As a student in New York City, you aren’t a tourist, so stop acting like it. This city is your home now, and as nice as the big touristy sights are, you can get so much more culture and experience out of lesser-known places. You’re here for four years and might stay in the city after college, so get familiar with the backroads.
If there’s somewhere I would encourage Fordham University students to explore more, it would be the rest of the boroughs. This may seem like a given, but there is so much more to New York City than just Manhattan. As much as Manhattan is beautiful, culturally rich and full of new places to see, so are the four other boroughs.
In Manhattan, there are so many places to go in the fall, like SoHo, The Village and the New York Public Library. Finding places in Manhattan isn’t hard since it’s the most famous of the boroughs. You can go on TikTok and discover endless cute spots for the fall. There are a lot of people who think Manhattan is all that makes up NYC, but we’re true New Yorkers and we know better. So let’s give the other boroughs some attention!
Queens is nicknamed “The World’s Borough” for being the most ethnically diverse county in the country and one of the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world. 130 languages are spoken among residents and represent over 120 countries. If you want a taste of how culturally diverse NYC really is, go to Queens.
The most authentic NYC experiences can be found in Queens. Away from the tourists of Manhattan, this borough offers you experiences you can’t get anywhere else in the country. One of the most accessible and common ways of getting to know another culture is via cuisine. If you and your friends or visiting family want to grab a bite here, you’ll find great places.
Many have seen the birria tacos trend all over TikTok last year. The famous Birria-Landia food truck is located in Jackson Heights, an area home to a very large Latin American community. If you want to try this famous dish from an authentic vendor, head over. This food is also one of the best cheap eats in the city, even earning a feature in the New York Times. This is not a hidden gem — rather, it is quite popular for its amazing taste, so expect some lines outside the truck.
There are so many niche ethnic restaurants and eateries all located in Queens. Search up some authentic places, and you’ll find endless options. For at least one dinner this year, visit Queens. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of the U.S.!
This advice is mainly centered around fall, as we are currently transitioning into autumn months, and there is no better place to be than Brooklyn in the fall. The architecture is so unique and historically rich. The big, movie-like houses are so nice to just stroll around and look at while the leaves turn orange. Neighborhoods have homes and buildings with some of the nicest designs, and I would strongly recommend going down some days and just taking it in. Search up “Brooklyn houses” or neighborhoods and you’ll see what I’m talking about (especially Brooklyn Heights).
Furthermore, if you love history or architecture, dig into the history of the NYC boroughs. One cute place to romanticize and enjoy as the seasons change is the famous Washington Street in Brooklyn. This is where the iconic shot of the heavily traveled Brooklyn Bridge can be taken, so if you’re ever in the area, try to find that street!
It’s lovely to walk in parts of the city people don’t pay much attention to. If you visit Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill you can find a ton of unique little indie shops and trendy eateries. Prospect Park is another really nice part of Brooklyn where you can soak up the coziness of fall and spend a day with your friends.
Last but certainly not least is the Bronx. The Bronx is one of the most famous places in the country with tons of film references and is known for its Italian and immigrant culture hub. Fordham is right next to Little Italy which we all know and love, so here are some other culture full spots in the Bronx.
A must visit is Emilio’s of Morris Park. You can’t live in the Bronx without trying their famous chicken vodka pizza. Morris Park and Lydig Avenue are small sections of the borough, but they are home to so many immigrants that make the Bronx the place it is. Walking down these streets, you’ll come across a variety of ethnic restaurants and communities that will enrich your experience here.
Loresa Zeqiraj, FCRH ’28, is an international studies major from Yorktown, N.Y.
