Pedestrians are an anomaly on this stretch of Van Dam St. in Queens, so I was surprised to be joined by the group of tourists above, staying at the Fairfield Inn in Blissville. Marriott locates the hotel in "New York Long Island City / Manhattan View" because -- just like Gertrude Stein said about one of my other favorite places, Oakland, California -- "there is no there" in this part of Queens. [ Google map; check the Street View ]
 |  |
I guess the group decided it would be more exciting to walk to the subway, a mile away on Queens Blvd., than wait for the hotel shuttle. It was a beautiful day, and I'm sure they had a great time -- when not wondering why we were the only pedestrians on that long stretch. They had time to study the underside of the LIE, the storage facilities and mattress warehouses, the Gulf gas station proudly flying its Gulf War flags (top and above left), and the Queensboro Correctional Facility, ominously located right next to La Guardia Community College.
We parted ways at Queens Blvd. They turned right toward the 7 Train at 33rd, no doubt headed for an exciting time in Manhattan. Meanwhile I turned left, headed for an exciting time in Queens Plaza, above right and below.
I have had my fill of slickly packaged plastic; there's more nutrition in the oil-soaked weeds between the LIRR, the LIE and the Queensboro Bridge than in all the patio furniture in Times Square.
