Woodside

While I'm not crazy about any of the towns in this area, Woodside definitely has a lot going in its favor. Rent is unbelievably cheap (for New York City), and there are plenty of inexpensive restaurants and public transportation connections in Woodside. By subway, the commute to/from the city should only take about 20 minutes. If you opt to spend more on the Long Island Rail Road, it should take about 10 minutes. Transportation options abound here. All of these factors make Woodside a very popular choice for young professionals who are looking for a short commute and cheap rent. Woodside also boasts one of the city's most diverse populations, which translates into diverse food and shopping nearby as well. While it is historically an Irish neighborhood, today it houses a huge mix of ethnic populations. Woodside is also very safe and there has been a lot of development in the neighborhood. However there are few parks or recreational activities. Another problem is that there is a lot of noise from the trains that pass through Woodside. In short, I think that it's a great place for young professionals to get started before having families or settling down.

The neighborhood of Woodside which is located near Sunnyside in Western Queens is another multicultural neighborhood which is home to diverse immigrant population. It is believed that 49 nationalities call Woodside home though the area was initially overwhelmingly Irish in character and does continue to host a whole bunch of raucous Irish pubs which are concentrated around 61st street and Roosevelt Avenue. In recent years however Woodside has come to host various Asian populations and the neighborhood now has a significant Filipino population. So much so that Woodside now hosts an outlet of the popular Filipino fast food chain, Jollibee which is yet to be found in other parts of the city
Woodside like its neighbor Sunnyside is favored for its proximity to Midtown Manhattan, low crime, affordability and good schooling options. The neighborhood is also well served by the number 7, R, V trains of the New York City subway as well as the LIRR which makes a stop at Shea Stadium. MTA buses like the Q32, Q18 and Q53 also serve the neighborhood which is favored by young professionals who are priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The main reason I choose to head to Woodside is for to partake of its many excellent ethnic restaurants. The neighborhood hosts one of the best Thai restaurants in the city- Sripraphai which is located on 39th Avenue near 64th Street and serves some of the spiciest and most authentic Thai food in the city. Other good restaurants in the neighborhood include Spicy Mina which serves Bangladeshi food and El Sitio which serves home-style Cuban food.

This neighborhood is a historic one – a place that many Irish immigrants have made their home, which should be apparent from one glance around these streets. There is a plethora of Irish pubs here, and this is where the Sunnyside St. Patrick’s Day Parade ends up – which is a testament to the neighborhood’s home-away-from-home nationalistic roots. However, it should be noted that perhaps there aren’t as many Irish residents living here as there once were (so don’t expect a Little Belfast or much living breathing turn-of-the-century nostalgia). This is a great place to live – it offers relatively good nightlife options, and the neighborhood has one of the lowest crime rates in the city.

Woodside, Queens is a neighborhood which used to be populated with almost exclusively Irish immigrants, but is now more of a "melting pot". There is still a strong Irish contingent and pubs/restaurants catering to that community. Woodside is located conveniently on the 7-subway line, just a few stops outside of Manhattan. There are several cute restaurants and bars to visit, especially when St. Patrick's Day rolls around. In general, the cleanliness of the neighborhood leaves a bit to be desired and some of the buildings could use rehabilitation work for a fresh look. Otherwise, it is a friendly neighborhood with a great community feel. Families looking for more space for their money might want to consider Woodside as an alternative to the pricey options in Manhattan.

Woodside is located in northwestern Queens and is surrounded by Ditmars-Steinway to the north, Astoria/Long Island City and Sunnyside to the west, Maspeth to the south, and Elmurst and Jackson Heights to the east.

The neighborhood is very Irish and reflects its longtime Irish flavor by boasting numerous Irish pubs that cater to the natives of Ireland. You will find pubs that clearly depict each neighborhood or city in Ireland. The large Irish community lends itself to a number of festivals and street fairs throughout the year. Woodside commemorates Saint Patrick’s Day with a parade prior to the famous celebration in Manhattan. During the summer several events are hosted in Woodside, including an Independence Day street fair.

The area is also home to the city’s most popular Thai, Filipino, Colombian, and Ecuadorian eateries. I spent some time in Bogota Columbia a few years back and must admit that Woodside’s Colombian restaurants are just as good as the real thing. The principal commercial thoroughfare is Roosevelt Avenue, where you will find most of the neighborhood’s eateries and retail shopping.

There are many churches and places of worship, as well as your fill of neighborhood schools. Corpus Christi Elementary School and Grover Cleveland High School are both found in the area. Neighborhood parks include, Windmueller Park, Big Bush Park, and Laurel Hill Park. There is something to do for everyone in Woodside.