Jamaica - Big Apple Greeter

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Jamaica
one of the predominantly african-american neighborhoods in Queens, Jamaica
in recent years has had a large influx of West Indians, Indians, Arabs, Russians and
Dominicans making for a rich ethnic mix. An important seat of government and a major
commercial area, Jamaica offers its visitors unique architecture and a great day of shopping.
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text by marianne gennari.
graphic design by joy makon.
photographs by paul katcher.
© 2010 Big Apple Greeter 11/2010
Big Apple Greeter
1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-669-8159
Web: www.bigapplegreeter.org
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Jamaica
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grace episcopal
church graveyard
king manor dining room
Where is Jamaica?
Located in Southeastern Queens,
Jamaica is bordered on the south by
JFK International Airport, on the
north by Union Turnpike, on the16
west
by
South
Richmond
Hill
and
on
the
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east by St. Albans and Hollis.
greeter’s secret:
Rufus King was one of the most
outspoken opponents of slavery in the
U.S. in the early 19th century.
In 1820, he delivered two of the most
radical speeches then heard in
the Senate against slavery and openly
opposed the admission of Missouri
as a slave state.
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About Jamaica
Settled under Dutch rule in 1656 and named Rustdorp,
Jamaica did not get its name until English rule in 1664
when a variant of the Native American Lenape word
16Jameco meaning19beaver was adopted. By 1776, Jamaica17
has become a trading post for farmers and their produce.
During the American Revolution, 56 Minutemen from
Jamaica played an active part in the Battle of Long Island
and, yes, George Washington did actually sleep here in
1790 in a local tavern. Initially serving as a seat of
government for the area, Jamaica today is a vibrant
20 filled with wonderful architecture.
18urban community
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Things to See and Do in Jamaica
1 king manor museum
4 at
150-03 Jamaica Avenue between 150th
and 153rd Streets was the home to Rufus King, a framer
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20of the first U.S.
and signer of the U.S. Constitution, one
5 to Great
2 and an ambassador
senators from New York
Britain under four U.S. Presidents. This landmarked
museum, set in a18
lovely 18th century
19 farmhouse located
in a beautiful 11 acre park, focuses on the roles Rufus
King and his son, New York Governor John Alsop King,
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played
in the early antislavery
movement and
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insight into life in the early 19th century. To learn more,
see the website at www.kingmanor.org.
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12 grace episcopal church
78 at
and graveyard
155-15 Jamaica Avenue between 153rd Street and
Parsons Boulevard is a landmarked 1862 Gothic Revival
building with a striking appearance, including a
5 WPA murals painted
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8 during
broached
spire and several
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the Great Depression.
is the
9 The open churchyard
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final resting place for many members of the King family,
including Rufus King.
It’s Easy to Get to Jamaica:
by subway: E, J or Z trains to Sutphin Boulevard
M or Jamaica Center. by bus: Bus lines that service
Jamaica include the Q4, Q5, Q6, Q8, Q9, Q20A, Q20B,
Q24, Q25, Q30, Q31, Q34, Q40, Q41, Q42, Q43, Q44,
Q54, Q56, Q60, Q65, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q110, Q111, Q112,
Q113 and N4.
by long island railroad: From Penn Station to
Sutphin Boulevard daily. For schedules, check the
website at http://www.mta.info/lirr.
bigapplegreeter.org
by airtrain: The Airtrain from JFK
19 stops in Jamaica
International Airport
next to the Sutphin Boulevard Long
Island Rail Road station.
6 on 159th Street between
3 prospect cemetery
Beaver Road and Liberty Avenue was established in 1668
and is the oldest cemetery
in Queens.
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jamaica
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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Jamaica
jamaica savings bank building
resting place for many prominent Queens families, its
chapel was recently renovated and dedicated to world
famous jazz musician Illinois Jacquet. It is also a
designated city landmark.
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7 savings bank 9building at
4 The former jamaica
161-02 Jamaica Avenue at 160th Street1was completed in
1898
7 finest example of9 Beaux Arts
4 and is considered the
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architecture in Queens. This landmarked5 building is
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admired for its delicate8ironwork and limestone
façade.
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the sidewalk clock
façade and neon sign. Once a nightclub, this 1934
building is now the location of the Jamaica Business
Resource Center.
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7 the title guarantee
company 11
building at 90-04 13
11161st Street at 90th13Avenue is a characteristic Art Deco
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building
completed in 71928. Its exterior ornamentation
13 sculptor Rene Paul Chambellan
was
11 designed by famed
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whose
work includes10Radio City Music12Hall.
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8 the f irehouse10at 89-56
5 The former register
14162nd Street near Jamaica Avenue
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building at 161-04 Jamaica
is a wonderful example of Classical
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3 was
Avenue at 161st Street
Revival architecture.
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completed in 1898 and for 76 years
in 1925, the building has been
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served as the County Registry
renovated for commercial use.
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for6 title deeds. With an imposing
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13 9 the sidewalk11clock at
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Neo-Italian
Renaissance
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161-11 Jamaica Avenue at Union
landmarked building now houses
12 Hall Street is a holdover
13 of a more
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the jamaica center for arts
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gracious age and was designated a
and learning. The center offers
1212 More than
510
5 education and2sponsors
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1011landmark in 1981.
city
arts
art
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1 year.
