A rock-and-roll bassist and a nature podcaster explain what they love about living in Queens

Overview

Mitch Zykofsky and Shari Romar have lived in Forest Hills for more than 35 years. Their daily lives blend local music, outdoor exploration and community connections. Zykofsky is a retired NYPD sergeant who plays bass with an English-style rock band called the Pin Ups and works part-time at Havana Dreams cigar lounge in Rego Park. Romar is a nature photographer-turned-podcaster who produces Queens Out of Doors, a show that focuses on nature, parks and local people in Queens.

Queens

Mitch highlights a mix of restaurants, outdoor routes and the borough's musical lineage.

• Food and local hospitality: He and his wife have been regulars for more than 25 years at Dirty Pierre's (Forest Hills) and also name Tuscan Hills as a favorite. Outside Forest Hills, he recommends Jackson Diner in Jackson Heights for Indian cuisine and Tournesol in Long Island City for French food and warm host service.

• Music and history: As a bass player, Mitch lists musicians connected to Queens—Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, the Ramones and Walter Becker of Steely Dan—when talking about why the borough resonates for musicians. He also points out that two World's Fairs were held in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and that structures such as the Unisphere remain visible reminders of that history.

Queens

Shari's path to community storytelling began with a growing interest in birds and plants after moving to Queens nearly 30 years ago.

• From hobby to career: A birthday gift of binoculars led to a first trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and, later, work with the Wildlife Conservation Society. Commuting on the Q44 introduced her to Queens Botanical Garden, and she eventually worked in horticulture at the garden.

• Queens Out of Doors podcast: Romar interviews local figures about nature and neighborhood topics, and she profiles institutions and people who contribute to Queens' outdoor life. Guests have included Rob MacKay of the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the Queens Tourism Council.

• Birding and photography: Romar was described by a colleague as a "fantastic nature photographer, especially of birds." She uses photography and conversation to draw attention to wildlife and green spaces that longtime residents might still be surprised to learn about.

How they show up for Queens

Practical takeaway