Carmen’s Restaurant: A Taste of Spain With a View of Raritan Bay

Staten Island may be known for their pizza and Italian food, but we can also lay claim to a nice variety of restaurants whose specialties span the globe.

Bienvenido a Carmen’s Restaurant! A staple of Staten Island for many years, this Spanish-Mexican restaurant is located at 750 Barclay Avenue, off Hylan Blvd., just south of Richmond Ave, and offers patrons absolutely stunning views. Carmen’s is located right on the water and gives their customer’s the option to either dine al fresco on their outside deck or enjoy their meal in the comfort of the dining room while watching the waves through the floor to ceiling windows. Whichever location you choose, make sure you order a pitcher of sangria. While not the best sangria I’ve ever had, it is certainly one of the better examples that I’ve had from around the island. And even though I am a fan of red wine, I have to say that the white sangria is the better of the two, with a much sweeter and more distinct fruity taste.

Carmen’s is probably best known for their authentic Paella Valenciana, which is such a large dish that 2 people splitting it will still take home leftovers. The shrimp, scallops, muscles, clams, chicken and sausage all come together in one pot to create a perfect Spanish Paella that would leave true Valencians smiling. And if you still believe that there’s something missing, you have the option to order the Paella Valenciana with lobster. While going to Carmen’s simply for the Paella is reason enough, they offer an extensive menu that touches on all the major food groups. Plenty of seafood entrees like mariscada, shrimp, lobster, clams, scallops, and crab legs could all be had in any one of Carmen’s delicious homemade sauces. These sauces include green, ajillo (a creamy garlic base), white (brandy and white wine), diablo and creole. My favorites are the white and green sauces. You also have a choice of fish dishes like filet of sole, salmon and red snapper. And for all you carnivores out there, Carmen’s even offers an extensive list of Spanish-Mexican meat dishes which include pork chops, veal, sirloins, filet mignons and chicken. You could also enjoy enchiladas, tacos and burritos from the Mexican side of the menu. Most of the entrees are in the $18.95-$22.95 range with some lobster, crab and filet mignon dishes creeping up into the $34.95 range.

All in all, Carmen’s offers great food at reasonable prices. The stunning views and Spanish charm only add to the experience and help to ensure your time here is muy excelente.

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Video Feature: I Love Lucy, Staten Island Ferry Episode

That's right, I'm back with a fun video that will stir up a sense of nostalgia for some of you. Here is a segment from I Love Lucy that takes place on the Staten Island Ferry. Hands down, I Love Lucy is one of the best shows of all time, so enjoy!

I Love Lucy [imdb]

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Ix Nay on the Landfill

I know the albatross on the neck of Staten Island is The Dump, and its something that deserves its place in history rather than being dug up again. But if you ever wondered what happens to our trash now that Fresh Kills is closed? The City's Park's department can tell you, and they have at their Fresh Kills Park blog, which is the blog that is documenting the transformation of one of the world great landfills into one of the worlds great parks.



You can see more at the blog post, but its nice to know that our albatross has flown off to South Carolina.

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Home Loan Learning Center

As a part of the National Homeownership Month, I am sharing this little site with you that tells you about how to go about buying a house and what to expect in the lending process in seven steps. Here's an excerpt:

Just how do you buy a house? The Home Loan Learning Center delivers information on the home buying process in two ways: through in-depth information on pages sorted by topic and in our step-by-step mortgage process guide that is provided in this section. Here you can view the process from beginning to end, referring to the more in-depth information on other pages as you need it. MBA has identified seven steps that make up the mortgage lending process. By reviewing them, you will know what to expect at each point in the process.

In addition to the seven steps, MBA has developed the Top 10 Tips for Home Buyers, a concise list that you can print out for reference if you like. Use it as a checklist as you're going through the process. It can help keep you on track as you move through the steps. All of the topics are also addressed in the topic-specific pages on this site.

Once you finish going through this site and start to feel comfortable with the process, you will be ready to take the first step, finding a lender. To help you take that step, you will find the list of MBA members — experts in mortgage lending — in this section. Some are regional and others have nationwide operations. Take a look. After you read this site thoroughly, go to their Web sites and check them out. If you think you see a few that might work for you, give them a call. Ask some questions.
Top 10 Tips for Home Buyers

1. Check your credit score. Get your credit history in order before beginning the home buying process.

2. Develop a monthly budget based on your income and expenses so that you can determine what is realistically affordable in terms of a mortgage payment.

3. See a lender first. Shop around — compare various mortgage lenders and find one that will work well with you and your situation.

4. Needs vs. Wants — what features do you need in a new home versus what you want? Don't make an emotional decision, make a financial one.

5. Take time to learn important terms and understand their meaning.

6. Once you've found a lender, thoroughly investigate the mechanics of the deal — are there additional costs, such as origination and/or application fees?

7. Learn about the various types of mortgage packages. Figure out, with your lender, what type of mortgage is best for you.

8. Get pre-qualified so you are aware of what you can afford as well as prepared to seriously consider real estate options.

9. Visit as many homes as possible and decide on the house you are interested in based on your approved loan amount.

10. Work interactively with a mortgage lender and be accessible to him/her in order to secure the loan.

You can also get an interesting PDF document about the Loan Application Process from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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SI Film Festival

With National Homeownership Month, as well as Art by the Ferry and the Fifth Annual Staten Island Pride Parade going on this weekend, I almost forgot that the Staten Island Film Festival also opens today at College of Staten Island's Center for the Arts in Willowbrook! The Festival, the Packed with 60-plus films, the festival goes until June 7. For the complete schedule, visit www.sifilmfestival.org.

