35 Reasons Why Staten Island Deserves Respect!
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<em>(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/idletype/3376682671/in/photostream/">Idle Type</a>'s flickr).</em><br/><br/>Taking pride in your borough is a longstanding New York tradition. But not all boroughs are created equal, and oftentimes it seems like poor Staten Island is the Rodney Dangerfield of the pack. Granted, it isn't permanently associated with the phrase "is burning," but when was the last time you heard someone joke about giving The Bronx to New Jersey? It doesn't have to be this way!<br/><br/>First, one needs to accept that Staten Island is different from its sisters: the third largest physical borough boasts the smallest population (468,730) of the five, and customs distinct from the rest of the city...and so what? This is the great melting potâthe greatest city in the worldâand we should embrace the southernmost part of New York State, not push it aside like some inbred mutant cousin chained in the city's basement. But of course, old habits die hard. So, in honor of the borough's <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/08/22/flashback_a_look_back_at_staten_isl.php">350th anniversary</a> this week, we offer you 35 reasons why Staten Island stands on its own (not that it's not worthy of 100, like <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/06/28/100_reasons_why_brooklyn_lives_up_t.php#photo-1">we gave Brooklyn</a>).<br/><br/><strong>But First:</strong> Please note that this <em>is by no means</em> all she wrote when it comes to Status Island. We left out lots and there are still plenty more secret treasures hiding there, surely. Feel free to add your own reasons in the comments! <br/><br/>
<em> St. George, Staten Island (<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-362011p1.html">Jungleboy</a> / Shutterstock)</em><br/><br/><strong>St. George And Its Environs</strong><br/><br/>Borough President James Molinaro described Staten Island to us as "a suburuban community in an urban city," and that is mostly apt. Staten Island is friendlier to drivers than bikers or bus riders (let alone <a href="http://www.mta.info/nyct/sir/">the SIR</a> riders) and most of its neighborhoods are hardly dense. And then there is <strong>St. George (#1)</strong>, which is reason enough to love the Island. <br/><br/>The densest area in the borough has everything a "next big thing" neighborhood could want: great views, cheap rents and lots and lots of mass transit. That it has an old building stock, good amenities and a quirky <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George,_Staten_Island">history</a> just make it all the better (the name comes from a real estate developer named George Law who sold land to make way for the ferry terminal in exchange for his canonizationânot the dragon slayer).<br/><br/>The fastest and most reliable way to get to St. George is also one of the prides of Richmond County: The <strong>Staten Island Ferry (#2)</strong>. As a means of transport, the free boat, which carries 21 million passengers a year, is the most reliable form of mass transit in the city. As a way to glimpse the New York Harbor, it is unrivaled. Hence <a href="http://www.poetry-archive.com/m/recuerdo.html">the poems</a> and the fact that it is the third most visited attraction in the City. Trust us though, it is worth it to get off the boat and walk past the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/07/11/would_somebody_clean_the_si_fish_ta.php">tropical fish</a> and sadly lifeless terminal. Great things wait if you just keep walking.<br/><br/>For one, there are the <strong><a href="http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t586">Staten Island Yankees</a> (#3)</strong>. Those who praise the Brooklyn Cyclones' MCU Park have clearly never been to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Directly to your right when you leave the ferry terminal, the park is a perfect summer sports treat: Easy to get to, cheap, and with an outfield that <em>is</em> the New York harbor. <br/><br/>Just past the stadium is the <strong>North Shore Esplanade and the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2008/09/11/staten_islands_911_memorial.php#photo-1">Staten Island September 11 Memorial</a> (#4)</strong>, which honors the attack's victims gracefully while emphasizing our grand harbor. But really the whole Esplanade is lovely, offering awesome views and charms similar to its rivals in Brooklyn Heights and Battery Park Cityâif rarely the crowds. Even less crowded is the nearly hidden <strong>Bay Street Landing Esplanade Extension (#5)</strong> south of the Ferry Terminal. Down past a row of beautifully deteriorating buildings (in theory, but <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/12/15/lighthouse_museum_home_has_seen_bet.php">not likely in practice</a>, the future home of the National Lighthouse Museum) this curiously desolate pier and public plaza outlined by big red metal balls is that quiet place in the middle of the city you've always looked for.<br/><br/>Like Rome, Staten Island has seven large hills (Todt Hill, at 410 feet, is the highest natural point in the city), and St. George's big hill is Fort Hill, from which on a clear day you can get views reaching from the Verrazano to the GWB. And even on gray days it gives its residents strong legs! Around the hill the neighborhood is litered with interesting and noteworthy buildings we'll get to in a moment, but the beautifully renovated 1929 picture palace, the <strong><a href="http://www.stgeorgetheatre.com/">St. George Theater</a> (#6)</strong>, stands out. It may not be much on the outside but the Spanish Baroque interior is a marvel.<br/><br/>Really though? The greatest charm of St. Georgeâa major part of its character, population and potential, in factâis the <strong>bang for your buck (#7)</strong> it provides. Though much of the borough is relatively affordable for New York, considering how close it is to Downtown Manhattan St. George is really something. The median rent in the area? Under $1000.
