Indians on Big Apple
Indians
who’ve lived in the Big Apple write about its undiscovered haunts
WANT CALM IN A CITY THAT
NEVER SLEEPS? HEAD TO THE FRICK!
Ayesha Dharker, actor
I lived on 53rd Street
and Broadway was close to the theatre where I worked. For me, the city existed
in real time and in fiction at the same time. I would be haunted by the
Ghostbusters (1984) building (55 Central Park West), Grand Central Station,
58th Street, overlooking Queensboro bridge (Manhattan, 1979). 7th Avenue
reminded me of Luc Besson’s 1994 film Léon. Some of the places I remember are
gone, like the huge piano in the toyshop FAO Schwarz or Serendipity, the cafe
that Andy Warhol went to, but some remain. The fountain courtyard in The Frick
Collection art museum is a calm place to relax.
The other place was a
French restaurant called La Grenouille on East 52nd street known for its great
food and its connection to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book
The Little Prince, with
excerpts written in the building that houses the restaurant.
UP FOR A HOT DOG? DROP BY
KATZ’S ON EAST HOUSTON ST.
Vikas Khanna, chef
My favourite haunts
include two eateries. The first is a restaurant in East Village called Veselka.
Being close to New York University, it is very popular with students as well as
locals and is open 24x7.
In 2002, when I was
studying at NYU, Veselka was my favourite. Besides authentic Ukranian cuisine,
it also offered free Wi-Fi.
My second favourite is
Katz’s Delicatessen on East Houston Street. The deli is pretty close to where I
stay and I go there quite often. Popularly known as the Katz Deli, it is a
Jewish kosher-style deli and is famous for its pastrami sandwiches and hot dogs
– the best in New York.
The deli was founded in
1888. During World War II, it sent food for the army. The eatery has been
featured in several iconic movies including the romantic-comedy
When Harry Met Sally
(1989).
– As told to Veenu Singh
BEST MEETING GROUND OF
CULTURES? PROSPECT PARK!
Kanishk Tharoor, author
It’s no secret what makes
New York City great. No other place in the world is as staggeringly diverse and
dense as this metropolis by the sea. I was six when we moved here so I grew up
taking for granted its daily collisions of language, race, religion and
history. NYC is defined by its relaxed attitude to difference, where bearded,
tattooed hipsters live alongside bearded, ultraOrthodox Jews and undocumented
Central American workers count aloud in Cantonese in the vegetable markets of
Chinatown.
Prospect Park – the far
superior Brooklyn equivalent of Manhattan’s Central Park – is a crosssection of
the city. Flanked by Bangladeshi, Jewish, Caribbean, and middle-class white
neighbourhoods, it is a remarkable meeting ground. I often spend my weekends
there, and play football on Sundays with people from as far as Ecuador,
Uzbekistan, and Senegal.
FEEL LIKE THAI IN NY?
CHECK OUT JAIYA THAI ON 28TH AND 3RD
Perizaad Zorabian, actor
For me, New York was
character building. I was all of 20 when I started my MBA in New York City.
Over the next three-and-a-half years, not only did I get my MBA but also went
on to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
In NYC I discovered my
love for Mexican food. I used to be obsessed with this hole-in-the-wall Mexican
joint called Big Enchilada on 28th Street and 3rd Avenue. For $6, I would get
the best burrito and salad. Every time I was feeling low or was having a rough
day, I would rush to Big Enchilada. Just eating there made me feel better about
the world.
Since I lived on 29th
Street and 3rd Avenue, another favourite was Jaiya Thai on 28th and 3rd: Spicy
and absolutely delicious, it served the best Thai food ever.
Sam’s on 29th and 3rd served the best Chinese. This year, I went
to NYC with my kids and Boman, only to discover Sam’s and Big Enchilada have
shut down. This didn’t stop me from taking them to my other favourite haunts.
– As told to Aasheesh Sharma
By Karan Mahajan
HTBR11SEP2016
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