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New York Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Hey, Yelp! These are 5 of NYC's best restaurants on wheels that you totally ignored
They're the wheel deal. When Yelp unveiled its list of the 100 top U.S. food trucks for 2025, it left out one crucial food mecca: New York City. The West Coast and Hawaii comprised the lion's share of the Bay Area-based site's countdown — while Gotham didn't even place in this gastronomic drag race. The closest movable feast was mobile sushi bar Wisp Express in Jersey City, New Jersey — ranked 75th. The Big Apple's mobile-dining gurus are understandably shocked by the diss, which was based on user reviews of 58,000 restaurants in its food truck category. 13 'I take that very personally,' Ben Goldberg, co-founder and president of the mobile vendor advocacy group the New York Food Truck Association (NYFTA), told The Post. 'I mean, we have some amazing, amazing trucks in the city, and it is the culinary mecca of the world. So to not have [us] represented seems kind of crazy.' NYC's bountiful meals on wheels scene is particularly impressive given the bureaucratic hurdles it takes to own and operate a food truck here. One of the biggest obstacles is the ever-elusive food truck vending permit issued by the New York City Health Department. While the application process seems straightforward enough — aspiring street hawkers pay $50 to apply and are required to complete a food truck protection course ($53) — the delay getting a permit can be endless. 'There's a waiting list of about 10,000 people, and they're giving out about 400 a year,' Matt Shapiro, the legal advisor for the Street Vendor Project, told The Post. So, truck you, Yelp — we're on a, well, roll. The Post has compiled a non-loaded list of five of the hottest rolling restaurants in New York. For fairness, we're not including hidden gems known only by NYers, but rather institutions that have no business being snubbed by an international review platform. My big fat Greek food truck 13 A far cry from the Midtown's dry-meat mongers, King Souvlaki is at the tip of the skewer when it comes to the Greek scene, lavishing the city with authentic Grecian street eats since 1979. The cash-only mobile meat station, which also has outlets in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens (with two in Astoria alone), specializes in tender skewers from chicken to fragrant lamb sausage that are hand-spit and grilled over charcoal. They're then served kebab-style or swaddled in either pita ($11 for most items) or a baguette ($16) with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki sauce and hand-cut fries like a pan-Hellenic hero. Customers can also get a platter ($11) with a side salad, pita bread and tzatziki sauce — best eaten with a side of Greek fries that's festooned with organic feta cheese ($12). 13 Unlike the Midtown Greek carts frequented by the 'I Love NY' T-shirt crowd, King Souvlaki is endorsed by the olive oil-blooded clientele who keep them afloat. 'Most of our customers are Greek,' second-generation owner Lampros Tsampas told The Post of their Astoria locations. 'It's really authentic,' 30-year-old Queens resident Katerina Apostolopoulus, who is Greek, told The Post. 'You want to get it in the bread. That's the classic.' Also, don't worry if you have no cash on hand — King Souvlaki has an ATM built right into the truck. They're on a roll — make that a wrap 13 OK, it's technically not a full-on truck and is more of a cart. But when it comes to NYC 'wrap' battles, NY Dosas reigns supreme. For over two decades, Kandaswamy Thirukumar has been serving this savory Indian rice and lentil crepe out of his cart in Washington Square Park, attracting Disneyland-esque lines around the block. The à la cart fare is strictly vegan — a lifestyle the Sri Lanka transplant adopted 20 years ago — but the food doesn't sacrifice flavor for ideology. 13 13 Dosa highlights include masala with potatoes ($9), Pondicherry with crisp salad greens ($10) and even a vegan soy 'drumstick' ($3) Not just a hometown hero, NY Dosas has been featured in international newspapers from the UK to Japan, as well as in Vice's now-defunct food series 'Munchies.' In 2007, Thirukumar notably won a Vendy Award — essentially the Oscar of the NYC street food scene. Just be sure to check the in-demand dosa dynamo's Instagram page to see if he's working that day. Honor 'roll' 13 Jeremy Batista's Bodega Truck is a rolling chopped-cheese depot created in homage to the Bronx corner store where he spent a lot of time as a kid. It specializes in different varieties of the bodega staple that consists of griddle-cooked beef topped with cheese and paired with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayo, and bookended by either a classic roll ($9) or baguette ($11). The truck has become such a sensation that it's spawned two brick-and-mortar stores — one in Brooklyn (139 Havemeyer St.), the other in the Bronx (1091 Ogden Ave.) — with a UK pop-up slated for London next month. 