Vintage Subway Trains & Rides in Manhattan & Queens

December 21, 2015 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens History / Queens Buzz.

I decided to take a ride on one of the Vintage Subway Cars that run through Manhattan & Queens on each Sunday in December from 10 am to 5 pm. You can ride the vintage subway cars for the regular fare of $2.75, even though back in the day, the ride only cost 10 cents. It's a fun outing and some of the people dressed up for the occasion, only a bit of which is shown in the video.

Click here to read the rest of our report about riding the Vintage Subway Trains & Rides in Manhattan & Queens over the holidays, including the subway lines and stops to which it pertains, as well as the approximate schedule as they only run about every hour and a half.

In 2015 the last day of this special offer is Sunday, December 27th.

NYC Municipal Elections 2013

NYC Mayor, Queens Borough President & Six Ballot Proposals

November 5, 2013 / Flushing Neighborhood / Queens Government / Queens Buzz. On Tuesday voters get to decide who will run the city for the next four years. You get to weigh in on who will be the next NYC Mayor, Queens Borough President, City Comptroller, Public Advocate and City Councilmembers.

There are also six NY State Ballot proposals some of which are changes to the Constitution: 1) whether to authorize casino gambling in NYS, 2) a credit for qualified veterans with disabilities in the civil service, 3) exclusion of sewage treatment facility investments from county and municipal constitutional debt limits, 4) proposal to have NYS give up land rights in the Adirondacks to private enterprise in an exchange deal, 5) proposal to allow a private company to conduct mining operations on forest preserve land in a trade deal and 6) extending the length of time judges may serve past the age of 70.

Click here for our coverage of the NYC Municipal Elecitons, including details of the controversial Queens Borough President debate between Melinda Katz and Tony Arcabascio at QPTV in Flushing in October.  Story & photos by Michael Wood.

Queens Borough President Election

Democratic Party Hierarchy & NYC Developers Back Katz & Quinn

September 9, 2013 / Queens Politics / Queens News Analysis & Issues / Opinion / Queens Buzz. So after answering countless annoying and largely uninformative robocalls from those seeking to govern us [what happened to our ability to 'Opt Out' of telemarketing?], and receiving voluminous junk mailers, tomorrow we get to decide who's going to govern us.

Tomorrow matters, because about 80% of the elections in NYC are decided in the primaries.

In the photo above right, Peter Vallone takes Melinda Katz to task for sending out mailers that attempt to demonize him with distorted visuals and labels.

NYC Mayoral Candidates - Final Polls & Agendas & You Decide

There are five major candidates running for Mayor on the Democratic side [de Blasio, Quinn, Weiner, Thompson & Liu] and two on the Republican side [Lhota & Catsimatidis]. The most recent polls show DeBlasio well ahead of the pack, but he needs 40% of the vote to avoid having a runoff election later in the month. Thompson is the runner up and Quinn, once the leading candidate, is running a distant third.

Quinn has sometimes been referred to as Mayor Bloomberg's lapdog because of her 'dogged' support of his agenda. In spite of that moniker, the Mayor did not endorse her even though she had helped Bloomberg reverse a plebiscite on municipal office term limits and passed the majority of his agenda. Both Quinn and Katz did win the endorsement of the Democratic Party hierachy and the monied support of NYC real estate developers.

Runoffs Weaken Mayoral Candidates

The last time we had an open NYC Mayoral election [meaning no incumbents] it resulted in a Democratic primary runoff. Fernando Ferrer won the primary with 279,000 votes [35.5%]. Mark Green won enough votes [243,000 votes] to compete in a runoff. In the runoff Mark Green prevailed, and then went on to lose against Michael Bloomberg by 35,000 votes. A hotly contested Democratic primary runoff weakens the Democratic candidate shortly before the final election.

Queens Borough President Candidates 2013

There are three Democrats running for Queens Borough President [Vallone, Katz & Brown] and one on the Republican side [Arcabascio]. Tony Avella is on the ballot, but he has dropped out of the race.

There are also a number of City Councilmember races, which we don't have the time to discuss today.

Click For More About Queens Borough President Candidates 2013

Click here to read more about the NYC Primary Elections, with more about the backgrounds of the Queens Borough President candidates, and including a link to find your Queens polling place.

