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NYC & COMPANY ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE BRONX’S ARTHUR AVENUE AND BELMONT

—Documentary Film Provides Visitors with an Insider’s Guide to the Italian Enclave and Neighbourhood Cultural Gems—

NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation, today announced its most recent effort to increase tourism in the Bronx with a neighbourhood spotlight on Arthur Avenue and Belmont as part of its NYCGO Insider Guide series. Featured in short-style documentary as part of the promotion, Arthur Avenue and Belmont offer visitors everything from authentic Italian delicacies to bucolic gardens to an animal oasis. To view the documentary and neighbourhood highlights including a map, visit nycgo.com/insiderguides.

 The Bronx

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“Affectionately known as New York City’s ‘real Little Italy,’ Arthur Avenue will make any visitor feel like they are in Italy with Italian shops, restaurants and specialty stores lining the streets,” said Marty Markowitz, NYC & Company’s Vice President of Borough Promotion and Engagement. “With nearby world-class attractions like the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden, we’re encouraging visitors to spend a day exploring the culturally and culinary rich Bronx.”

“Everyone knows that New York’s real Little Italy is in The Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We have the best cannoli, world-class pizza and the most authentic Italian food, bar none. Arthur Avenue is one of the shining gems of the borough and is close to wonderful attractions like the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. I welcome any tourist, from our great nation or from abroad, to come visit this wonderful neighbourhood and experience one of the great neighbourhood of New York City.”

Experience Arthur Avenue and Belmont Like a Local

• Attractions: The 265-acre world-famous Bronx Zoo has more than 6,000 animals that are housed in re-creations of their natural habitats. In addition to the year-round exhibits like the sea lion pool and African plains featuring lions, zebras and gazelles, this October the zoo celebrates Halloween with special Boo at the Zoo programming. Featuring more than a million plants on their 250-acre campus, The New York Botanical Garden is a favourite spot of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world. On view until 1^st November 2015, Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life showcases Kahlo’s work and provides a look into her childhood garden.
• Bakeries and Cafés: For traditional Italian baked goods, DeLillo Cafe & Pastry Shop sells homemade Italian desserts, including cannolis, sfogliatelle and biscotti; and Madonia Brothers Bakery is a Sicilian bakery that sells traditional Italian desserts and savoury breads in flavours like jalapeño, provolone and black olive.
• Dining: A family-style restaurant known for large portions, Roberto’s Restaurant serves country-style Italian dishes. The team behind Roberto’s also owns Zero Otto Nove, a rustic Italian restaurant around the corner. Nearby, Pasquale’s Rigoletto transports visitors to Italy with its colourful murals and authentic menu of fettuccine Alfredo, gnocchi Bolognese and more.
• Shops: The Arthur Avenue Retail Market is home to recently opened shops and third-generation establishments where visitors can find a wide selection of cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables and boutique goods. Nearby, visitors can find fresh pasta and ravioli from Borgatti’s Ravioli & Egg Noodles; homemade cheeses at the official mozzarella supplier of the New York Yankees, Casa Della Mozzarella; an impressive selection of fresh fish and shellfish atCosenza’s Fish Market; and a vast selection of quality meats at Biancardi’s. In addition, Teitel Brothers is a wholesale and retail gourmet Italian deli, which sells its quality ingredients, including cheeses, roasted peppers and oils to restaurants around the country.

Visitors looking to experience the Bronx for longer than an afternoon can stay at the Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx. The historic Bronx Opera House, a storied entertainment venue dating back to 1913, has been restored as a boutique hotel. The property has spacious rooms and amenities including flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi, plus a continental breakfast. For the best available rates at hotels throughout the five boroughs, visit nycgo.com/hotels and reserve through NYC & Company’s exclusive hotel booking partner, Booking.com.

NYCGO Insider Guides: Get to know our neighbourhoods

New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Formerly Neighborhood x Neighborhood, NYCGO Insider Guides, which debuted in March, spotlight a new neighbourhood each month. The video documentary series and editorial content take New Yorkers and visitors behind the scenes to introduce them to the character and characters that define some of New York City’s most fascinating neighbourhoods.

To view B-roll and photos of Arthur Avenue and Belmont in our media library, visit nycgo.com/press. Follow @nycgo_press on Twitter for the latest information about New York City travel and tourism.