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Six Farms for October Fun within Driving Distance of NYC

Oh, wonderful October. It’s the time for pumpkin patches, Oktoberfest, the inevitable corn maze, and, for the family, apple picking and hayrides. With trick or treating still under discussion and venues opening and closing with changing rules and regulations, it’s a good idea to call before you go anywhere during this unusual year. If possible, try to book an event with your own pod so you can enjoy a masked experience without the worry of stranger social distancing.

Riamede Farm

NEW JERSEY

Two farms in Morris County, New Jersey invite you to their farms this month, a mere 80-minute drive from New York City.

You can book a private wagon ride at Riamede Farm in Chester, New Jersey weekdays in October for a tour of the farm’s pumpkin patches and apple orchards. If you prefer to meander on your own, the farm is open to visitors on weekends as well and you can grab some pumpkins and gourds to decorate your home. A Farm Pass is required for entry and must be purchased in advance.

Riamede Farm

122 Oakdale Road, Chester, NJ; 908-879-5353 www.riamede.com

Alstede Farms goes maze crazy this October with a sunflower maze, evergreen maze and a corn maze, all designed to drive you just a bit crazy while soaking up the crisp fall air. You can pick your own apples or opt for a tractor-drawn wagon ride, too. If you’re starved for something to do at night, they even have an evening hayride on weekends. Live music follows by the bonfire with hot apple cider, food, wine, and s’mores kits to refresh.  Book tickets in advance online.

Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ; 908-879-7189 www.alstedefarms.com

LONG ISLAND

The North Fork of Long Island turns October into a musical event at Harbes Family Farm. Just an hour and half from New York City, the Mattituck farm treats you to scenic hayrides complete with singing. Weekend activities add pig races and a family favorite, the Barnyard Adventure area with farm animals, sport zones and mazes. Ticket information is available online.

Harbes Family Farm

715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY; 631-298-0800 www.harbesfamilyfarm.com

In the Hamptons (the South Fork of Long Island), Water Mill is where you’ll find expansive Hank’s Pumpkin Town. You’ll know it immediately by the cars parked on either side of the road. It’s open daily and no reservations are required so be prepared for crowds and waits. You’ll find the usual family-friendly activities here: pumpkin picking, corn mazes, tractor train rides, and mega slides for the kids. After all that fun, your reward is Hank’s yummy Fall for Y’All hot apple cider topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, and an apple cider donut, served in a take-home souvenir mug.

Hank’s Pumpkin Town

Hank’s Pumpkin Town

249 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, NY; www.hankspumpkintown.com

NEW YORK CITY

Yes, there are farms in New York City.

The historic Queens Country Farm Museum in Floral Park, Queens offers weekend activities throughout October. The farm, owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, dates back to 1697 and occupies New York City’s largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland. Plan a visit to go pumpkin picking or navigate a maze, or hop on a hayride. The farm’s Amazing Maize Maze is designed in the shape of Van Gogh’s famous sunflower. Schedule the October 24 nighttime experience online  — the maze books out quickly.

Queens Country Farm Museum

73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Queens; 718-347-3276 www.queensfarm.org

An officially designated historic landmark, Decker Farm in Springville, Staten Island is New York City’s oldest continuously working family-style farm. 220 years young, the farm is a joy to visit during October with hayrides for the family that meander past costumed artisans performing 19th-century trades. For those willing to try some new-fangled activities, the farm lets you sign up for three tries of pumpkin chucking.  Purchase a timed-entry ticket for a weekend visit online.

Decker Farm

435 Richmond Hill Road, Staten Island, 917-887-0482 https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/deckerfarm

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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SummerStage Jubilee Offers a Virtual All-Star Musical and VIP Line-up – September 17 at 8pm

Don’t miss this one. Be sure to tune in Thursday, September 17 at 8pm for this finale to the SummerStage Concert Series.

