The festival was okay but I felt like there was a lot of garbage and dirty water in many areas. I…read morethink there were less vendors than last year. The food I tried were pretty good like the meat skewers, egg waffle, corn dog and gelato. The music was nice. My toddler danced on the sidewalk.

The 18th Avenue Feast, in my opinion, is the Brooklyn annual pre-game to San Genaro. Over the…read moreyears, the feast has become smaller, and seemingly shorter in duration. I've never had a bad experience, but it's not what it used to be. As I'm older now, to allow my daughter to have some fun. Some rides, a few games and some quality food. After a year off, due to Covid, it's made it's return. I'd suggest if you have small kids, it's better to go earlier in the day, before the teenagers and adults come out.

Fleet Week kicks off my Memorial Day weekend into high gear! Not as many ships visited this year…read moreas in previous years (due to budget cuts) and were spread out over 3 boroughs. The big ships like the amphibious landing ships with their marines, armored vehicles, helicopters and hovercraft usually dock in Manhattan north of the Intrepid. The destroyers and cruisers usually dock in Brooklyn and sometimes in Staten Island. So I took the Friday off and hit as many locations as possible. I planned my day to hit the Manhattan upper west side cruise terminal first thing in the morning, then head to Staten Island. It's pretty simple to get to the the Stapleton Navy pier which is just 2 stops on the SIRR from the St. George ferry terminal. This year, the pier hosted 3 US Coast Guard ships and one US Navy Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Little Rock. The Little Rock was what I was here to see because it is one of the newest in the fleet and I was one of the design engineers of the class 10 years ago. I had the unfortunate timing of arriving at the same time as 4 elementary school classes and it took forever to get on for the ship tour. If I had just arrived an hour earlier or later, I would have had the ship almost to myself. I snapped a lot of pictures and I think that got me noticed. A trio of men in suits came up to me and asked if they could have "a talk". They flashed their NCIS badges and I thought, "Wow, I love your TV shows! When are you gonna do a NCIS:NY one?" (but I didn't actually say that). They asked what I did, who I worked for and basically made sure I wasn't a spy, though I think I was just profiled as one. Even though you might not notice them, security is tight at all the Fleet Week sites. I finished up the day heading to the Brooklyn cruise terminal via the S79 bus across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (Hi Nadia!). After 15 segments of subways, buses and ferries, I really gave my unlimited Metro-Card a major workout and made it a Fleet Week to remember.

I love Fleet Week! It's a really fun time for kids and adults. It's a great time to show support of…read moreour military and learn a little about what they do. I've never bothered to go to the other boroughs because they do such a great job on SI every year. Parking is usually pretty easy (a little tougher now that URBY is built right there). Park on the street and walk through the security checks. Make sure you bring ID with you. When you get down the pier the crew will gather a small group and give you a free tour of their ship. Every year the ships are stationed in different places so you will probably never tour the same ship. If you're bringing small kids or seniors be aware that many of the ships have steep staircases. You can still do the tours but a crew member will bring you an alternate way to avoid these things. Bring cash. They always sell souvenirs (hats, tees& commemorative items) on the ship. Best time to go is early morning or late afternoon when the crowds are not as bad.

Perhaps the high point of our exploration of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Gardens was the…read moreChinese Scholars Garden. It did an excellent job capturing the essence of a Zen country home, with beautiful elevation, walls, coi ponds, temples moon window, bridges and large stands of tall bamboo. It was a meditative space that welcomed you to sit next to flowing water and contemplate life. The $5 charge for entry was well worth the price, as these acres were the best maintained in the park. This day, with several weddings going on, it seemed every party came here for the best photographic opportunities. A cup of Jasmine Tea would have made for the most complete experience, but why quibble with a most beautiful cultural artifact? Five Zazen Stars

What a gem. $5 admission to a place that is relaxing and beautiful with the bamboo, ponds, rivers,…read moretemple, and more. It's nice to just take it all in. It could use a little freshening up, but highly recommended!l for peacefulness.