13 'My mother owned a bodega when I was younger, so I grew up in a bodega — that was just my life,' the nostalgic 'Chop Cheese Papi' told The Post. 'As you get older, things just start getting modernized and gentrified, and things are really not how they were, the old New York that I grew up and loved. 'So, one idea turned to the next, and I had the opportunity to open up a food truck, and I was, like, 'Wow, let me pay a little tribute to my childhood.'' Other varieties include the Good Mawning ($12) with hash brown and egg, and The Dominican ($13) over fries with fried cheese, salami and cabbage. Unlike many food trucks, this bodegamobile is not stationary and hits up a different borough each day like a roving ice cream truck. 'If you have a truck and you can move around, why wouldn't you?' said Batista, who posts updates on the chopped-cheese carriage's location via Instagram. Alas, like many things in the city, the food truck scene is demanding and ever-changing, and due to the grueling nature of his operation — Batista logged 18-hour days that started with finding parking at 4 a.m. — he has temporarily pulled the mighty Bodega Truck out of commission. 'It's a lot of things to juggle with the truck,' he lamented in a testament to his success. 'I know the truck is just a hard life, brother.' But hang in there: Batista plans to have the uber-popular food mobile 'back out on the street for three days a week by the end of the summer.' Landia ho! 13 While many food trucks do a hundred different dishes poorly, Birria-Landia specializes in one item — and knocks it out of the park. They arguably helped birria become a city-wide sensation with copper-colored pouches of goodness springing up on nearly every corner, helping fill a void in the NYC Mexican scene. For those unfamiliar, birria is a flavorful Tijuana-style beef that's baptized in tangy, brawny consummé — the lifeblood of the restaurant. 13 The bronze liquid is also used to coat the corn tortillas, turning them crimson before they're deep-fried and paired with cilantro, onions and spicy sauce ($4). The broth is so prized that people can even order it individually ($5 for a small cup, $6 for a large). For owner José Moreno, who started the concept with his brother Jesús, it's all about the quality of the beef, which is cooked daily. 'I don't underestimate [using] good quality meat in the tacos,' said the proud owner, a former Eataly NYC chef. In 2017, Moreno was inspired to create the concept after seeing its prevalence in San Diego and visited Tijuana to see how the sausage was made, so to speak. Fast forward to today, and the brothers have a convoy of five mobile taco vendors across the city, as well as an immobile outlet in Flushing, Queens. When pigs fry 13 It's hard to believe that some of the city's best lechon — roasted suckling pig cooked over charcoal — would be served out of Lechonera La Piraña, a post-apocalyptic-looking trailer in the Bronx. Featured in Vice, on 'Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern' and more, Angel Jimenez's swine dining depot at 766 E. 152nd St. is always swarming with customers, some of whom hail from as far as Connecticut or New Jersey to get a bite. The pig is cooked in a four-tiered sidewalk barbecue and ferried to the venue via handcart, where the crackling, moist hunks of pork are hacked to order with the Puerto Rican native's machete. 13 13 Go whole hog with all the trimmings: a dune of rice, sparklingly fresh octopus salad, stewed shrimp, and a whole, al dente plantain ($25). Best of all, the congenial proprietor, clad in his token straw hat, will serve waiting customers samples straight off his blade. On a recent visit, a small girl was briefly startled by his sharp hog-hacker — until he handed the beaming child a ration of pork. This jewel of Nuyorican cuisine is only open on Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6:30 p.m. Jimenez has retired his old vehicle but has kept on truckin' — he's currently running his operation out of an interim tent, with plans for pulling up in a brand-new mobile meal station soon.
