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Staten Island Tour

Staten Island has played a crucial role in the development of NYC and its waterways from the Revolutionary War to the present. It is more than just the Staten Island Ferry.

Secrets of Staten Island Tour

Discover Staten Island’s vibrant past while exploring its historic sites and cultural landmarks on this exciting walking tour.

Need individual instead of group tickets?  See individual tours here .

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Things to Do in Staten Island, NY - Staten Island Attractions

Things to do in staten island, explore popular experiences, tours in and around staten island.

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Tour de Staten Island

April 26, 2020 @ 08:00 - 17:00 edt.

When:   Sunday, April 26, 2020 50 milers: 8:30 am 35 milers: 9:30 am

Where:   Staten Island Urby parking lot Kitty-corner from the Staten Island Urby location

The Tour de Staten Island is a scenic ride where 2,000 cyclists coast through the borough’s most breathtaking and lesser-known landscapes on the cusp of spring. Both the 35 and 50 mile routes explore Staten Island’s gems: Freshkills Park, Great Kills Park, Historic Richmond Town, and striking oceanfront views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and New York Harbor.

An invigorating way to welcome spring in New York City, the Tour de Staten Island is great for riders of all ages and abilities.

We also offer volunteer opportunities that help us make this ride a success. Visit our volunteer registration page to learn more and sign up!

Riders under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian. Helmets are mandatory for children 14 and under and strongly encouraged for riders of all ages. Children under 10 years old are encouraged to ride in a carrier or on a tandem bike with a guardian.

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Please remember to bring flat changing tools, an extra tube, riding snacks and water.  Weather may cancel. Check our Discord server here for up to minute information.

How to spend a perfect day on Staten Island

Apr 24, 2020 • 7 min read

The Staten Island Ferry passes by the Statue of Liberty.

When most visitors to New York City think of Staten Island , their consideration begins and ends with a ride on the iconic Staten Island Ferry. But just beyond the St George Ferry Terminal in downtown Staten Island, you’ll find great cultural attractions, diverse art, local craft beer, world-class eats, and stunning views of the city – so disembark to spend a day exploring what’s on offer in NYC’s unexpected borough.

Staten Island Ferry

One of New York City’s best free adventures is taking the 5.2-mile journey between Manhattan and Staten Island on the colossal, bright orange Staten Island Ferry , a city-operated commuter service that totes some 22 million passengers across New York Harbor each year.

Departing from Manhattan’s Whitehall Terminal, located right above South Ferry subway station on the 1 line, the 25-minute ride offers unparalleled skyline views of lower Manhattan . The cinematic vista widens to include the high-rises of Jersey City and Downtown Brooklyn on the approach to Staten Island, plus the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge that connects the island to Brooklyn. The Statue of Liberty then comes into close view, followed by Robbins Reef Lighthouse, which was known for its female keeper, Kate Walker, who rescued 50 people during her tenure from 1890 to 1919.

Newer ferries in the fleet have extensive side decks, which offer the best views. Older ones only have a small open section at the front and back of the vessel; most people take in views through dingy windows, some of which you may find open on the lower decks. All passengers must disembark at docking, so take the opportunity to head out from the ferry terminal and uncover unique experiences in easy reach.

Postcards 9/11 Memorial

North of the ferry terminal, just beyond Empire Outlets and the Staten Island Yankees baseball stadium, is the site of the Postcards 9/11 Memorial. This artfully somber memorial, dedicated to the 275 Staten Islanders who perished in the attacks on September 11, 2001, features two parallel, imposing fiberglass walls resembling postcards.

On each wall is a granite plaque for every victim, shaped on one end with a silhouette of the person’s profile and inscribed with their name, birthdate and place of work at the time of the attack. The center line between the two walls – a reference to the twin towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan that was destroyed in the attacks – frames Ground Zero across the water, with the silhouette of each individual facing where the towers once stood. Dedicated on the third anniversary of the attack in 2004, this was the first major 9/11 memorial to be completed in New York City.

National Lighthouse Museum

Just south of the ferry terminal, on the grounds of the former US Lighthouse Service’s ‘super depot’ is the National Lighthouse Museum , a worthwhile stop for anybody enthralled with the romance, history, or engineering behind lighthouses. Upon entering, you’ll find an extensive collection of 180 miniature lighthouse models housed in a huge lighthouse structure called the ‘wall of lights’.

There are several displays that illuminate lighthouse lamp and bulb technology over the course of history, as well as architectural elements like foghorns and signals, regional lights, and the history of the US Coast Guard and lighthouse keepers. Bob, the museum’s knowledgeable docent, can shed even more light on the comprehensive exhibits.

The museum offers educational programs, films, and other events throughout the year, and every few weeks between May and October, they operate boat tours to lighthouses around various waterways in the area – check the website for details. 

Flagship Brewery

Once you’ve taken an extensive inventory on the nation’s lighthouses, take a load off with a pint at Flagship Brewing Company . After a decades-long drought of craft suds in Staten Island, this brewery and tasting room opened its doors in 2014 and hasn’t stopped pouring its locally beloved brews since.

They’ve got eight taps of easy-to-drink pale ales, lagers and more, but the hometown favorite is the blood orange IPA. The sprawling taproom has views of the brewery through glass windows, and you can often catch live bands – check their website or Instagram for details. Brewery tours and tastings are held on Saturdays at 2:30pm and 4pm ($5).

Alice Austen House

After an adequate craft brew boost, head down to the Alice Austen House , the former residence of trailblazing photographer Alice Austen (1866–1952). You’ll get great views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge just steps from the front door of this shore-side Dutch Colonial house where Austen lived, child-free, with her life partner Gertrude Tate for nearly 30 years.

The home was designated as a national site of LGBTQ+ history in 2017. Here, Austen’s legacy lives on in her photographs that captured her life on Staten Island, as well as the streets of Manhattan, illustrating the realities of immigrants and the working class. But her particularly notable works on display provide intimate glimpses into the lives of Victorian women beyond the restrictive expectations of the era, such as revolutionary images of women embracing traditionally masculine activities and dressing in drag.

The well-preserved historic rooms also display personal items collected by Austen and relics from her life, while other gallery spaces in the house serve as a modern cultural hub where the works of local contemporary artists are celebrated.

