Residents line up for seafood, ships as City Island kicks off the holiday weekend
Despite soaring temperatures, crowds flocked to City Island on Friday to kick off the Fourth of July holiday weekend with fresh seafood, waterfront views and patriotic shopping.
More Stories
Despite soaring temperatures, crowds flocked to City Island on Friday to kick off the Fourth of July holiday weekend with fresh seafood, waterfront views and patriotic shopping.
Restaurants along the island were busy as visitors lined up for seafood at Tony's Pier, one of the area's popular waterfront destinations.
Steven, who traveled from New Jersey, said returning to City Island brings back childhood memories.
"It's where my parents took us when we were little, so we keep the tradition going," he said.
Business owners said they spent the days leading up to the holiday preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the summer.
"You've got to go heavy on all the preparations," said Tony Palumbo of Tony's Pier. "With the amount of people, it's going to be hot and heavy."
Beyond the restaurants, many visitors gathered along the waterfront for a chance to watch the Parade of Tall Ships as the vessels made their way through New York Harbor during the first parade since 1976.
"It's a beautiful sight to see. I'm glad I caught it," one visitor said.
"It's an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime moment, so we came to see if we could catch it from here," said Abby, a City Island resident.
Holiday shoppers also stopped by Kaleidoscope Gallery, where patriotic-themed merchandise filled the shelves ahead of Independence Day.
"We have patriotic jewelry for men, pendants, rings with eagles, American-themed stainless steel jewelry and porcelain eagles available," said owner Paul Klein.
Visitors said City Island offers something for everyone during the holiday weekend, from fresh seafood and local shopping to waterfront views and festive celebrations.
