field trip to sunnyside, queens

Time for a field trip!  There’s places to see and people to meet and always lots to photograph!

Welcome to Sunnyside, a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens.  Why Sunnyside?  Well…because someone told me I’d love to photograph it because it’s small, charming, ethnically and culturally diverse…a flavor of the real New York.  Plus, who couldn’t resist visiting a small neighborhood with a cheery name of Sunnyside and only minutes via subway from the heart of Manhattan.

 

 

Right away upon arrival you are welcomed by the Art-Deco inspired arch.  Serving as a symbol for the community, it was built in 1983 and then refurbished years later as part of an initiative to restore the block and general neighborhood pride.

The area is a melting pot of people…Turkish, Romanian, Latin American, Asian, Indian, Irish, Greeks, UK dress,Italians…you name it.  And since 24 percent of the population is Asian, Thai seemed to be the flavor of choice for lunch, specifically after reading the wonderful reviews of the restaurant Dee Thai.  This little restaurant is located under the subway underpass and oh my…no disappointment here!  So fresh and definitely some of the best Thai food that I’ve had in a long time.  A must if you’re ever in the area.

Wandering the neighborhoods, talking with the locals and then a small bakery with a sign appears – 30 year anniversary – just begging for a visit.  Oh dear…Nita’s European Bakery.  Located on Greenpoint Avenue, you should RUN, not walk, to this Romanian family’s bakery.  OMG.  Crispy, not too sweet cookies required a second visit to take more home.  The cheese pateuri?  Melt in your mouth.  The cozonac, a Romanian sweet bread filled with nuts, raisons and many other choices based on the menu above?  To DIE for.   And of course almond croissants are their specialty and especially when they are fresh out of the oven at 5:30 in the mornings.  That is my absolutely major weakness, a European almond croissant.  So, yes…a return trip is required no matter what time of the morning!

Of course a day of photographing isn’t complete without some street art…and as the sun set over Manhattan, views from the train station made for a moment of breathtaking beauty.  A successful field trip.