MakerSpace & Maker Park

For some hands-on adventure, head back up the island to MakerSpace NYC , a 6000 sq-ft creative studio with equipment for welding, blacksmithing, ceramics, sewing and textiles. Founded by sculptors DB Lampman and Scott Van Campen in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, it’s a welcoming space for artists, hobbyists, entrepreneurs, makers, craftspeople, inventors and more to come together with community members for experiences that range from welding, printmaking, and 3D printing to bee-keeping and dream house building.

Before heading in for one of the many classes, workshops, skill-building and tool training sessions, which start around $20, check out the affiliated Maker Park on the corner of Front and Thompson Sts – this delightful sculpture garden is full of public art created by locals using a range of materials to tell the story of Staten Island’s working waterfront history.

You’ll surely have worked up an appetite after a day of exploring and creating, so head to dinner at Lakruwana , just a block away. Standing out from the handful of other Sri Lankan restaurants around Staten Island – which has the world’s largest population of Sri Lankans outside of Sri Lanka – diners traverse a set of ornate brass doors to the temple-like dining room, bedecked with Buddha statues, clay crockery and ceremonial masks.

Delicious dishes include the likes of aromatic lamprais (rice and curry baked in a banana leaf), ‘string hopper kottu’ (stir-fried rice noodles served with curry), and godamba roti (handkerchief-like folded flatbread to be dipped in, you guessed it, curry). On weekends, the 25-item buffet is an excellent value at $14.95 (cash only).

St George Theatre

Before hopping back on the ferry, round out a day on Staten Island at the lavish St George Theatre, located just a couple of blocks from the terminal. Opened in 1929 as a movie and vaudeville house, it changed hands a few times in the last century, and was even reincarnated as a roller rink, a nightclub, and an antique showroom over the years.

Even with renovations currently underway, the space is magnificent. The Spanish and Italian Baroque interior features ornate fixtures like a majestic winding staircase, elaborate murals, tiled fountains, sculpted figures set in niches, and one of the largest cantilevered balconies ever built. In the grand lobby, illuminated by gargantuan stained glass chandeliers, hangs oversized paintings of a bullfight in a Spanish village.

Today, you’ll catch all manner of music and comedy performances, as well as movie screenings. Past and present acts include the likes of Tony Bennett, Diana Ross, Jerry Seinfeld, The Temptations, Joan Rivers, Cheap Trick and more. Check the schedule online and book to book in advance.

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• About this activity

NYC: Guided Tour of Staten Island Ferry & Statue of Liberty

• Free cancellation available
• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Take in views of Manhattan Skyline from Staten Island ferry
• Take great pictures and learn the history of Statue Liberty
• Learn all about NYC from your local guide
• Discover the Staten Island 9/11 Memorial
• Opt to stay on Staten Island and shop at the Empire Outlets

Activity location

• 4 Whitehall Street
• 10004, New York, New York, United States of America

Meeting/Redemption Point

• Fri, Apr 26 -
• Sat, Apr 27 $25
• Sun, Apr 28 $25
• Mon, Apr 29 $25
• Tue, Apr 30 $25
• Wed, May 1 $25
• Thu, May 2 $25
• Fri, May 3 $25
• Sat, May 4 $25
• Sun, May 5 $25
• Mon, May 6 $25
• Tue, May 7 $25
• Wed, May 8 $25
• Thu, May 9 $25
• Fri, May 10 $25
• Activity duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes 1h 30m 1h 30m

Take an introductory tour of New York City on the Staten Island Ferry with a local guide. Pass the Statue of Liberty and take in great views of the Manhatten skyline, ending at the 9/11 Memorial.

What's included, what's not

• What's included What's included Local professional Guide
• What's included What's included Ride on the Staten Island ferry
• What's excluded What's excluded Visit to the Statue of Liberty
• What's excluded What's excluded Ticket for the ferry
• What's excluded What's excluded Food and drinks
• What's excluded What's excluded Tips

Know before you book

• This tour doesn't include visit to Liberty island

What you can expect

Meet New York City with a tour on the Staten Island Ferry and a local guide. Learn important facts and stories about NYC, admire the Statue of Liberty as you float by, and end at the Staten Island 9/11 Memorial. Meet your guide and embark on your introduction to NYC. Board the Staten Island Ferry, and get your cameras ready for stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Learn the history of New York, the most populous city in the United States, known by many as the Big Apple, Empire City, The City That Never Sleeps, and Gotham. Get off at Staten Island, and visit the 9/11 Memorial, Postcards, that stands there. This monument was created to commemorate the 274 Staten Islanders killed in the 9/11 attacks and WTC bombing. At the end of the tour, choose to return to Manhattan with the guide or to stay on Staten Island for an afternoon of shopping at the Empire Outlets.

Cleaning and safety practices

Social distancing.

• Contactless ticket redemption
• Social distancing measures in place
• Protective shields in place at main contact areas

Safety measures

• Personal protective equipment worn by staff

• Fri. Apr 26th, 2024

Staten Island NYC Living

Staten Island New York City Living is your resource of what's good, hip, hot, and fun on Staten Island.

Get Ready to Ride the Tour de Staten Island! | BikeNYC

Get Ready to Ride the Tour de Staten Island! | BikeNYC .

Get Ready to Ride the Tour de Staten Island!

The Tour de Staten Island is a non-competitive ride through the neighborhoods of New York’s southernmost borough. The tour offers route lengths of 35 miles and 55 miles. Both routes are supported by rest stops stocked with KIND bars, fruit, Nuun sports drink, and good old H20. Pack a lunch or bring some cash to purchase additional snacks or a full meal along the way.

The tour is a ride-at-your-own-pace event on roads open to traffic. Unlike other T.A. borough tours, there will not be an NYPD escort or road closures. The route will be marked with painted arrows, riders will receive a cue sheet and will be free to begin the tour as soon as they have checked in and received their official rider bibs. Riders will be supported by volunteer ride marshals and limited sag-wagon services.

