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Woodlawnmore like a small village than an urban neighborhood, Woodlawn abounds

with single family homes with backyards and streets lined with trees. With a population

of about 8,000, this low-density neighborhood is the perfect place to get away from

the hubbub of the city, and it is also the ideal locale for pub hopping.

The Big Apple Greeter Guide to

to arrange a visit with a big apple greeter, please go to: bigapplegreeter.org

text by marianne gennari. graphic design by agnes schlenke. photographs by paul katcher.© 2012 Big Apple Greeter 11/2012 Big Apple Greeter 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007Phone: 212-669-8159 Web: bigapplegreeter.org

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Where is Woodlawn?Located in the exteme North Bronx, Woodlawn is bounded by Yonkers in Westchester County to the north, Van Cortlandt Park to the west, Woodlawn Cemetery to the south and the Bronx River to the east.

About WoodlawnIn 1639, the Dutch East India Company brought the first Europeans to settle in the Bronx, purchasing most of today’s Bronx County from the Lenape Indians. In 1646, it sold to Holland native Adriaen Van Der Donck the area around Van Cortlandt Park. The land passed through several families, each gradually developing it into viable farmland and a working plantation. Woodlawn remained farmland through most of the 19th century. When The Woodlawn Cemetery opened in 1863, it was marketed to the public as a rural cemetery amidst the rolling hills of the Bronx. The area began to develop during the late 19th and early 20th centuries into the suburban-like neighborhood you see today. Surrounded by the open, green spaces of Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Cortlandt Park and the Bronx River, Woodlawn feels like a place apart from the rest of the city.

It’s Easy to Get to Woodlawn by subway: 4 train to Woodlawn. 2 or 5 trains to

233rd Street.

by bus: Bus lines that service Woodlawn include the Bx16, Bx31, Bx34 and BxM4B.

by metro-north: From Grand Central Station to Woodlawn Station via the Harlem Line.

Attractions the woodlawn cemetery at E. 233rd Street and Webster Avenue is 400 acres of rolling lawns, stately trees and landscaping that have greeted visitors since 1863. Filled with stunning statuary and memorials designed by some of the best known architects of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the cemetery is a venue for concerts and lectures and offers guided tours. The final resting place for numerous celebrities and important city personages, this lovely, landscaped parkland regularly attracts visitors who relish this great green space that has a country feeling. To learn more, see their website at thewoodlawncemetery.org.

oneida triangle, bounded by E. 238th Street, Van Cortlandt Park East and Oneida Avenue, is dedicated to the men of Woodlawn who served in World War I. Filled with London plane trees, Norway maples and sycamores, this is a great spot in which to take a breather.

van cortlandt park, bounded by Van Cortlandt Park East, makes up the entire western border of Woodlawn and is the 4th largest park in the city. Its 1,146 acres hold lovely playgrounds, playing fields and picnic facilities surrounding natural forest land traversed by walking trails. The park also features wild preserves and educational facilities. To learn more, see the website at vcpark.org.

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to Woodlawn

oneida trianglethe woodlawn cemetery

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to Woodlawn

st. stephen’s churchvan cortlandt park

the john muir trail starts at Oneida Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park East and is the park’s only trail that runs on an east-west axis. This 1.5 mile pathway traverses steep terrain and passes through the northeast forest, the old croton aqueduct and the van cortlandt park golf course.

stockbridge indian memorial on Van Cortlandt Park East near Oneida Avenue honors Chief Abraham Ninham and 17 Mohican Indians who died here during a mission to aid the Americans in the Revolutionary War. On June 14, 1906, the Bronx Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a large cairn and a plaque on this spot to honor their sacrifice.

indian field on E. 233rd Street between Van Cortlandt Park East and Jerome Avenue makes available baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, bocce courts, water fountains, restrooms and a lovely garden to visitors.

st. barnabas church at 409 E. 241st Street at Martha Avenue is a lovely pillared building completed in 1910 to support the needs of the growing community. The Church also serves as a center of Irish culture, offering Irish language classes and an Outreach Program to new immigrants.

To learn more, see their website at stbarnabasbronx.org/index.html.

st. stephen’s church at 439 E. 238th Street and Vireo Avenue, with its white clapboard and red door, is reminiscent of New England and enforces the feeling that you are in a small town. To learn more, see the website at ststephenswoodlawn.org/index.html.

trinity community church at 4390 Katonah Avenue and E. 241st Street has beautiful stonework and a traditional door that give one the sense of being in an English country village.

Shopping

st. stephen’s thrift shop at 435 E. 238th Street near

Vireo Avenue is housed in a Victorian style former parish house next to the rectory of st. stephen’s church. Employing no advertising and dependent upon word-of-mouth, this is the place to find some real buys. Recent finds have included original artworks, Irish crystal, plants and, of course, clothing. To learn more see the website at ststephenswoodlawn.org/2.html.

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greeter’s secretA wonderful place for

birdwatchers, Van Cortlandt Park is one of the few

places in the city to see the eastern bluebird during

migration season.

