SOUTHERN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (Manhattan)

Sunday, March 26, 2023

We will launch the 2023 season of Noshwalks with a tour in southern Washington Heights, possibly the most history-laden tour I lead. I haven’t offered this walk in many years because one of our cultural stops, the beautiful (and expanded) Hispanic Society, was closed for a complete renovation. Now it’s open, in a lovely architectural landmark of New York City, and we will start our tour there. Other stops will include uptown Trinity Cemetery, permanent home to some eminent New Yorkers; two independent bookstores; the Morris-Jumel Mansion and the Audubon Ballroom. Food will include Dominican, Mexican, Colombian, POSSIBLY Singaporean, and the Heights’s own carrot cake.

We will donate to INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (www.rescue.org). IRC works around the world – including here in the US – to provide support for refugee training. IRS has partnered with a local group to cultivate New Roots Community Garden in the Bronx, which, among other things, grows chiles for a Bronx hot pepper sauce.

PARKCHESTER & BEYOND

Saturday, April 23, 2023

What charms this neighborhood offers, from historic bank murals and quirky sculptures within a planned apartment community to a surprising variety of foods reflecting the multitude of cultures living here. After a first set of tastes, we will walk from Parkchester to the adjacent community of Van Nest to see Little Yemen of the Bronx. Tastes will include Bangladeshi, Mexican, Chinese and Yemeni, but you will be able to choose more at an international market we’ll visit, and toward the end of the trip you’ll be able to buy fresh-ground Turkish-style coffee with cardamom!

Meet at NOON in front of Apple Bank, 74 Hugh Grant Circle, Bronx. It’s a landmarked building just across from the Parkchester elevated train station (#6 line).

WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN (https://wck.org)

On this tour, we’ll donate to the wonderful World Central Kitchen, started in 2010 by renowned chef Jose Andres and his wife, Patricia, to address the food needs of earthquake victims in Haiti. It is now an international NGO addressing food crises worldwide.

ASTORIA (Queens)

Saturday, May 27, 2023

One of the most diverse selection of tastes in one Noshwalk: Brazilian, Venezuelan, South American Greek, Balkan and North African treats are on this route! I am often amazed to see how many different delicious foods and cultures are represented within a relatively small space!

We will donate to COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (www.cpj.org), which aims to protect the rights of journalists in danger zones to get out the news in countries where writers have been harassed, jailed and murdered for telling the truth.

If you are not available May 27 on Memorial Day weekend this tour will be repeated on June 10!

ASTORIA (Queens)

Saturday, June 10, 2023

One of the most diverse selection of tastes in one Noshwalk: Brazilian, Venezuelan, South American Greek, Balkan and North African treats are on this route! I am often amazed to see how many different delicious foods and cultures are represented within a relatively small space!

We will donate to COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS (www.cpj.org), which aims to protect the rights of journalists in danger zones to get out the news in countries where writers have been harassed, jailed and murdered for telling the truth.

MIDDLE EASTERN PATERSON (New Jersey)

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Paterson throbs with the energy of the many bimmigrant entrepreneurs who now call it home, and we’ll visit a range of markets and bakeries that sell top-quality goods for reasonable prices. Stops will also include at least one Turkish market and a Colombian restaurant. (Paterson has a large Peruvian area that we’ll visit in 2024!) But most destinations sell delicious foods from the Middle East and North Africa.

We’ll donate to USA for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; www.unrefugees.org), which provides material aid, shelter, medical care, resettlement, advocacy and educational programs to refugees worldwide.

STATEN ISLAND RAMBLE (Staten Island)

Saturday, July 22, 2023

We can’t skip Staten Island, home to people from around the world! In Tomkinsville, the neighborhood where we focus our tour, we’ll have tastes of Sri Lanka, the Balkans, Guatemala, Mexico, Trinidad and more!

On this tour we will write checks for Razom (razomforUkraine.org): Razom specifically focuses on aid for Ukraine. The word “Razom” means ‘together,’ and focuses on projects to provide medical aid and other needed supplies, such as generators, to Ukraine, to support Ukrainian refugees, and to support democracy as Ukraine continues to battle Russian aggressors. Razom is based in Manhattan’s "Little Ukraine" on Second Avenue.