New for 2015

• Bring your ID and have a cold one on us! Enjoy a delicious Flagship Brewery beer at the end of your ride. Limited one beer per rider as supplies last.
• Improved routes. We’ve kept the best of the past and added some new ways to navigate the nooks and crannies of this beautiful borough. The vistas are unsurpassed.
• More parks, fewer cars. While both routes still contain mileage on city streets we made sure to pack each route with as many park paths as possible.
• Additional rest areas at breathtaking locations.

By Staten Island Living NYC

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The Staten Island Ferry

A free statue of liberty ferry.

This post is about taking the free Staten Island Ferry. As local tour guides, we've all taken the ferry several times because it's a great free way to get out on the water and enjoy the views.

Here we share insider tips like the best time to take the ferry, where to stand for the best views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan and more.

We’ve also included the thoughts from some of the more than 230,000 members of our NYC Travel Tips Facebook group. 

Our popular group consists of locals, regular visitors to NYC, and those just getting to know the city. There's no need to join the group to read posts, comments and recommendations. 

So take a look at our group for more ideas or ask a question yourself!

• How to Get Here
• Best Times to Ride
• What You Will See
• Things to Do Near the Ferry
• Statue of Liberty Ferry
• Other NYC Boat Tours

INTRODUCTION

Riding the free Staten Island Ferry is by far one of the very best bargains in New York City and one of the most memorable things you can do during your trip.

For more travel ideas, check out our definitive guide on Things to Do in NYC .  

The ferry is a commuter ferry that shuttles back and forth from the Whitehall Terminal at the tip of Manhattan to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. 

The ferry runs 24 hours a day giving you many opportunities to ride it. You can even ride the ferry at night and see the city sparkle!  

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We have created a GPS-led audio tour to accompany you on your ride to Staten Island and back.

One of our tour guides explains what you will see from the ferry.

Here's a sample of our audio guide.

Download it now . $2.99

HOW TO GET TO THE FERRY TERMINAL

The Staten Island Ferry leaves from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal, which stands on the southern tip of Lower Manhattan. 

It's best to start by using this Google Maps link for directions to the Staten Island Ferry , by subway, bus, car, or on foot. 

Most people will come by subway, and there are several train lines within a few blocks, so you most likely won't have to change trains to get here.

If you are new to the subway system, check out our posts on which subway pass to buy and  navigating the New York subway . Also, see our post on free subway apps .

Directions by subway

• 1 train to South Ferry - right next to the terminal
• R train to Whitehall Street - a short two-block walk to the terminal
• 4 or 5 trains to Bowling Green - approximately a 7-minute walk to the terminal
• J and Z trains to Broad Street 
• 2 and 3 trains to Wall Street

If you are considering purchasing a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket to get you around or to give you an overview of NYC, then note that all companies have a stop near the Staten Island Ferry. 

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

Podcast Episode: Listen to tour guides Lori and Katherine discuss taking the free Staten Island Ferry on an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast.

This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC.

You can get our podcasts on Apple , Google , or wherever you get your podcasts.

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How Long is the Staten Island Ferry Round Trip?

You should plan for at least 60 - 90 minutes for your journey once you arrive at Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan.

The ferry rides each way are approximately 25-30 minutes .

You must get off at the Staten Island side and you can join the queue to take the same ferry back to Manhattan, so it is possible to spend an hour on the ride back and forth. 

However, depending on the size of the crowd that is waiting to go to Manhattan, you may need to take the next ferry for the return trip to Manhattan.

IMPORTANT NOTE : The ferry does not stop at the Statue of Liberty. We have a detailed post on how to get to the Statue of Liberty .  

Is the Staten Island Ferry Free?

The Staten Island Ferry is free! That means the price is zero. There is no ticket needed to ride the ferry in either direction.

Beware of scammers trying to sell you a ticket for the Staten Island Ferry. YOu may see some standing in front of the ferry terminal. Don't engage with them -- just keep walking.

What is the Ferry Schedule?

The Staten Island ferry runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can ride it day and night. Night rides are quite beautiful.

The ferry schedule is easy to understand. The ferries run every 30 minutes, on the hour and on the half-hour (so, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30). 

There is one exception. During weekday rush hours, the ferries run every 15 minutes.

Rush hours are 6:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

See the full schedule here .

TIP: If you take a night ride, you might consider combining it with our 9/11 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Tour  offered at 8 p.m. on several days each week from March through October. 

When is the Best Time to Take the Staten Island Ferry?

Assuming you are starting your voyage from Manhattan, the best time to take a ride is to avoid rush hours, particularly the afternoon rush hour. 

According to the ferry's Facebook page, the most popular weekday off-peak times are from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., with Wednesdays being the busiest day.

If you want a less crowded ferry, we suggest that you take the ferry any weekday between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. or anytime after 7 p.m.

If you think 7 p.m. is too late, remember that in summer the sun sets much later.

And evening rides on the ferry are beautiful. 

In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry at this time is one of our top 10 things to do at night in NYC .

Keep in mind that these ferries are huge. They can carry over 6000 passengers.

You shouldn't have any issues taking photos of the Statue of Liberty or other sights along the way.  

Bottom line: Take the ferry when it works best for your schedule. If you have flexibility, use our recommendations above. No matter what time, the ride will be amazing. 

What else should you know? 

• You must get off the ferry at the Staten Island Terminal and then re-board to head back to Manhattan.
• Free Wi-Fi service is available in each terminal and also on the ferries.
• Bikes are permitted aboard the ferry.
• Snacks and food are sold on the ferry, including beer. They are a bit pricey though.
• There are bathrooms on the ferry, though not as clean as the bathrooms in the terminals.
• No smoking is allowed.

VIEWS FROM THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY

The ferry's route offers stunning views of Lower Manhattan , the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island , and Governors Island . +

You can also see the hilly terrain of Brooklyn, and in particular, Brooklyn Heights .  

You will have a slightly distant view of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Be sure to take our free guided audio tour to accompany you on your ride on the Staten Island Ferry.

And check out our post on the 28 best spots for views of New York City .

WHERE TO STAND TO GET THE BEST VIEWS

Since the ferries ride back and forth the same route every day, you will have a view of the  Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island  on both legs of the round-trip.  

Most people want to see Lady Liberty right away, so when you board in Manhattan, head to the right side (starboard side) of the ferry and make your way upstairs to the outdoor deck.

