In honor of Lonely Plant naming Queens the #1 place to visit in 2015, Lyle and I spent the day enjoying the neighborhood we already live in. No good Sunday in any of NYC's five boroughs starts without brunch, so we headed to Queens Kickshaw for cold brewed iced coffee and ranchers' eggs. Jalapeno corn bread is the way to my heart through my stomach.
We then took a walk through Long Island City to get to the LIC Flea & Food Holiday Market where about fifty vendors sell everything from food, to antiques, to hand crafts. Although we didn't buy anything, we did get a fantastic view of Manhattan as the sun was setting on the East RIver.
As we started our journey back to Astoria, the twang of live folk music drew us into the LIC Bar. We had a beer and listened to Jessi James play to a crowd of 45-45 kids. We were surprised to be asked if we lived in one of the nearby high-rises. Felt like a tight-knit community of neighbors hanging at the local bar, just wrapping up the weekend listening to tunes and having a drink.
Lonely Planet got it right. As the #1 place to visit in the US, they're offering the Queens chapter for free download. I'm looking forward to spending more time in and amongst my own borough!