Top Ten Ethnic Nabes to see while in New York

I've traveled all over the states, and outside of them as well. New York, geographically, is considered an American state, but to me, it has always been a microcosm of the entire world. That's why I choose to live here, because if things get really bad, and for some unforeseen reason, travel were impossible, then I could still immerse myself in other ethnicities without ever leaving the cities. 

And while we are talking about neighborhoods, if you want to pick up a great book to give you some insight before you put you toes to the task, get Joseph Berger's new book, "The World in a in a City: Traveling the Globe Through the Neighborhoods of the New New York” . (photo: the Ukrainian Museum)

Queens has more ethnicities than any other PLACE in America. But I'll try to be fair and give you something to see in each of the 5 boroughs that rocks!

Brooklyn: there's a high concentration of Italians around Manhattan Beach. This is a very "exclusive" area, with expensive housing. But you'll also find nouveau riche Russians, and Jews. You'll be right on the Atlantic Ocean here. There are some great fish eateries in and around Sheepshead Bay.

Bronx: in all fairness, I don't think I've been to the Bronx more than 10 times. It's got a fabulous zoo. (is that considered ethnic?). According to my sources, you can hit a double in the Tremont area of the Bronx: Ecuadorian (and other Hispanics), and Ghanan.

Staten Island: New Yorkers have often voiced that we should give this borough to New Jersey. As of this writing they have not accepted. So if you want to push a little further and hit Newark, NJ (just over the Outerbridge Crossing), you can find a huge Brazilian/Portuguese community. If you want something a bit closer, just hit Midtown Manhattan around 45-47th Street, and you'll have your fill. In fact, one of these streets was renamed Little Brazil Way.

In Manhattan,  I ran into Ukranian right around St. Mark's Place, or more specifically on 7th, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in the East Village. They have a museum as well that you can visit before or after trying their cuisine. While you're there, do walk St. Mark's Place. I can't say it's ethnic, but it's a planet that has been spinning its own orbit as it's near New York University. Some great Japanese bubble tea places along the way, with sinful ice cream.

 Manhattan really has everything, if you must know. If you head toward Houston Street, you'll get engulfed by Chinatown which is a must do. Canal Street is a noisy, crowded, but exceedingly alive artery with many Chinese and other Asian eateries, and it has really infriged on what used to be Little Italy. For fabulous pastries, head over to Mulberry street, and stop at Ferrara's.

For some of the best Indian food, head over to aptly named Curry Row. You'll also catch Japanese, Pakistani and Thai, so it's not totally Indian, but is for the most part.

If you really want diversity, you must be in Queens. Astoria is little Athens, and one of the best restaurants there is owned by an acquaintance. It's called Agnanti, and the food is amazing. During the warm weather you can dine "almost" al fresco on a covered sidewalk ambiance. Within the same environs, you can find Egyptian cafes,  Take the # 7 train from Queensboro Plaza, and get off at the last stop in Flushing. This is serious ethnic. One of the best. Get off the train, and just start walking. It's Chinese, it's Filipino, it's VietNamese, it's Taiwanese, and Japanese.

Remember those cream puffs I told you about in Flushing? Well this is your chance to go to hell with yourself completely.  Wait a minute, that's a lot more than 10....but hey, enjoy. Tis the season of giving.