NEW Bronx Cheers! A Visit to Parkchester (Bronx)

Saturday, February 18 • NOON

This cheer isn't the raspberry, but an upbeat celebration of the Bronx! Join me for a ramble in Parkchester, a planned community that's now one of the most diverse neighborhoods in NYC! In addition to eclectic tastes of South Asia, Mexico and the Caribbean, we will also seek out the treasury of terra cotta sculptures that adorn Parkchester's buildings. We'll begin our tour with another great Bronx art work - prepare to be surprised! The tour MAY include a side trip to another Bronx neighborhood. Make sure your Metrocard has extra rides!

Time: 12:00 PM (noon)

Place: Meet in front of Emigrant Savings Bank, 74 Hugh J. Grant Circle. map it

Directions: Take the 6 train to Parkchester - the bank is a prominent building near the train exit. For alternate routes, go to www.hopstop.com or contact me for recommendations. (Way-uptown New Yorkers can get the BX36 bus near the Port Authority Terminal at 178th Street; travel time is about one hour.)

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Astoria pita maker!

Astoria in Three Continents (Queens)

Saturday, March 19 • 1:00 PM

You may have read about Little Egypt in the news… now visit it with Noshwalks! This updated version of the “Astoria I” Noshwalk also features Greek, south Asian, Colombian and Chilean specialties, but we'll spend more time than on past Astoria walking tours getting to know the Middle Eastern and North African markets, restaurants, and bakeries that line Steinway St. You will probably want to have a backpack or some sort of extra carry-all for the terrific produce, cheese and other specialties you’ll find here and want to take home! Our last stop along the tour includes a huge Greek supermarket and a Bosnian kebab place.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at Athens Square Park (at 30th Avenue and 30th Street). map it

Directions: Take the N train to 30th Ave., walk one block west (towards Manhattan)

Arpiar at Kalustyan's

Slices of Midtown (Manhattan)

Sunday, March 27 • 1:00 PM

Korean, Persian and South Asian food are the edible attractions in this cluttered and busy “slice” of Manhattan, which also has some architectural treasures (increasingly hidden, alas, in the area’s proliferating highrises.) We’ll visit a Korean buffet, taste fresh-made dumplings and buy food in the “Curry Hill” neighborhood that we’ll take to beautiful Madison Square Park for a mini-picnic, weather permitting. If the weather isn’t so great, we’ll tour a wonderful Indian restaurant for dosas.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of statue of Horace Greeley at Greeley Square (actually a triangle) at 32nd Street and Broadway. map it

Directions: Take B, D, N, Q, R, W trains to 34th St. (PATH goes there, too! 1,2 and 3 trains to Penn Station also bring you close!)

Enjoying rugalach in Borough Park

Borough Park Shmura Matzoh Special (Brooklyn)

Sunday, April 3  •  12:00 NOON

Get a head start on Passover shopping, as this walking tour explores Borough Park and concludes with a visit to a shmura matzoh factory. In addition to traditional Jewish foods of Eastern European origin, we will also visit an Uzbek bakery and a Yemeni market that sells some of the best bread you’ve ever had. Please contact Noshwalks ahead of time (and pay in advance) if you want to pre-order matzoh and pick it up at the walking tour. Bring $24 for each box of regular matzoh.

Time: 12:00 NOON

Place: Meet at Eichler’s Books, 50-04 13th Avenue. map it

Directions: Take D train to 50th Street, walk one block east to 13th Avenue. Go earlier if you want time to browse at Eichler’s!

Staten Island dosa

Victory Boulevard (Staten Island)

Saturday, April 9  •  11:15 AM

In this corner of Staten Island, our choices will include Sri Lankan, Albanian, Mexican, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Polish and Senegalese eateries and markets. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a tote bag to ferry food home!

Time: 11:15 AM

Place: Meet at the Staten Island Ferry terminal for the 11:30 ferry by the newspaper stand in the waiting area. map it

Directions: The ferry is free, but have a Metrocard ready for the one or two bus rides we’ll be taking. (The neighborhood is in walking distance from the ferry but begins on top of a steep hill.) Take the R train to Whitehall Street or the 1 train to South Ferry. (If you take the 1 train, you’ll see New York City’s newest subway station!) Do check www.mta.info ahead of time to confirm weekend.

