Discover New York Archives • Page 5 of 6 • Jessie on a Journey

cooking in a local home when it rains in NYC with League Of Kitchens

Exploring Authentic Uzbekistan Culture In A Brooklyn Kitchen

By Jessie Festa | Updated on March 22, 2020

Looking for Brooklyn cooking classes? Here’s how you can visit an immigrant home in NYC to cook their traditional dishes. Read more...

Discover New York: Absinthe & Al Capone At William Barnacle Tavern

By Jessie Festa | Updated on February 2, 2026

William Barnacle Tavern in NYC holds a dark history, a bright present and an enlightening absinthe culture. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss it. Read more...

Discover New York: A Modern Renaissance In West Harlem

By Jessie Festa | Updated on January 30, 2026

Luckily, a recent plan to make the 50-minute trip up to West Harlem was more than worth the journey, as I experienced a lesser-known and extremely experimental NYC gem.Read more...

Discover New York: Cocoa & Caffeine At The Chocolate Room

By Jessie Festa | Updated on December 6, 2019

I’ve decided that I spend too much time in the same New York City neighborhoods — Bushwick, Williamsburg and the Lower East Side — and that 2-3 times per month I am going to venture to uncharted territories (aka neighborhoods I don’t know well) and just get lost. This past weekend I explored Carroll Gardens/Cobble…Read more...

Discover New York: Simit + Smith Delivers A Healthy Dose Of Turkish Culture

By Jessie Festa | Updated on December 21, 2022

Bagels. Pizza. Sandwiches. There’s no denying New Yorkers love their bread; however, it can be difficult to find a satisfying food for those craving carbs who want something different (and to watch their waistline). That’s where Simit + Smith, a quickly growing artisanal cafe chain, comes in, bringing the healthy and traditional Turkish staple to…Read more...

Discover New York: A Decadent Raw Chocolate Factory In Bushwick, Brooklyn

By Jessie Festa | Updated on October 7, 2022

I LOVE CHOCOLATE. I can’t say that makes me unique at all; however, I do believe there are many who have yet to experience the joys of real non-drug store chocolate. Not to sound like a snob — I’ve definitely had (gorged on) my fair share of Hershey’s Bars — but it’s hard to go…Read more...

Discover New York: A Day Trip Escape To Bear Mountain [Photo Essay]

By Jessie Festa | Updated on April 24, 2024

Despite living in New York City I do own a car. Actually, let me rephrase that. I pay for a car; however, because in the one month I kept it here I racked up $400 in red light camera and parking tickets I decided to store it at my parent’s house on nearby Long Island.…Read more...