Hicksville, NY

Hicksville was once part of the Williams Plantation, purchased from the Matinecock Indians in 1648. In 1834,Valentine Hicks, who would later become president of the Long Island Rail Road, bought land in the area and turned it into a station stop in 1837. The station became a depot for produce, specifically cucumbers for the local Heinz plant, and later, potatoes.

Housed in the former Heitz Place Courthouse, the Hicksville Gregory Museum is dedicated to the study of earth science and its connection to local history. In addition to specimens and artifacts, the museum offers numerous educational programs. In nearby Oyster Bay, the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center offers a wide variety of activities including environmental education and wildlife research. The NYCB Theatre in Jericho has been recognized by audiences and performing artists as one of the most comfortable, friendly and acoustically inviting theaters in the New York metro area.

There are numerous restaurants along the stretch of Routes 106 and 107 in Hicksville, as well as on Old Country Road. The West East Bistro, Long Island’s first organic restaurant, focuses on Asian Fusion cuisine. The strictly all-natural menu offers only hormone and antibiotic-free beef, poultry and pork, sustainably-sourced fish and seafood, organic produce and eggs, and dairy products from pasture-raised cows. The restaurant does not deep fry any of its offerings, nor do they serve soda. The sophisticated interior belies its strip mall location. Popular dishes include appetizers like “baaaaang baaaaang” shrimp made with wild Patagonian red shrimp, hot sauce, celery and gorgonzola cream, and entrees such as Barolo braised grass-fed beef short ribs accompanied by a thyme, white truffle and parmesan risotto. The dessert menu includes a number of gluten free desserts including the “warm and fuzzy” chocolate cake served alongside vanilla gelato and raspberry puree.

At Chilli and Curry you’ll find a menu of Chinese-influenced Northern Indian dishes with a little Thai thrown in for good measure. This tiny gem on Woodbury Road may not be for the faint of heart due to a spicy menu, but the kitchen honors requests to turn down the heat. The extensive menu has delectable breads including various naan, paratha and kulcha. For entrees, dishes like chicken tikka masala, barbecued in the tandoor oven with curry spices and yogurt vies with other tempting options like lobster vindaloo, a flavorful seafood option cooked in a hot and spicy sauce.

Pasta-eria has been a Hicksville favorite for over 20 years, serving old -world Italian favorites alongside modern culinary delights. Packed on weekends, the attractive dining room has a tray ceiling and hand-painted murals of Italy. Diners come back for delightful dishes that include the fusion bistro salad, baby field greens topped with walnut-gorgonzola gremolata, penne spinachio and broccoli with diced tomato, and the famous frutti di mare - mussels, baby clams, calamari, scungilli and shrimp in a plum tomato marinara sauce over linguini. Those with a sweet tooth can choose from American favorites such as molten lava cake and “dolci Italiana” including classic tiramisu and tartufo.

While there isn't much for a way of nightlife in Hicksville, there’s always something happening at the Headliner Bar & Grill. In addition to daily drink specials, this popular night spot also has Ladies’ Nights every night from 9 -11 pm, karaoke on Wednesdays and Sundays, live DJs, and guest bartenders. For residents looking to venture beyond Hicksville, nearby Westbury, Levittown, Wantagh and Bethpage have dozens of options that range from bars, dance clubs, lounges and comedy clubs.

Hicksville is a major hub of the Long Island Rail Road, serving as the point where the Port Jefferson branch and the Ronkonkoma branch merge to comprise the railroad’s Main Line. The trip from Hicksville to Penn Station in Manhattan takes around 45 minutes. During peak times the LIRR runs several express trains, which shave a little bit of time off duration of the trip. Adjacent to the train station sits the town parking garage with over 1,400 spots for commuters.

Also a central hub for Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus routes, 14 routes run through Hicksville, connecting riders to other parts of Long Island including Huntington, Hempstead, Wantagh and Jamaica.

Not an area built for walking, residents are only on foot walking to their cars in parking lots, or taking strolls in residential neighborhoods. There are no bicycle lanes and only very experienced cyclists should attempt riding on any of the busy main thoroughfares in the area.

The Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway and the Wantagh Parkway all run through Hicksville, making it very convenient for driving to destinations across the island, as well as to New York City and beyond. All the major car rental companies – Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise – have outlets in Hicksville, however, Uber does not currently provide service on Long Island.

