Author Archives: Matt Tobjy

36 Hours in Staten Island, New York

                                 By MATTHEW TOBJY        Dec. 6, 2016

                                              Staten Island:  full of history, culture, and tradition. It is often know as the forgotten borough by residents, but has much to offer.

Staten Island satellite view

Staten Island satellite view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City is also known as              the borough of parks. Out of the five boroughs, this is the most suburban part of the city that you can probably find. It has much to offer, even though it is often overlooked by tourists and some New Yorkers themselves. There is good shopping at the local mall, excellent restaurants, some of which the chefs have appeared on The Food Network, and a great comfortable home feeling.

36 Hours in Staten Island: Here is a map of all the places I recommend to visit while on Staten Island

Friday

  1. Historic Richmond Town, 2pm.

Historic Richmond Town, located in the middle of Staten Island in the town of Oakwood Heights, hold a rich history that can be traced back to the mid 1600s. Take a tour of the town between 1 and 5pm and see how people lived before the era of technology. Here you will see how people survived during these times by seeing how they made their own food, picked their food, made their clothes, etc. Admission is $8 for adults. This is highly recommended because it will take you back to the simpler times. Want to get an experience that will make you feel like you are in the 1600s? Take a candlelight tour of the town in December and meet the employees that will reenact the christmas season in the colonial age.

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Photo creds: Matthew Tobjy

2. St. Andrew’s Church, 3pm.

St. Andrew’s Church, founded in 1708 by Rev. Aeneas Mackenzie, holds a lot of history because in the 18th century in Staten Island, the population was mostly Dutch and French. The amount of history that this church has been through is incredible. It played a major part in the Revolutionary War because British troops camped on the property and the church was used as a hospital. Some residents believe that the church is haunted saying that they’ve heard drums playing from one of the British drummer boys that is buried at this site. You can walk the grounds if you please and take a look at the years on the tombstones, it is simply amazing! If you find yourself in this area around Halloween, the church puts on a fright night tour where they have actors recreate a haunted theme and you, the visitor, walk through for a thrill.

3. Conference House Park, 4pm.

Conference House Park, is home to another historical site on Staten Island, the Conference House, located in the Tottenville section on the island. Public tours are available for $4, or you can schedule a private tour of the estate. This is a very historical spot because on September 11, 1776, some Continental Congress representatives met with the British kings representatives to discuss terms for independence, but the British denied them because they didn’t think independence was a negotiable term. Therefore both parties of the discussion left facing war in the future. Visiting the Conference House around Christmas time is a nice activity to do. It is decorated for the season and they hold events around this time of year.

4. Angelina’s Ristorante, 6pm.

Angelina’s Ristorante  is an upscale Italian restaurant that is high end with a beautiful view. The restaurant holds weddings and all kinds of events which are exquisite. A dish that is a must to try is the Pollo Valdostano for $26. It is a chicken breast stuffed with ham and mozzarella cheese in a cognac and porcini mushroom sauce and truffle infused. It is absolutely amazing! There are a variety of Italian dishes that make you feel at home, but with an upscale twist. The food served at this restaurant is what most Italian Staten Islanders make at home, from tomato sauce, fresh pasta, and more. Make sure you make a reservation because it is always filled with regulars.

Photo creds: Matthew Tobjy

Photo creds: Matthew Tobjy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday

  1. Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens, 10am.

This Botanical garden is a hidden secret in Staten Island. It is absolutely beautiful and full of nature and beauty. Take a stroll throughout the land, which is vast and take in all that there is to offer. Coming here to sit down on a bench and enjoy the beautiful sites is a great start to your day. There is a farm in the botanical gardens that from June- November has a farm stand where people can come to buy locally grown food and see what the gardens have produced. The land is full of culture from performing arts, visual arts, and a Chinese scholar garden. Located on the property is also a children’s museum that has a lot to offer.

 

Photo creds: Snug Harbor

Photo creds: Snug Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Staten Island Zoo, 12pm.

The Staten Island Zoo, which is famous for “Staten Island Chuck” who comes out each Groundhogs Day to indicate if spring is coming sooner or later. They have an array of animal exhibits from repitles, birds, otters, and a lot more. It is so much fun too see all of these animals in a place you would never expect tot see them, New York. There is a petting zoo, where you can pet the goats and other animals as well. You are sure to spend a good amount of time here, so a cafe is in the zoo so you can grab some lunch then go on your way to see more animals. Admission is $10 for adults, with reduced rates for seniors and children.

3. Alice Austen House, 4pm.

The Alice Austen House is the house of one of America’s earliest female photographer’s. Through her life, she captures approximately 8,000 photos, some which are able to be viewed at the house now. Alice Austen was a artist in every way, she loved to take photos and she was also a landscape designer. Along with being one of the first female photographers in America, she was the first woman to own a car in Staten Island. Most of her photos were candid pictures of daily life on Staten Island. A lot of the photos can now be seen on the website. The admission is about $3 and the grounds are open until dusk.

4. Giovanni’s Trattoria, 7pm.

Giovanni’s Trattoria is a small, but amazing Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice and cozy and you can tell that the staff works great together and now around Christmas it is absolutely beautiful inside. The executive chef, Alessandro Colizza, is straight from Italy and makes homemade pizza in a woodturning brick oven. The pizza is so authentic to Italy with a thin crust, but they make the pizza an oblong shape in 18″ or 29″ pies. The small 14″ pie is good as a personal pizza. They have a variety of classical Italian dishes as well from Chicken Parmesan to Chicken marsala and so much more. The choices for pizza are endless, and my favorite was the Pizza al Metro with shrimp, pesto, and fresh tomatoes. Definitely make a reservation as it gets busy very quickly on a Saturday night.

