10 Places to Celebrate the Fourth of July, New Yorker-Style
In a lot of places, the Fourth means firing up the Weber in your backyard. In New York, it can mean anything from rooftop cocktails to a dance party at the beach. Here’s where to wave a flag, eat a hot dog, watch the fireworks or just make the most out of a midweek day off.
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Penthouse 808
You probably got invited to a few barbecues, but how many of them have a front-row seat to the pyrotechnics? This sleek rooftop at the Ravel Hotel is hosting a viewing party that will keep you fed with an eclectic menu of sliders, chicken and waffles, spicy tuna rolls and watermelon while you ooh and ahh.
8-08 Queens Plaza South, Queens; ravelhotel.com
Domino Park
Williamsburg’s brand-spanking-new green space might be the spot to watch the fireworks this year. Get there early (like, really early) to stake out one of the coveted lounge chairs by the water. Better yet, head to the fiesta at Tacocina (the brand-new outdoor eatery from Danny Meyer & Co.), where for $100 you can feast on unlimited tacos, guac and margaritas from 6 to 10 p.m.
15 River St., Brooklyn; dominopark.com
Brooklyn Barge
This Greenpoint waterfront spot (yes, it’s an actual barge) makes a prime vantage point for catching the Macy’s fireworks display over the East River. But we have plenty to occupy us until the sun goes down, thanks to bacon nachos, pretzel dogs and a lavender-honey Tom Collins.
3 Milton St., Brooklyn; 929-337-7212 or thebrooklynbarge.com
Nowadays
Nowadays is already one of our favorite places to go to pretend we have a backyard, so it’s an obvious choice for an Independence Day bash. Dance to tunes from all-female DJ collective Working Women, feast on barbecued ribs and brisket, and even bring your dog (or just pet other people’s). Oh, and consider this the land of the free, because that’s how much admission is.
56-06 Cooper Ave., Queens; 347-523-8535 or nowadays.nyc
Riis Park Beach Bazaar
Couldn’t swing a Hamptons trip with the weird midweek timing? Head to the Rockaways instead for DJ sets, an abundance of food vendors (like Ample Hills Creamery, Pizza Moto and Super Burrito) and, you know, the beach.
16702 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Queens; riisparkbeachbazaar.com
Rooftop Reds
Celebrate red, white and blue rosé at this rooftop winery. Along with a food truck serving up barbecue and plenty of (duh) wine, you’ll find cornhole for playing, hammocks for relaxing and some pretty stunning views (for Instagramming).
299 Sands St., Building 275, Brooklyn; 703-582-8609 or rooftopreds.com
Ophelia
Feel like blowing some hard-earned American dollars this holiday? For $200, you can pull out all the stops at this swanky rooftop lounge with a party that includes an open bar, various hors d’oeuvres and snacks (like mushroom and goat cheese flatbread, a charcuterie and cheese station, and a chilled seafood bar) and views that make you feel like you’re on top of the world.
3 Mitchel Place; 212-980-4796 or opheliany.com
LIC Flea & Food
The waterfront market offers a prime viewing spot for the fireworks. Before the show begins, you can shop, hang out in the all-Queens beer garden and nosh on everything from lobster rolls to pizza to ”donnolis“ (the cannoli-doughnut hybrid you never knew you needed).
5-25 46th Ave., Long Island City; 718-224-5863 or licflea.com
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The Crown
No, tha’'s not an ironic reference to the British monarchy (or the Netflix show), it’s the roof of Hotel 50 Bowery, which will offer—in addition to the usual 360-degree views—a one-hour open vodka bar for $35 or fancy-pants group packages if you’re rolling deep.
50 Bowery; 646-630-8057 or thecrownnyc.com
Exchange Place Plaza
Food trucks, fireworks, carnival rides and… Snoop Dogg? Yep, you’ll find all of the above on the other side of the Hudson at this annual block party. (Fingers crossed that Martha Stewart shows up.)
Exchange Place Plaza, Montgomery and Hudson Sts., Jersey City; freedomandfireworks.com