<em>Joe & Pat's pizza â with bonus picture of Garth Johnston's neck! (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slice/2977714397/in/photostream/">Adam Kuban</a>'s flickr)</em><br/><br/><strong>You Won't Leave Hungry</strong><br/><br/>More than a third of the population of Staten Island can trace their lineage back to Italy, so no surprise that Italian food on the Island shines. For <strong>"old school" Italian (#8)</strong>âin execution if not necessarily actual ageâyou've got spots like <a href="http://www.bocellirest.com/">Bocelli</a> in Grasmere and <a href="http://www.briosoristorante.com/">Brioso</a> in New Dorp. And if you want your food a <em>very specific</em> kind of authentic there is always <a href="http://www.enotecamaria.com/">Enoteca Maria</a>, whose charming gimmick is that different Italian grannies are actually doing the cooking each night.<br/><br/>SI's Italian population also brings with it another of the Island's many treasures: the Staten Island thin crust pizza. The exact opposite of Chicago-style deep crust pizza, a Staten Island thin crust is a barely crunchy wafer-thin thing of beauty topped with sharp, brightly flavored sauces. When it comes to Staten Island pizza, many could argue that <strong>Joe & Pat's (#9)</strong> on Victory Boulevard makes the gold standard (Pro tip: You can get a very similar slice at pseudo-sibling <a href="http://www.pier76si.com/">Pier 76</a> in St. George). But you can also find just as many rooting for the pies at <strong><a href="http://www.deninos.com/">Denino's</a> (#10)</strong> in Port Richmond or <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/lees-tavern-staten-island">Lee's Tavern</a> in Dongan Hills. And then there is relative newcomer <strong>Sal's of Soho (#11)</strong>, whose brick-oven pies have quickly garnered a loyal following. Truly, all of them are worth any self-respecting pizza lover's time. <br/><br/>And ethnic dining on the Island in no way ends with the cuisines of the Boot. The borough is home to a number of other delicious foods including Polish, Ghanese and, oh yeah, <strong><a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/06/06/ethnic_eating_adventures_lakruwana.php">Sri Lankan</a> (#12)</strong> fare. Not to mention a number of fine Irish pubs and quirky/delicious spots like <strong><a href="http://www.carolscafe.com/">Carol's Cafe</a> (#13)</strong> in Dongan Hills. Finally, to wash all that food down in the end days of summer, try and top the many, many flavors of ices at the original 83-year-old <strong><a href="http://www.ralphsices.com/">Ralph's</a> (#14)</strong> on Port Richmond Avenueâseriously, try. <br/><br/>
<em>Sailor's Snug Harbor is gorgeous (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sailors-snug-harbor.jpg">Wikicommons</a>).</em><br/><br/><strong>The Architecture Ain't Bad</strong><br/><br/>Staten Island may not have the soaring skyscrapers of Manhattan, but it still has a collection of daytrip-worthy buildings and bridges not to be sniffed at. The borough's grandest piece of architecture and engineering, and the hardest to miss, is the <strong>Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (#15)</strong> which connects Staten Island to Long Island (fun fact: it is visible from spots in all five boroughs). Still controversial with a subset of longtime Staten Islanders who never wanted it (or the people it brought with it) in the first place, the Robert Moses production really is a looker. And it isn't even the borough's only great bridge, not while the elegant Cass Gilbert-designed steel arch <strong>Bayonne Bridge (#16)</strong> is straddling the Kill Van Kull between the Island and New Jersey.