As noted in the video, another big bonus of the program is the simple refrigeration of the products. Each market gets a colorful branded refrigerator that is stocked daily for just $200 with healthier options than high-sugar sodas and snacks. The markets have the choice to sell items at a higher price point to make a profit, or price to sell.

This initiative is just getting started and I can’t wait to see how it grows. As anyone who lives or travels in this city knows, one block can make the difference between neighborhoods and yet there are dozens of parts of the city that go without healthy necessities every day. Folks in the test neighborhoods, Central Harlem and Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, can check the list at GrowNYC to find out which local bodega carries Fresh Bodega products and to become involved in continuing this project.

Fresh Bodegas from GrowNYC on Vimeo.

Photo via Flickr user Maggie Jane.

During the day gourmet food trucks line up on the walking path across the island’s 170 acres to feed hungry patrons. After dark flashing lights tilt toward makeshift waterfront stages and music blares so loud you can feel the beat in your throat from Manhattan. But on an opposite side of Governors Island from the statuesque sculpture, pop-up shops and contemporary art exhibits lies the skeletons of a bygone era that reveal not the holiday weekend escape we make it to be, but a city within a city, a very normal urban dwelling where families went to church, ate dinner together — and fortified themselves against British forces.

My favorite part of the island? The Fort Jay Theater, crouching behind an unruly collection of trees on the outskirts of the island. With paint peeling off the doors and windows of the establishment, it’s almost difficult to imagine that you can still rent out the single screen room of the theater, even though there is no working water and sparse electricity.

The 1936 landmark is also a National Monument of Fort Jay, and contains a fallout shelter in the basement, similar to many other of Governors Island’s older buildings and wartime establishments.

It’s Pride weekend here in New York City and there’s extra reason to celebrate. Gay marriage was finally voted okay this week and gay couples across New York can join the rest of us in being miserably chained to another person for all of eternity. Just kidding, marriage is fun, or something.

From my window on the South Shore of Staten Island, you wouldn’t know anything different happened, in fact, as someone who doesn’t watch a lot of TV, I didn’t know the vote was settled on until signing online and checking out the headlines, around 10:30am on Friday. Outside, screaming kids are riding their bikes in big circles and disgruntle neighbors are watering their plants. Nothing out of the ordinary over here. Except that my house is falling apart.

Not apart, per say, but your author and her fiance were very different people when they purchased their “fixer-upper” townhouse. People who freelanced, people who had more time, people who had just a little bit more money to spend on things like waterproofing and potted azaleas. These days, in mid-2011, we’re just not those people, and we’re falling down under the weight of “do this.” You know what I mean. Do this: rake and mulch the garden before the summer heat sets in. Do this: check the air conditioner blow motor and swap out the filter. Do this: time for a fresh coat of paint for the living room. How exhausting.

Don’t get me wrong, I love owning a home. As a traveler I often find it easier to own, having someplace to leave everything without the worry of who-will-watch-this and knowing a nice soft leather couch is waiting for my weary feet when I fly back into Newark. But I don’t like being told what to do, and lately, my home is telling me what to do. So we’re waving the white flag, admitting that even though we tried, we might always be condo people, not house people, and we got in the car and drove 20 minutes to the North Shore of the island to take a glimpse at a new block of apartments just feet away from the ferry terminal. 20 minutes, world of difference.

The blocks that we visited definitely need some gardening and a good scrub, and, sure, okay, they could do with someone fixing the vacant lot at the far end of the street. But on the turn to get to the apartment building, we passed a cafe with an enormous waving rainbow flag, quite obviously to mark the occasion. The flag belongs to Bent Pages, a gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans book shop owned by two very sincere patrons of the community, if I could relieve myself on my former home, my community. I smiled in spite of myself, not for the novelty of a gay bookshop, but for having the luxury of a bookshop just feet away – imagine that!

We very rudely stalked the premises of the apartment, write down phone numbers and took iPhone photos, marking down our every note. Wow – parking. Nay, ceramic tile flooring, not hardwood. Then we packed up and decided to grab a bite in the same neighborhood. Just across the highway, and a few minutes from the South Beach boardwalk and beach front, we grabbed a table on the outdoor patio of the Royal Crown Bakery. A gaggle of long-limbed young ladies in teeny denim shorts and huge sunglasses filled one table, talking in alternating Russian and English about the club from last night, one table down from them a bespectacled couple gobbled up eggs and huge cups of coffee, laughing at each others quips. The eternal people-watchers, we ordered iced coffees and sandwiches and eavesdropped on the multitude of activities happening around us. At once point a spiky haired tank-topped gentleman parked his car on the sidewalk to come in for a minute to grab a coffee, and the fuss that was offered up was hysterical enough to put us in pieces.