Per Soul Asylum, nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Popularity draws more vendors who attract a…read morebigger audience, etc., and Newark Ave. may not feel navigable. But you can head straight to Jersey Ave. for several culinary options. Yes you may miss your chance to sign up for Green Mountain Energy. Today I learned about Petite Ile, a great purveyor of Mauritian samosas. I got all six for $12.75, with lamb as the favorite. It was also my Cardosos debut. I enjoyed the Cuban sandwich. While I only got the half I wouldn't call it small as it was loaded up with pork, and sauce enthusiasts should get on the PATH now for that mojo aioli.

(Attended 09/20/2025 SA @ 12:00pm - 8:00pm): Literally... it was all about downtown Jersey City at…read morethis street fair! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City and specifically the Heights, my friend and her friends recommended the 14th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair that celebrated and promoted downtown Jersey City before I left town. I always loved a street fair, and since I worked in event management and all-things marketing, it was always fun for me to see how other events (big or small) were handled... and maybe there might be some good practices I can take with me to implement at another event I'm associated with. Promoted and executed by the Historic Downtown Jersey City Special Improvement District, the main purpose of this event was to highlight the downtown area and its businesses with hopes that patrons would visit these establishments and spread the word. Did I learn all about Jersey City's downtown area during this one-day street fair!? PURCHASE(S) Admission (N/A): This was a free community family event, so you brought your curiosity, hunger, walking shoes, and your wallet to hopefully patronage the many vendor booths. Pina Colada - Fresh Pineapple & Rum Shot ($20.00 + $5.00): Purchased from Ma & Pa's Tex-Mex BBQ Food Truck, I'll cover this with more details in a separate review. BBQ Pork Isaw Skewer + BBQ Chicken Skewers 2pc ($4.00 + $15.00): Purchased from Kanto Filipino Street Food Truck, I'll cover this with more details in a separate review. SERVICE With the exception of the friendly greetings and services you received at every single vendor booth, you really didn't deal with anyone else. I believed I saw some city workers who handled the various trash bins and possibly a few hired security personnel to keep the peace. Everything was calm, safe, and welcoming - thank you! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): This was a moot point since we walked the slightly flat-to-downhill leisure 20-minute distance from my friend's place. Additionally, because the main drags of Newark Ave. and Grove St., respectively, and adjacent side streets were all closed to vehicular traffic, parking was extremely limited and generally pushed to the periphery of the event area - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A relatively small walkable area on Newark Ave. between Grove St. and Coles St. in downtown Jersey City, you came across a ton of vendors who sold everything from handcrafted candles, clothes, food, and jewelry to local businesses who promoted their services. There were also plenty of kid-friendly activities such as face-painting and rides, while for the adults there was a beer garden and live performances on a stage. Plenty of natural lighting since you were outdoors the entire time while a ton of electric street lights and from those hung on the vendor booths filled in the rest once the sun went down. There were no TVs while the sounds of consumerism, conversations, kids, and off-in-the-not-so-distant vehicular traffic could be constantly heard in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had a blast at Jersey City's 14th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair, and I would definitely attend it again if I were in town (every September). I respect and highly recommend every city and neighborhood to organize such events to bring more people into the fold and hopefully generate some revenue. Building a community was always a positive thing with this type of event. I appreciated the assortment of vendors, but I felt it may've been a touch heavy on the handcraft variety and not enough actual support from brick-and-mortar businesses who have a real stake in increasing their profile. And, the event was very pet-friendly as long as you picked up after them. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $44.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, the vendors I spent money on accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

If you really want to know the whole story, it's all laid out on their website but reading a bunch…read moreof bullet points on a screen about some big neighborhood spectacle is about the most depressing thing you can do, so I'll explain. ​Basically, the Giglio Feast is a historic 12-day Italian-American festival that happens every July at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's been going on since 1887 when immigrants brought it over from Nola, Italy, to honor Saint Paulinus commemorating when he returned from captivity after sacrificing himself for his people and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. That part actually sounds pretty decent, if you want to know the truth, but the way spectators in attendance make a huge circus out of it just drives me crazy. Then participants are amazing. ​The main event is this thing called the "Dancing of the Giglio," where they take a giant 70-foot tower made of wood and steel weighing four whole tons and covered in lilies, angels, and religious figures and hoist it up. They've got a live brass band and a singer literally sitting right on top of the timber frame while roughly 120 guys lift, spin, and "dance" this enormous four-ton thing down North 8th Street on their bare shoulders. ​Guys in matching outfits blowing saxophones and yelling on the platform, and crowds of people crammed together in the street taking photos and cheering. There's even a statue of a saint perched at the very top against the blue sky, looking down at all these phonies sweating and carrying on in the heat. It's supposed to be this grand, sacred tradition, but looking at a hundred guys breaking their backs to carry a four-ton tower with a band riding on it just makes you feel sort of tired and thirsty. It really does.

