The Briggs office and our freelance team explored the borough of Queens one fine day in July. In Manhattan we sometimes forget that there our fascinating city extends across the bridges and under the tunnels. Queens is  the largest borough in land mass with over 38% of it's residents being foreign born.  It is a true melting pot of Asians, Latinos, and Europeans. The original immigrants were the Italians, Irish and Jews and are now being replaced by Indians, Columbians and Chinese. There are plenty of fabulous ethnic Old and New World restaurants situated next to undiscovered  museums, historic homes and scenic parks. So let us show you the royal way and make you all "Queens for a Day"!

For more on "Queens for a Day" see

Robert Fields' Blog.

In 1943, the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong purchased a simple frame house in the working class neighborhood of Corona, Queens. He and his wife Lucille lived there for the rest of their lives. The lovely decorated home is filled with many artifacts of the King of Jazz's career. One of the highlights is his recording studio / den with a collection of hundreds of jazz LPs. The Armstrong House was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and it opened to the public as a museum in October 2003. Additional Venues in Queens: Unisphere Kauffman Studios Hall of Science

One of the tastiest ways to beat the heat and humidity of a NYC summer is with a cool, sweet Italian ice. For generations the Lemon Ice King of Corona has been serving some of the best from its corner counter. The ice and the price is right, but the choices are many. Some prefer the classic tart lemon but what about the licorice, banana or cappuccino flavored ices? After you make your hard decision, grab your ice and stroll to the tiny, little nearby “Spaghetti” park for the local scene. There's a bocce ball court with old-time players arguing the outcomes with plenty of Queens attitude.

Additional Ethnic Food Stops in Queens:
Eddie's Sweet Shop
The Arepa Lady
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden

Created by Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988), The Noguchi Museum opened in 1985.  It presents a comprehensive collection of the artist's work in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as models for public projects, gardens, dance sets, and Akari Light Sculptures. The Museum--chartered as The Noguchi Museum--is housed in thirteen galleries in a converted factory building which encircles a garden containing major granite and basalt sculptures.

Additional Artistic Venues in Queens:
Queens Museum
PS1
Socrates Park

Additional Restaurants in Queens:
Water's Edge
Donovan's

Manducati's