Long Voting Lines In Places

Two Poll Sites Tell Very Different Tales

November 6, 2012 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Issues / Queens Buzz. We went out tonight to take the pulse of the voting public. We made two poll stops - one in Woodside and one in Sunnyside - and they told two very different tales.

I breezed into the Woodside poll site where there wasn't a line outside and there wasn't a line inside either. But there was a steady trickle of voters coming in, and there were plenty of people busy filling in the ballots inside the main room. I asked a couple of people if this year it seemed like the same level as voter interest as four years ago, during the last presidential election. Nobody seemed to be sure, so we settled on an 'about the same as four years ago' with some hesitation on my part, based on my visit four years ago to this same site.

Click here to read the rest of our report on voting in Queens Nov 2012.

Gas Shortage In NYC Metro Area

Local Relief Efforts & Hurricane Sandy in Queens

November 1 - 5, 2012 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz. Thursday night we saw gas lines at local stations as many didn't receive their usual shipments due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy. The situation is expected to abate in the coming week, but in the meantime conservation is recommended.

On Saturday the lines at gas stations continued, with people lining up with gas cans on foot at one station in Astoria [see photos]. Governor Cuomo has put certain regulations on hiatus in order to bring gas into New York City as shipments had been disrupted during Hurricane Sandy.

We also noticed the shelves at some of the grocery stores looking a bit picked through in some areas. I asked one of the grocers if shipments / replenishments had started coming in and he informed me that yes, shipments were coming in and that things would be back to normal sometime in the coming week.

MTA: As of Saturday morning the 7 is running from Flushing Main Street to Times Square. The N is operating from Ditmars Astoria to 34th Street Manhattan. The F is running from 179th Street Jamaica to 34th Street in Manhattan. The Q, E, G, C & Z are suspended. The J train is operating between Jamaica Center and Hewe St. For any other subways click here for the MTA website.

And lastly, a number of local relief efforts began last week by gathering food, clothing and other supplies from local residents for Rockaways residents. The Jackson Heights Beautification Group, the NY Irish Center, and the offices of NY Senator Peralta, and City Councilmembers Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer are the efforts about which we were contacted. You can Google them to see how you can help.

Click here for our Hurricane Sandy in Queens coverage.

Lessons of a Queens Hurricane Chaser

Chasing Hurricane Sandy in Queens

October 30, 2012 / Queens NY / Queens Weather / Queens Buzz.  It was 5 pm Monday evening as I set out on my bicycle to truly experience the tropical winds of Hurricane Sandy.  I chose the evening hours because it was after the high winds would have arrived, shaking loose (hopefully) most of what was to be shaken loose, so I would not be hit in the head by any debris.

The early evening was also just a few hours ahead of the ‘tidal surge’ we had been warned about, which was supposed to peak in the East River at about 8 pm.  And since it would still be light out, I could get some photos of my journey into the tropical storm as it hit Queens.

In the photo above you can see a tree bending to the winds of Hurricane Sandy, with the new LIC skyscapers along the East River in the background. The winds were blowing fiercely along the East River.

Click here to read more about The Lessons of a Queens Hurricane Chaser - photos of Hurricane Sandy in Queens.

Hurricane Sandy On Its Way

The Facts vs The Fear of the Approaching Storm

October 28 2012 / Weather in Queens / 8 pm Sunday night / Queens Buzz. As currently predicted by the National Weather Service, NYC is not in the direct path of Hurricane Sandy. According to the National Weather Service, high winds are forecast to hit Queens starting Monday morning, with the prime time for high winds of between 30 to 50 miles per hour expected to occur between the hours of 2 pm and about midnight on Monday. Wind gusts could go as high at 75 mph. Please be careful as high winds can tear loose objects and cause harm to people and property.

We are expected to get somewhere in the neighborhood of two to four inches of rain according to the National Weather Service. And they predict the possibility of the two to three foot tidal surge in our area, with a possibility of six to eleven foot surges. In Queens, some flooding is expected, particularly in southern Queens, with the possibility of power outages. As in the case of most hurricanes hitting Queens County, the Rockaways & Hamilton Beach are most at risk by a wide margin.

Click here to read more about Hurricane Sandy in Queens, including public infrastructure shutdowns.

