NYC is a microcosm of the world. One of its boroughs, Queens, is said to be the most diverse county in all of the United States with virtually every nationality represented and countless languages. Today for Multicultural Kid Blogs’ Global Pick of the Day I wanted to share how you can discover the world without leaving NYC!
Discovering the World in NYC through Museums:
Visit the Asia Society. The Asia Society offers programming on all things related to Asia. They also have family programming.
photo credit: Just a head via photopin (license)
Discover Hispanic culture through dance and theater. A great way to learn about other cultures is through dance and theater. The Thalia Theatre is located in Queens, NY. It has great bilingual productions. Right now you can check out a show on AfroColombia, and n February they will be showing “History of Salsa.” Thalia Theatre also offers a bilingual theater workshop for children ages 5-14.
Learn about Hispanic culture at El Museo del Barrio. The Museo del Barrio is one of New York’s most renowned Latino cultural institutions. It offers exhibitions and events that will help you discover Puerto Rican, Carribean and Latin American cultures. They have exhibitions, special family events and more! (located in Manhattan)
Visit one of the biggest museums about Native American culture: The National Museum of the American Indian–The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions—as well as a range of public programs, including music and dance performances, films, and symposia—explore the diversity of the Native people of the Americas.
See how immigrants lived centuries ago: The Tenement Museum lets you walk through tenement building apts. and learn how Jewish, Greek and Italian families lived. There are different tours that go through different families’ experiences.
photo credit: Lower East Side Tenement Museum via photopin (license)
Learn about Jewish culture: Visit the Jewish Museum or the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Ellis Island: Of course, Ellis Island saw people from all over the world come through its doors, it is the gateway to diversity in NYC. The exhibits are wonderful and really give visitors an idea of how immigrants arrived in NYC.
Discovering the World in NYC through Food:
Immigrants came to NYC and settled in specific areas, Little Italy and Chinatown are example, and it continues to be the case today.
For Russian culture and food head over to “Little Odessa” or “Little Russia” in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
For Indian, head over to Jackson Heights in Queens. Take the train to 74th Street, head over to Jackson Diner and check out the beautiful saris too!
photo credit: Saris via photopin (license)
For Greek, check out Astoria in Queens. (My favorite restaurant is Taverna Kyclades, the wait is well worth it).
For Italian, skip the touristy Little Italy and head over to Little Italy in the Bronx.
For Chinese food, head over to Chinatown. There is also Koreatown in midtown Manhattan, on 32nd Street (near Macy’s!) and there is plenty of Chinese shops in Flushing, NY as well!
photo credit: Chinese New Year Flower Fair Chinatown San Francisco 2013 via photopin (license)
For Latin American, head over to Jackson Heights and Corona in Queens.
For French, head over to Carroll Garden in Brooklyn. You can also check out Albertine bookstores on 5th Avenue if you want to purchase some French books. There are also many delicious French bakeries around town.
For Egyptian, visit “Little Egypt” on Steinway Street in Astoria. There are grocery stores, halal meat shops, hookah shops, and restaurants. (Our favorite is Mombar.)
Discovering the World through NYC Parades and Festivals
Depending on when you come to NYC, you can check out parades, festivals and so much more!
photo credit: WestIndianParade2010-93 via photopin (license)
The Puerto Rican Day Parade
The Israeli Day Parade
The West Indian Day Parade
The Steuben Parade (German Culture)
and so much more!
This post was written for the MKB Global Pick of the Week #MKBGlobalPick. Check out Multicultural Kid Blogs.
Featured photo credit: World Unisphere at Flushing Meadow via photopin (license)
