If I had a dollar for every time someone said how much they hated living on Staten Island, I'd have enough money to help them put words into motion and actually move. Side note: If you really hate it that much, why don't you just move away? The time you spend posting to Facebook about how much you can't stand the traffic/people could be time spent apartment hunting on Zillow...but that's none of my business.
Anyway, that's besides the point. For those of you who like or don't mind living here, you know just as well as I do how difficult it is to find new things to do. I often find myself reliving the same plans multiple weeks in a row. It's not that I don't like hitting up the same few restaurants and bars, it would just be cool to have a new plan to throw in the mix every once in a while. So I decided to compile a list of things to do ranging from chill plans to a complete change of pace. I will warn you that many of these ideas involve food, but that's because 99% of my plans involve getting food at some point of the day/night while I'm out. Now, I could have just provided you with the stereotypical "leave the island and go to the shore for the weekend" or "just spend a day in the city", but that sh*t gets old. Take advantage of where you live. Try new things and maybe you'll end up liking it.
1. Get Moving
For days when the news doesn't warn you to stay in because the heat index is so high, Staten Island has a ton of places to get active without actually feeling like you're working out. The most popular being the South Beach Boardwalk. It's 2.5 miles, right on the water (yay for a breeze), and great for walking, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading (yup, that's still a thing) and now Pokémon Go-ing at all times of the day. If you're not a fan of seeing a ton of people with their heads down staring at their phones, I would suggest making your trip there before sundown. My absolute favorite thing is biking along the entire shoreline. I start at the beginning of the bike path (in New Dorp Beach behind Miller Field), then follow the bike path along the boardwalk and up to Fort Wadsworth under the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. It's about 12 miles in total, if you go to the bridge and back, and it's great for people into exploring. Take some detours throughout the fort and you'll find old train tracks, the remainder of some old structures, and a pretty amazing view.
2. Try New Food
You can always rely on me to find the next place to try for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Just ask my friends. If I applied myself to my schoolwork as much as I did researching new restaurants to checkout, I could've gone right through to get my PhD. Depending on what you're in the mood for, Staten Island has a variety of cuisines to keep you full this summer. Here's my top 5:
1. Pho Mac Vietnamese Restaurant: It's a small Vietnamese place right on Richmond Avenue. They're not crazy expensive and you can't go wrong with anything on this menu. For Vietnamese Cuisines beginners, I would try #47- #49 on their menu. Add some Sriracha to your meal to make it even better.
2. Bayou: Definitely one of the more unique places to try. Bayou serves New Orleans Cajun dishes in a French Quarter-inspired setting. They serve staple dishes like Alligator Bites, Jambalaya, and Andouille and the place itself makes you feel like you're spending the night out in New Orleans.
3. Beans and Leaves: This adorable and totally Instagrammable cafe serves up some of the best house made waffles with a unique "Coffee of the Day", artisanal teas and other fresh baked goods. Stop in for a waffle decked out in Cap'n Crunch, fresh whipped cream, s'mores, fresh fruit, ice cream and even apple pie. Get there super early to sit and enjoy your breakfast or stop by later in the day for an ice cream and waffle dessert.
4. Panini Grill: For Italian food lovers, you're in the right place. The Panini Grill is true to their vision of being "a neighborhood place that offers large portions and a variety of homemade, homestyle cooking". The Nachos Italiano for Two (can feed WAY more than 2) are no joke. Pretty much anything on this menu, from drinks to dessert, will leave you full for the next two days.
5. Dominick's Bakery & Cafe: This cute location has been serving the best sandwiches, wraps, and paninis for over 17 years. Dominick's has become a staple lunch spot for me and their bakery selection is amazing! Nine out of ten times, I end up leaving Dominick's with some leftovers from lunch and a box of cookies for later...or right when I get into my car.
3. See a Movie at the Drive-In
It's time to take a break from catching Pokémon in Historic Richmond town at night and take advantage of what this historical site has to offer. From August 8-13, they'll be hosting the All American Drive-In. Reserve your spot ahead of time on their website and pick from a variety of movies ranging from movies like Up, E.T., and the summer classic Jaws.
4. Have a Pool Party
Pool parties aren't just for your awkward teen stage where no one actually goes in the pool. Light up the BBQ, find some drinking games and you're good to go. Try beer pong in the pool or drunk jenga. Bonus points if you have one of those fancy swan or donut floats!
5. Go to a Baseball Game
I think people forget that we have a baseball team right here on Staten Island. The Staten Island Yankees play home games around 2-3 nights each week and tickets cost no more than $35 each. The stadium itself isn't huge, so you'll get a good view of the game from practically anywhere you seat. The view of the Manhattan skyline isn't so bad either!
6. See the Fireworks
The South Beach Boardwalk puts on a fireworks display every Sunday night at sundown throughout the summer. Grab some snacks like ice cream, cotton candy, or popcorn from the vendors along the boardwalk and try to find the best view of the fireworks. Think the fireworks are boring? Just wait till the show is over, head on over to the Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier and wait for someone to start shouting. Either they just caught a fish, or a Charmander just popped up on their map.