New York Post
15-07-2025
- New York Post
Five amazing NYC food trucks that Yelp totally ignored
We were trucked over. When Yelp unveiled its list of the 100 top U.S. food trucks for 2025, it left out one crucial food mecca: New York City. The West Coast and Hawaii comprised the lion's share of the Bay Area-based site's countdown — while Gotham didn't even place in this gastronomic drag race. The closest movable feast was mobile sushi bar Wisp Express in Jersey City, New Jersey — ranked 75th. The Big Apple's mobile-dining gurus are understandably shocked by the diss, which was based on user reviews of 58,000 restaurants in its food truck category. 13 Birria-Landia specializes in Birria-style tacos on 70th Street and Amsterdam on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Stephen Yang for 'I take that very personally,' Ben Goldberg, co-founder and president of the mobile vendor advocacy group the New York Food Truck Association (NYFTA), told The Post. 'I mean, we have some amazing, amazing trucks in the city, and it is the culinary mecca of the world. So to not have [us] represented seems kind of crazy.' NYC's bountiful meals on wheels scene is particularly impressive given the bureaucratic hurdles it takes to own and operate a food truck here. One of the biggest obstacles is the ever-elusive food truck vending permit issued by the New York City Health Department. While the application process seems straightforward enough — aspiring street hawkers pay $50 to apply and are required to complete a food truck protection course ($53) — the delay getting a permit can be endless. 'There's a waiting list of about 10,000 people, and they're giving out about 400 a year,' Matt Shapiro, the legal advisor for the Street Vendor Project, told The Post. So, truck you, Yelp — we're on a, well, roll. The Post has compiled a non-loaded list of five of the hottest rolling restaurants in New York. For fairness, we're not including hidden gems known only by NYers, but rather institutions that have no business being snubbed by an international review platform. My big fat Greek food truck 13 Shawarma spins at King Souvlaki in Astoria, Queens, a ground zero for Greek street eats in NYC. Stephen Yang for A far cry from the Midtown's dry-meat mongers, King Souvlaki is at the tip of the skewer when it comes to the Greek scene, lavishing the city with authentic Grecian street eats since 1979. The cash-only mobile meat station, which also has outlets in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens (with two in Astoria alone), specializes in tender skewers from chicken to fragrant lamb sausage that are hand-spit and grilled over charcoal. They're then served kebab-style or swaddled in either pita ($11 for most items) or a baguette ($16) with tomatoes, onions, tzatziki sauce and hand-cut fries like a pan-Hellenic hero. Customers can also get a platter ($11) with a side salad, pita bread and tzatziki sauce — best eaten with a side of Greek fries that's festooned with organic feta cheese ($12). 13 Queens resident Katerina Apostolopoulus lauded King Souvlaki's 'authentic' Grecian eats and 'kind' service. Stephen Yang for Unlike the Midtown Greek carts frequented by the 'I Love NY' T-shirt crowd, King Souvlaki is endorsed by the olive oil-blooded clientele who keep them afloat. 'Most of our customers are Greek,' second-generation owner Lampros Tsampas told The Post of their Astoria locations. 'It's really authentic,' 30-year-old Queens resident Katerina Apostolopoulus, who is Greek, told The Post. 'You want to get it in the bread. That's the classic.' Also, don't worry if you have no cash on hand — King Souvlaki has an ATM built right into the truck. That's a wheely good wrap 13 Thiru Kumar, aka the 'Dosa Man,' mans his cart in Washington Square Park. Stephen Yang for OK, it's technically not a full-on truck and is more of a cart. But when it comes to NYC 'wrap' battles, NY Dosas reigns supreme. For over two decades, Kandaswamy Thirukumar has been serving this savory Indian rice and lentil crepe out of his cart in Washington Square Park, attracting Disneyland-esque lines around the block. The à la cart fare is strictly vegan — a lifestyle the Sri Lanka transplant adopted 20 years ago — but the food doesn't sacrifice flavor for ideology. 