City Island

Today I am going to write about one of the most interesting places I have ever been to, City Island! This is a neighborhood in the northeastern Bronx that is located on an island of the same name that is approximately 1.5 miles long by 0.5 miles wide, and is located at the extreme western end of Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay Park, and east of Eastchester Bay. In this blog post, I will be discussing some of the unique features here, the unique businesses, and the restaurants here as well, in hopes that all of you reading will want to check it out. 

One interesting fact about the island is that at one time, the island was incorporated within the boundaries of the town of Pelham in Westchester County, but it has been part of New York City since the late 19th century. Another interesting fact about City Island is that anyone who is actually born on the island is known as a clam digger, while a resident who was not born on the island is known as a mussel sucker. 

One of the most notable features of City Island is the historic school building Public School 17. It was designed by an architect named C.B.J. Snyder, and was built in 1897 in the Neo-Georgian style, with a rear addition being built in 1930. The building itself is a two-story, five-bay brick building on a high basement with a shallow wooden entrance porch with Doric order columns. It served as a school until 1975, and in 1976, it was turned into the City Island Nautical Museum. This museum was launched with the purpose of preserving the island’s nautical heritage, and exhibits include photos and artifacts about life on the island, its residents, the local yacht building companies, schools, and local landmarks.

Another landmark on the island is the Samuel Pell Mansion, which is where a production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” was filmed for TV in 1969. In fact, there are a lot of old Victorian mansions located throughout City Island, some of which even have tall pointy spires and gables with gazebos. 

Another landmark on the island is the City Island Theater Group, which is a local community theater established in 1999 that produces shows year round. 

City Island is also home to a very unique store called Dan’s Parents’ House. The story behind this business goes all the way back to 2009. Husband and wife team Dan Treiber and Reina Mia Brill wanted to buy Dan’s childhood home, which they were renting at the time. Also at the same time, Dan had a small independent record label called Crafty Records, while Reina made art that she sold through galleries and high end craft shows around the country. Neither of these careers made enough money to buy his house in The Bronx, which was still overflowing with Dan’s childhood toys. A friend suggested selling the toys at Brooklyn Flea to earn some income, an idea that yeas later, resulted in them buying and saving a building an 1860s building on City Island from demolition, and sells a variety of vintage toys, trading cards, pins, and records.

City Island is also famous for its seafood restaurants. There are over thirty restaurants on the island, and while some of them close during the winter months, most of them are open year round. I will now go over the restaurants and the interesting foods on their menus, in hopes that it will encourage all of you reading to check them out.

The first restaurant is The Original Crab Shanty. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include fried mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, fried calamari, baked clams, New England clam chowder, Manhattan clam chowder, fried scallops, fried fillet of fish, fried soft shell crabs, fried shrimp, lobster tails, crab cakes, surf and turf, prime rib of beef, New York shell steak, filet mignon, chicken parmesan, and veal parmesan.
The next restaurant is Vistamar Restaurant & Lounge. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include lobster macaroni and cheese, Serrano ham and manchego croquettes, coconut shrimp, empanadas, fried calamari, crab cakes, baked clams, seafood stew, tomahawk steak, New York strip steak, T-bone steak, pork ossobuco, skirt steak, filet mignon, snow crab legs, whole lobster, seafood paella, fried shrimp, penne alla vodka, lobster ravioli, tri-fongo, surf and turf, chocolate brownie, tiramisu, red velvet cheesecake, flan, mango guava cheesecake, vanilla creme brulee, raspberry lemon drop cheesecake, and tres leches cake. 

The next restaurant is City Island Lobster House. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include mozzarella sticks, fried calamari, fried ravioli, crab cakes, clams oreganato, New England clam chowder, Manhattan clam chowder, fried shrimp, fried scallops, fish and chips, chicken fingers, crab cakes, lobster macaroni and cheese, porterhouse steak, king crab legs, paella, penne alla vodka, chicken parmesan, shrimp parmesan, shell steak, prime rib, and lobster roll. 
The next restaurant is Sea Shore Restaurant. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include baked clams oreganato, fried calamari, crab cakes, coconut shrimp, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread with cheese, lobster and crab ravioli, Manhattan clam chowder, New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, fried scallops, fried soft shell crab, chicken fingers, fish and chips, fried lobster tails, coconut shrimp, shrimp risotto, seafood risotto, penne alla vodka, chicken parmesan, porterhouse steak, filet mignon, prime rib, and lobster roll. 

