Top Things To Do in Queens, NYC

Located in Astoria, the Museum of the Moving Image focuses its interests on video. It is the only museum in the United States which examines the history, art and technology of the medium. While MoMi frequently hosts premieres and other special events, their permanent collection is worth checking out and includes the Jim Henson exhibit, which honors the work of the man behind The Muppets and Sesame Street.

PS1 was founded by Alanna Heiss in 1971 to organize art shows in the underutilized warehouse spaces across the city. They opened a permanent gallery space in Long Island City, Queens within just a few years. Joining forces with MoMA in 2001, MoMA PS1 was born. Today, the museum aims to help foster artistic innovation and bring contemporary art to international audiences.

The second-largest park in Queens is Alley Pond Park. Here you’ll find the Alley Pond Giant, thought to have first sprouted between 350 and 400 years ago and perhaps New York City’s oldest tree. Fans of heights will enjoy the park’s high ropes adventure course, NYC’s first public ropes course and the largest in the state.

Once a street food favorite, Arepa Lady opened a brick-and-mortar location in 2014 before moving to its current location in 2018. Colombian owner Maria Cano is known for her savory arepa, which is a Latin American dish made of baked cornmeal. But the menu has many options, including chuzo and patacones (fried plantains).

Specializing in Middle Eastern treats, the Jordanian-owned Al-Sham Sweets & Pastries is the perfect place to delight in flaky baklava offered in a variety of flavors. This shop is part of “Little Egypt,” the Queens neighborhood filled with Lebanese, Egyptian and Palestinian immigrants and restaurants. Al-Sham is the perfect stop for some affordable bites to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The proprietors of the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden claim it is the oldest beer hall in New York City. Founded by the Bohemian Citizens’ Benevolent Society of Astoria, the bar was opened in 1919 as part of a complex that included a farm and a gym; only the bar remains. It is a great spot to gather a group of friends to enjoy a few rounds and watch a game on the large projection screens.

Familiar to Queens residents, the Golden Shopping Mall sprung forward in the American consciousness when it was featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations; it’s also appeared on other food tourism media. The mall’s food court offers some of the most diverse Chinese gastronomic fair outside of China. Not all the vendors speak English, so you may have to rely on the English-language menus.