Posts categorized as Community

My fit form has lost its shape since surfing days have dramatically slowed …ugh winter. Not only that, when I’m not active, I get, as they say, “Down in the dumps.” Exercising releases endorphins and serotonin that improve our mood. This is why you’ll hear people say, “I’m addicted to the gym.” This is an addiction we can all embrace in 2023. That feeling of feeling good after a workout is everything. Lately, I’ve noticed some friends sharing stories on IG of their workouts at Goodform Studio. The gym opened […]

“Carrots struck again at the free fridge.,” read a text from my friend Mike B. Every so often a very large, beautiful bag of multi-colored carrots are donated to the community fridge at 166 Beach 92nd St. The carrot drop is a mystery to many and we’d love to know who the generous carrot-donator is? Please come forward! I took some purple carrots. I decided to make a creamy carrot soup with fresh herbs and garlic. Soup calls to us during the cold winter months. Carrots of many colors have […]

Since the first week of November the deliciously dynamic duo La Brotheria, has been open at the 97th Street Concession. La Fruteria (@lafruterianyc) and Brothers (@brothersrockaway) joined kitchens, serving us breakfast, lunch, and a diverse taste with guest pop-up dinners all month. It’s been a joy for so many of us. As we all know, winters can be difficult in Rockaway… you know, the quick shift from the lively, sunny, summer to chilly, unconsolable nothingness. Personally, having La Brotheria as a gathering place to meet friends and enjoy great food […]

Mckenzie Dowler gets a photo with Skelly after a surf sesh. It was late at night. I was in bed looking on craigslist in hopes of finding the elusive 12 foot Home Depot Skeleton on the black market. No luck. But then, like a magic rabbit popping out of a velvet hat, there he was, back in stock on homedepot.com. Clicking “purchase” gave me a sensational rush of power. I hit the freedom button. It’s not often that a big box store gives society a big communal gift. There is […]

There’s a new women-owned and operated event/art space now open in Rockaway Beach. I was thrilled when I heard about Vazio’s opening and I’m eager to share some details with you. Experience Vazio NYC on Sunday, October 16th from 1-6pm at the debut reception. Join co-owners, Goodform’s Monice Small and Rock Rock Hair’s Patricia Silva at ‘SNEAK PEAK’, a group art show featuring the works of Victoria Barber, Carolin Wood, Eric Anderson, DJ Schmidt, Saara Untracht-Oakner, Laura Glambman, Matt Jackson, Riley, and Juan Heredia. The majority of artists are Rockaway […]

What do cookies, sea God plush toys, rad guitar riffs, and a surfboard that amps out DJ vibes have to do with each other? Nothing, except that all will be present at the Beach 91st Street Garden tomorrow, Saturday, Oct 8th, from 1-4 p.m. Get Baked With Sea Monsters is the community gardens end of season event. Here’s the skinny: Enjoy delicious homemade baked goods and coffee for sale, made by garden members. Expect corn muffins, caramel apple tarts, chocolate chip cookies, decadent brownies, chocolate rice crispy treats, vegan and […]

Beloved community member, Timothy Miles is leaving Rockaway for a new chapter in his life. Timothy is a Rockaway celebrity,  known as “The Selfie King.” He’s on the A-List with the likes of Rockaway Rod, The Ginger Ladd, Gio Fernandez-Kincade, and The Best Dressed Man in Rockaway. Timothy is a selfie photographer. He has documented the culture of Rockaway since 2015 through his flipped lens – everywhere from the beach to the boulevard and in the bars. One of the many group shots taken of Tim’s friends. There were about […]

 A month ago, I wrote about an experience with Don Riepe, our beloved The Jamaica Bay Guardian. He stopped by the Beach 91St Street Community Garden to give a talk on what we can do as a community to help protect the monarch butterfly. We learned about their habitat, migration, life cycle and feeding. The takeaway – plant an abundant amount of milkweed and goldenrod in your garden. We also discussed the importance of other pollinators and their vital role in our ecosystem. To learn more, Don told us to […]

From Left to Right – Diane Cardwell, Don Riepe, Charley The Dog, Kristi Dickerson   The New York Times published an article last week stating the monarch butterfly has been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The Times informed, “In 2020, U.S. wildlife officials found that monarchs were threatened with extinction but declined to add them to the endangered species list because they said conservation of other species took priority…. Eastern monarchs, which make up most of the population in North America, dropped by […]

The soil is the canvas. The hues of flowers are the paint. The texture of leaves and branches are the brushes. A garden is a painting. Some paintings are completed in a day, some in a year or many years. A garden is ever-changing and its picture is never finished. Each garden I pass on the street speaks to the individuality of the gardener and their personal creative expression. These living canvases, small or large, are intended to be seen by passersby, to call forth reaction or to showcase beauty. […]