Little Ukraine in New York City
Posted: January 13, 2014 Filed under: American Culture, Food, Immigrant experiences, New York City, Opinion Leave a commentby Maria Binch
(FROM ARNIC Observer_Vol 1_Issue 2)
UKRAINIAN AMERICANS were present in New York City as early as the 17th century when the city was called New Amsterdam. However, the first Ukrainian mass immigration wave occurred at the end of the 19th century, coinciding with other mass European influxes into the city. The traditional locus is Little Ukraine, located within the East Village neighborhood in Manhattan.
The Ukrainian population of Little Ukraine topped out at around 60,000 residents after World War II, and subsequently dwindled. Today about a third of approximately 80,000 Ukrainian Americans living in New York City reside in Little Ukraine, which is bound by Houston and 14th Streets, and Third Avenue and Avenue A. The area is sometimes also referred to as Ukrainian Village.
In this area there are a lot of Ukrainian organizations. The two oldest and biggest of them are Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union (UNFCU). Both of these institutions are not-for-profit. The UCCA is deeply committed to maintaining a vibrant and strong Ukrainian community within the U.S. UNFCU is an organization where all revenue generated is returned to members, with no fees on services, higher dividend rates on accounts, and more competitive loan rates.
Many influential Ukrainians from these institutions assist in improving the Ukrainian school, which is located near the Saint George Ukrainian Catholic church. Religion plays an important role for Ukrainians; therefore, in the East Village people can worship at a Catholic Church or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On Second Avenue everyone can visit The Ukrainian Museum and learn about the history, culture and traditions of the country. For people who are very talented in music or drama, the Ukrainian community in 1949 created the national choir “Dumka” and a few years ago, The Ukrainian Drama Studio. Dumka’s founders sought to preserve and cultivate the rich secular and religious musical heritage of Ukraine.
If you want to try Ukrainian food such as borscht, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage, you might want to visit Ukrainian East Village Restaurant or the popular and famous Veselka. These two places are not expensive but the food there is superb.
So, now you know everything about Little Ukraine in New York City. You just need to visit these places and enjoy.
Keep Calm and Eat Pizza
Posted: January 6, 2014 Filed under: American Culture, Food, Immigrant experiences, New York City Leave a commentby Nyi Nyi
(FROM ARNIC Observer_Vol 1_Issue 2)
NO SURPRISE. Pizza has become my favorite dish because of the great taste. You can choose from various toppings, like cheese, tomato sauce, pepperoni, sausage, or mushrooms. You can easily find many pizza places close to one another in NYC. Pizza is a good option if you want fast food. For me it saves time and is well-priced.
Giuseppe’s pizza is outstanding. It is located close to the English Speaking Union. If you live or work by Grand Central, this is a good choice for a meal. It is located on Lexington Avenue between 39th and 40th street.
Giuseppe’s offers Italian food with a friendly staff! Giuseppe’s has been called the best pizza in town for over 25 years. It costs $2.50 per slice topped with cheese and the whole pie is $16.
I always stop at Giuseppe’s Pizza place for my meal before my class starts. I finish work at 5 p.m. and my class starts at 6. I have one hour to get to class and it takes 30 minutes on the subway. I only have around 15 minutes to have my two slices and one small soda. It costs me only $6.50. If you are a smaller eater, one slice and soda will cost you just four dollars. This pizza is totally worth it.
Another one of my favorite pizza places is Roll and Go. The pizza is excellent! It is definitely a great place to get a quick bite to eat in midtown. It is located on 8th Ave, very close by Port Authority. They offer a $1 pizza slice with amazing great taste. You can have it on the go. I sometimes buy two slices and one soda for just $3 and stop at Bryant Park and have my meal.
I like Pizza because it gives me energy and strength. Two slices of pizza satisfies me for the whole day without getting hungry later. A slice of 14” regular crust (107g) of pizza contains about 285 calories. The calories from two slices is enough to meet half of daily energy needs.
The modern pizza originated in Italy. Raffaele Esposito, who owned a restaurant, baked what is now called “pizza” for the visit of Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita in 1889. The first pizzeria in North America was opened in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi on Spring Street in New York City. Pizza has become the most popular food in the world. New York is the first and the best place for pizza. Can you imagine Americans eat approximately 350 slices of pizza per second?
Most of us love pizza and love debating where to get the best. Whether we buy it at a local eatery, purchase it from the frozen foods section of a supermarket, or get it delivered by a national chain, pizza is a dependable, often delicious, hunger solver.
Strolling in the Concrete Jungle
Posted: January 2, 2014 Filed under: American Culture, Immigrant experiences, New York City, Opinion Leave a commentby Alina Koltovska
(From the ARNIC Observer_Vol 1_Issue 2)
WHEN I WAS LANDING IN NYC the first thing that I saw in my window was Manhattan with its beautiful skyscrapers. I will never forget this breathtaking view.
New York is the world’s ultimate skyscraper city.
The most famous of all skyscrapers, The Empire State Building, was the world’s tallest for 41 years. The Empire State Building is a 103-story skyscraper located in midtown Manhattan. Its name is derived from the nickname for New York, the Empire State.
The Empire State Building cost around $41 million to build (equal to roughly $500 million dollars in 2010). But considering how many people here visit this skyscraper since opening, it’s nothing. Outdoor observatories have been visited by over 110 million people. See the world from the famous outdoor deck on the 86th floor starting at $27.
As for me, a more beautiful view of the city can be seen from another skyscraper— Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center, originally known as Radio City, is a complex of buildings developed in the midst of the Great Depression. Rockefeller Center, known as a “city in a city,” is an exceptional example of civic planning. All buildings share a common design style, Art Deco.
Art deco is an influential visual arts design style which first appeared in France after World War I. It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with machine age imagery and materials.
The GE Building is an Art Deco skyscraper that forms the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. At 850 feet (259m) high, the 70-story building is the 10th tallest in NYC. The observation deck on top Rockefeller Center’s building promoted as “Top of the Rock” boasts panoramic views of Central Park and the Empire State Building.
Today, my favorite skyscraper is The Time Warner Center. The modern twin towers loom over Columbus Circle, a roundabout at the southwest corner of Central Park. Built in 2003, it is one of the most successful modern skyscrapers in NYC. The property had the highest listed market value in NYC, $1.1 billion, in 2006.
There are so many skyscrapers in NYC and they are one of the reasons why I love NY. Every day when I walk in the city, I have this feeling that I am walking through a concrete jungle; I love this feeling because the jungle is so special. It contains so many different skyscrapers, all of them with their own history and own character. I love NY!
New Immigrant in the City 