Belmont Race Track & Aqueduct Race Track

Public Race Tracks In Queens NY

This is a brief report on things to do in Queens like going to the Belmont and Acqueduct Horse Race Tracks in Queens NY. The Belmont race track is located in Elmont NY and the Acqueduct race track is located in Jamaica, both in Queens.

Biking Queens

Bicycling Queens, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Jamaica, College Point, Forest Hills, Elmhurst

December 2017 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz NYC.

The good weather has arrived and bicycling is about to begin in earnest. Queens is blessed with one of the most interesting arrays of biking trails in the NYC metro area and provides the added pleasure of not being so crowded ... yet.

But there are pitfalls too. Queens Blvd is one of the most dangerous streets in all of the city as some motorists seem to drive it more like a highway than the city street that it is. So caution is always important to bear in mind, but that is true for any sport, be it swimming, football or skiing.

In our soon to be posted report we'll provide you with a view of the biking landscape in Queens. We'll highlight the key biking events, show you a rough outline of Queens biking trails and finish up with a few biking maintenance tips including links to neighborhood bike stores in Queens. Stay tuned, the full story will be posted later this week.

Click here to view our report about biking / bicycling in Queens.

Queens Election Returns

Queens Neighborhoods / November 3, 2009. Michael Bloomberg won his re-election bid for mayor with a bit over 50% of the votes vs 46% of the votes for William Thompson Jr. Bloomberg broke U.S. history records by spending between $90 - $100 million of his own money on the campaign, outspending his opponent 14 to 1.

In other city wide offices, Queens resident John Liu (D) won the Comptroller's office with 76% of the votes. Meanwhile, Helen Marshall (D) cruised to an easy election victory as the Queens Borough president, beating Robert Hornak by a margin of 76% vs 20% of the votes, respectively. The winners of the remainder of the Queens city council races by district were as follows: 19th - Daniel Halloran III (R) 53%, 20th - Peter Koo (R) 50%, 21st - Julissa Ferraras (D) unopposed, 22nd - Peter Vallone Jr. (D) 75%, 23rd - Mark Weprin (D) 67%, 24th - James Gennaro (D) unopposed, 25th - Daniel Dromm (D) 76%, 26th - James Van Bramer 70%, 27th - LeRoy Comrie Jr (D) unopposed, 28th - Thomas White Jr (D) 88%, 29th - Karen Koslowitz (D) 63%, 30th - Elizabeth Crowley (D) 59%, 31st - James Sanders Jr (D) 89% and Eric Ulrich (R) 59%. Source: NYT / AP.

Queens Art Express 2009

This story contains information about the Queens Art Express which is a program sponsored by the Queens Council Of The Arts. Queens Art Express events have been planned in Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Corona.

Queens Art Museums & Galleries

Art Exhibits In Queens Museums

This story provides information regarding Queens art exhibits, art events, art galleries and museums in the Queens neighborhoods of Long Island City, Flushing, Astoria and Jamaica. All for the summer season of 2009.

Queens Golf Courses - Queens NY

Public Golf Courses in Douglaston, Forest Hills, Flushing & Bayside

July 6, 2012 / Queens Buzz.  This is a compendium of the four public golf courses in Queens NY. The public golf courses are Clearview in Bayside, Douglaston in Douglaston, Forest Park in Woodhaven and Kissena in Flushing.

Click here for golf courses in Queens, including hours, maps and contact info.

Queens History

Queens NY / Queens Buzz. This is a summary of some of Queens History, particularly focused on some of the sites and attractions still in existence today in Queens NY.

This report about Queens history includes LIC Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Flushing, Jamaica, Forest Hills, Corona, Elmhurst. The report includes photos of some of the historic sites in Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Flushing, Jackson Heights and Jamaica as well. Click here for a report on some of Queens history.

Queens Parks - Public Parks In Queens

July 6, 2012 / Queens Parks / Queens Buzz.  This report provides info on Queens parks, swimming pools [we still need to add Fisher, Liberty and Fort Totten], various fields and courts for athletic games and picnic and open space areas for your relaxation. Use the search function to find golf courses and the horse race tracks as they are not included them here.

Click here to view our report on Queens Parks.

Queens Swimming Pools - Swimming Pools In Queens

August 6, 2019 / Queens Parks / Queens Buzz NYC.  

