Take a Tour of Shaun Abreu’s Top 5+ Favorite Spots Uptown
Shaun Abreu, the new City Council member for District 7, which includes Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, and Washington Heights, is as local as local gets.
Shaun Abreu, the new City Council member for District 7, which includes Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, and Washington Heights, is as local as local gets. He grew up on 161st Street in Washington Heights, worked at the public library on 113th Street as a teen, went to college at Columbia, and more important for some, even if it is outside the district, his mom worked at Zabar’s for 20 years.
Abreu recently talked to Columbia Neighbors about some of his favorite spots Uptown, which we’ve listed heading north:
El Malecon, a Dominican restaurant near 97th Street and Amsterdam Avenue: “They have really good mangú [mashed plantains] at El Malecon. They also have great tres golpes, plantains with salami, queso [cheese], and eggs. It’s definitely a go-to meal for me. It’s also a safe bet to make.”
MACC, a cafe and wine bar on 106th Street and Manhattan Avenue: “The guy who runs the shop is native to the neighborhood, owns a laundromat next door. And to the right, a space opened up, so he now is the owner there. He’s a Dominican guy from Manhattan Valley who appreciates the diversity of our community and is now making sure that this is a place for everyone.”
The Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam near 110th Street: “It’s high up there on my list. It’s also a staple for a lot of Columbia students.”
Riverside Church and nearby Sakura Park on Riverside Drive at 122nd Street: “It’s where I had my campaign launch, a beautiful historic place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech on the ‘fierce urgency of now’.”
Riverside Park in Washington Heights and Riverbank State Park at 145th Street: “I would play there a lot as a kid and they bring back a lot of fond memories.”
And for nostalgia’s sake, an honorable mention goes to the alleys: “And then of course the alleys. I would play a lot of stickball in the alleys between buildings with my cousins and my friends.”
The next time you’re out for a walk, you can hit one or all of Abreu’s favorite spots. In the meantime, you can read more about him and what he’ll be working on in City Council.