Faced with rising rents in Williamsburg, Eileen Raab packed up four years ago and moved to Richmond Hill.
Initially attracted by the lower cost -- $1,100 for a one-bedroom in a private house in Queens compared to $1,400 for a one-bedroom in Brooklyn -- Raab quickly fell in love with the rambling Victorians, tree-lined streets and the relative quiet of her new neighborhood.
Front lawns are dotted with toys, children of all ethnicities tool around on bicycles and neighbors wave hello from their front porches.
"You're coming from the city to the country, basically," said Raab, a project manager at a construction company.
For longtime residents and newcomers, Richmond Hill offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Yet it's close to major highways and minutes away from Manhattan on the J/Z or A trains.
"It's so beautiful to go out and hear the birds and listen to the chirping and the butterflies flying around," said Nancy Cataldi, a resident since 1963. "And again you're saying, 'I'm in Queens?'"
Find it
Richmond Hill is bordered by Kew Gardens, Jamaica, Woodhaven and Ozone Park. The boundaries are roughly around Metropolitan Avenue to the north, Van Wyck Expressway to the east, Liberty Avenue to the south and Woodhaven Boulevard to the west, according to local historian Carl Ballenas.
Q&A with Lou Gazzale
Twenty-five years ago, Lou Gazzale, 66, co-owner of Wise Drugs Inc. on Jamaica Avenue, left Bellmore, Long Island, to return to Queens. His family settled into an early 20th century Victorian in north Richmond Hill.
Why did you move to Richmond Hill?
I had my business here for many, many years. My children were getting older and my wife was helping us in the pharmacy … We didn't want them to be alone … So we decided to come back and we never regretted it ... I love the big, big trees.
What do you like best about it?
I personally feel connected to it as a small town because of my role as a health provider and as a pharmacist. I know hundreds of people by their first names and that's a unique, interesting experience to have.
What's the biggest concern for residents?
To see these beautiful houses torn down to put in something garish, almost. It's sad. Everyone is united to try and stop that.
How has the neighborhood changed since you've been here?
It changed like most of New York City. We're a wonderful magnet for people from all over the world. They all want to come.
To play
Rack 'Em Up Billiards
There are 14 pool tables, video games and music until 2 a.m.
102-14 Jamaica Ave
718-441-8340
Little Brown Jug
A friendly neighborhood bar, known simply as "the jug," where an older crowd gathers to watch sports and play pools and darts. During football season, there are free appetizers.
124-02 Jamaica Ave.
718-846-9609
Lenihan's
Lenihan's has been in the neighborhood longer than some of its patrons. With more than 20 television screens to choose from, customers have a pick of what game to watch. Every Tuesday, Lenihan's serves 15-cent buffalo wings and $2 Bud Lights.
119-09 Atlantic Ave.
718-846-9770
To do & see
Forest Park
The 538-acre park includes a golf course, athletic facility, hiking trails and a bike path. The Queens Symphony Orchestra plays at the George Seuffert Bandshell on Sundays. There are free concerts and shows for kids on Wednesdays.
718-235-0815
Richmond Hill
Archival Museum
Exhibits include historical photographs, newspaper articles, journals, legal documents and memorabilia from Richmond Hill's history. Available by appointment.
718-847-6070
A Victorian walk
The sidewalks of Richmond Hill were lined with 4,000 newly planted trees before the houses were even constructed. The "cottages," as the houses were called, included colorful Queen Annes with turrets, wraparound porches and maids' quarters. Get a taste of Victorian living along Myrtle Avenue, north of Jamaica Avenue, between 109th and 115th streets.
The Buzz
Residents are concerned about illegal conversions and illegal occupancies. Some owners of one- and two-family homes are converting basements and attics into rentals without proper permits, sparking concern about safety and overcrowding among other residents.
In a related matter, residents were successful in getting parts of Richmond Hill down zoned to prevent developers from tearing down one-family homes and erecting two and three homes on the same lot.
To eat
There are plenty of ethnic restaurants in Richmond Hill, from Mexican, Peruvian and Bolivian on Jamaica Avenue to Trinidadian and Guyanese on Liberty Avenue and South Asian near Atlantic Avenue.
