Rome Around The World
Welcome! I am Jay Rome (JRKD) and I specialize in food, travel & history blogging across North America!
Welcome! I am Jay Rome (JRKD) and I’m a food, travel & history blogger based out of NY!
From the biggest cities in North America to the best small towns in the land, from the Rocky Mountains to the Caribbean Islands, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, Maine to the Florida Keys, and everything in between, I’ve been there or I plan to go there!
I’ve been to 38 States, Territories & Provinces & counting!
Follow along as I Rome Around the World!
Follow my Socials & leave me Feedback on what you like to see.
Learn More…
Native New Yorker 518 Upstate @NativeNewYorker518 (All Platforms)
I’m a New York State Historian and Tour Guide based out of the 518 Capital District!
I was Born & Raised in Upstate NY, far away from the influence of NYC. I grew up with a different perspective of New York than most people outside of our state could ever imagine. Most New Yorkers outside of the Five Boroughs live in a city under 100,000 Population.
Our Canadian Border stretches from Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands at Alexandria Bay to Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain. The 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and the surrounding valleys are known worldwide, and the Catskill Mountains & Hudson Highlands are only a short hop from NYC.
The historic Hudson River has been a major feature of New York & the USA for over 400 Years now. Our Mohawk River & Erie Canal allowed trade boats from the Hudson River to our 2 Great Lakes, Ontario & Erie. Albany is the longest continually inhabited City in the US dating back to at least, 1614 and has been our State Capitol for over 240 Years. We have deep Native American culture and Dutch heritage that predates the British Colonies, while being home to immigrants from over 190 different countries.
We created Pizza, Buffalo Wings, Garbage Plates, French Fries, Potato Chips, Chopped Cheese, Eggwiches, Lox bagels, Apple Cider and more! NY is known worldwide but I’m showing the side of NY people don’t get to see & experience.
Follow my Socials & leave me Feedback on what you like to see.
Learn More...
I’m a Food & Beverage Specialist with 15+years in Food Service & Hospitality!
I love to try new things and taste new flavors, and new beverages. When I’m not working in restaurants myself, I like to get away. Every city & region definitely has their own flare and twists with traditional & ethnic cuisine. I am conducting research to use on the job and observing Food & Beverage service across the USA and enjoying every minute of it!
Follow my Socials & leave me Feedback on what you like to see.
Learn More…
Tulip-A-Day @TulipADay (All Platforms)
I’m a photographer and ambassador for Albany (NY) Tulip Festival!
My hometown is known for hosting the biggest annual Tulip Festival outside of the Netherlands. Every year over 120,000 Tulip Bulbs are donated from the Netherlands to Albany, NY as a remembrance of our Dutch heritage. We were the Capital of Nieuw Nederland (New Netherlands Colony) for over 50 Years before the British colonized New York. When the Netherlands were occupied by Nazi Germany during WW2, the US Armed Forces & our allies liberated the Free Netherlands, this triggered the first Tulip Bulb gift and for 77 Years we have continued the tradition. I am a descendant of 2 different Dutch settlers of the Capital District and its a unique part of my heritage.
The Tulip Festival is held in beautiful Washington Park every May for Mother’s Day weekend and has seen upwards of 90,000 visitors over the weekend Festival. A state fair atmosphere with food vendors, local artists, a beer garden, multiple concert venues and stage performances, and families for days in a dog-friendly park in the New York State Capitol, a day trip from New England or NYC/NJ/PA. The various Tulips, apple trees, lilacs & other flowers are a great opportunity for photographers like myself, as well as the Moses Fountain, and you can easily capture 1,000 images in 1 or 2 visits. So i post a “Tulip A Day” to the Socials as a way to uplift people and bring a smile to their day, while carrying on our traditions and bringing attention to my city & state!
Follow my Socials & leave me Feedback on what you like to see.
Learn More…
Latest Posts
Albany Tulip Beds #2 – State St & Pearl St – Beverwyck Stockade, Albany, NY 518
#2 of the official City of Albany Tulip Beds, the Capitol Hill Tulip Bed, slightly NW of the Hudson Riverfront Bed. Beautiful work by our city gardener @gardenswithjena and I love the Virichic’s! (Scroll to bottom for more!) 2 whole blocks of tulip beds fill both sides of the median on Upper State Street Hill…
Albany Tulip Beds #1 Hudson Riverfront / Fort Orange – Downtown, Albany, NY 518
#1 of the official City of Albany Tulip Beds, the Hudson Riverfront Tulip Bed, located in one of the oldest sections of Albany dating back to the 1620’s, on Broadway between Pruyn & Hamilton Streets, in front of the Hudson Riverfront Entrance to the 787 Freeway. This is the southernmost intersection on Broadway before the…
Flooding in the Southern Adirondacks & Northern Hudson Valley – GSL NY 518
Erie Canal, Mohawk River & Hudson River flooded, epic failures if more rain comes soon. The locks are already open…. ***Great Sacandaga Lake Reservoir was built to prevent Albany/Schenectady/Troy flooding in the 1920’s.
Nipper Dog #3 – 677 Prime, Albany, NY 518
Nipper Dog #3 is tucked inside the 677 Prime parking garage near his friend, Red/Black. but all 7 chakras fully opened! This dog is ready to vibrate to higher frequencies and ascend the tree of life! This one not only has 3rd Eye Bling (with a fully decalcified pineal gland)…. it even has the 7th…
Nipper Dog #2 – 677 Prime, Albany, NY 518
There are 20 of these 3-foot-high Nipper Dogs around downtown Albany and they are PAWSOME! After almost a decade here, I’ve still yet to find them all as they rotate every couple years and change locations and new artists create new artpieces. I just recently found this guy and his friend you’ll meet shortly literally…
Bavarian Rocket Scientist’ Orange VW – Upper Madison, Albany, NY 518
This beauty was sitting right outside our local neighborhood bar district, directly across from the PD. Look at the hand grip to open the hood…steel, no plastic or aluminum anywhere1 Petrol intake on the front passenger side over the tire, solid black tires, small silver rund rim I’m not a car guy but i’ve never…
Neighborhood Bloom – Buckingham, Albany, NY 518
Just some Spring blooms around the neighborhood. Upstate NY has walkable neighborhoods and tree-lined streets come visit! Learn more about NY State at http://www.romearoundtheworld.net/nativenewyorker518 Pretty in pink, just about matches the Spanish Stucco house whose yard it sits in!
Purple Vines, Green Stems – Buckingham, Albany, NY 518
High-quality close-up of a giant shade leaf in the neighbor’s alien plant garden Spring is in the air & Tulip Season is upon us. Follow us @tulipaday #tulipaday on the socials! Learn More at http://www.romearoundtheworld.net/tulipaday
Tulip Logo – Mario Puzo’s The Godfather
Not only does the Tulip represent my love for parks, nature & photography, but it is a symbol of my city, my state, my homeland, and a reminder of my Dutch heritage and how important the Dutch were in the history & culture of America! How fitting for me to rediscover the Tulip symbol on…
Sunset over the Pine Hills – Buckingham, Albany, NY 518
Beautiful sunsets over one of the Pine Hills districts of Albany, NY (Buckingham Neighborhood) Some of these giant pines have been here since this was the Great Western Turnpike as a plank road over 100 years ago.
Choose a category from the category menu below or CLICK HERE to keep scrolling…
CATEGORY MENU
Rome Around The World 