Live Like a Local: New York City's Food and Neighborhoods

Exploring New York City’s Neighborhoods

New York’s appeal is not limited to Times Square, Broadway or the Empire State Building. Its personality is found block by block—in its food, neighborhoods and everyday encounters with its residents.  There is a constant rhythm of people coming and going.

New York City has hundreds of neighborhoods, each with its own identity and character. Conversations in many languages can be heard throughout the city. It is one of the most colorful places you will ever visit.

As a Brooklyn resident, I have spent years exploring the city, one neighborhood at a time.  I’ll highlight just a few of my favorites.

Park Slope, Brooklyn: Brownstones with a Vibe

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn’s most popular residential neighborhoods, known for its tree-lined streets, historic brownstones and strong sense of community. Fifth and Seventh Avenues are the neighborhood’s main commercial streets, filled with independent "mom & pop" shops, cafés and restaurants serving food from around the world. Delivery bicycles are rampant in the neighborhood.

The neighborhood borders Prospect Park, a favorite place to walk, ride a bicycle or people-watch. Nearby attractions include the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Grand Army Plaza. 

Every Saturday, the year-round Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket brings regional farmers and food producers to the entrance of Prospect Park.  You may also come across small community gardens in the neighborhood where you can pause and take a break.

Park Slope feels distinctly local and is a nice place to experience everyday Brooklyn life. You may see dogs parked on brownstone steps by dogwalkers getting ready for their daily walk.  Over the years, Park Slope has attracted newcomers from across New York and beyond who have decided to put down roots here and regard it as a special place to raise their children.

Greenwich Village: New York’s Coolest Neighborhood

Washington Square Park is the Village’s lively focal point, where people congregate beneath the iconic Washington Square Arch. The Village has long been associated with artists, writers, musicians and political and social movements.

 

Comedy clubs, jazz and rock venues, and an enormous selection of restaurants add to the neighborhood’s appeal. It is fun simply to wander along Bleecker and MacDougal Streets to soak up the atmosphere. There is nothing boring about this neighborhood. Even the quieter, townhouse-lined blocks of the West Village are part of the experience.

The East Village: Grittier but Equally Interesting

The East Village has a younger, grittier and more energetic personality. It is filled with restaurants, bars, music venues and remnants of the neighborhood’s counterculture history. The bars are especially popular with younger visitors, but the area is fascinating to explore at any age.

 

Two Weeks Solo in Italy After 60: Venetian Canals to Sicilian Shores

 

My two-week solo journey began in Venice before I flew south to Sicily. I used Catania as a base for visiting Mount Etna and Siracusa, continued to Taormina and Palermo, and then flew north to Milan. I ended the trip with a day exploring Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna.

      

Venice — There Is No City Quite Like It

For me, there is no city quite like Venice. It is one of those places that you have seen so many times in photos that it almost doesn't seem real. When you walk along the canals and through the narrow alleys, it feels like you should be sharing it with someone special. But it is so beautiful that you quickly come to terms with seeing it solo—and simply appreciate the good fortune of being there!

As COVID was becoming less of a threat in 2022, I was antsy to get moving again. I knew I wanted to go to Venice, travel around Sicily, and also see Northern Italy, specifically Milan and the Italian Lakes. Italy is, by far, one of my favorite destinations for its culture and food.

I gave myself two weeks of travel time, which meant careful planning on how I would get from place to place, whether by train or on a couple of flights within Italy. When you travel solo, you need to be pretty meticulous about schedules and connections. At the same time, I knew I had to be flexible if everything didn't go exactly according to plan.

So, I got to work on the planning—and I was excited, but a bit nervous, to be traveling again.

Getting from Marco Polo Airport to Venice 

Getting to Venice from Marco Polo Airport was easy. The quickest, but more costly way was to arrive by "water bus", but I chose to take a regular bus for the relatively short ride. 

The bus dropped me at Piazzale Roma, Venice's main bus and transportation hub. From there, I used Google Maps to find Hotel Tiziano crossing a number of bridges and canals with my roller bag along the way. It was quite a workout! Hotel Tiziano is housed in a 15th-century residence in the charming and quieter Dorsoduro neighborhood, a relatively short walk from Piazzale Roma and fairly close to St. Mark's Square.