Craving something sweet we hightailed it down to The Cookie Jar - yes, a shoppe that sells nothing but cookies, cookie jars, and a menu full of hot and cold drinks. After ordering strawberry bubble teas and finding an old fashioned wrought iron table, we chose from a list of around 100 cookies: orange and pineapple glazed sandwich, red velvet whoopie, chocolate pecan chip, peanut butter with jelly glaze, and cannoli cream. $10 a pound – with our drinks the whole thing came to less than $10. Rubbing our bellies, we reluctantly packed up our teas and settled into the car for the drive home, 20 minutes back into the subdued suburbia of slip n’ slides and garden barbecuing, fear of home owners associations and putting out the garbage at 6pm on the dot – not a second sooner or you’ll be fined!

Does moving solve all your problems? Definitely not. But when you travel for the excitement and adrenaline of being the fish-out-of-water, for meeting people so different from you that they are truly foreign, and for placing yourself in situations you’ve never even heard of, shouldn’t you have the luxury of laying down your head where you belong? Shouldn’t your home balance that thrill with the euphoria of being settled into a place you can trust with people who you trust?

After walking through their newest exhibit, The Brain: The Inside Story and testing out all the fun interactive parts like a language detector and brain puzzles, we hoarded into the veranda just outside one of the infamous dinosaur rooms for some cheese and wine, meeting other AMNH fans and friends, and hearing from a few of the very passionate researchers and curators behind the exhibits.

Finally we were rounded up into groups and sent on a tour through the museums archives. Cabinets were opened, walls were pushed, offices were exposed. The best part? Hearing about subjects we find trivial every day, from ants to horseshoe crabs, from the scientists that study every facet of their being, and leaving with as much respect and curiosity as they have.

Featured image via Flickr.

This photo taken during a quiet boardwalk weekend at Coney Island Park – Brooklyn, NY. Craig- thanks for being patient while I stood in the middle of an angry jostling crowd for this great photo!

So, I’m daydreaming like crazy and right now I’m not thinking about beach getaways, I’m thinking about good old London, with all it’s culture and rich, homey foods. Luckily New York has many fantastic Great Britain-esque options. So, when I finally dig out of my ice cavern, here’s where you can find me:

A Salt & Battery. 112 Greenwich Ave. www.asaltandbattery.com

My first go at fish & chips was not very successful. I was hopped up on Malaria pills and on a bad layover in London that resulted in my carrying an enormous suitcase 25 blocks when I got off at the wrong tube station. So, you can understand why I wasn’t hungry and tossed most of my platter. When I was ready to try again, I ran to A Salt & Battery. Their menu of fish options and chips (“no french friend here!”) is so reminiscent of London that I can’t help sitting happily in their little window seating, munching like mad and reading Madeleine Wickham books in a really bad accent. Haddock, sole, scallops, fish cakes- they’re all here, and you can wash it down with a frosty Newcastle. They’ve also got a little shop where you can pick up the necessary imports to make your own meal at home.

Tea & Sympathy. 108 Greenwich Ave. www.teaandsympathynewyork.com

If I could make it to Manhattan today, this is the first place I’d go. This little shop is so tiny that you should prepare to sit back-to-back and squished to the side with friends you haven’t met yet. The tables are covered in old fashioned checkered table clothes and the shelves stocked with quirky teapots, from little cottages to animal figures; in that way, it reminds me of Staten Island’s Cookie Jar! Their menu is chock-full of teas, sandwiches and soups, but my favorite is the platters of scones and tea sandwiches. They come for one or many, with jams and clotted creams and are amazingly delicious. It’s a great place to reconnect and meet-up with friends for a casual lunch.

Brick Lane Curry House. East 6th Street. www.bricklanecurryhouse.com

The good people of London eat curry the way we eat Chinese takeout, and the best curry in New York is definitely Brick Lane. Curries, chutneys, veggie specials and lots of chick pea and pastry appetizers round out the authentic menu – a favorite among Londoners visiting NYC. The staff is incredibly helpful, so if you aren’t a curry fan, feel free to ask what they recommend.

Chip Shop. 3 locations citywide. www.chipshopnyc.com

Get ready for anarchy in the form of greasy, battered, crazy food at this restaurant that’s just as much eatery as it is spectacle. The menu at this punk rock themed place includes your standard fish & chips, meaty mac and tons of pies, as well as a variety of puddings and deep fried desserts. Yep, chocolate bars, twinkies… whatever you can deep fry, Chip Shop will do. And not just desserts. Deep fried pizza is on the menu, but feel free to call ahead and ask if they’ll deep fry your meal of choice. On weekends they offer a full English breakfast with (my fav) Bucks Fizz.

Nevada Smiths. 74 3rd Ave. www.nevadasmiths.net

Nevada’s is the place to watch football – and by football, I mean what we Americans call soccer. Footy matches are always on call at this tavern where they serve 20 draft beers and will mix your cocktail of choice. Another plus on this cheeky bar is that it’s a great place to meet men; ladies, if you’re single, this is the place to be. Before you go, get your football education right on their blog.