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memorial statuary

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to Woodlawn

mary’s celtic kitchenangelica’s bakery

angelica’s bakery at 4315 Katonah Avenue near E. 237th Street is the place to visit to satisfy a sweet

tooth. Known for its cookies and cakes, this is also the spot to get a cup of coffee to accompany your sweets when you need a pick-me-up.

prime cuts irish butchers at 4338 Katonah Avenue

near E. 239th Street is the local purveyor of wonderful Irish sausages, corned beef, roasted chickens and homemade pies beloved by the locals.

woodlawn gift shop at 4309 Katonah Avenue near E. 237th Street has a fine selection of stationery,

greeting cards, novelties and beautiful gift baskets.

When It’s Time to Eat

traditional irish bakery at 4268 Katonah Avenue near E. 235th Street is the perfect spot for buying homemade soda bread, brown bread as

well as raisin scones. It also sports a wall of imported candies for those who miss the taste of Ireland, including chocolate bars not often seen in the U.S. This is also the place to get a full Irish breakfast — including mixed grill. And don’t miss the hot buffet or the dinner specials. To learn more, see their menu at bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/bronx/menus/irishbakery.htm.

mary’s celtic kitchen at 4330 Katonah Avenue near E. 238th Street is the place for traditional Irish fare and warm service. Don’t forget to try

the shepherd’s pie and Mary’s chicken pot pie. Desserts include a homemade sherry trifle. To learn more, see their menu at grubhub.com/nyc/marys-celtic-kitchen.

curry spot at 4286 Katonah Avenue near E. 236th Street offers authentic, freshly made Indian cuisine. Try the chicken vindaloo and aloo mottor gobi.

And don’t miss the sweet lasi — a refreshing yogurt and rose water beverage. To learn more, see their website at curryspot.com/woodlawn.

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14greeter’s secretIn addition to

being a great spot for a picnic,

Van Cortlandt Park is home to the first

municipal golf course in the U.S.

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st. stephen’s thrift shop

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About Big Apple Greeter

Founded in 1992, Big Apple Greeter’s mission is to

enhance New York City’s worldwide image while

enriching the city experience for its visitors.

Connecting with business and leisure travelers from

all over the US and the world, Greeters take visitors

on informal, unscripted walks through one or more

neighborhoods in any of the five boroughs, promote

tourism throughout the city, and help visitors

discover the ease of using public transportation.

Over 300 volunteer Greeters speak collectively

almost 25 languages and enjoy giving their time and

energy back to their hometown. Since its founding,

Big Apple Greeter — a free public service — has

welcomed nearly 110,000 visitors and been featured

in thousands of newspapers, magazines, and tele-

vision and radio programs all over the world, reaching

an audience of over two billion potential visitors to

New York City. Big Apple Greeter is proud to partner

with NYC & Company, the Metropolitan Transport-

ation Authority and the Make-A-Wish Foundation®

of Metro New York.

Big Apple Greeter is a proud member of the Global Greeter Network, operating on six continents, including North America, South America, Asia,

Europe, Africa and Australia. Click on the link

to find a Greeter program where you are traveling

next: globalgreeternetwork.info/

You may learn more about Big Apple Greeter and

its many services on our website:

bigapplegreeter.org or by emailing us at

information@bigapplegreeter.org

Nightlife the rambling house at 4292 Katonah Avenue at E. 236th Street prides itself on its authentic Irish cuisine and wonderful entertainment. Host to Jameson’s Revenge, an Irish band that specializes in traditional music, this is the place for a lively evening. The Rambling House also hosts trivia nights, psychic readings, and evenings of dancing. To learn more, see their website at ramblinghouse.com.

the coachman’s inn at 4344 Katonah Avenue between E. 238th and E. 239th Streets is a charming location that offers good pub food and a DJ every Saturday night. This is also the place to see televised Gaelic football matches.

the well at 4279 Katonah Avenue between E. 235th and E. 236th Streets, is a welcoming, cozy spot that is also home to the Bronx Celtic Supporter Club who watch the televised Gaelic football matches and root on their team!

behan’s pub at 4299 Katonah Avenue near E. 236th Street, offers televised sports and a DJ on weekends.

the hide out tavern at 143 E. 233rd Street near Kepler Avenue hosts Ladies Night on Fridays, Happy Hours from 4PM to 7PM on Mondays through Wednesdays and has televised soccer matches from around the world.

catalpa at 119 E. 233rd Street between Oneida and Kepler Avenues is where the locals meet for an evening of socializing. A DJ entertains on Saturday evenings.

the coachman’s innthe rambling house

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to Woodlawn

greeter’s secretThe local public library

at 4355 Katonah Avenue at E. 239th Street has

an extensive collection of Irish books.

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greeter’s secretThe Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place

of jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Celia Cruz,

Miles Davis, Ada “Bricktop” DuConge, Duke Ellington

and W.C. Handy.

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