Ayesha Jannat and Zoe Shim ’26

The Boogie Down Bronx, known for its sheer altruism and robust culture, is a place that deserves its own merit and recognition beyond the media outlets. Titled as the birthplace of genres like rap and hip-hop, this everlasting borough is home to some of the most ethnically diverse people because of its community. Every movement and verse is intertwined with an underlying message and theme that releases myriad emotions. Dances embodying the energy and upbeat attitudes of individuals and verses with bold and hearty-thick lines leave an imprint on the minds of many. Children, teens, adults, and seniors can contribute to this empowering community. But, even though we hate to admit it, we forgot this incredible, show-stopping culture because of the disingenuous narrative that surrounds it. Thus, we set out on a mission: to not only simmer down and reminisce about the fun in this vibrant, opaque, borough but also spark some eternal love for it – even if it's small.

1. The Real Little Italy

Everyone knows about the Little Italy in Manhattan, but the first Little Italy in NYC was formed in the Bronx. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, waves of Italian Immigrants flooded Bronx neighborhoods as people flocked to relatively low housing costs compared to Brooklyn and Manhattan. Italians steadily moved uptown Manhattan until they eventually made their way to the Bronx’s west side, which today has the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It all began on Arthur Ave, a bumbling street where local vendors sought to get business and Italians came to buy commodities that felt closer to home.

Today, the Bronx’s Little Italy, often called the “real” Little Italy, continues to flourish with decades-old businesses and shops, along with entrepreneurs who want to get in on the excitement. It is not merely a tourist hotspot like the one in Manhattan but a place where Italian heritage has been preserved for 100 years. It is full of bakeries and restaurants with delicious pastries and foods, markets with authentic and fresh produce, and locals who are ecstatic to see new and old friends appreciating their culture. If you visit the Bronx, you must come here! Here is a list of our favorite places: Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles, Marrone Pastry Shop & Cafe, Artuso Pastry Shop, and Antonio’s Trattoria which is a pizza place.

2. Botanical Gardens

The Bronx Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in the United States. Founded in 1891 in NYC’s greenest borough, its 250 acres of land contain 12 thousand species of plants and multiple educational facilities including the LuEsther T. Mertz Library and the Edible Academy. One breathtaking place in the garden is the Rockefeller Rose Garden. The design for it started in 1916 and includes more than 4,000 roses of every color imaginable and dazzling scents. Another magnificent place is the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, which is a glass house with various biomes and plants. On the inside, it takes a visitor from a humid rainforest full of colorful flowers always in bloom to a dry desert with cacti and plants made to survive the harsh weather. On the outside, there is a pool full of water lilies and other plants.

During the year, the Bronx Botanical Gardens will have events that either match the season or are just for fun. From the summer to fall of 2024, the garden held an Alice in Wonderland Exhibit with sculptures and food and drinks customized to match the world. While the exhibit ended, the garden is currently set for fall and Halloween. The grounds are covered in pumpkins and there is a Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail continuing until late November!

All NYC residents get free grounds admission between 10 and 11 a.m. If you cannot make it during that time, it is a greater cost but still reduced for students showing proof. For Bronx residents, it is always free! To learn more, go to their website: https://www.nybg.org/visit.

3. Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is famously known as one of the largest zoos in the United States and a primary attraction in the Bronx. It is made of 266 acres of land, even bigger than the botanical gardens, and holds more than 11,000 animals. The Bronx Zoo is notable for trying to make the zoo experience the best it can be for the animals by having large enclosures that mimic their original habitat. They continue to enhance the lives and experiences for both the animals and their visitors. You can even learn more behind the scenes and about the animals in their show The Zoo on Animal Planet.

Whether you have never been to the zoo or have already gone, it is definitely worth the trip to come in the next year. The zoo has many cubs that were born in 2023-24. This includes the one-year-old Snow Leopard Cubs, the Red Panda Cubs named Poppy and Sequoia, and three little blue penguin chicks. Some other captivators of audiences are the sea lions who perform tricks while being fed and Peaches the Warthog who occasionally roams the park, rolling in mud. Another highlight is the Butterfly Garden which is a small enclosure that has over a dozen butterfly species, a few parrots, and a pond of koi fish!

The Zoo is free on Wednesdays for all NYC residents! Here is general information on the Zoo and the new animals: https://bronxzoo.com/animals.

