Whitestone, Queens? (Cherry Valley, Lewis: houses, neighborhood, theatre)

[Queensizbest]

Can you tell me about this neighborhood

What is the fun stuff this area offers

I know it has a lot of bus service and very close to the bronx
20 minutes away from manhattan (no traffic)

If you can tell me how long you live or knew About this area
Thanks

[Chava61]

There is the College Point Muliplex movie theatre, 28-55 Ulmer St., Whitestone, NY 11357. On the other side of the same building is a Toys R US store. (There is also an Office Depot but I am not sure if it is open or not.) I recently saw a movie at this theatre and walked around the neighborhood. Also nearby (on the other side of the highway) there is a large open shopping center (various stores & restaurants around a large parking area).

[TeamHobbes]

20 minutes from Manhattan is a bit unrealistc. It will take much longer to get to Manhattan from Whitestone considering the traffic. I would say it's more like 40 min. Whitestone is a nice pleasant area, but there is not much to do other than basic stuff (movies,shopping,parks,resturants)
Whitestone is more residential and less metropolitan than areas of Queens that are closser to Manhattan (West Queens)

[emism]

Most people who live in Whitestone lived in their houses for generations... Everyone knows each other. It's surrounded by water. There's nothing much to do, but the people in Whitestone are used to their surroundings and feel content... It's a cool place to raise a family when the kids are young. Public schools are good. But if you're raising teenage boys, keep them away from Cherry Valley! A cop magnet for drunks and druggies after midnight...

[Angela on the lake]

I lived in Whitestone for several years, just left this past summer to move to PA, and it is a lovely area. It is very residental, good family area, lots of nearby shopping and family type entertainment; movies, bowling, billiards, restaurants. You will not find any hip clubs or other real night-life type venues...like I said it is a good family area.

[TeaJay]

I lived in Whitestone from '96 to '05. I loved it. It has a small-town feel with the advantages of a city- bus routes, and lots of things in walking distance. I guess "fun stuff" is subjective- my idea of fun was to walk to the library on the weekends, also I went to NYSC a lot. I liked to get videos and Chinese food from the place in the shopping center on the weekend. My favorite part was being able to park my car after work on Friday and not have to get into it again till I went to work Monday, since took care of all my need on foot. If I wanted to go out, Bell Blvd. was a decent place to hang out, or I'd take the bus and the 7 to Manhattan. I also loved Francis Lewis park- spent lots of time reading under a tree.