5/23/09 Memorial Day Weekend: Water Taxi Beach Opens @ South Street Seaport

Secrets about Water Taxi Beach (S. St. Seaport location):

*300 tons of shipped-in sand

*Mini-gold course: plants taken from reforestation project in the Rockaways

*Approximately 3,000 ping-pong balls for table tennis

*Furniture from the Red Hook Real World

*Weekly Saturday Night Fever party with Studio 54 DJ Nicky Siano

*Five electric palm trees, 10 to 28 feet hight. About 3/4 mile of LED lights on each.

*Fish tacos!

*Come winter: sand, mini-golf course, etc. strored at Brooklyn Navy Yard

We’ve been to Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City, Queens, and are looking forward to its 2 new locations, at South Street Seaport and Govenor’s Island. Although the L.I.C. menu was limited and service was somewhat slow, our kids love playing in the sand, dancing to the fun music and the food was ok, so it was worth the trip. Tip: leave your Jimmy Choo sandals or sneakers at home and wear flip flops. Admission is free.

THIRD (AND FINAL) BEACH TO HIT NY HARBOR FOR SUMMER ‘09: WATER TAXI BEACH/SOUTH STREET SEAPORT

Harbor Experience Companies (HEC), recently formed by New York Water Taxi after the acquisition of Circle Line Downtown, will open a third Water Taxi Beach along the New York City waterfront this summer at South Street Seaport. Building upon the popularity of Water Taxi Beach/Long Island City and the much anticipated Water Taxi Beach/Governors Island, slated to open July 4, 2009, Water Taxi Beach/South Street Seaport will open on Memorial Day weekend on the north side of Pier 17 with spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge. No swimming allowed.

This Beach will cater to families in search of reasonably priced food and outdoor entertainment, without leaving town. This 18,000 square foot venue will feature the signature sandy beach where people can relax and take in the views of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge. Food and beverage will be available at a fish shack that will serve fish and chips, steamers, clams, and daily specials. Recreational opportunities will include a 9-hole miniature golf course, ping pong tables and skeeball with chances to win prizes like free rides aboard the thrill boat Shark and New York Water Taxi.

The only Beach in the HEC portfolio that is accessible by foot, bike, car, mass transit and of course New York Water Taxi, Water Taxi Beach/South Street Seaport will provide a new outdoor destination for lower Manhattan residents and will also host birthday parties, family celebrations and corporate events. There will be music at the Beach on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and an evening shuttle connecting Fulton Ferry Landing in Downtown Brooklyn with the two new Water Taxi Beaches at South Street Seaport and Governors Island giving New Yorkers access to a variety of waterfront destinations. Tom Fox, president of HEC said “Lower Manhattan is increasingly a family oriented neighborhood and Water Taxi Beach/South Street Seaport will be an exciting new venue New Yorkers can take their family and friends to for some relaxation on the waterfront. We hope that linking South Street, Governors Island and Fulton Ferry Landing with waterborne transport on weekend evenings will help make the waterfront a more popular recreational amenity.”

Updates on WTB/SSS can be found at www.harborexperience.com beginning in May.

MUSIC SCHEDULE:

The Beach in SSS (South Street Seaport), has it’s preview opening on May 23rd with DJ legend Nicky Siano

The SSS line up will be:
Sunday May 24 - Victor Franco plays a Top 40’s Mash Up
Monday May 25 - all day and all night, Nicodemus and Nappy G

Other weekends:
Every Friday - Melting Pot Global
Every Saturday - Nicky Siano (excluding Aug 29)