The next restaurant is Tony’s Pier Restaurant. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include broiled lobster, broiled snow crab legs, tostones, fried yuca, onion rings, French fries, mozzarella sticks, pasta, baked clams, clam chowder, fried shrimp, fried scallops, fried calamari, fried clam strips, fried lobster tails, fried soft shell crab, chicken tenders, and chicken parmesan.

The next restaurant is Artie’s Steak & Seafood. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include buffalo chicken wontons, eggplant rollatini, grilled lamb chops, scallop sliders, grilled shrimp and sea scallops, fried calamari, crab cakes, coconut panko crusted shrimp, baked clams oreganata, garlic bread, clam chowder, fried fish sandwich, chicken parmesan sandwich, eggplant parmesan sandwich, spicy steak sandwich, meatball parmesan sandwich, Margherita pizza, seafood soup, rigatoni, ziti, veal parmesan, pork chops, filet mignon, rack of lamb, New York strip, ribeye steak, porterhouse steak, shellfish jambalaya, bacon wrapped sea scallops, grilled marinated jumbo shrimp, and broiled lobster tail. 
The next restaurant is The Black Whale. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include crab cakes, pot sticker dumplings, fried calamari, pan seared crab cake sandwich, braised barbecue brisket sandwich, Cuban sandwich, Mediterranean tortilla melt, grilled shrimp roll, fried shrimp, sirloin steak, meatloaf, chicken cordon bleu, ribeye steak, ravioli, penne alla vodka, ice cream sundaes, apple crisp with vanilla ice cream, chocolate layer cake, creme brulee, cheesecake, tiramisu, key lime pie, and hot fudge fondue. 

The next restaurant is Archie’s Tap & Table. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include buffalo cauliflower, chicken lemongrass dumplings, saffron glazed shrimp, chicken and waffles, spicy chicken sandwich, a burger, Detroit pizza, French fries, beer battered onion rings, five cheese macaroni and cheese, savoy cabbage fried rice, tahini chocolate chip cookies, banana cream pie, and dark chocolate brownie sundae. 
The next restaurant is Scavello’s on the Island. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include fried shrimp, burrata, baked clams, coconut shrimp, eggplant rollatini, fried calamari, garlic bread, meatballs, crab cakes, stuffed clams, fried calamari, butternut squash soup, clam chowder, lobster bisque, Margherita pizza, penne alla vodka, manicotti, cheese ravioli, baked ziti, meat lasagna, rigatoni bolognese, gnocchi, lobster ravioli, eggplant parmesan, sausage and peppers, veal parmesan, veal saltimbocca, stuffed chicken, chicken parmesan, rack of lamb, lamb chops, filet mignon, skirt steak, stuffed shrimp, broiled lobster tail, meatball parmesan hero, Philly cheesesteak, grilled cheese, zeppole with Nutella, Nutella pizza, pumpkin pie, apple pie, carrot cake, scones, crumb cake, blondie, croissants, cheesecake, red velvet cake, chocolate fudge, cannoli, and tiramisu.

The last restaurant is City Island Diner. Some of the interesting foods on their menu include soft pretzels, potato pancakes, buttermilk chicken tenders, coconut shrimp, zucchini chips, quesadillas, empanadas, chowders, buttermilk chicken sandwich, fried shrimp tacos, pastrami reuben sandwich, chicken schnitzel hero, chicken parmesan hero, eggplant parmesan hero, meatball parmesan hero, roast pork and pepper jack hero, roast loin of pork, roast beef dinner, meatloaf, shepherds pie, bangers and mash, fried shrimp, and fish and chips. 

Overall, there are many things to see and do here on this island located in The Bronx. So, get in your car and go check it out!