All stories about "Water Taxi Beach"
We've already learned that the Water Taxi Beach crew is helping out the new owners of Cheyenne Diner to turn it into a Red Hook destination when it opens next spring. But today we have a few new details: "...it will have waterfront views, a beer garden and an upgraded menu from the standard greasy spoon far. 'It’s going to be a little more upscale with a seasonal menu and maybe organic,' said Mike O’Connell, the new proud owner...His plans also call for on site parking and an outdoor movie screen with a spring 2009 opening." [BP; previously]
NY Mag's 2008 Cheap Eats Out Today
NY Mag's annual Cheap Eats edition is out today to tell you where to find meals for a dollar (note: we're talking dumplings, pizza, and meat on a stick), what cheap foods the city's famous chefs like, and how much the prices of certain staples have increased over the past year (Di Fara's made the biggest jump). The meatiest part of the issue, the 'Cheap List' by the Robs, is a useful reference and a nice summary of all the new places that have opened in the last year. However, as often happens with these kinds of pieces, one gets the sense that the Robs were trying to reach a quota here with some of their choices, more focused on grouping newcomers together in easily digestible categories than in making the best recommendations. That said, those two pack in a lot of info, and it merits a read through. The rest of it— the Consumer Price Index, the best meals under $5, the Water Taxi Beach/DB Bistro Moderne face off— is pure glossy mag gold.
· Eat Cheap 2008 [NYM]
Image via NYM
From the inbox, again from the folks at Water Taxi Beach: "We had such a good time giving away free BBQ Chicken this Sunday (July 6th) that we are doing it again. We have 3 cases of fresh young chicken (approx 200 1/2 chicken) and we are giving it all away starting about 5pm on Wednesday. Offer good until we have none left." [EaterWire]
From the Inbox: "Today, Sunday July 6th, Water Taxi Beach is giving FREE BBQ chicken, fresh young and hot off the grill all day long, we have 100's of chickens, we have Deepa Groves on the DJ console, please be 21 or older with valid ID." [EaterWire]
EaterWire: A Water Taxi Beach in Red Hook, the New York Yankees Steakhouse
RED HOOK— Some major news coming our way from the folks behind Water Taxi Beach— there will be a new WTB-like construction in Red Hook at the new Cheyene Diner space. The official word: "New York Water Taxi will be working with Red Hook developer Michael O'Connell to relocate the Cheyenne Diner to Red Hook and develop an attraction similar to Water Taxi Beach but different! The diner will have a beer garden outside and a will be one block from the water taxi dock at Fairway." [EaterWire]
THE BRONX— The Yankees are teaming up with the people behind Hard Rock Cafe to develop a "NYY Steak concept": "The prototype will be a 6,300-square-foot, year-round restaurant in the new Yankee Stadium, which is under construction in the Bronx." And because thar obviously isn't enough they also plan to open a 7,000 square foot Hard Rock Cafe in the stadium, yet neither restaurant will have a view of the field. [NRN]
— photo credit
Curious to know what everyone's favorite fake beach spot/bar looks like after some torrential downpours and thunder and lightning storms? East Village Idiot was there during the squall last Saturday and has the photo to prove it. [EVI]
Water Taxi Beach Salmon BBQ to Save Salmon
We just received the following curious announcement along with the photo to the right from the lovely folks at Water Taxi Beach:
We have Fin the Wild Salmon -- a 25 foot model of a wild Salmon, that Kids can climb inside of, at WTB this Saturday. Fin will be here when we open at Noon, and we are putting some Wild Salmon BBQ on the menu as well.Nothing like a good ol' wild salmon cookout when you're raising awareness for a conservation group trying to restore wild salmon populations. Antithetical to the campaign or not, at least the kiddies will learn what it's like to eat (and climb inside of!) wild salmon.
· Save Our Wild Salmon [Official Site]
· All Water Taxi Beach Coverage [~E~]
Beach Wars: There's a New Boozy Beach Spot in Town!
Yesterday, Gowanus Lounge brought news of Beer Island, a new outdoor drinking spot, complete with trucked in sand, right off the boardwalk in Coney Island. Says GL: "...might best be described as a little bit of Water Taxi Beach, but without the East River and in Coney Island. We’re predicting big things for it this summer." You can say that again. Located on what was once a mini-golf course, the stretch of sand could prove a fun hangout if the owners add some food to their beer heavy menu. But could it be so fun as to rival resident fun fake beach spot Water Taxi Beach? Let's put them head to head to find out:
The Crowd
WTB: Manhattanites too broke/lazy to go to the real beach. Young, hip crowd getting food and drinks after P.S. 1's weekly Warm Up parties. The crowd skews young, drunken, fun.
BI: We'll have to make an official spot check but from what we hear the place isn't nearly as crowded as Water Taxi Beach. We're betting it will draw the hipsters and the yuppies yes, but mixed in with Coney Island regulars.
Food
WTB: Water Taxi Beach doesn't just serve burgers, they win awards for them. They've also got hot dogs, chili dogs, fries, and in July and August, Friday Night Chicken BBQ! There is no contest here.
