A very warm welcome to Ben Karameti, the newest member of The Caledonia team. I think I speak for all of us when I say He fits right into the Caledonia family. I caught up with him to learn a bit about his background, interests and hobbies, and what he likes most about his role at The Caledonia.
Lance: We are happy you have joined us, Ben. Tell us about your background and where you are from please.
Ben: Thank you, I am happy to be here! I was born and raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and I currently live in Queens. My mother is of Montenegrin decent but she was born in the US. My father is Albanian and came to the US in 1991.
Lance: What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work?
Ben: I enjoy playing stickball and baseball at Long Island City Park or at McKinley Park. I am also a fitness enthusiast so I work out a lot at the gym. When I am not playing sports or working out, I like checking out new restaurants around the city.
Lance: What are your top three recommended restaurants around NYC?
Ben: For Italian food my favorite spot is Bartolino’s on Broadway in Queens. For Spanish food I recommend La Vara in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. And when I want a good steak, Peter Lugers is the place.
Lance: How do you like spending your summers in the city?
Ben: You can find me at a Yankees game or watching at a bar with friends. I’m also a huge fan of the beach; there is no better place to spend the weekend over the summer. My favorite beaches are Belmar and Seaside Heights in New Jersey unless I want to sleep in, then I head to Brighton Beach.
I also spend a lot of time with my Morkie, Sebastian. He has extraordinary energy levels which make him super hyper, so he needs a lot of my attention.
Lance: What is your favorite NYC neighborhood?
Ben: I love spending time in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. I have a lot of friends there so I spend most of my free time there.
Lance: What do you enjoy most about your role at The Caledonia?
Ben: I love interacting with residents. The Caledonia has such a great and welcoming environment; I couldn’t ask for a better place to work!
Lance: Thank you again for your time.
