Bronx day trip: Visit 'Van Gogh's Flowers' at New York Botanical Garden and feast on Arthur Avenue

In the Bronx, color and flavor collide.

Sunlight falls on flowers that sway right out of a Van Gogh canvas, and by afternoon, the streets of Arthur Avenue are alive with the scent of fresh mozzarella, sizzling sausages and oysters shucked on the sidewalk.

It's a day that tastes as good as it looks, where every turn offers a feast for the senses.

'Van Gogh’s Flowers' at The New York Botanical Garden

At The New York Botanical Garden (nybg.org) "Van Gogh’s Flowers" transforms the painter’s most iconic works into living, breathing art. Inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, visitors encounter irises arranged exactly as Van Gogh imagined, with every bloom chosen to reflect the colors, textures and energy of his brushstrokes.

"We worked with an artist who recreated from the painting exactly his original idea, which was a vase with these iris flowers," said Brian Sullivan, vice president of glasshouses and landscape at NYBG.

Outside, the experience expands into a sea of golden sunflowers. The garden grows 7,000 plants, and gardeners plant new blooms every 11 days to ensure the fields stay vibrant and full. Sculptures tilt and sway, echoing the movement of sunflowers in Van Gogh’s paintings.

"Fall is a unique time to enjoy this exhibit," Sullivan said. "We've switched out many of our spring plants for seasonal ones like chrysanthemums and peppers, so visitors get a fresh look."

The exhibit highlights Van Gogh’s time in France, including the years he spent in a hospital where he painted many of his famous sunflower works. Visitors can wander through the hospital gardens, where Sullivan says if Van Gogh visited today, "he would think he was in the South of France."

Choose to start or end your journey here; daylight showcases the brilliant colors and textures, while evening illuminations give the flowers in the conservatory an ethereal glow. "Van Gogh’s Flowers" runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 26. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 ages 2 to 12 and are available for purchase online at nybg.org/event/van-goghs-flowers.

Arthur Avenue: A culinary adventure

After the art, it’s time to satisfy the appetite. Arthur Avenue, the Bronx’s "real Little Italy," offers an array of Italian flavors that are both historic and delicious.

Cosenza's Fish Market (2354 Arthur Ave., 718-933-6099) shucks oysters and clams right on the sidewalk, turning the street into an impromptu raw bar where you can watch the chefs at work. The Beausoleil oysters (half dozen, $18) were a delicious, refreshing choice among an extensive selection.

Calabrian Pork Store (calabriapork.com, 2338 Arthur Ave., 718-367-5145) impresses with hanging sausages overhead ($17.99 per piece), shelves stacked with imported pasta and cured meats, and sandwiches hearty enough to share. The combination of history, flavor and charm makes it a must-visit.

At the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, Mike’s Deli (arthuravenue.com, 2344 Arthur Ave., 718-295-5033) is celebrated for its fresh mozzarella ($22) and its viral Italian sushi ($23). The rolls mimic traditional sushi  but swap fish and seaweed for prosciutto di Parma, arugula, fresh mozzarella, sun-dried peppers, pesto and balsamic reduction, making it an inventive, Instagram-worthy bite.

Arthur Avenue offers both quick bites and full meals, kicking off or completing a day among sunflowers with indulgent Italian flavors.