Post #1 Quixotic Queens

Post #1 Quixotic Queens

            As I awoke for my first day of class I read the blog site telling us to be prepared for a very long day, as we were covering a very large part of Queens. I got off the 10:40 train and anxiously awaited for the other students to arrive. After meeting up with the class and getting the breakdown of what we were going to do today we set off for our first subway ride, taking the E train to Roosevelt Avenue and then getting aboard the #7 elevated train from Times Square to Willet's Point/ Shea Stadium. This was a very nice stop for me on the first day because I have been a lifelong Mets fan. Although some people might not have appreciated that we were only a few paces away from the home of the New York Mets, I did. Walking by Citi Field and the U. S. Open Stadium, I felt as if I was attending one of these events. This stop was not intended for the Mets, however.

            This stop is considered the gateway to Flushing Meadow Park. Soon after, we arrived at the iconic Unisphere, which is the symbol of the 1964 Worlds Fair. Mike informed us that the World’s Fair was a way for the people of New York to experience foods, and cultures from all over the world. “Robert Moses converted the marsh lands into the grounds for the 1939-40 World’s Fair…”(BG 497) After stopping to discuss the role of the World's Fair in the history of New York, we then went onto the Queens Museum for a tour. Once here we saw the Panoroma which is an architectural model of the whole city of New York which includes every building in the five boroughs built before 1992.

            The Panoroma is updated every five years or so but private companies can pay for their building to be replaced if the model of their building changes. For instance, Citi field was there instead of She Stadium because the Mets paid them to change the exhibit. On the other hand the World Trades Center buildings still stand in the exhibit, which I found odd. I felt like somebody, anybody would pay to get them taken down because that was a big part of our history as the State of New york and I feel like it would be the right thing to do.

            Next on our tour we stopped in Jackson Heights for an Indian buffet lunch which Mike and Damien treated us to. I have never had Indian food like that before so it was definitely an experience for me. We learned that Jackson Heights has become a birth place of ethnic diversity in the City. There are Korean, Chinese Indian and all other cultures in Jackson Heights.

            Shortly after lunch we headed to the Queens Museum of the Moving Image. This was my favorite part of the day. We saw all the different types of cameras that were used throughout the years, the different costumes worn by famous stars, and the unique devices that make movies and shows today work. Also found in this museum were old video game systems such as the original Frogger.

            Unfortunately our day was cut short because of bad weather so we were not able to go to Long Island City. Most of this part is outside and the only real way to enjoy it would be in nice weather. Maybe if we are lucky we will be able to visit it another day on another adventure.