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Queens

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
From 111th Street to Van Wyck Expressway, between Flushing Bay & Grand Central Parkway (1-718 760 6565/Queens Zoo 1-718 271 1500/www.queenszoo.com). Subway: 7 to Willets Point-Shea Stadium.
Most people come out here to catch a game at Shea Stadium (to be replaced by the new Citi Field in 2009), home of the New York Mets, but don’t overlook the 1964 World’s Fair sculptures. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park also contains Queens Zoo, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Museum of Art.

Louis Armstrong House
34-56 107th Street, between 34th & 37th Avenues, Corona (1-718 478 8274/www.satchmo.net). Subway: 7 to 103rd Street-Corona Plaza. Open 10am-5pm Tue-Fri; noon-5pm Sat, Sun. Tours 10am-4pm Tue-Fri, on the hour; noon-4pm Sat, Sun, on the hour. Admission $8; $6 seniors, students; free under-4s. Credit ($15 min) MC, V.
Jazz lovers will make the pilgrimage, but though this is Louis’s house, it was his wife Lucille who dealt with its upkeep—so be warned, her decor can overshadow the legendary life of Armstrong.

Museum of the Moving Image
35th Avenue, at 36th Street, Astoria (1-718 784 0077/www.movingimage.us). Subway: G, R, V to Steinway Street. Open call for details. Admission call for details. Credit AmEx, MC, V.
Located in the complex that once housed the Kaufman Astoria Studios, MMI is one of New York’s most dynamic institutions—and it’s set to be even better when it reopens in early 2010 with an addition that will double its size, making room for a new state-of the art theater. Until then, screenings are being shown off-site (call or see website for details). The museum’s ongoing exhibition, ‘Behind the Screen’, charting every aspect of film-making through artifacts and multimedia displays, is currently on view at no charge, but it may close during construction; call before visiting.

New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street, at 47th Avenue, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (1-718 699 0005/www.nyscience.org). Subway: 7 to 111th Street. Open July, Aug 9:30am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-6pm Sat, Sun. Sept-June 9:30am-2pm Mon-Thur; 9:30am-5pm Fri; 10am-6pm Sat, Sun. Admission $11; $8 seniors, students, 2-17s. Free 2-5pm Fri, 10am-11am Sun Sept-June. Science playground extra $4 (open summer only). Credit AmEx, DC, Disc, MC, V.
Built for the 1964 World’s Fair, and recently expanded, the Hall of Science demystifies its subject through colorful hands-on exhibits, with topics such as Marvelous Molecules and The Realm of the Atom. In summer, children can burn off their excess energy—and perhaps learn a thing or two—in the 30,000 sq ft outdoor science playground.

Noguchi Museum

Noguchi Museum
9-01 33rd Road, between Vernon Boulevard & 10th Street, Long Island City (1-718 204 7088/www.noguchi.org). Travel: N, W to Broadway, then bus Q104 to 11th Street; or 7 to Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue, then Q103 bus to 10th Street. Open 10am-5pm Wed-Fri; 11am-6pm Sat, Sun. Admission $10; $5 seniors, students; free under-12s No strollers. No credit cards. In addition to his famous lamps, artist Isamu Noguchi (1904-88) created large-scale sculptures of supreme simplicity and beauty. The museum is located in a 1920s-era factory; galleries surround a serene sculpture garden designed by Noguchi himself. The second-floor galleries are devoted to Noguchi’s interior design, a new café and a shop. A shuttle service from Manhattan is available on Sundays (call or see website for details).

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Avenue, at 46th Avenue, Long Island City (1-718 784 2084/www.ps1.org). Subway: E, V to 23rd Street-Ely Avenue; G to 21st Street-Jackson Avenue; 7 to 45th Road-Court House Square. Open noon-6pm Mon, Thur-Sun. Admission suggested donation $5; $2 seniors, students. Credit AmEx, MC, V.
Cutting-edge shows and an international studio program make each visit to this MoMA- affiliated contemporary art space a treasure hunt; artwork turns up in every corner of the Romanesque Revival former public school building. Check out the program of DJ’d Warm Up dance parties on summer Saturdays in the courtyard.

Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building, park entrance on 49th Avenue, at 111th Street, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (1-718 592 9700/www.queensmuseum.org). Subway: 7 to 111th Street. Walk south on 111th Street, then turn left on to 49th Avenue. Continue into the park and over Grand Central Parkway Bridge. Open July-Aug noon-6pm Wed, Thur, Sat, Sun. Sept-June 10am-5pm Wed-Fri; noon-5pm Sat, Sun. Admission suggested donation $5; $2.50 seniors, students; free under-5s. No credit cards.Located on the grounds of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs, the QMA holds one of the area’s most amazing sights: a 9,335sq ft scale model of New York City, featuring Lilliputian Gotham landmarks, created for the 1964 event. In early 2007, a long-overdue upgrade was unveiled: an updated lighting system now mimics the arc of the sun as it passes over NYC, while a 13-minute multimedia presentation explores the Panorama’s construction and spotlights various NYC attractions. Contemporary and outsider art exhibits have grown more bold and inventive here, garnering increasing acclaim.

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