Stake a spot along the railing and as far to the back of the vessel as you can.

This ensures that you will have the best view possible to see the Statue of Liberty on your ride to Staten Island. 

Not all ferries are identical, but the image below is of a typical vessel.

On your return trip, you might like to see the other view, so again, when you board to return to Manhattan, go to the right side (starboard side) upstairs deck of the ferry. 

Although, it should be a bit less crowded on the Statue of Liberty side on the return trip.

For the best Lower Manhattan views and photo-ops, stand in the back of the ferry when departing Manhattan and the front of the ferry when departing Staten Island.

One more point, you can still get good views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and other points of interest in New York Harbor from the lower decks.

These decks don't have outside seating, but there are windows and you can get good photos.

THINGS TO DO IN LOWER MANHATTAN BEFORE OR AFTER YOUR FERRY RIDE 

The Staten Island Ferry is one of the best free attractions in NYC and its Lower Manhattan location means there is plenty to do before or after your ride. 

TIP : Be sure to schedule your ride on the Staten Island Ferry so you can join us on one of our pay-what-you-like Lower Manhattan Tours .

If you prefer, use our free  self-guided tour of Lower Manhattan  or our Lower Manhattan audio tour .  

Here are our recommendations for the best things to do before or after your ferry ride:

• Visit the  9/11 Memorial and Museum.  and soar to the sky at the top of One World Observatory  (Freedom Tower) .
• Explore Battery Park with historic monuments and shady trees and benches.
• Take a Wall Street tour or explore it on your own with our  Self-Guided Walking Tour of Wall Street .
• Take a picture with the iconic  Charging Bull .
• Go to the South Street Seaport  with stunning waterfront views, shopping, and historic buildings and tall ships.
• Stop by  Fraunces Tavern,  the pub where George Washington did when he said farewell to his troops as he left the military to become the first President of the United States.
• Visit the historic and beautiful  Trinity Church  with its magnificent stained-glass windows.

STATEN ISLAND TOUR

This borough is often overlooked by tourists, but Staten Island has quite a bit to offer.

As shown in the video above, there are several attractions near the ferry terminal.

TIP:  One secret tourists don't know about New York City is that Staten Island is home to some of the best pizza in the city!

To find out where you can grab an incredible slice or whole pie, see our post  The Best Pizza in New York City.  

Self-Guided Tour of St. George in Staten Island

Click on the interactive map to make it larger

(1)  St. George Ferry Terminal

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(2) The Staten Island September 11th Memorial

The Esplanade, located on the Northern Shore of Staten Island, has unparalleled views of Manhattan’s skyline.  

If you walk along the Esplanade from the Ferry Terminal you will come to the beautiful "Postcards" Memorial, completed in 2004.  Use these Google Maps directions to find it.

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This memorial was the first 9/11 memorial completed in New York City and is dedicated to the 275 Staten Islanders who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack.  

Each victim has a plaque with their name, date of birth, and where they worked at the time of the attack.  

The two fiberglass structures frame the location of the former towers across the river.

(3) Staten Island Borough Hall

10 richmond terrace  .

Staten Island’s Borough Hall is 100 years old and serves as the seat of the local government.  

The building is in the French Renaissance style and has a beautiful clock tower.  

The lobby is decorated with 13 murals, measuring 6.5’ by 13’. These murals depict Staten Island history and were part of a Depression-era WPA project.  

They are the largest collection of WPA artwork anywhere in New York City.

Admission is free.

(4) St. George Theatre

35 Hyatt Street

This magnificent 1800-seat theatre opened in 1929 as a vaudeville and movie house.  

During the day the lobby is open to the public so that visitors can admire the ornate interior, with its large chandeliers and grand staircases.  

The theatre presents a full schedule of performances at night, so check out the St. George Theatre website to see the full lineup!

(5)   Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden

1000 Richmond Terrace

If you are willing to take a 10-minute bus ride, visit the historic and bucolic Snug Harbor Center .

It's free of charge to the public and open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.

Opened in 1883 as a home for retired sailors, Snug Harbor covers 83 acres and has 20 different gardens.  

There is also a collection of five Greek Revival buildings, the largest group of this kind in the United States.

Today these buildings are museums and art galleries, and one is the second oldest concert hall in New York City.

The enchanting gardens include the Victorian-style White Garden and the Secret Garden, which has a hedge maze.

There is also the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden which is the only one of its kind in the country.  It is designed to reflect a Ming Dynasty Garden of the 18th and 19th centuries.

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(6) The Staten Island Museum  

1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A

This museum opened in 1881 and is home to over two million artifacts, with some dating back as far as 12,000 years.

They have an extensive art collection, ranging from Ancient Egyptian to Modern art.  

There is a Natural Sciences collection that includes a “Cabinet of Curiosities” and exhibits of native animals.  

The collection of Native American artifacts is considered to be the most comprehensive exhibit about Native Americans in the New York area.  

You can also learn about the Staten Island Ferry's history before you return for your return trip!

Admission is free (with a suggested donation).

See what other free museums there are in New York City.

Quick Facts About Staten Island

Staten Island is the least populous of the five boroughs, but the third-largest in terms of land size.

Staten Island claimed to have the world’s largest landfill, called the Fresh Kills Landfill.

It closed in 2001, reopened briefly to receive the debris cleared from the World Trade Center site, and is now being converted into NYC’s second-largest park.

Staten Island is the only borough not connected to the New York City Subway system.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad tycoon and financier of Grand Central Station, was born in Port Richmond, Staten Island, on May 27, 1794, of Dutch/English background.

At 16, Vanderbilt started his ferry service and he was the conductor of the ferries -- until he became one of the richest Americans in the 1800s.

Some of the first humans passed through Staten Island about 15,000 years ago.  The first permanent settlers were a Lenape tribe, about 5,000 years ago.

The first recorded European contact with the island was by Giovanni Verrazano in 1520.  He was sailing on the French ship La Dauphine and they anchored for one night.   

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which spans the waterway between Brooklyn and Staten Island, is named for him.

The next European on the island was Henry Hudson, sailing for the Dutch.  The island was named Staaten Eylandt (translation: States Island) in honor of the Dutch Parliament.

