QuestNY

Discover New York City in new ways by completing quests set at end of subway lines, in cultural enclaves, in hidden parts of well-known neighborhoods, and even beyond NYC... E-mail [email protected] to send us pictures from your adventures.

[questny]

Richmond Hill, Queens! Last stop of the A train at Lefferts Blvd. Guyanese and West Indian cultural enclave.

[questny]

We went to Budapest, enjoy!

[questny]

Pine Barrens, New Jersey 1.5 hours from Brooklyn, NY by car The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands or simply the Pines, is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across more than seven counties of southern New Jersey. The name "pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil... Hiking and deep woods and preserved ghost towns and slightly creepy bnb's and diners galore and the legend of the Jersey Devil.

[questny]

We went to Elmhurst Queens (Elmhurst Avenue off the E, M, R trains) for Thai food. We tried Plant Love House and Sugar Club, and we explored the International Food Market. Delicious, authentic Thai food. Go!

[questny]

Little Shop of Stories (and other destinations) in the adorable Decatur, Georgia.

[questny]

Toronto, Canada in the FALL.

[questny]

Take the D Train to Fordham Road in the Bronx. When you get off the train, you’ll walk 10-15 minutes to Arthur Avenue and 187th Street.

Here’s some of our favorite spots:

Palombo Cafe (pictures 1 and 2) has the most delicious Italian pastries. The best cannoli cream we’ve ever had. It was our first stop and our last stop.

Casa Della Mozzarella (pictures 3 and 4) sells homemade cured meats and cheeses.

Cosenza’s Fish Market (pictures 6 and 7) offers a raw bar as well as your fish monger needs.

Arthur Avenue Retail Market (pictures 8-10) shows you all of Arthur Avenue in one covered hall, including hand-rolled cigars and the famous Peter’s Meat Market.

We happened upon Arthur Avenue during the Ferragosto Festival, which celebrates the harvest season. It was similar to the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy, but way more varied booths and generally less insanity while still being super busy and lively. 

For more Arthur Avenue recommendations, check out this great article on NYC GO. We also tried Roberto’s, which was great but super expensive!

[questny]

Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn It's a beautiful historical landmark: http://www.green-wood.com We went to Greenwood to record the 1001 Nights Podcast, learn more here: www.1001nightspodcast.com

[questny]

Here’s where we’ve been thus far, where should we go?

[Check out the interactive Google map here.]

[questny]

Broad Channel, end of the A line: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Take the A into Brooklyn where it splits, at Broad Channel. Then walk 20 minutes (or take the Q bus) to the Refuge. It's free to walk around, ask the front desk for binoculars to watch the birds! The long walk around the bay takes about 1.5 hours roundtrip if you're stopping to observe. Bring sunscreen!

[questny]

Lower East Side, Manhattan Here's to an awesome afternoon in LES: Go to the Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street (www.russanddaughterscafe.com). Then head to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and take a tour (wwww.tenement.org/tours.php). Check out the Essex Street Market, which has been around since the 1940s! And last, get another tour at the Eldridge Synagogue, which was restored in 2010 (www.eldridgestreet.org).

[questny]

Kensington, Brooklyn Take the G to "Church Ave" and WALK Cafe Tibet (for incredibly Nepalese food) 1510 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11226 Sycamore Bar + Flower Shop www.sycamorebrooklyn.com Also, milk sweets! And the beautiful homes of Kensington.

[questny]

BookPeople in Austin, TX is a beloved local bookstore that’s been around since 1970. It is sprawling and beautiful and supremely well-organized, with special sections, multiple event spaces, and so much more!

I toured the store with the Stinky Cheese Man himself (and the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature) Jon Scieszka. Enjoy!

[1001nightspodcast]

Chad W. Beckerman’s original illustration of our version of “The Trader and the Djinn.” Listen to the full chapter on our website: www.1001nightspodcast.com

[questny]

The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA

The Mattress Factory was founded in 1977, by artists, to support artists working in residence to create site-specific installations. Since then, the museum has presented and commissioned new installation and performance works by more than 650 artists. 

http://www.mattress.org/

[questny]

Check out "The 1001 Nights Podcast": the Arabian Nights stories, reinterpreted by modern authors and told to us by Scheherazade. Listen and subscribe: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-1001-nights-podcast/id969736849

[questny]

Take a QUEST for Dim Sum in Sunset Park, Brooklyn Take the N to 8th Ave

Wow! The dim sum scene in this neighborhood is insanely crowded, lively, and worth all the fuss and initial confusion. We ended up at New Spring Garden Restaurant (65th near Fort Hamilton Parkway). The destination is a banquet hall of cart dim sum, stuffed to capacity and compete with an MC shouting out your ticket number. Nervous at first that we wouldn't be able to understand when our number was called (everyone else's number was being called out in Chinese), we were relived when the MC made a note to call our number out in English. We sat at a 10 person table with two of families, who were super helpful in our understanding. Recommendations: pork puff pastry, soup dumplings, and pork dumplings. Our whole meal for two people (including limitless delicious tea) cost $20 plus tip.

You should also check out Fei Long Market, the many bakeries, and Sunset Park itself. Why not take a stroll over to Greenwood Cemetery, while you're there?

More Resources for your Sunset Park, Brooklyn Trip

http://www.ediblebrooklyn.com/2014/05/07/dumpling-tour-sunset-park/

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2012/12/yun-nan-flavour-snack-yunnan-chinese-sunset-park-brooklyn.html

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/where-do-the-locals-eat-sunset-park-chinese-brooklyn.html

http://ny.eater.com/maps/sunset-parks-dim-sum-renaissance