Middle Eastern Cultures Fuse in Bay Ridge
Bay Ridge east of Fourth Avenue is a “little Middle East.” Photo credit: Ahmer Ali
By AHMER ALI
Bay Ridge now features a rapidly growing Arab community of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Yemenites, and Egyptians along Fourth and Fifth Avenue, spanning from 67th Street to 86th Street.
Exiting the R train station at Bay Ridge Avenue, I saw many high school students heading home, mostly of Arab descent. When I turned left on Fifth Avenue, I was amazed by the amount of Arabic script on the stores.
I spotted two deaf people having a conversation. It surprised me because my parents are deaf too, and sign language is my first language, so I struck up a conversation with them about the neighborhood. I learned they were of Hispanic and Italian descent and live right off the edge of Bay Ridge.
“I was born and raised near 59th Street and went to a deaf school in my youth,” said Mattia.
After signing goodbye, I explored each street carefully and took many pictures. Arab men were walking around in their shemagh keffiyehs, a common Arab scarf in the Middle East used to limit exposure to sun and sand, while the women wore hijabs (a religious covering for modesty).
I discovered a store full of Arab merchandise and talked to the employee.
“The Arab diversity and culture in Bay Ridge didn’t affect me at all before I went to my home country in northern Yemen,” said Adila Saleh. “I had a culture shock with the food, weddings, and traditions. It helped to strengthen my identity.”
Saleh described Levantine Arabs as a “prideful” and “nationalist” people.
She also explained the diversity of Bay Ridge, spanning from Hispanics to Chinese along 5th Avenue. “If you go up to a person and ask where they’re from,” she said, “nine out of ten times they will most likely say a diaspora of another country.”
She listed all the things to do in Bay Ridge, like going to Owl’s Head Park, the waterfront, the many different cuisines of the restaurants, and the hookah lounges “for when you guys are older.” She also recommended an Arab bakery called Paradise Sweets (6739 5th Ave).
Yazaan, a Palestinian from the neighborhood, said, “Bay Ridge is highly influenced by Middle Eastern culture, which is felt greatly during the holy month of Ramadan. The mosque on 5th Avenue is usually packed all night when worshipers come together to observe.”
Ayah Toom ’21, a Palestinian-American, said, “I like Bay Ridge because it’s part of my identity and I can fit in within the community.
Nearing the end of my journey, I was feeling hungry, so I ended up at the Arab bakery that Saleh recommended, Paradise Sweets, and had a plate of kanafeh, a cheese and dough based dessert drizzled with rose water syrup. It cost $5 dollars -- definitely worth it.
As I walked to the train station to call it a day, remembering the Arabic scriptures and flags on every block, it made me happy to think of how culturally intact the neighborhood felt, and how its residents were able to call it home, a little Middle East.
Bay Ridge now features a rapidly growing Arab community of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Yemenites, and Egyptians along Fourth and Fifth Avenue, spanning from 67th Street to 86th Street.
Exiting the R train station at Bay Ridge Avenue, I saw many high school students heading home, mostly of Arab descent. When I turned left on Fifth Avenue, I was amazed by the amount of Arabic script on the stores.
I spotted two deaf people having a conversation. It surprised me because my parents are deaf too, and sign language is my first language, so I struck up a conversation with them about the neighborhood. I learned they were of Hispanic and Italian descent and live right off the edge of Bay Ridge.
“I was born and raised near 59th Street and went to a deaf school in my youth,” said Mattia.
After signing goodbye, I explored each street carefully and took many pictures. Arab men were walking around in their shemagh keffiyehs, a common Arab scarf in the Middle East used to limit exposure to sun and sand, while the women wore hijabs (a religious covering for modesty).
I discovered a store full of Arab merchandise and talked to the employee.
“The Arab diversity and culture in Bay Ridge didn’t affect me at all before I went to my home country in northern Yemen,” said Adila Saleh. “I had a culture shock with the food, weddings, and traditions. It helped to strengthen my identity.”
Saleh described Levantine Arabs as a “prideful” and “nationalist” people.
She also explained the diversity of Bay Ridge, spanning from Hispanics to Chinese along 5th Avenue. “If you go up to a person and ask where they’re from,” she said, “nine out of ten times they will most likely say a diaspora of another country.”
She listed all the things to do in Bay Ridge, like going to Owl’s Head Park, the waterfront, the many different cuisines of the restaurants, and the hookah lounges “for when you guys are older.” She also recommended an Arab bakery called Paradise Sweets (6739 5th Ave).
Yazaan, a Palestinian from the neighborhood, said, “Bay Ridge is highly influenced by Middle Eastern culture, which is felt greatly during the holy month of Ramadan. The mosque on 5th Avenue is usually packed all night when worshipers come together to observe.”
Ayah Toom ’21, a Palestinian-American, said, “I like Bay Ridge because it’s part of my identity and I can fit in within the community.”
Nearing the end of my journey, I was feeling hungry, so I ended up at the Arab bakery that Saleh recommended, Paradise Sweets, and had a plate of kanafeh, a cheese and dough based dessert drizzled with rose water syrup. It cost $5 dollars -- definitely worth it.
As I walked to the train station to call it a day, remembering the Arabic scriptures and flags on every block, it made me happy to think of how culturally intact the neighborhood felt, and how its residents were able to call it home, a little Middle East.