13 A Pondicherry dosa with crisp vegetables. Stephen Yang for 13 The line at NY Dosas in Washington Square Park. Stephen Yang for Dosa highlights include masala with potatoes ($9), Pondicherry with crisp salad greens ($10) and even a vegan soy 'drumstick' ($3) Not just a hometown hero, NY Dosas has been featured in international newspapers from the UK to Japan, as well as in Vice's now-defunct food series 'Munchies.' In 2007, Thirukumar notably won a Vendy Award — essentially the Oscar of the NYC street food scene. Just be sure to check the in-demand dosa dynamo's Instagram page to see if he's working that day. Honor 'roll' 13 Jeremy Batista's Bodega Truck rolls through different boroughs, dispensing his renowned chopped cheese sandwiches. Jeremy Batista's Bodega Truck is a rolling chopped-cheese depot created in homage to the Bronx corner store where he spent a lot of time as a kid. It specializes in different varieties of the bodega staple that consists of griddle-cooked beef topped with cheese and paired with lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayo, and bookended by either a classic roll ($9) or baguette ($11). The truck has become such a sensation that it's spawned two brick-and-mortar stores — one in Brooklyn (139 Havemeyer St.), the other in the Bronx (1091 Ogden Ave.) — with a UK pop-up slated for London next month. 13 The Dominican sandwich at Bodega Truck. 'My mother owned a bodega when I was younger, so I grew up in a bodega — that was just my life,' the nostalgic 'Chop Cheese Papi' told The Post. 'As you get older, things just start getting modernized and gentrified, and things are really not how they were, the old New York that I grew up and loved. 'So, one idea turned to the next, and I had the opportunity to open up a food truck, and I was, like, 'Wow, let me pay a little tribute to my childhood.'' Other varieties include the Good Mawning ($12) with hash brown and egg, and The Dominican ($13) over fries with fried cheese, salami and cabbage. Unlike many food trucks, this bodegamobile is not stationary and hits up a different borough each day like a roving ice cream truck. 'If you have a truck and you can move around, why wouldn't you?' said Batista, who posts updates on the chopped-cheese carriage's location via Instagram. Alas, like many things in the city, the food truck scene is demanding and ever-changing, and due to the grueling nature of his operation — Batista logged 18-hour days that started with finding parking at 4 a.m. — he has temporarily pulled the mighty Bodega Truck out of commission. 'It's a lot of things to juggle with the truck,' he lamented in a testament to his success. 'I know the truck is just a hard life, brother.' But hang in there: Batista plans to have the uber-popular food mobile 'back out on the street for three days a week by the end of the summer.' Landia ho! 13 'I don't underestimate [using] good quality meat in the tacos,' said Birria-Landia co-owner José Moreno (middle). Stephen Yang for While many food trucks do a hundred different dishes poorly, Birria-Landia specializes in one item — and knocks it out of the park. They arguably helped birria become a city-wide sensation with copper-colored pouches of goodness springing up on nearly every corner, helping fill a void in the NYC Mexican scene. For those unfamiliar, birria is a flavorful Tijuana-style beef that's baptized in tangy, brawny consummé — the lifeblood of the restaurant. 13 The wondrously coppery and crunchy birria tacos at Birria-Landia. Stephen Yang for The bronze liquid is also used to coat the corn tortillas, turning them crimson before they're deep-fried and paired with cilantro, onions and spicy sauce ($4). The broth is so prized that people can even order it individually ($5 for a small cup, $6 for a large). For owner José Moreno, who started the concept with his brother Jesús, it's all about the quality of the beef, which is cooked daily. 'I don't underestimate [using] good quality meat in the tacos,' said the proud owner, a former Eataly NYC chef. In 2017, Moreno was inspired to create the concept after seeing its prevalence in San Diego and visited Tijuana to see how the sausage was made, so to speak. Fast forward to today, and the brothers have a convoy of five mobile taco vendors across the city, as well as an immobile outlet in Flushing, Queens. When pigs fry 13 Lechonera La Piraña owner Angel Jimenez poses with his restaurant's roast namesake. Stephen Yang for It's hard to believe that some of the city's best lechon — roasted suckling pig cooked over charcoal — would be served out of Lechonera La Piraña, a post-apocalyptic-looking trailer in the Bronx. Featured in Vice, on 'Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern' and more, Angel Jimenez's swine dining depot at 766 E. 152nd St. is always swarming with customers, some of whom hail from as far as Connecticut or New Jersey to get a bite. The pig is cooked in a four-tiered sidewalk barbecue and ferried to the venue via handcart, where the crackling, moist hunks of pork are hacked to order with the Puerto Rican native's machete. 