Published: November 5, 2009

While Fordham students not familiar with New York City may be hesitant about taking the train to explore other boroughs, it can actually be a great way to see what the city has to offer outside of Manhattan. Aside from taking passengers on a scenic tour of Queens, the 7 train offers a variety of eateries, a few museums and even a zoo.

To start your trek from Fordham you’ll need to go to the 59th Street station; luckily, you can just take whichever train comes first. There are the A, C and 1, which all go straight to Times Square, or the B and D, which go to Fifth Avenue Bryant Park. There are only three 7 train stops in Manhattan and taking the train from any of them would get you to Queens in about 10 minutes. Once you catch a 7 train, just sit back and enjoy the view.

45th Road Courthouse Square

This is where the advantage of the 7 train’s elevated platform becomes apparent. Between this stop and Hunters Point Avenue passengers will see “5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc.,” a giant building that has been turned into a graffiti canvas. It’s hard to pick out one particular art style, but just consider the building a single evolving piece of art. If you decide to hop off and get a closer look, here’s a word of warning to potential artists: while they do allow people to paint on their building, you need special permission. So don’t get yourself thrown in jail; that’s a side of Queens you don’t want to see.

46th Street- local stop

On 43rd Street and Queens Blvd. people will find “Foxy’s Diner.” While seemingly average from the outside, the inside serves a continental/Mexican fusion cuisine that is sure to please. From crab cakes benedict to Mexican potato skins (along with your diner staples like burgers and salads), Foxy’s is sure to have something to suit your appetite.

While you’re in the area, you may want to check out the Sunnyside Center Cinema, just a block away from Foxy’s on 42nd street and Queens Blvd., right underneath the 7 tracks. While not a luxurious movie theatre by any means, it is cheap, and we college students are always looking for a bargain. The screens are smaller than average and the picture quality isn’t great. However, it’s hard to beat $6.50 student tickets for new movies in New York. On Tuesdays, there is a $5 special.

61st street

At this stop you’ll find the only Jollibee (62-29 Roosevelt Ave.) on the east coast of the United States. What is Jollibee, you ask? A crude description would be that it is the Filipino version of McDonalds, although they provide much more than burgers and fries. Their menu also boasts rice, noodles, fried chicken, hot dogs and peach mango pie. Be prepared though; Jollibee can be a bit pricey. Then again, a train ride is much more economical than a flight to the Philippines.

111th Street (non-express stop)

The Queens Zoo may not be as big as the Bronx Zoo or as close to Fordham College at Lincoln Center as the Central Park Zoo, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. The zoo specializes in animals found in the Americas, with moose, coyotes, seals and buffalo as some of their attractions. In addition, there is a petting zoo portion for those who want to relive their childhoods and feed some baby sheep. The zoo is a bit of a walk from the station, but most of it is through Flushing Meadow Park, which provides a peaceful break from regular city life. It’s also an affordable activity, with tickets for the zoo priced at $7.

Mets-Willets Point

What else is there to see at a station named after the Mets than the stadium where they play? Citi Field was finished earlier this year as a replacement for Shea Stadium. If you’re not into sports, it might still be worthwhile to stop by just to check out the new eateries they added. Not only do they have the standard junk food that you would expect from a baseball stadium; they also have gourmet, five-star restaurants.

ALSO AT METS-WILLETS POINT

New York City is full of museums, so why travel all the way to Queens to visit the Queens Museum of Art? The QMA contains all of New York City—well, not literally, but it does feature a giant model of the entire city. The 9,335 square foot model includes all five boroughs and every building constructed before 1992. Sorry McMahon residents; you won’t be able to find your dorm on this map, since it was built in ’93. But it’s a neat way to see all of the city and very helpful if you realize that you are now lost in the middle of Queens.