Some claim that this mural is in Rego Park, but I side with those who place it in Forest Hills…read more The Ramones were a Forest Hills band, after all. Based on a 1975 photograph, the mural is the work of a West Village artist, Ori Carino. It marks a spot dubbed "the birthplace of punk," where the four founding members of the group liked to hang out in their youth. Despite having lived in Forest Hills for a decade, I was unaware of the artwork's existence until I stumbled across it a few weeks ago. It is in the alleyway that connects 66th Avenue to 66th Road.

Actually Jamie M. Clearwater, FL, this is Rego Park. I…read moregrew up here and, not only is Thorny Croft (formerly) and now Fanwood Estates, Rego Park but across the street, The Howard Apartments are also Rego Park. Everyone refers to Rego Park as Forest Hills. People like Leslie West, Waddy Wachtel, Ronnie Earl, etc., really lived in Rego Park and not Forest Hills but since we all went to the same schools we all referred to the entire neighborhood as Forest Hills. Anyway, this is just a ramp now that leads to a locked gate where no can access. When we were growing up there wee no locks and gates and we played stickball, touch football, ringolevio, punchball, handball, etc., and others, like the Ramones, Leslie West, etc., would hang out on the ramp ... lots of activity but now, all locked up, pretty sad!

I attended the Underground Open Mic tonight to both listen to and perform some original music. This…read moreparticular open mic is a favorite of mine as it is actually where I got my start in the local open mic scene, back in fall of 2022. Located in the basement stage room of Bar Freda, this open mic breaks the mold with their epic lighting, phenomenal sound system, very talented sound guy & engaging hosts. Every Monday, from 8pm about midnight, you can enjoy free performances by incredibly talented musicians and poets from all over the world. Some are local New Yorkers, some are transplants, and others are visitors. Tonight there was a wonderful poet from London, a super talented guitarist and singer from LA, and everything in between. Everyone was phenomenal! The creators, I am Adam-Meagan (aka Not Holden Caulfield) and Colleen (aka Sunbeam Colleen), have really created something very special here. This is such a welcoming open mic with an incredibly receptive and supportive crowd. If someone forgets their lyrics or stumbles in a performance, the audience immediately begins cheering their on, which 99% helps get the performer's moral backup and gets them back into their flow state. If you ever want to experience some phenomenal local arts or even perform yourself, you definitely have to check them out!

Located thirty plus blocks from Citi Field, this could be a good pre-game dining option if you…read morebudget your time correctly. We did. For drinks, we had Peroni beer. Ice cold served in a frosted glass. For starters, we shared the lobster croquets and the grilled octopus. You could taste the lobster in the croquets, and the grilled octopus was served with mango. Both were very good. For the mains, we had the chicken marsala and the chicken parmigiano. The marsala came with mashed potatoes and the parm with pasta. Both were good sized portions and tasty. My buddy actually couldn't finish his parm, so we boxed the leftovers and took it with us to the game. No room for dessert, besides we had a game to catch.

Really surprised I haven't heard of this restaurant which has been open for over 20+ years! We…read moredecided to have dinner here and it was the best decision ever. The service was amazing! The host and waiters were all so super sweet! We ordered appetizers, mains, desserts and mocktails. The complimentary bread and butter were so good! The mocktails were one of the best I've ever had. The food portions are massive and worth the price! The tiramisu was the best tiramisu I've had. Definitely coming back here again!

I absolutely love gnocchi Bella the sauce is homemade and so flavorful it's my go to spot whenever…read moreI'm in Queens! Also, the Matcha is exceptional and even the lattes are amazing. I recommend the tiramisu latte!!

Honestly not surprised this store closed. Was so excited to go to a halal gnocchi place, but wasn't…read moreimpressed. 3/5 Basil pesto gnocchi - ehh, very mid, have had much better basil pesto 4/5 Pomodoro gnocchi- this was better than the above, the Pomodoro was pretty good 3/5 Tiramisu latte- slightly bitter, standard

Great local Italian restaurant. My husband and I enjoyed the grilled octopus, beet salad and…read morefreshly made pizza. You can't go wrong ordering any of their homemade pasta dishes. Attentive and friendly service in cozy dining area.