13 A dish of lechon, shrimp, rice and octopus at Lechonera La Piraña. Stephen Yang for 13 Foodies sample the popular roast pork in The Bronx. Stephen Yang for Go whole hog with all the trimmings: a dune of rice, sparklingly fresh octopus salad, stewed shrimp, and a whole, al dente plantain ($25). Best of all, the congenial proprietor, clad in his token straw hat, will serve waiting customers samples straight off his blade. On a recent visit, a small girl was briefly startled by his sharp hog-hacker — until he handed the beaming child a ration of pork. This jewel of Nuyorican cuisine is only open on Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6:30 p.m. Jimenez has retired his old vehicle but has kept on truckin' — he's currently running his operation out of an interim tent, with plans for pulling up in a brand-new mobile meal station soon.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
This is the best breakfast sandwich in New York, according to real New Yorkers — and it's not even on a bagel
Eat your hearts out, breakfast purists. The best sandwich for the morning in New York state isn't the classic bacon, egg and cheese roll. It's not even served on a bagel. Chowhound — a food website — listed the best breakfast sandwiches in every state based on Yelp reviews, Reddit threads, and community forums 'to see what locals actually rave about,' and prioritized spots with consistent and passionate customers. Advertisement 4 Shockingly, the beloved bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel is not the top choice. Brent Hofacker – Although New York-style bagels and bodega-made bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches have earned international acclaim, they apparently aren't the best morning option in the state — get out of here! According to Chowhound, the Green Eggs and Ham breakfast sandwich at Brancaccio's Food Shop in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, is the 'absolute winner' in New York — I do not like that Sam-I-am. Advertisement It's described as having a 'savory mix of pesto scrambled eggs, prosciutto cotto and fontina cheese on a thick roll.' Would you like them here or there? Well, according to online reviews, New Yorkers like them anywhere. The Yelp reviews note the Dr. Seuss-inspired sandwich at Brancaccio's to be 'absolutely delicious,' 'bonkers good' and a 'hangover-helper.' 4 The Green Eggs and Ham breakfast sandwich at Brancaccio's Food Shop in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, is supposedly a favorite in NYC. @mattyeaats/Instagram Advertisement NYers are certain to question its crowning as the 'best' breakfast sandwich in the state, where mayoral candidates are asked their order and are mercifully mocked if they get it wrong — we're looking at you, Andrew Cuomo, with your 'bacon, cheese and egg order'. 4 People can't seem to get enough of this breakfast sandwich. Brancaccio's Food Shop However, Brancaccio's sandwiches have earned the love of the locals — the opposite of former gubernatorial hopeful and 'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon's traditional lox and cream cheese with capers on a cinnamon raisin bagel order. 4 The Yelp reviews note the Dr. Seuss-inspired sandwich at Brancaccio's to be 'absolutely delicious,' 'bonkers good' and a 'hangover-helper.' Brancaccio's Food Shop/Facebook Advertisement Staten Island native Joe Brancaccio — known for his quintessential New York attitude — opened his 600-square-foot Fort Hamilton Parkway storefront in January of 2010. The former sushi restaurant sits just down the block from his grandparents' old house at East 3rd Street, East 3rd Street. It's since become a favorite, attracting foodies from near and far for their sandwiches. 'It's hard to overstate how much hype Brancaccio's Food Shop in Brooklyn gets,' Chowhound claimed. 'Foodies in the know head there for Italian-style sandwiches loaded with gourmet ingredients.' Along with the mouth-watering smells wafting from the shop, the tiny neighborhood gem is known for having the owner and former chef behind the counter most days, chatting with hungry customers and exclusively playing '90s hip-hop. 'The first time you're there, you're a regular; if you return again, you're basically family,' the Bklyner wrote back in 2015, honoring the shop's fifth anniversary. Advertisement Clearly, it's still a favorite. And though bagels and B.E.C.s were shockingly snubbed, the Green Eggs and Ham seems worthy of a try. You might like them, you will see.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Fresh proof America dodged a Kamala bullet despite her kid gloves treatment from the media
