With the coming of spring, the editorial board wanted to share some of our favorite day trips with the Rockefeller community. Here is a compilation of some of our ideas and experiences.

Peaceful Abode

MANUEL CASTELLANO-MUÑOZ

This is a suggestion for a day trip if you want to find something new and have a long walk outside the stress of Manhattan living. It is especially good if you need to reflect and think deeply.

Image provided by Isabel Garcia-Almargo

You can begin by taking the R subway line to South Brooklyn. Get off at the 25th Street Station and walk east for a block, and you will reach the Green-Wood Cemetery (http://www.green-wood.com), located at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street. You can get a map at the front desk, then you are introduced into never-ending walks with the expanse of endless rolling hills, dales, and ponds. This cemetery was a popular tourist attraction in the 1850s and is the place where most famous New Yorkers who died during the second half of the nineteenth century were buried. Even today, it is still a functioning cemetery. If things are not going well in the lab and you are obsessed with results and publications, this is a great opportunity to process your thoughts and keep things in perspective.

Leave the cemetery before you get too hungry, and again take the R subway line and get off five stops later at the Bay Ridge Avenue Station. Walk along Third Avenue and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the neighborhood of Tony Manero, the character from Saturday Night Fever. If you need a haircut, this is your opportunity. Last time, I counted one million hair salons in this locality. They are everywhere, don’t ask me why. You can get a very nice lunch at 79 (pizzeria and restaurant, at 79th and Third Avenue) or at Mezcal´s (Mexican restaurant, 75th and Third Avenue).

If you walk south along Third Ave and reach Shore Road, and if you go down to the riverside, you will be blessed with a spectacular view of the Verrazano Bridge. This place is very historic since this is exactly where the British arrived to force George Washington out of New York after the Declaration of Independence. It will now be time to return back, so track your path back to the R line at the 95th St-Bay Ridge Station.

Ocean, Beaches and Lazy Hikes

REVATHY U. CHOTTEKALAPANDA AND MELINA HERMAN

If you want to get away from crowded New York City and want to be close to the ocean, hop onto the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and get a ferry connection to one of the destinations on Fire Island. The Fire Island ferries are very frequent during summer, but less frequent in winter. One can take the LIRR to Bayshore or Sayville, and take ferries to the respective destinations. You can get all the information for the LIRR connections and ferry crossings from www.fireisland.com.

Image provided by Elodie Pauwels

With the Sayville ferry, you could visit Cherry Grove or the Fire Island Pines, which is a hot bed for gay culture and expression. Cherry Grove also has a strong artistic community portrayed by their murals, paintings, mosaics and landscaping. This is usually the place where nude sunbathers are normally bound. Sunken Forest is particularly beautiful, with boardwalks parallel to the ocean. There is also a good collection and description of the flora and fauna in the region there. The beaches are quite deserted in winter, and more occupied in the summer. There are no ferries to Sunken Forest, but it is a pleasant hike from Cherry Groove or Sailor’s Haven, with the ocean on both sides as you walk. Don’t forget to try the ice-cream in Sailor’s Haven. Watch Hill is yet another interesting place managed by the Fire Island National Seashore that offers camping, country trails, nature tours, and camping grounds.

If you take the Bayshore ferry, you can visit the beautiful Fire Island Lighthouse near Kismet, which was originally built in 1857 and now harbors a museum and an observatory. Ocean Bay Park on the other hand is a good locality for socializing. Ocean Beach is a happening place with many bars and restaurants and officially the capitol of Fire Island. Also, it is the only provider of bicycle rentals. If you love to swim and feel the ocean, go to Fair Harbor. Fair Harbor has spectacular harbor views and also offers lifeguard-monitored swimming in the bay side as well as on the ocean shore.

