’s first LEED platinum certified public building.
As a long time resident of Flushing, I have had the pleasure of seeing it transform from an ordinary end station for the 7 train to a major hub. Currently it hosts an Asian American community with international flavors. In Downtown, it is all about food, food, and more food. All kinds of Chinese cuisines are served, as well as many Southeast Asian delights. From green tea to bubble tea, from dim sum to full banquet, you can try them all. Off the beaten path — if I want to treat myself — is Golden Palace (41-20 Delong St.), which has the best Peking Duck in Queens. You need to preorder to make sure it’s available. Ask for pancakes instead of buns as wrapping, and add steamed seasonal green and fish dishes. It will be a delicious, full meal for four. There’s another hidden gem in Dock 3366 (33-66 Farrington St.) in Four Points by Sheraton Flushing Hotel. It offers Western and Chinese menus, and the latter has authentic Hong Kong home style Cantonese cuisine. The seafood is very tasty and the price is reasonable.
I enjoy all the cultural offerings Queens has to offer, but after 31 years of organizing the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York, this has to be my favorite event of each summer. So bring the family, pack a picnic, and enjoy the international food court and food trucks, as well as all that the sponsors offer, the arts & crafts tent, and the multicultural performances on the HSBC Stage. It’s free and rain or shine. Take the 7 train to the Mets-Willets Point station and transfer from there to MTA shuttle buses that take you directly to and from the festival.