It’s hard to believe that City Island is part of New York City. Its serenity and idyllic scenery is more reminiscent of a small New England fishing town than that of a town located in the Bronx.
City Island is a small island in the Bronx measuring about one and a half-mile long and half a mile wide. Though it’s accessible by public transportation, it can be a bit of a trek, but that’s also part of its charm. Visiting requires time and effort, especially for the carless New Yorker. Take the six (6) train uptown to the last stop (Pelham Bay Park) and then catch a bus (the BX29) towards the island.
I got off at the last stop (Rochelle Street) and proceeded to meander toward the most Southern tip of the island where I found a seafood restaurant called Johnny’s Reef. After snacking on fried crab and French fries on the outside patio overlooking the water, I walked north passing by a plethora of seafood restaurants, an oddly placed Chinese restaurant, quaint gift stores followed by a huge antique store (Silver Arrow Antique & Things) replete with both functional and arbitrary items such as an over sized inflatable shark balloon, a lawnmower and kitchenware. As I crossed the street at a stop sign, I hurriedly crossed as if I was in a large intersection in Manhattan. Instead, I realized the driver came to a full and halting stop and also gave me a gentle nod. It was refreshing and also a bit shocking. Maybe I had been in the city for too long.
I passed houses that might pass for over sized versions of prototypical dollhouses. They were tall, clean, bright and minimal. What a huge difference from the skyscrapers and grunginess of the city. White fences and a perfect bright shade of green grass perfected the image. It might have disturbed the locals that I was snapping pictures of these houses as if I was conducting some sort of ethnographic research of the town, but I found it too cute not to document. Most of the day was spent walking around aimlessly perusing the local retail stores. I found several homemade candles and a mug I loved at one of the shops. While admiring the postcards also offered there, the owner blurted out, “I took those pictures with my smart phone!”
Once lollygagging became a bore, I opted for dinner at The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant. Its bright, flashing fluorescent lights enticed me in. Highlights of the meal included wearing an adorable plastic lobster bib, the buttery French bread and the steamed crab legs. As I left the restaurant, I grabbed a complimentary Red Delicious apple from the front for the road. The walk to the bus stop was a breeze as it was directly across from the restaurant.
City Island is uncomplicated and straightforward. Its charm and beauty lies in its simplicity. There are no accommodations on the island. There is one main street (appropriately named City Island Avenue) stretching vertically through the entire island. There is a handful of restaurants, mostly offering great seafood, but with the haphazard Chinese or Japanese addition for good measure. There are no public beaches available on the island as they are all reserved for residents, but there are small areas with access to the gorgeous horizon to pensively think about life if you politely ask the locals. It’s this lack of fussiness from City Island that makes it one of the more memorable day trips I’ve had in a quite awhile.
Images via NY Times, Mobile Munchies, and From the Bronx