Salerno
It's a cozy, old-fashioned Italian restaurant that has been featured on the big screen. Old-timers return from Long Island and New Jersey for Salerno's homemade pasta and veal.
117-11 Hillside Ave.
718-846-9742
Bamboo Garden
A casual family restaurant that puts a West Indian/Guyanese twist on Chinese cooking. Booths are made from bamboo and are designed to look like Caribbean beach huts.
107-04 Atlantic Ave.
718-849-1611/718-849-1612
Singh's Roti
Shop and Bar
Singh serves Indo-Trinidadian cuisine: doubles and a variety of rotis, including goat, shrimp, beef, chicken, conch and duck.
113-18 Liberty Ave.
718-323-5990
La Cantina
This little pizza joint also offers a full Italian menu.
110-23 Jamaica Ave.
718-441-0344
Tandoori Hut
Small and cozy, Tandoori Hut is well-known for its cheap, traditional and extremely spicy Indian dishes.
119-04 94th Ave.
718-850-8919/ 718-847-9991
Jahn's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour
The owners have changed, but this neighborhood institution continues to serve Jahn's ice cream. Bring a healthy appetite because their version of a "scoop" fills an 8-ounce cup. There also is the "kitchen sink" -- three gallons of ice cream topped off with whipped cream. Jahn's also serves a full menu.
117-03 Hillside Ave.
718-847-2800
To shop
The main commercial strips are Jamaica and Liberty avenues. Liberty Avenue is a vibrant shopping lane at the heart of the Indo-West Indian community. An eclectic mix of mom-and-pops include hardware, electronics and thrift shops.
LUV Music & Fashion
A wide selection of recent and classic Bollywood movies, soundtracks and pop albums. Also pick up saris, bangles and religious items.
124-11 Liberty Ave.
718-843-4386
Natasha Sari
Natasha carries colorful beaded saris, lehngas, salwars, jewelry, and musical and religious items.
123-06 Liberty Ave.
718-641-5221
Cameo Pet Shop
Owner Steve Gruebel specializes in tropical birds and fish. Take a look at the black South American Pacu, which he says is 36 years old. The birth date? April 1, 1970.
115-23 Jamaica Ave.
718-849-6678
Knockout
For $40 get an outfit -- sans shoes -- at this affordable yet trendy women's store. Clothes range from bohemian to formal.
119-01 Liberty Ave.
718-641-4693
Hobby Shop
The hobby shop is for adults, though the remote-controlled planes, cars and other toys might suggest otherwise. In-house mechanics can repair "anything but a broken heart."
104-40 Jamaica Ave.
718-441-7999
The basics
-Schools: Richmond Hill is in Region 5. P.S. 51, 87-45 117 St.; P.S. 54, 86-02 127 St.; P.S. 56, 86-10 114 St.; P.S. 62, 97-25 108 St.; P.S. 66, 85-11 102 St.; P.S. 90, 86-50 109 St.; Richmond Hill High School, 89-30 114th St.; and The High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture (opened July 2006), 94-06 104 St.
There also are a number of parochial schools, including Holy Child Jesus, 111-02 86 Ave.; St. Benedict Joseph Labre, 94-25 117th St.; Our Lady of Cenacle, 87-25 136th St.; and Yeshivat Ohr Haiim, 86-06 135th St.
-Transportation: Trains: J and Z along Jamaica Avenue; A to Lefferts Boulevard; and E to Union Turnpike, Kew Gardens, to connect to the Q 10 or Q 37, or to Jamaica Center for the J. LIRR to Kew Gardens. Buses: Q 8, 10, 24, 37, 41, 55, 56, and 112.
-Police: The 102 Precinct covers most of Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven and parts of Ozone Park. As of July 23, the precinct reported murders, rapes and felony assaults had increased since that time last year. Murders doubled to six, rapes increased from 10 to 12 and assaults rose from 104 to 122. The 106 Precinct, which covers South Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park, saw a decrease in murders from four to one, but an increase in rapes and robberies.