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Walking Tours of New York City With Jack Eichenbaum

See the Neighborhoods of Queens and More NYC Boroughs

By John Roleke, About.com

The 7 runs to Flushing and Corona

7 Subway

Photo (c) John Roleke
Urban geographer Jack Eichenbaum has led walking tours of Queens neighborhoods and throughout New York City for years. Due to the continual interest in the tours (and with his consent), we're hosting his tour information at Queens.About.com. Jack's own website GeoNYC.com gives background on the tours (but is not updated with dates), and you can always sign up for his regular emails: jaconet@aol.com.

All information below is supplied by Dr. Eichenbaum.

  • Updated - May 5, 2008

Flushing's Koreatown

May 10, 2008, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Koreans are the premiere small businessmen of contemporary immigration. Their center of gravity has migrated away from Central Flushing and is now sprawling east along Northern Blvd and to a "Korean Village" in the Murray Hill area. See surprising shops and dozens of churches. Ends with lunch suggestions, particularly the new "KFC."

Richmond Hill Featuring Guyanese Liberty Ave

May 11, 2008, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Immigrants from Guyana (in South America) are already a fascinating mix of African, South Asian, Caribbean, and British culture. Now they are adapting to New York. We'll view much of their commercial strip, a thriving segment of Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill. Then we'll ascend Richmond Hill and explore transportation influences.

Commemorating the 350th Anniversary of the Flushing Remonstrance 2: Religious Freedom in S. Flushing (South of the LIRR)

May 18, 2008, 1-3 p.m. (Also see April 20)
In 1657 residents of Flushing petitioned the Dutch colonial government to uphold freedom of conscience and permit religious pluralism. Today every major religion in the world has a substantial church, mosque, or temple in the vicinity. We'll tour some of the diversity on foot, visit the premiere Hindu Temple, and return via Flushing's South Asian commercial area.

The Makeover of Long Island City: Featuring the Borden Ave. Bridge Centennial (1908)

May 22, 2008, 6-8 p.m.
During the early twentieth century, the focus of transportation in LIC moved from the LIRR/ferry at Vernon Jackson to the bridge/subways converging at Queensboro Plaza. This reorientation required excavation and drainage (the Sunnyside Yards) as well as landfill (Queensboro Plaza and elsewhere). The Borden Ave.Bridge was the first to cross the new Dutch Kills Canal that drained the Plaza area. New canals, bridges, roadways, railroad sidings, subways, and factories made Long Island City the most modern producer of consumer goods in the nation.

  • Meet at "Vernon Mall" a small public area with benches, south of Dorian's Cafe on Vernon Blvd. (#7 to Vernon/Jackson, exit at Manhattan end) Finish at Queens Plaza.
  • Sponsored by the NYC Bridge Centennial Commission and Dr. Jack Eichenbaum. Free tour. To guard against possible overcrowding please email Jack Eichenbaum (jaconet@aol.com) if you intend to join this walk.

Changing Ethnicity: Forest Hills to Corona

May 30, 2008, 6-8 p.m.
Bukharan Jews succeed Russian Jews in Rego Park! South Americans surround the venerable Little Italy in Corona Heights! (including the Lemon Ice King of Corona!) Dominicans, Ecuadorians, and Mexicans compete for commercial space in Corona Plaza!

  • Meets at Ridgewood Savings Bank, 108th St and N side Queens Blvd. (E,F,R.V to 71Ave/Continental, Forest Hills) Ends with dinner suggestions in the Corona Plaza area (103rd St #7 train)
  • Sponsored by Jack Eichenbaum Fee $15

The World of the #7 Train

June 7, 2008, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
My signature tour. Six walks and lunch break accessed by the "International Express" from Grand Central to Flushing. Includes walking tours of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, and Flushing.

  • Walks are interspersed with rides on the #7, so it's not as tiring as it may seem. Email me -- jaconet@aol.com -- for full description.
  • Assemble at western end of #7 platform at Grand Central (near escalators).
  • By reservation only - jaconet@aol.com - $35/$20 (Full/Half day)

Changing Ethnicity: Astoria

June 13, 2008, 6-8 p.m.
In this demographically changing neighborhood opposite Manhattan‘s Upper East Side, Central Europeans, Italians, and Greeks are being replaced by Arabs, Brazilians, and Yuppies. We’ll explore Astoria from its major transportation arteries: Steinway St (a former trolley route), 31st St (under the elevated train) and the Grand Central Parkway which bisected the neighborhood 70 years ago.

  • Meets at SE corner Broadway/Steinway St (R train), ends at NYC's only remaining beer garden!
  • Sponsored by Jack Eichenbaum Fee $15
Your tour leader, Jack Eichenbaum, holds a Ph.D in urban geography and teaches courses at CUNY (Queens, Hunter). "My expertise lies in historical geography and ethnic and technological change. I have been riding the #7 for more than 50 years and focus on what the #7 train has done to and for the surrounding neighborhoods since it opened in 1914. A decade ago, the #7 was designated a "National Millennium Trail" for its pioneering role in transporting people in what is probably the most demographically diverse cityscape in the world."
  • More Info? Custom tours? Contact jaconet@aol.com or 718-961-8406.

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