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The Outstanding Value of Homeownership

To help kick off National Homeownership Month, I thought I would share an article about the value of homeownership:

Homeownership is by far the single largest creator of wealth for Americans, and consumers who take advantage of today’s excellent buying climate to purchase a home will find that it is the best investment they ever made. Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, homeownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security.

Over the long term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually.

Five percent may not seem much at first, but here’s an example that will put it into perspective. Say you put 10 percent down on a $200,000 house, for an investment of $20,000. At a 5 percent annual appreciation rate, that $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 during the first year. Earning $10,000 on an investment of $20,000 is an extraordinary 50 percent annual return.

In contrast, putting that $20,000 down payment into the stock market and getting a 5 percent gain would only yield a $1,000 profit.

Looking at it another way, over a longer period of time, if someone put $10,000 into the stock market in 1996, the average annual S&P return would make that investment worth $21,500 today – an increase of $11,500. The median home price in 1996 was $140,000. Today, that same home would have gained nearly $100,000 in value.

Homeownership is also a more stable investment. Home values tend to increase at a steady pace while alternatives can be extremely volatile. For example, during the stock market decline of 2001-2002, households lost more than $1 trillion in stock value, while their housing equity continued to climb.

Don’t forget there are also fantastic tax incentives designed to make owning a home more affordable. Home owners save nearly $100 billion annually on mortgage interest and property deductions alone.

In most instances, all of the interest and property taxes you pay can be fully deducted from your gross income to reduce your taxable income. These deductions can result in thousands of dollars of tax savings, especially in the early years of the mortgage when interest makes up most of the payment.

Plus, the best tax break available to homeowners is when they sell their primary residence. A couple who own and live in their home for two years and then decide to sell can keep up to $500,000 of the profit tax-free, and a single owner can keep $250,000. If the homeowner uses these gains to buy and live in a bigger home for at least two years, the same benefits apply when they go to sell that home.

Buying a home is the largest, and smartest, investment most families will ever make. And with the long-term financial benefits, variety of homes for sale in all price ranges, and historically low interest rates, the timing couldn’t be better.

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Welcome to National Homeownership Month!

June is National Homeownership Month, and in recognition of the incredible rewards of homeownership, SIREN will be providing a series of articles and reports covering this special event.

The advantages of homeownership don’t just benefit individuals home owners, it also has a positive impact on our own community and country as well.

Joe Robson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, noted that “As the current economic downturn has shown, housing has a significant impact on our national economy, and for that reason it's important that we recognize the importance of homeownership this month as well as throughout the year."

For individuals, homeownership means mortgage interest and property tax deductions; the stable investment that comes with home appreciation; increased borrowing power; and the ability to build equity. More broadly, a healthy housing market creates a positive ripple affect into our communities across the country — housing accounts for 15 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)and is a significant employer, supporting job creation.

To help celebrate this special recognition, SIREN will be posting a series of articles about the benefits of homeownership, as well as useful articles for homeowners!

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The 2009 Art by the Ferry Festival

Just a reminder that this weekend is the first weekend of the 2009 ART BY THE FERRY Festival which highlights the wide variety of excellent visual arts, crafts, spoken word and performing arts on Staten Island in spaces provided by local real estate developers, restaurants, galleries and the Staten Island Museum. And it’s free!

LOCATION: St. George, Staten Island, NYC

DATES:
June 6,7 & 13,14, 2009
11am to 6pm

Check it out at http://www.artbytheferry.org/Welcome.html

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Top 3 Celebrities and Notable People from Staten Island Part 2

I'm backkkkkkkkkk and Part 2 is here! I'm about to fall asleep, so if you start seeing weird misspelled words, than you know my big head ended up slamming against the keyboard.

1. Daniel D. Tompkins. The sixth Vice President of the United States, an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, Governor of New York, and established Tompkinsville in Staten Island and the Staten Island Ferry.

2. Gene Simmons. Yes it's true...the blood-spitting, fire-breathing, and tongue-wagging bassist and vocalist in the hard rock band Kiss went to the College of Staten Island.

3. "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Whether or not you watched wrestling growing up, "Macho Man" Randy Savage was a household name that everyone in their mother knew, and yes he was a Staten Island Boy!

+ Top 3 Celebrities and Notable People from Staten Island Part 1

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Top 3 Celebrities and Notable People from Staten Island Part 1

To take away from the monotony of the typical work day, I thought you might enjoy my top 3 celebrity picks and notable people from Staten Island. Some of you might have known that these celebrities once lived and were raised on Staten Island, but for those of you who did not know, well now you do, and my job is done for the day! Enjoy and come back tomorrow for Part 2!

1. Ingrid Michaelson. Currently one of the most popular musicians hailing from Staten Island. After having several of her songs featured on Grey's Anatomy which put her on the map, and having her first hit single "The Way I Am" featured in the Old Navy Commercial, Ingrid Michaelson has been non stop in the public's eye. She has also performed with Dave Mathews Band at Madison Square Garden and was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, incuding a laundry list of other accomplishments. Also, I recently found out she went to my former college at Binghamton University.

2. Alice Austen...If you're from Staten Island and do not live under a rock you definitely heard of Alice Austen, have been to the Alice Austen House or have seen her work.

1896 - Peddler of Sponges by Alice Austen

3. The hot and spicy Alyssa Milano. A sure favorite of mine growing up, but her acting was not the main reason :)

+ Alyssa Milano on IMDB
+ Official Site

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