The Rockaplay Social Club opened last week—congratulations to co-owners Emily Arikian and Corinne Sommer! As moms, career professionals, Arverne residents, and founders of this women-owned and operated space, they’ve created something truly special with a much-needed children’s play center on the peninsula. Like many of us, I’ve been following their build-out journey on Instagram (@rockaplaysocialclub). The design and branding are spot-on, and the play space is absolutely adorable, featuring a bodega, an ocean-themed cubby, a construction play zone, and more!
Here’s a great idea, support Rockaplay and give an awesome gift to your parent friends or family at the same time—a gift card to play! Available for purchase online.
Emily and Corinne’s mission: “To create a warm, safe, and nurturing community for parents, caretakers, and families.” Along with open play hours and birthday parties, Rockaplay offers specialized learning for children ages 0-6 years old, including Little Movers Music Class, Theater Play Workshop, Tiny Talkers Social Club, Prenatal Yoga, Baby and Me Yoga, and other pop-up events.
And guess what? They’re also offering an art class, and I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be the instructor! Here are the details:
Sight, touch, sound, and scent — Miss Paula’s Sensory Art Experience class for 2-4 year-olds is all about sparking creativity and discovery! This four-week workshop takes inspiration from the colorful transition of fall to the warm, layered textures of winter, creating a playful and inviting atmosphere for little artists to learn. Through these sensory-rich art activities, children will connect with elements of nature and express their emotions and ideas creatively. Each class will flow through three elements: engagement, hands-on art-making, and reflection. Caregivers are encouraged to join in the open-ended art activities, as modeling is a key part of both learning and family fun!
Class schedule: Tuesdays 4 p.m – 5 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.
Visit rockaplaysc.com for class sign-up! Rockaplay Social Club is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and on Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Visit at 68-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Arverne, NY 11692. For more information, you can email rockaplaysc@gmail.com or call (718) 635-1752. Follow on Instagram @rockaplaysocialclub for all the updates.
As the off-season settles in, Others on Beach 97th and the boardwalk invites us back for a second year of community dining, whale-gazing, hot coffees in cold wetsuits, a place to walk to when you feel weird inside, a spot to fall in love, a place to cry, and a space for creative gatherings and music listening.
Others is a collaboration between the culinary talents of Washed Up Cafe (@washedup.nyc) and Brothers (@brothersrockaway), bringing Rockaway folks bold coffees, breakfast burritos loaded with tater tots, creamy ricotta toast with sweet carrot toppings, warm pesto egg sandwiches, dopamine-style sweet treats, Zak Daddy smash burgers, and pop-up dinners by guest chefs.
This Saturday I’ll be teaching the first collage workshop from 10am-3pm. All supplies are provided, just bring your creativity! This event is free. Flyer designed by Carolin Wood.
Kimchi toast with an over-easy egg is one of my favs for breakfast at Others.
Flyer designed by @deathspan
Here’s what’s happening at Others this season:
- Operating Hours: Others is open Thursday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch from 8 AM to 3 PM through December 8th. Don’t miss a day.
- Friday Nights: A menu featuring Zak’s signature cheeseburgers and Brothers’ popular fish sandwiches.
- Saturday Nights: Special guest chef pop-up dinners, with unique menus and a lively atmosphere with band and DJ’s.
- Art Club: Carolin Wood’s beloved collage workshop is back. Adults, children, family’s and dogs are welcome. Check her Instagram page (@carolin_wood) for dates, times and more details. There will be other creative events and special guest artists (Ehem!). Join for inspiring experiences that will spark your imagination.
Others celebrates the awkward time in Rockaway after the wild ride of summer and before the holiday frazzle. Actually, this time of year is called… calm = fun. It’s a time for shifting perspectives, inviting us to appreciate the simple joys and connect with our missed connections, and embrace the spirit of change.
For more on where to be during the off-season, follow The Tomato on Instagram – @theglorifiedtomato
The Beach 91st Street Community Garden is organizing a Thanksgiving food drive to support families and individuals in need. Food insecurity affects many and often it goes unseen. During the upcoming holiday season, it’s more important than ever to come together and help our neighbors. And with this, the members of the garden hope to build solidarity and care within Rockaway.
A wide range of donations will be accepted, including non-perishable food, (canned and boxed, etc.) baby food, prenatal vitamins, senior vitamins, essential toiletries, women’s care products, diapers, and pet food. These items will help cover basic needs for individuals and families, so everyone can have a more comfortable and joyful holiday season.
Monetary gifts are also accepted through Venmo – @beach91communitgarden. 100% of these funds will go to purchasing food. Additionally, gift cards from our local eateries and businesses are welcome.
The drop-off location is across from the Beach 91st Street Community Garden at 125 Beach 91st Street, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693. You’ll find a labeled donation bin on the porch. All contributions will be delivered to the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry, offering essential support to our neighbors just in time for Thanksgiving.
