What to Do in the Bronx — By Day

Originally published Fall 2008

On a clear day, rise and look around you – there’s a wide variety of daytime entertainment right here in the Bronx.

Among the possibilities: a ballgame at Yankee Stadium, a day trip with the family to the Bronx Zoo, or the New York Botanical Garden; a trek to City Island for a delicious seafood meal, or a culturally-enriching visit to the Bronx Museum – just to name a few.

“The variety of things to do in the Bronx really depends on the time of the year, but the opportunity to advance oneself, to shop, to relax in the Bronx is infinite!” says Bronx Historian Lloyd Ultan, who gives walking tours of some of the borough’s most interesting areas.

“It is the borough of universities, vast shopping that is available in all quarters, and 25 percent of the land mass is parkland,” adds Ultan, who teaches a Bronx History course at Lehman College. “People in the Bronx have a variety of choices as to what to do in the Bronx during the day.”

The Bronx Zoo – the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States – is a mainstay on most peoples’ list of “places to go in the Bronx.”  With 265 acres of land and more than 4,000 animals, the Zoo is especially attractive for the young and the young at heart. On “Toddler Time Tuesdays”, children through age three get free admission to the Children’s Zoo, where they go on special tours and get to meet the animals up close and personal. There is also a wildlife theater, in which players put on shows for toddler audiences.

“Their show is fun and upbeat,” says zoo-goer Glendy Martinez. “By the end of the show, my 2-year-old son was literally on his feet dancing to their songs.”

During the holiday seasons the zoo holds Winter Wonderland days, featuring holiday-themed decorations and activities designed to put zoo-goers in the holiday spirit. They include horse-drawn wagon rides, ice carving demonstrations, choral performances, sea lion feedings, and marshmallow roasting.

When asked what other daytime activities she enjoys in the Bronx, Martinez didn’t hesitate.

“Besides taking my son to the zoo, I also really enjoy hitting up the Fordham Road shopping district,” she says.  “With over four blocks of department stores, I can get anything from clothing to jewelry to electronics. If it’s shopping that I want or just a bite to eat, I can always count on the Fordham Road strip to find exactly what I need.  It’s like a huge mall.”

Known as the “outdoor mall experience” Fordham Road’s mix of small independent shops and national chain stores has helped it maintain its position as the largest and most prominent shopping district in the Bronx.

The Bronx Botanical Garden

Another sight worth checking out is The New York Botanical Garden, a 250-acre expanse that could be called a “museum of plants.” Founded in 1891, the Garden today contains more than one million plants and 30,000 trees. It offers sweeping landscapes and beautiful gardens, expansive forests, and artful plantings. The grounds display masterpieces by many of the nations most accomplished architects and designers.

Visitors should not let the Garden’s size intimidate them; there is a tram that takes you wherever you need to go. Grab a map and start exploring!

One of the most popular year-long attractions at the Garden is the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. It has seasonal programs for children that let them plant flowers and crops in the spring and watch them grown through the summer, then, during harvest season in the fall, they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor when they pick them and take them home.

“There are a lot of things for children to see and touch and smell. It really instills a love and appreciation for nature in them,” says New York Botanical Garden spokesman Nick Leshi.

“Street Art Street Life – from the 1950’s to now,” the current exhibit at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, examines the street as a subject matter, venue, and muse. This exhibit, which runs through February 2009, brings out the beauty of all that is urban, from the graffiti art to the pictures of bricks and concrete pavement.

The Bronx Museum

“The vitality of the Bronx flows from its street culture, the connections people make on the corner, front stoop, or public parks,” says Holly Block, director, of the Bronx museum of the Arts.

Hungry? Head on over to our own Bronx Little Italy, on Arthur Avenue, for some great Italian cuisine.

Towards the end of the Arthur Avenue strip is a Tuscany-styled building that houses Roberto’s, a restaurant that consistently draws raves from the locals.

Inside Roberto’s, “It feels like I am in Italy,” says Sigry Vidal, a neighborhood resident. “The food reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking and the restaurant makes me feel as if I am in a small southern Italian bistro.”

Roberto’s offers reasonably priced authentic Italian dishes, an extensive wine selection, and a tiramisu that is not too shabby either.

Not really in the mood for a filling Italian meal? Head over to Palombo’s Pastry shop and grab a cannoli. They have great pastries and a family friendly atmosphere.

In the mood for seafood? Head over to City Island! Especially during the summer months, you can enjoy an entire day’s worth of water-oriented activities. There are fishing boats that will coordinate fishing trips targeting various aquatic species. “I had a good time with the fellas, drinking some beers and just enjoying the scenery,” says William Robertson, a City Island local.