This provides the hours for Queens public swimming pools, as well as info about a number of other swimming pools that are run by non-profit organizations that are also available to the public.

Click here to view our report on Queens Swimming Pools - swimming pools in Queens.

Queens Weather

First Big Snowstorm Of 2010 Hits Queens

February 10, 2010 / Queens NY.  This will take you into a history of some of the big weather systems in Queens NYC.

The first big snowstorm of 2010 arrived in Queens this morning. By the time of the early morning commute there was only an inch or two on the ground, so it was more a nuisance than a mess. But by the afternoon commute over four inches had accumulated and appeared to be destined to slow everything down.

But the kids weren't complaining since they were let out of school. We found them sledding and some mischief makers were found making snowballs.

Click here to read the rest of our report on the great Queens snowstorm of 2010 which includes a brief account of some of the big Queens weather systems NYC since then.

Ridgewood Historical Society / Onderdonk House

Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz. The Ridgewood Historical Society is based out of the Onderdonk House - an early Dutch settler house.  Use search to find story about it.

Click here to view a map of the Onderdonk House / Ridgewood Historical Society.

Bike Maps of Bike Paths in Queens

Bikes, Bicycling & Bike Shops in Queens in 2012

Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz. The following is a report that includes snapshots of the bike paths in Queens.  The primary bike paths in Queens are clustered around western Queens in LIC and Astoria.  A few bike paths venture east through Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Corona and into Flushing.  In and around Flushing there is a cluster of bike paths.  These extend south toward Jamaica where there is another cluster of bike paths.  A couple bike paths lead east toward Long Island.  And lastly there is a bike path extending along the Rockaway penninsula.

Click here to view our report about bike paths in Queens 2012.

Biking Queens

Bicycling Queens in 2011

Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz. The good weather has arrived and bicycling is about to begin in earnest. Queens is blessed with one of the most interesting arrays of biking trails in the NYC metro area and provides the added pleasure of not being so crowded ... yet.

But there are pitfalls too. Queens Blvd is one of the most dangerous streets in all of the city as some motorists seem to drive it more like a highway than the city street that it is. So caution is always important to bear in mind, but that is true for any sport, be it swimming, football or skiing.

In our soon to be posted report we'll provide you with a view of the biking landscape in Queens. We'll highlight the key biking events, show you a rough outline of Queens biking trails and finish up with a few biking maintenance tips including links to neighborhood bike stores in Queens. Stay tuned, the full story will be posted later this week.

Click here to view our report about biking / bicycling in Queens 2011.

Art Exhibits, Galleries & Museums - Queens

May 2018 / Queens Neighborhoods NYC / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section is about art and architecture in Queens NY. 

Click here to read reports about art exhibits, galleries and museums in Queens.

Dance & Theater In Queens

The Performing Arts in Queens

April 2018 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz.  

This section includes stories about dance and theater in Queens. 

Click here to view reports about dance and theater in Queens including links to upcoming events.

Fashion, Film & Music In Queens

April 2018 / Fashion & Film in Queens / Queens Neighborhoods NY / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section includes stories about fashion, film and music in Queens. 

Click here to view reports about fashion, film and music events in Queens.

Green & Natural: Eco-Friendly In Queens

December 2017 / Green Queens / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section includes stories about green / environmental groups & activities in Queens.  This includes reports about biking, transportation, parks, recycling and weather around the borough. 

Click here to view our section on green living environmental activities in Queens.

Sports & Parks In Queens

July 2018 / Queens Neighborhoods / Sports & Parks in Queens / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section includes stories about outdoor activities and parks / facilities in Queens. 

Click this link to find information about swimming, biking, kyaking, horse races, yoga, golf, tennis, billiards, running - sports in Queens.

Queens Culture - Cultural Events & Holidays In Queens

Things To Do In Queens over the Holidays

January 2020 / Holidays in Queens / Queens Buzz / Queens Neighborhoods.

This section includes stories about ethnic and religious cultural festivals and parade in Queens. 

Click here to read reports and view photos of Queens holidays - cultural events in Queens.

Food & Wine, Fairs & Farmers' Markets - Queens

April 2019 / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section includes stories about wines, wine stores, food events & food stores oftentimes offering unique foods & wines in Queens. 

Click here to view reports about food, wine, farmers markets and street fairs in Queens.