The SummerStage Jubilee, a free benefit concert supporting CPF’s programs in parks, is an hour-long digital event via livestream. The line-up is amazing: Sting, Norah Jones, Trey Anastasio, Rufus Wainwright, Leslie Odom Jr., Rosanne Cash, Emily King and PJ Morton. The event highlights the various City Parks Foundation programs and will also showcase notable advocates for CPF’s work including sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King, television and radio host Ryan Seacrest, television host and musician Jimmy Fallon, musical artist H.E.R., comedian Lewis Black and performer and Late Show bandleader Paul Shaffer.

This digital benefit can be accessed via SummerStage Instagram, SummerStage YouTube, Facebook page as well as through Bowery Presents, Brooklyn Bowl, The Capitol Theatre, FANS.com, iHeart Media’s Q104.3, Live Nation, Live for Live Music, Relix, Time Out New York, and WFUV. New York City and tri-state area residents can watch encore presentations of SummerStage Jubilee on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm on WLNY-TV 10/55 and on Sunday, September 20 at 2pm. The gala can also be viewed nationally on demand on AXS TV for 30 days.

At a time when public programs have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City’s parks have remained open and park programs have been scheduled virtually. The 2020 SummerStage Jubilee Benefit Concert will help support these program and donations will also help ensure SummerStage, New York City’s largest free music festival, and SummerStage Anywhere, its virtual festival, will remain free and available to all.

In addition to the musical performances, a diverse group of celebrities, many of whom are New Yorkers, will share their stories about New York Cityand the City Parks Foundation. More information on this year’s SummerStage Jubilee can be found at http://summerstagejubilee.org/.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Fall Art Installations in New York City

After a long, hot summer, it’s refreshing to stroll around the city, particularly when the streets are dotted with exciting artwork, some permanent and some temporary. While museums are slowly opening, these exhibits will help you get your art fix.

Harlem presents a new monument celebrating multiple African kings. Titled The Boulevard of African Monarchs, the piece was designed by New York artist Kenseth Armstead and is located at 116th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. A three-dimensional piece standing 10’ x 10’ x 10’, it was unveiled in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Boulevard of African Monarchs

Celebrating women for the first time in Central Park, the new Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument honors three New York women: Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony on Literary Walk at the Southern end of the Mall. The monument was unveiled in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The three women are shown seated around a table with Susan B. Anthony holding a “Votes for Women” pamphlet, Stanton holding a pen and Truth in the midst of speaking.

Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument

Also honoring women, a preview of the IF/THEN She Can exhibit is located at the Central Park Zoo. Starting with six, the exhibit will ultimately have 122 3D printed statues of notable women scientists. The pop-up preview includes Kristine Inman (wildlife biologist), Rae Wynn-Grant (ecologist), Dorothy Tovar (microbiologist), Jess Champ (shark researcher), Earyn McGee (herpetologist), Kristen Lear (bat conservationist). The project is a collaboration between the Central Park Zoo and the IF/THEN organization.

IF/THEN She Can

In Between is a new concept of video art exhibition where continuous artwork is displayed for 15 seconds every two minutes on a large digital billboard in the heart of Times Square. Starting with artist Ben Hagari, the first video is part of his pandemic-inspired “About Face” video series. Filmed in his home in NYC, the image shows a character, constrained by limited expression and space, trying to navigate daily routines. As conceived by Hagari, the faceless protagonist reflects the concealed images of people today wearing masks as they go about their business.

Ben Hagari “About Face” video series

King Kong has met a worthy rival with the new reclining gorilla sculpture by Gillie and Marc Schattner. In partnership with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the artists hope to bring awareness about the diminishing population of gorillas in the world with their sculpture in Hudson Yards. King Nyani is based on the head of a silverback gorilla family and is the largest bronze gorilla statue in the world. Visitors are invited to sit in his hand, socially distanced of course. The sculpture sits in Bella Abzug Park.

King Nyani Photograph: Courtesy Gillie and Marc Schattner

NYC’s community gardens are fast becoming locations for some of the city’s most innovative and colorful art. As part of GreenThumb’s Art in the Gardens – Shed Murals project offering artists a means to display their art, the Flora_Interpretations mural by Rose and Mike DeSiano reflects the beauty of Manhattan’s Clinton Community Garden by two native New Yorkers with input from local residents.

