Jackson Heights Life

forgive me but other than pizza, i don't want a single one of those things creeping in.

why?

because i lived on the lower east side before it was a theme park

i lived in greenpoint before it was a silly suburb of williamsburg -- where the residents would have urinated on your foot if you used the word 'billyburg'

and i lived in bed stuy before it was 'adorable'

when you bring in homogenizing elements like wine bars, von dutch pickup joints, french bistros run by idiots from pasaaic and the like, you displace the pillars of what makes a community a community. no more deshi biryani. no more tacolandia. no more tibetan fast food. no more arunee. just street after street of what's made south brooklyn both insanely expensive and thoroughly worthless.

I know - a bookstore would REALLY wreck our community...

oh, i guess i was painting with a broad brush...but i was referring to the initial list that was heavier on 'hipster rock and roll bar' and things of that ilk.

i'd love a bookstore, actually.

and as far as an express bus, i understand your desire for one, and it wouldn't be bad, but it's not really feasible if you think about it -- no other outer borough neighborhood this close to manhattan has one (park slope is the same distance from downtown -- maybe even further -- than we are from midtown) and i doubt the area really has enough residents willing to pay double the subway fare for express service....

just my two cents

my list:
1. a really fantastic grocery store - clean, inviting, and with great offerings. While Met is a step up from the C-Town near me, in which there are birds living on the rafters, it isn't quite as appetizing as I wish it were.
2. a pub with good beers on tap, nice atmosphere, and a good burger wouldn't hurt, either
3. yes to the bookstore
4. nice brunch so I can stop pretending that Jahn's is anything other than a greasy spoon with old-time, day-glo orange character
5. more green space, and yes, I know Flushing meadows is out there, but it is out there, and not easy to get to
6. ditto to the Mediterranean restaurant (and yeah, I like Plaka, but it isn't close - at least not to me)
7. a clothing store that didn't sell hoochie shirts
8. a good pizza place. I am hopeful about the pizza/fresh pasta place going in on Baxter street, which technically is Elmhurst, but still only a 5 min walk for me. The guy told me there will be no freezers there and that they will be only using fresh mozz on their pizzas.
9. a place to buy some quality home things (other than the candles and soaps at Inner Peace)
10. a cellphone store





just kidding on #10

This post is a spin-off of this topic which I`ve started awhile ago but ended up nowhere, glad it`s back.
http://www.jacksonheightslife.com/community/index.php?topic=2882.0

Here is my list:

Car free streets. Governors Island style I mean, using golf cart to move people around the neighborhood bicycle sharing, collectivo and so on.

Walkable 37 street with benches and food court  outdoor in the summer, kind of The High Line - Meatpacking District

Less trash on the floor and locked recycle collectors.

More trees.

Solar Panels on top of each roof.

Huge community garden to grow edible food.

Public Drinkable water in the streets.
 
Paint the subway above Above Roosevelt Ave with serious Graffiti (no taggers please).
 
Less pigeons.

lol..i guess i am spoiled now because i live on 76th st and work in rock center where the f and v  pull right into my building. not rubbing it in, making a confession! 

Oh, I know it's a pipe dream and it will never happen.  I just wish it would.  I absolutely love JH but I was spoiled before because I had an 8-minute walk to my job way down by Wall St.  It's really the only thing I miss about my old place. Going from a peaceful 8 minute walk to a crowded hour-long commute has been an adjustment.  At least I'm catching up on my reading on the subway! 

I don't know about everyone else, but I think Thomas Pizza on 37th and 83rd is pretty damn good!  And they're nice guys too!