Upper West Side (Manhattan)

Saturday, April 23  •  11:30 AM

This eclectic walking tour highlights history & food venues between 97th and 116th Streets, mainly on Amsterdam Avenue. Be prepared for Ethiopian, Indian Cuban, Ecuadorian (new to this Noshwalk!), Haitian, Hungarian, Dominican, Mexican—and maybe more!

Time: 11:30 AM

Place: Meet at the Sundial on the Columbia University campus, 116th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. map it

Directions: Take the #1 train to 116th Street, or the M104 & M4 bus on Broadway, or the northbound M11 bus on Amsterdam Ave.

Enjoying papas rellenos in East Harlem

Slices of Uptown (Harlem)

Sunday, April 24  •  1:00 PM

This walking tour will explore Harlem’s fast-changing western fringe along Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards, where there are tastes of Senegal, Jamaica, Guinea —and more (including, as well, a local bakery with outstanding rugelach and bread pudding)!

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of the Malcolm Shabazz African Market on W. 116th Street between 5th and Avenue & Malcolm X Boulevard (aka Lenox Avenue). map it

Directions: Take the #2 or #3 train to 116th Street and walk 1/2 block east or the #6 train to 116th Street at Lexington Avenue and walk 3 1/2 short blocks west.

Ridgewood Turkish fare

Ridgewood (Queens)

Saturday, April 30  •  1:00 PM

I’m reviving this wonderful Noshwalk after a break of several years and a recent, exciting visit. While Ridgewood retains a real feel of the “old” Queens, it now incorporates many newcomers that make it as diverse and delicious as other neighborhoods in the borough. Foodies haven’t descended on Ridgewood yet, so Noshwalkers will get a head start with this walking tour, including tastings of Turkish appetizers, Mexican bread pudding, Bulgarian cheese, Bosnian grilled peppers and kebabs, German chocolate (at an 80+ year old bakery!), Romanian pastries, Polish stuffed cabbage and other culinary pleasures.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at Caribe Star Restaurant, 54-55 Myrtle Avenue. map it

Directions: Take the L train to Myrtle/Wyckoff (NOT Myrtle/Broadway!), walk east on Myrtle to the restaurant, which is in a former diner located within an interesting mini-park. (The exterior is amply painted in Caribbean motifs.) The tracks of the elevated M train will be to your left as you exit the train station.

Equadorian potatoes

Bay Ridge (Brooklyn)

Saturday, May 7  •  1:00 PM

Experience the multi-ethnic treasures in this neighborhood once mostly known for its Scandinavian seafaring tradition but now cherished by foodies for its great markets and eateries.

One of my favorite Turkish markets is here, and if we’re lucky, we’ll get fresh green almonds and garbanzos, which are only in season during a narrow period in the spring. Our tastes along this walking tour will include Norwegian, Italian, Moroccan, Danish, Turkish, French & Lebanese.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of The Family Store, 6905 Third Avenue. map it

Directions: Take R train to Bay Ridge Avenue & Fourth Ave., walk 1 block west to Third Ave. and 1/2 block south (as numbers ascend). (Note: To save time from Manhattan—and enjoy the Manhattan Bridge—take the N or D train to 36th Street in Brooklyn and switch there for the R)

A taste of Brighton Beach!

Brighton Beach (Brooklyn)

Saturday, May 14  •  1:00 PM

Please join me for this Noshwalk favorite, being held on a Saturday for a reason Noshwalkers will learn shortly on arrival! But make sure you come hungry as we savor Uighur (Western Chinese), Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, Uzbek, Turkish and other foods and flavors in this amazing neighborhood. In addition to exploring Brighton Beach Avenue and the Boardwalk, we’ll also wander through some of its old bungalow areas—a local treasure in danger of disappearing.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of the Chase Bank at 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue, where Brighton Beach Avenue meets Coney Island Ave. map it

Directions: Take the Q train to Brighton Beach Avenue and exit at Brighton 7th Street (near the rear of the train).