Photo creds: Matthew Tobjy

Photo creds: Matthew Tobjy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday

  1. Staten Island Lighthouse, 9am.

Staten Island Lighthouse, towering 141 feet above sea level, is very unique to Staten Island. The lighthouse is deigned very ruggedly for a city scene and went into operation in the year of 1912. The beam from the lighthouse can be seen for 21 miles. In 1992, it was taken over by a caretaker who loved lighthouses and he took care of it until he came down with medical problems and had to step down. A keepers dwelling was built 150 feet from the lighthouse and connected to the lighthouse itself. The top of the lighthouse can only be seen from houses nearby, but the beams of light aids ships coming to the Ambrose Channel and the Swash Channel. The keepers dwelling is now a private residence.

2. Beans and Leaves Cafè, 11am.

Beans and Leaves  is very popular on Staten Island for their unique waffles with toppings. You can get anything from S’mores waffle to a Cap’n Crunch waffle. Once you get a waffle you can take a picture of it and post it on social media with the hashtag “#postyoutbeans.” They were voted Staten Islands Best Coffee Shop of 2015 according to their Instagram page. Waffles run anywhere from $7.50 and up. This will sure fill you up as you are about to finish your journey on Staten Island!

3. Staten Island Museum, 12pm.

The Staten Island Museum located on the northern tip of the island in St. George. The history in this museum traces back to 1881 and covers history of this region from the past 150 years. There are 3 locations, this one, a location in Snug Harbor, and another location in Snug Harbor for the history center and archives. The museum connects the natural sciences, arts, and history based on the collections that they have. Admission is $8 for adults with reduced prices or seniors, children, and groups.

Photo creds: Staten Island Museum

Photo creds: Staten Island Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lodging: 

Hilton Garden Inn New York/ Staten Island 

Room rate: $179 per night

There is a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Staten Island Ferry, Newark International Airport, and Bayonne Cruise Port.

Hampton Inn & Suites Staten Island, New York Hotel

Room rate: $149 per night

There is complimentary shuttle service to and from the Staten Island Ferry and Newark International Airport. Shuttle to and from Bayonne Cruise Port must be booked when making reservation.

Transportation nearby: Use local MTA city buses or Staten Island Railway to get across the island.

 

 

@. (n.d.). Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://snug-harbor.org/

     Home. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://conferencehouse.org/The Church of

Home – Staten Island Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://www.statenislandmuseum.org/

     Saint Andrew – Staten Island. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://churchofstandrew-si.com/

STATEN ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://www.uscg.mil/d1/antNewYork/lighthouses/StatenIsland.asp

      Staten Island Zoo. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://www.statenislandzoo.org/

Welcome to the Alice Austen House | Alice Austen House. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://aliceausten.org/

     Welcome to Historic Richmond Town! (n.d.). Retrieved December 06, 2016, from http://www.historicrichmondtown.org/

 

 

 

 

Statue Of Liberty- Matthew Tobjy

The Statue Of Liberty was gifted to the United States from France in 1886 as a symbol of our freedom and democracy. It is not only a National symbol for our culture, but also one for New York City. It represents our freedom and our resilience in hard times and that we can overcome anything. It was a symbol of hope after 9/11 in NYC and for this country.

Reference:

United States. National Park Service. (n.d.). Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service). Retrieved October 19, 2016, from https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

The Carlyle Hotel Reflection- Matthew Tobjy

What did you like/dislike about our visit to The Carlyle?

One aspect that I really enjoyed about this hotel was the various types of suites and they had. I liked how each suite and room is decorated differently and not the same. Each room has its own personality and vibe to it. This shows the luxurious nature of the hotel and the amount of care that goes into running this hotel for the specific clientele that they receive.

What one thing influenced your desire to work/or not to work in this industry?

One thing that influenced my desire to work in this industry was the amount of attention to detail each employee has. It was very nice to see how each employee was dedicated to their job and making sure everything is pristine in order to live up to the class of the hotel. They are very detailed in their work and as someone who is very meticulous about details it was nice to see this in a professional industry and environment.

Cultural Tourism- Matthew, Janice, Kiara, Jessica

During our visit to the Brooklyn Bridge Park, we were assigned to the group of cultural tourism. Cultural tourism is a trip motivated by interests in cultural events such as feasts or festivals or activities such as theater, history, arts and sciences, museums, architecture, and religion. During our visit, there were specific areas to the park that related to cultural tourism, the first on being the Brooklyn Bridge. Many people who visit Manhattan or New York City in general, come to see and walk the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a historical landmark in New York because it was the first bridge built and it gives tourists a glimpse into the hustle and bustle of the city. Another area that showed our culture were the concrete stairs, this is where some people come to see theater while enjoying the beautiful view of Manhattan. Along with the view, tourists can see the harbor traffic of the ferries which can be used by people visiting or locals commuting to work. This gives them a chance to see what it is like to live in the city and what a commuters travel is like in our New York culture. The music barge right by the entrance of the park, which is open on weekends, shows the cultural music of Brooklyn and New York as a whole. Tourists could also visit, Photoville, which is a week long photo venue which people can visit to see pictures from locals living in New York or from people all around the world. It shows candid photos in New York which really show what our culture is like.

EDIT-Matthew Tobjy

Unlike some, my passion for Hospitality Management and cooking started later in my teen years. Around my early teen years is when I started to take an interest in this field and started to experiment in the kitchen. I hope to gain the skills that I need in order to become successful in this business. I currently work at a local Italian restaurant and this has made me realize that this really is the field I want to study in and one day work in. I hope that my strengths of listening to directions, not getting frazzled under pressure, and taking advice from others helps me to excel in my career.