    

Venice is a city without ordinary streets and cars in its historic center. Instead, you get around on foot or by Venice's public water bus, the vaporetto. The vaporetto is practical and also one of the best ways to see the city from the canals. Riding along the Grand Canal, past centuries-old palaces, is magical.

After I settled into my lovely Venetian decorated room, I set out to find St. Mark's Square.  Hotels in Venice can be pricey. You can stay further away, paying much less for a room, and take a bus to the city, but I recommend staying in Venice so you can soak up the whole experience, if only there for a few days. It was well worth it and a smart decision.

Carnival Venezia Cruise New York to Caribbean - What to Expect, What to Love, What to Avoid

This year, it is time for a sister trip. 

We've done long weekends previously in the Southern U.S. to Charleston, Savannah, and Hilton Head, but this trip would be a longer stay and the first time cruising together. This is Donna's first time on a cruise ship so I'm hoping all goes smoothly.

Because we both have a special affinity for things Italian, a cruise on the Carnival Venezia, designed with a Venetian-inspired theme, seemed like a good choice for a faux Italy experience. At least I know we will be happy with the food as I expect that there will be a lot of pasta (followed by a lot of gym time).

The cruise is 9 days, leaving from NYC with stops in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas, USVI. The ship also goes to Bermuda and Canada/New England from NYC. Its other port is near Orlando. 

So far, it looks as though the weather is cooperating with no predictable storms. I've packed motion sickness tablets just in case. 

We are getting mentally prepared for the rowdy drinkers, games in the atrium, and the party-like atmosphere. Released from the daily grind, people lose their inhibitions rather quickly on cruise ships. Acknowledging our limitations with “fun time", there will be a quiet space to escape to with a balcony, thankfully.

THE EMBARKATION /DISEMBARKATION EXPERIENCE

Embarking on Carnival Venezia from NYC had a rocky start with massive lines.

We arrived at the Manhattan Cruise pier, Pier 88 on West 48th Street at noon, to be exact, per our instructions.

It appeared that many passengers arrived much earlier than their scheduled appointments and the registration staff was overwhelmed managing the lines. We started getting nervous and were thinking the trip was going to be a disaster. I broke the news to Donna that the capacity was 4,000 passengers and she looked at me with disbelief. I assumed this was a known fact, but not for a first-time cruiser who never stepped foot on a ship. 

All in all, the process, about 60 minutes, seemed much longer with all the people vying to get on board for lunch and being somewhat aggressive. Did I mention the dogs sniffing carry-ons for drugs? I would advise the cruise line to seek a way of making this procedure a more pleasant experience.

Priority boarding might have sped things along. The charge is at various price points from $80 to $210 per cabin, depending on the length of the cruise. It is something to consider if you can spend the extra dough.

Fortunately, the disembarkation went more smoothly and we were on the street 20 minutes later. This was due to sheer luck. We were able to intercept a spot on the line to the gangway forming outside our room a few feet away. My advice is to take your bags with you when leaving the ship. It will save you a lot of time instead of searching for them in the terminal where they were collected the prior night. I can't vouch for how the bags get organized but I'd guess it is not simple to find them. 

Our ride with Revel arrived 15 minutes later and deposited us back in Brooklyn within the hour. Considering it was the morning rush, I was pleased with the timing. 

Anyway back to Day 1 … once settled in, things gradually improved. Nothing like a sour apple martini and soothing music for calming frayed nerves. 

But we had to briefly report to our Muster Station on Deck 5 before the celebratory drinks. In the event of an emergency, passengers must report to their assigned Muster Station for a head count and evacuation instructions. The Captain takes this very seriously and this procedure takes place before the ship sets out to sea. Passengers who do not participate are reported and reprimanded. So stay out of trouble and go to your Muster station after you get on board. Your boarding pass will tell you where to go.

The trip to reach Amber Cove, Dominican Republic takes 3 days from New York. During that time, there are a multitude of activities to subdue and entertain cruisers. Not being party people, here are a few tips to make the trip more enjoyable.