<br/><br/><strong>Staten Island Borough Hall and Supreme Courthouse buildings (#17)</strong>, right across from the Ferry, are another handsome pair. Both designed by Carrere & Hastings, the two buildings are built in entirely different stylesâBorough Hall is French Renaissance while the Courthouse is neoclassicalâbut are equally impressive (Borough Hall also has some <a href="http://www.statenislandusa.com/pages/borough_hall.html">lovely murals</a>). And beyond the St. George theater we mentioned before, <strong>St. George Architecture (#18)</strong> is <a href="http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/cynthiatour/st.george.html">filled with gems</a>, including a "Spanish castle" atop Fort Hill, a gorgerous Art Deco building where both Paul Newman and Martin Sheen lived (and Emilio Estavez was born), the lovely Curtis High School (built to commemorate the consolidation of the city's five boroughs), the tallest building in Staten Island, and a string of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Sargent">Edward Sargent</a> masterpieces along St. Mark's.<br/><br/>Got wheels? The fun buildings don't stop in St. George. For another cluster of great buildings look no further than the National Historic Landmark District of <strong><a href="http://www.snug-harbor.org/">Snug Harbor (#19)</a></strong>, on the borough's North Shore along the Kill Van Kull. A collection of 26 "architecturally significant" 19th century buildings that range in style from Greek Revival to Beaux Arts to Italianate to Victorian, the area was once set aside for caring for "aged, decrepit and worn-out" sailors (Fun fact: Herman Melville's brother Thomas, was the governor of Snug Harbor from 1867 to 1884).<br/><br/>And since you are already now driving around, to really explore Staten Island you'll want to slow down and admire the various forms of <strong>Suburban Architecture (#20)</strong> that litter the island. While other areas in the city offer examples of spread out living, Staten Island really has examples of every style of house you can imagine. Plus, some of the new stock is quite interesting.<br/><br/>Speaking of interesting houses! Did you know that Staten Island is home to the only <strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/18/realestate/18habi.html">Frank Lloyd Wright private house (#21)</a></strong> in the State? True story.
<em>Entering The Full Cup (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=237515046285331&set=a.159919830711520.27236.159916420711861&type=1&theater">David Sigvartsen Rødberg</a>)</em><br/><br/><strong>Good Times, Too! </strong><br/><br/>It may not be as hyped as the scenes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but Staten Islandâs culture is real. For a one-stop live taste, try <strong><a href="http://fullcupsi.com">The Full Cup</a> (#22)</strong>, a coffee shop/bar/performance space (it used to be The Cup) on an <a href="http://www.silive.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2010/11/post_45.html">animated strip</a> of Van Duzer Street. Touting itself as the only âproper live music venue on Staten Island,â the joint showcases different bands every weekend with professional sound and lighting, a stage area and a full dance floor (other nights they've got soberoke, trivia, and stand up). Simiarly, homegrown and traveling musicians alike flock to the large collection of bars and restaurants that offer <strong>great live music (#23)</strong> on a nightly basis; fans of rockânâroll would do well to stop by <a href="http://www.silive.com/sites/adobeblues/">Adobe Blues</a>, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/liedys-shore-inn-staten-island">Liedy's Shore Inn </a> or <a href="http://www.unclebourbon.com/">Uncle Bourbonâs</a> while jazz fans should enjoy the jams at <a href="http://www.alorcafe.com/">Alhor Cafe</a>. <br/><br/>And of course, arguably Staten Island's greatest contribution to the cultural landscape is the <strong>Wu-Tang Clan (#23)</strong>, who formed on the Island in the early 90s. Featuring hiphop titans including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Wu frequently refer to the Island as "Shaolin" on their albums, including their gritty 1993 masterpiece <em>Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)</em>. Even today, the group still has roots thereâWu-Tang Management Office <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/07/27/apply_today_for_an_internship_at_wu.php">recently posted</a> an ad for Staten Island interns. We're just waiting for SI historians to get their acts in gear and <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/staten-island-historians-piece-together-genealogy,2619/">piece