Staten Island was occupied by British troops throughout the American Revolution.

Staten Island became a part of New York City in 1898 when the five boroughs consolidated.  

However, it was called the Borough of Richmond at the time (Staten Island is in Richmond County).  It did not begin to be commonly called Staten Island until 1975.

Staten Island is the only borough without an NYC Department of Corrections major detention center.

Sailor’s Snug Harbor opened in 1833, as the country’s first home for retired seamen.  Today it is a public park.

There was a movement in the 1980s in Staten Island that favored secession from New York City. It failed.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

While we hope this post provides you with enough information about the ferry, here are some tips from members of our New York Travel Tips Facebook group.

One of the most common questions visitors to New York City taking the ferry for the first time have is “What is the best time to take it?” Kira, a local commuter, corroborates our advice. Avoid rush hours!

Dawn, a former commuter has some interesting insight -- it isn't just the rush hour that can cause crowds. In peak tourist season on weekends, lots of tourists take the ferry.

Use Dawn’s tip to steer clear of any crowd if there is one. Make your way to the downstairs of the ferry and head to the back, especially for the ride out. You’ll get amazing views of Lower Manhattan.

Camille agrees with Dawn about going to the bottom back of the ferry and reassures that weekends aren't that bad.

Another frequent question is if you have to get off the ferry in Staten Island or if you can stay on for the trip back to Manhattan.

In addition to answering the question, Betty recommends where to sit on the ferry for the best views.

David mentions that you might be able to hop on the next ferry back, depending on timing and Millie did just that!

If you are torn between going to the Statue of Liberty or taking the Staten Island Ferry, group members suggest you consider what kind of experience you want.

The free ferry is a quick trip that will get you some nice pictures of Lady Liberty and great views of Lower Manhattan.

If you want a richer experience, visit the Statue of Liberty.

Many people ask if the ride is choppy and if they should be worried about seasickness. No one said they had a problem, even those who do typically get seasick on a vessel.

If you have time to spare and feel like exploring Staten Island, these group members chime in with what you can do there. For information on these sights, see our self-guided tour above .

If you have more questions about the Staten Island Ferry (or anything else about NYC) that we haven't covered here, check out our New York Travel Tips Facebook group!

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Here’s why Tour de Staten Island bike event is important for this dedicated 48-year-old rider

• Updated: Apr. 21, 2024, 3:05 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 20, 2024, 5:50 a.m.

Justin Wood, 48, is planning to participate in the Tour de Staten Island on Sunday. The event is intended to showcase the borough while raising money for and awareness of the work Transportation Alternatives does to support safer streets. (Photo courtesy of Nisha Agarwal) courtesy of Justin Wood

• Mike Matteo | [email protected]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The 12th iteration of the Tour de Staten Island -- a bike event intended to showcase the borough while raising money for and awareness of the work Transportation Alternatives does to support safer streets -- is set for Sunday, with riders departing from Stapleton in the morning.

Justin Wood, 48, came to New York City in 1999. Since then, he’s gotten around primarily via bike, something he grew up doing during his childhood in rural Maine, he recalled. This year will be the second time Wood has participated in the tour since moving to the borough.

The self-described “relatively new” Staten Islander moved to St. George just about four years ago for what he said he hopes is his final move and permanent home.

If you ask Wood, he will say that cycling is his favorite thing in the world.

He said he appreciates it for practical reasons, for the exercise he gets, and also for the sense of meditation he feels behind the handlebars.

While he rides much of the Tour de Staten Island route in his daily life, he holds one stretch in particular regard. He explained that Freshkills Park, once the site of the landfill, is the highlight of the ride for him.

A DESTINATION FOR BIKING, HIKING AND MORE

“That just embodied everything about the Tour de Staten Island for me. It was people discovering this new place that had previously been off limits as an environmental hazard, and we were able to ride our bikes through these magnificent hills now covered in grasslands on this road,” said Wood. “I think as that park opens to the public, that’s a prime example. Staten Island could be a destination for mountain biking for hiking, for birding, for road biking.”

Wood said he sees magic on the day of the tour, but not because of the beautiful scenery. Bike riders are out in numbers, providing each other with a certain amount of safety they wouldn’t get if attempting the same ride on their own.

He said the park is not accessible, especially with public transit. In his view, there is no safe way for someone who doesn’t drive to get to a public resource like Freshkills.

Since moving to one of the most car-dependent parts of New York City, Wood said he has been able to use a combination of walking, cycling and public transit — mainly ferries — to get where he has to go.

To that end, he said he’s working to advocate for expanding fast ferry service to better connect Staten Island with the rest of the city.

“We’ve really seen the lack of interconnection between Staten Island and the other boroughs. The Staten Island Ferry is fantastic. It’s the largest ferry service by passenger volume in the United States. But it needs to be supplemented, this is just common sense,” Wood said. “I mean, Brooklyn is right there. You can practically swim from South Brooklyn to the North Shore of Staten Island, and we need an affordable and sustainable way to connect those boroughs, and a ferry connection makes all the sense.”

4,000 SIGNATURES

After the well-received launch of the NYC Ferry’s St. George route, Wood and Transportation Alternatives gathered 4,000 signatures to extend service to one of the South Brooklyn stops, like Bay Ridge.

Wood recalled the support of then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams at the time. And he said he is getting ready for a renewed push to remind Adams and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the NYC Ferry, of the widespread popularity of ferry expansion.

Along with ferry service, Wood said he wants to see investments to make it easier for bikers and pedestrians to get around Staten Island. He explained he sees potential for community growth and safe, sustainable transportation as long as the infrastructure can keep up.

He added he hopes to see that happen through his work with Transportation Alternatives and the Tour de Staten Island.

“It’s a great chance for Staten Islanders to come out and enjoy our own borough, but of course it’s a huge opportunity for people from across the New York City metro area to come see how beautiful this place is,” said Wood. “So hopefully it’ll be a great day, and thousands of people will come enjoy it, and we’ll also be able to continue broadening the support for some better transportation infrastructure through events such as this.”

ABOUT THE EVENT

Open to riders of all ages, the Tour de Staten Island will offer both a 35- and 50-mile route.

