local flavor

Woodside: Queens’ Little Melting Pot

After World War II, Woodside, Queens was a regular chip off the ole’ Blarney Stone, with Irish stores, restaurants, pubs and people lining the Roosevelt Avenue strip and its surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of assisting and preserving New York’s small businesses has resulted in a recent influx of diversity to 11377. Local hotspots like Donovan’s and Saints and Sinners keep ‘em coming, but this code has also opened its doors to Filipino, Korean, Chinese, and Columbian storefronts & communities. This charming area still has the luck o’ the Irish, but modern day Woodside is a melting pot of culture that offers something for everyone. CiNYC host Shirley takes a stroll with Rob Walsh, the Commissioner of Small Business Services, to learn what gives this code it’s Local Flavor.

Donovan’s Pub
57-24 Roosevelt Avenue, 11377

Sean Og’s Tavern
60-02 Woodside Avenue, 11377

Ottomanelli & Sons
61-05 Woodside Avenue, 11377

Saints and Sinners
59-21 Roosevelt Avenue, 11377
www.saintsandsinnerspub.com

Discover more of what New York is doing for small businesses all over the city at www.nyc.gov/sbs.
For more of what’s cool in Queen’s codes, go to coolinyourcode.com/tag/queens.

What’s your favorite spot in Woodside?

Post a comment and tell us what’s hip in this zip!

21 Comments

  • By SSS – 06-30-08 at 11:12 pm

    Donovan’s Pub – Best burgers in NY, but even more so, best place to go with loved ones.

  • By CiNYC – 07-01-08 at 11:22 am

    Those burgers are incredible. And the vibe at Donovan’s does make it worth the trip. Woodside is really one of the city’s best communities. So Triple S, where else do you like to go in 11377?

  • By Sile – 08-27-08 at 9:13 am

    Calvary Cemetery – always a crowd – people just dying to get in!

  • By Cool in Your Code – 08-30-08 at 3:17 pm

    Hey everyone, thanks for all the comments. We really love hearing from all of you. Please keep checking out the site and let us know of any other locations in Woodside (or elsewhere) that you’d like to see us cover on the website or the show. Thanks!

  • By pat chiffriller reardon – 09-01-08 at 1:46 pm

    what happened to my neighborhood.grew up in the good times.1950-1960’s

  • By Sally Healy – 09-02-08 at 2:12 pm

    I would love to hear more about Woodside, I am trying to put together something for friends of mine.
    I grew up in Woodside from 1942 to 1964

  • By Theresa Grey (Bertolami) – 09-02-08 at 4:58 pm

    One of 5 Grey kids,lived on the same block as St. Sebastians School. Had a great education, then went to Bryant High. Married in Little Church, Harriaon, Traynor were my best friends in Grammer School. Thank you forever.

  • By Cool in Your Code – 09-02-08 at 10:39 pm

    Hi Sally, CiNYC has done an entire episode on Woodside, and there is a ton of cool stuff to check out. Here’s a link to the pub crawl we went on, which visited a few of the area’s most entertaining nightspots:

    http://www.coolinyourcode.com/woodside-bar-crawl-11377/

  • By Cool in Your Code – 09-02-08 at 10:41 pm

    Keep the comments coming everyone – let us know what else you would like to see and learn about in Queens or elsewhere. Sally if you need more info on Woodside send an email to [email protected] and tell us what you’re looking for! Thanks!

  • By Cool in Your Code – 09-03-08 at 4:27 pm

    Catch a full episode of Woodside on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 8pm and on Sunday, Sept. 7th at 9:30pm!

  • By Lorelei DeVito – 09-04-08 at 11:51 am

    Grew up in Woodside and lived in and around same are for most of my life. I had the best time growing up FAST in Woodside. My brother Lester sent me this site in an e-mail and I truly enjoyed seeing it all. I got married in St. Sebastian’s, right across the street from Donovan’s. No one mentioned the great Irish Coffee that Donovan’s makes.

  • By Dolores D'Angelo (Roza) – 09-08-08 at 8:15 pm

    I grew up in Woodside (best place in the world) at the best time ever (1940’s – 50’s – 60’s) with Lorelei DeVito, Lester Anderson, so many people I love. Thrilled to see this website.My husband Phil is a Woodsider too!

  • By Dolores D'Angelo (Roza) – 09-09-08 at 10:25 am

    I grew up in Woodside in the 40’s,50’s and 60’s. St.Sebastian’s was my school,married there.So many cherished friends made there! Married a Woodside boy 45 years ago. My love of all things Irish comes from my Woodside ties.Great website!

  • By Robert Chechanover – 09-09-08 at 3:44 pm

    Joe’s Seafood (the store, not the restaurant), had the best french fries. As a kid in the 60’s, my friends and I would walk there and buy a bag of fries for a quarter, which was the large size. Then shake on the salt. I would last all day…

  • By Nan Fiore – 09-10-08 at 1:14 pm

    HEY WOODSIDE – I HAVE BEEN MISSING YOU.
    MY FAMILY GREW UP THERE TOO…DENISE, BUSTER, LYNNE AND NAN. 50’S 60’S. LOVED ALL THE SHOPES ON ROOSEVELT AVENUE….LOVED LIVING IN THE METS APTS. GOING ON A RENUNION CRUISE WITH WOODSIDE GALS THIS MONTH! GREAT LIFE AND CHILDHOOD IN WOODSIDE, QUEENS. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • By Theresa Coleman Donnelly – 09-24-08 at 3:47 pm

    I was born and lived on 64th St. and 39th St. till I was 18 and then moved to
    56th St. Was married in St.Sebastion in
    1958.Loved growing up there and always
    felt safe. Have gone back for weddings
    & funerals. The Coleman and Kramers had
    a great time.

  • By richard byrne – 10-17-08 at 10:09 am

    Hi Nan, I too grew up in woodside on 65th st. Infact Denise was my first girlfriend in the first grade[PS152] U were much younger but I knew Buter too.Had twin brother [Larry] Hung out in Klee’s with Denise Sill have a apt in Woodside but spent most of my time in PA. I’m I right in thinking you are also a twin.

  • By Billy O'Brien – 10-30-08 at 1:40 pm

    So many fond memories. First dates and girlfiend(s)! St. Mary’s baseball and street hockey. I worked at Gordon’s (Woodside Avenue and 67-68th street) for five years, delvering groceries and thought I had the best job in the world. Went to PS 12 and McClancy and also sang with the LIRRs! What great fun! Woodside Girls Rule !!!!

    Regards to All –

    Billy

  • By Cool in Your Code – 11-04-08 at 3:14 pm

    Hello Woodsiders, thanks as always for your comments. CiNYC loves to hear from you and we are thrilled to provide a forum for discussion about your old ‘hood. Any questions please post ’em here or email us at [email protected]

  • By steven connelly – 03-11-09 at 5:04 pm

    hey woodside whats up,lived on 65th place for two years before returning to scotland,spent many a night in sean ogs,the locals were great really felt like a home from home i may return someday if im very lucky.

  • By Tom Ryan – 08-16-09 at 7:32 am

    Just got this site from a friend. Outstanding. Can you put me in contact with Billy O’Brien. I sang in a doo wop group with Billy “The LIRRS” and haven’t seen him in over 45 years. Woodside is a great place and I always look forward to going back.

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