By Jeff Vanderwerf, Director of IELP, Manhattan College
Studying in New York City is an exciting prospect. People all over the world know New York City for its famous sites, such as Broadway, Times Square, and Central Park. Those are all amazing places to visit, and they are a must for any visitor. Yet, in addition to the most well-known tourist spots, there is so much more to see in the Big Apple (New York City’s nickname). These perhaps lesser-known locales are well worth visiting and will further enrich your New York City experience.
Main Street, Flushing, Queens
Home to nearly a quarter-million Chinese-Americans, the exit of the terminus of the #7 Train leads right out into Flushing’s own Chinatown. In fact, this Chinatown is estimated to have a larger Chinese ethnic population than the Chinatown in Manhattan. This is an amazing place to enjoy a slice of Chinese culture in New York City, and it is host to countless authentic restaurants and shops.
The Met Cloisters, Manhattan
Okay, so this site is in Manhattan. But it isn’t in that Manhattan – the Manhattan of Times Square, the Village, and Wall Street. The Met Cloisters is a museum of medieval art nestled in Fort Tryon Park at the very northwest tip of the island of Manhattan. Designed to evoke the architecture of the later Middle Ages, the museum has more than 5,000 pieces in its collection; some of these pieces are from the Byzantine era!
Wave Hill, Riverdale, Bronx
Not far from the Met Cloisters, and only a few minutes from Manhattan College, Wave Hill is a gorgeous garden and cultural center sitting up from the shore of the Hudson River. This is an ideal place to go for a quiet picnic and literally to smell the flowers. It also has a café and often has cultural events taking place on its grounds.
Bushwick Collective, Brooklyn
Perfect for lovers of street art, Bushwick Collective is in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. It showcases dozens of examples of street art by famous artists from around the world. It is a great place to walk around for a couple of hours, and there are cafes and restaurants to enjoy while surrounded by the amazing artwork.
Manhattan College, located in Riverdale, Bronx, offers a great location from which to visit these unique New York City sites. The campus is approximately two blocks from the #1 subway train, which runs the entirety of the western rim of Manhattan and the Bronx. When you study and live at Manhattan College, you are within a manageable subway ride or brief taxi ride to each of these less famous sites. And, sure, you can still tick The Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building off your bucket lists, as well! Come join us in New York City!
(Clockwise, from top left) Flushing Chinatown; The Met Cloisters; Wave Hill; Bushwick Collective
Manhattan College, Riverdale, Bronx
Since 2016, Jeff Vanderwerf has been the director of the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) at Manhattan College. The IELP's primary objective is to serve students who require further English proficiency study in order to matriculate into degree programs at the College. In addition to the IELP, Jeff also manages the International Pathway Program (IPP), ESL programs, and other language-related Programs at SCPS.