110 years old, the clock has a
shows throughout9the
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fluted column post and is crowned
To learn more, see the website at
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by a beautiful motif.
http://www.jcal.org.
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register
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16 10 The former kurtz
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15 158
6 la casina at 90-33
12 store
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3
160th
building
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Street between Jamaica and 90th
at 162-24 Jamaica Avenue at
greeter’s
secret:
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Avenues is a rare example
of the13
Guy R. Brewer Boulevard is
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The Jamaica Savings Bank15was founded
streamlined Moderne style of
a superb Art Deco style building
by former governor John Alsop King and
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a group of investors in 1866.
architecture sporting a ziggurat
with a streamlined appearance.
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bigapplegreeter.org
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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Jamaica
jamaica market
unique
shopping
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13 9 at 165-11
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11 7 valencia theatre
handmade jewelry and fashions
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7 Avenue between 165th Street 11
Jamaica
as well as custom-made products
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13 gifts.
and
and
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5 Merrick Boulevard8was built as a
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Loew’s wonder theatre in 1929. Its
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the 165th street pedestrian
interior
of a
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10 ceiling
8 plaza with a star-lit
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15 mall between Jamaica Avenue
Spanish
and 89th Avenue is a shopping mecca
and exotic decorations. No longer a
for the young and fashion-conscious.
theatre,
the
building
now
houses
the
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This is the place for jeans, tees and
tabernacle of prayer.
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accessories.
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Shopping
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illustrious
history
Jamaica Avenue is the hub of
When It’s Time to Eat
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12 shopping
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greeter’s
secret:
margharita pizza at 163-04
in Queens. Lined with
For your shopping pleasure, the
Jamaica Avenue near 163rd
wonderful shops
of
every
variety,
you
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12Jamaica Center Business
13 Improvement
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Street offers old-fashioned pizza
are sure to find something you need
District has put together a wonderful
13map and guide to assist
16 you in
11 15know you 12
with freshly made dough in a simple
or1413
didn’t
did16need. Be sure
12 mall at
13 search for the perfect
16 outfit or gift. setting. Nothing fancy, just good
your
11 by gertz plaza
to drop
To learn more, see their website at
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pizza.
162-10 Jamaica Avenue at 162nd
http://www.jamaicacenter.org.
Street. Housed in the former famed
jamaica market
department store, the mall contains shops of every
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Jamaica Avenue contains a well-serviced food court
variety
and specialty as well as fast food restaurants.
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that offers everything from Cajun to pizza to
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jamaica center at Jamaica Avenue and Parsons
stir-fry. After you’ve eaten, you can wander the booths
013
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13 Boulevard is another spot to find something for
of fascinating gift items.
everyone
16 on your list. In addition to big name stores,
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rincon salvadoreno restaurant at 92-15 149th
the
18 Street at Jamaica Avenue calls itself the oldest
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17 Street at19Jamaica
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jamaica market
Salvadorian restaurant in the city. Known for its
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friendly service, be sure to try the papusas—an authentic
17only host to a18wonderful farmer’s
16 Avenue is not
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18 but houses unique
17 and Saturday,
Salvadorian turnovers. And don’t miss the horchata—a
16market every Friday
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shopping opportunities. This is the place to find
refreshing
drink flavored
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bigapplegreeter.org
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jamaica
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The
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Jamaica
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lively
15 arts
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greeter’s secret:
Culture
Jamaica is one of the most
jamaica performing arts center on
architecturally unique
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Jamaica Avenue at 153rd Street is
neighborhoods in the City
22 reformed
boasting Colonial, Federal,
former 18
f irst
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15 housed
Gothic
Revival, Romanesque
church
built in
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Revival, Free Classical and
distinctive arches and a façade in the early
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Art Deco architecture. The
Romanesque Revival style. This 400-seat
Greater Jamaica Development
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Corporation has put together
performance space offers theatrical
a smart map of the sites and
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19 productions, concerts,21dance performances
locations of interest, both
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and film festivals. To learn more,
commercial and architectural.
see the website at http://www.jamaicaTo access the map, see their
website at http://www.gjdc.org.
performingartscenter.org.
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york college performing arts center at 94-95 Guy R. Brewer
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Boulevard
near Liberty Avenue is a state-of-the-art performance facility
that offers a broad range of entertainment. To learn more, see the website at
http://www.york.cuny.edu/centers-institutes/performing-arts/events.
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In addition to being an historical treasure, king manor museum at
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22 Jamaica Avenue between 150th and 153rd Streets, is also a
renowned venue for very special cultural events. Acting as the host to holiday
concerts that reflect the period in which Rufus
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King and his family lived, this is a special space
to enjoy the music of Haydn and Mozart. The
Museum also hosts family festivals, a speaker
series to pique your intellect and lectures on the
history of the period. And for those who have
always wanted to go on a dig, there are artifact
discovery events. There is also a workshop
series on crafts of the era. To learn more, see the
website at http://www.kingmanor.org.
bigapplegreeter.org
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jamaica
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