New York City Borough Walking: Where for Diverse Flavorful Neighborhoods?
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New York City Borough Walking: Where for Diverse Flavorful Neighborhoods?
Can you recommend interesting working-class neighborhoods to walk around in in the daytime. I walked from Rego Park to Flushing Meadows following the back streets & was amazed at the side of the City I discovered. For me, a long long walk , but I could try something as long again. Can you recommend an inexpensive bike rental firm anywhere in the city?
I've walked around City Island, which I flipped for. The neighborhoods that have the fewest large apt. bldgs seem the most interesting. I think where I was in that part of Queens was Puerto Rican & El Salvadoran-settled areas. I tried to find an interesting-looking part of Jackson Heights but could not. Any advice? What I'm seeking is seeing the folks in their day-to-day low-key lives on the peaceful side streets. The small shops & eateries I'm always curious about. (I'm not seeking a cool, youthful hipster vibe).
If there are any lesser-known festivals in the outer boroughs I'm curious. Unusual music is a plus. I speak no Spanish, some French, but I try to connect. I know very little about the Bronx & only part of far Brooklyn I know is Rockaways. I'm visiting the city. I could consider getting out to the older adjoining suburbs. Grateful for your consideration.
I've walked around City Island, which I flipped for. The neighborhoods that have the fewest large apt. bldgs seem the most interesting. I think where I was in that part of Queens was Puerto Rican & El Salvadoran-settled areas. I tried to find an interesting-looking part of Jackson Heights but could not. Any advice? What I'm seeking is seeing the folks in their day-to-day low-key lives on the peaceful side streets. The small shops & eateries I'm always curious about. (I'm not seeking a cool, youthful hipster vibe).
If there are any lesser-known festivals in the outer boroughs I'm curious. Unusual music is a plus. I speak no Spanish, some French, but I try to connect. I know very little about the Bronx & only part of far Brooklyn I know is Rockaways. I'm visiting the city. I could consider getting out to the older adjoining suburbs. Grateful for your consideration.
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Hi Baylor,
This past trip to New York City, I enjoyed exploring the area from 94th Street to 116th Street, along Broadway and Amsterdam (Manhattan) for the first time. The 96th Street stop on the 1,2 or 3 subway lines would be a good starting point; you could maybe walk as far as Columbia University. Lots of enticing restaurants and less on the tourist map than other parts of the island.
I've been to New York City many times; my aunt used to live in Midtown, so on prior trips, I'd gotten to know the closer areas of Midtown, Chelsea, East and West Greenwich Village, Soho and Alphabet City well, in addition to side trips to the Financial District/South Street Seaport, Park Slope (Brooklyn) and Astoria (Queens). Astoria and Park Slope were interesting since you seem to be seeking out some boroughs that are not Manhattan... Astoria has less of the youthful hipster vibe I thought than Park Slope. Although I always discover something new & interesting even in the more familiar areas of Manhattan.
Have fun exploring! Daniel
This past trip to New York City, I enjoyed exploring the area from 94th Street to 116th Street, along Broadway and Amsterdam (Manhattan) for the first time. The 96th Street stop on the 1,2 or 3 subway lines would be a good starting point; you could maybe walk as far as Columbia University. Lots of enticing restaurants and less on the tourist map than other parts of the island.
I've been to New York City many times; my aunt used to live in Midtown, so on prior trips, I'd gotten to know the closer areas of Midtown, Chelsea, East and West Greenwich Village, Soho and Alphabet City well, in addition to side trips to the Financial District/South Street Seaport, Park Slope (Brooklyn) and Astoria (Queens). Astoria and Park Slope were interesting since you seem to be seeking out some boroughs that are not Manhattan... Astoria has less of the youthful hipster vibe I thought than Park Slope. Although I always discover something new & interesting even in the more familiar areas of Manhattan.
Have fun exploring! Daniel
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Take train from midtown or elsewhere to Coney Island or Brighton Beach, Brooklyn stops.
Walk along Brighton Beach Blvd to Sheepshead Bay, taking in Russian, Georgian, Uzbeki, Turkish, Bangladeshi areas on side streets.
If you decide to do this, I will offer more suggestions about where to shop and where to eat.
Bonus is that you can access a great stretch of oceanfront about a block from the subway stations. A boardwalk stroll is a great way to pass an hour or two in warm weather. Swimming is good, with lifeguards at the beaches along the route.
Take train to Roosevelt AVenue/74th Street in Queens, for Hispanic food and neighborhood.
For Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean, Main Street, Flushing would be a good place to get off the #7 train from midtown. (You can also take the Long Island RailRoad from Penn Station to get here; more expensive but a more comfy ride)
Again, just ask if you want specific details of my favorite spots in these areas.
Walk along Brighton Beach Blvd to Sheepshead Bay, taking in Russian, Georgian, Uzbeki, Turkish, Bangladeshi areas on side streets.
If you decide to do this, I will offer more suggestions about where to shop and where to eat.
Bonus is that you can access a great stretch of oceanfront about a block from the subway stations. A boardwalk stroll is a great way to pass an hour or two in warm weather. Swimming is good, with lifeguards at the beaches along the route.
Take train to Roosevelt AVenue/74th Street in Queens, for Hispanic food and neighborhood.
For Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean, Main Street, Flushing would be a good place to get off the #7 train from midtown. (You can also take the Long Island RailRoad from Penn Station to get here; more expensive but a more comfy ride)
Again, just ask if you want specific details of my favorite spots in these areas.
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Other areas to consider would be Iranian in the Great Neck area, accessible by Long Island RailRoad, and Italian/Albanian in the Belmont area of the Bronx.
There are many more that others might know better.
There are many more that others might know better.
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Ekscrunchy makes some excellent suggestions. There is a fabulous Turkish restaurant in Sheepshead Bay called Istanbul.
Below are some photos from a recent to Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/istanbul/menu
https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/1...24661260618865
Below are some photos from a recent to Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay.
http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/istanbul/menu
https://plus.google.com/u/1/photos/1...24661260618865
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I will have to try Istanbul! Thank you for that.
Here is another one that I like a lot, Glechik, although I see that it has been "discovered" by A. Bourdain.
http://glechik.com/our-menu/
If you go, make sure to get the borscht, and ask which of the vereiniki are the best. In my experience (admittedly only 4-5 lunches there), I found the staff to be super friendly and williing to make good suggestions. I loved the cabbage vereiniki. And the "pancakes" are good, too.
I've made the trip by train from Manhattan just to eat there, and of course, to do a little food shopping nearby. There are often older Russian ladies selling what seem to be home-made pastries, along BB Blvd. It is really a very interesting area to visit.
NYTimes just wrote about a vast new food market in the area, Gourmanoff:
http://www.gourmanoff.com/gallery.php
Here is another one that I like a lot, Glechik, although I see that it has been "discovered" by A. Bourdain.
http://glechik.com/our-menu/
If you go, make sure to get the borscht, and ask which of the vereiniki are the best. In my experience (admittedly only 4-5 lunches there), I found the staff to be super friendly and williing to make good suggestions. I loved the cabbage vereiniki. And the "pancakes" are good, too.
I've made the trip by train from Manhattan just to eat there, and of course, to do a little food shopping nearby. There are often older Russian ladies selling what seem to be home-made pastries, along BB Blvd. It is really a very interesting area to visit.
NYTimes just wrote about a vast new food market in the area, Gourmanoff:
http://www.gourmanoff.com/gallery.php
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First, I want to say that I am so happy you're interested in doing this. NYC is so diverse. Most people just go to the Empire State Building, etc. NYC is so much more than that.
ekscurnchy "For Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean, Main Street, Flushing would be a good place to get off the #7 train from midtown. " Yes, yes yes, Much better than "Chinatown" in lower Manhattan. We went to a restaurant where no one spoke English. They did have a small bit of the menu translated into English. Staff were helpful and pleasant. We were thrilled to have an authentic something-or-other meal!
Also, Brighton Beach, Coney Island area. Lots of Russian food on Brighton Beach Avenue and as one poster mentioned, the beach is just a couple of blocks away. Don't know what time of the year you're going, but there are also restaurants on the boardwalk.
ekscurnchy "For Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean, Main Street, Flushing would be a good place to get off the #7 train from midtown. " Yes, yes yes, Much better than "Chinatown" in lower Manhattan. We went to a restaurant where no one spoke English. They did have a small bit of the menu translated into English. Staff were helpful and pleasant. We were thrilled to have an authentic something-or-other meal!
Also, Brighton Beach, Coney Island area. Lots of Russian food on Brighton Beach Avenue and as one poster mentioned, the beach is just a couple of blocks away. Don't know what time of the year you're going, but there are also restaurants on the boardwalk.
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Went to this restaurant in Brighton Beach a few months go. Yummy and great prices.
http://www.skovorodkanyc.com/
Here's a great link to things to do and see in Brighton Beach:
http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/must-see-brighton-beach
http://www.skovorodkanyc.com/
Here's a great link to things to do and see in Brighton Beach:
http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/must-see-brighton-beach