Chamber music on an ocean beach, at the hour when the light goes gold and the A train rattles overhead - Rockaway Chamber Music has built this over four summers on a Flushing Town Hall arts grant. The closing concert carries one of the season's two world premieres, written in response to the Rockaway landscape. If you want the most New York thing on this Sunday's list, bring a towel and ride the A to Beach 62nd.
What to expect
An informal outdoor setup on the sand near the Beach 62nd Street entrance, with no fixed seating - the organizers explicitly ask you to bring your own chair or towel. The program runs roughly an hour straight through. Ocean wind, gulls and the periodic pass of the elevated train are part of the sound, and so is the sunset.
Good to know
- The A train to Beach 60th Street on the Rockaway Park branch is the closest stop; check which branch your train is running before you board at Broad Channel.
- Bring your own beach chair or towel - the organizers have said seating is not provided at the beach concerts.
- The ocean wind picks up after sundown even in August; a layer you can throw on is worth carrying.
- Sand is not friendly to wheelchairs or strollers; the boardwalk end of the beach is the more accessible vantage point.
- It is an outdoor concert with no rain venue, so check the organizer's page the day of if the forecast looks unsettled.
- Pair it with an afternoon on the beach and dinner on Rockaway Beach Boulevard before the music starts.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Is it free?
Yes. The two beach concerts in this series are free; only the indoor dates at Arverne Cinema earlier in the summer were ticketed. Nothing is collected at the beach.
Do I need to bring anything?
A beach chair or a towel, since seating is not provided. A layer for the wind off the water and a flashlight for the walk back to the station are both sensible additions.
How long is the concert?
About an hour, played straight through. That leaves time to catch the A train back without a late night, though the ride from the Rockaways to Manhattan is a long one.
More this weekend