Participants riding the 50-mile route on Sunday should check-in by 8 a.m, and 35-mile riders should check-in by 9 a.m. All riders will depart from URBY, in Stapleton. Those on the 50-mile route will head out at 8:30 a.m., and 35-mile riders will begin at 9:30 a.m.

After the riders are done, Transportation Alternatives is hosting a “finish festival,” offering food, drinks and activities at URBY from noon to 4 p.m.

There will be no road closures during the ride, but there will be markings and ride marshals along each route to guide cyclists.

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College of Staten Island In-Person Infosessions and Campus Tours

The College of Staten Island is pleased to offer in-person tours of our magnificent campus with an information session. Tours are available Wednesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 pm and select Saturdays/Sundays at 10:00 am. 

To schedule a visit, please  complete the reservation form . Our office will confirm with final details for your visit via email. Questions? Please email [email protected]

Please note:

• Upon entering campus, please procced to the Recital Hall in Building 1P – Center for the Arts. If you driving to campus, please park in Lot 1.
• Please view our campus map for your reference.
• Families and small groups with up to four guests are preferred.

CSI At-a-Glance - Weekly Virtual Infosessions (General Overview)

Live Virtual Infosessions are conducted every Tuesday at 7:00 pm and Thursday at 4:00pm. Reservations required—we will send a written confirmation via email. To make a reservation, please select from the following:

• I would like to attend the Tuesday (7:00 pm) Virtual Infosession
• I would like to attend the Thursday (4:00 pm) Virtual Infosession  

Presentations last 45 minutes and include an overview of CSI's outstanding academic programs, housing, honors and opportunity programs, athletics, how to apply to the College, plus next steps to enroll for our admitted students.

Questions? Please email  [email protected]

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The Office of Recruitment and Admissions is presently conducting limited in-person group tours and virtual infosessions for schools and community based organizations (students and their instructors/counselors). Visits last for approximately 35 minutes (virtual) or 90 minutes (in-person), and include a tailored information session. Currently, we are able to accommodate groups of up to 100 students maximum (virtually) and 30 students (in-person). 

On-campus group tour reservations are generally accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis for late September through December, and March through July. 

To schedule a tour or session, please  complete the reservation form . Our office will confirm with final details for your visit via email. Questions? Please email  [email protected]

K-8 College Readiness Walking Tour

CSI is proud to offer the K-8 College Readiness Walking Tour!  Our goal is to build awareness and generate excitement about the future possibilities that a college experience and degree offers! This tour features age-appropriate information about college, tours of our Center for the Arts, Library, Campus Center, Athletics Facilities, and Student Housing. 

Please click here to submit a request for a K-8 College Readiness Walking Tour.

On Campus K-5 Theater Experience by Enrichment through the Arts

CSI is home to Enrichment through the Arts , a non-profit organization that offers professional theater performances to K-5 audiences at CSI’s Center for the Arts. Please visit enrichmentthroughthearts.com to find a campus performance for your students.

Access  campus map  and  directions.

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Pete Davidson and Colin Jost’s $34m plans for Staten Island Ferry features hotel rooms and six bars

It seems that plans for Pete Davidson and Colin Jost ’s decommissioned Staten Island Ferry are finally underway.

Back in January 2022, the Saturday Night Live comedians made headlines when they purchased the vessel for $280,000. The pair had teamed up with real estate agent and comedy club owner Paul Italia to purchase the boat, named the John F Kennedy, after it went up for auction.

Since then, it appeared that plans to turn the 277-foot-long boat into a “live entertainment event space, with comedy, music, art, et cetera” had stalled. That is, until architect Ron Castellano confirmed that renovations on the Staten Island Ferry will begin soon.

In an interview with Curbed published on 22 March, Castellano - who owns the New York City-based architecture firm Studio Castellano - revealed exactly what fans can expect from the JFK Ferry project , which has a proposed floor plan of 65,000 square feet and a $34m budget, according to the firm’s website.

“It’s going to have a lot of things,” he told the magazine. “I think right now, we have six bars and two venues operated separately or combined. We have outdoor event space, we have restaurants - two restaurants.”

The fifth floor of the vessel will include 24 hotel rooms with private sundecks, but plans for a pool are still in the works. “A pool is something that keeps coming up. We’re going back and forth,” Castellano said. “There’s little jacuzzi kind of thing, but not a full-on pool. We’d have to do a floating pool.”

As far as Davidson and Jost’s role in the renovations, the architect explained that the Staten Island natives “have input” on everything. “We have meetings as needed, sometimes twice a week, sometimes every three months,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to get the design work done as fast as possible.”

According to Castellano, a major key in renovating and designing the newly improved ferry is maintaining its original, retro aesthetic from when it was built in 1965. “We’re not going to trip it out with penny tile and awful fixtures - the stuff we see now in cruise ships. We’re taking what’s originally there and repurposing it,” he explained. “It’s still a work in progress, but it’s not going to be one of those awful casino boats.”

The partners have tentative plans to sail the vessel, which has the capacity to carry more than 3,000 passengers, along the eastern coast between New York City and Miami.

The King of Staten Island actor previously joked that he and Jost were “very stoned a year ago” when they joined a group of investors to place the winning bid for the ferry. He appeared to express his regret over purchasing the boat, which currently sits at a temporary dock in Staten Island.

“Hopefully it turns into a Transformer and gets the f*** out of there so I can stop paying for it!” Davidson told Entertainment Tonight in June 2023.

However, Jost later admitted that he was in fact “stone-cold sober” when they made the financial decision. In response to Davidson’s interview, the “Weekend Update” host commented on Instagram : “Is it worse that I was actually stone-cold sober when we bought the ferry?”

“We’re excited to prove the non-believers wrong,” Jost added. “You’re going to be BEGGING to get on this ferry in two years. Mark my words.”

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

Tour guides flock to a trivia competition that demands encyclopedic knowledge of NYC

SCOTT DETROW, HOST:

The Panorama Challenge is one of the fiercest trivia competitions in New York City. It takes place at the Queens Museum, which houses a scale model of New York that was first created for the 1964 World's Fair. This annual trivia challenge requires encyclopedic knowledge of the city and attracts those who know it best, mostly tour guides. Earlier this month, reporter Emily Malterre attended the 2024 Panorama Challenge.

