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Neighborhoods · Queens

Long Island City: the skyline, MoMA PS1 and the Noguchi Museum

One subway stop from Grand Central: the best skyline view in the city from the waterfront, the most experimental contemporary art institution in the country, and Noguchi's own museum a walk north — a half-day that nobody from out of town thinks to take.

Long Island City is the part of Queens that faces Midtown across the East River, and for most of the last century it was warehouses, factories and the Pepsi sign. It is now the fastest-built neighborhood in New York — a wall of glass towers along the water — and it still holds three of the best reasons to cross the river: the waterfront park with the skyline straight in front of it, MoMA's contemporary outpost in a former school, and the museum Isamu Noguchi built for his own work.

The point of the neighborhood for a visitor is how close it is. The 7 from Grand Central to Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue is one stop and about ten minutes; Court Square, where the 7, E, M and G meet, is the next stop along. You are nearer Midtown here than in most of Manhattan below 14th Street, and the view back at it is the reason to come.

The food is on Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue: bakeries, a few serious restaurants, and the bars that serve the towers. It is not a food destination the way Jackson Heights or Flushing are; it is a view-and-art destination with places to eat.

What's here

  1. Gantry Plaza State ParkFree

    Long Island City · Queens

    The reason to come, and the first thing to do: out of the Vernon Boulevard station, five minutes' walk west to the water, and Midtown is in front of you across the river with the restored gantries in the foreground. Sunset is the hour. Bring food from Vernon Boulevard and sit on the piers.

  2. MoMA PS1Under $25

    Long Island City · Queens

    A Romanesque Revival public school turned into one of the oldest and most experimental contemporary art institutions in America — and it is two minutes from Court Square, one stop from Gantry Plaza on the 7 or a fifteen-minute walk up Jackson Avenue. Ticketed separately from MoMA; the courtyard in summer is its own event.

  3. The Noguchi MuseumUnder $25

    Long Island City / Astoria · Queens

    North along the waterfront toward Astoria, Noguchi's converted photo-engraving plant and its open sculpture garden is the calmest room in the city. From Gantry Plaza it is a long walk or the Q103 bus up Vernon Boulevard; pay-what-you-wish on the first Sunday of the month. Pairs with Astoria for the evening.

How to do it

Afternoon into evening, in this order: PS1 first while you have the attention for it, then walk down Jackson Avenue to Vernon Boulevard for something to eat, then the waterfront for the last hour of light. If you want Noguchi as well, do it first and come south — the museum closes earlier than the park does — or give it a separate trip with Astoria attached.

The NYC Ferry East River route stops at Long Island City's Hunters Point South landing, a short walk from Gantry Plaza, and runs to Wall Street, DUMBO and Williamsburg for the price of a subway ride; it is the prettiest way out.

Common questions

Is Long Island City safe and walkable?

Yes on both counts — it is dense, new, busy with residents, and flat. The walk from Court Square to the waterfront is fifteen minutes along Jackson Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, both lit and lined with shops. The only thing to watch is the traffic on the wide avenues near the Queensboro Bridge approach, which is not designed for pedestrians.

Is it better than the Brooklyn waterfront for the view?

Different. Gantry Plaza looks at Midtown — the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings and the United Nations — from directly opposite. Brooklyn Bridge Park looks at Lower Manhattan with the bridges in the frame. Gantry is closer to Grand Central and far less crowded; Brooklyn's is the more famous picture. If you have time for one and you are staying in Midtown, Gantry wins on effort alone.

Can I combine this with Astoria?

Easily, in one long afternoon: Long Island City first, then north along the river on foot or the Q103 to the Noguchi Museum, then into Astoria for dinner — Greek, Egyptian, Brazilian — and the N or W back to Manhattan. That is the Queens-without-the-7 day. The Queens food crawl is the other one.

Who should skip this

Anyone looking for an old neighborhood with character — Long Island City is new, glassy and built for residents, and its charm is the view out of it rather than the streets in it.

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