127-acre Cantiague Park has been part of the Nassau County Park system since 1961. Utilized by both recreational skaters and hockey teams, Cantiague’s indoor skating rink was once the practice facility for the New York Islanders. Both skating lessons and rental are available. The swimming pool complex at Cantiague was named “best outdoor swimming facility” on Long Island by viewers of News 12. The complex houses an Olympic-sized pool, two water slides, a kiddie pool and an interactive water-play area. The park also has numerous lighted courts for tennis, handball and basketball and four multi-sport fields including a lighted artificial turf field for soccer, football and lacrosse. An 18-hole miniature golf course and a nine-hole, par-30 golf course and driving range are popular options. Shuffleboard and bocce courts, tables with inlaid chess and checker boards, and a children’s playground complete the offerings.

Kevin T. Kolm Memorial Park, once known as Triangle Park, is a soccer park named in honor of a Marine Corporal from Hicksville who died in Iraq. Inside Kennedy Park sits the Hicksville Memorial Fountain, in addition to a gazebo within the Foley Gardens, and a replica of the “John Bull” steam engine first brought to America by Valentine Hicks.

The cost of living in Hicksville comes in 34 percent higher than in the rest of New York and 64 percent higher than in the rest of the nation. The one-way peak fare from Hicksville to Penn Station via the Long Island Rail Road sets you back $12.50 while an unlimited monthly ticket weighs in at $276. Apartments are hard to come by in Hicksville as there are a limited number in the neighborhood. The median rent for a one-bedroom residence in Hicksville runs around $1700 per month. Gasoline prices are approximately eight percent higher than the national average, while beer prices as local watering holes cost around $7 a bottle.

In Hicksville, most of the shops, restaurants and service business are located on the main roads in the area: Routes 106 and 107 and Old Country Road.

Hicksville has been home to the Broadway Mall (formerly known as Mid-Island Plaza) since 1956. Anchored by Macy’s, IKEA and Target, the majority of the stores are national chains such as Victoria’s Secret and Old Navy. One exception, the family-owned Periwinkle Boutique, carries jewelry, accessories and fashion trends from of-the-moment designers like Alex and Ani, Alex Woo and Vera Bradley. The sales team at Periwinkle strives to impart a personalized, satisfying sales experience to each and every customer.

Many of the local area shops cater to the needs of the large Indian population in Hicksville. Samaira manufactures and sells Indian wedding attire for both the bride and groom at affordable prices. Offering the latest styles, Samaira has eliminated the need for families to travel to India to purchase their wedding wardrobe. Given the popularity of soccer, Upper 90 Soccer attracts customers from across Long Island. The knowledgeable sales staff plays the sport and is able to make useful recommendations, whether you are buying cleats, equipment or apparel. The store even has a mini turf field, complete with goals, to keep little ones entertained while their parents shop.

The family-friendly Game Master Games sells a wide variety of board games, trading card games, miniature games, and role-playing games. Generally hosting up to 25 events a week, the store specializes in “learn how to play” nights and also holds tournaments, manufacturer-sponsored product launches, and much more.

Whether the pantry needs stocking or you just need a quart of milk, Hicksville residents have numerous food shopping options. Waldbaums (on the Jericho/Hicksville border), Stop and Shop, Foodtown and Met Foods all have stores in the area. The diverse population means there are quite a number of specialty markets as well. H&Y Marketplace on Plainview Road, an Asian market with an emphasis on Korean and Japanese foods, sells items such as kimchi, sushi and sashimi. Philippines Best sells Filipino ready-to-eat meals made on the premises. The frozen food section, well-stocked with ready-to-cook meals including lumpiang and longanisa and the fresh produce section includes sitaw, talong, calabasa and much more. Patel Brothers made a commitment to share their knowledge of Indian foods and flavors with the people of Long Island. They offer a full line of groceries from dry goods to frozen items to fresh produce.

The Hicksville Farmers Market runs every Sunday between June and November. Located in Kennedy Memorial Park at the intersection of Broadway and Jerusalem Avenue, regional producers sell fresh produce, fish, herbs, jams, baked goods, dairy items and more.