Noshwalks Tour Schedule
Launched in August 2000, NoshWalks visit the neighborhoods covered in NoshNews. There are now more than two dozen tours, so some take place just once a year.
Visit our Registration page to register for these tours.
Spring and Summer 2009
| BRONX BITES (Grand Concourse and Woodlawn) |
Saturday, May 23 • 11:30 AM |
No one leads a tour like this one, which truly mixes old and new, from our meeting place at the Yankee Stadium site, where the former and current stadia stand beside each other, to the various neighborhoods we'l visit. I've chosen to schedule it on Memorial Day Weekend, so you won't feel so hurried! You'll see the fabled Grand Concourse, now undergoing a true renaissance, including some of its historic buildings, have lunch in a Ghanaian restaurant (and taste the spiciest ginger beer I've ever had—from a nearby Guinean place); visit my favorite Mexican market; and conclude the tour in Irish Woodlawn, where we'll have dessert and then mellow away the afternoon in a terrific pub. Bring an unlimited Metrocard and unlimited curiosity! Meet at 11:30 AM at Crown Donut Restaurant, 79 East 161st Street, Bronx. Take D or 4 train to 161 Street, walk one block east to Gerard Avenue; restaurant is on northwest corner. FEE (includes lunch): $42 for Noshnews subscribers, $45 for all other participants.
| SUNSET PARK |
Sunday, May 31 • 1:00 PM |
You'll revel in this area's ethnic and architectural diversity! Food stops include Chinese, Turkish, Polish and Mexican markets and bakeries, including the cheapest espresso in NYC and more! Tour may include a picnic in Sunset Park. Meet 1:00 PM in front of parking lot at Hong Kong Dynasty Supermarket, 6013-6023 Eighth Ave. at 60th St. Take the N train to 8th Ave., which exits at 62nd St., walk north 1 1/2 blocks (as numbers descend).
| WOODSIDE (Queens) |
Saturday, June 13 • 1:00 PM |
I call this tour my bakery special, since it includes so many bakeries representing different cultures. I wasn’t able to schedule this tour in 2008, so I can’t wait to lead it this year! Woodside is a true continental crossroad, including New York City’s “Little Manila,” “Little Dublin” and a little of Mexico, France, China, Uruguay, Thailand, Chile, Korea, Cuba and more. Be ready to challenge your taste buds! Meet 1:00 PM, Vincent Daniels Square, 52nd Street & Roosevelt Avenue. Take the #7 train to 52nd Street .
| NEW BRONX CITY (Bronx) |
Saturday, June 20 • 11:30 AM |
This year is the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Grand Concourse, so we’ll spend part of this tour celebrating one of New York City’s most historic boulevards. Bring an unlimited Metrocard, since we will take a couple of bus rides, too, combining visits to sights and tastes in several neighborhoods in the central Bronx. Our tour will include several Bronx landmarks (some interiors, some exteriors only), including the famous Ben Shahn murals in the Bronx Central Post Office, the Loew's Paradise movie palace; may include a visit to the interior of one of New York City’s last great movie palaces, Poe Cottage—Edgar Allan Poe’s last residence—, and a look at the newest library in the Bronx, a stunning “green” building which is also a crossroads in this very diverse borough. We’ll also visit a bank that has historic murals of the borough. Food visits include a West African eatery for spicy goat kebabs and possibly the only Cambodian market in NYC, nestled amid a cluster of ethnic markets. We’ll then take a short bus ride to the Pelham Parkway neighborhood where we’ll taste Albanian and Pakistani food! Meet at 11:30 AM (yes, earlier than most Noshwalks!) in front of the Bronx Central Post Office at 558 Grand Concourse. Take the 2, 4 or 5 train to 149th Street and the Grand Concourse. Since this tour is longer than most Noshwalks, the fee is higher: $40 for Noshwalks subscribers and $45 for others.)
| LATIN AMERICAN JACKSON HEIGHTS |
Sunday, June 28 • 1:00 PM |
We’ll nosh our way along the culinary boulevards of Roosevelt & 37th Aves and sample specialties of Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina & more. Depending on the weather and the crowds, we will have a “mini-lunch” at one of the truly favorite restaurants of Noshwalks founder Myra Alperson or order the food to take to a nearby park. Meet 1:00 PM, Capitol One Bank, 37-02 82nd St. & 37th Ave. Take 7 train to 82nd St. & Roosevelt Ave., walk 1 block north to 82nd St. & 37th Ave. You can also take the E, F or R to Broadway at 74th Street and walk to 82nd Street
ELMHURST (Queens)
Special Noshnews exploratory tours
|
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 30 and July 1 |
Help Noshnews/Noshwalks founder Myra Alperson wind up her research for issue 22 of Noshnews. We’ll visit a number of destinations that will be featured in the newsletter. No fee; just share the tastes and provide feedback. You’ll pay for your own beverage and anything you want for yourself on site or to take home. You must e-mail ahead of time – meeting time and place will be provided privately. Very small group.
| BENSONHURST (Brooklyn) |
Saturday, July 11 • 1:00 PM |
Prepare for surprises! Once best-known as one of Brooklyn’s largest Italian neighborhoods, Bensonhurst now offers a true cornucopia of great food, including Turkish, Polish, Russian, Italian & Chinese. But you will also have some of the freshest mozzarella around, and opportunities to taste delicious prosciutto, spinach or broccoli breads. Have a Vietnamese avocado milkshake and Turkish appetizers or kebabs at the end! Meet 1:00 PM at Mona Lisa Café, 1476 86th St. Take D train to 18th Ave., walk west 3 blocks along 86th St. or take B1 bus (marked Bay Ridge) to 15th Ave.