Another destination if you’re in need of peace and quiet is Old Greenwich, CT. From Grand Central, it’s only an hour away: just hop on the New Haven Line and get off at Old Greenwich. Right off the station, you’ll already be able to find places to have lunch, like Mackenzie’s Grill Room. The first pleasant change of scenery is provided by their delicious lobster chowder. Once reinvigorated, you can head down South Beach Avenue for an enjoyable 20-minute walk. Along the road are beautiful houses from the early and mid-20th century, and lovely boutiques. At the southwest end of the town, which is the end of South Beach Avenue, you’ll reach a long, thin peninsula where the town’s largest beach is located. An important point is how few tourists come there during the off-season, allowing you to spend a serene afternoon at the beach, away from the noise and pollution of the city. On the peninsula, you will not find any businesses. However, you can use the many conveniently located picnic tables to have an outdoor meal, if the weather allows it, or to relax and enjoy the view on the ocean. At that point, you’ll be able to see the Manhattan skyline from afar, ready to welcome you back home.

My Perfect NYC Day Trip:
Jackson Heights

AILEEN MARSHALL

Jackson Heights is a very diverse neighborhood that’s an easy ride from Manhattan and has lots of great restaurants. Just take the E, F, R, V or 7 Queens bound to the Roosevelt Ave/Broadway/74th Street Station. From there you can walk east along either Roosevelt Avenue, or go one block north to 37th Ave or another three blocks north to Northern Boulevard for plenty of great places to eat. The roots of Jackson Heights are mainly Colombian, with a mixture of many other South and Central American groups. There is an Indian enclave right along 74th Street. The neighborhood has become much more diverse in recent years as more people are fleeing Manhattan rents.

Right on 74th Street, off of Roosevelt Avenue is a very good Indian restaurant called Jackson Diner (37-47 74th St). There is also an Indian grocery store and some very interesting shops on the same block. For some authentic Colombian cuisine, go to Tierras Colombiana, on Roosevelt, at 83rd Street.

Moving on to 37th Avenue, La Boina Roja Steak House (80-18 37th Ave), is a genuine Argentinean steakhouse. The place is small, but great for those on the Atkins diet. Pollos A La Brasa Mario, on the corner of 83rd Street and 37th Avenue is always busy, even late into the night. The rotisserie chickens in the window are sure to get anyone salivating like Pavlov’s dogs. One can get a half of a chicken and a very generous portion of rice and beans for just a few dollars.

Working your way north to Northern Boulevard, Cafe Salamanca (7905 Northern Blvd), is a well-established Spanish restaurant, recognized for their sangria. Pio Pio (8415 Northern Blvd, serves Peruvian food) is known for its ceviche.

This is just a small sampling of the many great restaurants in this neighborhood. Come and see for yourself.

Red, White, and You

EUGENE MARTIN

North Fork Long Island will never be mistaken for Burgundy, Mosel, or Napa Valley, but, despite being so close to RU it provides an enjoyable day of swinging from vineyard to vineyard and enjoying the grape products along the way. First of all, don’t worry, North Fork isn’t too close to NYC; the wine’s terroir is not dog urine and cab exhaust. But the distance does provide a slight hindrance: for small groups, the wine-tours are over-priced and the distance between vineyards is prohibitive to a pedestrian. The best option is to treat the day as a wine tasting, not a party (although note that visitors in the larger tour busses lean towards the latter). Rent a car, establish a designated driver, and go east. There are 35 tasting rooms in the North Fork region and wonderful cheese and produce at the local farms. Most places are open from 10 am until 5 pm, on almost every weekend.

I’d recommend first stopping off at Catapano Dairy Farms¹ or another dairy to purchase a few cheeses to eat with your wine sampling. After that, a good starting point is Jamesport Winery² (from Catapano Dairy Farms, Jamesport is three turns and six minutes away); followed by exploring whatever catches your eye as you travel east on Main Road. There are no great lunch places, but grab some produce, cheese, and bread along the way and picnic with the vineyards as a backdrop. If you’d like to finish the evening with some food before the trip back - and nobody wants to drive in Long Island between 5 and 6 pm on any day of the week - one suggestion is following Main Road all the way east until it reaches its end and having a bite at the Frisky Oyster. Then, inhale the harbor’s air for a few breaths, and head back to the city.