Flora_Interpretations mural by Rose and Mike DeSiano

Also part of the GreenThumb’s Art in the Gardens – Shed Murals project, The Bronx shows off Vincent Parisot’s red, green and yellow wall painting of an agave americana plant, known as Athanatos in Greece, the home of the artist.  The name means without end, an allusion to longevity and to the love shared by the couples whose names and hearts are often inscribed on the leaves of the plant. Together, Athanatos for ever is in Jardin De Las Rosas.

A second mural in the Bronx, at the Jackson Forests Community Garden, Lady K Fever, Celebrations shows a group of people rejoicing over the creation of the garden with other images indicating planned garden features such as a pumpkin patch, a flowerbed and foliage displays.

Brooklyn has its fair share of murals in community gardens as well. Open to the public, Eden’s Community Garden is designed to educate neighborhood children about the benefits of growing your own food through gardening. The ArtisticAfro imagery on the shed shows a person holding a potted plant with a seedling inside supporting the garden’s theme of “Together, we will grow.”

Along the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Reverberation is a new large-scale installation by Davina Semo made up of interactive bells. Visitors are encouraged to ring the bells, calling up the city’s maritime history when bells were a key form of communication among ships and sailors.

Reverberation by Davina Semo

Queens has one of the city’s most intriguing art pieces, located at Beach 98 St. at Rockaway Boardwalk. A fascinating Corten steel sculpture standing 35 feet tall, Mother Earth by Kris Perry reflects architectural elements from temples, mosques, churches and Classical Greek buildings. Visitors can stand in the central space of the sculpture and look upward and outward in a moment of contemplation.

Mother Earth by Kris Perry Photo: Angus Mordant

Designed to reflect our changing times, the animated, augmented reality drawing Liberty Bell is being presented in six cities simultaneously, New York, Boston, Charleston, Philadelphia, Selma and Washington DC.  New York’s setting is Beach 108 St. at Rockaway Boardwalk and the Rockaway Ferry Landing. “Liberty Bell” was inspired by Philadelphia’s actual, cracked Liberty Bell and is a soundscape in 360 degrees that sways to the sounds of bells tolling in changing tones and rhythms. The full experience uses Baker Cahill’s free 4th Wall app with the viewer’s smartphone or tablet.

Liberty Bell

Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City is a favorite for cutting-edge outdoor art. Another timely tribute to today’s world, the art park’s MONUMENTS NOW exhibition seeks to address the role of monuments in society and commemorates underrepresented populations, cultures and histories. The exhibit evolves in three phases. Opening with commissions for new monuments by Jeffrey Gibson, Paul Ramírez Jonas, and Xaviera Simmons, the next two parts continue into the fall and winter with sculptures by additional artists as well as high school students.

MONUMENTS NOW

A timely visual nod to the country’s immigrant communities, The Immigrant Journey Past Meets Present in Staten Island also pays homage to New York Harbor. The mural and fence installation are located in Arrochar Playground. Artist Lina Montoya worked together with Sundog Theatre at the adjacent public school focusing on Ellis Island history and cultural immigration to create the yellow and blue design which features waves, mountains and stars.

Lina Montoya The Immigrant Journey Past Meets Present

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Countdown to the End of Summer – New York City Beaches Are Still Open

With the 2020 beach season almost over, time is running out to show off your post-quarantine bathing suit and to come together (apart) for some beach social distancing. NYC beaches are still officially open with lifeguards on duty from 10am-6pm. Concessions stands may be closed so you might have to bring your own picnics this time around. Please click on the website for each beach to determine rules, openings and closings. Note, however, that beaches can be visited any time of the year but swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not present due to the possibility of riptides and strong waves. Subway and bus transportation makes having a car unnecessary, although parking lots are provided. Check the relevant subway and bus lines listed beneath each beach to determine current schedules and any relevant changes.