BI: This being 'Beer' Island, they have a lot of standard brews on offer but only hot dogs in the way of food. We'd be surprised if they don't ramp up the operation and have more options when summer really gets going. Or perhaps Harry Hawk should get in on the action and form some sort of partnership with the owners.
EaterWire: WTB Officially Open, Grand Central Herring Fest, Toqueville's Fancy Greenmarket Menu, and More SATC Gimmicks
LONG ISLAND CITY— Water Taxi Beach is officially open for the season. Who needs the Hamptons this weekend when you've got some burgers, the East River and trucked in sand...? [WTB]
GRAND CENTRAL— We weren't aware, but apparently the new herring season is something to celebrate. Starting Tuesday, June 3, The Grand Central Oyster Bar will hold their annual Holland Herring Festival "celebrating the arrival of 'nieuwe maatjes' herring from the Netherlands." Admission to "opening day ceremonies" is free. [EaterWire]
Gimmicks galore at Blue Water Grill, Toqueville.>>Water Taxi Beach officially opens for the season in exactly 24 hours. Get your ferry plans in order. [WTB]
EaterWire: Hill Country Brunch, Turntables at WTB Canceled
GRAMERCY— From the press release: "Hill Country will serve Sunday Tex-Mex Brunch every week from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. In addition to offering the award-winning Texas-style barbecue Hill Country is known for, Sunday Brunch will include a selection of Tex-Mex classics, available à la carte or as a five-item $25 prix-fixe menu." [EaterWire]
LONG ISLAND CITY— Water Taxi Beach is canceling its inaugural Turntables event tonight: "This evening was slated to be the opening night for the ultrafun Turntables on the Hudson fiesta’s Water Taxi Beach series of parties—but we just got the below missive from the gang. Phooey! 'Hello everyone—we’re very sorry to have to cancel the party on our first night of the season, but there’s a certain amount of rain...'" [TONY]
EaterWire: WTB's First Event, Minetta Tavern Closing in Two Weeks, The Surf Lodge to Open in Montauk,
LONG ISLAND CITY— Water Taxi Beach holds its first event of the season this weekend. They won't open for regular free admittance burger and beer enjoyment until May 22nd, but if you want to pay $20 for a beachy DJ Dance party, you might want to check it out. [WTB via Joey in Astoria]
GREENWICH VILLAGE— Minetta Tavern, which Keith McNally bought and is converting into a French restaurant, will close on May 6 according to Cutlets: "If you’re the nostalgic type, rather than the "can’t wait to see what Keith does with it" type (perhaps you’d rather remember the Waverly or the Beatrice the way they were), you might want to get to onetime speakeasy Minetta Tavern before its last night under the current ownership — May 6." McNally has said he will debut the new restaurant in the fall, so it could be closed all summer. [Cutlets]
Montauk news, ahead.>>The Week in Eater: Ippudo Preview, Sand in at WTB, Manuel Out at Dos Caminos, and More
It's time for the Week in Eater, where we review some of the week's most interesting and newsworthy stories via a convenient and attractive photo gallery.
This week's top stories: Ippudo Sneak Preview, Sand in at Water Taxi Beach, Top Chef's Manuel out at Dos Caminos, Mega Plywood Report, North West Restaurant Seized, Scouting out the Kefi Location, The Saga of the Sosas.
Signs of Spring: Putting the 'Beach' into Water Taxi Beach
It's no Cozumel or Costa Rica or wherever you kids are spending Spring Break these days, but this is a sight for sore eyes for New Yorkers craving warmer weather and a juicy burger out by the East River. This week the owners of LIC's parking lot turned summer playground Water Taxi Beach had 500 tons of sand trucked in to make the transformation happen once again. Says WTB's manager Harry Hawk writes: "In the 2008 season, Water Taxi Beach will double its space to about 44,000 sq ft. Delivery has started on an additional 500 tons of sand. The sand placed down in 2005 was 400 tons and came from NJ. This new sand is from Long Island." Spring has officially begun.
· LIC Tries to Ruin Summer, Calls Water Taxi Beach a 'Public Nuisance [~E~]
· Signs of Spring: WTB Ferry Service [~E~]
LIC Tries to Ruin Summer, Calls Water Taxi Beach a 'Public Nuisance'
The coolest public nuisance in Queens; Flickr/experience_collector
Looks like Bouley wasn't the only restaurateur getting skewered at a community board meeting this week. The Queens Gazette is reporting that Tom Fox, owner of LIC impromptu summer beach and hot dog stand Water Taxi Beach, had to listen to charges that his business was a public nuisance at a CB2 meeting last night. The charge? All those drunks out cavorting on the weekends:
"But, detractors said, when the sun goes down on summer weekends, trouble begins, particularly toward and into the early morning. An alleged source of disruption is P.S. 1, the Museum for Contemporary Art, which holds weekend events in its yard on Jackson Avenue. When they are concluded, according to this version of events, many of the celebrants go looking for further alcoholic consumption down at Water Taxi Beach...The complaints came mainly from workers at the Waterfront Crabhouse...many persons, several of them barely qualified to drink legally, come up from the beach and into the restaurant to use the restrooms or to continue drinking. If refused service or told the restrooms are for patrons only, they often become obstreperous..."Kind of sounds like someone is jealous that all the cool kids are having fun next door. WTB responds, next.>>
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