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If you've always felt like the world was just too screwed up to go on living in, maybe you should think about moving to Utopia, Queens (attention Curbed, 2-bedroom apartments go for about $1300!) We imagine it looks something like Mayberry, but with people of all ethnicities living together in harmony. The people are kind to one another, and always say hello in the morning. There is no crime, and John Lennon's Imagine plays on constant loop in the local supermarkets. Have you been there? Tell us what it's like. [We defy you to come up with a more interesting neighborhood name. If you want to try, you can check out all the maps on the Community Resource Guide or check out the list of neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs at Wikipedia (bottom of the page.)]
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I grew up about 20 blocks east of Utopia. It's where St. John's is, if that means anything to anyone on here. THere is also a giant Chinese karaoke bar, King Yum, and that stretch of Union turnpike is like a homage to the small business....block after block of every type of little shop you could think of.
Well according to that article, I guess St. John's is technically ADJACENt to utopia, since the campus' eastern border is Utopia pkwy. oops.
Actually Utopia hasn't existed as a neighborhood for decades. I don't have my NYC Encyclopedia handy, but it was the optimistic name of a real estate development in the late 1890s or early 1900s. It's now part of Auburndale. It's a quiet neighborhood of detached homes with Kissena Corridor Park bisecting the area.
Joseph Cornell, the 'shadow box' artist (some of which is on display at MoMA) lived on Utopia Parkway for decades with his mother and disabled brother. Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie are buried in nearby Flushing Cemetery.
Fountains of Wayne fans will remember their Utopia Parkway CD.
www.forgotten-ny.com
Yay! Thanks for letting me know I live in Utopia -- I never realized it! As Kevin said, it's now part of Auburndale. Lots of long, tree-lined blocks, adorable families, cute dogs...lovely really. But no "Imagine" on loop. (Thank goodness.)
king yum is excellent!!!
I grew up in Utopia and have many fond memories of the Q46. There are lots of great little restaurants tucked in various places, but the big problem is you have to take the bus to the subway - whether its the Q46 to Union Turnpike or the Q17 (or something) to 179th Street.
Also, Utopia is much closer to perfection than Providence, RI, which is also a great place.
todd rundgren never performed there...
Uh, isn't Utopia just a little too close to a place called: FLUSHING??? I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
noone actually ever calls it Utopia. and its nice (union turnpike and utopia parkway have a bunch of cute little restaurants) but not as ethnically diverse as other neighborhoods in queens. and everyone goes to smoke pot in Kissena Park.
i go to school in the area.
Anyone remember Utopia Lanes on Union Turnpike Off 188th St?
Yes I do SD.
Ahh the Memories...
Yep, now all that is there is a real estate Company sign.
I never lived there but attended St. John's for many years and can attest to the fact that it is indeed a pleasant neighborhood inhabitted by hard-working people from many ethnic backgrounds. It's the face of NY that most tourists don't see and that doesn't show up on TV. Take the E to the Kew Gardens stop, grab the Q46 and have a burger at the Fame Diner.
I also have fond memories of Utopia Lanes. My favorite thing now is the real estate battle on the corner of Union and 188th between Julia Shildkret and that asian lady with the billboard across the street.
Fight!
That Sign would be for Prime Estates Realty, whom I'm biased in favor of as they got me the house I live in now...
Also, I know people who work there. After spending months looking for a place and seeing "townhouses" I didn't like, they found a place I really liked in one day.
What amused me about Utopia Lanes is, with such a big space, I thought they would have done better. Now people got to Jib Lanes on parsons. Jib Lanes is a nice place, but far from where I lived as a kid...