Live from New York

Live from New York!! Welcome to all my BATW family. Take a seat on the Swanofdreamers express train. I have a fun pass for you that will take you all over the city. I’m a native New Yorker. Born in Manhattan and raised in The Bronx. I’m living my dream as an actress. Am I famous yet? No, but I’m working on it. I kept thinking about how can I cover New York? It’s a big city and state. So I decided on picking two must see places and a hidden gem.


Must sees: Broadway and Chinatown.


It’s Broadway, baby!! The lights, the music, the stage: there is nothing like it in the world. As an actor it is one of my favorite places in the city. I went to my first play when I was six to see The Wiz. I have seen I guess up to fifty productions. My next must see is to see Daniel Radcliffe in Equus. (of course, you know him as Harry Potter.) So if you come to New York, you must see a show!! There are no excuses here. Musical or Drama, it doesn’t matter. Nothing is as electrifying as a Broadway show. You can go to TKTS right in Times Square to get tickets half-off for all shows on the day off.


Chinatown.

Whenever I go there, I’m stepping in another world. Small streets packed with vendors selling seafood, fruits, bags, scarves, t-shirts, jewelry. It also the place where you can find knockoffs on all your favorite designer things!! When you go, walk away from the crowds and venture deep into Chinatown. You’ll find all kinds of delights on every corner. You’ll be able to find something for yourself and your whole family.


Hidden Gem: Conservatory Garden on 105 and 5th ave.



I stumbled on to this beautiful garden many years ago. It is a nod to European gardens of the past. When you walk in there is a beautiful wide vista of green with a lovely water fountain. You can go to the left for the French Garden or the right to The English Garden. My favorite part of the garden is the French Garden with it beautiful fountain of dancing maidens in the middle. It is a wonderful destination for weddings and pictures. It is an oasis from the bustling of the big city. Few people know about it which makes it even better.


Now, we are going to hop on the 6 train to go to my neck of the woods: The Bronx. Now why is The Bronx called The Bronx and not Bronx. Well the story goes the first European Settler was named Jonas Bronck, a Swedish sea captain. So when people went to visit, they said I’m goings to see The Broncks. Over the time the land he brought became known as The Bronx.


I live in Co-op City. (The brown building is where I live right off The Hutchinson River.)

It is called the world’s largest housing development in the world. The picture above only shows a small part of Co-op City. It was specifically designed for middle class families. I grew up here and eventually moved into my own apartment. It is literally a small city. You don’t really have to leave Co-op if you don’t want to. We have schools, a mall, movie theatre, parks. It is small town living in a big city. Actually a lot of my childhood friends and family still live here. My mom is about a stone’s throw away from me.

Must sees: The New York Botanical Garden and City Island.


The New York Botanical Garden. It is my haven from the world. Our Gardens are world renowned. It is a place of wondrous place filled with beauty for your all senses. From the lovely rose garden to the native forest to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to the rock gardens. The Botanical gardens is for anyone who loves nature in all her glory. It is free on Wednesdays and Saturdays before noon!!

City Island. It is called the waterway of The Bronx. It is right next to my Co-op City. It is like a nautical sea village. Seafood restaurants, antique shops, clothing and coffeshops all sit on the main street. My favorite place it all the end of City Island called Sammy’s. You can get all kind of seafood on the cheap and take a seat outside to look at the beautiful river outside and nearby Long island.

Hidden Gem: Bartow-Pell Mansion.



Yes, we have a mansion in The Bronx! Actually is a Greek revival building that was built in the 19th century. It is preserved to the way the last family of the Bartow family when they left in the 1840’s. It is a historical landmark. I’ve gone there to take the tour and to go to various events given at the Mansion. You walk in and you step into another time. The tour guide is dressed in the authentic time of the period. The Bartow-Pell Mansion is always having lovely education events that show the hidden history of The Bronx.

I hope I was able to give all a bit of flava of my city. So if you’re ever coming to New York and need some places to go to or any info, just give me a holla. I would be happy to share with you any info. Thank you for all stopping by and sharing your time with me. Hope you all come back soon.