Viewing NYC Articles in The Bronx

[WATCH] Inside The Secret Doughnut Factory Supplying NYC's Food Carts

2026-05-09T12:00:00-04:00

This video delves into the intricate operations behind New York City's vibrant street food scene, highlighting the challenges faced by its 20,000 mobile food vendors, many of whom are immigrants. It features Pandora Bakery in The Bronx, a 24/7 operation founded by Constantinos Kotzias, which bakes tens of thousands of donuts and other pastries daily for hundreds of food carts, restaurants, and hotels. Georgios Michailidis, the General Manager, explains the precise baking process. The video introduces mobile food vendors like Naty Gonzales and Carmen Flores of Las Reinas del Sabor, operating near West 87th Street and Broadway, and Petey Stathopoulos of Petey's World Cafe at East 32nd Street and Park Avenue South, who share their daily grind and struggles. Catherine Piccoli, Curatorial Director at the Museum of Food and Drink, and Mohamed Attia, Managing Director of the Street Vendor Project, provide historical context on street vending, tracing it from the 1800s immigrant pushcart peddlers to modern-day challenges posed by restrictive permit caps, high black-market rental fees (up to $25,000 according to the Immigration Research Initiative), and increased police crackdowns. Vendors continue to protest, urging the New York City Council to implement reforms that would create more permits and provide essential support, with the New York City Health Department also playing a role in regulating food safety.

The post [WATCH] Inside The Secret Doughnut Factory Supplying NYC's Food Carts appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Why New York’s Trump Tower is Totally Forbidden

2026-05-03T12:00:00-04:00

The video delves into the historical transformation of a prime location on Fifth Avenue in New York City, from the elegant Bonwit Teller Building to the iconic Trump Tower. Before its demolition in 1980, the Bonwit Teller Building, designed by Warren & Wetmore (also known for Grand Central Terminal), stood as a masterpiece of Art Deco elegance, featuring limestone facades and sculptural reliefs. The video traces the rise of Fifth Avenue from a residential street for titans like the Astor and Vanderbilt families to a bustling commercial corridor, highlighting the business acumen of Paul Bonwit, the German immigrant who established the high-end department store. Its eventual demise paved the way for Donald Trump's brazenly branded Trump Tower, designed by architect Der Scutt. The video explores the controversial demolition that destroyed priceless art, alleged labor violations during construction, and the tower's subsequent evolution from a symbol of opulent real estate to a powerful, divisive political monument, often serving as a backdrop for both supporters and protesters of Donald Trump.

The post [WATCH] Why New York’s Trump Tower is Totally Forbidden appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] Inside Rikers Island’s Jail Kitchen

2026-05-02T12:00:00-04:00

This video offers a rare glimpse inside the Gary A. Spitzer Central Kitchen at Rikers Island, New York City's notorious jail complex. Chefs like Mr. Ageda and Mr. Kirby work 24/7 to prepare thousands of meals daily for staff and people in custody. Strict security measures are in place, with knives chained to heavy machinery and all utensils meticulously accounted for by correction officers, including Officer Lync and Officer Stoute. Detainees, referred to as people in custody (PICs), assist with tasks like washing dishes and moving food wagons, but are not permitted to handle the food itself. Detainees, such as Nadine Leach, who was a chef before her incarceration, are paid $1.45 an hour, significantly below New York City's minimum wage. The video highlights several challenges, including a ban on salt in Rikers food (a policy introduced by former mayor Michael Bloomberg) and the high prices of items at the commissary, as criminal justice reporter Reuven Blau explains. Historically, Rikers operated as a penal farm, but transitioned to bulk food production in the 1930s. Food quality has been a long-standing issue, prompting various reforms over the decades. With New York City's plan to close Rikers by 2027 and open smaller borough-based jails in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, a new, healthier plant-based menu is being developed with the help of nonprofit Hot Bread Kitchen. The city's plan, endorsed by officials like State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, aims to improve conditions for those incarcerated.

The post [VIDEO] Inside Rikers Island’s Jail Kitchen appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] New York City in the 1970s

2026-04-27T12:00:00-04:00

The video documents New York City's struggles in the 1970s, a decade marked by economic collapse, rising crime, and widespread urban decay. Factories closed, jobs vanished, and a phenomenon known as "white flight" saw the middle class depart for the suburbs, leaving behind struggling communities. Public services deteriorated, leading to piled garbage, crumbling infrastructure, and graffiti-covered subways that commuters feared. The city faced near-bankruptcy, famously rejected by President Gerald Ford, and the 1977 blackout plunged NYC into darkness, sparking widespread looting and fires, especially in areas like The Bronx. Despite these immense challenges, New Yorkers displayed incredible resilience, fostering new cultures like hip hop and punk rock, and slowly rebuilding their communities from the ashes.

The post [WATCH] New York City in the 1970s appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Can $68BN Save New York’s Subway?

2026-04-25T12:00:00-04:00

The video highlights the challenges facing the NYC Subway system, from aging infrastructure and chronic delays to fare evasion. It introduces the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) ambitious $68BN 2025-2029 Capital Plan, the largest spending plan in New York's history, aimed at modernizing the network. Key upgrades include new R211 trains with wider doors and enhanced security, accessibility improvements at stations like Smith-9 Streets Station, and the crucial transition from fixed block signalling to Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) on nine lines, expected to significantly boost efficiency and reliability as demonstrated on the L and 7 lines. The plan's funding partly relies on the controversial Congestion Pricing scheme, which has faced legal challenges from various New Yorkers and New Jersey. Historically, the subway experienced a period of decline in the 1970s due to underfunding and crime, followed by a major revitalization in the 1980s and 90s, only to see maintenance neglected again due to debt and vanity projects. The video also touches on the extraordinarily high construction costs in New York, citing the Second Avenue Subway as a prime example of projects running vastly over budget and schedule. Despite its issues, the subway remains a vital, unique, and beloved part of New York City life.