Coney Island Beach

Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn

For a distinctive beach experience, Coney Island is still New York City’s beach of choice. The beach is three miles long with courts for basketball, handball and beach volleyball as well as multiple playgrounds. There’s also plenty of non-beach fun for those who get antsy sitting on the sand. You’ll likely have to wait until next year to get your thrills on the Cyclone rollercoaster and amusements at Luna Park or watch the quirky Mermaid Parade, but the fishing pier is open along with the Boardwalk. The Coney Island Boardwalk has a variety of food options for a perfect takeout picnic, but beach-goers swear by Nathan’s Famous hot dogs for a delicious, cheap lunch. Stay tuned for the beach’s acclaimed puppet shows coming up in September and October. Puppets Come Home! is a series designed to celebrate Coney Island’s 150-year legacy of puppetry and provide a platform for contemporary cutting-edge puppeteers.

You can keep current with the upcoming Coney Island events at http://www.coneyisland.com/. Free on-street parking is available.  For more beach info, and updates to bus and subway service, visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coneyisland.

BUS: B36, B64, B68, B74, B82, X28, X29, X38.

SUBWAY: D, F, N, Q to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue; F, Q to West 8th Street-NY Aquarium; Q to Ocean Parkway.

Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn

Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn

For a relaxing afternoon of sun, surf and beach volleyball, go to Manhattan Beach on the southern tip of Brooklyn. It’s a smaller version of Brighton Beach and less crowded than Coney Island with fewer visitors. Nearby Manhattan Beach Park also has two baseball diamonds as well as handball, basketball, tennis and volleyball areas. Concession stands offer reasonable meal choices, and parking is available at Exit 8 off of Belt Parkway. For more information, visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattanbeachpark.

BUS: B1 from Brighton Beach

SUBWAY: Take Q Train to Sheepshead Bay Road. B49 to Cheapside to Oriental and Hastings Street.

Rockaway Beach, Queens

Rockaway Beach, Queens

Rockaway Beach is an ideal outdoorsy retreat for both families and individuals. Its 10-mile long boardwalk is perfect for an afternoon stroll, and kids will enjoy the area’s seven playgrounds. Teens and adults can skate or play volleyball. The beach is the only one near NYC to allow surfing: go to the designated zones between 67-69 streets and between 87-92 Streets (visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/beaches for more information about surf beaches). Rockaway Beach has also become a testament to New York’s resilience and a model for sustainable rebuilding following the extreme damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy. The beach offers free street parking, as well as free parking lots at B. 11th-B. 15th St. and B. 95th St. For further information, visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockawaybeach.

BUS: Q22 from bus terminal on Archer Avenue.

SUBWAY: A to Broad Channel then shuttle train.

Orchard Beach, the Bronx

Orchard Beach, the Bronx

Located at the end of a long, winding path in an area with lush vegetation, Orchard Beach is harder to get to, meaning that it tends to be less crowded than other New York choices although it is very popular among local residents. The Bronx’s sole public beach, Orchard Beach was proclaimed “The Riviera of New York” when it was created in the 1930s. The 115-acre, 1.1-mile-long beach has a hexagonal-block promenade, a central pavilion, snack bars, food and souvenir carts, two playgrounds, two picnic areas, a large parking lot, and 26 courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball. This summer’s Tribeca Drive-in Film Festival at Orchard Beach was a huge hit – we hope it will continue next year as well.

Parking is available. Visit http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/vt_pelham_bay_park/vt_pelham_08.html for more information.

BUS: Bx12, Bx29, Bx5, Bx52, and Westchester Line number 45 serve the park. During the summer, take Bx5 and Bx12 to Orchard Beach. During the winter, take the Bx29 to the City Island Circle and walk to the beach.

SUBWAY: Take the 6 to Pelham Bay Park. Connect to bus (see above).

Wolfe’s Pond Beach, Staten Island

Wolfe’s Pond Beach, Staten Island

Wolfe’s Pond Beach is an oasis far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city that the only trace of Manhattan is a distant view. Adjacent to Wolfe’s Pond Park, the manicured beach offers several fun attractions for the whole family. Two tennis courts, a roller hockey rink, basketball courts and a playground will keep the kids busy all day long. Wolfe’s Pond Beach also has dog-friendly amenities, including an enclosed dog-only area. If you’ve had enough beach time, Wolfe’s Pond Park is also a plant and wildlife preserve with several trails running through the beach and park. There are BBQ areas as well as a free parking lot on-site. Visit https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/wolfes-pond-park for additional information.

