King of Queens

Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s first “urban resort boutique hotel” is opening next month and, while it’s poised to be a hit among tourists, it’s doubtful that the neighborhood’s core demo will be shelling out for the private poolside cabanas. Rather, they’ll likely be heading to Queens’ more egalitarian Rockaways, where a spate of new cultural happenings is positioning the beach community as a sort of hipster Hamptons.

Rock Beach: For the past six summers, creative agency JellyNYC’s Pool Parties have served up Sunday bacchanalias of free concerts. Last year’s swan song, in Williamsburg’s East River State Park, marked the end of an era, but the spirit will live on this summer at the inaugural Rock Beach series. The six-week concert event is moving into Floyd Bennett Field, former site of New York City’s first municipal airport. Though details remain vague, artists expected include Odd Future, Fleet Foxes, and Hercules and the Love Affair. Attendees may not need to even worry about being too buzzed to bike home: if enough sponsorship dollars come through, they’ll be able to camp at the site overnight.

Rockaway Beach Food Stands: While most boardwalk cuisine is limited to juvenile fantasy ‘meals’ of fries, soft serve and cotton candy, a new slate of Rockaway Beach eateries is more akin to the type featured in an Edible Communities publication. Among the big names joining urban pioneer Rockaway Taco this summer are Caracas, Blue Bottle Coffee and BabyCakes. Famed wood-fired pizzeria Roberta’s and local, sustainable butcher shop The Meat Hook are teaming up on Rippers, a gourmet burgers-and-dogs surf shack. And Motorboat & the Big Banana, a new venture from Jean Adamson (Vinegar Hill House) and Lindsay Robinson (Diner, Bonita) promises to preserve the beach fries tradition, alongside oyster po’ boys and fish and chips.

Veggie Island: Last summer, a modest farm stand adjacent to the aforementioned Rockaway Taco introduced local fruits and vegetables to Rockaway Beach. While providing fresh berries to surfers was laudable on its own, this year the produce purveyors behind Veggie Island are thinking bigger. After reaching their $15,000 fundraising goal on Kickstarter this month, they’re aiming to expand beyond merely importing Hudson Valley greens for summer salads. Rather, Veggie Island “wants to foster the natural connections between the people, their environment, and the food we eat.” This will happen through the launch of an expanded retail venue, as well as a community outreach program that will encompass gardening, cooking, youth internships, and environmental educational programs.