Break out the air conditioner units, New Yorkers! Summer has arrived!
Wait…
Summer? But isn’t it only April?!
Yes, it is only April but this past week New York hit record high temperatures. On Wednesday, Central Park actually hit 90 degrees and broke the current record of 89 degrees in 1929! As someone with Scandinavian blood, I am not used to hot weather arriving so early in the year, so my friends and I took advantage of this rarity and celebrated in Central Park.
There is nothing I love more than springtime in New York with its picturesque flowers, luscious green lawns, and a feeling of rejuvenation and overall beauty after a harsh winter. While some New Yorkers head to Washington D.C. to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival, those of us who live on the Upper East Side just need to step outside our back yard to experience our own cherry blossom festival in Central Park.
From the Shakespeare Garden, to the Belvedere Castle, and finally to the Great Lawn, my friends and I leisurely stroll through the park until we find a comfortable place to sit and watch the families, couples, and friends basking in the sun and enjoying an exceptional summer day in April.
After several hours in the hot sun, my friends and I decided to cool off for an early dinner at
Atlantic Grill on Third Avenue between 76th and 77th Street. Good thing I planned ahead and made reservations because Atlantic Grill is always packed – and rightfully so – the food is fresh and delicious! It seemed all the families in Central Park had the same idea about an early dinner. For such a well-established seafood restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to see how accommodating Atlantic Grill is for families with several menu options for children.
As my friends dined on
Scottish Salmon and
Jumbo Day Boat Scallops, I enjoyed a perfectly prepared
Crab Crusted Mahi-Mahi with Porcini Mushrooms and Sweet Garlic Farro Risotto. Even after such generous portions, we couldn’t resist the dessert menu and finished with the
White Chocolate-Orange Creme Brulée with a
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroon and a
Caramelized Banana Ice Cream Tower in a Hazelnut Shell with Toasted Marshmallow Sauce. Not only was the food delicious at Atlantic Grill, but the service was excellent and the staff was patient and very hospitable to large groups of friends and families.
At the end of this perfect and rare hot, spring day I was able to enjoy three of my favorite things on the Upper East Side: Central Park, fine dining, and fabulous friends! I may not be used to 90 degree summer days in April, but I can definitely get used to an early summer of relaxation, fun, food, and friends on the
Upper East Side!
When I returned to my apartment (ironically located one block from “King Stephen of Hungary Way” on 82nd Street and 1st Avenue) I began to research the Hungarian influence on the Upper East Side and was amazed at what I discovered. Decades ago, three of the main streets crossing Yorkville created an Eastern European ethnic flavor that still resonates today. The Bohemian Boulevard covered 72nd Street, Hungarian Boulevard was 79th Street, and the German Boulevard stretched across 86th Street.
Of course, the Upper East Side has evolved since these times but it is important to recognize and celebrate the cultural influences that are present in our neighborhood today. When I returned to the Hungarian Meat Market & Delicatessen at 1560 2nd Avenue, I learned that the market was established in the 1950’s on “Goulash Avenue” when Hungarian immigrants populated Manhattan’s Yorkville district. The delicatessen continues to be family owned and the employees in the market are from Hungary. As Yorkville’s last Hungarian meat market, they are committed to preserving Hungarian culture and cuisine as well as familiarizing Upper East Siders with its famous Kalosca paprika, apricot jam, and Kashkaval cheese among other delicacies.
My quest to find everything Hungarian did not stop there. I ventured forward to Andre’s Café and Bakery, the last Hungarian restaurant on the Upper East Side located at 1631 2nd Avenue between 84th and 85th Street. For a bargain price of $12.95 each, my friend and I lunched on Andre’s famous goulash soup, generous portions of stuffed cabbage and breaded chicken (a recommendation from my new friend at the Hungarian Meat Market) and, finally, a delicious helping of Napoleon Kremes.
From the lively Hungarian men, to the Hungarian Meat Market & Delicatessen, and finally Andre’s Café and Bakery, I felt like I traveled back in time to Hungarian Boulevard for the afternoon. The Upper East Side contains so many cultural gems and sometimes they are hard to see beyond modern New York. However, if you look hard enough, behind every Starbucks might be a group of cheerful old friends with a special connection to Upper East Side history. 