BUS: #78 to Tottenville. Get off at Cornelia and Highland Blvd, walk up Cornelia. SUBWAY: Take Staten Island Transit to Huguenot Avenue, then walk toward Highland Boulevard.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Staying Fit Virtually while Making a Difference

I woke up this morning and forgot what month it was. I had to ask Siri what day is was, as I usually do, but this time I also had to ask her what the date was. As each day blurs into the next, it’s the shimmers of light that make a difference. Like when Siri’s response causes the screen on my sleeping iPhone to brighten, or when I hear the birds in the morning now that the sounds of traffic or planes have pretty much disappeared.

And it’s the efforts of people that add to the glow. People who are going above and beyond to help others in so many ways during our very confusing present.

Dennis Hunter and Adrian Molina of Warrior Flow

One such person is someone that I’ve known for 12 years. A friend and instructor who I met at a Manhattan gym when I was in the midst of another pivot — a time when I had to move out of my apartment — Adrian Molina was a newly minted instructor at Equinox with an exciting form of yoga that he had named Warrior Flow. Warrior Flow yoga led by Adrian in his calming yet motivating manner helped me survive some crazy months of uprooting and was the beginning of a friendship that has survived my move and his relocation from New York to Miami.

Adrian Molina

As Adrian evolved his career, he also found new ways to give back to the communities where he lived, with one such endeavor being the Warrior Flow Foundation. Through the Foundation, Adrian and his colleagues are able to take their yoga, stress management and mindfulness techniques to some of the populations who need it most including those on the front lines of crises and those without resources. Initially, the Warrior Flow Foundation reached out to homeless shelters, women suffering from abuse, and prisons in Miami. With the severe strain on first responders and medical workers at present, the program has expanded to police, fire fighters, EMS workers, doctors and nurses. The Warrior Flow Foundation continues to develop to reach out to new communities with a goal of making a difference and helping. Future plans include outreach to other cities in need as the program develops.

Warrior Flow Foundation in Miami

With this in mind, Adrian curated a weekly program of donation-based online classes for those of us confined to our homes and unable to work out, practice yoga, meditate or even socialize since the shelter-in-place regulations went into effect. In so doing, he has helped people like me stay centered and connected while raising money so needed to support those most stressed around us.

Warrior Flow in Tuscany

You can join the online Warrior Flow community by subscribing on a monthly or annual basis to Warrior Flow TV for unlimited online classes, plus a daily roster of live programs which are archived for viewing at any time. The line-up is impressive, taught by some of the country’s most accomplished instructors, many of whom have worked with Adrian during his tenure at Equinox. A portion of the proceeds goes towards the Warrior Flow Foundation. As a bonus, The Foundation’s newsletter not only includes the full schedule of classes but also adds motivational as well as introspective thoughts, interviews and readings, all very welcome as we try to make sense of the present .

Adrian Molina

The light from this group has helped me stay grounded during the past tumultuous months. Unlike other yoga practices that you might be familiar with, Adrian’s yoga classes are a refreshing, distinctive breath of community punctuated by interactive chat from members around the world. But this is still serious stuff: Adrian’s classes will give you quite a workout and will leave you sweaty and serene. So will the other classes throughout the day. Beyond yoga, I’ve also powered through Abs, Cardio Sculpt, boot camp, barre and Pilates classes, with an end-of-day reward of Dennis Hunter’s soothing and calming sound bath.

Arthur Murray NYC Dance Marathon

I’ve also kept my sanity by adding in my favorite form of cardio: dance. Arthur Murray NYC has a daily Dance Along @arthurmurraynyc on Instagram Live that has refreshed my ballroom experience from years past and brought it into the present with current music and steps. They even have a dance workout session that riffs on a theme such as the 70s or 80s, appropriate music and attire included. All classes are free, too.

