In Spanish, the word corona translates to “crown.” When I think of Corona, I think of The Lemon Ice King of Corona and the Hall of Science, where I would often go on field trips with my elementary school class. I think of Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the twelve-story high Unisphere in the park.
I also think about the community and how they come together and sit on each other’s stoops and attend each other’s barbecues. Not only does Corona have a strong sense of community, but it also has historical landmarks and some of the oldest and worn (but, I think, super-cool) subway stops in NYC.
The Unisphere
Located: Right in front of the Queens Museum, which is located at New York City Building Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Perimeter Rd, Queens, NY 11368.
The Unisphere was created for the New York World’s Fair of 1964 to 1965. According to the Flushing Meadow Corona Park Highlights website, it was designed by architect Gilmore D. Clarke and built by the American Bridge Division of the United States Steel Corporation. It weighs 350 tons, has a 120-foot-diameter and was the centerpiece and icon of the fair.
Nowadays, it’s a beautiful sight where many people take wedding photos, cool off in the fountain (which is on during the summer) and where skater kids practice their kick-flips.
Citi Field
Located: 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Corona, NY 11368.
Citi Field, the home of the Mets (who did so well this season, we still love them!), is a relatively new baseball park. According to A-Z Guide to Citi Field, it has a capacity of 41,922 and an area of 1.4 million square feet. The Mets play on natural grass, there are six clubs throughout the facility, and there is a Mets Hall of Fame within the ballpark.
It opened in 2009 after the original home of the Mets, Shea Stadium, was closed and demolished. The atmosphere of a baseball game is unlike anything else. Everyone has such high energy, and it’s fun to do the wave with the crowd and cheer your favorite team on. They also have great baseball park food, such as Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and Shake Shack, and a ton of places to get peanuts and ice cold beer.
Throughout the season they have promotional days such as free t-shirt Fridays, free fleece blanket day and fireworks night.
Arthur Ashe Stadium
PC: David Cardona
Located: 124-02 Roosevelt Ave, Corona, NY 11368.
Arthur Ashe Stadium is a part of USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and is the main stadium for the U.S Open.
According to the United States Tennis Association website, the stadium was named after Arthur Robert Ashe Jr., who won the US Open in 1968 and was the first African American man to win a Grand Slam.
As soon as you walk onto the grounds there are many merchandise shops, bars, and TVs displaying the game.
The stadium has ninety luxury suites, five restaurants, and can hold 22,547 people.
When I first went to a U.S. Open game I just assumed that it was going to be just like a baseball game, but it’s not. The crowd is silent, and it’s basically taboo to talk while a game is in session. The rich and famous are constantly seen at these games. A few celebrities that were seen at the games this year were Donald Trump, Bradley Cooper, Kim Kardashian, Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey and the cast of the show Orange Is The New Black.
Novak Djokovic won the 2015 U.S. Open Men’s Singles and Flavia Pennetta won the 2015 U.S. Open Women’s singles.
Queens Zoo
Located: 53-51 111th St, Corona, NY 11368.
I love animals. Even if they’re not nice to me, I’ll still love them. Therefore, I LOVE zoos. Especially if they have a petting zoo included. Which Queens Zoo has!
It’s only $8 ($8!) for an adult admission ticket. It’s a cheap and really fun way to spend the day in Queens.
They have activities that go on throughout the day such as sea lion feedings at the sea lion pool. You can pretend to be a kid again and do hands-on activities such as the Conservation Quests (which are jungle gyms.)
Patches at the Queens Zoo
They have an Aviary which houses different species of exotic birds, such as the scarlet macaw. According to the Queens Zoo website, the Aviary was added for the 1964 World’s Fair.
My favorite animal is a llama, I think they’re so lovely with their long eyelashes and runny noses. The Queens Zoo has about 3 or 4 llamas.
They are just grazing and looking beautiful all day, every day. There are also rabbits, goats, and sheep. And you get to feed them all!
Queens Zoo is great for kids and adults, too. I think it’s so cool how there are such unique kinds of animals in Queens. Interesting to know that there are bald eagles, bears, pumas, and bison in Queens. I recommend that you all come check out this warm little zoo.
