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ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOODS OF NEW YORK CITY, Part 2

© Paula Damiano

Besides the area of lower Manhattan called Little Italy, New York has other pockets of Italian culture. Remnants of the Italian community in Greenwich Village (in New York, it’s just called The Village) can still be found, at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 25 Carmine St., Faicco Pork Stores, 260 Bleecker St., and Zito & Sons’ bakery at 259 Bleecker. For unbelievable pastries and coffee, don’t miss Veniero’s in the East Village at 342 E. 11th St.

East Harlem was once an all-Italian neighborhood east of Lexington Avenue. Today, you can still find the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 449 E. 115th St (my husband took his first communion here!). In the old days, Italians from Bleeker Street would make a barefooted pilgrimage all the way from the Village to the shrine. Hungry? There’s Andy's Tavern at 2257 1st Ave. and Patsy's Pizza at 2297 1st Ave. Patsy’s consistently wins Best Pizza awards all the time.

In the Bronx, you can see a still-thriving Italian section centered around Arthur Avenue. There’s another Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 627 E. 187th St. and the Enrico Fermi Cultural Center 610 E. 186th St. And there are food stores, restaurants, cafes and bakeries galore. Mangia bene!

In Brooklyn, look to Bensonhurst and Carroll Gardens for Italian flavor. If you’re lucky enough to be in Brooklyn this summer, check out the annual Giglio Festival honoring Saint Paulinus. You’ll find Italian food, fun and grand processions on July 8th and July 15th, when 200 men parade a 65-foot tower – on a platform filled with musicians – through northern Williamsburg. (For more information, contact Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 718-384-0223.)

Queens also retains an Italian section in Corona Heights, although the neighborhood once extended into nearby, larger Corona proper. You’ll find fresh ravioli and sausages as you stroll the streets. The Lemon Ice King at 52-02 108th St. has been selling fresh fruit-flavored Italian ices (like sorbets, but without the trendiness) for more than 50 years. Just across the way, the Parkside Restaurant serves Italian and continental fare. The tiny vest-pocket park in between them has a still-active bocce court, and you can watch the men display their various skill levels. Many years ago, when I was a new bride, I asked Uncle Orlando (a Corona neighborhood “regular”) when the WOMEN got to play bocce. He pretended to consider the question seriously, then said, “ I ‘tinka in da year two ‘tousand.” Uncle Orlando has gone on to his final reward. And the year 2000 has come and gone. But I still don’t see any female bocce players. Maybe in the next millennium… .