Arthur Murray NYC IG Live Class

Keeping us entertained and connected, Arthur Murray NYC hosted an entertaining showcase of students performing along with the pros — you can view it on their YouTube channel. The dance school’s first 24-hour dance marathon raised money for two worthy organizations, Feed Our Superheroes and the Nurses House Campaign with non-stop instruction, films, discussions, interviews and more, all related to dance. I was captivated by the professionalism of the dancers, the sophistication of the video techniques, and the knowledge imparted. And this super community-uniting effort raised more than $6500.

Karma Yoga's Jessica Gershman

After all this working out and actual and vicarious dance, I’m grateful to have someone qualified to put me back together again. Jessica Gershman, who leads yoga and therapeutic classes online with Karma Yoga, offers a weekly myofascial release class. WFH might be productive but it’s definitely hard on the body when you don’t have the best ergonomic set-up. By helping yourself heal, you’re also giving back: Jessica selects organizations in need and donates all proceeds from designated classes to organizations such as Front Line Foods which supports local restaurants helping to feed frontline healthcare workers, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Lori McAlister of LoriYoga

Another yogini who I’ve known for many years from her classes at New York Yoga, Lori McAlister of LoriYoga, has channeled her passion into support for the BLM movement as well via the Black to the Future Action Fund. Lori’s classes are a soothing and invigorating mix of vinyasa yoga styles in a methodology she calls Sequencology.

While there are many free Zoom classes and IG Live classes offered online, as well as subscription-based and fee-based classes, it’s the ones that go beyond to help those in need that resonate with me. And they’re the ones that I encourage you to support.

For more information:

Warrior Flow, www.warriorflowfoundation.org, www.warriorflow.tv

Karma Yoga,  http://karmayogaindy.com/

LoriYoga, https://loriyoga.com/

Arthur Murray NYC, https://nycarthurmurray.com /

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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Real New York City Foods

There’s nowhere like New York City when it comes to dining options, fast food to fine dining and everything in-between. What makes the city so appealing, however, is how many of these choices are true New York creations, with some pedigreed from the end of the 19th century. These are the foods you shouldn’t miss during a trip to the city with some available for shipment anywhere in the US. Most are presently offering takeout and delivery as well. Call to verify hours and availability.

Katz’s Delicatessen

Often, visitors crave dishes made famous in iconic New York City movies and TV shows. “I’ll have what she’s having,” trills the woman sitting next to Meg Ryan at Katz’s Delicatessen in “When Harry Met Sally.” Everyone’s familiar with that scene, but do they know what to eat? Absolutely not what Meg was eating in the movie, a turkey sandwich. What gets my vote is the oversized hot pastrami sandwich, served on rye bread, perhaps with a little mustard or even Russian dressing. Have a side of pickles with it for the full experience. Don’t love the smoky, peppery hot pastrami? The corned beef is equally ambrosial, and both hearken back to Katz’s opening in 1888. Free shipping nationwide. 205 East Houston Street at Ludlow St., Manhattan, 1.212.254.2246. https://katzsdelicatessen.com/

Junior’s on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn

Another deli with a specialty worth seeking out is Junior’s on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. While Junior’s has locations in Manhattan, it’s the Brooklyn one that causes me to drool. The must-order here is a piece of their phenomenal cheesecake. Junior’s New York style is rich and creamy, made with cream cheese rather than ricotta like the Italian version. Order the strawberry cheesecake with glazed whole strawberries on top. You’ll love this so much, you’ll want to have a whole cake shipped home via Goldbelly. 386 Flatbush Ave. Extension, Downtown Brooklyn, btw DeKalb Ave. and Fleet St., 718.852.5257.

