MTM: City Island, The Bronx, New York

I often boast that I was born and raised in The Bronx, the only one of New York City’s five boroughs to actually be part of the mainland of the United States of America. To a kid in the 1950s that was very important because when The Bomb was dropped on New York City, we wouldn’t have to cross any bridges to reach the safety of Middle America. I was sure that my cousins in Brooklyn would be goners, while we Bronxites would just walk until we reached a cornfield somewhere. We kids knew all about The Bomb because in those days families watched the evening news together and world events were common dinner table conversation.

My beloved Bronx is home to the New York Yankees, home to the oldest Municipal Golf Course in the United States, located in Van Cortlandt Park , and home to tiny City Island, only a mile and a half long, and barely a half mile wide. The Island is surrounded by the waters of the Long Island Sound and Eastchester Bay and is connected to the rest of the Bronx by the one road out, one road in, City Island Bridge.

Originally inhabited by the Siwanoy Indians, City Island was first established as an English settlement in 1685. Since it was in a perfect location on the route schooners traveled between Manhattan and New England, the Island became an important ship building and yachting center.

World Wars One and Two brought about a necessary switch to the construction of submarine chasers, P. T. Boats, landing crafts, tugs, and mine sweepers.

Following World War Two, the Island shipyards began constructing pleasure craft once again, including 12-meter sloops that became increasingly popular, especially in yacht racing. Several America’s Cup entrants were built on City Island, including the 1977 contenders the Independence, the Enterprise, and the 1977 winner, the Courageous skippered by Ted Turner.

Today, the presence of yacht clubs, sailing schools, sail makers, marinas, fishing boats, and marine supply and repair shops reflect City Island's historic role as a nautical community. City Island Avenue is lined with antique shops and sea food restaurants. There are no hotels or motels but Le Refuge Inn is a very elegant French Inn and Restaurant located in a nineteenth century sea captain’s house.

I am always surprised at how many New Yorkers have never been to City Island. When I can, I drag them on the grand tour and usually wind up at the Lobster House . To see some of the wonderful views that bring diners back time and again, click here.

My personal favorite place to eat is an old coffee house turned restaurant called the Black Whale where I brunch with my old friends from high school a few times a year. We talk about the past, as in “Why did we get detention for that?” the future, as in “What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you retire?” Someone always remarks how terrific it is that the City Islanders continue to fight against development, struggling to keep the village atmosphere for generations to come.

Sometime this Spring, my oldest grand daughter will be going to City Island with her first digital camera and will probably take pictures in the same niches where I took them when I got my first Brownie camera fifty-three years ago. Hopefully, she won’t cut off nearly as many heads as I did.

For a quick trip around the world via My Town Monday links, please visit Travis Erwin’s blog, where it all began.

Terrie