Hanging out in the Nassau HUB Area
Written: Jul 15 '03 (Updated Nov 05 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Lots of stores, good food and entertainment.
Cons: High Traffic on the weekends.
The Bottom Line: Come here for the biggest shopping and sports area on Long Island.
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| halokiti's Full Review: Long Island |
What's the HUB?
The Nassau HUB would be considered the area that encompasses the Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall, Nassau Coliseum, Hostra University, Eisenhower Park, Museum Row, Mitchell Field, The Source Mall, and the strip malls on Old Country Road in the cities of Westbury, Garden City, and Uniondale. This is probably the busiest area on Long Island not considering the Hamptons during a weekend in the summer. This small area has a lot of various activities so it would make a fun day trip if you want to go do something and go shopping.
The Shopping
Roosevelt Field
This is probably the best shopping mall on the Island. With around 200 stores for every taste. The anchor stores include Macy's, Bloomingdale's, JCPenney's, Nordstroms, and outdoor superstore, Galyan's. The food court set under a grandiose replica of the Zeppelin balloon has the usual stuff. Unique stores to look for in the mall: Armani Exchange, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, MAC Cosmetics, Apple computer store, Dylan's Candy Bar, Coach, Restoration Hardware, Sephora. The mall also has a 8 screen Loews movie theatre: $9 reg ticket, $6 matinee. A few restaurants also: Houston's-expensive American food with a contemporary decor, Panini Grill- moderately priced Italian, the new Legal Sea Foods - expensive seafood restaurant chain from Boston. Insider tip: easiest to find parking on the second level of the parking complex near Nordstroms.
The Mall at the Source
This is the smaller of the two malls. It has a few outlet stores within, the bigger ones being Off Saks Fifth and Nordstrom Rack. Not quite as nice as Roosevelt Field, but it's good for less crowded shopping on weekends. It also has one of the busiest restaurant on LI, The Cheesecake Factory. This is probably the best restaurant around in this area though, known for its huge entrees and salads and its selection of cheesecake. For entertainment in this mall, there's the mega arcade, eatery, bowling alley, game room, bar- Jillian's. It's slightly expensive but it will entertain the kids as well as the adults after 9pm. This mall is attached to the Fortunoffs department store selling upscale housegoods and jewelry.
the area around Glen Cove Road
This area contains outlet stores and lots of furniture stores. Traffic heavy and crazy drivers so be warned.
Costco Plaza on Old Country Road
Typical strip mall with a massively busy Price Costco, Marshall's, Sports Authority, and Borders. Another WalMart is opening soon. Also has three chain restaurants- California Pizza Kitchen, Olive Garden, Ruby Tuesday's.
What to do around here other than shopping
Although going to the mall/shopping is probably the number one social activity on Long Island, there are other things to do. Here's a few suggestions:
Catch a sports game
There are actually sporting events year around in this area. There's hockey with the Islanders, college football at Hostra, arena football with the Dragons, as well as the men's lacrosse team the NY Saints. You can also do it the cheap way and go to Eisenhower Park to do some sporting activities. Lots of fields, golfing, and the biggest swimming complex in North America. Mini-golf and batting cages also.
Go to the Museums
With two relatively new museums you can't go wrong. The Long Island Childrens Museum has various exhibits and activities for children. The Cradle of Aviation has exhibits that documents the evolution of flight. It has an IMAX dome movie theatre and Mars Simulator Ride.
Go partying
With a college nearby, this area has plenty of bars and clubs.
Watch a movie
If you get tired, there's always a movie. With two movie theatres you can catch almost all the wide-release movies. The nicer of the two would be the Roosevelt Raceway theatre near Target.
Where to Eat
Some recommendations...
Cheap
Thomas's, this place has been here for more than 50 years. Serves the best breakfast and it's cheap. Love their omletes. It serves stuff other than breakfast as well, delicious diner and comfort food. Very busy on the weekends and limited parking. Located on Old Country Road across from the Levitz furniture store
International Buffet, an ex-club turned chinese buffet. Good enough that even Chinese people go there. They have the usual stuff- Generl Tso's Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, etc. Also has sushi and a good selection of soup. For those who don't feel like Asian there are some European selections. They also have seafood- lobster, crab legs, oyster bar during dinner time. Major crossroad is Stewart Ave, turn at the Bristol Meyers Squibb bldg.
Moderate
Minado, the biggest Japanese buffet ever. This massive place seats 500 people. Has a huge selection of Japanese than includes more than just the usual sushi and sashimi. On Glen Cove Road in the strip mall with the Eastern Mountain Sports store.
Zen Palate, Asian-fusion vegetarian. For the more adventurous crowd, there's this delightful vegetarian place. For me, the food resembles Chinese vegetarian food. Anyways, it's pretty yummy and the decor is relaxing. On Old Country Road across from the Source Mall.
Cheesecake Factory, more than just cheesecake. The salads are towering and the entrees so big it's unfinishable. More importantly it is almost always delicious. My favorite cheesecake is the tiramisu, eat it with the unbelievable cappuccino. As I have already written before, this place is busy all the time so be prepared to wait. For the least waiting time go to there around 4pm-5pm.
Chain restaurants around that I think are good are: Bertucci's, TGI Friday's, Olive Garden, Chili's, Macaroni Grill.
Expensive
Carltun on the Park and Ruth Chris Steak House. Since I haven't been to either of these places myself, I don't have much to say about it.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
halokiti
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Member: Erica Jim
Location: Long Island, NY
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
ex-student with a B.S. in B.A with concentrations in Marketing, Finance, International Business.
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