Bay Ridge tour
Maritime views, diverse architecture, rich ethnic mix, and great food
 Church on Fourth Avenue, Bay Ridge
The substantial southwest Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge may seem a gateway to suburbia, since it is the pathway to Staten Island via the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (starting point of the annual NYC Marathon, by the way). But it's so much more, a self-contained neighborhood, with blocks both urban and semi-suburban. Yes, Bay Ridge, along with the adjacent, conjoined neighborhood of Fort Hamilton, has lovely large homes near the waterfront, a testament to this area's longtime residential (never industrial) character. Bay Ridge, reached via the sometimes sluggish R train, has a rich variety of housing (apartment buildings, row houses), civic buildings (religious institutions, schools), theaters (most converted), retail outlets, and restaurants. Not for nothing has the "borough of homes and churches" moniker for Brooklyn been adapted, in the case of Bay Ridge, to "neighborhood of bars and churches." Today, we'd add have to add "mosques." Changing Bay RidgeOnce known for a Scandinavian and Irish population, and later an Italian one, Bay Ridge is still represented by those ethnic groups, plus people from Greece and China. Perhaps the most notable recent immigrants have come from the Middle East; Bay Ridge has both Christian and Muslim Arab populations, and attendant religious institutions, restaurants, and stores. The best Middle Eastern restaurant in New York City is in Bay Ridge, Tanoreen. There's also excellent pizza, falafel, and baklava, among foods. A diverse neighborhoodDepending on our route, we may encounter the old stomping grounds of novelist Gilbert Sorrentino (who thought Bay Ridge was pretty grim) and pass by the old workplace and house (surprisingly nice) of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. We'll see some spectacular mansions and, at the waterfront, tremendous views of Lower Manhattan and New Jersey. A walk around Bay Ridge will display the tremendous variety of the neighborhood, which has two major shopping avenues, another avenue full of major institutions, numerous interesting side streets, along with those great views. A quick bus ride or subway ride might even cut down on distance. |
Distance from Midtown Manhattan: 45-60 minutes by subway
Cost: see fees here Basic tour length: 2.5 hours (see fees) Starting place: Varies, but a good place is the R train at Bay Ridge Avenue or the R train at 86th Street. Or, if you come by ferry, the AmVets Memorial Pier. Ending place: The opposite end of the neighborhood, depending on where we start Highlights: History, architecture, waterfront views, ethnic mix, urban/suburban feel Before tour: Snacks/meal After tour: Snacks/meal Potential tour extensions with me: adjacent Sunset Park, nearby Bensonhurst, Coney Island & Brighton Beach Why I like leading this tour: Bay Ridge is like a small city unto itself, with a real array of architecture, shopping streets, food/restaurant options, views, and immigrant history. |