When I first arrived at Fordham University, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of my new home in the Bronx. In the months leading up to move-in, I received a lot of unsolicited advice and heard plenty of opinions about the area, much of it negative. But many of the people sharing those opinions had never actually visited the borough, let alone lived there. For the past few decades, the Bronx has fought to recover from the negative stereotypes perpetuated by harmful media portrayals and from a history fraught with political abandonment, failed urban renewal initiatives, discriminatory policies and massive displacement due to the Cross Bronx Expressway. I quickly learned that others’ perceptions of the Bronx did not have to mirror my experience of it. In the past couple of years, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get to know my new home, explore the borough and challenge my own assumptions about the area, and I am excited to encourage others to do the same by sharing some of my favorite places in the borough.
With over 6,000 acres of parkland, the Bronx is the greenest of New York City’s five boroughs. Lucky for us, a chunk of that parkland is right in Fordham’s backyard. Bronx Park, which encompasses both the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, backs up to the Rose Hill campus along its north and east edges. Not only are these parks convenient, they’re also affordable. The Bronx Zoo offers free admission on Wednesdays with an online ticket reservation, and the Botanical Garden, known by many Fordham students as simply “the Botans,” is free for all Fordham students who show their student ID at the gate.
If you’re looking for something a little farther removed from the hustle and bustle of Fordham Road, there are some other amazing green spaces just a bus ride away. First is a personal favorite of mine, Van Cortlandt Park. To get there, you can hop on the Bx9 bus at the stop in front of Walsh Library and take it all the way to Broadway and West 242 St., right at the edge of the park. Van Cortlandt boasts some of the city’s prettiest intact forestry and wetlands and is great for a nature walk or a hike. It has a massive open lawn with baseball diamonds, soccer fields and even a cricket pitch. The park is also across the street from the famous Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, which, true to its name, sells amazing carrot cake by the slice.
In addition, the Bronx is also home to New York City’s largest park, Pelham Bay Park. Three times the size of Central Park, this outdoor oasis offers almost endless walking and countless opportunities for outdoor activities. Situated right along the coast, Pelham Bay Park even has its own beach! Orchard Beach is the only public beach in the Bronx and draws thousands of visitors every year. To get to Pelham Bay Park, you can take the Bx12 all the way east and expect to reach the park in about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
It is no secret that New York City has one of the greatest varieties of delicious food in the world, and it would be a mistake not to take advantage of all the dishes the city has to offer. Because there are too many amazing dining spots in the Bronx to possibly cover them all, I’ll stick to giving a few recommendations for restaurants right here in the Belmont area. You’ll have to discover the rest on your own!
First up is Estrella Azteca. Formerly known as Estrellita Poblana III or just Estrellita’s, this Mexican restaurant is located on Arthur Avenue, right in the heart of Little Italy. It has affordable prices, fantastic margaritas and a Michelin Plate award. You can’t really go wrong with any of the restaurants in Little Italy, but Enzo’s on Arthur Ave. is definitely one of the most popular among Fordham students. For delicious Chinese food or a budget meal, try Lee’s Restaurant on 187th St. For Dominican food, try Ajo y Orégano. For Vietnamese food, I recommend taking a walk to Jerome Ave. and trying the massive and delish signature dish at Cơm Tấm Ninh Kiều. For Albanian food, try Çka Ka Qëllu on Hughes Ave. Rumored to be one of popstar Dua Lipa’s favorite restaurants, Çka Ka Qëllu serves slightly more upscale, absolutely delicious meat and cheese-forward dishes. Like Estrella Azteca, this spot has also been awarded a Michelin star. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, there is no shortage of yummy pastry shops, bakeries and cafes near Fordham. My personal favorites are Artuso Pastry Shop and DeLillo’s Pasty Shop, both on 187th St.
Outside Fordham and Belmont, the Bronx has a bunch of other great neighborhoods to explore. All of these areas are easily accessible by bus or by foot, although walking to some of the further spots isn’t for the faint of heart. On the top of my list for a good walking tour is Norwood. Not too far from the Fordham area, Norwood is home to some great diners, flower shops and a nice outdoor space in the Williamsbridge Oval. It also boasts some of the oldest homes in the Bronx including the Valentine Varian House, built in 1758.
Another interesting area I’ll recommend is Concourse. Concourse is perhaps best known for being the home of Yankee Stadium, another great pastime for new Bronxites, but it also has lots of other spots to explore. Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park is nearby, and The Bronx Museum of the Arts is just around the corner. If walking all the way from Belmont to Concourse sounds like too much for you, you can take a couple of different bus routes, the D or 4 train, or even the Metro-North train to Melrose and walk. For a much closer neighborhood visit, you can check out Little Yemen, which borders Belmont and is just on the other side of the Bronx Zoo. Like Little Italy, Little Yemen is known for its fantastic, and often affordable, restaurants.
Although Fordham and Grand Concourse have several shops like Old Navy and TJ Maxx, the area isn’t necessarily a bustling student shopping center. However, that doesn’t mean you need to travel all the way downtown for a day spent shopping. For first-hand items and a range of shopping options, you can take the bus to the Mall at Bay Plaza near Pelham Bay Park. In terms of the Bronx thrifting scene, you can choose from a couple Salvation Army locations, a MyUnique, LePoint Thrift and a smattering of other locations scattered throughout the borough. For special shopping and unique food options, keep your eyes peeled for weekend events like Bronx Night Market and the upcoming Ferragosto Festival.
One of my favorite parts about living near Fordham these last couple of years has been getting to learn about Bronx history, and there is a lot to learn! First up is world-famous author and poet, Edgar Allan Poe, who called the Bronx home for the last several years of his life. His cottage is located inside Poe Park, just a few blocks northeast of campus, and is open to visitors every Saturday.
The Bronx is also known for being the birthplace of hip-hop music and culture. For superfans of the genre, various companies offer walking tours of the borough where you can learn more about the community center where hip-hop was born and about Bronx hip-hop legends like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. To explore more Bronx music, check out the Bronx Music Heritage Center located near Crotona Park East.
Other historic and cultural sites in the Bronx include the Kingsbridge Armory, a massive castle-like structure located in the heart of the Bronx, and Woodlawn Cemetery. Woodlawn Cemetery, situated next to Van Cortlandt Park, serves as a beautiful outdoor space for walking around, but it is also the resting place for numerous historical and cultural figures. From jazz icons Miles Davis and Duke Ellington to famous writer Herman Melville to America’s first female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, the cemetery represents some of America’s greatest influences.
My final recommendation for students in the Bronx is the Bronx Library Center. The center is the largest public library in the Bronx, and it’s only a 10-minute walk from campus. While Fordham’s Walsh Library offers many great services, sometimes students need a change of scenery or access to a different selection of books. The Bronx Library Center is free to use and offers interlibrary loans with the other New York City public libraries. Getting a library card is not only easy, but a necessity for students in the city, and the employees at the Bronx Library Center can help you get started. New York Public Library cards can also grant you reduced price or free access to a number of cultural sites and events in the city with the culture pass program.
While this list may be long, it is by no means exhaustive. Many of these recommendations are personal favorites of mine, but there are so many more hidden gems to uncover in the Bronx. Hopefully, these spots can serve as a valuable launching pad for new students’ own unique explorations of the borough they’ll call home for the next four years.
