Summer in the city: Surfing­ at the Water Taxi Beach Bar

by Elsa Lam in North America , USA , New York

Photos Elsa Lam

Last Saturday, summer hit New York City. It'­s funny how suddenly the seasons arrive: certainly there'­s been the occasional warm evening throughout the spring months, but then first really hot day is something else. The window-mounted A/C gets its first run of the year. Blankets and flannel sheets get stashed. The warm coat that you'­ve been keeping handy 'just in case'­ the weather turns is finally relegated to the back of the closet. All traces of winter are lost from memory and you know you'­ll be contending with the heat for the coming months.

With the first day of summer, I sense my own paths with the city changing. My thoughts turn to the coolness of the water that surrounds Manhattan: on my bike, I migrate towards the cool breezes that come off the Hudson River. In Central Park, I eye the Olympic-sized outdoor pool that you glimpse rounding the Northeast side of the loop, waiting for the day itís filled into an elliptical expanse of aqua-blue water. Last September, after the regular schools had opened but my college classes were still starting up, I would visit the pool almost daily and have the entire monumental oasis to myself.

Iím not alone in dreaming of cool water, and with the beginning of the warm weather, pilgrimages up to beaches and cottages also start up. But on Memorial Day weekend, I end up vacationing at a beach within the city itself. Itís even closer than the more popular Coney Island ñ even thatís a bit far to travel for a lazy weekend ñ but hidden just across the East River, in the neighboring borough of Queens.

Photo Gabe Gross

Queens, Iíve recently discovered, is full of surreal surprises, and the Beach Bar is no exception. Itís tucked beside the water taxi stop from the city, and accessed from what looks like a blind alley on a gritty street pocked with abandoned factories and old warehouses. Rounding the corner around a boat storehouse, the venue comes into sight: a huge expanse of foot-deep tan sand, complete with umbrellas, picnic tables, and a full beach volleyball court. The crowd is an easy-on-the-eyes mix of bikini-clad gals, topless lads, khaki shorts and bare feet, with the occasional stylishly-worn cotton button-up shirt thrown into the mix. Under our beach umbrella when we arrive in mid-afternoon, thereís a crew that ranges in age from 6-weeks-old to thirty-something. For vittles, thereís the requisite flame-broiled burgers, dogs, and an abundance of beer. The only thing missing is ocean: but on the other hand, thereís a spectacular view of the city skyline across the river, which compensates for not being able to dip your toes in the water.

Photo Gabe Gross

As the beer flows and the day progresses, the crowd alters in composition. The day shift of families and hipsters dissipates; the night shift brings in the local chapter of bikers, the friends in our group that didnít wake up until after noon. This happens to be one of the two evenings every year when the sunset lines up perfectly with the Manhattan grid. From the picnic table weíve by now managed to claim, we have a perfect view of the sun as it rolls into an orange-red ball and slowly descends between the cityís scrapers.

Let the summer begin.

June 5, 2006 | Discuss this Article (8 Comments)

Getting to the beach

By Water Taxi: Check the Water Taxi website for schedules and service notices.

Take the Water Taxi to Hunters' Point. When you exit the Water Taxi your at the beach!

By Subway:

7 Train: [Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave]. We are 1 stop from Grand Central Station on the 7 Train. Go to the Jackson/Vernon Stop and walk on Jackson southwest towards the Manhattan Skyline. When you get near the Midtown Tunnel follow the signs for 495 West until you reach 51st Avenue. Turn right on 51st and walk to 2nd Street. Turn left on Second Street. Walk past the Crab House and the TennisPort and then turn RIGHT into our driveway.

G Train: Use the 21st Stop. Exit on Jackson Ave. Look for the Manhattan Skyline; walk on Jackson southwest towards the Manhattan Skyline. When you get near the Midtown Tunnel follow the signs for 495 West until you reach 51st Avenue. Turn right on 51st and walk to 2nd Street. Turn left on Second Street. Walk past the Crab House and the TennisPort and then turn RIGHT into our driveway

E/F Train: [23rd St/Ely Ave] When you exit your near the Citicorp Building. Walk on 23rd to Jackson Ave. Walk on Jackson southwest towards the Manhattan Skyline. When you get near the Midtown Tunnel follow the signs for 495 West until you reach 51st Avenue. Turn right on 51st and walk to 2nd Street. Turn left on Second Street. Walk past the Crab House and the TennisPort and then turn RIGHT into our driveway

By LIRR: Take the LIRR to the LIC/Hunters Point Stop. Exit the platform on Borden Ave. You will see the yellow brick vent shaft for the Midtown Tunnel and the Manhattan skyline. Walk on Borden Avenue west towards the skyline. Pass the Water Front Crab House on your right and enter our parking lot located directly in front of you.

Bike/Walking: You can easily bike or walk to the beach from LIC, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Astoria, and from the upper east side of Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge.

By Car: Travel to Borden and Second St. At Borden Ave and Second Street you will see the sign for the New York Water Taxi. If you need to Google or MapQuest Map of 2-03 Borden Ave Long Island City, NY 11101, US) directions. Use 2-03 Borden Ave, 11101 (that's the address for the Water Front Crab House).

There is a fee charged for parking ($4-$5); monthly parking passes also available.

More Beach Info

Check out the beach website at www.watertaxibeach.com.

Published 05 Sep 2006 |