Water Taxi Beach: a Curbed Guided Tour

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, by Joey

You may not know it, but we're obsessed with Long Island City's Water Taxi Beach. Ever since news of it broke last year, we've wanted to visit this thin strip of imported Jersey Shore sand along Queens' riverfront, but you know, it's in Queens. Then it wasn't summer anymore. But the beach reopened for the season on Memorial Day weekend, and PBR-shortage be damned, we pledged to board the—what'sitcalled?—oh yeah, the 7 Train, and see what all the fuss was about. We made it, barely, and we were greeted by an interesting collision of families, Brooklyn hipsters and Upper East Siders fresh off the Water Taxi itself. Above you see the entranceway that greets your arrival to the beach. After the jump, a quick tour of the premises.

Once you walk in, to the left you have the bar and food shacks. It was opening weekend and they were a little light on supplies. Promised elk burgers became hot dogs-or-nothing, and the only beers were Jever and Graffel until Magic Hat arrived later in the afternoon (oh, precious PBR!). The daiquiris were great, however, and only $7.50!

Then you get to the picnic table area, where waitress service is available. Claiming a picnic table early is key Water Taxi Beach strategy, for when you want to take a break from the sand and get into a fierce game of Uno.

It's a weird vibe, because you have people in jeans and sneakers not giving into the faux-beach experience, and then people who go all out. Those are the people in swim trunks who fly kites. They actually believe they're at the beach...

...until the wind off the East River gets their kite tangled up in the fence that prevents you from actually touching any water.

To the right of the picnic zone is the open sand area, so bring your beach towel and sprawl out. It got fairly crowded around 3 p.m., so there wasn't much room for paddle ball and badminton, although people tried. Oh, how they tried. Across the water is the biggest reminder that you're in Long Island City and not the Hamptons. Curse you, United Nations.

At the far end of Water Taxi Beach is a big tent, where people were—no joke—swing dancing to the DJ's tunes, which were a little too loud for our old man ears. There's also another bar over there, where the Magic Hat was being served up.

Bye-bye Water Taxi Beach! See you maybe next year!
· Water Taxi Beach [watertaxibeach.com]

Filed under City Life, Queens: Long Island City,

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Comments (12 extant)

Funny how I stopped over there myself this weekend. (not to actually enjoy the place but b/c my friend needed to use their porter-potties). It's a great place and the price / view is definately attractive however if or maybe its more like 'when' this place gets too crowded, all the luster will be lost. Luckily its down an odd parking lot path which should help keep at least a few people away...

By staten islander at May 30, 2006 11:48 AM

Wow, Curbed owned that place! Note my nightime photo pool shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jedman/154836621/

btw, huge pain to get to this weekend with a water taxi that doesn't actually exist yet in williamsburg (despite a map and schedule that says otherwise), a messed up uptown G train, and a 7 train shuttlebus who got lost(!).

By jman at May 30, 2006 12:00 PM

Ended up going Fri/Sat nights. Took the family. Had a great time.

The 5 minute walk makes it even better.

Jake

By Jake at May 30, 2006 12:44 PM

what - no picture of the hydroplane take-off?

By janelle at May 30, 2006 2:29 PM

I went down there last summer to take a look. After seeing I had to run a gauntlet of port-o-potties, I turned back.

www.forgotten-ny.com

By Kevin Walsh at May 30, 2006 3:32 PM

Now, if they would only have a pool in a barge floating next to the beach that would really make this a must-see destination.

By Arnie H. at May 30, 2006 3:39 PM

Please, please, please. STOP writing about WTB.

This hidden jewel is the last place that I want any more pasty WBurg hipsters or UES/Murray Hill twenty somethings ruining a good vibe (see PS 1 circa 2004). Keep her safe from the Sheeps Meadow slumming hordes.

Leave it alone. I promise I will take care of making sure the PBR is finished each weekend and keep as much Elk Burger business flowing as possible.

Just please, no more publicity. They are already chrging $150 a head to watch fireworks there on the 4th. Next will be entrance lines, "private parties", baseball cap wearing meatheads and incessant cell phone chatter.

I beg of you.

Thanks.

By KeepIt Secret at May 30, 2006 5:31 PM

Want your own private waterfront spread, "keepitsecret"? Start saving your money. Until then, take your sense of entitlement, find a nice dark hole, and shove it.

By Matthew at May 31, 2006 1:29 AM

Matthew -

The posting was done in good humor, which obviously you have none.

Such anger! Have I struck a nerve? Is your trucker hat just quivering with anger or is it the fact that you and your 2nd year analyst frat buddies want to ruin another fine institution?

It's called preservation, not entitlement. Entitlement is when people like you feel they can tramp all over a place then move on. . .which seems what always happens to the low-key hangout spots in NYC.

Take it easy. Your unwarrented rage belies deeper issues. Inability to buy in the city, or just get a date?

By KeepIt Secret at May 31, 2006 10:45 AM

10.

Harry here from the Beach. Thanks for visiting...

Last year we had many more night time visitors than day time.. so this was a rather interesting weekend.

For the record, we would love a swimming barge as well...

The Elk burgers will 100% make it from Idaho this weekend...

By Harry Hawk at May 31, 2006 11:38 AM

11.

Gaffell?!?!? Jever?!?!? Sounds like I'll be drinking radlers all summer long.

By Barry Zuckercorn at June 2, 2006 11:45 AM

12.

Hey -- don't fret the no PBR -- just heard Water Taxi Beach will be serving up a Schaefer happy hour -- 16 oz. for $2. (" Schaefer is the one beer to have when you're having more than one").

By mark at June 7, 2006 12:11 PM