Theme: Crowded
Where: Outside Queens Center Mall
What/Who: People walking with shopping bags, Macy’s entrance, bus stop, taxi cab
Why: I chose to take this picture and keep it as one of the important pictures because you can clearly see that it is very crowded. The reason that it is crowded around this area is due to the Queens Center Mall . This is one of the most commonly known mall in Queens, which is why it gets very crowded, especially during the weekends. I don’t live that close to this mall, but on the train it’s takes about 15-20 minutes. Since a lot of people go to the mall there are many buses that stop right in front of the mall’s entrance. The Queens Center offers many shopping stores and as you can see in the picture, Macy’s is one of the major stores that a lot of people shop at. I’ve noticed that the areas with chain stores will be the heavily crowded areas. In this areas, specifically, it is always crowded because there is another mall about 3 blocks away from this mall. The other mall doesn’t have a lot of stores, but the stores at the mall take up a lot of the mall’s space. There’s a Target in that mall that is two floors big and a Best Buy that takes up almost half of the second floor and the other half of the floor has a restaurant. Everytime I go to the Queens Center Mall I always expect to see a crowd of people walking around the mall, standing in line, and eating at the food court. I don’t really like big crowds because it makes me feel like I’m trapped and contained in a little space with hundreds of other people. Sometimes there are rude people that don’t like crowds either and will push and shove other people out of their way. I can’t stand this because I’ll feel the same way as that person, but I’m not going to be rude and move everyone out of my way when they'll be in the same position as myself.
Where: Outside Queens Center Mall
What/Who: People walking with shopping bags, Macy’s entrance, bus stop, taxi cab
Why: I chose to take this picture and keep it as one of the important pictures because you can clearly see that it is very crowded. The reason that it is crowded around this area is due to the Queens Center Mall . This is one of the most commonly known mall in Queens, which is why it gets very crowded, especially during the weekends. I don’t live that close to this mall, but on the train it’s takes about 15-20 minutes. Since a lot of people go to the mall there are many buses that stop right in front of the mall’s entrance. The Queens Center offers many shopping stores and as you can see in the picture, Macy’s is one of the major stores that a lot of people shop at. I’ve noticed that the areas with chain stores will be the heavily crowded areas. In this areas, specifically, it is always crowded because there is another mall about 3 blocks away from this mall. The other mall doesn’t have a lot of stores, but the stores at the mall take up a lot of the mall’s space. There’s a Target in that mall that is two floors big and a Best Buy that takes up almost half of the second floor and the other half of the floor has a restaurant. Everytime I go to the Queens Center Mall I always expect to see a crowd of people walking around the mall, standing in line, and eating at the food court. I don’t really like big crowds because it makes me feel like I’m trapped and contained in a little space with hundreds of other people. Sometimes there are rude people that don’t like crowds either and will push and shove other people out of their way. I can’t stand this because I’ll feel the same way as that person, but I’m not going to be rude and move everyone out of my way when they'll be in the same position as myself.
Theme: Crowded
Where: Steinway Street, Queens
What/Who: People walking towards Broadway avenue (walking away from the commercial stores), McDonalds, bus stop.
Why: Steinway street is always crowded throughout the week especially during the weekend because many adults don’t go to work and teens mainly shop here when there is no school. I always go to steinway whenever I need to buy shoes, clothes, accessories, and if I need to take the R train. By 8-9 PM it starts getting less crowded and more quiet and isolated. This is due to all the chain stores closing by that time, but there’ll be some people still walking around Steinway because there are banks, restaurants, and bars that will be open. Steinways street is very convenient to all the people in the neighborhood. The “center” of steinway would have to be from Broadway avenue and past 30th avenue. Within those blocks there are many chain stores, restaurants, bars, small business stores, and parking lots available for people. Chain stores, such as, Gap, Gap kids, Foot Locker, Models, Strawberry, Starbucks, NY & Company, Victoria Secrets, etc. are always full of shoppers. Just like Queens Center Mall, there are bus stops in Steinway street because of the amount of people it attracts. On some holidays, for example on Labor Day, there will be a street fair held along Steinway street, which helps business stores gain shoppers. I love the street fairs because I love going to the different variety of stands especially the food stands. These street fairs are mainly community based. I don’t think the fairs attract the attention of the tourists because the fairs aren’t advertised as such a big thing for people in other boroughs to come to, but the people living in the Astoria.
Where: Steinway Street, Queens
What/Who: People walking towards Broadway avenue (walking away from the commercial stores), McDonalds, bus stop.
Why: Steinway street is always crowded throughout the week especially during the weekend because many adults don’t go to work and teens mainly shop here when there is no school. I always go to steinway whenever I need to buy shoes, clothes, accessories, and if I need to take the R train. By 8-9 PM it starts getting less crowded and more quiet and isolated. This is due to all the chain stores closing by that time, but there’ll be some people still walking around Steinway because there are banks, restaurants, and bars that will be open. Steinways street is very convenient to all the people in the neighborhood. The “center” of steinway would have to be from Broadway avenue and past 30th avenue. Within those blocks there are many chain stores, restaurants, bars, small business stores, and parking lots available for people. Chain stores, such as, Gap, Gap kids, Foot Locker, Models, Strawberry, Starbucks, NY & Company, Victoria Secrets, etc. are always full of shoppers. Just like Queens Center Mall, there are bus stops in Steinway street because of the amount of people it attracts. On some holidays, for example on Labor Day, there will be a street fair held along Steinway street, which helps business stores gain shoppers. I love the street fairs because I love going to the different variety of stands especially the food stands. These street fairs are mainly community based. I don’t think the fairs attract the attention of the tourists because the fairs aren’t advertised as such a big thing for people in other boroughs to come to, but the people living in the Astoria.