These folks took part in my second NoshWalk, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The weather was gorgeous, so we bought food at a Mexican restaurant and some goodies from Sunset Park’s Chinatown and brought it into Sunset Park itself, which has one of the most beautiful settings in NYC.

Sunset Park (Brooklyn)

Sunday, May 22  •  1:00 PM

You’ll revel in this area’s ethnic and architectural diversity! Food stops along this walking tour include Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Polish and Mexican markets and bakeries, including hand-pulled noodles, fresh dumplings and the cheapest espresso in NYC! Weather permitting, we’ll have a picnic in Sunset Park.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of the parking lot at Hong Kong Dynasty Supermarket, 6013-6023 Eighth Ave. at 60th St. map it

Directions: Take the N train to 8th Ave., which exits at 62nd St., walk north 1 1/2 blocks (as numbers descend).

Enjoying ices at Lemon King in Corona

Rego Park—Corona Special (Queens)

Sunday, May 29  •  1:00 PM (Approximately 4 hours)

In 2009, this “hybrid” foodie walking tour, which combines New York City’s own “silk route” with the vibrant “Little Ecuador” lasted nearly 5 hours. In 2011 (I didn’t lead the tour last year), we’ll try to keep it shorter, but you’ll probably understand why it took so long!

During the first part, we’ll find a shopper’s and taster’s delight at Uzbek, Tadjik, Persian and Russian markets and bakeries. Then we’ll clean our palates with a ices from the renowned Lemon Ice King of Corona. En route to Corona’s Little Ecuador, where we’ll conclude with Ecuadorean treats, we’ll visit a tortilla factory and an old Italian bakery-café. Be prepared for a range of tastes, from kebabs, tandoori bread, and other Central Asian specialties in Rego Park to the savory tastes of South America! This tour includes at least one sit-down, maybe two.

Please note that tips and beverages are not included in the fee, which is $49 for Noshnews subscribers and $54 for all others.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of Queens Bazaar Food at 94-02 63rd Drive. map it

Directions: Take the R train to 63rd Drive. (The G train no longer stops here) Exit south side Queens Boulevard, turn left (south) on 63rd Drive, walk two blocks.

Caribbean Brooklyn!

Caribbean Brooklyn (Brooklyn)

Saturday, June 4  •  1:00 PM

In the heart of Brooklyn’s West Indian community, we’ll sample yummy specialties mostly from Guyana, Trinidad and Jamaica while savoring the beautiful architecture of the area. An interesting insight into the history of New York’s Caribbean community can be gleaned from Paule Marshall’s wonderful autobiographical novel Brown Girls, Brownstones, which describes growing up in a Barbadian household in the 1940s and 1950s.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at the outdoor sidewalk sculpture on the northeast corner of Ocean Avenue and Parkside Avenue. map it

Directions: Take the Q train to Parkside Avenue, exit at Parkside (NOT Lincoln Road).

Ghanaian lunch in the Bronx

Bronx Bites (Grand Concourse and Woodlawn)

Saturday, June 11  •  11:30 AM

* NOTE: This tour is longer than our usual tours

Celebrate the Bronx Renaissance in this visit to various neighborhoods in the borough. This tour covers the fabled Grand Concourse, now undergoing a true renaissance, and some of its historic buildings, taste the spiciest ginger beer I’ve ever had, from a nearby Guinean restaurant; have lunch in a Ghanaian eatery; visit my favorite Mexican market; and conclude the walking tour in Irish Woodlawn, where we’ll have trifle and then mellow away the afternoon in a terrific pub. Bring an unlimited Metrocard and unlimited curiosity!

FEE (includes lunch and tastes, but not beverages): $49 for Noshnews subscribers, $54 for all other participants.

Time: 11:30 AM

Place: Meet in front of El Molino Rojo Restaurant, 101 East 161st Street between Gerard and Walton Aves., Bronx. map it

Directions: Take the D or 4 train to 161st Street, walk east from Yankee Stadium.

Arepas Cafe in Astoria. Owner Ricardo Romero in center with orange shirt.

Astoria II: The "Other" Astoria (Queens)

(NEW DATE) Saturday, June 18  •  1:00 PM

Astoria is such a rich community that a few years ago I created a second Astoria foodie walking tour that would uncover more of its treasures.