together</a> the genealogy of the clan. <br/><br/>Sure, Staten Island is the butt of lots of jokes, but it has its share of <strong>funny people (#25)</strong> too. Like local troupe <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Tenderloins/133493476690738?sk=info">The Tenderloins</a>, an improv and sketch comedy crew of high school buddies, who had a $100,000 winning sketch on NBCâs late <em>Itâs Your Show</em> and now have a new TV show (TruTV's <em>Impractical Jokers</em>) hitting cable this fall. For more nightly yuks, there's <a href="http://www.thelooneybincomedyclub.com/index.html">The Looney Bin</a> and annually you've got the <a href="http://festival.souljoelproductions.com/">Staten Island Comedy Festival</a>.<br/><br/>And then there are the borough's <strong>unique art institutions (#26)</strong>, namely the <a href="http://www.tibetanmuseum.org/">Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art</a><a></a> and the <a href="http://www.aliceausten.org">Alice Austen House</a>. The former, the only museum in the country solely dedicated to Tibetan Art, presents the art and culture of Tibet and the Himalayas, tastefully displayed in fieldstone buildings reminiscent of a Tibetan monastery. The Alice Austen House showcases work by the Victorian-era photographer in the house she lived in for most of her life. The museum also offers classes for budding photographers of all ages and the beautiful setting, adjacent to the small Buono Beach and overlooking the Verazzano, makes the perfect backdrop for an afternoon picnic.<br/><br/>Art on the island isn't only relegated to official art institutions (and pretty architecture), as evidenced by the myriad murals that <a href="http://www.statenislandhistorian.com/Images/imageBin/murals/murals/">adorn</a> buildings throughout the borough. For a lark, check out the delightfully quirky âCelebrity Facesâ mural on Post Avenue in Port Richmond, which depicts famous faces hanging out together in an audience. Though somewhat faded at this point, you can still make out groups like the Beatles, the Marx Brothers and some of the gang from Star Wars, as well as New Yorkers like Frank Sinatra and David Letterman. Grab an Italian ice from nearby Ralph's and see how many names you can put to the faces.<br/><br/>Really, though, a trip to Staten would not be complete without pounding a few Coors Light tallboys with the locals (you already had a $3.75 can on the Ferry, right?). To that end, the heavy drinking set of the North Shore flock to the string of <strong>Forest Avenue bars (#27)</strong> to get their drink on. This "Peter Pan Alley" of alcohol hosts a string of neighborhood spots that pack in the crowds every weekend. Start the night at either <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/jodys-club-forest-staten-island">Jody's Club Forest</a> or <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/duffys-tavern-staten-island">Duffy's</a>âthink of them as the twin âCheersâ of West Brightonâand fortify your bender with a killer burger and a few Budweiser bottles. Afterwards, work your way to the other end of the avenue with stops at <a href="http://theburritobar.com/">Burrito Bar</a>, <a href="http://afternoones.com/">Afternoone's</a>, and <a href="http://www.blackdogsi.com/">Black Dog</a>, where the partying crowd shoot Jameson and sing along to the jukebox. If you want a really fun time on the strip, show up for the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/03/01/the_tea_party_will_march_in_the_si.php">Staten Island St. Patrick's Parade</a> (aka Staten Paten) which has all the drinking and merriment of a Patty's Day parade, without the insanity of the Hoboken parade or the pomp of the Manhattan parade.<br/><br/>Prefer to tipple closer to the ferry? You can always take a quick walk up to some <strong>Bay Street Bars (#28)</strong>, like <a href="http://www.cargocafe.com/">Cargo Cafe</a>, <a href="http://www.karlsklipper.com/">Karl's Kipper</a>, <a href="http://www.pier76si.com">Pier 76</a> (try the pizza!) or <a href="http://www.jimmiesteinys.com/">Steiny's</a>, and then stumble your way back to the boat.
