Staten Island has numerous hidden gems. We spotlight locations or upcoming events that families may be interested in checking out or attending.

Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices have been a staple of Staten Island's summers for the past 90 years. They offer hundreds of flavours and many different types of ices, smoothies, drinks, sundaes, and more. 

History

Ralph's Famous Italian Ices began in the hands of Ralph Silvestro. Silvestro came to the United States from Italy when he was a young man and began making his ices in 1928, selling them throughout Staten Island without any retail locations. His treats quickly became a Staten Island summertime favourite and earned him enough to open his first retail location in 1949, on Port Richmond Avenue. 

In 1966, Ralph decided to retire and left his two daughters, Lucile and Elise, to continue the family business. They expanded the business further and…

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Looking for a fun way to spend a summer weekend? Every year, on the first weekend in June, the Governors Ball Music Festival, known also by GovBall, takes place on Randall's island. This festival features dozens of your favourite artists, showcases hundreds of food places, and is an absolute delight to attend. Originally starting in 2011, it was an instant success and has grown exponentially ever since. 

What happens during the festival?

Music

The primary festival of any music festival is of course, music. That's why Gov Ball invites dozens of artists (over 60 in 2018) from a variety of genres to perform on its multiple stages. In 2018, some of the most popular artists performed, including names like Eminem, Travis Scott, Jack White, Halsey,…

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South Beach is a neighborhood on the East Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA. It is situated immediately to the south of the Staten Island side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and directly east of the beach are the two land masses of Hoffman Island and Swinburne Island.


History

Once referred to as Graham Beach, the area was originally a summer beach colony consisting of many  bungalows and tents. In fact, in the early 20th century, summer homes used to be the dominant type of real estate in South Beach, even with an organized and developed series of homes known as Bungalowtown,

Located nearby was Warren Manor, a residential development that was demolished in the 1950s. It was destroyed because the government…

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Staten Island Mall is a located in the New Springville neighborhood. It is an indoor shopping mall and the largest retail center on the island. The mall is owned by GGP Inc. of Chicago, Illinois and has been around for many years. 

Before it was the mall, the land was once occupied by the Staten Island Airport, which opened in 1941. However, the site was later sold in 1955 with a shopping and amusement center, known as the Staten Island Center. The construction didn't start until 1970 and it was open later in 1973. The mall's original developer was Feist and Feist Realty Corp. When the Rouse Company acquired the mall in 1980, they remodeled the mall by adding additional escalators, and additional trees and several new fountains throughout the mall.

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Tottenville is the southernmost neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City and New York State, with an area of approximately 1.7 square miles.

Locale

Tottenville, a region on Staten Island's southwestern waterfront, can be rich in contrasts. Old Civil-War era houses sit near modern new mansions. Cars can fill up every parking spot on the street, but in another part, a pedestrian may be alone on a street with only birds for company. In another are old tugboats are aground in an old dirt lot while shoppers shop for Italian delicacies in a marketplace. There is modern, there is old, there is large, there is small, But this is definitely a very peaceful and quiet community.

Tottenville is bordered mostly by water, the Arthur Kill, and Raritan Bay,…

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The construction of the Empire Outlets has brought new excitement to New York City residents and tourists alike. Its prime location at the base of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is perfect for those coming from all five boroughs. St.George's transformation into a desirable destination for residents and tourists alike can be awarded to companies such as BFC Partners and Goldman Sachs who invest millions of dollars to revamp beautiful NYC destinations such as St. George. The outlets are being built adjacent to the New York Wheel, which is going to be the tallest observation wheel in the world, as well as walking distance from the Staten Island Yankees ballpark, Lighthouse Point, and the St.George Historic Park. 

The opening date was first set to be…

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New York City is known for its bustling art and culture scene. In any of the five boroughs, one can be greeted by a mish-mosh of creative expression unique to its residents.  However, this city is also known for staying chic and contemporary; So how do you maintain this balance of redevelopment and preservation of culture, especially in the ever-changing Staten Island? Nationally recognized project incubator, Design Trust has a plan. 

About Design Trust 

Since 1995, Design Trust has been working to re-purpose and revitalize New York City's public shared spaces with art. According to their website, their mission is to "bring together city agencies, community groups, and private sector experts to make a lasting impact–through design–on how New Yorkers…

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New Dorp is a neighborhood in the Staten Island of New York City. It is located in the east of Staten Island, near the foot of Todt Hill, with Grant City immediately to its north, and Oakwood bordering to the south.

Locale

New Dorp finds itself located across the center of one of the busiest streets on the island: Hylan Boulevard. This means that this area makes Brooklyn very accessible to residents of this part of the island. Most people are drawn to the convenience of the train to the ferry, the express bus to Manhattan and shopping. In addition, it is just 20 minutes from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The region is filled up with shops and restaurants like Chikurn, Wing World, Something Sweet, Pho, etc, as well as other utilitarian facets of commercial…

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Accessibility is a huge consideration when choosing a home. Although there is no place like home, you want the security of knowing you can run errands, go to work, or school with ease, even without a car. Luckily for Staten Islanders, this borough is all about easy transit. Besides the very commonly used MTA buses, there is also the SIR or Staten Island Railroad.

What is the Staten Island Railroad (SIR)?

The SIR is a rapid transit system that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, comparable the the MTA subway system. However, the SIR is an elevated train, allowing you to get a gorgeous view of Richmond County during your trip. Trains every 15 minutes during rush hour, with both local and express service available, which runs non stop from Great Kills…

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What is the importance of farmers' markets?

Farmer markets allow people to buy fresh produce directly from farmers. These markets help farmers turn profit while producing what they love to make, be it vegetables, honey, flowers, and sometimes even smoked meats. When farmers have to sell their produce or items, they have to sell them to large corporations or stores, but this prevents them from selling directly to their customers, and they have to conform to what the food trend is. They not only profit more by selling directly to their customers, they can also produce what they like, and get to see how happy their products make their customers. Farmer markets have fresh artisan goods at a lower cost to you, and more easily accessible to the public and…

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