Queens Healthcare, Education, Social Issues & Opinion - Queens

May 2018 / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section is a healthcare, education, social issues and opinon section.  Occasionally we'll weigh in on a neighborhood, city, state, national and even international issue.

Click here to view our section on Queens healthcare, education, social issues & crime in Queens.

Queens Healthcare - Hospital & Clinics & Medical Professionals in Queens

Queens Hospitals, Clinics, Doctors, Dentists, Ophthalmologists - Healthcare Insurance Queens

December 2017 / Queens Neighborhoods / LIC Neighborhood LIC & Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Buzz.  This is a collection of reports done about healthcare in Queens.  This section contains reports about a hospital and several medical practices, as well as about preventative medicine and alternative health therapies in Queens.

Click here for more about Hospitals & Healthcare in Queens.

History In Queens

April 2018 / Queens / Queens Buzz.

This section includes stories about the history of Queens. 

Click here to view reports about the History of Queens.

Queens OpEd / Queens Opinions - Audience Opinions Posted On Queens Buzz

Queens Buzz Audience Opinions. This section contains opinions of our readers.  These opinions reflect the perspective of those who authored them, not of Queens Buzz. 

To have an opinion posted, it must meet the following requirements:  1) it must be grammatically written, 2) it must not contain spelling errors, 3) it must not contain hateful or abusive references and 4) it must not contain any personal attacks.

We reserve the right not to publish any submission, even in cases where they may meet the above criteria, which is subject to change as we become more experienced in moderating open public debate.

Send opinions to the editor [at] / using our web magazine name [queensbuzz.com].

Queens OpEd / Queens Opinions - Audience Opinions Posted On Queens Buzz

Queens Buzz Audience Opinions. This section contains opinions of our readers.  These opinions reflect the perspective of those who authored them, not of Queens Buzz. 

To have an opinion posted, it must meet the following requirements:  1) it must be grammatically written, 2) it must not contain spelling errors, 3) it must not contain hateful or abusive references and 4) it must not contain any personal attacks.

We reserve the right not to publish any submission, even in cases where they may meet the above criteria, which is subject to change as we become more experienced in moderating open public debate.

Send opinions to the editor [at] / using our web magazine name [queensbuzz.com].

Click here to read the Op Ed / Queens Opinions section of this site.

Queens Schools & Education in Queens

Public & Private Schools in Queens

January 2018 / Queens Education & Schools / Queens Buzz NYC. 

This is a collection of reports done about Queens schools.  This section contains reports about public and private schools in Queens, ranging from elementary schools, to intermediate schools, to high schools and colleges in Queens.

Click here for more about Queens Schools & Education.

Fiction, Poetry, Short Stories & Art

December 2017 / Art Dance Music Fashion Film in Queens / Queens Buzz NYC.

This section is dedicated to fiction, poetry and short stories.

Click here to view Short Stories, Fiction, Poetry & Art on Queens Buzz.

The Rockaways In Queens - Map & Transit Info

Queens Buzz. This is a map of the Rockaways peninsula in Queens.  The map includes directions on how to get to the Rockaways peninsula and surrounding communities via public transit and by car.

Click here to view our map with transit directions to the Rockaways neighborhoods in Queens.

Queens Weather: Snowstorms, Rainstorms & Hurricanes in Queens NYC

March 2017 / Queens NY / Queens Buzz.

This section is about Queens activities such as biking, golfing, concerts, museums, horse races, historical places of interest and parks.  These are more county wide stories, than reports focused on one particular place of interest.  This section also includes occasional weather stories that aren't parked in individual locales.

Click here to view the section about Queens Activities and Weather.

NYC & NYS Elections 2013

NYC Mayor, Queens Borough President & Six Ballot Proposals

November 5, 2013 / Flushing Neighborhood / Queens Government / Queens Buzz.

Click here to view reports on NYC Elections & NYS Elections of 2013.

Queens Neighborhoods - Queens NYC

News About Queens Neighborhoods

January 2020 / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz NYC.  

This section includes information about the neighborhoods in Queens NY. This includes Astoria, Corona, Flushing, Forest Hills, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside.

Click here to read more about Queens neighborhoods - Astoria Long Island City Sunnyside Woodside Jackson Heights Corona Flushing Jamaica neighborhoods NYC.