Which Queens neighborhood is best for young professional that works in Garden City, LI? (Nassau: apartment)

[Queensgirl4995]

Hello! I have lived in Queens for about 8 months now and am looking to move from Bayside (current neighborhood) to a neighborhood that is:
- also safe
- has more stuff within walking distance (bars, restaurants, shopping, coffee shops, etc)
- easy access to the city (subway) - because I am in Manhattan every weekend...
- I also have a car because I drive to work everyday, so would probably have to rent a garage or parking spot.
- I would like my commute to Garden City (Nassau County) to be within 40 minutes.

Looking for a 1BR/decent Studio and don't want to pay more than $1400 because I have to add parking to my monthly cost too! I want more of the "NYC experience" and although I love my little apartment in Bayside, it is too quiet/suburban for what I'm looking for. I am thinking Sunnyside or Forest Hills.... Which neighborhoods would best suit me??

[a l'ouest]

Forest Hills is great but I think the drive to Garden City might take you longer than 40 minutes. I go to Forest Hills occasionally but not enough to be informed about what it would be like to live there. But, out of the two, I would pick Forest Hills over Sunnyside since it's closer to LI and cuts down on commute time.

I would also consider certain areas of Woodside. Access to the city as well as access to the LIRR. Bars, restaurants and coffee shops are walking distance. I don't know what kind of shopping you're looking for but the Queens Center Mall is about a 10-15 minute drive away and you have supermarkets and whatnot even closer - including within walking distance.

* The 7 train is a pain in the rear on the weekends because of rail work so you'd either take it to Jackson Heights and transfer to an E/M/R train or take it towards LIC and transfer to the N/Q to get into the city. But it's still doable.
** Driving to Garden City would most likely take you longer than 40 minutes.

[NyWriterdude]

If you're going to take the LIRR to work, Woodside. Woodside would give you access to the city on the 7 train or you could take the LIRR into Penn Station, as well as direct access to Garden City.

If the 7 is down due to construction, you could take the E, F, M, or R local trains into Manhattan. Just take the 7 a couple of stops to Jackson Heights and transfer if the 7 train weekend service is screwed up. Or take the shuttle bus. 7 train construction is supposed to end next year with the launch of CBTC.

[rv224]

You are correct in your initial assumptions. Sunnyside / Woodside or Forest Hills should work well for you.