Queens For a Day

Going forth into the ocean is a sensory ritual that has always wrung the stress right out of my cells.  Few things are more pleasurable than stepping inside 71% of the world with your little foot.  I’m a sea lover… and not a chemical water lover. (I’m talking to you, pools!)  But despite weeks of unbearable heat and humidity, I haven’t been to the beach at all this summer, oddly.  So we hit the sand at Jacob Riis Park early to make the most of a Friday without time obligations.  [Above, the coolest sand bar ever that we weren’t brave enough to swim out to.  So we live vicariously through those folks who seemed to be walking on the water.]

It was a gorgeous beach day in the Rockaways, perhaps the most perfect beach day in most ways: sun, clear water with relaxing lapping waves with no riptide, not a lot of people around, good companies, and good sammies.

The sky and sea and me… and this seagull… and my friend. Oh shoot, there are more people coming. I hope they don’t sit near us.

I liked these colorful umbrellas peeking up from the jetty. The folks over the jetty were beach goers from the adjacent Fort Tilden. No lifeguard over there so there was a guy with a fishing pole in the water. Seems like a bad idea…

Afterwards, we hit Thai Rock.  This is secret little spot I discovered in the winter when I saw they offered “Thai crepe,” a street food option I devoured often in Thailand but is very difficult to find here in New York.  When I dined there in like February (when they were out of the dish–ugh), I spied their outdoor deck and knew I’d find my way there in the summer.  It’s the perfect spot for relaxing after the beach. There’s also a jet ski launch site there, if that’s your thing.

There is the delicious Thai crepe, named on their menu “Thai Dumpling” is steamed Thai-style crepe filled with ground peanut and sweet turnip topped with some crispy garlic. It is perfection. Its flavor brings back many memories.

We also got crispy taro and peanut cakes. Because potato and all its friends are so yummy. 

A lychee mojito to continue the stress extraction.  

Beach + shower + sundrunk nap = 😊