This Noshwalk visits several Brazilian markets, as well as Cuban, Venezuelan, Greek, Mexican, Balkan and other delicious destinations—and passes the historic Kaufman Studios & the Museum of the Moving Image. One of our favorite stops is a Bulgarian-owned restaurant where we share a delicious platter of Mediterranean appetizers, including crushed grape leaves.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of El Sitio de Astoria, 35-55 31st St. map it

Directions: Take the N train to 36th Ave; you’ll see El Sitio on the east side of 31st St.

Lower East Side

Lower East Side and Chinatown (Manhattan)

Sunday, June 26  •  1:00 PM

Normally offered only in winter (and this past year in conjunction with the Lunar New Year), we’re trying out a summer version of this tour, which includes samplings of Jewish and Chinese specialties in the area, from knishes and caviar cream cheese, to vintage-style candy (halvah is a favored treat) to dumplings and other Chinese specialties.

Time (and appetites) permitting, we’ll check out the few remaining markets of Little Italy and possibly a Vietnamese banh mi shop.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at First Park, NW corner of First Avenue and Houston Street. map it

Directions: Take the F train to 2nd Avenue; exit at First Avenue.

ACME Smoked Fish factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Greenpoint (Brooklyn)

Friday, July 1  •  11:00 AM

This special Friday walking tour includes a visit to the famous ACME smoked fish factory (open to retail customers Fridays only) as well as markets and bakeries in this mainly Polish area.

We’ll conclude (after Acme) with a wonderful lunch, which will provide our main tasting opportunity. Bring a freezer bag! (Take G train, exit Greenpoint Ave., south exit) (Early time is necessary in order to visit Acme Fish!)

Time: 11:00 AM - Early time is necessary in order to visit Acme Fish!

Place: Meet at St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus Church, 863 Manhattan Ave. at Milton St. map it

Directions: Take G train, exit Greenpoint Ave., south exit

Cheese makers at Joe's Deli in Belmont

Belmont - Little Italy of the Bronx

Saturday, July 2  •  12:00 NOON

This Noshwalk of century-old Little Italy of the Bronx visits this neighborhood’s famous indoor market, restaurants, cheese shops, bakeries, and more, including a behind-the-scenes look at one of NYC’s oldest bread bakeries, and a demonstration of mozzarella cheese-making.

Mass transit users can meet us at 11:30 AM in front of the Loew’s Paradise, 2413 Grand Concourse at 187th Street. (map it) Take the D train to Fordham Road, exit at 188th Street and walk one block south. (From the East Side of Manhattan, take the 4 train to 161st Street and change for the D. You can also take the 4 to Fordham Road and walk a few short blocks east to the Grand Concourse.). We’ll walk (not that far, really!) or take the bus to Belmont.

Time: 11:30 at 187th Street (see above) or 12:00 noon in Belmont

Place: If you’re going directly to Belmont, meet us at 12:00 noon in front of Mt. Carmel Church, 619 E. 187th St., NW corner Belmont Ave. (two blocks east of Arthur Ave). map it

Directions: E-mail noshwalks@aol.com for directions and parking information

Bensonhurst (Brooklyn)

Saturday, July 9  •  1:00 PM

Prepare for many surprises along this exciting walking tour! Once best-known as one of Brooklyn’s largest Italian neighborhoods, Bensonhurst now offers a true cornucopia of great food, including Turkish, Polish, Russian, Italian & Chinese. Have a Vietnamese avocado milkshake and Turkish appetizers or kebabs at the end!

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet 1 PM at Mona Lisa Café, 1476 86th St. map it

Directions: Take D train to 18th Ave., walk west 3 blocks along 86th St. or take B1 bus (marked Bay Ridge) to 15th Ave.

Asian Flushing (Queens)

Friday, July 15  •  3:30 PM

Get set for a treat to experience what some people say is now NYC’s largest Chinatown! We’ll visit South Asian, Chinese and Korean markets. We’ll see (and eat) noodles crafted by hand, try fresh Korean kimchi, taste exotic Indian ice cream…and more! We will also see some of the best historic murals in New York City!

