Room Mate Grace

Photograph: Courtesy Of Room Mate Hotels.

City of Water Day

More than 200 kayaks, rowboats and other human-powered contrivances—sponsored by organizations including the Hudson River Sailing School, the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy and the New York City Downtown Boathouse—will blanket the Harbor as they head to Governors Island for nature walks, boat tours, live music, food, fishing and a pro-waterfront rally on July 26. “Water connects us all, and there’s lots to do on it,” says Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance president Roland Lewis. “But we need to make the waterfront as lively and diverse as the city it surrounds. Right now there are only four spots to dock your boat in Manhattan, and the prices are exorbitant.” Lewis envisions NYC’s waterways as a veritable highway, and he’s organizing this maritime festival to spread the gospel. Individual paddlers can sign up for a group outing (kayaks provided) with New York Kayak Company (212-924-1327, nykayak.com), but if you’d rather have someone else do all the work, take the free ferry from the Battery Maritime Building near South Street. Governors Island (800-782-8369, govisland.org) July 26. 10am–4pm. FREE

Floating Pool Lady

Last summer, thanks to the tenacity of urban activist Ann Buttenwieser, New Yorkers were able to dive into a seven-lane, 82-foot swimming pool docked just off Brooklyn Bridge Park. Starting Friday 27, the buoyant watering hole has a new home: Barretto Point Park in the South Bronx. “It’s a great thing for this neighborhood, which has never had a public pool,” says Parks and Recreation commissioner Adrian Benepe. A great thing for kids, too: With the formerly independently operated pool now under municipal authority, free swim lessons will be offered for children ages 2 to 16 on weekday mornings from 8 to 11am. Barretto Point Park, Tiffany St at Viele Ave, Hunts Point, Bronx (floatingpool.org). Subway: 6 to Longwood Ave. Daily 11am–7pm. FREE

McCarren Park Pool Party Slip ’n Slide
Crowd-surfing is a common enough sight at a concert, but it’s only at McCarren Park’s Sunday afternoon pool parties—which welcome red-hot acts like the Hold Steady (Sunday 29), Ronnie Spector (July 6) and Liars (July 20)—that you can catch a real wave on a massive two-lane Slip ’n Slide. But don’t delay: This is the last summer to ride the backyard favorite before the performance venue is converted back into a swimming pool. Wah! McCarren Park, Lorimer St between Bayard St and Driggs Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (thepoolparties.com) Subway: L to Bedford, G to Metropolitan Ave. Sun 2–8pm. FREE

Model Sailboating in Central Park
Even if you never developed sea legs, you can still sail vicariously in Central Park, where a fleet of radio-controlled schooners (and the occasional wind-powered sloop) glide around Conservatory Waters near Kerbs Model Boathouse. It’s not just silly kids’ stuff either: The old timers who frequent the pond float some pretty intricate watercraft at the Saturday morning regattas. Newcomers can rent a more basic vessel from Central Park Sailboats. Central Park, enter at Fifth Ave and 72nd St (917-796-1382, centralparknyc.org). Rentals available Mon–Fri, Sun 11am–7pm; Sat 2–6pm. Half-hour rental $10.

Room Mate Grace

So you’re not a member of Soho House and you can’t get a room at the Empire Hotel. You should still be able to order a poolside limoncello, right? Check out the new Room Mate Grace hotel (formerly Andre Balazs’s Hotel QT), where the chic lobby bar is conveniently attached to the pool. Nonguests are welcome to take a dip, provided they order a drink. On weekends, there’s a $10 fee for the privilege, but it’s still cheaper—and more fun—than ogling the shower dancers at Pacha. 125 W 45th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-354-2323, room-matehotels.com). Subway: B, D, F, V to 47–50th Sts–Rockefeller Ctr. Mon–Fri one-drink minimum; Sat, Sun $10.

Waterfront Museum

“Our biggest artifact is the barge itself,” says Waterfront Museum president David Sharps, referring to the 94-year-old Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge #79, the last wooden barge still afloat in New York City waters. Landlubbers can visit the captain’s original living quarters and view tools used by stevedores and longshoremen. For a bit of fun, check out “Showboat: ’Round the Bend” in the deckhouse. Period instruments and costumes, video clips and oral histories highlight showboat entertainment as a uniquely American art form. 290 Conover St at Pier 44, Red Hook, Brooklyn (718-624-4719, waterfrontmuseum.org). Travel: F, G to Smith–9th Sts, then take the B77 bus to Columbia St. Thu 4–8pm, Sat 1–5pm. font color="#FF0000">FREE

Water Taxi Beach

Water Taxi Beach

There’s no swimming at Queens’ answer to the Hamptons, but that’s beside the point: This 44,000-square-foot beach (twice the size it was last year) is all about the party. Monday and Tuesday nights, you can try your luck at beach volleyball and soccer, or just work on your tan. But as the weekend approaches, WTB transforms into a sandy dance floor, with DJ Insomniak spinning Latin house on Thursdays, a host of top talent at Turntables on the Hudson every Friday and resident DJ Victor Franco taking command on Saturdays. Need another reason to make a pilgrimage to Long Island City? With Schnäck closed, Water Taxi Beach is the only place to nab one of Harry Hawk’s mouthwatering Motz burgers. Borden Ave at 2nd St, Long Island City, Queens (212-742-1969, watertaxibeach.com). Subway: G to 21st St, 7 to Vernon Blvd–Jackson Ave. Mon, Tue 6–10pm; Wed, Thu 4–10pm; Fri 4pm–1am; Sat noon–1am; Sun 1–10pm. Must be over 21.