OTHER OPTIONS TO "FUN TIME"

1) visit the gym - it is well equipped and very accessible in off-peak hours

2) find a quiet place to read mystery novels - maybe the Carnavale Lounge

3) don't be afraid to try new foods - the choices are limitless 

4) watch the ocean and changes to the sky from the outside decks or your balcony

5) find a musical venue where you like the atmosphere and hang out there for entertainment

6) seek out the Serenity deck for relaxation. There are hot tubs and no one under 21 can enter.

It took one day upon leaving New York City for the weather to improve from overcast to sunny. We were happy when the retractable roof over the Lido pool area on deck 10 opened up to the blue sky.

OUR CABIN

Located on deck 2, our cabin had a balcony, which was very convenient for taking in the fresh ocean air. It contained 2 comfortable twin beds. The stateroom attendant, Ainjul, was very responsive to our needs. The rooms were made up daily between 8 am to 1 pm and fresh towels were available upon request. Being located on a lower deck, the best feature was the mesmerizing ocean current. The room decor was consistent with the Venetian style throughout the ship and storage was adequate. One thing that irritated me was the old plastic and wire hangers left behind by previous passengers. They could have been replaced with newer ones.

THE PERFECT ESCAPE

We found that the Serenity area, deck 15, was a nice spot to commandeer some lounge chairs. It is a child-free space with several hot tubs. As is the norm, you need to get there early to claim a chair but do NOT reserve other chairs for more than a few minutes in all fairness to other passengers looking to secure a spot.  

 FEASTLIKE DINING

A great feature of the cruise line is that they hire high-end chefs. 185 chefs on this particular ship prepared 25,000 meals daily!

The Canal Grande restaurant is five-star quality, in our opinion. There was a diverse menu with outstanding selections, particularly the Italian dishes. To our delight, we were served lobster tails one evening! The pastries and desserts were delicious. The food was above our expectations and we had no desire to go to specialty restaurants. The servers are happy to provide recommendations too.

Every morning, we looked forward to seeing the day's menu and then pondering what to eat that evening. This was part of our daily routine. We decided not to worry too much about the extra pounds and just enjoy.

We chose “Your Time Dining” as a dining arrangement. You go on the Carnival app, check in to the restaurant, and then wait for a response, normally 20-40 minutes later to get notified when a table is available. It took some getting used to this system before I understood what was going on. The other options for dining are fixed times at 5:30 or 7:45 for the entire cruise.

Compliments to the hardworking, friendly crew who try hard to please passengers. A special touch is that they address you by your name when ordering. Sweet!

THE CANAL GRANDE RESTAURANT

KEEPING BUSY

To our credit, we tried an arts and crafts class on a “sea day”. Unfortunately, the bracelets didn’t work out due to shoddy instructions, but at least we tried to be earnest cruisers.

We found good music in the Gondola lounge featuring a eight-member ensemble including Erin, a talented female lead, singing rock, jazz ... all types of songs. The daily cruise "newsletter" lists other musical performances to choose from to align with your musical tastes.

There is also a comedy club, the Limelight Lounge, where we saw several talented comedians. Some of the shows are R rated so don’t drag the kids in. There is usually a long line so you probably need to get there 20 mins before the door opens.

And then there is the casino. If you are a non-smoker, avoid walking through the casino at all costs, wear a mask or hold your breath.

We passed on doing line dancing with the DJ although people were having a good time.

THE AMAZING CREW

Meeting the crew is one of the aspects I enjoy most about cruising. On this ship, they represented 60 different countries. If you take a few minutes to chat with them about their lives, it may widen your cultural perspective. One of our servers from India mentioned that his brother was getting married and he would have to miss the wedding. The tribulations of crew life! 

Additionally, I observed that the passengers were mutually respectful of the crew, which was nice to see in these times. 

Staff work continuously for seven months before receiving a break to go home and visit their families. The day we departed the ship, they were getting ready for the next trip which started only 3 hours later. Amazing!

ARTISTRY - WATERMELON CARVINGS AND TOWEL ANIMALS

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1 - Arrive closer to your appointment window and consider priority boarding

2 - Bring a mask near the casino - ventilation can be poor

3 - Secure lounge chairs at the Serenity deck early to claim a space

4 - Ask for chef recommendations at the Canal Grande restaurant

5 - Keep your phone in airplane mode to avoid being hit with roaming charges while out at sea.

6 - Report to your Muster station after you board the ship.