The post [WATCH] Can $68BN Save New York’s Subway? appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] Why Restaurant Owners Have to Get Up at 2am to Get the Best Seafood

2026-04-24T12:00:00-04:00

Ever wondered how New York City's top restaurants get their fresh seafood? This video takes you on a journey through the bustling Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx, starting at the astonishing hour of 12 AM. Overseen by veterans like Sal and Warren of Blue Ribbon Fish Co., the market is a maze of forklifts, competitive vendors (known as "houses"), and discerning buyers, all vying for the freshest catch. You'll witness the intricate process of fish handling, from offloading massive tuna to inspecting eyes and gills for quality. Chefs like three-Michelin-starred Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin rely on these early morning connections, emphasizing that in this perishable world, paying on time secures the best product. The video offers a unique, inside look at the billion-dollar operation that powers NYC's vibrant restaurant scene, a testament to the dedication required to deliver ultra-fresh seafood to your plate.

The post [VIDEO] Why Restaurant Owners Have to Get Up at 2am to Get the Best Seafood appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Can You Swim In NYC's Rivers?

2026-04-19T12:00:00-04:00

The video explores the long-held belief among New Yorkers that swimming in the East River is dangerous and unhealthy. The host, Jack Coyne, investigates the historical context of New York Harbor's pollution, detailing how, after colonization, overharvesting of oysters and the dumping of human waste and industrial refuse rendered the waters lifeless by the mid-1900s. While the Clean Water Act of the 1970s led to improvements, a significant sewage problem persists due to the city's combined sewer system, which overflows untreated sewage and stormwater into the harbor during heavy rain. Coyne joins the Billion Oyster Project, an organization working to restore a billion oysters to New York Harbor to naturally filter its waters, to conduct water quality tests, showing that the water can be clean on clear days but becomes unsafe after rainfall. He also meets with Urban Swim, which organizes safe open-water swimming events, demonstrating that with proper precautions and support, swimming in these waters is possible and is becoming a powerful form of environmental advocacy.

The post [WATCH] Can You Swim In NYC's Rivers? appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] A TRUE New York Deli in the Bronx! Joe’s Italian Deli with Jenn Trepeck

2026-04-13T12:00:00-04:00

Join Jenn Trepeck and Abe Faleck on a delicious journey into the heart of the Bronx as they visit Joe's Italian Deli in Little Italy. This local staple, operated by the Rsigno family, offers an authentic taste of tradition through its selection of aged cheeses, imported meats, and handcrafted specialties. During the visit, deli supervisor Kurt Acoccella demonstrates the art of making fresh mozzarella cheese and shares the secrets behind their signature homemade meatballs and savory stromboli. Whether you are a lifelong New Yorker or just passing through, this charming shop delivers a welcoming atmosphere and high quality food that celebrates the neighborhood's rich culinary heritage.

The post [VIDEO] A TRUE New York Deli in the Bronx! Joe’s Italian Deli with Jenn Trepeck appeared first on Viewing NYC

[VIDEO] The Subway's Leftovers | NYC Subway Remnants and Provisions Part 1: Manhattan

2026-04-03T12:00:00-04:00

This fascinating video tour uncovers the hidden history of the New York City subway system by exploring a variety of remnants and provisions scattered throughout Manhattan. From the famous abandoned City Hall loop to lesser-known tunnel bellmouths, storage tracks, and closed station platforms, the footage provides a rare glimpse into infrastructure that was either part of the original subway design, built for expansion plans that never materialized, or decommissioned as the system modernized. By examining these architectural leftovers, viewers gain a deeper understanding of how the city transit network has evolved and the many secret spaces that still exist right beneath the feet of daily commuters. For those interested in learning more about the preservation of these historic sites, you can explore the New York Transit Museum to see how they keep the history of the subway alive.

The post [VIDEO] The Subway's Leftovers | NYC Subway Remnants and Provisions Part 1: Manhattan appeared first on Viewing NYC

[WATCH] Tourist in Your Own Town Explores the Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx

2026-02-28T12:00:00-05:00

The New York Landmarks Conservancy's Tourist in Your Own Town series explores some of New York City’s best hidden gems as well as some of the classic iconic landmarks. In this video from the series, we take a look at the Van Cortlandt House Museum, one of the oldest houses in New York City, and the oldest in The Bronx.

The Van Cortlandt House Museum is located inside Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and West 246th Street in the Bronx. […] The large Georgian manor dates from 1748 and is the oldest house in the Bronx. It is built from local fieldstone with contrasting brick trim and was designated a City Landmark in 1966, with interiors added in 1975. It's also a National Historic Landmark.

The building became the City's first house museum in 1897 and it still continues today, under the auspices of the National Colonial Dames of New York State. Educational programs are offered with over 250 school groups visiting each year, and a summer camp program is offered in August.

See the place where George Washington, John Adams, Count Rochambeau of France, and King William IV of the U.K. visited.

The post [WATCH] Tourist in Your Own Town Explores the Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx appeared first on Viewing NYC