Sunnyside is located in Queens, between Long Island City and Woodside. Although it’s not well-known to people, it stands out from other neighborhoods in some ways. With lots of great local restaurants and other famous insiders’ places, Sunnyside is rather a quiet and peaceful neighborhood with friendly neighbors who are always willing to help you out and share information. Like the photo of a flower above, you can’t fully understand the neighborhood if you don’t look at it close enough. If you do, however, it is a neighborhood that blooms uniquely with its own distinct features.

Goodwill Outlet Store is a gigantic warehouse with rows and rows of massive bins that contain clothing, shoes, books, purses, and a lot more. Everything you buy is by the pound: most of them under $2. It is ridiculously cheap, much cheaper than the usual thrift stores! If you are lucky, you can find gently-used designer jeans and shirts that actually fit your size – and buy them under 5 dollars.

The negatives are that there are no mirrors and the clothes are not sorted (they are just lumped together). But hey, Lower East Side might charge you like $100 for these items. All you need is a friend with good taste and strength to dig into the massive piles of clothes. You probably want to go in the weekdays since the weekend is packed by people. Good luck!

Pure Spa & Salon provides the best quality services! Hair, nail, waxing, massage or whatever it is, you will get the best out of it. Most outsiders probably don’t know about this spot because it’s small and doesn’t look that impressive from outside. But once you go inside, it’s an amazing experience from the start. The place is immaculate with the scent of lavender. That scent instantly relaxes you and makes you feel comfortable. Also, what I love the most about this place is their design. They are so detailed and elegant. Their bathroom is super cute as well.

(inside of Pure / photos from the website)

This place seems like it needs to belong in Manhattan, with such professional staffs and aestheticians. Even though I was there for only one time to get my nails done, still, I felt really pleased about this place. It can be a little expensive compared to other salons in Sunnyside, but it’s never expensive when you think of the crazy price in Manhattan. I think it’s worth the money.

Stray Vintage & More is a little shop in the neighborhood that is filled with great selections, some of them vintage and some of them unique, made by local artists. One day I was walking around Skillman Avenue, never expecting this kind of shop since it’s rather a boring part of the neighborhood. However, as I was walking by, I noticed a little entrance next to the church and I decided to check it out.

It was like entering a new wonderland. There were all kinds of things – candles, jewelry, furniture, purses, frames… you just name it. The owners were friendly young couple, and I have to admit that they had a quiet good taste. They had a variety of selection so that any range of people could enjoy. There were just so many things in the store! It’s a perfect place for unique presents. Most of them were reasonably priced, even though I personally found some of them over-priced.

(vintage gooseneck lamp / photo by Howley K.)

(owl plaques / photo by Howley K.)

These are just some of the selections. There are a whole lot more, and the best part is that the owners didn’t mind window shopping AT ALL. You are not pressured to buy anything, so don’t hesitate visiting. Go, take your time, and find hidden treasures!

Alpha Donuts is a common diner place, but as you can see in the name they are famous for their delicious donuts! This place was ranked as a top 11 in “New York’s Best Donuts” by Gridskipper, along with the famous Buchon Bakery and Balthazar.

At 11 p.m., I was craving for donuts. I just arrived in New York and didn’t know much about neighborhood. With the help of the internet, I found out that there were two 24-hours Dunkin Donuts in my neighborhood, but what caught my eye was Alpha Donuts. A top donut place in NYC? In MY neighborhood? I just had to go for it. Thank God they were open 24-hours.

As I entered the door, an old man was standing in front of the counter. He didn’t look quite friendly, but let’s face the fact: it was almost 12 o’ clock and maybe the guy needed some sleep. They had classic, old-fashioned donuts like Boston Creme, sugar-raised, and apple crumbs. I ordered one chocolate glazed and one with chocolate and frosted sugar . When I got the donuts in my hand, I was surprised at their size. They were 2 times bigger than those mass-produced Dunkins.

I came back home and tasted the donuts. It was heaven. They were so delicious! I think they are much better than other donut places. If you want to grab a fresh and warm donut that come right out of the oven, visit around 3-4 p.m. because that’s when they bake their donuts.

(the front of the restaurant)

Ariyoshi is one of the few Japanese-owned in Queens, as most of the sushi places in Queens tend to be owned by Korean and Chinese people. It is like the shining star in the neighborhood. They have an extensive and varied menu along with the quick and friendly service. The taste of the food is not even comparable to any other Japanese restaurants around, and what’s better is that the price is relatively CHEAP! They have lots of specials that are decently priced.

Beware if you’re reading this at night. The pictures below will make you go hungry.

(avocado salad)

(roll special)

Their ingredients are always super fresh, and they are perfectly flavored.

Their specialties are sushi and rolls, but they also have great tempura and udon. This place is highly recommended and you won’t regret going!