Myers of Keswick. 634 Hudson. www.myersofkeswick.com

You’ll have a hard time going back to C-Town after you visit Myers. It’s a traditional British grocery store right in the middle of New York City. On the shelves you’ll see teas, jams, candies and the ingredients you’d need to go home and make a jolly old meal. The shop is named after a British small town and has the same exact feel. Go in, wander for awhile, and ask the shopkeeper which teas you’ll need to make a proper tea cabinet at home.

These are my favorites, but if you’re into British culture, there are plenty of other places in NYC like Red Lion and LongBow. Go out and enjoy- I’ll see you when the city thaws!

photo via flickr

The Full Cup is not a new endeavor, for sure. It occupies the space formerly known as The Muddy Cup, one-time coffee mecca, most recently salacious hangout for the more “crunchy” residents that walk these fair streets. So, I entered Full Cup hastily and prepared myself for the worst. I really should have known better, and pity on me, since the new ownership is the husband of a very chic friend who has made a mark in the PR world; the new ‘Cup registers this at first glance.

The place is cleaned up, sparkling, shiny, and new, with more hints of Spring Street cafe than crunchy meetinghouse. They’ve only been open for less than a month, as a sign proudly displays over a napkin holder, “Serving coffee for 24 days!” so there was no food to aid my aching belly. I took the boy with me and ordered up two simple hot chocolates, doused in whip cream and served in no nonsense, no branding paper cups. We sat at one of the adorable tables while I looked around. The location has most of the hallmarks of a new business: attentive fans, shiny-eyed staff, and sparkly vintage furniture I can only guess was purchased around the corner at the Everything Goes Thrift Shop. There are also vastly new things I wish more Islanders made note of.

This was a quiet space, and has their been wifi, I could imagine myself working away for hours. There was also a chalkboard mentioning a Foursquare deal- coffee for the mayor. As someone who deals with Foursquare and location-based marketing every day, this gave me a silly thrill.

Back to the coffee: for such a small and cozy space, the list of flavors were tremendous. I won’t give this away because I know coffee drinkers love the thrill of the chase and I’d like you all to go to the Full Cup and see for yourself, but I was happy.

Sandwiches between gorgeous Victorian homes and a modern wine shop, I think Full Cup is going to be one of the staples of the new Van Duzer Street and the new Staten Island: a mix of vintage and modern art; cozy and warm; unique from what you can find elsewhere. I’m happy to welcome this new addition to the borough and expect to see much, much more from new businesses in the downtown area. Full Cup sets a pretty high bar for itself and others to meet.

On a particularly warm and dull Friday night I ushered my better half into the car, luring him with promises of kitsch and drinks. I was so right.

Although Jade Island is a hidden secret to both Chinese food enthusiasts and island locals, it’s an amazing find. The South Pacific decor hits you like a ton of bricks from the moment you walk in. Blowfish lamps hand over the tables, a running water plastic waterfall provides ambiance, and a bamboo tiki bar anchors the whole thing.

As you slide into a plush booth you’re brought a big wooden bowl of noodles and dipping sauces and a leather bound menu so thick it could be a book and filled with Hawaiian and South Pacific delights, with one page of your standard take-out fare for the less adventurous. The front page of the menu features adult drinks you’d expect to find at a tiki bar; Rum Runners, Mai Tais, Zombie Cocktails. They’re brought to you in a tall tiki head, a plastic coconut with a brightly colored umbrella, or a full-sized carved pineapple with paper pinwheel spinning out of the top.

The service is fast and reliable. The waiters take no notes but always bring the right meal, and you’re left with a small plate of fortune cookies and mints when you pay your bill. This hidden cove is worth the trip in, if not just for the Polynesian plates.

Jade Island
2845 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 761-8080

More: Jade Island on Yelp, CitySearch Jade Island Reviews.

Photo via Flickr.

But if being a journalist has taught me anything it’s that Facebook is not a reliable source, and permits are filed all the time and never followed up on. So for the foreseeable future, Staten Island will not be piling organic pear after organic pear into a canvas bag at this fine establishment, they’ll be doing it at others. The best of these? Mignosi’s Market.

Since moving to the South Shore, away from the hustle and bustle of Rosebank with its Dunkin Donuts and its bodega on every corner, I’ve been at a coffee loss. A real loss. A staggering loss. Enter: Mignosi’s. I first came to know this corner supermarket for its bevy of Italian foods. Too late to make the sauce? Buy a quart at Mignosi! Last-minute guests? Get a fresh made loaf of bread down the block! But on a particularly chilly morning this fast spring I entered the store to grab lunch items, and walked out caffeinated.

Sure, it might be some random blend, but the little shiny pot of coffee waiting for me on the other side of the door was just too much to handle. It may not be Fairway, but I love my corner market, with its register kids, and its Boars Head deli meat; 2 cash registers, and little lotto counter. It’s as close as you can get to a mom-and-pop shop, and on really quiet nights (at 8:30pm) when the rest of Staten Island has tucked themselves into bed, it feels like Miggie’s is all mine.

Photo via Flickr.