Broad Channel Beach House
This past weekend, we took a trip to New York with some friends, and I had the chance to show them the beach house.
The house has been in our family for generations, and so many childhood memories were made swimming off the deck and spending time with the family. It was originally bought by my great-grandmother Helen, an inspiring woman and true matriarch. She worked as the head chef at a major bank in Manhattan and was the breadwinner for her family - a rarity at the time. She discovered the house while across the street at the swim club our family used to attend during the summers (which has since been turned into a really beautiful property).
As the story goes, when the previous owners mentioned the house was for sale, she knew she wanted it. My great-grandfather told her that if she bought it, he’d divorce her. She bought it anyway - and of course, he stayed.
The house sits on the tiny island community of Broad Channel, tucked between Brooklyn and Queens on the way to Rockaway Beach. It has this incredible view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines, and somehow feels like a peaceful little hideaway while still being so close to the city.
Fun fact: the house even made an appearance in McBain, a pretty bad action movie from the ’90s with Christopher Walken, but cool if you ever want a glimpse.
Over the years, it’s survived several hurricanes and gone through a lot of changes, but my Aunt Cheryl has done an amazing job keeping it up. I’m so grateful that she’s been able to hold onto it, so our generation, and hopefully more to come, can continue to make memories here. <3
Rockaway Beach
I grew up spending summers in Rockaway since it’s just down the road from the beach house. It’s always felt laid-back and beachy, but with a dose of grit shaped by its proximity to the surrounding Queens and Long Island neighborhoods.Going back recently, it was great to see the area going through a bit of a resurgence. Rockaway is one of the closest surf spots to Manhattan, and I’m fascinated by how city and surf culture blend in this pocket of New York. The neighborhood was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but it’s made a strong comeback with a renovated boardwalk, new restaurants, and a trendy hotel. The boardwalk features updated beach signage and environmental graphics designed by Paula Scher at Pentagram (one of my design idols). Her work captures the energy of the city while feeling totally at home by the water, perfectly suited to Rockaway’s character.We didn’t make it to the Rockaway Hotel this time, but it’s definitely on the list for next time, it looks like a cool little spot.
Rockaway Surf Club
We stopped in here after some time on the beach, and the vibe was great. A laid-back mix of California surf culture and NYC. The food and drinks hit the spot, and the space itself was full of character. Brightly painted lockers lined the walls, used by locals to stash their boards. One of the coolest parts was hearing the train overhead while eating tacos and sipping a beer - it really captured the collision of city and surf.
Coming back to California this week and feeling the weight of what’s happening here. Our friends, our neighbors, our families are living in fear as immigration raids escalate and armed enforcement terrorizes the very people who are the backbone of our communities.
This isn’t abstract, this is our community being threatened. And it’s heartbreaking.
So in honor of our time in New York, I’m sharing the words engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty, a vision that feels so far from what we’re seeing at home:
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." - Emma Lazarus, November 2, 1883
We are a nation of immigrants. We can’t forget that now
