Broad Channel is the strangest place to live in New York — an island in the middle of Jamaica Bay where the side streets dead-end into the water and half the houses sit on pilings — and West 11th Road runs straight toward the sunset off Cross Bay Boulevard. Closing it for an afternoon-to-night block party means the whole thing ends with the light going down over the bay. If you have never been past Howard Beach, this is your excuse.
What to expect
Expect a closed residential street on a narrow island block, with neighbors setting up along the roadway and the water visible at the end of it. Broad Channel block events run informally and family-heavy, and the sunset over Jamaica Bay is the built-in finale. Cross Bay Boulevard has delis and pizza within a block if you need supplies.
Good to know
- West 11th Road runs off Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel, on the island between Howard Beach and the Rockaways.
- The A at Broad Channel is right on the island, which makes this rare among far-Queens block events.
- The block ends at the water — bring a jacket, since wind off Jamaica Bay picks up at dusk.
- Street parking is tight on a Broad Channel side street; the subway is genuinely easier.
- The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is minutes north if you want to make an afternoon of it.
- It is a neighborhood street event, so expect a local crowd and an informal setup.
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Common questions
Where is West 11th Road?
In Broad Channel, Queens, running off Cross Bay Boulevard on the island in Jamaica Bay.
How do I get there without a car?
The A train stops at Broad Channel, on the island itself, a short walk from the block.
Is the street closed to traffic?
Yes — it operates under a street activity permit, so the block is closed while the event runs.
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