Santa Visits Queens, NY This Christmas Season

Santa will be ready for visits all season long in Queens' largest mall. Santa events to look for at Queens Center Mall include the following:

* Mid November to December 24, every day except Thanksgiving Day, visit with Santa.

* 11 a.m to 8 p.m. all days except Sundays, noon to 7 p.m on Sundays and Christmas Eve 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Santa will be available.

* Santa Breaks are Monday-Saturday 1 to 2 p.m. and 5:15 to 6 p.m. and Christmas Eve 2 to 3 p.m.

* Photo packages available for pictures with Santa.

* Breakfast with Santa is December 5, 8-10 a.m. for Q Kids Club Members and require RSVP.

* Pets with Santa on December 6, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

* Santa is on Level 3 in the JC Penney Wing.

* Queens Center Mall is located at Queens Blvd (on north side) and Woodhaven Blvd, just off the L.I.E. in Elmhurst , NY 11373.

What You Need To Know During Moving Season

It’s still moving season all across the nation and there are some things you need to know that will help your move go more smoothly. Because of the economic downturn, many moving communities lost several of their drivers and this has caused a backlog for moving this summer.

Moving companies are unable to keep up with this season's moving demand and, in some cases, the waiting list can be two months long. Therefore, we have some tips and advice to help you get prepared and have a stress-free move.

* Get quotes – Get your moving quotes now so you can book quickly.

* Create Inventory – Create a household inventory before you begin packing. This is a great time to take stock of the items you’ve acquired over the years. If you will be hiring a mover, write full descriptions of your things and its condition. This will help you in the end if things come up missing or damaged.

* Important documents – It is very important to gather all important documents and make copies of them. Make sure you keep all original documents with you during the move. Important documents can include birth certificates, social security cards, marriage licenses, insurance policies, wills, stocks and bonds, property deeds and titles.

* Document belongings – You can easily make a record of your belongings on video or by digital camera. This will help make a more accurate, visual record of your belongings in their current condition. Important information you should photograph on your belongings include serial numbers, brands, distinctive features, etc. Keep this with you during your move.

* Pets – Be sure your pet is up-to-date on all vaccinations before your move and carry the appropriate documents with you on moving day. Also, make sure your pet has their collar on with your information on it.

* Return and retrieve – Return all rented movies, library books and borrowed items. Retrieve anything you may have in storage, the cleaners or elsewhere.

With advanced planning, your move can turn into an adventure for all.

Affordability and Modern Living in Queens, New York

When you want affordability and modern living in Queens, NY then the new six floor Santorini development will be perfect for you. There are 62 spacious units, a great mixture of studios, one, two and three bedroom Condos. They offer spacious layouts that make these condominiums more appealing to seasoned homebuyers and first time homebuyers.

The styles of the condominiums offer top-of-the line amenities and finishes. No detail was overlooked during the development of Santorini’s. You’ll find that the amenities are plentiful and include a common roof deck and courtyard, penthouse lounge, children’s playroom, outdoor play and a fitness center. You’ll get indoor on-site parking, video security, a doorman attended lobby and laundry facilities on each floor.

Each spacious unit layout is modern and bright with white oak flooring throughout. All kitchens have been incorporated with the function of Energy Star and GE appliances. Countertops are a stylish crystallized glass while the cabinetry is imported Italian lacquer and wenge wood veneer. Bathrooms are fabulous with Neptune soaking tubs and white groove bamboo porcelain times, creating a serene atmosphere.

And best of all, you get all this while being conveniently located in Queens, New York.

Making Kew Gardens Your New Home

Making Kew Gardens your new home in Queens, New York can be a great move. The community itself is just east of Forest Park and the neighborhood of Forest Hills and Forest Hills Gardens, making it easily one of the best communities in Queens. Kew Gardens is also an easy 30 minute commute to Midtown Manhattan.

Those seeking to purchase a home in Kew Gardens will find that the area is filled with four and ten story apartment buildings. Many of these apartment buildings are rentals. However, some of them are co-op.

Co-ops make for convenient living in the city. Purchasing a co-op is slightly different than buying a house. When you buy a house, you are buying the property where you live. When you buy a co-op, you are buying into a corporation, which is usually a limited liability (LLC). Once you purchase your shares of the co-op, you have an apartment that you and your family can live in. And, co-ops are generally cheaper than buying other real estate.

So, if you think purchasing a co-op apartment is the best decision for you and your family, then come visit the Kew Gardens community and see what we have to offer.

Forest Hills Festival of the Arts

The Forest Hills Festival of the Arts is just around the corner. The date is set for Sunday June 13th at 10:00am, and it will be here before we know it. This is a huge event that draws in more than 60,000 people who come to the Forest Hills community to enjoy shopping, dancing, concerts, arts and crafts, cultural performances, children’s theaters and lots of fun!

The festival will be conveniently located near express and local subway stations, buses, major thoroughfares and the Long Island Railroad. The Forest Hills Festival of the Arts is the perfect place for small businesses to sell your merchandise, market your company and distribute your promotional material right in Queen’s most affluent neighborhood; Forest Hills.

Not only is Forest Hills an affluent neighborhood, it is also famous for its many co-op properties that help make Forest Hills a tight-knit community. You can find one, two and three-bedroom units with most buildings being conveniently located near private streets, premier retailers, million-dollar homes, and the Forest Hills Tennis Club.

Living in any of the Forest Hills Co-Ops will put you only 25 minutes from New York City and thirteen minutes from the Long Island Railroad. And, if you have children, students here attend P.S. 196 or P.S 175.

Once in Forest Hills, you’ll soon agree that it’s a great place for shopping, dining, entertainment and being pampered.

Enjoying Queens Real Estate and It's Green Spaces

Back in 1898 when Queens real estate first became part of New York City, it was mostly made up of farmland and had few public parks. However today, Queens real estate is made up of 7,106-acres of parkland that is interspersed with over 400 beautiful parks, playground, triangles and malls.


Each park within Queens real estate is perfectly placed so you can play ball, explore nature, listen to music and enjoy moments with family and friends. It’s a wonderful getaway from the hectic, fast pace of city life.


Here are a few parks you can find within Queens real estate that have large open spaces for the whole family to enjoy:


* Flushing Meadows / Corona Park – This 1,255-acre park is the second largest park in the city. It hosts the USTA US Open Tennis Tournament each year and is also home to the New York Mets pro baseball team, the Queens Museum of Art, the Queens Hall of Science, the Queens Zoo, Queens Theatre in the Park, a pitch & putt golf course and the Queens Botanical Gardens.


* Forest Park – This great park is made up of over 538-acres and holds a 150-year-old oak forest. There are also three nature trails, the famous Daniel C. Mueller Carousel, the Seuffert Bandshell with its free concerts and the Track and Field.


* Cunningham Park – This lovely park of 358-acres offers its visitors tennis, bocci, baseball, playgrounds, picnic areas, a concert area, annual performances by the Big Apple Circus and a summer camp program that’s run by the Parks Department.


* Alley Pond Park – This 654-acre park is home to the Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Boulevard. They have baseball fields, football fields, tennis courts, handball courts, wooded trails and a new Urban Park Ranger Station.


These are just a few of the many wonderful parks and green spaces that can be found around Queens real estate. So, when you want to enjoy the great outdoors, be sure to visit one of these great parks or another of Queens local parks. You’ll be glad you did.

Weichert, Realtors®, FH Realty, your Queens real estate experts