Zabar’s

Delis and their offshoot cafes seem to have a hold on the city. Note Zabar’s on the Upper West Side. A food mecca for anyone who visits New York City, Zabar’s is the king when it comes to what we call “appetizing.” You could start with a tasting at their smoked fish counter, sampling Scotch cured salmon or a piece of smoked whitefish, and then finish with one of their rugelach, a sweet dessert that’s a pastry pinwheel encircling a chocolate or cinnamon center. If you want to use your credit card, be sure not to mix up the checkout lines as Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks did in “You’ve Got Mail.” Zabar’s Café next door gives you a chance to enjoy a bagel with nova and a schmear (of cream cheese) in a sitdown setting. 2245 Broadway btw W. 80th and W. 81st sts, Manhattan, 212.787.2000. Nationwide shipping. https://www.zabars.com/

H & H Bagels

While we’re on the topic of bagels, bagels are a New York City staple and the best in the world are found in the Big Apple. True New York bagels have a crisp outside and chewy inside. Eat them plain or as a sandwich – they’re the perfect on-the-go carb loader. Many varieties are available including some vegan ones, perfect with a vegan tofu spread. H&H has been supplying the city with these gems for nearly 50 years. Homesick New Yorkers avail themselves of their overnight shipping, or you can visit their storefront and choose from 19 varieties of bagels that have just been boiled and baked on burlap-covered boards. Don’t trust any impostors! And, remember, a great bagel doesn’t need to be toasted. 1551 2nd Ave., btw E. 80th and E. 81st sts, Manhattan, 212.734.7441. Nationwide shipping: https://www.hhbagels.nyc/

John’s Pizzeria

Discussion is ongoing among city foodies as to where to get the truest, purest pizza. In my opinion, the prize goes to John’s Pizzeria of Bleecker Street. Baked in a coal-fired brick oven as has been done for 75 years, John’s perfect thin-crust tomato sauce and mozzarella pizza can be further enhanced with toppings like fresh garlic, sausage and basil. No slices. 278 Bleecker St., btw Morton and Jones sts, Manhattan, 212.243.1680. http://www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com/

Nathan’s

Similarly, hot dog mavens debate the merits of Nathan’s original stand in Coney Island (a “Seinfeld” favorite), Gray’s Papaya or Papaya King. Each claims to have hot dogs as good as filet mignon. I’ll let you do the comparison. (In actuality, the first hot dog introduced to Coney Island was Feltman’s in 1867, now found in a variety of kiosks and grocery stores throughout the city. Order them via FeltmansofConeyIsland.com). Dress these all-beef dogs with sauerkraut, cooked tomato-based onions, and mustard. Pair them with the curious papaya drink offered, and you have a quick meal or snack.  Nathan’s, 1310 Surf Ave., btw Stillwell Ave. and Schweikerts Walk, Coney Island, Brooklyn, 718.333.2202; Gray’s Papaya, 2090 Broadway, btw 71st and 72nd sts, Manhattan, 212.799.0243; Papaya King, 179 E. 86th St., at Third Ave., Manhattan, 212.212.369.0648. Nationwide shipping for Gray’s Papaya and Papaya King via Goldbelly https://www.goldbelly.com. Nathan’s hot dogs are available is grocery stores or via Amazon.com.

Delmonico's

But perhaps you’d like a more serious meal before you have a snack or dessert? Consider a visit downtown to one of New York’s most iconic restaurants, Delmonico’s, where dishes like Baked Alaska and Lobster Newberg were invented. Lobster Newberg, dating back to 1876, is shellfish set in a rich sauce of cream, sherry, cognac and pepper. You could sample the signature Delmonico ribeye steak here as well, or head to Brooklyn to another of the city’s iconic restaurants, Peter Luger, for their buttery sliced Porterhouse steak. Sometimes gruff, always crowded and consistently delicious, Peter Luger’s is the real deal, founded in 1887. Be advised that credit cards are not always accepted.

Waldorf Salad

Vegetarians have something to cheer about as well: the Waldorf Salad, created for a private party at the venerable Waldorf-Astoria on Park Avenue in the 1890s, mixes candied walnuts, apples, and greens with a delightfully light yogurt and crème fraiche dressing. Although the hotel is currently closed for renovations and will likely morph into more of a residence space than a hotel, you can make their classic recipe at home.

