TONY’s assistant retail marketing manager Joshua Stringer has a thing for his longtime ‘hood of Hamilton Heights. And he doesn’t even mind the 1 train that much! Here’s why:

“Although only a section of Hamilton Heights maintains the immortally cool distinction of Sugar Hill, the Heights is historically rich and affordable to live in. And there’s a busy section of Broadway that boasts a strong ethnic flavor in food fare and shopping options (including homemade tamales right outside the subway for $1!).”

His favorite shops:
Hamilton Shopping Center 5 Hamilton Pl at 136th St and Broadway (212-281-7121) “There’s a produce and meat stand on the corner of the center that has some of the freshest fruits and veggies in the area.”
B.Jay’s USA 3500 Broadway at 145th St (212-694-3160) “With two locations within a block of each other and several competitors nearby, it’ll be hard not to find a pair of sneaks you like.”

His favorite restaurants:
Food Hut Caribbean Food 1709 Amsterdam Ave between 144th and 145th Sts (212-491-4492) “Try the spicy jerk chicken with rice. If it’s too hot, grab a homemade frozen lemonade from the cooler.”
Caridad Restaurant 3533 Broadway at 145th St (212-862-4053) “Though it’s known for its Spanish-style rotisserie chicken, which you can smell from down the street, their fried plantains and beans alone are worth the trip.”
Paul’s Pizza 3409 Broadway between 138th and 139th Sts (212-234-7878) “At just $2 a slice, there’s nothing fancy here, but don’t let the grungy interior fool you. This is one of my favorite places to get a slice in the whole city. Hands down. Bonus points for the old-fashioned punch-button cash register still in use.”

His favorite drink spot:
St. Nick’s Pub 773 St. Nicholas Ave at 149th St (212-283-9728) “I’d be wrong not to mention the heart of the Harlem jazz renaissance. The same pub that started it all still has live jazz seven days a week starting at 9:30pm.”