Cultural Places of Staten Island

Staten Island is among the most famous places in whole United States with lots of cultural diversity present at one place. Being a part of New York City make it easily noticeable and reachable for people. Staten Island is full of places and monuments of cultural interests attracting inbound and outbound both kind of tourists.

Some most important places of cultural interests are:

1. Staten Island Borough Hall – This architectural marvel was built in early 19^th century. The construction work completed in 1906. This Borough Hall houses Borough Presidents office along with other government offices. One can have some glimpses of rare art work and paintings by Frederick Charles inside the grand marble lobby, illustrating events in Staten Island history. Second Floor of Borough Hall has carved wood panels, plastic ceiling and heritage furniture which is rare of its kind.
2. CSI Center for Arts – This place is really a unique, wonderful and perfect platform for people with cultural talents. The CSI Centre for the Arts is situated inside huge campus of College of Staten Island. CSI Centre for the arts is the ideal destination of performance for music, dance, and drama & theatre artists. This cultural centre is divided into several subsections called, “The Concert Hall for Music performances”, “The Williamson Theatre – for plays, dance and theatre”, “The Recital hall”, “The Lecture Hall”, and “The Lab Theatre”. The CSI Center for the Arts provides arts and cultural programming to the Staten Island community on a nonprofit basis.
3. Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art – The Museum of Tibetan Arts was founded by Jacques Marchais, an extraordinary American woman who has keen interest in Tibetan Arts and culture. The museum provides insights of Tibetan and Himalayan arts and culture. Tibetan-style fieldstone buildings resembling Himalayan Monasteries present looks of Tibet in Staten Island. Terraced meditation gardens along with lotus and fish pond create beautiful and serene atmosphere. Visitors can see vast collection of rare Asian Arts. The rare objects in this museum include sculptures, thangkas, ritual objects, furniture, textiles, and historic photographs all of Tibetan Buddhist in nature that were used in monasteries of Tibet and neighboring countries within the influence of Tibetan cultural.

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Heritage Monuments of Staten Island [Part – II]

Staten Island has several heritage monuments, and historical places. This article is second in its category describing Heritage Monuments of Staten Islands. Till now you read about :

1) Conference House Park,

2) Fort Wadsworth

3) Garibaldi-Meucci Museum

4) Historic Richmond Town

Other famous heritage places are as follows:

5. Snug Harbor Cultural Center - Snug Harbor Cultural Centre was originally a maritime residence and hospital for retired seaman. This cultural centre is spread over an 83 acres National Historic Landmark District with old style English architecture buildings housing Snug Harbor Cultural Center and other cultural organizations. This cultural centre is now home for several museums, including an art museum, a children museum, botanical garden, and even a music hall. Snug Harbor Cultural Centre organizes several events throughout the year making it a favorite spot for arts and music lovers, kids, and tourists visiting New York City.

6. September 11 Memorial – September 11, 2001 is a black spot on world history, when the whole world witnessed one of the most tragic criminal attacks causing loss of thousands of lives along with huge economic loses. This memorial was dedicated to the public on September 11, 2004 as homage to all Staten Islander’s who lost their lives in attack over World Trade Centre. This memorial appears as outstretched wings of a bird or a blooming flower. There are names of all people engraved on separate granite blocks who lost their lives in the attack. The place situated at North Shore Waterfront Esplanade adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and the Richmond County Ballpark at St. George provides a calm and soothing place to remember those victims and pray for peace of their souls.

Staten Island September 11 Memorial

7. Alice Austen House - Alice Austen House is like a gem among Heritage Monuments of Staten Island. This 16^th century house was home of noted women photographer Alice Austen. She was one of earliest and most accomplished women photographers in U.S. This is now a Museum where people can get into insights of Alice Austen and her work. This house which is located at Entrance of New York harbor provides best illustration of picturesque suburban cottages of 19^th Century Staten Island.

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Staten Island is capable of competing with any popular city or suburbs of United States. The cultural heritage and diversity found here is really unique. Once again we are providing a little details of all the places as listed on various websites dedicated to Staten Island. Heritage Monuments as well as Modern establishments make this borough of New York City really worth seeing.

We will categorize all popular landmarks according to

1. Heritage Monuments,

2. Cultural Places,

3. Places with Natural Beauty, and

4. Fun Places

Heritage Monuments of Staten Island

1. Conference House Park - This is symbol of a Peace Conference held on Sept. 11, 1776 between delegates of the Continental Congress and the Commander of British Forces during the Revolutionary War. The place has seen several owners in its lifespan. The Manor House First built in 1680, is the only pre-Revolutionary manor house still surviving in New York City. Currently managed by Conference House Association, the place illustrates history of Staten Island. It has a public waterfront park that overlooks Raritan Bay and the New Jersey coast.