This was my second or third excursion here. It's been years since I've gone but it's probably a…read moremediocre fair, which is about ten blocks long, at best. A few basic rides and food being sold but I think it's relatively boring and just blah overall. If you're not a regular, live nearby or just in the area, for another reason, it's surely not worth venturing over here, in my opinion.

Last year everyone was so friendly and wonderful. I enjoyed the food the area and the items vendedread more

I was there about 10 years ago , I had a great time . The only thing was I drove around for parking…read more.

You had me at bagpipes…read more Through the years I have been to this festival many times, even when they were located in South Beach. It has definitely changed. Our last trip here was two years ago, it had rained heavily the day before so the fields were quite muddy. Today was a gorgeous day, bright and sunny. Maybe it was the luck of the Irish. There are two stages with entertainment performing simultaneously. We were able to catch the following: The Celtic Rebels, the Dawn Daniels Dancers, the Sashing and Mashed Pipe Bands ( they played God Bless America), Clan Erin Pipe Band and Robbie Doherty. Since it is never too early to Christmas shop, our first stop was the Tinker's Shopping Village. There are plenty of vendors selling everything Irish. There is not much celebrating the Irish on Staten Island. It is either this festival or the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Forest Ave in March. Which happens to be the third largest in the country. For lunch we tried The Irishman's Bar B Q. They are currently a catering business located in the vicinity. The ribs were delicious, fall off the bone with a slight kick. The smoked Mac and Cheese could have been warmer, but it didn't stop me from finishing it. Prices were very reasonable at all vendors. Looking forward to next year's Fair.

I had such a fun time experiencing this, but maybe not the vendors. The various vendors definitely…read morehad their work cut out supporting the massive crowd. They mostly had great attitudes despite the chaotic event-professionals all the way. There were extended wait lines, and sometimes popular items would run out to the disappointment of many. But that didn't stop the festivities! The music was lively, the artists had beautiful displays of wares, the food was delicious, and the city provided a perfect backdrop.

This is it! Bahn mi in halves for $5, for those of us that can't take the entire thing. A duo of…read morehipster sandwich thieves must have felt the same way because my bahn mi was hijacked. ROBBED. The food truck remedied the situation, thankfully, and I say mine was better. See the pix for best Vietnamese food if you're in Bklyn, but they are 404 on the map in Bath Beach. I'm guessing it's a roving food truck. Maybe you can summon them via the phone #. The best, most deliciously rich little cheese tarts had virtually no line, which I am still trying to wrap my head around. Ube and matcha cheese tarts went in my greedy little belly. Their card is attached. I had no room for the basque cheese cake, which looked delicious but was simply too big for me. Fancy. Many varieties of food, sugar cane being juiced with a roller machine to order, music, sugar painting and on and on. DJs, lights, the city.... Don't miss the next one, which is the last of the summer, sometime in August. Be early, the lines were long.

(This is the one in Newark, NJ.)…read more As far as my fun meter goes, I'd give them a full FIVE STARS! It was set up like a carnival with carnival rides (the basics, the classics, the ones we know and love), carni' foods, and even a carni' freak show with deformed and giant animals. Further down, a stage was set up for live performances. There were performers from all age groups, singing, rapping, dancing, you name it. Definitely a family-friendly show with some pretty impressive acts (some more impressive than others). I had to drop a star for the lack of food variety. It may not sound like a big deal, but seriously, my choices were fried fish, fried chicken, or fried shrimp...or the other booth with fried fish, fried chicken, or fried shrimp...or the other booth with the same exact menu. There was one other booth with jerk chicken and that was pretty much it. I may not be African American, but I found this to be a little offensive. There is so much more to African American cuisine than fried foods and I didn't feel like any of that diversity was represented. I settled for a plate of fried fish with mac and cheese and greens...all mediocre.