Long Island City is the one of the best places to watch and cheer the NYC Marathon runners.
Just after the bridge from Brooklyn, at about mile 14, Vernon Boulevard's sidewalks are popular, but not mobbed with spectators. The local restaurants and bars do a brisk business. A midpoint in the race, it's also a great place to give your favorite runners a boost.
Further up the road in Long Island City, the runners turn from Crescent Street to the Queensboro Bridge for their first steps in Manhattan. The bridge entrance is another great, though very popular, spot to cheer.