 Tanya's Scoop Covering the West Coast & the World CURRENTLY IN: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |  Elisa's Scoop Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs CURRENTLY IN: LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK |
One of the two Reflecting Pools at the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, NYC (c) travelincousins.com
| A Heartfelt Hello out there to everyone joining us here today on this very somber day of remembrance.  The Freedom Tower (c)travelincousins.com  The Pentagon Memorial (c)travelincousins.com Cosette and I are back from our quick jaunt to the Bay Area - which turned out to be a very hectic and smoky visit at that... In fact, we haven't seen a blue sky in days. The skies have most recently been covered in an orange tinted smoky grey.  Stopped in LA for dinner on our way out of town (c)travelincousins.com  Cosette, as we wait on our dinner al fresco (c)travelincousins.com  Dry landscape and grey skies (c)travelincousins.com  On the road again (c)travelincousins.com  Such a difference from when these hills are green and the skies are blue (c)travelincousins.com We got in fairly late last night and so I am playing it on the mellow side today and will be staying home or at least close by today. Have a good one. -Travelin' Tanya | Hey there! Hope you guys are doing well this 9/11 Day of Remembrance. It is so hard to believe that it has been 19 years since that very tragic and painful day. As always, our hearts go out to all of the victims' families and those living heroes that were there that day.  Evening View of Shining lights commemorating 9/11 (c) travelincousins.com  Evening View - One of the many views from Pier A outdoor promenade (c) travelincousins.com  The Freedom Tower (c) travelincousins.com Moving on... It's been a relatively busy week on my end getting my girls back to school. Relatively speaking, the transition back to in-person school was relatively smooth. Kelsey is on day 3 at her new high school learning in-person. For Gianna, she started her junior year, but the situation is a bit different. For the first few days she went in-person, but then today, she is working remotely from home. We'll see how it goes and which method works best for her to do as a rule going forward. As for me, I got to sit in the dining room today while Gianna was in class and I have to tell you just how fun it was to be "in class" with her!! I especially LOVED her Italian class, which is taught by such an interesting and quite remarkable man! He is actually a black man who grew up in the Little Italy section of The Bronx and learned to speak fluent Italian!! He gave the students his background and I was so delighted!! The rest of my weekend and into next week, I will be doing more work on the inside of the house. I have arranged for a handyman to come over to assist with putting together my new desk, lay down area rugs under my living couch and Gianna's bed, assemble my bed frame and place my box spring and mattress on it, and last but not least, hang several framed prints throughout the house. Whew! This will bring the look of our home to a whole new level!! Hey - it just occurred to me - are you guys following Tanya and I on social media for the latest and greatest in our local travel, new products that we love and general info on our whereabouts? If not - you could be missing alot!! Follow us on Instagram (@TravelinCousins) Twitter (@TravelinCousins) and Facebook (Travelin Cousins Travel Blog)! Friday is Mini Road Trip Day!! Since it's Friday, we are bringing you another Local Mini Road Trip itinerary - this week, we jump back to the East Coast for a few days filled with multicultural enjoyment throughout the NYC outer boroughs of Queens and Nassau. So, grab your overnight bag and join us below! See ya'll back here tomorrow!! -Travelin' Elisa xoxo |
Queens to Long Island Mini Road Trip | MultiCultural Discoveries -Vol. 3
Your mini road trip will start and end in the great borough of Queens, taking you to points east to Nassau County where you will visit some of the best multicultural destinations and dining experiences.
To fully experience the broad range of ethnic diversity found in Queens, one would have to travel throughout the borough for days. This road trip itinerary will provide an enjoyable overview of some of the best cultural venues and dining locations for an enjoyable three days traveling through Queens and nearby Nassau County.
Location wise, Queens is the easternmost and largest in area of the five boroughs of New York City. It also happens to be the most culturally diverse borough in all of New York City. In fact, unlike the other boroughs, where residents identify themselves with the borough as a whole, according to NYC.gov, those living in Queens “often closely identify with their neighborhood rather than with the borough or city. The borough is a patchwork of dozens of unique neighborhoods, each with its own distinct identity.”