Time: 3:30 PM

Place: Meet at the entrance gate to the Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main Street). map it

Directions: Take #7 train to Main St. (the last stop). Exit on of the stairsways in the middle of the platform (don't take the escalator at the far end). Walk south on Main St. (Duane Reade will be on your left; a newsstand and Popeye's will be on your right) to Dahlia Ave. You can also take the LIRR to Flushing which leaves Penn Station at 2:49 and will arrive in Flushing at 3:10. It exits on Main Street at 41st Avenue. Turn right (south) and continue about 8 minutes toward the Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main Street). Please note that the discounted weekend “Citi-Ticket” will not be available, and the off-peak fare is $4.25.

Latin American Jackson Heights (Queens)

(NEW DATE) Sunday, July 17  •  1:00 PM

Colombian cholados in Jackson Heights

We’ll wander along the culinary boulevards of Roosevelt Ave. & 37th Ave., as we sample specialties. From Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and more… .

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of Capital One Bank, 37-02 82nd St. @ 82nd St. & 37th Ave. map it

Directions: Take 7 train to 82nd St. & Roosevelt Ave., walk one block north on 82nd St. to 37th Ave.

Arpiar at Kalustyan's

NEW ADDITION
Slices of Midtown (Manhattan)

Sunday, July 31 • 11:00 AM

Korean, Persian and South Asian food are the edible attractions in this cluttered and busy “slice” of Manhattan, which also has some architectural treasures (increasingly hidden, alas, in the area’s proliferating highrises.) We’ll visit a Korean buffet, taste fresh-made dumplings and buy food in the “Curry Hill” neighborhood that we’ll take to beautiful Madison Square Park for a mini-picnic, weather permitting. If the weather isn’t so great, we’ll tour a wonderful Indian restaurant for dosas.

Time: 11:00 AM

Place: Meet in front of statue of Horace Greeley at Greeley Square (actually a triangle) at 32nd Street and Broadway. map it

Directions: Take B, D, N, Q, R, W trains to 34th St. (PATH goes there, too! 1,2 and 3 trains to Penn Station also bring you close!)

East Harlem's Dance of the Giglio

NEW ADDITION
East Harlem - Dance of the Giglio (Manhattan)

Sunday, August 14 • 1:00 PM

We’ll conclude the summer season of Noshwalks with cuchifritos, French pastries, Mexican treats, the best pizza in New York City and the celebration of East Harlem’s Dance of the Giglio, a remarkable tradition that dates back over a century.

Fee includes tastings but not beverages, and not tax or tip in the event that we go into a restaurant.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market at 52 West 116th Street, a short walk east of Malcolm X Boulevard/Lenox Avenue. map it

Directions: Take the 2 or 3 train to 116th Street and walk east; or the 6 train to 116th Street and walk 3 1/2 short blocks west.

New Bronx City (Bronx)

Saturday, September 3  •  11:00 AM

Ghanaian lunch in the Bronx

If you’re in NYC over Labor Day weekend, this tour, rich in food, culture, art and history, is for you! We begin near the Kingsbridge Armory (a landmark) along one of the most diverse single blocks in NYC: Cambodian, Jamaican, Salvadoran, Vietnamese and Mexican places all … Not far from here we’ll see the new Visitors Center by Poe Cottage - Edgar Allen Poe’s historic final residence (now under renovation). We’ll also see a series of some of the best murals depicting the early Bronx, located in an historic bank. We’ll visit markets selling South Asian, African and Caribbean food and then make our way (by bus) to another neighborhood where we’ll have a Pakistani nosh and Albanian bureks. Our final stop is in Morris Park, where we’ll have cappuccino and gelato.

This tour includes at least one bus connection, so please make sure you have Metrocard with at least one extra ride, or $2.25 in coins. This LONGER tour is $49 for Noshwalks subscribers and $54 for all others.

Time: 11:00 AM (note early time!)

Place: Meet at northwest corner of Kingsbridge Avenue and Jerome Avenue, in front of the Kingsbridge Armory. map it

Directions: Take the 4 train to Kingsbridge Avenue. You can also take the D train to Kingsbridge Avenue and walk west to Jerome Avenue. (I prefer the 4 because it’s elevated!)