JONATHAN TURER: How many people in the room have been to Panorama Challenge before?

EMILY MALTERRE, BYLINE: Quizmaster Jonathan Turer welcomes the crowd.

TURER: How many people have one Panorama Challenge before?

MALTERRE: Two hundred New York City nerds are ready for a cutthroat competition. It's the first year back from the pandemic.

MEGAN MAROD: Well, so we're all a part of team GANYC Panic. It stands for the Guides Association of New York City.

MALTERRE: Megan Marod is a proud, licensed tour guide. This eight-member team has never won the Panorama Challenge since it started in 2007.

MAROD: I think everyone's happy. It's a lot of history fanatics and New York City fanatics all, like, at a history and New York City fanatic party.

MALTERRE: The competitors are all standing on walkways above the Panorama exhibit. They look down on 895,000 miniature buildings, plus trees, roads, even a tiny plane on a string that continuously takes off and lands at the airport. It gives you the feeling that you are looming over the city. The model includes all five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Ayinde Stevens is a guide who specializes in the subway and gives tours of Grand Central Terminal. He says he's mostly prepared.

AYINDE STEVENS: I feel really good tonight except for one category - Staten Island. I love New York City to death, but I barely go to Staten Island.

MALTERRE: The competition includes some general New York trivia, but half of the questions are extra niche, like this one, which starts with a clip from the movie "Enchanted."

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: The finale of this musical number takes place in front of a sculpture created by the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City. Pros, name the sculptor.

MALTERRE: If you didn't immediately have sculptor Emma Stebbins on the tip of your tongue, don't worry, neither did I. And some questions get quite technical.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Pros, from 1951 to 1953, which agency ran the subways from the offices located above the tracks at Jay Street?

MALTERRE: There are people here who actually knew the answer...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Wow.

MALTERRE: ...The New York City Board of Transportation, which existed only until the 1950s. Sixty questions later, the judges tally up scores. David Madore, a tour guide and Broadway musician, was hopeful about GANYC Panic's chances.

You had concerns about Staten Island. How did that go?

DAVID MADORE: Well, we still have concerns about Staten Island regardless, but we seemed to come through on a few of those questions.

MALTERRE: Then it's time for the big reveal from Quizmaster Turer.

TURER: In first place...

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Oh, God.

TURER: ...With 57 points, GANYC Panic.

MALTERRE: The prize for winning the Panorama Challenge? Their team name carved on a plaque and bragging rights for the rest of the year.

For NPR News, I'm Emily Malterre in New York.

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Tasty tour on Lower East Side spotlights 150 years of immigrant cuisine

New Yorkers can enjoy a taste of Lower East Side history as NYC’s Tenement Museum brings back its popular food tour spotlighting 150 years of immigrant cuisine. 

“ Foods of the Lower East Side ” will feature five tastings from local vendors and restaurants that tell the story of the immigrant experience in NYC through the lens of international dishes. Guided by a Tenement Museum educator, participants in the walking tour will explore how tenement residents preserved and adapted traditions from their homelands. 

After a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the tours are now available every Saturday on the Lower East Side — and selling out fast. Participants will sample an array of tasty delights including garlic stuffed olives, pickled pineapple, fried plantains, vinaigrettes, pretzels and beer, and ice cream. 

“We are excited to once again offer visitors the opportunity to explore the history of local street vendors while learning about how businesses have adapted to changing demographics in the neighborhood,” said Kathryn Lloyd, vice president of programs and interpretation at the Tenement Museum. “So much of our city’s immigrant history can be understood through the diverse culinary traditions that families have passed down over generations,” 

Food samples on the tour

The scrumptious stops along the tour include Cafe Katja , an Austrian restaurant where participants will be treated to pretzels with traditional spreads and beers. Open since 2007, the locale has become a neighborhood mainstay on Orchard Street. 

Also on the tour is Que Chevere , a Puerto Rican restaurant on Pearl Street serving tostone cups with pulled pork or rice and beans on the tour. 

Pickle lovers will enjoy a stop at Pickle Guys , the last remaining pickle vendor in an area that was once famous as a producer of pickled food. Over a hundred years ago, pickle stores were abundant on Essex Street, so it is truly a big ‘dill’ to stop at this local shop. Pickles here are made from an old Eastern European recipe and are cured in a barrel.  

Continuing the tour on Essex Street, Essex Olive and Spice offers olive oils from the owner’s family olive grove in Morocco. Another stop is the Essex Market branch of Chinatown Ice Cream Factory , a family run business and local favorite.

In addition to neighborhood restaurants and shops, the tour will stop at Essex Market , once a hub for independent pushcart peddlers and open-air markets managed by immigrants. 

“From the 19th century to today, immigrants and migrants on the Lower East Side have created food businesses that support their communities and change the nation’s palate,” Lloyd said.

What you need to know about booking a Foods of the Lower East Side tour

Where is the tour.

After purchasing a ticket, participants will meet at the museum, 103 Orchard St. on Manhattan’s Lower East Side , to begin the tour. 

When are the tours?

How much are tickets.

Tickets are: $55; $50 for individuals using a wheelchair; free for children ages 5 and younger. 

How long is the tour?

For more information, visit the museum’s website, tenement.org . 

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The Mixed Martial Artist Who Became the King of Tidy Eating

Rapturously messy food reviews are all over the internet. Keith Lee’s discreet eating style rises above them all.

By Aaron Timms

Keith Lee is sitting in the passenger seat of a car outside Juanderful Tacos in Phoenix. “I’m going to show you everything we got, and we’re going to try it and rate it 1 through 10,” he announces to his 16.1 million TikTok followers, his hands brought together in a steeple. He presents four partly unwrapped tacos for viewers’ consideration: pollo, carne asada, cabeza and a pollo quesataco. He attacks the quesataco first, sprinkling a pinch of chopped onion and cilantro over its innards, topping everything off with salsa verde and a squeeze of lime. He displays the taco’s cross-section for the camera, then carefully introduces one end of the oozing canoe — a mass of meat, cheese and salsa already lugeing toward the limits of its enclosure — into his mouth.

