F.I.B is still alive but moving kind of slow in this heatwave. I cooled off at Fort Tilden the other day. Amazing how it is located within New York City (on the Rockaway Peninsula, Queens) limits yet so ghostly, peaceful and natural. If it were not for the distant hazy skyline of Manhattan in the background, I would of thought I was on Fire Island or Cape Cod or something.
Fire Island does not have structures like this, which were built to
protect New York Harbor from foreign invaders. The appearance of it amongst the greenery reminded me of that scene in "Planet of the Apes" when Charlton Heston comes across the bombed out Statue of Liberty on the beach. Although not as
dramatic (not many can top Charlton in that department) Fort Tilden has that kind of vibe.
The insides of these structures have been bombed with some of the best graffiti I have seen around.
Everything looked fresh.
You quickly forget about those last vestiges of urbanness once you get past the remains of Fort Tilden and you are left with a peaceful, natural beach. On the the late afternoon I was there, there were hardly any other humans to be found. And the few that were there were au natural.
To learn more about Fort Tilden click
here.
F.I.B stayed till the sun set and found upon leaving the beach that the buildings on the grounds of Fort Tilden were no longer ghostly and had come to life. There was a lot going on! On Thursday nights the
Rockaway Artists Alliance has a free open mike starting at 8pm and there seemed to be some punk rock bands getting ready to go.
And! Upon seeing some men wearing skirts it was learned that the final dress rehearsal going on for "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum" by the Rockaway Theatre company. It's playing for the next couple of weeks. Click for the schedule
here. I am sorry I missed their production of one of my favorite movies,
Cactus Flower! The Odd Couple is coming up next!
Hope you are all keeping cool! You don't need to be rich to go to the beach, all you need is $4.50 or a bike to get you to Coney, Brighton, Riis Park, Fort Tilden and Rockaway Beach! While the beaches at Coney and Brighton are great for people watching and eating food and drink from the various vendors (both legal and illegal), the beaches in the Rockaways offer a more calming natural experience. Also!The pools are free! F.I.B has been swimming laps at the
Double-D pool in Gowanus. Click
here for a full list of NYC pools.
Between the beaches, the pools, the free outdoor concerts and movies, you have no excuse to complain that you are "stuck in the city this summer!"
Rockaway Beach near Beach 16th Street. 
I don't know WHAT the Ramone's were talking about because I found Rockaway Beach very hard to reach (at least from Brooklyn)but well worth it once you make it. The waves this afternoon were powered by Hurricane Earl. Surf's UP!
You can't really tell but there was a group of completely random people doing the "Thriller" dance routine in this photo.
Scene from the Michael Jackson birthday party in Prospect Park
F.I.B is still alive but moving kind of slow in this heatwave. I cooled off at Fort Tilden the other day. Amazing how it is located within New York City (on the Rockaway Peninsula, Queens) limits yet so ghostly, peaceful and natural. If it were not for the distant hazy skyline of Manhattan in the background, I would of thought I was on Fire Island or Cape Cod or something. 
Fire Island does not have structures like this, which were built to protect New York Harbor from foreign invaders. The appearance of it amongst the greenery reminded me of that scene in "Planet of the Apes" when Charlton Heston comes across the bombed out Statue of Liberty on the beach. Although not as dramatic (not many can top Charlton in that department) Fort Tilden has that kind of vibe.
The insides of these structures have been bombed with some of the best graffiti I have seen around. 
Everything looked fresh.
You quickly forget about those last vestiges of urbanness once you get past the remains of Fort Tilden and you are left with a peaceful, natural beach. On the the late afternoon I was there, there were hardly any other humans to be found. And the few that were there were au natural. 
To learn more about Fort Tilden click here.
And probably some old ones too, like F.I.B, who only knows about 3 bands out of the over 100 (Negative Approach, DOA, Mental Abuse)and is intrigued by a band named "Yankee Doodle Blitzkreig". The whole snarling lot are playing between ten and five on Sunday. How crazy is that? Something like 17 stages scattered around the island. And it's ALL FREE BABY! Even the boat ride, which takes all of five minutes. There is gonna be punk art there too! 
Outstanding workmanship! The symmetry was amazing and the detail!!! Steps! Gothic Style Windows! Flying Buttresses! 
And of course the beach, the water was divine. As I have said before, who needs the Hamptons and those annoying people that go there. Gimme Coney!
Notice the "beach closed" tape? Many people didn't!
It was infuriating to watch I have to say. I wouldn't trust these self involved Abercrombie & Fitch model wannabees with my life! I am sure there were beach goers on the shore that could be more trusted if there was a rescue situation. Rip tides are no joke but apparantly the joke is on the young children who are not being watched by paid so called "lifeguards".
Check out this lifeguard on a cigarette break BEHIND the lifeguard chair. Which, by the way no one sat in the whole day. I am not one to whistle blow on lazy workers but these guys are PATHETIC!
Yeah, everyone and their mother will be there but it might be good for the spectacle. The tour has been getting mixed reviews, apparently Pat has been acting bored and the Donnas have been cancelling. Maybe performing for a Brooklyn crowd in the Brighton Beach breezes will wake them up a little. 
Summer half over and you still haven't been to the beach? Why travel when you can stay local? The Shore Hotel in Coney Island is recession friendly! $170 a week or $40 for a "short stay".
I don't know much about birds but I think this is a hawk or a falcon. All i know is that it was quite large with a huge wingspan. Can anyone tell from this silhouette?
I don't know about you but when I see people walking around in this heat (over 90 degrees with a humidity factor that can kill!) with TIGHT skinny jeans and TIGHT T- shirts (really not an attractive look,no matter how skinny you are) I start feeling their discomfort. But then I have to remind myself that when I was a young girl, I used to stomp around NYC in black tights and combat boots in a 100 degree weather (and don't forget the heavy eye makeup!). Anyway digressing as usual, I was struck by this lady's style last week on 8th Avenue in Manhattan. 
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