REGO PARK & CORONA
A new version of a Queens Noshwalk
|
Sunday, July 12 • 1:00 PM |
This “hybrid” tour combines New York City’s own “silk route” with the vibrant “Little Ecuador” - a new Noshwalks destination. We’ll find a shopper’s and taster’s delight at Uzbek, Tadjik, Persian and Russian markets and bakeries, clean out our palates with a visit to the renowned Lemon Ice King of Corona and then conclude in the heart of New York City’s Ecuadorian community. Be prepared for a range of tastes, from kebabs, tandoori bread, and other Central Asian specialties in Rego Park to the savory tastes of South America! Meet 1:00 PM in front of Queens Bazaar Food at 94-02 63rd Drive. Take R or G train to 63rd Drive. Exit south side Queens Boulevard, turn left (south) on 63rd Drive, walk two blocks. Tour ends near the 7 train.
| GREENPOINT (Brooklyn) |
Friday, July 17 • 11:00 AM |
This special Friday tour includes a visit to the famous ACME smoked fish factory (open to retail customers Fridays only) as well as markets, where we’ll taste kielbasa, pierogi, fruit soup and other specialties in this mainly Polish area. We’ll conclude (after Acme) with a wonderful lunch. Bring a freezer bag! Meet 11:00 AM at St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus Church, 863 Manhattan Ave. @ Milton St. (Take G train, exit Greenpoint Ave., south exit) (Early time is necessary in order to visit Acme Fish!)
| ASTORIA IN THREE CONTINENTS (Queens) |
Saturday, July 18 • 1:00 PM |
You’ll see Greek, south Asian, Colombian, Middle European & other ethnic restaurants, bakeries & markets in this popular neighborhood as we explore shops and snackeries along 30th Ave., the North African/Middle Eastern stretch of Steinway St., and Astoria Boulevard. Our last stop include a huge Greek supermarket and a Bosnian kebab place. Meet 1:00 PM at Athens Square Park (at 30th Avenue and 30th Street). Take the N train to 30th Ave., walk one block west (towards Manhattan).
| UPPER WEST SIDE (Manhattan) |
Sunday, July 26 • 1:00 PM |
This eclectic tour highlights architectural and some literary history along with food venues between along Amsterdam Avenue. Be prepared for tastes of Ethiopia, India, Haiti, Hungary, Dominican Republic, Mexico —and maybe more! Meet 1:00 PM at the Sundial on the Columbia University campus, 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. Take the #1 train to 116th Street, or the M104 & M4 bus on Broadway, or the northbound M11 bus on Amsterdam Ave.
| EAST HARLEM DANCE OF THE GIGLIO |
Sunday, August 9 • 1:00 PM |
We’ll celebrate the end of the 2009 Noshwalks summer season with cuchifritos, Mexican treats, French pastries, NYC’s best pizza and the historic Dance of the Giglio—an East Harlem tradition dating back almost a century. Meet 1:00 PM at the Malcolm Shabazz Market, south side of W 116th Street between 5th Ave. and Malcolm X Boulevard. Take #2 or #3 train to 116th St., walk one-half block east.
Visit our Registration page to register for these tours.
TRANSPORTATION TIP
If you are using mass transportation, please check www.mta.info for possible changes in subway routes. Go to Service Advisories for NYC Transit and check any subway lines you may take. As always, leave extra time for weekend travel. E-mail me for estimates of how long it should take to get to our meeting place. If you are driving, use www.mapquest.com to plan your route. Contact me for parking tips.
FEES (aka the Noshwalks Stimulus Plan)
Despite rising food prices (and my disdain for cutting back on buying lots of tastes!), I'm maintaining my 2008 fees of $35 for Noshnews subscribers and $40 for non-Noshnews subscribers for the spring. Beverages are not included unless these are beverages I want to introduce you to. I provide cups, papers goods, etc., for all tastes. If we sit down in a restaurant rather than take out food (and we often do at the Cretan place in Astoria), we will share in the tip. Any personal orders will be covered by the customer.
CUSTOM NOSHWALKS can be booked on weekdays or weekends by alumni groups, trade associations, overseas visitors, conventioneers, employee outings and student organizations—and any other group looking for a unique and fun New York experience. Groups can range from one person to 25.
