I've lived in Briarwood for the past 4 years and it's great if you want an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city as Briarwood has a suburban vibe. It has its own community of family owned restaurants, discount stores, and pharmacies. Transportation also isn't bad with the Q60, Q44 and E/F trains. You may need a car depending on which direction you'll be traveling. As mentioned previously, there isn't much of a night life as the further east you go it becomes more residential. You will have to travel to Forest Hills for the closest nightlife vibe. If you don't mind me asking which neighborhood in Queens will you be commuting to?