Grand Central Oyster Bar

I also suggest a visit to the 101-year-old Grand Central Oyster Bar, located down the ramp in the beautiful Beaux-Arts Grand Central Terminal. Walk to the bar area to the right, where their special oyster pan roast is prepared before you in original steam kettles. A combination of butter, cream, sweet chili sauce and oysters in a soupy concoction, this makes for an indulgent lunch or dinner that pairs beautifully with a Bloody Mary or local brew. Delmonico’s, 56 Beaver St. at South William St., 212.509.1144; Peter Luger, 178 Broadway btw Diggs and Bedford aves, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718.387.7400; Grand Central Oyster Bar, 89 E 42nd St., btw Park and Vanderbilt aves, Manhattan, 212.490.6650.

King Cole Bar and Salon

Although the Bloody at the Oyster Bar is a worthy selection, you should really pay homage to the “temple” where the cocktail was perfected, the King Cole Bar and Salon at the St. Regis Hotel. Once named the Red Snapper, the Bloody Mary was created 80 years ago by bartender Fernand Petiot and the original recipe of vodka, tomato juice, celery salt, pepper, lemon and Worcestershire Sauce is still served. While you’re there, take in the beauty of the mural that holds a secret only the bartenders can disclose. 2 E. 55th St., btw Madison and Fifth aves, Manhattan, 212.339.6857.

Sigmund’s Pretzels

Two other favorite libations in the Big Apple are the light and dark ales found at McSorley’s Old Ale House, with a heritage dating back to 1854. Revelers order saltines with Cheddar cheese, onions and mustard to accompany. 15 E. 7th Street, btw 2nd and 3rd aves, Manhattan, 212.473.9148. But I prefer to drink my brews in the company of another of the city’s iconic foods, the pretzel. Since you can’t imbibe outdoors in New York City unless at a sidewalk café with a liquor license (and they rarely serve pretzels), grabbing a pretzel from one of the many food carts isn’t a good option for a glam night on the town. However, Sigmund’s Pretzels in Alphabet City has you covered for this favorite. They ship their hand-rolled German pretzels nationwide. Following a recipe dating back more than a century but modernized with six flavor choices, the soft pretzels give you a nice reason to throw back a couple of cold ones as well. Be sure to dip them in some whole grain mustard to enhance their doughy center. 29 Avenue B at E. 3rd Street, Manhattan, 646.410.0333. https://sigmundnyc.com/

Yonah Schimmel’s

As long as you’re downtown, you should really stop by Yonah Schimmel’s for another of New York’s best, the knish. Baked fresh on premises with a variety of fillings, the knish is a potato- or sweet cheese-based pastry-like finger snack. Yonah Schimmel’s has been doling them out to hungry customers for more than 110 years. Ask for a Dr. Brown’s Cel-ray soda to wash them down. Nationwide shipping via Goldbelly East Houston St., btw Forsyth and Eldridge sts, Manhattan, 212.477.2858.

Eisenberg’s

If your sweet tooth has started to rear its fangs, New York is long on treats it can call its own. The 90-years young Eisenberg’s on Lower Fifth Avenue is a luncheonette oozing history and tradition. Try one of their refreshing egg creams made with neither cream nor egg. Choose from chocolate or vanilla – it’s a frothy drink made with Fox’s U-Bet syrup, icy cold milk and fountain seltzer, very much a New York original. 174 Fifth Ave., btw W. 22nd and W. 23rd sts, Manhattan, 212.675.5096.

Benfaremo Lemon Ice King of Corona

Many of you might remember the Italian ices in the opening credits from the TV show, “King of Queens.” Tucked behind Citi Field, Benfaremo Lemon Ice King of Corona scoops out 40 flavors of the slushy dessert that’s both portable and refreshing.  52-96 108th St., btw 52nd and 53rd aves, Corona, Queens, 718.699.5133.

William Greenberg Desserts

At the city’s bakeries, you’ll find a cookie distinctively New York that was made famous in “Seinfeld” when the bobka ran out. Head to William Greenberg Desserts on the Upper East Side for a black & white, a cookie-cake combo that’s made from vanilla cake dough and frosted on one half with soft vanilla fondant and the other with chocolate fondant. For the kids, there are even mini versions. Online shipping is available. https://wmgreenbergdesserts.com/ 1100 Madison Ave., btw E. 83rd and E. 84th sts, Manhattan, 212.861.1340.

Posted by Meryl Pearlstein
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