4 days with 3 teens in June. Staying in Manhattan. Done most touristy things on previous visit. Would love to check out the Arthur Ave, etc. area of Bronx and have a great Italian dinner. Worried about getting lost and ending up in an unsafe area. Unfortunately most of our exposure to the Bronx is the bad stuff on tv shows. Can anyone advise? Also - better to subway or drive our car? Thank you for any information.

Easy-take a taxi.Arthur Ave is safe.But you might be happier in a cab.

Public transportation would involve use of the subway and a bus. The main shopping street is E. 187th Street. Metered parking is available on that street. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding a taxi to take you but finding one to return could be a problem. I would opt for the car. You might also consider doing this during the day and combining this with a visit to the Bronx Zoo. If you indicate your starting point specific driving instructions can be provided.

Although the food on Arthur Avenue is good, it is not great. Acutally, I prefer the Italian food in some of the better more local restaurants. The Arthur Ave area has changed a lot in the past ten years as it is more ethnically diverse than it once was so that unique atmosphere is gone. Little Italy in NYC would be my preference. If you are going to the Bronx anyway for zoo, then definitely give it a try.

Also, another way to get to the zoo from NYC would be to take the MetroNorth commuter train from Grand Central Station and get off at the Botanical Gardens. It is a short walk from there to the the zoo, gardens and Arthur Ave, plus a less seedy neighborhood than the subway area.

The zoo does have parking and there is ample parking on Arthur Ave if you decide to drive.

The Bronx is a great place to experience another side of New York and you and your children will be fine...also, since you're thinking of going in June, you have more daylight on your side...there are 2 subway lines that will take you near the area and then you can walk or take a very short bus ride, or you can take the Metro North train to the Fordham Road (at Jerome Avenue) stop and then walk about 4 blocks to Arthur Avenue...the Metro North train lets you off right outside Fordham University's Rose Hill Campus with its gothics buildings, which is quite a wonderful sight to see in the middle of all that urban sprawl...Fordham Road is a very busy area filled with street vendors, shops, and people...once you get to Arthur Avenue you will have many restaurants to choose from...Mario's is practically a landmark and they still serve good food...another good one is Dominick's...or you could walk the few blocks in there and choose one at random...and save room for dessert at one of the many cafe/bakeries that are there...although my parents home was in the city, my grandmother's was in the Bronx and since I spent alot of time with her I consider it part of my backyard...if you want more details about the Bronx, post back.

Oops...gothic, not gothics.

I don't know if these dates fall into your travel plans, but I forgot to mention that the Church of Mt. Carmel on 187th Avenue between Hughes and Belmont (Arthur Avenue) will be hosting its annual Feast of St. Anthony from June 1st through the 13th this year...it's another great way to experience a New York neighborhood event and you can feast on sausage & pepper sandwiches and zeppoles, and so much more.

Hey Merilee do you remember Jahn's Krum's and Alexander's? I remember going to the movies at the Paradise Theater on the Grand Concourse. It had that beautiful staircase and the ceiling was the sky. I don't think there are any movie theaters like that around anymore. During the summer we would get ice cream from the Mister Softee truck and ices from the Good Humor Man and sometimes the Bungalow Bar Man would drive around. We lived off Fordham on Valentine. It was great back then.

Gina:

I grew up pn 205th and grand concourse! I remember all that stuff! If you really want to get nostalgic, go to www.bronxboard.com

JOHN

Thanks it's a great site.