This past week, my family decided to visit me! It was family weekend here on campus and they wanted to experience New York City, especially because they had never been before. But instead of spending the extended weekend here on campus, we spent most of it in the city. Usually I would meet up with them because of my classes or soccer practices, so it was a good experience for me traveling and navigating the city by myself.

After our exploration of the city, we would usually try and find something to eat. If we weren’t rushing to eat or didn’t feel like waiting for the usual 2 hours at Hard Rock Café, they would usually ask for my opinion, knowing that my friends and I have ventured into the city a few times for the search of a good restaurant. Fortunately, we found one and it was successful enough to suggest: Adrienne’s Pizza on Stone Street.  

My family loved the atmosphere of this street and the many different cultures that was included on this street. The next day we even tried the Mexican restaurant right next store. They had very good guacamole, which is also the dish I picked for my food voice. My family cannot pass up a good Mexican restaurant, making even the “Big Apple” feel like home for my family. I think this street embodies this idea of “home” for everybody venturing into the big city; the street has such a variety of dishes and specialties that someone is able to find something they are pleased with or relate to.

But, ironically enough, the weekend we visited this street was the same weekend this street was celebrating “OysterFest”. In history class, we have been talking a lot about New York City’s relationship to oysters and their importance dating back to the beginning of the New World. My family had no idea why a lively street in New York City would bother to have a festival involving oysters, but I was able to inform them about the history of oysters pertaining to New York City’s economy and industry. It was an interesting history lesson for them, and they were pleased that I was actually learning something in college!The festival looked like a lot of fun. There was an infinite amount of oysters and an infinite amount of different people. It reminded me about the idea we discussed in class: oysters were special because they were a luxury for the upper class, but also cheap enough for the poor and enslaved. It’s a dish that has always brought different people together, regardless of the time period.