30 for 30 Countdown #27 - Staten Island Girl

Staten Island.  A place made of mystery and the world's largest landfill, which can be seen from space.  (Not kidding).

Although technically part of New York City, I've managed to never ever go there.  This means I have also never taken the famous Staten Island ferry.  I figured this all was a must so I put a plan together to grab some friends, take the ferry, and eat at the #1 restaurant on Staten Island!

What's the catch?  Well, if we're going to Staten Island, I figured we may as well look like we belong.  (Idea courtesy of Kelly Gold).  So, everyone's assignment was to dress as if you were from Staten Island.  

I realize stereotypes are not only bad, but they are also not true.  Most people from Staten Island do not dress and act similarly to the cast of Jersey Shore.  Most people from Staten Island do not wear too much makeup or fist bump.  Most people from Staten Island are not worth dressing up as.

However, others are.  I decided to take inspiration from the "Staten Island Girls" spinoff of Katy Perry's "California Girls":

Staten Island girls
We’re recognizable
Orange skin
With black hair on top
Never leave the house without our bronzer
Oooooh

Steps to pulling off my Staten Island Girl look:

1. Put on more makeup than you are comfortable with.  Then add extra bronzer.

2. Put on a North Face jacket.

3. Put on a hair accessory that bumps your hair.

4. Put on as many accessories as you can from brand names such as Burberry, Coach, Gucci, LV.

It's quite simple, and I learned all of it from the internet!

Once you have the look, you gotta get the look.  Apparently, Staten Island girls are HARD.

 Being HARD

"So, Shaina, how was the ferry?!"

I'm glad you asked.  The ferry was absolutely awesome.  It's totally free, huge, and you get to boat right next to the Statue of Liberty!

There's actually a lot to see from the ferry!  Some German tourists next to us pointed to a giant white slope and asked, "Is that Aspen?"  Hmmmmm....  "Aspen, Colorado?" we asked.  (Then a hippie wearing a parka popped out of nowhere to ask who was from Aspen, Colorado.  Weird).  "That?" The hippie asked, "That's Jersey!"  "NEW JERSEY?!"  The German asked, quite excited.  "Ain't no other Jerz." The hippie stated.

And that's the truth.

"So, Shaina, how was the food?!"

I'm glad you asked.  The food was fantastic!  We went to Beso - The #1 restaurant on Staten Island according to Trip Advisor.  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48682-d1125099-Reviews-Beso-Staten_Island_New_York.html

It was delicious Spanish Tapas, Sangria, and a great androgynous Spanish guitar player.  Seriously, if you are visiting New York, or live here and have guests - it is completely worth taking the ferry and having lunch at this restaurant.

I'm gonna say it.

I ♥ Staten Island

"The Band"