"If you really want to hear about it, Ive eaten a few times at Radici Restaurant up on Metropolitan…read moreAvenue, anither stones throw from home. The whole setup just depresses the hell out of me, honestly. ​They've got these fancy looking square pizzas that look like they're gonna get framed and displyed at the Museum of Modern Food like some kind of art or something. I've eaten the one that is loaded with folds of prosciutto and cheese, is it the Angel and the Devil? I think it is and the other one ive scarfed down is covered in pepperoni and melted cheese, its more traditional in the basic ingredients I prefer from the circle pies. The two I've eaten were quite good. I mean, you cant walk right in and order a slice to go even if you're starving, you must order the whole kahuna. But some people act like getting pizza in this place like this makes them bloody sophisticated, but were all under the same glistening lights above. ​The guy to my left had some kind of tagliatelle with meat sauce and grated cheese, it was sitting in a patterned bowl which i kept looking back at and admiring. I liked the way it looked upon the wooden table below. You order off these sleek paper menus laid out for you, its the main menu and there is a separate Drinks Menu with cocktails, and a wine list and beers. It's a lot of work for me, you know. making me read through a whole booklet just to decide what kind of booze that I want to drink with my meal, I can be occasionally lazy regardingsuch matters. ​Inside, the dining room is all warm lighting and exposed wood, with people sitting at tables reading their menus, eatingvand drinking and trying to have a grand, important evening out. Look, the food tastes fine, pizza and pasta are hard to mess up, but it's not the life changing culinary event that Metropolitan has needed for quite some time.

I miss it. I lived here for a couple of years, off 75th and Queens Blvd. I rented the master room…read morein a 3 bedroom apartment with a couple of other revolving roommates. Even though it had its drawbacks, it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. I was able to live and breathe life in NY. And, yes, lots of eating and drinking was had. Things to do: 4/5 Safety: 4/5 Cleanliness: 3/5 SUMMARY -- It's mostly filled with residential neighborhoods. Queens Blvd is the main drag. The commercial heart of Forest Hills is a mile-long stretch of Austin Street between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue. It's served by the E, ​F, ​M, and ​R trains. The local 75th Avenue stop (with E and ​F trains), was the stop I most used. Mostly in the news until 1978 with Forest Hills Stadium having hosted the U.S. Open (then closed and moved to Flushing Meadows, 3 miles to the north). CLOSE BY -- Manhattan (40 mins by train, longer due to traffic by car); Citi Field in Flushing (where the Mets play; 10 mins by car, 30 mins by train); Jones Beach (35 mins by car). PEOPLE -- Where I lived, a lot of Russians and Jews, but a great mix of all ethnicities...one of the best things about NY. RESTAURANTS -- Most of the better one's are on either Queens Blvd Austin. I fancied Cabana (Cuban), Portofino (Italian), The Family (Italian, closed 2016), Mardi Gras (Cajun, closed 2011), Just Like Mother's (Polish, closed 2014). But there's tons of others worth Yelp mentioning: Forest Hills Station House, Nick's, Bareburger, Deasura, Jack & Nellie's, Memories of Shanghai, Mito Asian Fusion, and Xin Taste Hand Pull Noodle to name a few. MARKETS -- Everyone's talking about Sakura Ya & Cipollina Gourmet, and I'm certain I'd love them too. But, my local place was a Key Food with a great selection of meats, dairy, breads, and jar/can goods. BAGELS -- There's many bagel places, and generally, there all good. But my favorite, a flat bagel from Hot Bialys & Bagels on Queens. Basically, a larger thinner bagel, yes, smushed. That means, better toasted and more schmear.

