Easiest way from Midtown to NY Botanic Garden and Arthur Avenue
Jun 19th, 2009, 04:16 AM
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Easiest way from Midtown to NY Botanic Garden and Arthur Avenue
We will be in NYC next week and are planning to go to the NY Botanic Garden and hopefully will have time for Arthur Avenue also. What is the easiest way to get there from midtown by public transport? I have driven there once but this time would prefer subway or train. The website gives directions but I am looking for your advice on what is simplest and/or quickest.
We want to visit the Botanic Garden first and then go to Arthur Avenue to eat and shop. So if you could direct us on how to best travel from one to the other would be helpful too. Thanks.
We want to visit the Botanic Garden first and then go to Arthur Avenue to eat and shop. So if you could direct us on how to best travel from one to the other would be helpful too. Thanks.
Jun 19th, 2009, 04:32 AM
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I was there last Saturday and always drive, but I believe Metro North from Grand Central stops right across the street from the side entrance of the NYBG. Just to let you know, the rose garden has not held up well from all the rain. The George Ehret exhibit in the library is worth seeing.
Jun 19th, 2009, 04:47 AM
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Yes, Metro North from Grand Central is incredibly easy to use to get to the Botanical Gardens. Easier than a taxi. Just walk across the parking lot and enter the Gardens.
I don't know how you get from the Gardens to Arthur Ave. Sorry.
I don't know how you get from the Gardens to Arthur Ave. Sorry.
Jun 19th, 2009, 05:31 AM
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It's not that far, just one Metro North stop back toward Manhattan and then east on Fordham Rd.; there's a city bus that should take you from the station to Arthur Ave., or you could walk from there. There's also a subway stop fairly close; I think it's the number 4 train. You could even walk from the botanical garden (it's only about a mile), but I'm not sure about safety there.
Jun 19th, 2009, 06:02 AM
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Thank you all for your quick replies. Metro North it is. Centralparkgirl, would love suggestions on where to eat/shop. When we were there before we saw a salami shop on a corner with a line out the door and I want to go back there but don't remember the name. It was raining buckets that day so we opted not to stand in line.
Jun 19th, 2009, 08:53 AM
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I spent an afternoon at ARthur Avenue last week and confirm that this is a fabulous area for anyone interested in food. There are many shops selling salumi, but the most famous of these is probably Calabria Pork Store, 2338 Arthur Avenue. They are famous for their sobressata, in particular the "flat" sobressata, which they expect to arrive this week. (They were out of it when I was there but there is an endless array of products on hand)
I would urge you not to miss Borgatti Ravioli on 632 East 187th Street, for house-made fresh pasta, as well as dried locally made- and imported pastas and pasta-related products. Lovely people; their pasta is the best I've had fresh in the NY area.
Another worthwhile stop is Calandra Cheese, a bit south of Calabria Pork on the same side of the street, at 2314 Arthur Avenue. Fresh ricotta and mozarella, as well as an interesting sheep's milk cheese washed with Calabrian red pepper.
I could go on and on, but I am sure my audience will dwindle. Feel free to ask questions.
We had an excellent lunch at Roberto's, but I am sure you already know about that place! They have soft shell crab, by the way. I usually order from the blackboard.
I reach the area by car. As mentioned, public transport is less than straightforward, especially if you plan to be carrying lots of packages home with you.
A small group might share a car service--$30 from midtown Manhattan.
I would urge you not to miss Borgatti Ravioli on 632 East 187th Street, for house-made fresh pasta, as well as dried locally made- and imported pastas and pasta-related products. Lovely people; their pasta is the best I've had fresh in the NY area.
Another worthwhile stop is Calandra Cheese, a bit south of Calabria Pork on the same side of the street, at 2314 Arthur Avenue. Fresh ricotta and mozarella, as well as an interesting sheep's milk cheese washed with Calabrian red pepper.
I could go on and on, but I am sure my audience will dwindle. Feel free to ask questions.
We had an excellent lunch at Roberto's, but I am sure you already know about that place! They have soft shell crab, by the way. I usually order from the blackboard.
I reach the area by car. As mentioned, public transport is less than straightforward, especially if you plan to be carrying lots of packages home with you.
A small group might share a car service--$30 from midtown Manhattan.
Jun 19th, 2009, 09:07 AM
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eks, thanks for your input. Giacomo won't be with me this time but has requested salumi from that shop. I am traveling with a friend this time and I don't have in/out privilege in the garage so it will have to be Metro North. The cheese and pasta shop sound wonderful too. Please do go on and on. We love food shopping, our main event when in the city.
Hmmm, about the soft shell crab... I'm from the Eastern Shore of MD on the Chesapeake Bay, I would be curious to see if they can prepare it as well as I am used to.
Hmmm, about the soft shell crab... I'm from the Eastern Shore of MD on the Chesapeake Bay, I would be curious to see if they can prepare it as well as I am used to.
Jun 19th, 2009, 11:52 AM
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guilty admission
I went to Roberto's because it is considered to be the go to place. I don't recall what we ordered, but I do recall being unimpressed. What do regulars know about ordering that I missed?
And still curious about the walk from BG to AAve - is it really considered a sketchy walk to newyorkers?
I went to Roberto's because it is considered to be the go to place. I don't recall what we ordered, but I do recall being unimpressed. What do regulars know about ordering that I missed?
And still curious about the walk from BG to AAve - is it really considered a sketchy walk to newyorkers?
Jun 19th, 2009, 11:55 AM
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oh and there is something both horrifying and intriguing about seeing the lambs and lamb heads on display at the butchers of arthur ave. we should always know just where our food comes from, and there is a basic purity of seeing the real thing on display instead of pretty little chops.