Sunnyside (Queens)

(NEW DATE) Saturday, September 10  •  1:00 PM

Colombian grocery in Sunnyside Queens

Sunnyside is where NoshNews began—one of the most polyglot neighborhoods in NYC! Tasting opportunities will include Peruvian, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Romanian, Lebanese, Paraguayan, Irish and other specialties. Time permitting, we’ll visit Sunnyside Gardens, one of the first planned garden communities in the US.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at the Sunnyside Arch, south side Queens Boulevard and 46th Street. map it

Directions: Take the #7 train to 46th Street

Latin American Sunset Park + Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn)

Saturday, September 17  •  1:00 PM

In the past few years I’ve split some neighborhood tours in two: Jackson Heights now has two tours (South Asian and Latin American) and Astoria has two tours (one mostly Greek and Arabic; the second mostly Brazilian and a mixture). Now I find myself having to do the same for Sunset Park. After years of short-changing the Latin American stretch of 5th Avenue because we spend so much time in the Asian area of 8th Avenue, I’m creating a new tour that focuses on Latin American (Mexican, Ecuadorian, Salvadoran, Cuban, Peruvian) Sunset Park, but offers a delicious dessert opportunity in one of the Middle Eastern destinations of Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn.

You will have more quality time to check out the markets, bakeries and taquerias of Sunset Park (including, weather permitting, nosh time in Sunset Park itself), and then, depending on time, take a bus ride along Fifth Avenue to Atlantic Avenue or a subway ride plus bus connection to get there. Make sure to bring a Metrocard—and an appetite!

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at Guadalupita Market, 3801 Fifth Avenue at 38th Street. map it

Directions: Take the D, N or R train to 36th Street and 4th Avenue, Brooklyn (note the amazing mosaics in the station); walk south to 38th Street, turn east (left) to Fifth Avenue. We’ll end the tour near many subways and buses.

Brighton Beach (Brooklyn)

Saturday, October 1  •  2:00 PM

A taste of Brighton Beach!

Noshwalks is honored to be a participant in the first ever ArtOnBrighton festival at Brighton Beach sponsored by the Council of Jewish Émigré Organizations! Our tour will help launch this two-day event. So—come hungry for the delicious food you can savor here—and for a sampling of the various artistic endeavors under way! (See www.artonbrighton.org for more details) Foodwise, we will enjoy Western Chinese, Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian, Uzbek, Turkish and other flavors in this amazing neighborhood. In addition to exploring Brighton Beach Avenue and the Boardwalk, we’ll also wander through one of its old bungalow areas—a local treasure in danger of disappearing—and see one particular, spectacular work of art that will surprise all who didn’t see it with me during the May 2011 Brighton Beach Noshwalk.

Time: 2:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of the Chase Bank at 1002 Brighton Beach Avenue, where Brighton Beach Avenue meets Coney Island Ave. map it

Directions: Take the Q train to Brighton Beach Avenue and exit at Brighton 7th Street. (Sit in the rear car of the train.)

Upper Washington Heights/Medieval festival (Manhattan)

Sunday, October 2  •  11:30 AM

You’ll relish the contrasts in this neighborhood, which features New York City’s largest Dominican community, one of the world’s eminent Jewish universities and one of our city’s remaining “wonder theaters” - a landmarked vaudeville theater where Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers and Iggy Pop have recently performed . (And, yes, this is the area where the Broadway musical “In the Heights” takes place!)

Tastes include Dominican, Mexican, Venezuelan (new!), Salvadoran, kosher and Russian food. We’ll conclude at Fort Tryon Park, where you can enjoy the annual Medieval Festival near the Cloisters.

Time: 11:30 AM

Place: Meet at the entrance to J. Hood Wright Park, Fort Washington Avenue & 175th St. map it

Directions: Take the A train to 175th Street, take south exit (175th Street).