Your mini road trip will start and end in the great borough of Queens, taking you to points east to Nassau County where you will visit some of the best multicultural destinations and dining experiences.
To fully experience the broad range of ethnic diversity found in Queens, one would have to travel throughout the borough for days. This road trip itinerary will provide an enjoyable overview of some of the best cultural venues and dining locations for an enjoyable three days traveling through Queens and nearby Nassau County.
Location wise, Queens is the easternmost and largest in area of the five boroughs of New York City. It also happens to be the most culturally diverse borough in all of New York City. In fact, unlike the other boroughs, where residents identify themselves with the borough as a whole, according to NYC.gov, those living in Queens “often closely identify with their neighborhood rather than with the borough or city. The borough is a patchwork of dozens of unique neighborhoods, each with its own distinct identity.”
Tai Pan Bakery, Main Street Flushing (photo credit: grubhub.com)
As such, we are going to begin our car adventure in Flushing, one of the oldest and most ethnically diverse Queens neighborhoods. Originally established as a settlement of New Netherland in 1645, it was named Vlissingen, after the Dutch city of the same name. After the British took control of New Amsterdam in the mid 1660’s, Queens County was established in 1683, and the "Town of Flushing" became one of the original five towns of Queens.
This neighborhood has quickly become one of the largest growing Asian communities in the United States consisting of Chinese, Koreans, and South Asians, surpassing that of Manhattan's Chinatown years ago. Begin your day with a stop at one of Flushing's most popular mega-bakeries. Depending on your preference for savory or sweet Tai Pan, with two locations on Main Street, offers a variety of classic Chinese sweets, including egg custards, pineapple buns and fried salted dumplings as well as savory fare, like pork buns and curry beef pies. A visit to this very casual but crowded bakery will immerse you in the quintessential Asian surroundings of this Queens neighborhood.
This neighborhood has quickly become one of the largest growing Asian communities in the United States consisting of Chinese, Koreans, and South Asians, surpassing that of Manhattan's Chinatown years ago. Begin your day with a stop at one of Flushing's most popular mega-bakeries. Depending on your preference for savory or sweet Tai Pan, with two locations on Main Street, offers a variety of classic Chinese sweets, including egg custards, pineapple buns and fried salted dumplings as well as savory fare, like pork buns and curry beef pies. A visit to this very casual but crowded bakery will immerse you in the quintessential Asian surroundings of this Queens neighborhood.
Lewis H. Latimer House, Flushing, Queens, New York (c) travelincousins.com
For a bit of African-American Culture, take a short drive through Flushing to 137th Street to the former home of Black American inventor, Lewis H. Latimer. The lovely and quaint Lewis H. Latimer House was built in the Queen Anne style of architecture and dates back to the 1880’s, originally owned by the Sexton Family. Lewis Howard Latimer lived in it from 1903 to the time of his death in 1928. The house remained the property of the Latimer family until 1963 and now it is operated as a museum dedicated to the inventor's work and features the life and achievements of other black scientists.
Make your way over to the nearby neighborhood of Corona, Queens, which is home to yet another museum dedicated to a great black American. The Louis Armstrong House, quietly buried on 107th Street is a tribute to the world's greatest jazz musician, Satchmo, and a must-see!! This unassuming, yet world renown man could have lived anywhere, but he and his wife, Lucille chose the quiet neighborhood of Corona as their home in 1943. Louis spent the rest of his life here until his death in 1971 and Lucille remained here until her's in 1983. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1988 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, this museum house has been left very much the way it was when the couple resided here. Among the items on display are the robe he wore in a story in Time magazine about "bathrooms of the rich and famous" and the trumpet given to Satchmo by King George of England.
Corona also happens to have a great Italian heritage with some wonderful eateries that you definitely want to try during your Corona visit. One of the best known Italian delis in this neighborhood is Leo’s Latticini-Mama’s, which has stayed in business for 80 years and is a landmark in the community known for its homemade sandwiches. Top off your lunch with a visit to The Lemon Ice King of Corona nearby on 108th Street, where The Benfaremo family have been making Italian ices for over 60 years and have made Italian ices into an art form!
