By Erin Walsh
Ah, summer. What better way to savor the season’s rapidly dwindling steamy nights than with a cold brew or a specialty drink at one of the borough’s most innovative outdoor watering holes?
If this summer’s staycation has left you yearning for a seaside retreat, hop on down to Long Island City’s Water Taxi Beach, on the river at Borden Avenue and Second Street, for a slice of the shore that just happens to have a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline. Patrons can bring their own blankets, chairs and beach toys to partake in beachy diversions including volleyball and live music such as Turntables on the Hudson on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“There’s nothing like it in Long Island City,” said Water Taxi Beach spokeswoman Stacey Sherman.
No dogs or coolers are permitted, but Harry’s snack shack and bar serves up affordable eats, including black angus beef hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches, as well as vegan-friendly grub, such as potato salad and soy hot dogs.
Harry’s is also your destination for drinks, which cost between $9 and $12, including the bar’s “famous sangria” and the Blue Finn, a warm-weather-friendly concoction of fresh blueberries, fresh ginger juice, pomegranate reduction and Bulldog gin, said Sherman.
Admission is free on Sundays in August unless otherwise noted. Long Island City residents always get in free if they present ID verifying their address, said Sherman. On Fridays and Saturdays between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., New York Water Taxi operates free shuttle service between Hunters Point and East 35th Street in Manhattan, so invite your Manhattan friends to share a drink in the sand. Visit watertaxibeach.com for more information.
For an ultra-glam evening in Queens, head to the recently opened Rooftop at Long Island City’s Ravel Hotel, located at 8-08 Queens Plaza South. You’ll feel like an extra on “Entourage” with the bar’s private cabanas, bottle service and unobstructed views of Manhattan.
The distinctive bar caters to a mixed crowd of both local residents and Manhattanites mainly between the ages of 25 and 45, said general manager Brandon Philpart-Tyson. Besides beer for $6 and $7 and mixed drinks that range from $11 to $15, the Rooftop also offers a full-service café with an Asian fusion menu including such fare as chicken lollipops, sesame tuna sashimi and chipotle duck confit that ranges in price from $8 to $15.
Prime times to visit the Rooftop are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the bar’s most popular night, for the Sunset Sessions mixed-music event. There is no cover charge on Sunday night, but there is a two-drink minimum after 7 p.m., said Philpart-Tyson.
Catch your favorite city on celluloid on Mondays, when the Rooftop shows such New York screen gems as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” When Harry Met Sally” and “Saturday Night Fever.” The festivities, with free popcorn, begin at 9 p.m.
For those with more refined palates, head to the Rooftop on Tuesdays to taste aged whiskey and enjoy hand-rolled cigars while listening to classic rock. The Rooftop offers theme nights and specials virtually every evening, so visit ravelhotel.com for more information.
Valet parking is available for Rooftop guests for less than $5, said Philpart-Tyson. The hotel provides free shuttle service to the Queens Plaza, 21 St-Queensbridge and Queensboro Plaza subway stations until 11 p.m., with private car service available for $5 after 11 PM, he said.
Devotees of Astoria institution Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden may enjoy a new take on the traditional beer garden concept at Long Island City’s Studio Square. The “new-age beer hall,” located at 35-33 36th Street in Astoria, draws patrons from all five boroughs and surrounding states, said by co-owner Larry Cerullo.
“It’s a great place to come and relax,” he said. “The best thing that I can compare it to is being in your backyard, for people in apartments who don’t have backyards.”
Guests can enjoy an evening or afternoon lounging at one of Studio Square’s picnic tables interspersed with fire pits for less than $20, which includes two beers and a burger, Cerullo said. All beer pitchers are $18. The bar also offers a sushi menu, with items ranging between $6 and $8, he said.
Cerullo advises guests to arrive at Studio Square early to get seats, relax and enjoy themselves.
“This venue is a very relaxed atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a great place to meet friends and enjoy.”
