East Garden City Garden City, NY

The area around Garden City was founded after a large land purchase by Irish multimillionaire Alexander Turney Stewart, and merged with Garden City Estates and others to eventually become an incorporated village. Meanwhile, the lands in that original 1869 purchase outside of the incorporated village were sold off, including the East Garden City hamlet. The town of Hempstead began aggressively developing East Garden City during the 1980s, building up a largely commercial village.

Kids love the Long Island Children's Museum on Davis Avenue, with fun activities like a room dedicated to bubbles, as well as entertaining educational exhibits. The Cradle of Aviation museum displays a world-class aircraft collection and Long Island's aviation history. The annual Give Kids A Smile event at the museum assists with the dental care of underprivileged children.

Restaurants in the East Garden City area sit mainly around its borders and into Garden City proper, with a notable mix of upscale and flexible dining options that cook up diverse ethnic fare. Akbar on South Street serves high-end authentic Indian cuisine with accommodating service. Locals give high praise to the samosas and naan bread as tasty warm-ups before the main meal. Unique dishes like the chicken tikka masala and goat biryani may give you a new fondness for traditional Indian flavors. Save some bucks at the lunch buffet or come in for a lavish dinner.

For some classic American comfort food, Mac & Melts shines with all kinds of macaroni and cheeses, melts and more. Traditional macaroni and cheese is partnered with several meat and vegetable toppings to create the specialties, such as the Buffalo chicken mac, Southwestern mac and the mac of all daddies. Same goes for the melts, with a feast of comfort food permeating the menu. The sweet-potato tater tots make a great accompaniment to the meals. These homemade classic foods with a twist, great prices and a clean establishment make Mac & Melts a winner for the local populace. Bars and clubs in and around East Garden City allow residents to partake in an active nightlife. Scorpion Hookah Lounge and Cafe, near the Hofstra Campus, presents a hip, cool ambiance with a live DJ and top-notch hookah flavors. You can also get drinks and watch sports on their many televisions. The Love Nightclub in Carle Place has well-known DJs and a large dance floor in a modern, energetic nightclub.

Residents generally travel through the area by car or public transportation. The Meadowbrook State Parkway runs through the heart of East Garden City, which connects to the Northern State Parkway and the Southern State Parkway, which locals often use to commute to work. The neighborhood has public parking in its commercial areas, and many people get around by bike or on foot.

Local taxis from All Island Transportation pick you up with a simple phone, and Uber services the area as well. Public transportation surrounds East Garden City, including several close Long Island Railroad stations. Use the Nassau Inter-County Express bus service to travel cheaply and conveniently throughout the region. JFK International Airport is the nearest airport to the neighborhood, located in Queens.

Enjoy outdoor parks and attractions within the village and in the surrounding area. Head to Mitchel County Park for multiple baseball fields and a large running track ideal for cardio exercise. An untouched portion of the beautiful Hempstead Plains remains one of the few segments of what was once a 40,000-acre native prairie grassland.

Near the border of East Garden City and East Meadow sits Eisenhower Park, a huge hub for all kinds of activities. Swim in the pools of the aquatic center or play some rounds at one of the park's three golf courses. Locals visiting the park also benefit from hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a dog park, sports fields and playgrounds.

While few annual events are held in East Garden City, neighboring villages, such as Garden City, provide opportunities to participate in exciting gatherings. Attend the tree-lighting event in December, an annual tradition for more than 60 years. Other nearby annual events include the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Fall Festival Street Fair and the unique Vintage Car Parade, regarded as Long Island's king of car parades.

East Garden City's cost of living ranks higher than state and national averages. The area is also more expensive than the town of Hempstead, due to greater housing costs. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood costs $2,404 a month, on average.

Residents ride the Nassau Inter-County Express buses for a fare of $2.50. Gas prices in East Garden City rise about 15 percent higher than the national average. Typically, you'll find that beers in the area cost about $6.

Any mention of shopping in East Garden City has to start with the Roosevelt Field shopping mall, an important village hallmark and the second-largest non-outlet shopping mall in the state. Residents do much of their shopping here, with several established clothing chains operating at the location. Purchase upscale clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry at the three-level Bloomingdale's, or browse mid-range products at JCPenney. A few more of the dozens of popular clothing stores and boutiques in the mall include Macy's, Nordstrom and Ann Taylor. Residents also have access to the famed shopping in neighboring Garden City. Franklin Avenue has earned its reputation as one of the top shopping destinations in the region, particularly for high-end and specialty retailers. H.L. Gross & Bro. Jewelers, a family owned couture jewelry business operating for more than 100 years and counting, offers personalized customer service and a thorough selection of designer jewelry. Sunflower Fine Art in Garden City provides expert custom framing services and features an extensive gallery of fine art. Most residents purchase groceries at the nearby Fairway Market or Trader Joe's supermarkets. Visit the Garden City Farmers Market for produce and farm-fresh specialty items in a pleasant outdoor location.