Bayside Journals

Share Pictures & Reviews

Getting Lucky in Queens

An April 2006 trip to Bayside by ripplefan2

Quote: I used to live here and the place is unmatched.

4 Photos

A Night On The Town, In Queens

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

So you are sick of the daily routine of Manhattan with the odds never working in your favor. Well, I would suggest a jump on the Long Island Rail Road to Bayside, Queens. The cost of the train from Penn Station to Bayside is $5 one way and the ride is only 20 minutes, so grab a beer in Penn Station for the ride. This unique neighborhood is full of bars and young, horny people looking for a good time. Trust me; the odds are always in your favor here, no matter what you like or where you go. As the night starts to liven up, you feel the ambiance of Bell Blvd. grow to the explosive dynamo that it is. On Bell, there are easily fourteen or so different bars and clubs to fulfill whatever it is that you are looking for.

When you exit the train, head towards the back of the train to the center exist and as you get to the street level, you will see CJ Sullivan’s Bar and Grille. This is a great place to start in the summer time because most of the bar is outside. Park yourself at a table, order some Summer Ale and try the steak, it’s great. When the beer starts to take control, pay your check and head across Bell to Monahan’s & Fitzgerald’s on 41st Avenue. When this place is in full swing, a dance floor opens and people come out of the woodworks. Make sure that you bring a working phone or a pad and paper because I can guarantee at least three or more phone numbers coming your way. This neighborhood thrives off of hookups and casual encounters, so help it grow and survive.

Now if more of a dancing scene is your fancy over a bar setting, head down Bell towards 40th Avenue to a place called Lucky’s. I let you decide how the name came about. On any given weekend, there are enough people of your preferred sexual choice to keep you busy all evening. But, gentleman, there is a dress code (no sneakers, hoodies or tee shirts) and a cover charge (between $5-$10 depending on the night). But it is worth every penny and ladies, don’t fret, your admission is always free. The large open dance floor of Lucky’s quickly gets filled with people who met at one of the two fully stocked bars, so get there early, and bring your dancing shoes. Even if you don’t dance, there are enough corners that you can just sway in with a significant other.

If you are looking for a quieter, more refined evening, head down Bell towards 43rd Avenue to NoNo (North of Northern Blvd.) for an upscale evening. With an outdoor patio and a dimly lit barroom, this place is great for the older crowd looking for an anonymous hookup and maybe more. Although the prices here are the highest on Bell, the crowd is top notch.

But back to the mayhem of Bell. On the corner of 40th Avenue and Bell to Winnie Rannigan’s Irish bar for some cheap drinks and a good Friday night impromptu dance floor celebration. Here everybody and I mean EVERYBODY, dances. The bar is small, but the crowd is frisky and the prices are unbeatable. Finally, the last notable stop would be Patrick Dempsey’s which is right across the street. Here, this oak lined bar and red walls give everyone a chance to mingle. Depending on the weekend, there is either a live band playing or a great deejay spinning the hottest tracks around. If you need food late to try and sober you up, there are plenty of places open until well after 4am so you don’t go to bed sick or hungry.

So I hope that if you do ever head to out to Bayside, that it treats you just as well as it has to others in the past. And don’t forget what I told you; bring condoms, a working phone or a pad and pen and a smile, the rest will fall into place. Enjoy! Read Less