Jamaica

This week is the first of our 'loose ends' walks, where we identify neighborhoods on the walk we either barely hit or missed entirely. It's also the last walk we'll be taking exclusively in Queens. We set out for the Northeast tip of the borough to visit Little Neck and Little Neck Bay. Then we'll drop all the way south to hit the neighborhoods we missed the last time we were around JFK: Brookville, Springfield Gardens and Rochdale. We'll end at Jamaica to take the J train home.

Our second walk focusing on music in NYC takes a look at the history of Hip-Hop in Queens County. From Queensbridge to Corona, from Hollis to Jamaica, Queens native musicians have played a critical role in the development of the form. We'll visit the neighborhood homes of Nas, LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, A Tribe Called Quest and Kool G Rap, just to name of few. (Note: .4 marathon mileage delta will be made up as we wander)

Horse Racing, also known as The Sport of Kings, has roots in NYC dating back to 1665. This week we'll do a loop visiting both Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park and Belmont Racetrack on the Queens/Nassau border, home of the final leg of the Triple Crown. Turning the corner, we'll get a chance to explore the parks and residential neighborhoods surrounding JFK International Airport.

This week we take the long march to Fort Totten, a preserved civil war naval fortress on the north shore of Queens. A sweep through Kissena Park marks our trip there, while our returns route gives us an in-depth look at the marshy Alley Pond Park. A turn west leaves us at Jamaica for the train ride home.

Our initial look at East Queens starts with a ride out on the J train into Woodhaven to stretch some extra ground out of our 26.2 miles. Crossing through Hillcrest, Fresh Meadows and Douglaston, we graze up against the Nassau County border before turning south for Queens Village and Cambria Heights. Walking the length of Jamaica, we meet up with Myrtle Avenue and cut through Forest Park before heading home.