In one more telling lowlight of the 2024 campaign, even a TikTok star felt obliged to protect Kamala Harris from . . . Kamala Harris. Kareem Rahma, host of the TikTok phenomenon 'Subway Takes,' just told Forbes that his Summer 2024 interview with Harris got so 'confusing and weird' that he agreed with her team to scrap the whole thing. In advance, she reportedly said she'd talk about how she doesn't like to take her shoes off on airplanes, but Rahma says she instead pivoted to a 'really, really bad' take that 'made no sense': Bacon is a spice. Whether that was actually her idea or the advice of overpaid consultants, the conversation went downhill fast as Harris couldn't make any sense of why she thought that. But everyone will have to imagine that particular word salad for themselves, as Rahma opted not to post the footage for fear he'd get blamed if Harris lost. Don't fault Rahma, a mostly nonpolitical entertainer, for sidestepping that likely torrent of liberal rage. But file that anecdote along with '60 Minutes' editing of her interview with Bill Whitaker to make her sound more coherent (a costly deception). And 'View' co-host Sonny Hostin feeling 'terrible' for asking Harris what she'd do differently from Joe Biden, yielding the self-torpedoing answer, 'There is not a thing that comes to mind.' Get opinions and commentary from our columnists Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Even Harris' friends couldn't make her look good; she's such a compromised communicator that she couldn't even pass the Subway Takes sniff test, though most of Rahma's interviewees are amateurs — a mix of regular NYers and barely known, start-of-their career comedians and influencers. It's hard to fake authenticity, yet that's what Harris felt she needed to do. America dodged that bullet in November; going forward, the question is: Can the Democratic Party find any candidates who either can fake it, or (better) don't need to?
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Summer 2025 in New York: Borscht Belt laughs, butterfly gardens and more
If the thermometer-shattering temperatures and sweltering sun weren't proof enough, pleasant spring days are long gone. But summer in the city doesn't have to be all sweaty subway expeditions and serpentine ice cream lines down the block, however — this is the season when the Big Apple and environs truly come alive. 14 NYers beat the heat any way they can. This month, many will flock to Snug Harbor's Sprinklerfest — a Staten Island seasonal favorite — to cool off. Lance J. Reha From budget-friendly park offerings to a one-of-a-kind urban 'glampground,' here are The Post's must-attend activities to add to your summer calendar. Borscht Belt Fest 14 Comedy legend Robert Klein performs onstage at Gotham Comedy Club in 2015. Getty Images Borscht Belt Fest — a nostalgic celebration of the iconic Catskills community that thrived as a resort destination catered towards Jewish vacationers — will honor a comedy legend of the era this year: Robert Klein, whose status as an icon of American stand-up will be feted with the fest's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. It turns out that even before he stepped onto the stage, Klein spent his childhood summers going to small resorts and hotels in the region, which includes the Ulster County town of Ellenville, where the festival will be held July 26 and 27. 'I was a lifeguard in a hotel, and when I was 16 or 17, I was a busboy with a bunch of other college boys. And of course, there was romance in the air,' he recently revealed to The Post. 'You know, my sister met her husband there in the Concord,' referencing the former grand resort, now the site of Resorts World Catskills. That was when the region first inspired his love of the craft. 14 These days, the comedy and culture scene in the 'Borscht Belt' region has been revived, and countless visitors flock to the area to get a taste of the golden age resort lifestyle. '[One summer] I actually borrowed a tuxedo from the band and wore it over my bathing suit, and I introduced the acts. I got up and did it. That was important. I was terrified, but I was entertained,' said Klein, who will make an appearance at a screening of and a panel discussion for the documentary 'Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg.' Not all of the Borscht Belt's golden-age comedians became nationwide sensations like Klein, Joan Rivers or Sid Caesar, to name a few, but many cultivated the dry, edgy brand of stand-up that audiences across the U.S. have become so familiar with. 14 Linda Axelrod, a Joan Rivers impersonator, was a legendary performer at the iconic Friars Club. Brad Devins/Borscht Belt Museum 'I thought, you know, that's a great way to make a living. And I've never stopped thinking that. Making people laugh is a high calling,' Klein told The Post. 