12/04/12 10:00am

near-rippers-rockaway-boardwalk-queens

Image source: Heritage Radio

Yesterday we told you that Mayor Bloomberg has decreed that the rebuilding of the Rockaway boardwalk – and all future NYC boardwalks – will never be built with wood again. Concrete is the other practical material with which to build the Rockaway boardwalk and those to come. Of course, the concrete can be formed into pieces that resemble wood, but it will nowhere be near the real thing.

That said, the only parts of the boardwalk that survived Hurricane Sandy were the ones made with concrete; the wooden parts were thrashed. So what do you think? Is the Mayor right? Or is nostalgia and natural materials more important when it comes to building a boardwalk? Should it actually be made of… boards? We’d love to know your thoughts – leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity.

12/03/12 2:00pm

whats-left-of-rockaway-boardwalk-after-hurricane-sandy-queens

Image source: Reuters via Travelers Today – concrete sections of the Rockaway boardwalk

Well, we’ve mentioned this boardwalk debate – wood vs. concrete – before, and had wondered what the decision would be in rebuilding the Rockaway beach boardwalk. Well, the Mayor has spoken – no wooden boardwalks will be constructed… EVER. (more…)

11/21/12 2:00pm

Rockaway Taco by Chris Gold

Rockaway Taco by Chris Gold

The Rockaway boardwalk has been the recent home to a number of food vendors, and has been part of a whole “food renaissance” there. The vendors have been a huge draw in the summers for regulars as well as people originally unfamiliar with the Rockaway peninsula. A lot of people have fallen in love with the Rockaways through the food.

These food vendors, many of them right there on the boardwalk, were hit hard, and have suffered much damage to property, not to mention the boardwalk in some areas is just gone. Overwhelmingly there is loss; some are expecting to rebuild; some are uncertain.

Vendors are situated from Beach 86 to Beach 106. Here are some status updates.

Caracas Arepa Bar. 106-01 Shore Front Pkwy – GMAP. According to a 10/31 Facebook update, “Caracas Rockaway… totally destroyed as well as the whole peninsula… we were there yesterday and it s really sad… we will reach out for volunteers to help people out there as soon as we have a clear idea on how to do it properly.”

caracas-rockaways-november-13-2012

Image source: Caracas Arepa Bar Facebook page November 13, 2012

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11/20/12 3:45pm

Destruction of the Rockaway boardwalk more extensive than anyone could have imagined

The Rockaway boardwalk – home to fun, food, and memories – was totally trashed by Hurricane Sandy. In some areas, parts of the boardwalk were ripped off their foundations and strewn about inland. Other parts are simply gone, with only the concrete supports remaining. There are areas that looks “post-apocalyptic.” There are plans to rebuild, but the old debate of concrete-vs-wood is back when it comes to replacement materials. In the meantime, our hearts go out to those people in the area who are just working on making it through each day.

Cranky’s Cafe in LIC is up for sale

UPDATE (11/30/12): We have now learned that this business is no longer on the market. We learned this week that Cranky’s Cafe, which has gone, through some transformations, most recently serving French Louisiana food, is up for sale – the business, not the property. It seems like it’s on a good corner with plenty of visibility. Who knows what will happen there next food-wise, but we always have high hopes for something awesome. 

We love these photos of surfing in the Rockaways

Susannah Ray has put together a beautiful set of photos from the Rockaways from a simpler time – lots of surfing shots, photos of friends hanging out, and enjoying the lazy days of summer. We don’t doubt the surfing will stop, but when one turns around and sees the wreckage of the boardwalk, the reality of the situation comes back into focus. For now, enjoy these images of some of the beautiful memories of this special place.

Serious Eats discovers the egg and cheese sandwich from The Queens Kickshaw

Nice to see the fantastic egg and cheese sandwich at The Queens Kickshaw get some love from the Serious Eats crew. It’s a tiny bit unconventional, small but hugely flavorful, and a favorite here at QNYC. The most distinctive element of the sandwich is the thin, crunchy gruyere cheese layer on the outside of the sandwich, which adds textural and flavor interest. Highly recommended.

No Longer Empty is coming to LIC

Have you heard of No Longer Empty? Here’s what they are all about:

No Longer Empty is the brainchild of Manon Slome, a curator of modern and contemporary art with a focus on work that provokes dialogue.  When the 2008 financial meltdown began to manifest in business failures, she sought to address the ensuing feelings of loss and fear in New York City by putting art in the spaces they left.

The latest empty space that will be utilized by No Longer Empty is the clocktower building in Queens Plaza, otherwise known as the Bank of Manhattan, established there in 1924. Their installation How Much Do I Owe You? will run from December 12, 2012 – March 15, 2013. It will handle issues of “personal, societal or cultural ideas of currency, value and exchange.”

11/20/12 9:30am

lewandowski-rockaway-beach-boardwalk-after-hurricane-sandy

Image source: NYDN – Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski near Beach 101st Street

The NY Daily News reports on the “unprecedented” destruction of the Rockaway boardwalk caused by Hurricane Sandy. People knew it was bad but were still astonished at the damage. In the words of Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park), “A symbol of the destruction has been the boardwalk.” Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said, “It’s sheer devastation.”

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