Roberto's

They also have water golf – a beautiful (and wet) miniature golf course. “At first it was so frustrating getting the ball in the hole without it going into the water, but then I got good and had a blast! says Mariela Guzman, a miniature golfer. “Later on today, we’re going to have some margaritas and lobster at the Crab Shanty.”

Jet Ski, bait and tackle, and dive shops also abound on City Island. “You can start your day at Orchard Beach, pass by Pelham (Bay) Park and then head over to JP’s (restaurant) at the end of the strip right by the water,” says Anthony Ortiz, a student. “They have some of the best shrimp in New York.”

No discussion of Bronx “day life” would be complete without mentioning all the recreation offerings at the numerous parks in the borough. Such recreational activities as golfing, sailing, tennis courts, swimming and, yes, even horseback riding, are all available at Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park and City Island.

Horseback riding is an untapped gem that may be one of the best-kept secrets in the Bronx. The Bronx Equestrian Center offers riding on trails at just $25 an hour, and is staffed with trainers prepared to set up even first-time riders with a horse that is right for them.

The stables can also evoke wonderful memories. “I went (horseback riding) once with my boyfriend,” says Teresa Duran, a college student. “The trails are beautiful and it was so romantic to share that private time with my baby.”

A few hours in a Bronx park can be great for relieving stress as well. “I visit the Bronx River Park near [my] home, at no cost,” says Sara Estrella Vargas, an asset manager. “This park is very relaxing with a small waterfall that washes off all my worries and stress.”

Sandy Maria, another Bronx resident, uses a different park but for the same reason. “I usually run to relieve stress,” she says. “”I love going to Claremont Park, on 170th Street, to jog. They have great trails with lots of hills.”

Did you know that the Bronx has a non-profit Arts Ensemble that offers music/education and performances every Sunday afternoon? At 80 Van Cortland Park South, Suite 7D-1, the Ensemble offers a year-round schedule of chamber music and orchestra concerts. It also features programs for families and  performances for children, such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast.

Yet there are people who believe Yankee Stadium is all that The Bronx has to offer. They are so wrong!

Nevertheless, catching a game at the glittering new state-of-the-art ballpark – set to open for the 2009 season – won’t hurt, either. “I recently went to see the old stadium,” says Yankee fan Neel Shah. “But I also went to see the construction of the new one. It’s turning out really amazing. I can’t wait to go to my first game in the new stadium.”

For those who grew up in the Bronx, these are not only landmarks or places to sight see – they are the backdrop for some of the best memories of their lives.

“I’ve lived in the Bronx all my life. I was proposed to in St. James Park 25 years ago and the marriage is still going strong,” says Anna Ortiz, an accountant. “All five of my boys were born in the Bronx. I own two homes in the Bronx,” she adds. “If I want good food and drinks, good shopping, to catch a movie, it’s all available in the Bronx. I will always be a Bronx girl.”

A Guide to Bronx Daylife

● Bronx Zoo – 2300 Southern Blvd. (718) 367-1010. www.bronxzoo.com.

● New York Botanical Garden – 2736 Marion Ave., at 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard. (718) 817-8700. www.nybg.org.

● Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse, at 165th Street. (718 ) 681-6000. www.bronxmuseum.org.

● Yankee Stadium – 880 River Ave., at 161st Street. (718) 293-4300. www.yankees.com.

● Lehman College Art Gallery – 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West (718) 960 8731. www.lehman.edu/gallery.

● The Hall of Fame for Great Americans — On the Campus of Bronx Community College, University Avenue and West 181st Street. (718) 289-5161. www.bcc.cuny.edu/halloffame.

● Van Cortlandt House Museum – Van Cortlandt Park, Broadway and West 246th Street, Riverdale. (718) 543 3344. www.vancortlandthouse.org.

● Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History – Varian Park, 3266 Bainbridge Avenue at East 208th Street. (718) 881-8900. www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/vvhouse.html.

● Bronx Equestrian Center – 9 Shore Road, Pelham Bay Park. (718) 885-0551. www.bronxequestriancenter.com

● City Island Fishing Trips – 223-B Edgewater Park. Call Captain Chris (917) 417-7557.

● Bronx Arts Ensemble – 80 Van Cortland Park South, Suite 7D-1. (718) 601-7399. www.bronxartsensemble.org

● Roberto’s – 603 Crescent Ave. (718) 733-9503.

● Palombos Pastry Shop – 601 E. 187th St. (718) 329-8800.

● JP’s Restaurant – 703 Minnieford Ave. (718) 885-3364.

● Crab Shanty – 361 City Island Ave. (718) 885-1810.

Compiled by Wendy Garcia