Rockaway Roundup

Rockaway Beach, Queens—the little piece of land just beyond Jamacia Bay—has gotten so much new attention in the past few years. On Saturday, we collectively held our breath as hurricane Irene approached this fragile place. I’ve heard stories of past Rockaway hurricanes, and how the ocean would greet the bay with disregard for the unsuspecting sandy-land between.

I am acutely aware of the ways that people view and interact with this city beach because my parents met at Rockaway Beach. For them, summer was synonymous with this place. For me, I just have a peculiar case of nostalgia for a place I never even knew. Rockaway has changed since my parents were out there, but what’s interesting is, it’s changing again. I like to think of it as a re-birth of cool.

Here is a roundup of some links to Rockaway’s past and present:

My Rockaway

Hurricane Donna Hits the Rockaways, 1960

Rockaway Tenacity

Hurricane Irene’s Aftermath

Rockaway Taco

Catch the A train ~~~~ and ~a~~wave~~~

Inside a Reimagined Beach Bungalow

Rockaway in the NY Times Fashion & Style Section

Rockaway Photo Booth from The New Yorker

Late Summer Rockaway Guide from Time Out NY

and of course, The Ramones, 1977