May 23, 2010 | 5:02amEnlarge Image
Mayor Mike BloombergPaul Martinka
He was a man about town before he was the mayor of town. When first elected back in November 2001, Michael Bloomberg was widely regarded as a Manhattan kind of guy, an insider’s insider with good taste in restaurants, a reputation for philanthropy and host to lovely, but low-key dinners at his Upper East Side mansion. But now that he’s King of the Castle, he’s branched out. After all, a mayor in his third term needs to know his way around the outer boroughs, too. This is his New York.
1. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St, Queens
“When I was young, I visited the science museum in Boston every Saturday — and often spent the morning picking up snakes and handling porcupines. No porcupines at this one, but everything is hands on, which makes it a great field trip for kids. And they have a new rocket-themed mini golf course I’m itching to try.”
2. The Bedrock, on the far west side of Manhattan
“As mayor, you sometimes get to go places that few others do — and one of the coolest is deep underground, 100 feet beneath the bedrock. That’s where we’re building the city’s third water tunnel and also the extension of the No. 7 subway line. The last time I was down there, the sandhogs asked me to christen their two tunnel boring machines. I named them after the two sharpest people I know, my daughters.”
3. The Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, at East Raleigh Avenue, Staten Island
“New York’s biggest little zoo has expanded in recent years, and it now has an area I would’ve loved as a kid: a reptile wing. But please don’t get me started on their groundhog, Chuck . . . though we’ve recently smoothed over our differences.”
4. La Fonda Boricua Restaurant and Lounge, 169 E. 106th St., between Lexington and Third avenues
“A little gem in the heart of East Harlem. The great live music and delicious food are a taste of real Puerto Rico. Sometimes I’ll order in Spanish — and sometimes they’ll even understand me!”
5.Nathan’s Famous, 1310 Surf Ave., Brooklyn
“When I’m in Coney Island, I never pass up a Nathan’s hot dog at its original location. In the summer, with the boardwalk, the beach, the ballpark and the amusements, it’s New York at its best. And with the work we’re doing to recapture and renew Coney’s glory, it’s only going to get better.”
6. Neptune Diner, 3105 Astoria Blvd., at 31st Street, Queens
“If I were going to eat every meal for the rest of my life in one restaurant, it would be at a Greek diner. The menu has anything and everything — and it’s always a bargain and tastes great. I had dinner here the night before I was elected mayor in 2001, so I consider it a lucky spot.”
7.Brooklyn Bridge Park, 334 Furman St., Brooklyn
“We just opened the first section of this park a few weeks ago, on Pier 1. It’s amazing to think about the history of this spot. George Washington and his troops evaded the British here. Later, it was all warehouses and loading docks. Now, we’re reclaiming this stretch of the waterfront so everyone can enjoy it — and you won’t find more spectacular views of lower Manhattan or the Brooklyn Bridge.”
8. Reef Restaurant, 2 City Island Ave., The Bronx
“[City Island] is even better than a New England fishing village. I used to drive my kids to Johnny’s Reef Restaurant, which is all the way out on the point. We would order baskets of fried clams and eat them outside on the picnic tables overlooking the water. I still go when I can. It’s a great escape without leaving the city.”
9.Wicked Wolf, 4029 East Tremont Ave., The Bronx
“Unbelievable chicken wings. I stopped by after the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade last year. It’s also a great place to watch a ballgame. Just make sure you’re rooting for the Yankees.”
Source:
https://nypost.com/2010/05/23/my-new-york-mayor-michael-bloomberg/