EAST HARLEM: Annual “Dance of the Giglio” (Manhattan)

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Spanning over 100 years, the traditional “Dance of the Giglio” has its origins in Nola, Italy, but was first performed in the US around 1906. There are annual “Dances” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and East Harlem. But before we get to ours, we’ll sample local food, starting with West African tastes, Jordanian baked goods, Caribbean specialties, Mexican tastes and pizza at Patsy’s (which observes its 90th anniversary this summer!). We MIGHT conclude at a French bakery – all depends on appetite!

We’ll raise money on this Noshwalk for Direct Relief (directrelief.org) Direct Relief provides materials, transportation and other services to help doctors, nurses and other medical specialist deliver relief in crises spots in the US and 80 countries, including areas affected by weather-related disasters, fires and floods.

SHEEPSHEAD BAY & BRIGHTON BEACH (Brooklyn)

Saturday, September 23, 2023

On the anniversary of our first fundraising Noshwalk, we will revisit Sheepshead Bay & Brighton Beach to savor the Turkish, Ukrainian/Russian, Georgian, Uzbek and other treats we’ll encounter on this route. We’ll once again support HIAS. This tour includes stops at two historic spots, including Holocaust Memorial Park and a site dedicated to Babi Yar. You’ll find a food shopper’s delight, including (at least) three amazing markets, so bring a backpack to contain the goodies you’ll want to take home – and an appetite for states on site!

This tour benefits HIAS (hias.org) formed in 1902, that has expanded its focus from helping Jewish refugees to addressing the global refugee crisis. A glance at its Web site tells the remarkable story of how HIAS has become a foundational participant in aiding and welcoming refugees worldwide, including Ukraine, Syria, Ethiopia and others. Its programs also operate in the US, where volunteers are welcome to help with various tasks.

BAY RIDGE (Brooklyn)

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Once you get a taste of Bay Ridge, you’ll want to return almost immediately! We’ll sample home-made Middle Eastern specialties, have a small Yemeni lunch (or not-so-small – it’s up to you!) and sample Greek, Turkish and other goodies in this delicious neighborhood! There are quite a few fascinating markets here, including one shop that specializes in Middle Eastern sweets.

We will support International Committee of the Red Cross (icrc.org). ICRC helps people world wide who have been affected by armed conflict and violence. Their Web site lists the many fields in which they are involved, ranging from helping people affected by climate change, sexual violence, armed conflict and much, much more!

LITTLE ITALY OF THE BRONX & MORE! (Bronx)

Saturday, November 18, 2023

This popular tour includes not just the wonderful and homey specialties of this four-generations-old Italian neighborhood, known as Belmont, but also integrates Balkan tastes. Our tour starts a bit off-the-beaten track with a visit to three adjacent markets offering Cambodian, West African and Indo-Caribbean specialties. One of the bakeries we visit in Belmont makes outstanding olive bread. It’s not cheap – but it’s worth it! (Cash only at that bakery, although most places in the neighborhood do take cards.)

On this tour we will support PARTNERS-IN-HEALTH (pih.org): Co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer committed himself to serving people with the least access to solid medical care, and fought for social justice along with providing health services. Farmer died in 2022, but his commitment to quality medical care and social equality continues.

DYKER HEIGHTS HOLIDAY LIGHTS (Brooklyn)

Sunday, December 17, 2023

You may have heard of the famous holiday lights in Dyker Heights, but seeing them in person is a special treat! Our Noshwalks strategy is to start our tastings before sundown and to arrive at the lights when it’s dark but the crowds haven’t yet descended on the neighborhood! We’ll sample cannoli, Guatemalan dishes, pignoli cookies and pizza, and also visit a large market with many Italian imports as well as one of the older Italian delis in New York City for fresh mozzarella and spinach bread.

Our beneficiary on this tour UNICEF (unicef.org): The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has been addressing the needs of children in more than 190 countries since December 1946 – so our walk coincides with its 77th anniversary! I grew up going “Trick-or-Treating” with Unicef milk cartons, collecting pennies to donate along with collecting treats. Unicef is the largest provider of vaccinations to children around the world.