Jamaica - 179th Street (F)

Welcome to the end of the F train, deep in Jamaica. Once you gopher out of the station onto Hillside Avenue, it’s mostly strip-mall-type commerce shops and functional apartment buildings. The population around here is mixed, with mostly South-Asian-Muslim, African-American, and Hispanic people.

I spy the subway entrance.

Poke north of Hillside Avenue, and you’ll find the entry point of Jamaica Estates, with its wealthy, manicured homes contrasting with the working-class vibe south of the avenue. The train tracks mark the social divide. (If that interests you, see also: this, and this.)

A glimpse of Jamaica Estates, on Dalny Rd. Not your average NYC housing vibe.

I’d use this stop as a chance to house-peep around Jamaica Estates. Walk along fancy streets like Dalny Rd and Henly Rd, and their winding offshoots. The enclave offers a rare suburban vibe in contrast to the highly urban experience that is the rest of New York City. It’s like the Queens version of The Bronx’s Fieldston Historic District. While you’re at it, grab some food at one of the immigrant-run joints along Hillside, like Roti Corner, which offers authentic Indian-Guyanese food.

I spy Roti Corner, directly opposite the entrance to Jamaica Estates at the intersection of Hillside Ave and Midland Pkwy.