Here are the facts about food insecurity in Queens:*
- Over 250,000 residents of Queens experience food insecurity, struggling to consistently afford nutritious meals.
- Immigrant communities in Queens are particularly impacted, as many families are ineligible for federal aid like SNAP, even though they face significant economic hardship.
- Eastern Queens has some of the city’s most severe food deserts, where access to fresh, affordable groceries is limited, forcing residents to rely on convenience stores and fast food.
- Children are disproportionately affected: Nearly 1 in 4 children in Queens face hunger, often relying on school meal programs for their primary source of nutrition.
- Senior citizens in Queens are highly vulnerable, with many living on fixed incomes and experiencing food insecurity due to rising living costs.
- High housing costs in Queens mean many families are forced to make tough choices between paying rent and buying food.
- Community food pantries and soup kitchens have seen a dramatic increase in demand, with organizations like the Food Bank For NYC and local churches providing critical relief to thousands of households.
- Grassroots efforts: Community gardens and mutual aid groups in Queens have become crucial in addressing food insecurity, distributing fresh produce and groceries to neighbors in need.
Please consider contributing to the Beach 91st Street Community Garden’s Nourishing Neighbors Food Drive. Your support will make a meaningful difference for people in our neighborhood struggling to make ends meet. For updates and more information, follow the Beach 91st Street Community Garden’s IG page – @beach91communitygarden.
*Source: NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), Feeding America, Queens Together, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
I recently visited the newly opened Far Rockaway Library, and it was such a wonderful experience that I have to share it with you. The modern, pyramid-shaped building sits at the corner of Central and Mott Ave., standing out against the hodgepodge of storefronts that line the street. It’s especially striking if you’re familiar with the area—you can really sense its impact. The building features vibrant yellow and gold ombre tones with graphic, organic line drawings from top to bottom. Combined with reflections of the surrounding buildings and passersby on the façade, it shouts – new and modern Far Rock. It serves as a visual introduction to what awaits inside.
Walking through the door feels expansive and layered. The theme of movement from the exterior continues throughout the interior with translucent colored panels that reflect everything. I watched as people passed by the glass, noticing different shapes and color changes with each step. Looking up, the towering ceiling is stately. The metal, brass-colored material gives the space an urban edge, with a repeating polygon design. Triangles and points are clearly a theme throughout the whole library. Perhaps they symbolize progress, direction, stability, and points of connection.
The museum-like interior
On the upper walls of the library, I noticed a design resembling the modern line tattoos everyone has these days. I was intrigued. It turns out this is an artwork by Mexican artist Pablo Helguera called the “Feynman Code.” It honors Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, who grew up in Far Rockaway. Helguera created an alphabet using Feynman diagrams, replacing letters with symbols representing subatomic particle behavior. Two phrases are encoded in the library: one by poet Emily Dickinson, “The brain is wider than the sky,” and one by Feynman, “I, a universe of atoms, an atom in the universe.” This is so special!
Can you believe a world-renowned architecture firm designed the Far Rockaway Library? I can’t, but it’s true. Snøhetta is the firm responsible. They partnered with Brooklyn-based contemporary artist José Parlá, who designed the panels on the library’s exterior that I mentioned earlier called, Style Writing (2022). The artwork represents a blend of the many languages spoken in the Far Rockaway community and integrates the community’s urban essence.
It feels good to see such a significant architectural and artistic investment in Far Rockaway. It seems to signal a positive step in the neighborhood’s long-promised revitalization by our city officials.
As far as library resources, on the first floor, you’ll find the book drops, an information center, a teen library, and a space for community events like workshops, book readings, and job fairs. There’s also an outdoor garden area with tables. I was sold on the spot.
As you head up the wide staircase to the second floor, you’ll find the computer learning and business resource center, where you can use the printer for up to 20 black-and-white copies. There are librarians here, ready to help if you need assistance. There’s a meeting room and many reading areas for both adults and children. There are tables with multiple outlets for charging phones or laptops. The internet is good! The magazine section, one of my favorite places to visit in a library, is ample and current. Finally, there is a collection of over 27,000 books. What stood out to me was how, despite the vast number of books, the space itself feels so expansive that the collection seems smaller than it is. It’s an interesting contrast, but rest assured, the books are certainly there!
Having some fun with light reflections at the Far Rockaway Library!
The Far Rockaway Library is a free WeWork for East Rockaway. It’s a place to think, sit, and absorb ideas. It’s a space to surround yourself with art. It’s a place that feels alive. The library is a community hub for learning, education, and gathering, with endless potential for the Far Rockaway neighborhood and all who visit.
To learn more about Far Rock’s fantastic new library, check out the Queens Library page. The library is located at 1637 Central Ave., with 24/7 book drop-off and wheelchair access. (718) 327-2549.
Source: This is a link to an informative press release outlining some past history of the Far Rockaway Library Branch and the new building’s architectural details, and its use model.