<em>Hizzoner with his enemy, Staten Island Chuck (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycmayorsoffice/4380620592/in/photostream/">nycmayorsoffice</a>'s flickr).</em><br/><br/><strong>And Oh, So Much More!</strong><br/><br/>Some cities barely have one daily newspaperâwhich makes the fact that Staten Island has a major one all its own all the cooler. That the <strong><a href="http://www.silive.com/advance/">Staten Island Advance</a> (#28)</strong> is the heart of the corporate parent of <em>Vogue</em> and Conde Nast is just the icing on the cake. In print since 1886, the paper covers the Island top to bottom (their <a href="http://www.silive.com/guide/index.ssf/2010/04/welcome_to_the_staten_island_guide.html">Staten Island Guide</a> is pretty great too). Remember, Staten Island, <a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/ninjaburglar">land of the ninja burglar</a>, does know how to do <a href="http://gothamist.com/mt/mt-search.fcgi?IncludeBlogs=1&limit=30&search=staten+island+crime&x=0&y=0">quirky crime</a>.<br/><br/>Like all the boroughs, Staten Island has its share of <strong>notable names (#29)</strong>, too. Pop diva Christina Aguilera and 90s cutie Alyssa Milano were both raised there, as was <em>Jersey Shore</em> cast member Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino. The Martin Sheen called the forgotten borough home for a spellâand lived in the same building as Paul Newman! Rick Shroder was born her, Gene Simons went to college here, Pat Robertson found religion here and New York Dolls frontman David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter) was born, raised and still lives in the West Brighton area. Not to mention the aforementioned Wu-Tang Clan. Finally, third Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr (who you should at least remember from his 1804 duel with Alexander Hamilton), died in 1836 at the St. James Hotel in Port Richmond.<br/><br/>Nowadays, even the borough's kids are stars! To wit: Staten Island's own <strong><a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/ps22">PS 22 Chorus</a> (#30)</strong>, whose rise to fame started with a few <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/agreggofsociety#p/c/022929E75207EFA7/3/Or3_5QMrAds">YouTube videos</a> and hit soaring heights with a performance at the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/02/27/the_83rd_annual_academy_awards_happ.php">83rd Academy Awards</a> earlier this year. The group has since performed at venues across the country, including Madison Square Garden with Stevie Nicks, the Tribeca Film festival with The Bangles and the National Tree Lighting ceremony at the White House with Common. <br/><br/>But perhaps the most famous of Staten Island's residents is that famed predictor of the seasons â<a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/02/02/mayor_bloomberg_vs_staten_island_ch.php">and Mayor biter!</a>â <strong><a href="http://gothamist.com/tags/statenislandchuck">Staten Island Chuck</a> (#31)</strong>. The feisty groundhog (FKA Charles G. Hogg) resides at the <a href="http://www.statenislandzoo.org/">Staten Island Zoo</a> and leads a quiet life in his burrow until February 2nd when he is called upon to herald the changing of the seasons. We're also fans of the meteorological rodent's predictions: he's called for an early spring the past four years. Thinking of visiting Chuck? Make sure to peep the other inhabitants of the zoo, especially the famous Serpentarium, which is the only one in the country to feature all 32 species of rattlesnakes. <br/><br/>Though green space is at a premium throughout New York City, you'd never know it when visiting one of the many <strong>public parks (#32)</strong> on Staten Island. More than one-third of the Island is protected greenspace! From the peaceful hills of Silver Lake and Clove Lakes parks to the sprawling Greenbelt nature preserve, the abundance of trees and grass will have you breathing in the fresh smell of nature so often absent in urban living. Even the Fresh Kills Dump, which was said to be one of two man-made objects visible from space, is being rehabilitated into Freshkills Park, where visitors can bike, kayak and even ride horses through the 2,200 acre space. And the activities don't stop there. The borough also boasts horse trails, a cricket club and three (!) public golf courses, all accessible via public transportation.<br/><br/>Speaking of those golf courses, are you afraid of the dark? You should be if you're skulking around Snake Hill near the Latourette Golf Course, where ghosts have been seen walking the mountain roads. Or the Billop House, where the ghost of a murdered young woman is said to wander the halls and a child plays in an upstairs room. Sure, you hear ghost stories in all the boroughs, but there has been so much <strong>paranormal activity (#33)</strong> in Richmond County that a special group, <a href="http://www.sighosthunters.com/">The Staten Island Ghost Hunters</a>, has formed to "prove that ghosts and spirits should not be feared, but understood." Mythic beasts more your speed? Since the 1800s there have been multiple <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/903921/posts">eyewitness</a> <a href="http://ashcourtz.blogspot.com/2010/11/bigfoot-on-staten-island.html">accounts</a> of a Big Foot roaming the hills and foraging in the old Fresh Kills dump. Dun, dun, DUN! <br/><br/>While the concrete jungle of Manhattan has a special urban appeal, sometimes some people yearn for a backyard and the comforts of a <strong>suburban lifestyle (#34)</strong>. Which, whatever some people say, doesn't make them any less a New Yorker. Walk down a beautiful, tree-lined block like Walbrooke Avenue and just try not to be wooed by the buzz of lawnmowers and the laughter of children on swingsets. Because public transportation can be iffy, most Staten Islander's use a car to get around town and there is definitely something to be said for that feeling of being in a car that's <em>not</em> a taxi. Plus, driving yourself makes it easier to stop by the sprawling <a href="http://www.statenisland-mall.com/"> Staten Island Mall</a>, which is about as suburban as you can get. <br/><br/>But the thing that really makes Staten Island great? It <strong>Isn't Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx(#35)</strong>.