'To be remembered for doing it, and doing it well at that, is great.' The 83-year-old comedian, who retired this year after six decades in the business, also shared that he has fond memories of the culinary culture that existed in the hotels. 'It was that kind of Jewish cooking that is completely lost — and partially in a good way, because cardiologists have made a tremendous amount of money due to that food,' Klein joked. 14 Street fair eats at Borscht Belt Fest. Brad Devins/Borscht Belt Museum The planned screening of the documentary also stirred up plenty of nostalgia for him. 'It was wonderful to see all these great, big star comedians who say that I had some influence on them,' Klein said, recalling when Jay Leno pointed to him a comedian people would say was 'smart' and 'normal,' rather than 'commiserating with your mother,' and how Jerry Seinfeld called him 'the Beatles of comedy.' Just like the New Yorkers of the region's golden age, vacationers can make a 90-minute drive to Ellenville for the festival weekend of stand-up comedy, a street fair, history talks and Borscht Belt Museum tours. Tickets range from $25 to $40 and are available at Bat Night Walk 14 Checking out bats at Brooklyn's Marine Park is a fun, unexpected summer activity. MediaNews Group via Getty Images Contrary to popular belief, pigeons aren't New York's only airborne animals — in fact, they share the skies with nine native bat species. On July 31, Gotham Bat Conservancy is hosting a Bat Walk in Brooklyn's Marine Park, where attendees can learn from NYC's leading bat experts. Aside from spotting bats as they flit through the trees and snack on insects, GBC president and principal biologist Ryan Maroney said that the conservancy's team offers a pre-walk 411 on the animals that involves dismissing visions of Dracula and persistent bat-related wives' tales. And, no, bats aren't trying to swoop at you and get stuck in your hair, he told The Post. 'There are only three different species of bats in the whole world out of around 1,400 different species of bats that are sanguivorous [blood feeders],' Maroney explained, 'so New Yorkers are all good. All of the bats that we have here are insectivores.' Attendees will likely glimpse eastern red and big brown bats, but summertime is also prime insect season, so rarer species like the beloved northern long-eared bats and tricolor bats may make appearances as well. Bat Walk is free, but interested parties should register online. Central Park's Butterfly Garden 14 The North Meadow Butterfly Garden is located mid-park around West 103rd Street. Stefano Giovannini Central Park's sprawling grounds are home to some of the city's most iconic summer destinations, with New Yorkers flocking to picnics in Sheep Meadow, impromptu volleyball games in the sand pits and bike rides around its many paths. But here's your chance to check out one of its best-kept secrets: the North Meadow Butterfly Garden. This summer, visitors can join nature experts on a guided tour of the garden and the native wildflower meadow, where Monarch butterflies and other pollinators are almost a sure sight, especially now that the gardens are in full bloom. Perfect for families, the nature-inclined, or those looking for a low-stress, laid-back jaunt through the park, the walk will be offered on July 21, 24 and 26. Tickets range from free to $33, depending on age, and can be reserved online. East River Tennis Courts 14 Basketball courts, a lawn, a picnic area and BBQ pits were added to the park alongside the new courts. Tamara Beckwith Calling all racket players — the East River tennis courts at John V. Lindsay Park (from Montgomery Street to East 12th Street, hugging FDR Drive) are once again open to the public. After four long years of construction and renovations, the beloved spot is back with six brand-new hard courts, open daily from dawn to dusk. The courts, christened over Memorial Day weekend, boast better drainage systems, new benches and drinking fountains, and pleasant views of the East River and the skyline beyond. Met Museum Rooftop 14 The rooftop is subject to closure depending on the weather, so plan ahead if you're interested in catching the exhibit. Tamara Beckwith The popular Met Rooftop Garden is currently showing its last exhibition until 2030, due to forthcoming renovations. Jennie C. Jones' 'Ensemble,' a striking display that combines minimalism and musical instruments to salute 'black improvisation and avant-garde music,' sits atop the museum's sprawling — and scenic — Cantor rooftop. Deep red, brown and black hues reflect off the installation's sculptural elements, with shifts in color and sound as the weather changes, offering a unique encounter each time. The exhibition is free with museum admission until October. The View 14 The slowly rotating restaurant offers top-tier views of the skyscraper-lined horizon and an up-close look at Times Square — without the area's typical crowds. