Where does the time go? No really, summer is waning. It is August, Halloween decorations are in stores and friends are posting pictures of their children with #backtoschool! I am not ready. However, I have been making the most of our fair city’s beaches and the foods available.

First destination: Rockaway Beach. Yes, our historic A train could get me there; however, a friend and I decided to try something new and take the new ferry from Wall Street.

On a Sunday, Jamie and I hustled…I mean HUSTLED…to make the 11 a.m. only to be met with a 90-minute wait on a five-block long line. The ferry was crowded, but a pleasant-ish experience, a little foreboding for what was to come on our arrival.

Before Jamie and I could hunt for a place to finally rest, we had to eat. Leave it to Brooklyn to have some food I love, such as Caracas Arepas Bar, but we sidled up to the spot that looked like it had the freshest healthy food we could find. Peaches NYC (www.peachesnyc.com) was serving up locally sourced food. We ordered their chicken salad sandwich with pickled vegetables and housemade chips and their kale Caesar salad. Both were outstanding, especially that salad with a deep anchovy flavor in the dressing.

Thank heavens also for La Fruteria offering cool juices and smoothies. A piña colada was calling Jamie’s name and, for me, strawberry mango banana could do no wrong. And thanks for filling up our water bottles!

After another hour wait to get back on the ferry home, the net-net of the day was that the ferry ride is cute in theory but not on the weekend. As The Duke said, “All aboard,

get on the A train!”

My new sweet spot is a little farther west at Riis Park. There is much more beach, it’s less crowded and the food and beverage is right! With my friend Jason now in tow, we have sampled a little from

all the vendors.

Jason got a barbecue chicken sandwich from @FletchersBklyn and some elote and crispy fries from Bolivian @LlamaPartyNYC he adored. Jamie and I decided on fried clam and lobster roll sliders plus crispy Brussel sprouts with lobster caramel (returned frozen watermelon salad…no bueno) from @RedhookLobster’s @RockClamBar. Washed it down with Smuttynose IPA from the bar. Dynamite!

Now slather on that sun tan/block, pack a bag and get ready to chill right in your backyard and eat well while doing it.

Happy eating and thanks for reading!

Kysha Harris is a food writer and editor, culinary producer, consultant and owner of SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for more than 15 years. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, @SCHOPgirl, on Facebook, /SCHOPnyc, and her blog, www.talkingSCHOP.wordpress.com. Questions? Comments? Requests? Feedback? Invitations! Email AmNewsFOOD at AmNewsFOOD@SCHOPnyc.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @NYAmNewsFOOD and tag us with #SoAmNewsFOOD with your food finds!