Richmond Hill & Jamaica (Queens)

Saturday, October 15  •  1:00 PM

Wear a good pair of walking shoes for this tour of the markets plus a roti lunch in New York’s Little Guyana, where Guyanese, Trinidadian, Surinamese, Indian, Dutch and Chinese influences blend and collide. We’ll then walk (10 minutes) to NYC’s small Portuguese enclave in SW Jamaica for dessert. (This section of Jamaica is not featured in the Jamaica-only NoshWalk, with which this tour alternatives each autumn).

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of Lefferts branch library, 103-34 Lefferts Boulevard. map it

Directions: Take A train marked Lefferts Boulevard to last stop, turn north 1/3 block to the library. (Another way to get here is to take the E train to Kew Gardens and the Q10 bus towards JFK Airport; it will drop you at Lefferts and Liberty Avenues and offers an interesting above-ground tour of Queens!) The tour concludes at the Sutphin Blvd. stop of the E and J train in Jamaica and within walking distance of the F train. (You can also take the LIRR, which will zip you back into Brooklyn or Manhattan even faster.)

Kosher Williamsburg (Brooklyn)

Sunday, October 23  •  1:00 PM

How about a pastrami egg roll? I'm adding a kosher-Chinese twist to this year's Williamsburg Noshwalk, which highlights the kosher bakeries, appetizing markets and other specialty shops of Chasidic Wiliamsburg, and combines East European Jewish and Israeli traditions with some contemporary offerings. This area of Williamsburg also contains a wealth of late 19th and early 20th century architecture—a feast for the eyes! The tour may include a sit-down at a dairy restaurant, depending on size of the group and seating availability, but there are several options we'll consider.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of L’Chaim Wines and Liquors, 348 Roeblng Street. map it

Directions: Take J train to Marcy Street, walk west on Broadway (you’ll see the lower Manhattan skyline), turn left (south) on Roebling.

South Asian Jackson Heights (Queens)

Saturday, October 29  •  1:00 PM NEW DATE

Jackson Heights Feast

In this area dense with markets and restaurants, we’ll sample sweets and savories from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan. One or more tastes will come from “Vendy” award-winning food trucks. We will also walk through some of the landmarked blocks of the Jackson Heights Beautification District.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of Shaheen’s Food & Sweets, 72-09 Broadway. map it

Directions: Take the 7, E, F or R train to 74th Street/Broadway/Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. Look for the 73rd Street exit at Broadway.

Elmhurst (Queens)

Saturday, November 5  •  1:00 PM

Kitty and Pond serve delicious Thai food at Ayada in Elmhurst.

Some call this area NYC’s 4th Chinatown—but it’s actually a lot more! We’ll taste Chinese, Korean, Thai & Indonesian food, and feast on the many amazing markets in this area. Oh yes—there’s also an old French bakery en route! Elmhurst also has some of NYC’s oldest and most historic churches—and a beautiful Thai Buddhist temple, too—all on our route!

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in front of Pacific Market, 75-01 Broadway, Elmhurst. map it

Directions: Take the 7, E, F, G, or R train to 74th Street/Broadway/Roosevelt Avenue in Queens

Woodside (Queens)

(NEW DATE) Saturday, November 12  •  1:00 PM

We’ll cross continents (and overeat) as we wander through one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Queens, including New York City’s “Little Manila,” “Little Dublin” and a little of Mexico, France, China, Uruguay, Thailand, Korea, Cuba and more!

This tour concludes in the "Little Manila" of Queens, where we'll taste Filipino barbecue and possibly other appetizers or a dessert.

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet in Vincent Daniels Square, 52nd Street & Roosevelt Avenue. map it

Directions: Take the #7 train to 52nd Street

Kosher Times 2: Sephardic Kings Highway & A Taste of Midwood (Brooklyn)

Sunday, November 20  •  1:00 PM

This tour highlights the markets & bakeries—and some history— of two kosher neighborhoods in Brooklyn. The first is Sephardic Kings Highway, in the Gravesend neighborhood, where Jews originally from Aleppo and Damascus in the Levant (now Syria and Lebanon) recreated their traditions, first in Bensonhurst and then here, when they immigrated to the United States (some via Egypt).

This part of the tour will also include a ramble through the residential area here and will highlight some the area’s major religious and cultural institutions. (You may wish to read The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, by Lucette Lagnado, a family memoir which includes a description of this neighborhood.)