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post Kiss overrated rooftop bars and pricey harbor booze cruises goodbye. Instead, head for Times Square, where the glass-encased, rotating dining room high atop the Marriott Marquis has once again become one of the Big Apple's premier ways to take in the city's views while enjoying a meal. The NYC classic, located on the 47th floor of the hotel at 1535 Broadway, has a whole new look and attitude — and menu — after a revamp by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. The aptly named restaurant could be your best chance to catch a glimpse of a summer sunset against the skyline or try your luck at admiring the East River's Fourth of July fireworks from afar. 14 The View's executive chef, Marjorie Meek-Bradley, previously worked in high-profile Starr Restaurant Group spots. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post Crab cakes, beef tartare, spaghetti chitarra and a classic prime rib are popular menu picks, but no visit is complete without a $10 dessert — or two — to sweeten the night. While reservations are recommended, walk-in guests can try their luck for a table, or enjoy small plates and cocktails in the lounge and bar area, one floor up. Snug Harbor Sprinklerfest 14 The free Staten Island ferry ride usually takes around 25 minutes to get to and from Manhattan. Lance J. Reha Central Park's brand-new pool is convenient, sure. But for New York families looking to cool off and skip lengthy lines, Staten Island is the place to be. On July 18, the sprawling Snug Harbor Cultural Center complex will host Sprinklerfest, an annual event geared toward wholesome — and wet — outdoor fun where kids and their nostalgic parents can playfully dash through sprinklers, enjoy a spread of summery food and jam out to local music. Bonus: Snug Harbor is also home to a top-notch botanical garden — Brooklyn and Queens aren't the only boroughs with awe-inspiring greenery. Catch the free Staten Island Ferry for this year's event, which runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at South Meadow. Register for free ahead of the event on the organization's website. Charlie Parker Jazz Festival 14 Jazz lovers gathered in Marcus Garvey Park for the 2024 iteration of the festival. Sean J. Rhinehart SGP Newcomers and jazz legends like Nicholas Payton, the Bertha Hope Quintet, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap, and bassist Ron Carter will celebrate the genre at SummerStage's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, an annual three-day bash dedicated to its namesake saxophonist. The series will blend jazz classics, funk and soul from Aug. 22 to 24. The best part? The festival is free and open to all ages, so jazz fiends don't have to brave long lines that the city's leading bars and clubs now command. The first two nights, attendees can catch musicians at Marcus Garvey Park before the final afternoon at Tompkins Square Park. Collective Retreats 14 Rates for Collective Retreats' luxe tents begin at $249 per night. Collective Retreats Governors Island No, 'glamping' isn't just for upscale upstaters or the faux-granola crowd. New Yorkers can enjoy the trend, thanks to Collective Retreats, which boasts the city's first wellness-oriented 'glampground.' Enjoy a night under the open sky in the heart of the city in one of 29 luxury tents, unplug from cosmopolitan concerns with a bike ride down tranquil tree-lined paths, unwind with access to spa-style bathhouses, and dig into nightly gourmet s'mores sessions. After a snappy eight-minute ferry ride from Manhattan and Brooklyn, slow down with sunrise yoga, sophisticated seasonal dinners at Three Peaks Lodge, and more. iFly Queens Adrenaline-addicted New Yorkers, this one's for you. iFly, an indoor skydiving facility in Long Island City (10-20 Borden Ave.), soft-launched its one-and-only NYC location last year, but a massive grand opening is set for July 19. Thrill-seekers aged 3 and up can gear up in flight suits and hop in the vertical wind tunnels for a truly unique experience from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
