The Curious Case of Marble Hill: A Neighborhood Caught Between Two Boroughs

If there was a competition for NYC neighborhoods with the weirdest backstories, Marble Hill would definitely be a strong contender for the top prize. Read about Marble Hill's neighborhood history below and then let me know which borough you think it should belong to. Marble Hill Neighborhood History Tiny by NYC standards, with around 10,000…

What to Know and Do in The Bronx’s Wealthiest Neighborhood: A Riverdale Neighborhood Guide

Known for its suburban vibes, elite private schools, and its persistent denial that it's part of the Bronx, Riverdale is the only wealthiest NYC neighborhoods that I've spent the day in that didn't put much of a dent in my wallet (see my Tribeca and Cobble Hill guides), partly because there isn't a lot to do…

A (Bad) Catholic’s Guide to NYC

It's hard to think of NYC as a particularly religious city, let alone a Catholic one. But contrary to popular belief, plenty of New Yorkers worship the almighty God along with the almighty dollar, with Catholics making up the largest sect of the city's religious folk. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 33…

The Best Places to Watch the Sunset in Each NYC Borough

You don't have to be a heliologist to see how special sunsets are in New York City. It's as though nature puts a pair of rose-colored glasses on you, reminding you of the magic of New York, rather than how gross, lonely, and expensive it can be. Whether you want to admire the sunset or…

An Unconventional NYC Boat Tour: The Soundview Ferry

This is not the first time I've written about the NYC Ferry system here on the blog, but it is such a fun experience that I have to tell you about it again. But don't click away! This is not the same post as last year. If you recall, last year I wrote about how…

If You Love Beautiful Houses, Visit These NYC Neighborhoods

Don't feel like reading? Press play and I'll read it to you! I love looking at other people’s houses, and if the success of HGTV means anything, I know that I’m not the only one with this voyeuristic pastime. So for the people who like to mentally fawn over the landscaping of someone’s lawn or…

Don’t Go to the Bronx… Without Reading These Facts

Don't feel like reading? Press play and I'll read this post to you! While Staten Island is the forgotten borough, the Bronx is New York City’s misjudged borough. Yes, it does often rank last in terms of crime, poverty, and inequality in the city. But it’s still a worthwhile place to live and explore. But…

Which NYC Beach is Best for You? Let’s Find Out!

You name an ecosystem and NYC has is: forests, marshlands, and of course, beaches! In NYC, there are at least 14 miles of public beaches spread across the five boroughs. Today, let’s pit them against each other and find out which NYC beach is best for you. Coney Island Beach What You’ll Like: Between being…

The Oddest NYC Neighborhood Names Explained

Don't feel like reading right now? Press play and I'll read this post to you! Today when we hear the names of NYC neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and Hell's Kitchen, we associated them with attractions. But have you ever stopped to think about how these neighborhoods ended up with their sometimes odd names? And it's…

The NYC Black Bucket List: 20 Black Cultural Sites in NYC

Make no misunderstanding: the following list is not the end-all be-all of black cultural and historic sites in NYC. In fact, you're more than welcome to suggest more places that should be added to what I'm calling the NYC Black Bucket List. With sites spanning all five boroughs, no matter who you are, you've got…