Louis Armstrong House Museum
Located: 34-56 107th Street, Corona, NY 11368.
Louis Armstrong is known as the “Father of Jazz,” and in 1943 he and his wife, Lucille, moved into a house in Corona, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
I visited the museum for the first time this past summer, and throughout the tour our tour guide stressed the same idea over and over again– he could have lived anywhere, but he chose to live in a modest home in a working class neighborhood.
He was a rich, successful cultural icon who recorded hit songs for five decades (according to the Louis Armstrong House Museum website.)
Today, their house is a museum and is open to the public. According to the same website the house and its furnishings remain the same as when the Armstrongs lived here.
Our tour began in the house’s basement, where we watched a short movie on Armstrong’s life. Then we were taken upstairs to see the living room, kitchen, and bathroom (which is unbelievably beautiful and full of mirrors and gold.)
I remember our tour guide telling us a story about how Louis always recorded things. Not only songs, but conversations. He also recorded himself talking about his surroundings and his ideas. On the tour they played some of those recordings.
Our tour guide told us about Louis’ desire to keep things as simple and normal as possible. He did not want to stick out in the neighborhood. He told us that Lucille changed the outside of the house to brick when he was away on tour. When he came back, he didn’t like it and didn’t like how it made their house look different than everyone else’s house on their block. So Louis went from door to door on his block and asked his neighbors if they would like a brick exterior on their house as well.
There are various artifacts, like his trumpet, in the house and we got to see Louis and Lucille’s bedroom on the tour, too. In 1988 the house was declared a New York City landmark (according to the Louis Armstrong House Museum website.)
It was only $7 for the tour and there is a beautiful Japanese-inspired garden next to the house that is open to the public, as well. It’s a great way to spend your day.
The Lemon Ice King of Corona
Located: 52-02 108th Street, Corona, NY.
The Lemon Ice King of Corona has been around for over 60 years.
According to the Lemon Ice King of Corona website, it was introduced by the Benfaremo family. It started when the father, Peter Benfaremo (the king), started making Italian Ices and has created the standard Italian Ice that all other Italian Ice makers admire and can’t outdo.
There are over forty flavors at this ice stand, including some sugar-free options. My favorite is the original lemon ice.
During the theme song of the show The King of Queens, Doug and Carrie are seen at The Lemon Ice King, where Doug drops his just purchased ice and they both turn around back to the stand to get another one (you can watch the video of the theme song here on their website homepage).
This spot is super popular during the summer and the line gets long. It’s especially busy after a Mets game, since it’s two minutes away from Citi Field.
According to the Lemon Ice King of Corona website, this stand has been featured in numerous magazines and has received a Zagat award of distinction.
Empanadas Cafe
Located: 56-27 Van Doren Street, Corona, Queens.
This unique restaurant with extremely loyal clientele opened up in 2003.
Empanadas are from South America, but this empanada place takes their food to a different place. They incorporate foods from different cultures into empanadas as well, so there is literally something for everyone here.
There’s a Hawaiian empanada, which is a big seller. It contains cheese, ham, and pineapple in a white flour empanada. There is also a pesto, mozzarella, and tomato option in a white flour empanada. So good and so different from what you usually expect from an empanada.
You can never go wrong with this classic– a corn empanada with shredded beef.
The hot sauce (the green sauce) isn’t too hot and adds a nice flavor to an already flavorful empanada.
Other favorites of mine are the chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage) in a whole grain empanada and the ground beef in a white flour empanada.
Empanadas Cafe does a lot of takeout, mainly because the restaurant is so small. Many of their customers wait outside for their food. The whole restaurant is just two small tables and a few bar seats next to the counter.
Empanadas Cafe also does catering, and has catered before for the United Nations, according to the Empanadas Cafe website.
This place may be tiny, but it’s popular and keeps people coming their way.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite places in Corona, Queens!
Corona natives: did I leave out your favorite place? Tell us about it in the comment section below.
Until Next time!
