Where to go before or after a Mets game
Whether the Mets win, lose or get rained out, there's plenty to do in the immediate neighborhood after a ballgame at Citi Field. The Corona side of the ballpark offers culture, history and tasty eating for anyone wanting to linger or simply wait out the traffic before heading home.
WHAT The museum's most famous holding is the Panorama, an architectural model of all New York City, where the East River is about as wide as the length of your foot. On view for the summer are photographs, drawings and blueprints of the 1939 World's Fair. Outside, the 1964 Unisphere towers above the park; if you're lucky, you'll catch its renovated fountains in action.
WHEN | WHERE Wednesdays-Sundays, noon-6 p.m., and Fridays until 8 p.m., through August. New York City Building, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
INFO $5 adults, $2.50 children, 718-592-9700, queensmuseum.org
WHEN | WHERE Through Aug. 31: Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 47-01 111th St.
INFO $11 adults, $8 children and students, 718-699-0005, nysci.org
Empanadas Cafe
WHAT This bright shoe box of an eatery bills itself as a "Sort of United Nations of Empanadas." The menu offers more than 25 variations on the Latin-American stuffed pastry, from traditional shredded beef or chicken to Hawaiian (ham, pineapple and mozzarella).
WHEN | WHERE 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 56-27 Van Doren St. (at 108th Street)
INFO Empanadas $1.75-$2, 718-592-7288, empanadascafe.com
Gabbana
WHAT A glitzy new restaurant and lounge that's unique in Corona, offering an innovative Nuevo Latino menu. The emphasis is on small plates that aren't really so small (seafood seviche is large enough for four) and tropical cocktails, such as the Islander punch made from rum and fresh guava juice. On Saturdays after midnight, there's dancing. Valet parking.
WHEN | WHERE Open daily 5 p.m.-2 a.m. 107-11 Northern Blvd.
INFO Small plates $6-$12, entrees, $25-$28. 718-565-5479, gabbanany.com
Lemon Ice King
WHEN | WHERE Open daily 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays until midnight. 52-02 108th St.
INFO Ices $2-$5. 718-699-5133, thelemonicekingofcorona.com
