FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 21, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 57
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Here are 11 great places to enjoy spring in Queens
BY MORGAN CHITTUM
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
March 20 marked the fi rst day of spring,
and Queens has some of the fi nest places
to celebrate the new season.
According to the NYC Parks and
Recreation Department, New York City
has over 1,700 parks, playgrounds and
recreation facilities across the fi ve boroughs.
Th ese range from parks, swimming
pools, wetlands and skating rinks.
Out of the thousands of options the city
has to off er, Th e Courier and QNS.com
narrowed down the list to some of the
most popular places for spring activities
in Queens.
During the winter months, Queens
off ers a wide-ranging list of indoor activities.
Astoria has the Museum of the
Moving Image. Corona has the New York
Hall of Science. And Flushing has the
Queens Museum of Art.
What does Queens have when the fl owers
begin to bloom and the winter coats
come off ?
1) Socrates Sculpture Park
Open everyday with free admission,
kick off spring at the Socrates Sculpture
Park in Long Island City. Originally an
abandoned riverside landfi ll, local artists
and workers cleaned the 5-acre area
and created a mesmerizing waterfront
park where visitors can view local art by
members of the community. Recognized
now as a New York City public park,
Socrates Sculpture Park is an internationally
renowned outdoor museum, presenting
more than 1,000 artists. According to
the park’s website, their upcoming spring
exhibit, Chronos Cosmos: Deep Time,
Open Space, will transform the riverside
park “into a gateway to the universe,
presenting artworks that consider space,
time, and matter in relationship to celestial
entities and earth-bound processes.”
Address: 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long
Island City
Contact: 718-956-1819
Website: socratessculpturepark.org
2) Alley Pond
Environmental Center
In the concrete jungle, New York City
residents have limited exposure to nature.
Alley Pond Environmental Center gives
visitors the chance to explore marshlands,
large bodies of water and other nature
trails. APEC off ers a variety environmental
education programs this spring. Th ey
off er weekly children’s programs, where
kids as young as 1 can play with animals,
and morning bird walks for adults as well.
As spring approaches, APEC has something
to off er people of all ages.
Address: 22806 Northern Blvd., Little
Neck
Contact: 718-229-4000
Website: alleypond.com
3) Nowadays
Spring calls for tasty outdoor eatery.
Gather indoors or outdoors at
Nowadays, a place with food, drink and
frequent events in Ridgewood. Bordering
Bushwick, this seasonal outdoor bar and
restaurant hosts summer-hang outs with
large parties and popular DJs. Nowadays
has a bocce ball set, chess, checkers backgammon
sets and ping-pong tables for
customers to use.
Address: 56-06 Cooper Ave. #1,
Ridgewood
Contact: 347-523-8535
Website: nowadays.nyc
4) Queens Botanical Garden
Queens Botanical Garden off ers daily
activities, educational programs and realworld
applications of environmental
stewardship for visitors. Although they
have indoor events for colder weather,
QBG is especially breathtaking in the
spring when the fl owers have started to
bloom. From their evening cocktail and
craft events to the children’s garden open
house, QBG has something to off er people
of all ages. Walk through the gardens
or bask in the sun at this urban oasis in
Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Address: 43-50 Main St., Flushing
Contact: 718-886-3800
Website: queensbotanical.org
5) Queens Zoo
Every year, millions of visitors fl ock to
Queens Zoo for the wide array of animals
and exhibits. Th e zoo even gives visitors
the chance to watch the seals feeding like
they are in their natural habitat. During
the warmer months, the zoo off ers several
children’s summer camps including:
KinderZoo, Toddler Time Camp and
Week of Wildlife. Th e zoo is one of fi ve
zoos in New York City to exhibit Andean
bears and they currently have over 75
species of animals that are native to the
Americas.
Address: 53-51 111th St., Corona
Contact: 718-220-5100
Website: queenszoo.com
6) A+ Roof Bar
Spring is the time for sipping your
favorite cocktails on rooft op bars. Do
exactly this at A+ Roof Bar on top of
the Parc Hotel. Th e bar off ers a variety
of cocktails and beer. Th e comfortable
lounging chairs and stools gives customers
a chance to marvel at the NYC skyline
and Citi Field.
Address: 39-16 College Point Blvd.,
Flushing
Contact: 718-869-1691
Website: theparchotel.com
7) Due Ponti
Due Ponti in Whitestone has the perfect
spot for a romantic and charming
spring date. Overlooking the East River,
the restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine,
made from homemade bread, along
with farm to table produce and hand
selected seafood. Since 2009, Whitestone
has given customers an opportunity to
experience a casual yet fi ne dining experience.
Address: 154-11 Powells Cove Blvd.,
Whitestone
Contact: 718-767-3100
Website: facebook.com/duepontiitalian
8) Jamaica Wildlife Refuge
During the winter months, kayaking,
trail exploration and outdoor walking
tours, are less than enjoyable due to frigid
temperatures. However, once spring
arrives the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge off ers
all of these activities, along with the comfort
of warm weather. With over 9,000
acres and 300 species of birds, the refuge
is one of Queen’s most prime locations
to bird watch and observe other facets
of nature.
Address: Far Rockaway, NY
Contact: 718-318-4340
Website: nycaudubon.org/queens-birding/
Photo via Getty Images
jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge
9) Flushing Meadows
Corona Park
Th e remnants of two World’s Fairs left
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, an 897-
acre park with a 12-story globe and an
UFO-shaped pavilion. As spring brings
warmer weather, visitors can explore
this urban oasis, which lies beside notable
tourist attractions such as Citi Field,
New York Hall of Science and Queens
Museum.
Address: Grand Central Pkwy.,
Whitestone Expwy. between 111th Street
and College Point Boulevard
Contact: N/A
Website: nycgovparks.org/parks/fl ushing
meadows-corona-park
10) Gantry Plaza State Park
Gantry Plaza State Park sits along the
East River in the Hunters Point section
of Long Island City. Previously a dockyard,
the 12 acre riverside oasis showcases
amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.
Th e park off ers four piers, a series of manicured
gardens and fountains.
Address: 4-09 47th Rd., Long Island
City,
Contact: 718-786-6385
Website: parks.ny.gov/parks/149/
details.aspx
11) Bocaito Cafe and Wine Bar
Enjoy a spring dining experience at
Bocaito Cafe and Wine Bar in Jackson
Heights. Th is Italian restaurant off ers
happy hour specials with signature cocktails
and brunch. Th is family owned and
operated restaurant off ers a wide array of
dishes such as grilled chorizo, empanada
and ribeye steaks.
Address: 81-15 Northern Blvd., Jackson
Heights
Contact: 347-617-1606
Website: bocaitony.com
The cherry blossoms near the New York State Pavilion at Flushing Meadows Corona Park
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