Roosevelt Ave between 78th and 79th Sts, Jackson Heights, Queens

Roosevelt Ave between 78th and 79th Sts, Jackson Heights, Queens

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London Boutique

1 The weirdest tattoo ever inked at Village Moon Tattoos (78-01 Roosevelt Ave, 718-507-5224) was a paean to the male anatomy. "It was, like, a foot long, on her back," the aptly named piercer Joe Snake says. "And she had them all over her body!"

2 A shy sculptor (who asked not to be named) fashions inch-high bicycles out of pipe cleaners and sells them on a blanket every weekend on the corner of 78th Street and Roosevelt Avenue. His homespun tchotchkes go for $2 apiece.

3 Daniél Juarez, a longtime player at Uno Cafe & Billiards (78-01 Roosevelt Ave, 718-565-0048), used to shoot pool at Olympia Billiards on 77th Street. "I got in too many fights there," he says. "Here is a better, nicer atmosphere. I like the laundry baskets under the tables—my girl never asks me where her bag is while I'm playing."

Mangos

4 Jorge Garcia is eating ribs with rice and beans ($13.95) in his usual spot at the counter of Mangos (78-14 Roosevelt Ave, 718-639-3005), a late-night diner that looks straight out of the 1950s. "I've been coming to Jackson Heights almost every day for 22 years, since I moved from Colombia," he says. "I come here to hang out and play pool, and then I go home [to Elmhurst] where it's quiet."

5 At CD store Rincon Musical (78-14 Roosevelt Ave, 718-651-9310) store manager Rosemary Castro's favorite lyrics are from Jorge Celedon's "La Invitación": Colombia te abre las puertas de su inmenso corazón. Translation: "Colombia opens the doors of its immense heart to you." "In the song," says Castro, "he invites all Latino Americans to get something better than they have."

6 According to Jackson Heights Beautification Group board member Daniel Karatzas, the south side of the block was taken up by a multilevel garage until the 1960s, when commercial space became so valuable that "that kind of business was not attractive anymore."

7 "This neighborhood's really hot," says Chris Rivera, an impossibly optimistic broker who deals in Jackson Heights digs for Graceful Park Realty. "Even though the apartments are a little expensive—about $1,200 for a one-bedroom—the economy hasn't affected us at all," he says. "I rented one on this block today."—Julia Schweizer

Block buzz

Vital stats at S.Y. Kim's Tae Kwon Do (78-14 Roosevelt Ave; 718-639-0555, sykimtkd.com):

• Different styles of kicks taught: 12
• Different belts you can earn: 15
• Age of youngest person enrolled: Three
• Oldest: 67
• Wooden boards chopped per day: 75

Vinyl lace-up thigh-high boots in pink, black or red were $75 to $85 and are now $37.50 at London Boutique (78-03 Roosevelt Ave, 718-672-2171).

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