January 13, 2005

Architecture + food = Francis Morrone

Francis Morrone, author, tour guide, NYU instructor and urban historian, is the newest addition to the NewYorkology "best of" gallery.

When I had lunch with Francis earlier this week, he said his favorite type of walk matches architecture with food -- usually pizza. And as you might guess he has some favorites:

Forest Hills, Queens -- Go to Nick's Pizzeria on Ascan Avenue and Austin Street. It's bright, handsome, and clean, the salads are excellent, they serve good beer, and the pizza is magnificent. Then walk around Forest Hills Gardens, the glorious "garden city"-inspired suburban development from the 1910s and 1920s, laid out by Frederick
Law Olmsted Jr. -- a more talented designer than his famous father.

Brooklyn -- Totonno's on Neptune Avenue is a short walk from the Coney Island waterfront. Pepe Totonno was Brooklyn's original pizza chef, having trained under the legendary Gennaro Lombardi in Manhattan. Just remember to ride the Cyclone before, not after, eating. And be sure to savor the revived tradition of hand-painted signs in the amusement area.

Manhattan -- Combine a Lower East Side/Little Italy stroll with pizza at L'asso, on Mott and Kenmare Streets.

The non-pizza portion of Morrone's "Best of New York" list can be found by clicking on his picture in the gallery in the right-hand strip of this page, or go directly to it here.

January 13, 2005 09:16 AM in Architecture, Foodology, Out of Manhattan

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