The bite is comprehensive. Every ingredient makes it in. It is also clean: There is no residue left around Lee’s lips. A few seconds of moistly entranced chewing follow before Lee brings his nontaco hand to his mouth and announces — from behind a guard of fingers laced with a single streak of green sauce — “It’s so fresh, crisp, seasoned: 8.7 out of 10. I need about six of these though, I ain’t gonna lie to you. Six or seven.”

He is comfortably one of the cleanest professional eaters at work today.

Lee proceeds to eat the three remaining tacos, pausing only to rave about their quality. But each time he does so, it’s from behind one hand, which is always politely shielding his mouth. He even apologizes for the watery fleck of salsa still trailing across his fingers: “Excuse my hands. I got messy.”

In the comments, Lee’s followers try to prepare Juanderful Tacos for the torrent of business that restaurants face once they’ve received a Keith Lee tick of approval. (“Get ready tomorrow!”) Among the growing ranks of online food influencers — all the professional and semiprofessional eaters jawing straight into the camera on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram — few are bigger or more influential than Lee. He turned to food reviewing as his first career, in mixed martial arts, was coming to an end, and in the short time since, he’s amassed not only millions of followers but also the power to change restaurants’ fortunes and provoke hysterical debate in some of the cities he visits. He’s admired for the attention he pays to small, independent businesses; for his closeness to his family, which accompanies him on cross-country food tours; for his appreciation of good service and generosity with tips.

Yet there’s been little discussion of his uniquely dainty eating style, which is a key element of his aesthetic and a leading source, I believe, of his success.

Like many of the reviewers who’ve achieved popularity on social apps, Lee performs most of his food criticism in his car — a cramped and inhospitable environment for consumption of the saucy, sticky, fried and gloop-rich takeaway foods that dominate critical attention in straight-to-camera TikTok reviews. The “money shot” of food being inserted into mouth, usually to a soundtrack of proto-sexual groans, has long been a key element of food TV. But lately, online food culture has entered an “oral” era that puts the fleshy, wettened mouth — at once destructive and violated in the act of ingestion — at the center of the spectacle. There seems to be a growing emphasis, among popular food accounts, on the messiness of the overflowing orifice as individual eaters shovel food down their throats; online, the mouth has become a canvas for thick spacklings of various juices, pastes, condiments and whips.

If you think I’m exaggerating, consider a recent post from @sanaaeats, in which the popular culinary influencer (1.6 million followers across TikTok and Instagram) feeds herself fingers of chicken, Texas toast and crinkle-cut fries drowned in a jumbo cup of Raising Cane’s sauce — the camera lingering on each bite just long enough to reveal the viscous splatter around her mouth. Then there’s @lukefoods (1.3 million followers): “Come to me, baby, come to me,” he croons, in the driver’s seat of his car, before dunking a paddle of naan into a portable motorized fountain of butter chicken, then wedging the smothered bread into his mouth in a way that leaves his lips ringed with a rusty smear. Even among those reviewers not confined to their cars, the lure of the deep oral reveal remains strong. The Staten Island native @meals_by_cug (4 million followers), whose food account doubles as a pastiche of Italian American culture, frequently delivers his one-liners through a mouth filled with half-chewed rigatoni or meatball parm, while the English food reviewer @mashtag_brady (2.2 million followers) posts videos of food not only entering his mouth but exiting as well. (A recent account of his attempt to eat a raw oyster for the first time — “This is going to be mingin’, mate” — concluded with him announcing to the camera through a beard of brown vomit: “Well, I didn’t like that.” ) The attention economy rewards sensationalism, pushing sloppy eaters toward ever-sloppier stunts of consumption — but also satisfying, I think, a collective craving for mess, disorder and irresponsibility amid the bland conformism of algorithmic culture.

Amid this mouthy excess, the discreet, almost demure way in which Lee feeds himself — the precise bites, the careful chewing, the mouth politely covered as he offers his critique of the food inside — seems quaintly old-fashioned. This isn’t to say that Lee never gets stuff on his face; we all do. But he is comfortably one of the cleanest professional eaters at work today. For one recent review, when the restaurant failed to provide any utensils, Lee managed to eat a beef pancake, chicken and vegetable won tons in chili sauce, a spiralized coil of cucumber, chicken xiao long bao (“Excuse me if I pronounced that wrong”) and chicken potstickers, all using nothing but his hands. Where other food influencers might have used this as an invitation to take a bath in their dinner, Lee’s fingers and mouth remained almost completely spotless, to the very end.

The grace of Lee’s eating style is all the more striking when you consider the messily physical business to which he previously devoted himself. As an MMA fighter, Lee contested 13 professional bouts (eight wins, five losses) using the nickname Killa. In his final fight for the Bellator promotion, in August 2021, he lost to Jornel Lugo. The contest lasted only five minutes, and ended once Lee, who was 24 at the time, lost consciousness under the force of Lugo’s chokehold, his arms flapping weakly in a doomed attempt to forestall defeat. In footage of the bout, Lee stumbles around the arena in a daze once the fight stops, his face ripped and busted, a bright jam of blood covering his mouth and nose.

As a food critic, Lee has discovered precisely the kind of delicacy and control that are stripped away in the ring. The mouth is recovered; the arms are restored to a position of protective strength. Killa, now an Eata, has traded the enclosure of the MMA cage for that of the front seat, the brutality of the chokehold for the elegance of the coiled cucumber. Where his peers marinate in excess, he maintains order. His discipline at the point of ingestion makes him stand out against the internet’s fat-saturated foodscape.

Violence cannot be avoided entirely, even when it comes to food; Lee attracts such attention that he recently announced that a security team would accompany his family on a forthcoming trip to Atlanta. (“There’s people with us that are legal and licensed,” he said. “We don’t want to have to use them, but we will.”) But in the bubble of his car, as he’s eating, Lee creates a perfectly serene space in which the viciousness of the world outside is kept at bay. Before the dashboard’s rapt millions, whenever tacos or patties or potstickers are up for discussion, civility and decorum briefly have the upper hand.

Aaron Timms is a writer in New York. He is working on a book about modern food culture.

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