2. Fort Wadsworth - Fort Wadsworth is one of the oldest military sites in the United States, that lies underneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the entrance to New York Harbor. Once it was one of the most important military bases in the country that protected New York Harbor for centuries, and now this fort is a part of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

3. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum - This museum was sometimes home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, legendary hero who unified Italy. This historical home was built in year 1840 in Gothic-revival style. The house was opened to the public and dedicated as The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum in 1956. The museum is a National Landmark owned and operated by the Order Sons of Italy in America.

4. Historic Richmond Town - Richmond Town is a unique place of United States illustrating living in New York City for nearly 300 years. This place was once the center for business and government on Staten Island. The town is spread over 25 acres on a 100-acre site consisting 15 restored buildings (homes and commercial and civic buildings) as well as a museum. A trip to this historic place is an opportunity to experience the domestic, commercial and civic activities that characterized life on Staten Island.

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Staten Island Ferry - Not Less than Wonders

Staten Island is the most rich in cultural heritage than other boroughs of New York City. There are several attractions here, and no doubt the most important attraction is the Staten Island Ferry, which is in the list of favorites for people in all age groups as well as in the list of must see and experience of travelers to New York City. The crowd visible on Staten Island ferry is the best proof of its popularity and charm among people. This is also the lifeline of people commuting Daily from Staten Island to Manhattan.

The Ferry operating between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan carries 20 million people a year that means 60,000 passengers a day. This number does not include people travelling on weekends. The Staten Island ferry is operated by NY-DOT (New York City’s, Department of Tourism). This is only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. This 5 mile, 25 minute ride provides a wonderful, unforgettable view of New York Harbor, skylines of Lower Manhattan, as well as the best possible view of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) ensures everything to make this ferry ride more comfortable, safe and memorable for daily commuters as well as tourists. Smoking or any type of hard alcohol intake is strictly prohibited, only beer is permitted. The Staten Island Ferry is completely disables friendly, people with physical disability can also enjoy the ferry ride. There is a separate entrance and other facilities for disabled.

One more thing which is most important to know for people, The Ferry ride is absolutely free. There was a charge of 5 cents for the journey; it increased to 50 cents later bit by bit. But after a decision of NYC DOT the Ferry ride has been declared free, that means all excitement and pleasure of this exclusive and marvelous journey comes for free without any burden on your pocket.

There is no wrong saying that Staten Island Ferry is “One of the world’s greatest (and shortest) water voyages.” You’ll accept it, when you come to New York City and experience the pleasure of travelling to Staten Island from Manhattan via this heritage ferry ride.

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Bird Watching at Staten Island - II

Staten Island is having rich botanical as well as zoological heritage. Previous article discussed some popular bird watching spots of Staten Island, rest popular spots are described here:

Miller Field - This is among one of the best places on Staten Island to look and listen for migrating bobolink and common nighthawk. Migrating shorebirds are visible on the widespread sport fields during fall. Savannah sparrows are easily available along the field edges in all seasons. Other popular species of birds available here are American golden plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, and whimbrel. The Miller Field beach offers a great access point to scan Raritan Bay for waterfowl, and northern gannets. During winter check the jetty at the end of New Dorp Lane for purple sandpipers, dunlin and black-bellied plovers.

Great Kills Park - The Great Kills Park is a part of Gateway National Recreation Area. The place is wonderful to visit any time in any season. Bird lovers can find great diversity of waterfowl and gulls in Great Kills Harbor, and on the Raritan Bay during Winters. The best way to get a good sample of both the waterfowl, and land birds present here is to a walk to Crooke’s Point. Snow bunting and horned lark spend most of the winter in the mowed grass area near the play grounds. The number of waterfowls increase in the bay and harbor area during early spring. By late spring, the waterfowl have left, but the land bird numbers peak. The best way to find song bird migrants is a walk along the blue-dot trail that parallels Hylan Blvd. Summer slows down, but most of the nesting species are still easy to find. As fall sets in, Great Kills Park becomes a trap for south bound sparrows, thrushes, and warbler.

