Hazen St, Ditmars | Steinway

Yes, Hazen Street leads you to the entrance to Rikers Island (on 19th Avenue - I've written another review about that). Come just a few blocks away from that infamous entrance, however, and you'll be at what I have come to regard as my "mystery spot in Queens."

On one side of Hazen Street is 49th Street. It is followed by 48th, 47th, 46th and so on. However, just the other side of Hazen Street is 72ND STREET, followed by 73rd, 74th and so on. How does this happen? Actually the first time I saw it (I was just wandering the neighborhood) I though neighborhood kids had done something with the signs. As I continued to walk, however, I realized they couldn't have changed ALL the signs.

So I've come to accept it as the anomaly that it seems to be. It's Queens, and anything can happen here. And probably does.

Hazen street is really nothing wonderful. small stores, a nice jewlery store, and a few places you might want to grab a snack are all nearby. The interesting thing about Hazen street is in its musical and punitive histories. What does jail and rock have to do with this street? Well, this two way road leads directly to Riker's Island penetentiary, eek and oh great. But this street is also the name of a rock band. I really don't know much about the band, I have just heard of them, but an interesting coincidence!