1. For directions go to http://www.catapanodairyfarm.com/direct.htm. From RU, the trip takes approximately two hours under pleasant traffic conditions.

2. For directions go to www.jamesportwines.com/directions.html .

DUMBO Calling

CARLY GELFOND

If the name “Dumbo” conjures up images for you of a small, gray elephant with a big heart, it’s time you got out more. We’re in New York City, people! There’s no time to waste, and much to do! The neighborhood of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) in Brooklyn is a pulse of activity these days, and you’re going to want to be able to say you were there. From January through March 29th, the Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea migrates indoors to two “pop-up” markets at 76 and 81 Front Street in DUMBO. Head over (A/C to High Street or F to York Street) on Saturdays or Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to either of the two loft-like spaces. At 76 Front, you’ll find 25 top vintage and antiques dealers. At 81 Front, you’ll find 35 (mostly) non-vintage vendors of clothes, jewelry, art, and handmade crafts. But wait! There’s more! If you love to get your groove on whilst you shop, you’ll be pleased to note that the record shop Halcyon and other guest DJs will be spinning at the markets every weekend. Dying to explore your inner fashionista? Make your way over to the “Curated Corner,” where the Flea partners with guest curators to bring in their favorite designer/shop/artist/dealer to hold a one-time-only show/sample sale/trunk show. All that dancing and shopping can build up quite an appetite, and lucky for you, the DUMBO markets have more to offer than peanuts. Food vendors include Kumquat Cupcakery, McClure’s Pickles, Hot Blondies Bakery, and Choice Market. Stop over at the table of Fine + Raw Chocolate for some unbelievably rich and delicious raw hot cocoa. And while we’re on the subject of dining, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay in the area well into the evening. Might I suggest you check out the charming Hecho en DUMBO (111 Front Street between Washington and Adams) for some well-priced authentic Mexican cuisine, or head over to Rebar (147 Front Street between Jay and Pearl Streets), a reclaimed factory loft-space with 15 taps, beautiful bottled Belgian beers, an extensive by the glass wine list, and a great bar menu. The Disney movies will still be there when you get back.

Isn’t this a great spot for a picnic? Cartoon by Rossana Henriques

Skiing, the Cheap and Easy Way

ADRIA LE BOEUF

An easy day-trip in the winter time is Thunder Ridge Ski Area, though only if you are not such a demanding skier. Thunder Ridge is a small ski resort approximately an hour and a half outside of New York City. It is very good for kids and beginning skiers. But what makes it really fantastic is the Metro North deal (http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_thunderridge.htm). Price: From Grand Central Terminal or Harlem-125th Street: adults, $49.75; seniors, $33.50; children 12, $37.75; children 6-11, $19.50; children age 5, $6.50; children under 5, $5.00.

Package includes: Discount round-trip rail fare, all-day/all-night lift ticket (night skiing not available on Sundays); shuttle to/from the train station to the ski area; $5 discount on rental equipment.
Travel information: You can buy the package at the ticket window in Grand Central. Take Metro-North’s Harlem Line to Patterson Station where a shuttle bus meets designated a.m. trains to take you to the ski area. Later in the day, a shuttle bus will return you to Patterson Station to meet designated p.m. trains returning to Grand Central Terminal.

In the end, the train, lift ticket and rentals all together cost only $75! And better yet, up in the lodge, while the food is not amazing, there is a small 21 and over section (to escape the screaming children and frantic parents), where they sell tasty and cheap beer after a long day of skiing. Also, across the way from the Patterson train station, before your train home, you can grab a warm cup of tea at the tiny convenience store. One major caveat: before you go, check the snow conditions (www.thunderridgeski.com).