Own This City

Time Out New York / Issue 700 : Feb 26–Mar 4, 2009

Passport NY
Dominican Republic


A-Rod may’ve let you down, but that shouldn’t turn you off his motherland—especially if you’re into street food and beisbol.

By Monika Fabian
Photos by Dan Eckstein

HANG WITH DOMINICANS

• Moises Perez, executive director of community organization Alianza Dominicana, recommends a stroll through Washington Heights and Inwood to really get a feel for the local scene: “Take a walk from the train station at 168th Street up St. Nicholas or Audubon Avenues, all the way to 190th Street; you’ll pass Dominican restaurants, beauty salons, pastry shops, clothing stores, and you get a pretty good sense of Dominican life.” In fact, Anthony Stevens-Acevedo, assistant director of City College’s Dominican Studies Institute, says this area is “the most densely Dominican community in the United States.”

• Once you’re uptown, scope out Mamajuana Café (247 Dyckman St between Payson and Seaman Aves, 212-304-1217); here you’ll meet Dominicans from “all walks of life,” says State Sen. Eric Schneiderman’s chief of staff for district operations, Lilliam Perez. “You’ll find everyone from baseball players and the lady down the street to young professionals getting together for cocktails.”

• The Dominican Republic cranks out Major League ballplayers like nobody’s business; naturally, baseball is a favorite pastime of expats. Visit El Nuevo Caridad Restaurant (1618 St. Nicholas Ave at 191st St, 212-781-5782) to admire owner Miguel Montas’s memorabilia–lined walls, which include autographed MLB and Dominican league photos and uniforms. Drop by the restaurant on March 7 to witness firsthand the Dominicans’ passion for the old ball game; at 11am, they’ll televise the national team playing the Netherlands in the first round of the World Baseball Classic 2009. Hunker down with a plate of player-inspired grub (the Jose Reyes includes grilled chicken, yucca with onions and a morir soñando, a sweet drink made with freshly squeezed orange juice, lime juice and evaporated milk) or try DR native Danny Baez’s staple favorite, the sancocho, “a thick soup or stew that consists of seven types of meats, yucca, plantains, carrots, cilantro and any other vegetable you can imagine.”

SEEK OUT DOMINICAN ARTS

• On Friday 27, join the proud parents of local junior high-schoolers as they perform traditional and modern dances, skits and readings about Dominican and African-American heritage at the Salomé Ureña de Henríquez Campus (4600 Broadway at 196th St, 212-569-2880; 5–9pm, free).

• Also of special note on the arts front: The Centro Civico Cultural Dominicano (619 W 145th St between Broadway and Riverside Dr, suite 201; 212-234-9577) is exhibiting a collection of folkloric masks and other traditional pieces through Saturday 28.

TALK LIKE A DOMINICAN

• ¿Y qué lo qué? literally means “What is it?,” but is used as a greeting, kinda like “What’s up?” ¿’Ta to’?, meanwhile, is Dominican shorthand for the Spanish phrase ¿Esta todo bien? or “Is everything all right?”; to use it in response means “Everything’s cool.”

FUN FACTS

• Leonel Fernández, the current president of the Dominican Republic, lived at 95th Street and Amsterdam Avenue as a kid.

• Santo Domingo–born Juan “Jan” Rodrigues is honored with a plaque in Riverside Park as New York’s first non–Native American inhabitant.

• The Yankees boast seven players of Dominican descent, including A-Rod, who was born here but has dual citizenship.


Source: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/own-this-city/71903/dominican-republic

Haha, when they are promoting ethnic flavor it is 'Washington Heights & Inwood', but if they are giving apartment hunting advice it is suddenly Hudson Heights Nonetheless thanks for the tips, it's good to hear about what is going on in the barrio and maybe even get some guests from the new arrival population. TimeOut NY never fails to amuse!

Manhattanite:


What's my middle name?

Washington! Oh, papa?

Raised in the neighborhood, went to school at JHS 143, went to Geroge Washington H.S., my seed lives in The Heights, It's elementary.

I sometimes reminisce and get nostalgic about my days in the barrio. High Bridge, Riverside, Fort Tryon-Cloisters, Jew Park.

Represent for the old school crew.....It's your turn now...I packed my bags for greener pastures.

I always wondered what was on the other side of the Palisades.....I'm out for good!

The demographics of the neighborhood are changing, albeit much slower than what a lot of people expected. It seems kind of impossible for the Dominican community to maintain itself here forever, we're not in control of the real estate. What do guys think will be the future of the 'hood?

Wow. I didn't know he was dominican.