Jun 19th, 2009, 12:33 PM
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The walk from BBG to Arthur Aveue is ok - just a bit long and commercial/urban. Hopstop.com will map it for you - be sure you enter the proper borough (bronx) and walking only on the pull down menus.
I think the Roberto's pizza place, Zero Otto Nove ( around the corner from Roberto's is a bit better than roberto's - the pastas, salumi and pizza are pretty good. Check out the website:
http://www.roberto089.com/index_089.html
I think the Roberto's pizza place, Zero Otto Nove ( around the corner from Roberto's is a bit better than roberto's - the pastas, salumi and pizza are pretty good. Check out the website:
http://www.roberto089.com/index_089.html
Jun 19th, 2009, 01:52 PM
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What "regulars" (and I am not one, eating here only a couple of times a year) know about Roberto's is really the same idea that you would use in Italy--order the specials off the board on the wall. I think that the reputation of the restaurant may lead people to have expectations that are too high to be met. It might not qualify as impressive, (more like home cooking, with a few flourishes) but if you stick mainly to the specials, you can have an excellent meal of (mostly Campanian) dishes. I think it has the best food in the area.
I have not been to his new place, Trattoria 089 (089 is the area code for Salerno, Roberto's hometown) but it does look very nice and also offers pizzas.
I would have no trouble walking from the Gardens to AA, but in answer to your question, there are NYers who do advise against doing this. Mostly people who have probably never done the walk themselves. You do pass through an area that might scare off people who have never been to NY, or have never been outside the usual tourist areas of Manhattan.
Bfrac: I don't think that any crab we get here would pass muster with a person from the Eastern Shore! But I think those are different crabs, right? The dish was very good at Roberto's, but I am not tellling anyone to run there to order them.
Also, the portions there are tremendous--the pasta my friend had could have fed four people. It was a porcini/tomato cut pasta--a name I had never heard before that began with "M" and was not maltagliati--and it was cooked in the restaurant's signature style--in cartoccio, or in a foil pouch. One dish that I love--not sure if this is on the printed menu or not, but they always can make it--is the appetizer of grilled scamorza served with grilled red peppers and black olives, and a green vegetable--spinach last week.
I have not been to his new place, Trattoria 089 (089 is the area code for Salerno, Roberto's hometown) but it does look very nice and also offers pizzas.
I would have no trouble walking from the Gardens to AA, but in answer to your question, there are NYers who do advise against doing this. Mostly people who have probably never done the walk themselves. You do pass through an area that might scare off people who have never been to NY, or have never been outside the usual tourist areas of Manhattan.
Bfrac: I don't think that any crab we get here would pass muster with a person from the Eastern Shore! But I think those are different crabs, right? The dish was very good at Roberto's, but I am not tellling anyone to run there to order them.
Also, the portions there are tremendous--the pasta my friend had could have fed four people. It was a porcini/tomato cut pasta--a name I had never heard before that began with "M" and was not maltagliati--and it was cooked in the restaurant's signature style--in cartoccio, or in a foil pouch. One dish that I love--not sure if this is on the printed menu or not, but they always can make it--is the appetizer of grilled scamorza served with grilled red peppers and black olives, and a green vegetable--spinach last week.
Jun 19th, 2009, 01:58 PM
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Madonia Bros - great bakery 2348 Arthur Ave - Their olive bread is to die for. They fill cannolis to order. The best little sesame seed cookies.
Teitel Bros - (I know, forget the name) 2372 AAve - Great EVOO - Edda 1L $7 - just bought Don Luigi 1L organic $8 or 9 - haven't tried it yet. Rao's Marinara sauce - 32 oz - the best price. Artisanal pasta from Italy, etc.
Biancardi Butcher - near Madonia - just in case you want to see the little heads on the tray looking at you - rear showcase - LOL
Enzo restaurant - 2339 AAve - across the street from Madonia Bros - they serve the bread here. Small, but delicious well-priced menu. Just had an appetizer of mussels marinara - so fresh and a huge portion. That and a salad was lunch.
Pasquale's Rigoletto - 2311 AAve - very large menu - lunch portions and prices are like dinner. Share a pasta and some apps - Linguine with white clam sauce is excellent.
There are many other shops to browse in. You will have fun!
Teitel Bros - (I know, forget the name) 2372 AAve - Great EVOO - Edda 1L $7 - just bought Don Luigi 1L organic $8 or 9 - haven't tried it yet. Rao's Marinara sauce - 32 oz - the best price. Artisanal pasta from Italy, etc.
Biancardi Butcher - near Madonia - just in case you want to see the little heads on the tray looking at you - rear showcase - LOL
Enzo restaurant - 2339 AAve - across the street from Madonia Bros - they serve the bread here. Small, but delicious well-priced menu. Just had an appetizer of mussels marinara - so fresh and a huge portion. That and a salad was lunch.
Pasquale's Rigoletto - 2311 AAve - very large menu - lunch portions and prices are like dinner. Share a pasta and some apps - Linguine with white clam sauce is excellent.
There are many other shops to browse in. You will have fun!
Jun 20th, 2009, 03:29 AM
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I was just going to post about Madonia Bakery! (see CPG post above). Besides the things she mentioned, their chocolate biscotti and, surprisingly, their 7-grain bread is FABULOUS! We had some for dinner here last night and the suggestion was made to drive up to AA just to buy more of this bread!
Jun 20th, 2009, 04:11 AM
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ekscrunchy - I've been known to get carried away. I've bought breads (basic Tuscan) at Terranova on 187th and would freeze them - but something gets lost after awhile - and you're limited to toasting it. I like your idea of going there often and buying fresh! Dh liked Madonia's pistacchio biscotti.
