NYC & COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG STATEN ISLANDS NORTH SHORE IN NEIGHBORHOOD X NEIGHBORHOOD CAMPAIGN

NYC & COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS NEIGHBORHOODS
ALONG STATEN ISLAND'S NORTH SHORE
IN NEIGHBORHOOD x NEIGHBORHOOD CAMPAIGN

—Campaign Features Cultural Organizations, Restaurants, Parks, Retailers and Small Businesses to Spread Tourism Throughout New York City’s Five Boroughs—

New York City (September 4, 2013) — NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced Staten Island’s North Shore neighborhoods—Port Richmond, Randall Manor, St. George and West Brighton—as the next destinations to be featured in Neighborhood x Neighborhood, an initiative designed to increase visitation, support local businesses and encourage exploration in areas outside traditional tourist locations across the five boroughs. September’s featured neighborhoods, which are conveniently accessible by the free Staten Island Ferry, provide visitors and New Yorkers the perfect afternoon itinerary for exploring Staten Island’s North Shore.  

“Staten Island is one of New York City’s best-kept secrets, with stunning green spaces, historic districts and harbor views, as well as diverse cultural offerings and delicious Italian cuisine,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this month’s Neighborhood x Neighborhood feature and explore the charming Port Richmond, Randall Manor, St. George and West Brighton in Staten Island’s North Shore.”

“Staten Island’s vibrant neighborhoods are home to a wonderful array of cultural organizations,” said Cultural Affairs Deputy Commissioner Margaret Morton. “From the serene beauty of the Chinese Scholar’s Garden at Snug Harbor to the animal life on display at the Staten Island Zoo, and from family programs at the Staten Island Children’s Museum to the magnificently restored St. George Theatre, these groups and so many more provide extraordinary experiences just a ferry ride away.”

"We welcome thousands of visitors who travel on the Staten Island Ferry every day, and we're glad for this opportunity to show them a few more family-friendly reasons to visit with us," said New York City Council Member Debi Rose.  "We are known for our great family-friendly neighborhoods, cultural centers, restaurants, shopping and a professional minor league baseball team.  There's no shortage of things to do, places to stay, and places to eat for visitors coming to Staten Island. We're not 'the forgotten borough' but 'the unforgettable borough.’”

Port Richmond:

• 
  Open for more than 40 years,

  Brownie’s Hobby Shop

  is a favorite of model and radio control hobbyists for its knowledgeable staff and stocked store of model cars and planes, project materials, and radio-controlled cars, helicopters, boats and planes.

• 
  A household name in New York City,

  Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern

  is loved by New Yorkers from all five boroughs for their brick-oven pies. Specialty pizzas include the garbage pie (sausage, meatballs, pepperoni, mushrooms and onions) and “M.O.R.” pie (meatball, fresh onions and ricotta).

• 
  A trip to Staten Island is not complete without enjoying chilled delights at

  Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices & Ice Cream

  ’s original outpost. The neighborhood staple has an extensive menu with traditional water ice confections and novelty treats, including sundaes and smoothies.

Randall Manor:

• 
  The waterfront restaurant

  Blue

  serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes, including slow-roasted lamb shank with risotto, chicken tagine and whole dorada with balsamic glaze. On Sundays, the restaurant and lounge hosts a clambake, where diners can choose from five types of clam.

• 
  At the

  Noble Maritime Collection

  , located in the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, visitors step into New York City’s 19th-century maritime culture and industry. The museum highlights John A. Noble’s New York Harbor paintings and collection of shop models and maritime artifacts.

• 
  The picturesque

  Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

  is a must-see destination itself. Once a home for retired sailors, the center has since been converted and developed into a 65-acre complex with museums, gardens, theaters and more. The center’s Greek Revival architecture, its Music Hall and New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden are a must-see.

• 
  Located on the grounds of Snug Harbor, the

  Staten Island Children’s Museum

  ’s interactive exhibits and creative workshops are enjoyed by children and families. Hands-on exhibits include strategic-thinking games with life-sized pieces, an authentic fire truck and a performance stage with costumes for dress-up.

St. George:

• 
  Located on the North Shore Waterfront Esplanade, the

  Staten Island September 11 Memorial

  honors the Staten Island victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.  

• 
  For authentic Italian dining, Staten Island residents head to

  Enoteca Maria

  , a family-style restaurant whose head chefs are Italian nonnas, or grandmothers. The menu changes daily to reflect the head nonna of the day, but diners will get a true Italian dining experience every time.

• 
  Founded by the family behind Staten Island’s favorite Joe and Pat’s Pizzeria and Restaurant,

  Pier 76 Italian Restaurant

  is a casual dining establishment steps away from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Pier 76 not only serves traditional and specialty pizza pies made from the freshest ingredients, but the menu also features classic Italian dishes like veal marsala, chicken rollatini and eggplant parmigiana.

• 
  Located along the waterfront,

  Ruddy & Dean

  is a traditional steakhouse that has become a favorite of Staten Island residents since their opening more than 10 years ago. Keeping with family traditions, the restaurant’s steaks are seared on seasoned cast iron skillets and finished in a high-heat oven.

• 
  

  St. George Theatre

  reopened its doors in 2004, and its lineup includes national tours, musical concerts, dance performances, comedy shows and more.

• 
  For a cultural experience, Staten Island residents head to the

  Staten Island Museum

  . Exhibitions at the museum feature everything from borough history and natural science to classic Egyptian, Greek and Roman art.  

West Brighton:

• 
  Open for more than 40 years,

  Mandolin Brothers

  is the go-to store for string instruments on Staten Island. The knowledgeable staff can help visitors repair their string instruments or find a new product from its selection of rare and vintage acoustic and eclectic guitars, banjos, mandolins and more. 

• 
  Nicknamed the “biggest little zoo,” the

  Staten Island Zoo

  has an impressive collection of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and tropical fish that children and adults alike will enjoy. Among the grounds, visitors will find an impressive collection of snakes and reptiles as well as, foxes, otters and a red panda.

Visitors looking to experience more of Staten Island can extend their stay at one of the borough’s hotels. A few options include the Comfort Inn Staten Island and Holiday Inn Express Staten Island, select service hotels both offering free breakfast and free Internet access. In addition, for a more full-service experience, the Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island offers an indoor pool along with dining and nightlife options, including Above Rooftop Lounge and Lorenzo’s Restaurant, Bar and Cabaret,  featuring Tony Award–winning performers on select nights. All three hotels provide complimentary shuttle service to and from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal (based on advance reservations and scheduling).

New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. The Neighborhood x Neighborhood initiative intends to spotlight the affordability and accessibility of neighborhoods across the five boroughs with a particular emphasis on areas that have seen new hotel development in recent years. Neighborhoods and featured highlights were chosen in collaboration with City Council officials, Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Small Business Services, business development districts, community leaders and with consideration of NYC & Company’s more than 2,000 members.

For more information about Port Richmond, Randall Manor, St. George, West Brighton, and other things to see and do in Staten Island, visit nycgo.com/neighborhoods. To read the monthly Neighborhood x Neighborhood press releases and to view B-roll and photos of neighborhood highlights, visit nycgo.com/pressphotos. Follow @nycgo_press on Twitter for the latest information about New York City travel and tourism.

About NYC & Company:

NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.

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NYC & Company/ Kimberly Spell 212-484-1270
 NYC & Company/ Chris Heywood 212-484-1270