The Corona Queens Experience with a Visit to the Louis Armstrong House Museum

RSVPs open Tuesday, February 10th at 8:00pm. Space is set aside for new group members first and second timers, and real estate clients who land on the waiting list after RSVPing. Email me at hankorenstein@gmail.com to request a spot.

To Bring: Snacks if you like, water to drink, dress for the weather.
Please also bring $12.00 card or cash for the guided tour. If you like you can Venmo or zelle me when you arrive if you don't wish to carry cash, although recommended if you plan to purchase food in the neighborhood.

**Make sure you check your travel route and time in advance given weekend subway changes. https://www.mta.info/**

Your target arrival time is 10:15am so factor that into your decision as extra time is needed by public transportation as the Queensbound stop on the #7 train is not stopping at 103rd Street Corona Plaza. Best option is to get off at the next stop at 111th Street and walk:

DIRECTIONS TO THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM and Louis Armstrong Center: By Subway from Manhattan: Take the 7 train to Mets/Willets Point. Reverse your direction taking the 7 one stop going back to Manhattan and get off at 111th Street. Walk north (past the C Town supermarket on your left and La Gitana Restaurant on your right). After 3 blocks take a left on to 37th Avenue. After 3-4 blocks and make a right onto 107th Street. To meet our group enter the The Louis Armstrong Center which is the new building on the right side of the street a shortway down the block. Other alternatives include taking the LIRR to Flushing from Penn Station and then the 7 train 2 stops to 111th Street.
**Plan your trip: https://www.mta.info/**

Driving directions and other info about the museum and the area here:
https://www.louisarmstronghouse.org

After the house tour we will have several stops during our guided walk through the Corona neighborhood where you can grab an optional bite (see below). Total walking distance: approximately 2 miles, level terrain.

Tour Overview
The Louis Armstrong's House-Museum, truly a one-of-a-kind place to experience the home of our greatest musicians who was also a fascinating person, along with learning about his wife Lucille, who actually chose the house. He grew up poor in New Orleans and despite becoming both hugely successful and wealthy, the Armstrongs chose to live in a modest house in a working class neighborhood.

Louis Armstrong House: Tour begins at 10:30am across the street from the house at the new Louis Armstrong Center, address is 34-49 107th Street. Arrive early aim for 10:15am if you can to allow time for restrooms and to pay your admission fee.

After our house tour we'll traverse the Corona neighborhood and learn about its unique history from 17th century farms to urbanization and waves of immigrants from Italy and Latin American and the Caribbean. Corona has been home to famous jazz musicians and Louis Comfort Tiffany's glasswork's factory. We'll visit the site which is now a public school. Cosmetics mogul Estee Lauder was raised in Corona in an apartment above her father's hardware store.

Food/Noshing: We'll make a stop at Leo's Latticini (aka Mama's), a traditional Italian deli that's been around for nearly 100 years. There's also abundant Latin American food and street food that you might find appetizing including Columbian and Ecuadorian bakeries and eateries, and the famous Ice King of Corona.

Schedule:
10:15am: Arrive, pay admission, use restroom
10:30am - 12:00 noon House Museum Tour (end time approximate)
12 Noon - 2:00pm: Walking Tour of Corona, Queens (including a food stop or two).

Tour will end convenient to the #7 train. If you like you can visit the Queens Museum, NY Hall of Science or the Queens Zoo, all located within Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which also has remnants of the 1964 World's Fair.
The Queens Museum is open until 5pm with pay what you wish admission: https://queensmuseum.org/

Thank you for your cooperation.

Your organizer and guide.

Hank
646-596-3005
hankorenstein@gmail.com

(photo courtesy of the Louis Armstrong House Museum)