High Tide
Best of luck to all the kids and teachers heading back to school this week.
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It might be tough to explain to your kids — or your DOE/schoolteacher friends — but summer isn’t quite over yet. Beaches remain officially open through next Sunday, September 7, and the boardwalk and Riis concessions are still running. One of Rockaway’s best-kept secrets is that this is always one of the nicest times of year to be on the peninsula.
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Congratulations to Rockaway’s newest restaurant, Similan on the Bay, at 375 Beach 92nd Street (formerly Thai Rock). It’s a beautiful location and a great addition to the community — we wish them the best of luck. For more details, see the story on page 6 of this week’s paper.
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Tonight, Thursday, August 28, we’ll announce the winner of the 2025 Rockaway Times Photo Contest. All photographers who earned a spot in the Top 30 or received an Honorable Mention have been invited to attend the reception. They’ll be able to take home their enlarged photo that has been displayed on the boardwalk and at the ferry landing since Memorial Day. The winner will receive a $500 Grand Prize and bragging rights for the year.
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Tomorrow, Friday, August 29, head to the St. Francis de Sales schoolyard for the beloved summer tradition, the 3 on 3 By the Sea Basketball Tournament. The event was started by Rockaway legend Clare Droesch and continues each year in her memory. Games begin at 10 a.m. and continue through the afternoon.
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Congratulations to the Summer Classic on completing its 41st season! This tournament keeps Rockaway’s basketball legacy alive by offering some of the best summer competition in New York City. The long-sleeve champion T-shirt remains one of the most coveted trophies around. Special thanks to Keith “Bugsy” Goldberg for all his hard work in keeping the Classic alive—and for his fantastic weekly write-ups in The Rockaway Times.
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As part of the EV-Evolve program, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will begin installing new DC fast chargers at the Rockaway Park Municipal Parking Field on Beach 116th Street starting Monday, September 8. The project will be completed in phases to minimize disruptions, though certain sections of the lot will be temporarily blocked off during construction. Work is expected to take about nine weeks. The new chargers are anticipated to go live in Spring 2026.
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Get your costumes and floats ready — the Poseidon Parade is coming soon! This annual tradition takes place on Saturday, September 27, at 1 p.m. Registration is open at poseidensparade.com, where you’ll also find more details about the day’s festivities.
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The Rockaway Beach Civic Association will host a virtual meeting on Thursday, September 4, at 7 p.m. via Zoom, featuring local elected officials (or their representatives) and the 100th Precinct. The October RBCA meeting will be in person at the Knights of Columbus on Thursday, October 2, with guest speaker Queens DA Melinda Katz. Follow @rbca_nyc for details.
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Slow down…more. New 15mph school zone speed limit signs recently went up along Rockaway Beach Blvd. from about Beach 109th to almost Beach 113th Street. This is in addition to the already-installed stop signs and speed cameras in the area.
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A reminder: There will be no trash collection on Labor Day, Monday, September 1. If your pickup day is Monday, place your trash out that evening for collection on Tuesday.
And while school may be back in session and it feels like summer is winding down, Rockaway’s weekend street parking rules remain in effect until September 30.
