Little Manila, Queens

One of my third places

New to New York City in 2016, I was eager to find community. I felt part of a team at work, with my few new friends, but was missing a greater sense of belonging. I didn’t start to feel it until I visited Little Manila, a part of Woodside, Queens for the first time. The familiar sound of Tagalog being spoken on the street, the smells of street BBQ, reminded me of the feeling of community I felt in Chicago with my large Filipino extended family.

Unlike the disparate Filipino restaurants across Manhattan and Brooklyn, this neighborhood felt whole, and even just walking down the street between the businesses made me feel like I was seen and understood.

Here are a few of the titos, titas, and cousins that have made NYC feel a little bit smaller for me.