Blue Heron Pond Park - Birding Blue Heron at any time of year can be very rewarding for bird watchers. Resident birds are easy to find along the extensive trail system. Spring and fall migration bring the usual suite of neo-tropical migrants to the young forest of the park. Make sure to check out the most interesting point that is feeding station, which can be viewed from inside the Nature Center. Many common woodland birds visit the station year round.

Conference House Park - Birding lovers can visit the Conference House park any time of year. During Summer season you can see, the white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed juncos and raptors can be seen in the woods, and American wigeon, 2 species of loons, horned grebe, and other waterfowl can be found in the Raritan Bay.

During spring the park becomes alive with songs, and sights of migrations. Rare bird species like hooded warbler, and summer tanager can be seen here each year, you need to keep your eyes and ears open to get the pleasure of watching. Most of the islands woodland, and edge habitat breeds can be found within the park during setting summer. Even, fall migration is not less exciting than spring migration at the Conference House Park. This Park is perhaps the premier spot in all of New York City for Connecticut Warblers.

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Bird Watching at Staten Island

Staten Island is a part of New York, but even after being a portion of world’s most magnificent city which is well known for its concrete jungle, Staten Island has more than 3000 acres of greenery spread in several parks of this area. The place provides enormous opportunities for nature lovers to come and explore the wild heritage of this place. If, people who don’t know about Staten Island come here first and see the natural beauty and its wide natural heritage, they will not believe that it is a part of New York City and situated nearby the city of skyscrapers. It’s simply unbelievable for them.

The forests and national parks at Staten Island have varied selection of wildlife. You’ll also find rare species of Birds here. The number and diversity of birds is really rare and enough to attract any bird lovers to Staten Island. There are several parks which has numerous species of birds, those includes:

Clovelakes Park - Clove Lakes Park is the prime spot for migratory birds on Staten Island. Northward bound migratory birds start coming in the park from late March. The number, and diversity of species increases along with progressing spring season. A bird lover can have glances of more than 25 different species of wood-warblers, along with other migrants such as rose-breasted grosbeak, flycatchers, cuckoos and vireos during a good sunny day in May. One can find spring migration hooded, prothonotary, and Kentucky warblers somewhere within the park boundaries every year.

South and Midland Beach Park - Midland and South Beach are among one of the longest open beach stretches in New York City. People should visit this park for waterfowl, eared grebe, harlequin duck, Barrow’s goldeneye and purple sandpiper. Red and White-winged crossbills and evening grosbeak are also found in the pines during winters.

Fort Wadsworth - Fort Wadsworth is situated just beside Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and provides a wonderful view of Lower New York Bay. Eurasian wigeon, Purple sandpipers are popular inhabitant of this place. During spring and fall migration warblers and bobolinks can also be found in the field. Even the woods around fort are good place to find common resident birds.

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Nightlife at Staten Island

It is well known that Staten Island is heaven for tourists. Its true for everyone. Kids can enjoy at Staten Island Zoo, and several museums, National Parks also attract them, whereas Elderly people can have their part of fun and enjoyment in Historical Museums and Richmond Park. They also love to spend some quality leisure time in dense greenery full of scenic and natural beauty. But it doesn’t mean that the Island attracts only these two inbound and outbound segments of tourists containing kids and elderly.

Staten Island also attracts music lovers with regular music shows and performances by prominent musicians and singers of the country. Staten Islanders are a great lover of music and it’s proved by the several successful shows which are organized here on regular basis.

The place is equally capable of providing the best entertainment facilities, best dining and drinking facilities in world as well as excellent nightlife to the young generation. Staten Island is full of such fun places which is a great attraction for youngsters. That includes exclusive world class restaurants serving mouth watering cuisines from all over the world, excellent wines and beers for drink enthusiasts, as well as happening nightclubs and discos forcing visitors to dance on the tunes of fast music of all kinds.

Among several available options for a night out or weekend party, I’m listing out a few of my favorites here:

Fushimi: Japanese Cuisines and Lounge

Finally, a standout sushi specialist on Staten Island locals laud this trendy Japanese spot for its top-notch fare, stimulating decor and gracious service. You’d almost swear you were in the city, especially when the check arrives. “Manhattan meets Staten Island” at this Japanese hot-spot of Staten Island, where one can enjoy “fresh-off-the-boat sushi” sliced in upscale lounge like digs accoustic wise. Its exclusive and crowded every time you visit the place. Prices are upto the mark according to the quality being served here. If you have plans to taste real Japanese cuisines, you should visit the place once. You’ll really love the vicinity as well as the proximity, but beware go early or go somewhere else because you will not get a place if you arrive late.

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