Kew Gardens: Where to eat, what to do in the relaxed Queens neighborhood

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• You’re already wandering a new place, so why not experiment with a new hobby? Try your hand at pottery making at the Potter’s Wheel, 120-33 83rd Ave., and bring a new bowl, vase, plate or cup back home with you.

  Owner Grace Anker offers private one-hour introductory to wheel-throwing and hand-building classes for up to four people weekly. There are also public classes suited for beginners on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m.

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• Go to Queens and bring back a German specialty. Homestead Gourmet Shop, 8145 Lefferts Blvd., sells a vast variety of German and Polish dishes, breads, pastries and treats. The shop has been around for 70 years and has been under owner Teresa Wianecka’s management for the past 15. Everything is made fresh on site, Wianecka said. “We even make our own mayonnaise.”

  Homestead’s most popular items are the cherry, apple and cheese strudels, she added.

  If you’re more interested in eating than shopping, stay for lunch and order the potato pancakes (seasonal) or a sandwich stuffed with meat sliced on site.

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• Kew Gardens Cinemas, 8105 Lefferts Blvd., is housed in a building that’s been around since the 1930s. With Art Deco designs on the exterior, there’s even an old-fashioned ticket booth window accessible from the sidewalk. Forget current-day films and catch a Shakespeare screenings, like “The Royal Opera House: Otello.” ” data-id=”112555006″ data-link=”https://amnewyork.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20443_image.jpg” class=”wp-image-1.12555006″/>

• Head to Austin’s Ale House, 82-70 Austin St., for a drink after your movie — it’s right across the street. There are 20 local and commercial beers on tap. Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn BLAST! currently holds the title as most popular among the local brews, Johanna Cassidy (pictured), who has been a bartender at Austin’s for more than 20 years, said.

  Worrying about catching a big football game? You can catch the game on TV screens at the bar and give your wallet a break with game-day deals, like 35-cent wings and $4 drafts and shots.

  The restaurant-bar has been a staple for Kew Garden residents for 25 years, manager Colleen LaRusso said.

  The spot, of course, also has its popular fare — Shepherd’s pie empanadas with chimichurri dipping sauce are a favorite. But, “every night of the week, customers can try a different special,” she added, from Monday Muscles to Taco $2sdays.

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Spend an afternoon in Kew Gardens and you just might leave with a new hobby, heightened appreciation for nature and a taste for German food.

The neighborhood, near a 500-acre NYC park and landmarked cemetery, offers an urban-meets-suburban vibe. Just 45 minutes from Manhattan via subway, it’s a great escape from busy streets and your day-to-day routine. But if you’re not one for long commutes, consider taking the LIRR. It’ll get you there in just 20 minutes.

From what to eat to where to catch a movie, here’s how to spend the day in Kew Gardens.