Eating In Translation

Five wings ($3.25) with the "hot" (that is, medium) version of the traditional Buffalo-style sauce, and blue cheese dressing. Decent amount of meat for the price.

Just Wingin It
2190 Frederick Douglas Jr. Blvd. (at 118th St.)
718-690-3639

That's the reverse angle — or, if you like, a reaction shot of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. (Click the photo for a better look.) In 1983, the brothers who inherited the former Silvercup Bakery converted it into a film and television production facility, removing the word "bread" and adding "studios" to the iconic rooftop sign. (Thanks to snoh, whose comment pointed me to the pre-makeover photo.)

Surviving signage for Silvercup Bakery
Near the main lot of Silvercup Studios
42-22 22nd St. (42nd-43rd Aves.), Long Island City, Queens

For each answer you get right, FreeRice donates 20 grains of rice through the United Nations World Food Program. If you cruise through the easier words — and through the likes of sutler, posset, pomiferous, edentulous, and glair — try another language, or a different category altogether. Despite the multiple-choice format, I soon found that "identify countries on the map" is tougher than it looks.

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The nearly 50 flags on this playground mural, you'd imagine, represent the "extremely diverse student body" of the Adolph S. Ochs School (click on the photo for a better look). PS/IS 111 is a "community school," the website also notes, so the students live within walking distance of dozens of ethnic restaurants — but imagine how much home cooking can be found only behind closed doors!

"Hell's Kitchen" mural
Playground of the Adolph S. Ochs School (P.S. 111)
Tenth Ave. between 52nd and 53rd Sts.

Total mystery: This place has been shuttered both times I've walked by. There's a story here, I imagine, but it's unlikely to involve those infamous "oysters."

Mountain Seafood
425 39th St. (Fourth-Fifth Aves.), Sunset Park, Brooklyn

It's not unusual to see a worker shaving nopales, the spiny pads of the prickly pear cactus, on the sidewalk next to La Lomita's small, colorful outdoor produce display. (There's little room for prep work indoors; somehow this slender but well-stocked grocery has already shoehorned a taco and torta counter into the space by the window.)

And where you see nopales, you'll often see tuna — the purplish fruit of the prickly pear, shown peeled and ready to eat alongside slices of orange, pineapple, and cantaloupe and a handful of grapes. Even though the sweet, juicy flesh of the tuna is heavily populated with small seeds, taken as a whole La Lomita's fruit plates ($2.50) are a great deal; judging by its heft, this one weighed about a pound and a half.

La Lomita del Barrio
209 East 116th St. (Second-Third Aves.)
212-289-8138

"Bacalao" refers to dried, salted cod, and to any number of dishes that feature it (only after the fish has been boiled, or soaked overnight, to remove excess salt, you'll be relieved to know). Propped up by a plateful of beans and short-grain rice, this lunch special ($6) was stewed with green olives, red bell peppers, onion, and potato. I paired it with a morir soñando (small; $3), an iced drink combining orange juice and milk that comes on like a liquid Creamsicle.

Caribe Restaurant
498 East 138th St. (Brook Ave.-Brown Pl.), Mott Haven, Bronx
718-993-3353