JENNIFER JIMENEZ
Many tourist travel to different countries all over the world, to warm places, cold places, but one of those places that most tourist visit would be New York City, NY. NYC is filled with many attractions that catches tourists attention but, NYC has a small town called Little Italy which is located in Lower Manhattan. Little Italy is a very cultural neighborhood where Italians gathered with their family to run many restaurants and making the neighborhood feel like back home in Italy. Also, there’s a lot of good attractions, restaurants, and retail places around it, which you could visit any time of the day.
FRIDAY
4:00PM, Mulberry and Grand
While walking into Little Italy, I’ll recommend to first stop by the boutique, which you could take the 6 train to Canal st. and walk 2 blocks straight. The boutique has very unique clothing that’ll be great for different type of climate, whether is hot or cold, or even if it rain. Also, they sell different type of shades of sunglasses. Some are colorful, some has a simple day look. They even have a big mirror with an amazing lighting. The prices for clothing range from $15 to $30 and the price for sunglasses range from $10 to $15, it is a little expensive but both are made with a great material that’ll last.
6:30pm, Spaghetti Incident Pasta Shop
Before heading to explore the city and you want to grab something quick to eat, stop by the Spaghetti Incident Pasta Shop where is known to have their famous spaghetti in a cone. Spaghetti cone was first invented by an Italian named Emanuele Attala, chef-owner from the West Village Malatesta and Malaparte. During that time, Italy was poor and most of the food was unhealthy food made in paper cones. They were sold at the beach, for parties and just grown-ups hanging out. https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/07/23/get-your-bucatini-and-bolt-spaghetti-incident-serves-pasta-in-a-go-cone/ You could pick your choices for the spaghetti pasta cone but, I’ll recommend the Chitarra ($13.00) which includes homemade mozzarella, basil, and fresh chopped tomato sauce or if you’re into seafood, I’ll recommend Salmone & Asparagi ($13.00) which includes steamed asparagus, capers, chopped fresh salmon, and creamy vodka sauce.
8:00pm, Times Sq.
Nothing is better than seeing the city that doesn’t sleep at night with lights all around you go. In the 19th century, Times Square area used to be a residential and commercial. It was named Times Square in 1904. Today, this area is filled with big stores, tall buildings, characters (Spider Man, Mickey Mouse, etc.) around to take pictures, also is the place known to see the ball drop on New Years Eve, Broadway shows that had become very entertainment, and movie theaters with 4D which is great to see a movie in because it feels like you’re actually in the movie. Just to let you know, the area is great but it’s too expensive. Also, most of the MTA Trains has stops to Time Square like the 1,2,3,7,A,C,E,N,W,Q,R.https://www.britannica.com/topic/Times-Square
Saturday
11:00am, Statue of Liberty
To get to the Statue of Liberty, you could take the 4 or the 6 train. I recommend to buy the tour ticket ($47) because the tour guide will give you all historical facts about the Statue Of Liberty and also you’ll get to visit Ellis Island as well and get a tour guide. You’ll be going on a ferry to make the first stop to the Statue of Liberty. On your way there, you’ll see Jersey City, New Jersey across over the Hudson River on your right and you’ll see where the immigrants were held when they came to New York City in the late 1800s, on your left. When you arrive to the Statue of Liberty, on your left you’ll see the new museum that just opened up that has historical facts about how we got Statue of Liberty and also how it was brought across the ocean to New York City.
12:00pm, Ellis Island
After seeing the Statue of Liberty, you’ll be brought here, to Ellis Island. Ellis Island is where the immigrants first came to get checked up before actually entering the country. The tour guide will tell you what kind of test they did on the immigrants, who was allow to enter the country, who was not, etc. Ellis Island is a very historical place. After the early 1900s, when U.S Boarder of Protection exsisted, immigrants were no longer in need to go to Ellis Island so the building was closed down and then re open as a museum to show tourist or even residents of New York about the history of how immigrants were able to cross the boarder. Also, they have a small office that has computers for you to look up your ancestors to see if they once had been to Ellis Island as an immigrant.
3:00pm,
Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
On your way back to Little Italy, you should stop by the best place that sells Gelato in New York City. The bakery seems like a professional dine in with really good servers, and assist you if you need anything. They have different kind of Gelatos but if you’re looking for a gelato that has cake over it, i’ll recommend Tri Color. The Gelato is very pricey, a small cup is $6.00 and large cup is $7.50, but it’s worth it.
Sunday
12:00pm, Ristorante IL Cortile
Good afternoon lunch at the best restaurant to dine in in Little Italy. The restaurant had one part with dim lights to make the statues on the wall stand out. Manager Many stated, “We have 4 different parts to dine in, as also we have a private lounge with a bar, we usually get bridal showers here and kids from school come in groups.” I was amazed by this restaurants because it felt like each part of the restaurant had different time of the day. Some part would have dim lights, some would have bright lights, and also have an outside view like if you’re dining outside. Also, the amenities that’s provided makes guest feel comfort, such as having Wifi, mini bars, private bars, music, tablets, etc. The menu presents really good food but the prices range from $25 to $250.
Lodging
A best hotel around the area and has good fair would be Best Western. Prices could range $200-$500. There’s the B,D,6,J, and Z train near the hotel. When you walk in the hotel, it’s really quiet with dim lights and doesn’t have guest sitting down besides 2 or 3. The hotel is mostly for business as it has a small lobby and not many amenities. The type of amenities it has is Wifi, outside gym, patio on 2nd floor. The kind of service that provides would be room service, business center, free breakfast, a place to store luggage. If you only need a hotel room to sleep in and just going to go out during the whole day, I would recommend this hotel.
References
“Spaghetti Incident: Spaghetti in a Cone.” Horecatrends.com, 7 Dec. 2018, www.horecatrends.com/en/spaghetti-incident-spaghetti-in-a-cone/.
Wallenfeldt, Jeff. Times Square. 18 Oct. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Times-Square.
“FERRARA.” Ferrarabakery, www.ferrarabakery.com/.