The second part will take place in nearby Midwood, where the centerpiece of the tour will be a visit to a kosher mega-market that brings together a huge range of ethnic and organic foods under one roof, combining traditional Jewish foods with contemporary adaptations.

Please make sure your Metrocard has extra rides, as we will take a bus to Midwood!

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: Meet at the northeast corner of McDonald Avenue and Kings Highway. map it

Directions: Take the F train to Kings Highway

Belmont (Bronx)

Saturday, December 3  •  11:30 AM / 12:00 NOON

Cheese makers at Joe's Deli in Belmont

This tour of century-old Little Italy of the Bronx visits this neighborhood’s famous indoor market, restaurants, cheese shops, bakeries, and more, including a behind-the-scenes look at one of NYC’s oldest bread bakeries, and, time permitting, a demonstration of mozzarella cheese-making.

Time/place: Mass transit users meet at 11:30 AM in front of the Loew’s Paradise, 2413 Grand Concourse at 187th Street. map it

If you’re going directly to Belmont, meet us at 12:00 noon in front of Mt. Carmel Church, 619 E. 187th St., NW corner Belmont Ave. (two blocks east of Arthur Ave). map it

Directions: Mass transit: Take the D train to Fordham Road, exit at 188th Street and walk one block south. (From the East Side of Manhattan, take the 4 train to 161st Street and change for the D. You can also take the 4 to Fordham Road and walk a few short blocks east to the Grand Concourse.). Depending on the weather, we’ll walk (not that far, really!) or take the bus to Belmont.

E-mail noshwalks@aol.com for further directions and parking information.

Lower East Side & Chinatown (Manhattan)

Sunday, December 11  •  12:00 NOON

Lower East Side

Sun, rain or snow, we’ll trek through the Lower East Side & Chinatown, two of the most rapidly changing neighborhoods in Manhattan. Stops include NYC’s oldest knishery, candy stores, bakeries, appetizing shops, Chinese markets, a dumpling shop and, time permitting, Little Italy’s best food market.

Time: 12:00 NOON

Place: Meet at First Park, northwest corner of E. Houston St. & First Ave. map it

Directions: Take F train to 2nd Ave., exit at 1st Avenue. (South of Houston St., First Avenue becomes Allen St.)

Special Dyker Heights Evening Holiday Tour (Brooklyn)

Friday, December 23  •  6:30 PM

Combine a visit to the unique holiday decorations in Dyker Heights with gourmet treats before and after the lights!

Time: 6:30 PM

Place: Meet at Caffe Mona Lisa, 1476 86th Street. map it

Directions: Take D train to 18th Ave. (near 86th St.) & either walk on 86th Street to the café (10-15 minutes) as the numbers of street addresses descend, or take the B1 bus on 86th Street marked Bay Ridge. If you prefer just to walk, you can also get out at the 79th Street stop at 17th Avenue and walk to the cafe by following 79th Street to 15th Avenue and then turn left to walk 7 short blocks to the café (which is on the other side of 86th Street – it’s very big so you can’t miss it!)

TRANSPORTATION TIP

If you are using mass transportation, please check www.mta.info for possible changes in subway routes. Go to Service Advisories for NYC Transit and check any subway lines you may take.  As always, leave extra time for weekend travel. The Web site www.hopstop.com can help you plan your travel, and you can also e-mail me for estimates of how long it should take to get to our meeting place. If you are driving, use www.mapquest.com to plan your route. Contact me for parking tips.

FEES

The 2011 fees for most Noshwalks are $44 for Noshnews subscribers and $49 for non-Noshnews subscribers. Longer tours cost more because of the added time (and more food!). Beverages are not included unless these are beverages I want to introduce you to. I provide cups, paper goods, etc., for all tastes, but I encourage you to bring reusable cutlery in a plastic bag to reduce waste. (Some Noshwalkers bring their own plastic plates - a good idea!) We'll have water to rinse off everything.

If we sit down in a restaurant rather than take food out, we will share in the tip. Such sit-down stops have been added to a number of tours (even when the stops are short) and these will be indicated at the outset of each tour and in the text. Your guide will order the tastes. Personal orders will be covered by the customer.

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