Agata Parrott of Parrott tours was born in Poland and moved to New York where she met and married Sean Parrott. Fluent in Polish and English, Agata has been giving tours in New York since 2000 and so knows the city better and more extensively than most native New Yorkers! With almost 20 years of experience giving tours, Agata loves nothing more than showing people from her homeland her new home. She does this in Polish which means there can be a greater level of understanding and enjoyment for those who are not fluent in English. Below we look at a couple of questions about the connections between Poland and New York and find that there are more than you might expect!
Are there many Polish people in New York?
Over 200,000 people in New York claim Polish heritage and there is an active Polish community within New York.
Is there a “Little Poland” like we hear about “Little Italy” or “Chinatown”?
Although Greenpoint is traditionally linked with the Polish culture, due to a recent gentrification it's vast ethnically Polish population has dwindled. A new wave of Polish immigrants, arriving to NYC since 2000s has been settling in Ridgewood, a neighborhood in Queens. This is where, according to recent data up to 60% of houses sold where bought by Polish families. Polish meat stores, cafes, bakeries and other businesses abound in the area bound by L and M trains and by avenues Myrtle, Metropolitan and Fresh Pond Road. The leading daily newspaper Nowy Dziennik is the leading word in print since 1971, serving as a connection not only between Poles living in the USA, but also those from the home country.
In addition, wherever there's a solid Polish population there is access to Polish schools, churches and other Polish cultural organizations.
Is Polish Culture celebrated or marked in New York?
New York is home to a number of Polish and Polish-American cultural, community, and scientific institutions, including the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA) and the Polish Cultural Institute. The Polska Gazeta is the leading Polish-language daily newspaper in the tri-state area, delivering daily news to over 17,000 readers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Long Island and Delaware.
The Pulaski Day Parade in New York on Fifth Avenue has been celebrated since 1937 to commemorate Kazimierz Pułaski, a Polish hero of the American Revolutionary War. It closely coincides with the October 11 General Pulaski Memorial Day, a national observance of his death at the Siege of Savannah, and his held on the first Sunday of October.
What about Polish food/restaurants?
There are a large variety of Polish stores, food markets and restaurants. We would love to advise you on a couple of places to go in the city but of course, it is also important to sample the unique and diverse cuisines (of which Polish food is one!) that make New York famous for food!
What types of businesses do Polish people have in New York?
While many Polish people open businesses which are aimed at Polish people, such as Polish food, restaurants etc, there is no limit to what Polish people in New York can work in. People often work in an industry that they are experienced in such as construction but there are many Polish-owned businesses in all types of industries.
Want to know more about Polish people in New York?
At Parrott tours, we love to welcome our people to The Big Apple and offer tours in Polish and English as well as a variety of other languages. If you would like to experience Polish culture in New York then we would love to create a specific tour for you so do contact us and we can be sure to help!