CHOCOLATE GALORE!!…read more This chocolate confectionery business somewhat has an old school aesthetic appeal. Quaint. Upon entering the scent is delightfully sweet chocolate permeates all senses and awakens the spirit. Sometimes chocolate can heal broken hearts. However, I believe the most powerful source of healing is genuine love. There are lollypops, hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, bars, truffles, caramels, cordials, solid milk and dark chocolate shaped hearts and red liquorice. Sports theme and shaped chocolate are also available. I have entered a chocolate party. Aigner must have good mold to make their creations and certainly made on site. Samples are distributed. Customer service is welcoming and attentive. Gift boxes are available and purchases are issued in a nice gift quality paper bag industry standard $0.05 with a post card description of their business and company history. I was browsing their selection and my eyes are surely bigger than my stomach and wallet. Business cards are available for keepsake. Aigner is easily accessible via MTA NYC Transit buses Q53 SBS/ Q52 SBS and then Q54 on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens, NYC. Foiled Red Hearts $14.95 This product is nostalgia brew. It reminded me of Valentine's Day, every year growing up being educated in NYC Board Of Education public elementary school and one year of public junior high school where every student receive two (2) red foiled heart shaped milk chocolate which was a privilege. As a kid, it was a sweet treat and the highlight of the year. Oh, goodie goodie gosh! I found this same exact product at Aigner which reminded me idyllic, wistful times of what was. Rum Cordial $12.95 Small balls center filled rum covered in chocolate was a happy ending for a celebratory day. Nota Bene: There is a 2.05% surcharge fee for credit/debit payment transactions. This time I did absorbed this annoying fee. The sales associate did not inform me of this fee upon payment, ergo four stars. I would return again and again.

What a magical place!!!! Cute chocolate shop, were welcomed upon entering both by the lovely staff…read moreand the glorious smell of everything sweet!!!! Anything you can think of, IT'S HERE!!!! Need a unique gift for someone who has everything, come here!!! Want to be the cool aunt or uncle at the Holidays, come here!!! Wanna to give your sweetie a token of your undying love, come here!!! Need a little cheat-day treat for yourself or your spot buddy, come here!!! Can't wait to go back!!!!

Before today, my review would've likely been glowing. The artwork in that's been associated with…read morethem in NYC is almost always spectacular and a welcome addition to the city-scape. Unfortunately I found out recently that they're actually quite shady and manipulative. They don't actually create or curate the art in Little Italy - they pretend to support it, plaster it on their social media, and try to profit from it. At the expense of the actual artists that create the art they're showcasing. They've gotten into legal action with artists over marketing rights for the art that they claim to "support", but essentially want to mooch off of and shake down for $$$. A lot of the gorgeous art, such as the Audrey Hepburn picture on Mulberry St, are examples that they claim to be big endorsers of - but have actually fought the artists over, to win sole rights to commercializing posters etc. They've tried to destroy murals & privately commissioned public art without consent or notification to the artists themselves. Again, mostly for the chance to bring in new art and profit from online sales of merchandise / picture rights. And they're more than happy to block/ban/remove you from any of their social media if you even think of leaving a vaguely negative comment (even a politely-worded one). A word to the wise: good, wholesome, community-minded organizations NEVER block or throttle people into silence because they might disagree with them. And they NEVER treat artists like they're disposable sources of income. This organization does not represent Little Italy in the slightest. Be very, very careful if you're ever asked to work with them. Better yet, stay clear of them altogether.

The L. I. S. A. Project NYC…read more I'm not sure about the politics of what's behind this organization. There appears to be some controversy in the Yelp Reviews. I'm just a huge fan of graffiti. I love the color it adds to the city. I love the smile it puts on my face. I like the happy feeling I get inside when I see it. I also like the legal authorization of the activity. For many years it was an offense to express yourself and your artistic talent in this manner. I'm glad Little Italy has embraced this organization and the art they promote. Please Visit Little Italy and keep your eyes open for the murals. They are here, there, and everywhere! I'm posting photos I've taken in the past couple years. I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to return!