Make your way over to the nearby neighborhood of Corona, Queens, which is home to yet another museum dedicated to a great black American. The Louis Armstrong House, quietly buried on 107th Street is a tribute to the world's greatest jazz musician, Satchmo, and a must-see!! This unassuming, yet world renown man could have lived anywhere, but he and his wife, Lucille chose the quiet neighborhood of Corona as their home in 1943. Louis spent the rest of his life here until his death in 1971 and Lucille remained here until her's in 1983. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1988 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, this museum house has been left very much the way it was when the couple resided here. Among the items on display are the robe he wore in a story in Time magazine about "bathrooms of the rich and famous" and the trumpet given to Satchmo by King George of England.
Corona also happens to have a great Italian heritage with some wonderful eateries that you definitely want to try during your Corona visit. One of the best known Italian delis in this neighborhood is Leo’s Latticini-Mama’s, which has stayed in business for 80 years and is a landmark in the community known for its homemade sandwiches. Top off your lunch with a visit to The Lemon Ice King of Corona nearby on 108th Street, where The Benfaremo family have been making Italian ices for over 60 years and have made Italian ices into an art form!
Trumpet given to Louis Armstrong by King George of England on display at the Louis Armstrong House in Queens (c) travelincousins.com
We'll continue the first day of our road trip east to Nassau County, where we'll be staying overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Roslyn. This lovely hotel is a Tripadvisor 2020 Traveler's Choice place to stay with many amenities to enjoy for your overnight stay including an onsite restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, a fitness center, an indoor pool and whirlpool. What is also nice about this hotel is that they offer a free shuttle service to and from destinations within five miles. If you are looking to kick back and leave the car in the parking lot, take advantage of this service. For a truly wonderful ethnic dining experience - Mexican-style - try Besito in Roslyn. Founded by restaurateur John Tunney after years of travel in Mexico, Besito offers top notch Mexican cuisine at all four of its Long Island locations.
Following your relaxing night's stay, start off your day with a visit to the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County Housed in the Welwyn building, originally built as the summer estate of Harold I. and Harriet B. Pratton in 1906, The HMTC opened in 1994 and is located on the grounds of what is now known as Welwyn Preserve in Glen Cove, New York. It was founded by a group of Holocaust Survivors, clergy and politicians to teach the history of the Holocaust and its lessons through education and community outreach, teaching about the dangers of antisemitism, racism, bullying and all manifestations of intolerance.
For our next multicultural escapade we will travel to nearby Hempstead to the African American Museum, which will take you cross island from the North Shore to the South Shore. This cultural venue is one of two east coast museums dedicated to showcasing local and national African American artists, culture, history, artifacts and live performances. Situated amidst storefronts, eateries and car dealerships on Franklin Street, this amazing non-profit, showcases rotating and permanent exhibits that include The Black Royals-Queen Charlotte and Queen Philippa, an exciting and thoroughly intriguing exhibit that highlights two English queens whose ancestry traces back to William the Conqueror. Their lineage impacts royal houses of Europe, from Spain to Scandinavia; and extends to the leadership of the United States of America.
Following your relaxing night's stay, start off your day with a visit to the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County Housed in the Welwyn building, originally built as the summer estate of Harold I. and Harriet B. Pratton in 1906, The HMTC opened in 1994 and is located on the grounds of what is now known as Welwyn Preserve in Glen Cove, New York. It was founded by a group of Holocaust Survivors, clergy and politicians to teach the history of the Holocaust and its lessons through education and community outreach, teaching about the dangers of antisemitism, racism, bullying and all manifestations of intolerance.
For our next multicultural escapade we will travel to nearby Hempstead to the African American Museum, which will take you cross island from the North Shore to the South Shore. This cultural venue is one of two east coast museums dedicated to showcasing local and national African American artists, culture, history, artifacts and live performances. Situated amidst storefronts, eateries and car dealerships on Franklin Street, this amazing non-profit, showcases rotating and permanent exhibits that include The Black Royals-Queen Charlotte and Queen Philippa, an exciting and thoroughly intriguing exhibit that highlights two English queens whose ancestry traces back to William the Conqueror. Their lineage impacts royal houses of Europe, from Spain to Scandinavia; and extends to the leadership of the United States of America.