Theme: Isolated/Nature
Where: Flushing Meadows Park
What/Who: Natural soccer field, synthetic turf soccer field is fenced
Why: This is one of my important pictures because this is one of very few big parks that has a lot of soccer fields and this year some of the soccer fields are being reconstructed. I’ve been going to this park more often now that my little brother has joined a soccer team that holds their practices and most of their games there. There is reconstruction being done on most of the artificial fields, but I’m unsure why they are deciding to fix the fields. I personally hate playing on artificial turf fields because those fields can make an athlete’s body more fatigue than playing on a natural field. Recently my dad had a game on a turf field and his ankle twisted his ankle badly after his cleat got caught on a misplaced piece of artificial grass. After this incident it made me realize how dangerous turf fields can be and this is why I dislike the fact that this park is still creating more artificial fields. There are a lot teams that are in this whole park and every team prefer practicing or playing games on turf, yet there are natural grass fields that are always empty. Now with reconstruction happening, those turf fields are not available for them, which means those teams are forced to play on natural grass and have to be cramped with other teams. It’s sad to see that there is natural areas for the public, but people would rather play on artificial fields. Recently, I’ve been reading petitions being made by some of the women of the U.S. National soccer team that their world cup should just be as equal as the mens national team and have their games played on natural fields instead of artificial turf fields. I totally agree that sports games should be played on more natural fields and they should be appreciated and not neglected.
Where: Flushing Meadows Park
What/Who: Natural soccer field, synthetic turf soccer field is fenced
Why: This is one of my important pictures because this is one of very few big parks that has a lot of soccer fields and this year some of the soccer fields are being reconstructed. I’ve been going to this park more often now that my little brother has joined a soccer team that holds their practices and most of their games there. There is reconstruction being done on most of the artificial fields, but I’m unsure why they are deciding to fix the fields. I personally hate playing on artificial turf fields because those fields can make an athlete’s body more fatigue than playing on a natural field. Recently my dad had a game on a turf field and his ankle twisted his ankle badly after his cleat got caught on a misplaced piece of artificial grass. After this incident it made me realize how dangerous turf fields can be and this is why I dislike the fact that this park is still creating more artificial fields. There are a lot teams that are in this whole park and every team prefer practicing or playing games on turf, yet there are natural grass fields that are always empty. Now with reconstruction happening, those turf fields are not available for them, which means those teams are forced to play on natural grass and have to be cramped with other teams. It’s sad to see that there is natural areas for the public, but people would rather play on artificial fields. Recently, I’ve been reading petitions being made by some of the women of the U.S. National soccer team that their world cup should just be as equal as the mens national team and have their games played on natural fields instead of artificial turf fields. I totally agree that sports games should be played on more natural fields and they should be appreciated and not neglected.
Theme: Isolated/Safe
Where: Astoria, Queens (My neighborhood)
What/Who: The apartment building I live in is on the other end of the picture. No one walking by.
Why: Growing up in my neighborhood I’ve always noticed that it’s pretty quiet outside whether it’s early in the day or late night. I took this picture on a weekday during Spring Break and it was early afternoon. During Spring Break it was really cold and windy, but this day was one of the days that it was really nice outside and not that cold. I was really surprised not to see a lot of people out. The majority of the people that live on this block are adults and there are some families. My little brother has friends that live across the street or a block away and they always play in front of my building or inside. When they start playing outside, especially during the summer, that’s when it starts getting chaotic and loud with all the kids screaming. But, since it’s still pretty cold outside, they don’t go outside and usually by 7 or 8 at night is when the streets will start getting dark and even more quiet. By the time I’m in my bed sometimes I’ll hear dogs being walked, other than that there will be no sounds being made not even from cars. I personally like the quietness of the streets because in the night I know I won’t have to worry about loud noises keeping me awake. In the summer I don’t mind my brother playing in the streets because I know all of his friend are just happy to be out of school and spend all of their free time playing. I feel safe within my neighborhood especially since I’ve grown to my surroundings and environment. My neighborhood is very diverse, which is another reason I like being around. All of my friends that I’ve met in elementary school and middle school are from different ethnic groups, which is why I don’t have just one specific type of group of friends.
Where: Astoria, Queens (My neighborhood)
What/Who: The apartment building I live in is on the other end of the picture. No one walking by.
Why: Growing up in my neighborhood I’ve always noticed that it’s pretty quiet outside whether it’s early in the day or late night. I took this picture on a weekday during Spring Break and it was early afternoon. During Spring Break it was really cold and windy, but this day was one of the days that it was really nice outside and not that cold. I was really surprised not to see a lot of people out. The majority of the people that live on this block are adults and there are some families. My little brother has friends that live across the street or a block away and they always play in front of my building or inside. When they start playing outside, especially during the summer, that’s when it starts getting chaotic and loud with all the kids screaming. But, since it’s still pretty cold outside, they don’t go outside and usually by 7 or 8 at night is when the streets will start getting dark and even more quiet. By the time I’m in my bed sometimes I’ll hear dogs being walked, other than that there will be no sounds being made not even from cars. I personally like the quietness of the streets because in the night I know I won’t have to worry about loud noises keeping me awake. In the summer I don’t mind my brother playing in the streets because I know all of his friend are just happy to be out of school and spend all of their free time playing. I feel safe within my neighborhood especially since I’ve grown to my surroundings and environment. My neighborhood is very diverse, which is another reason I like being around. All of my friends that I’ve met in elementary school and middle school are from different ethnic groups, which is why I don’t have just one specific type of group of friends.