4. Pelham Bay Park

Green, tea, pastures, flasks, and leaves – Pelham Bay Park is a prominent part of not just the Bronx, but also on the database of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Placed adjacently with Bay Plaza’s beaconing headlights and couture markets, this tranquility-dampened park makes up for the quiet, more modest side of the two. By just covering over 2,772 acres of land, Pelham Bay Park is regarded as the largest park in NYC – three times the size of Central Park!

Additionally, the public space has a rich history, given that its name takes after Thomas Pell, a British man who sought to further his agenda of colonialism by obtaining 50,000 acres of purchased land. In 1888, centuries later, the New York State Legislature let the park come to fruition, and it has been used ever since.

Pelham Bay Park is a site that encourages a plethora of activities such as an area to relax, have fun with your friends, go on hiking and biking endeavors, and engage with sports. Moreover, it’s an opportunity to go outside and stray away from the addictiveness and ubiquitousness of our phones. So, go along and enjoy life for what it is!

5. Bay Plaza Mall

Bay Plaza, a mall situated in NYC’s biggest shopping center, is filled with high-level brands, long-lasting products, a variety of food choices, and stationary items can satiate the minds of all NYC residents, not just The Bronx. With its various methods of transportation options, it allows customers to come stop by anytime during 10 a.m. to 9 p.m, Monday through Saturday.

The grandeur mall originally made its way as a small shopping center in 1988, after being endorsed by Prestige Properties. Since then, the mall has been regarded as the first indoor shopping center after its release four decades ago. In addition, in 2014, it has since expanded and been renamed as The Mall at Bay Plaza, improving its entertainment and cultural value.

The Mall and shopping center has every kind of food imaginable: KPOT, Japanese, Thai, Dallas BBQ, and several well-known food chains like Shake-Shack, Popeyes, and Crumbl. If you are looking for clothing, it has UNIQLO, Windsor, H&M, and NIKE. In addition to food and clothing, the mall also has an AMC, GameStop, Five Below, and other miscellaneous and fun things to do.

6. City Island

Regarded as a hidden gem situated between the northeastern part of the Bronx and Queens, City Island leaves an outstanding impression on people. Its peace away from the city and small community of 4,000 residents gives visitors the air of being on vacation. The beach town is known for its seafood, fun boating excursions and yacht clubs, and beautiful views. The best times to go are during spring and summer when it is warm and the breeze from the water cools you down.

While on the island, seafood is a must. Some of the best places include Johnny's Reef, which has the best fried shrimp to enjoy outside, and Sammy's Fish Box which has huge portions for the whole family. By the end of eating, you will be stuffed. Another fun part of the island is scuba diving. They offer a one-time experience and multiple classes to explore the waters of the island. If you are looking for something low-key, the island also has a surplus of boutiques for thrifting and buying old trinkets.

7. White Plains Road

Originally, we never planned to incorporate White Plains on our list due to it being a pretty niche area – of which many are not too fond of. However, we decided it was noteworthy mainly because of several ethnic groups, particularly Arabs and Hispanics, residing there. Restaurants breaching out a variety of cuisines, from Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and Arabs, show how diverse the area is. Stores sell jewelry ranging from necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. There are also abayas and other garments that demonstrate the inclusivity of the road, and lastly, small markets that sell South American fruits to the general public. Yet, this one place was the cherry on top upon sealing the deal for our final spot. Bora Bora, a smoothie shop, was integral to our experience because of how kind the two workers were. The shop recently opened around early October, and has since been running smoothly. When we asked the two workers about their experience there, they were relatively shy, but happy to note how kind everyone was to them. Cheers to Bora Bora!

Conclusion

So, did we see for ourselves this vibrant and leisurely community in the Bronx? We have come to realize that yes, we did. The Bronx, like any other borough, has interwoven issues that people often misjudge it for, however, there is so much more to this place. For instance, the fusion of peace and nature in the Botanical Gardens and Pelham Bay Park, gives off the essence of time slowing down. Adventure, as captured by City Island and Little Italy, illustrate that life can be fun and exciting. Everywhere you go, you will find happy locals who are proud of sharing their culture or the prospects of someone taking an interest in their vocation. Take Little Italy, where locals and tourists genuinely learn about the culture and customs because of the warmth and open arm embrace exuded by the town’s native store owners. Or take White Plains, where you might encounter a tiny, miniature smoothie shop, ecstatic to see its customers appreciating their perseverance. Whoever you meet or wherever you go, The Bronx’s positive attributes outweigh its negatives as the people who truly try to shine and thrive with others encapsulate the energy and drive people want to see.