Genealogical Chart of Kings & Queens of Europe on display at AAMNC (c) travelincousins.com
With its growing Hispanic population, Long Island, has some great Spanish eats! Take your pick of two possible restaurants located right in Hempstead for a delicious meal following your day of museum hopping. The first is El Ajicio Peruvian Restaurant which serves a wonderful Arroz chifa and ceviche and Papa a la huancaina - yummy baked potatoes covered in Peruvian yellow pepper sauce. For some delectable Honduron cuisine,El Rancho Catracho serves wonderful Pupusa including their Frijol con queso.
The south shore area has numerous hotels with which to stay, should you want to spend an additional night on this mini road trip. If you are looking for A variety of ethnic eats, make your way over to Garden City for a one night's stay at The Garden City Hotel. Located on Seventh Street, the town's main street, it is full of small shops, boutiques and a numerous array of dining options and eateries. It has been dubbed the “restaurant row” of Garden City and there you will find everything from Mexican, Italian, American, Pub-food, vegetarian and vegan options and even a French bakery, to round out your multicultural day experience!
The south shore area has numerous hotels with which to stay, should you want to spend an additional night on this mini road trip. If you are looking for A variety of ethnic eats, make your way over to Garden City for a one night's stay at The Garden City Hotel. Located on Seventh Street, the town's main street, it is full of small shops, boutiques and a numerous array of dining options and eateries. It has been dubbed the “restaurant row” of Garden City and there you will find everything from Mexican, Italian, American, Pub-food, vegetarian and vegan options and even a French bakery, to round out your multicultural day experience!
Garden City, Long Island's Seventh Street, better known as Restaurant Row of Garden City offers a variety of ethnic dining options (c) travelincousins.com
For your third and final mini road trip day, you will be heading back to Queens, all the way west to Astoria, for yet another cultural day. The Museum of the Moving Image will thrill your senses with the cultural world of all things "screen" and moving-image related artifacts. Stroll about the museum's core exhibition, Behind the Screen, which will immerse you in the creative process of making moving images. It features over 1,400 artifacts, from nineteenth-century optical toys to video games, as well as an array of interactive experiences, audiovisual material, and artworks.
This fun and stimulating venue is also home to an ongoing exhibition devoted to Jim Henson’s creative process and career with more than 400 artifacts featuring historic puppets, original artwork, rare film and television footage, and interactive experiences. The Museum maintains the nation's largest and most comprehensive collection of artifacts relating to the art, history, and technology of the moving image—one of the most important collections of its kind in the world.
End your day with a taste of Greece where Greek restaurants and traditional Greek food have made Astoria famous. We would like to suggest two possible destinations. Ovelia is a hoppin' eatery which plays both Greek and American music. Popular with the young crowd, their specialties include their homemade Greek sausage and their homemade tiropita feta toast. Agnanti Meze, located across from Astoria Park offers both hot and cold small dishes, which are great for sharing. A few of our faves include Melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant and garlic spread) and Tomato Keftedes (tomato and herb croquettes).
Till next time,
- Travelin' Elisa and Travelin' Tanya
This fun and stimulating venue is also home to an ongoing exhibition devoted to Jim Henson’s creative process and career with more than 400 artifacts featuring historic puppets, original artwork, rare film and television footage, and interactive experiences. The Museum maintains the nation's largest and most comprehensive collection of artifacts relating to the art, history, and technology of the moving image—one of the most important collections of its kind in the world.
End your day with a taste of Greece where Greek restaurants and traditional Greek food have made Astoria famous. We would like to suggest two possible destinations. Ovelia is a hoppin' eatery which plays both Greek and American music. Popular with the young crowd, their specialties include their homemade Greek sausage and their homemade tiropita feta toast. Agnanti Meze, located across from Astoria Park offers both hot and cold small dishes, which are great for sharing. A few of our faves include Melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant and garlic spread) and Tomato Keftedes (tomato and herb croquettes).
Till next time,
- Travelin' Elisa and Travelin' Tanya
