Your correspondent was fortunate enough to be back in New York City for a fleeting visit. No matter how fleeting, there is always enough time for a trip on the #worlds2ndbestcommute – the Staten Island Ferry. I was blessed with a beautiful day and enjoyed an early morning voyage to Staten Island.
When I was last on the Staten Island Ferry, I rejoiced in the well stocked canteen that sold beer at reasonable prices. Consumption of bevvies was done without fear of the security guards that occasionally ruined more than one Manly Ferry ride. Well four years on, the canteen is no longer. The space is there – but it is empty. A COVID-19 casualty no doubt. My error was not checking on the way over to Staten Island to make sure it was there. When I boarded for the return trip at the very appropriate beer time of 2.30pm – I realised I’d be doing the trip dry. D’oh and double d’oh. I get the sense it’d be fine to BYO – so I missed out.
Fortunately, I’d visited a fine Staten Island Brewery after my obligatory stop at the Staten Island Outlets and was well watered and fed before my journey back to Manhattan.
Kills Boro Brewing is a 1.4km walk from the ferry terminal. It is a fantastic little spot serving great food and beer. New York City is not a cheap place. It is best to try and ignore the impact of taxes, tips and the exchange rate on just about every purchase (multiply by 1.08 for tax, 1.2 for tipping and 1.5 for the exchange rate). I’d visited a very schmick taproom – Talea Beer Co Bryant Park – where USD10 got you a 9oz glass of admittedly tasty IPA – but that’s almost AUD20! Well Kills Boro does a much better deal with a good old US 16oz glass of Pilsner setting you back USD8 or a 7.5%ABV IPA is USD9.
The food menu is also very reasonable. I opted for the decadent Pastrami eggrolls a deep fried melange of egg, cheese and pastrami.
The name Kills is something you see occasionally around New York. New York’s Dutch heritage is everywhere. New York City’s blue and orange flag derives its colours from the flag of the Dutch monarchy in the 1600s. The New York Knick, the Mets and the Staten Island also have the blue and orange colours. 10th Avenue is also known as Amsterdam Avenue. Tidal Straits, of which there were in the early days of the islands of New York were known as Kills. Water was sourced from local kills were used to make beer.
If I get to New York again, I’ll try and coincide my visit with a game to the Staten Island Ferry Hawks minor league baseball team. The home ground is right next to the ferry wharf and probably has one of the best views from a small stadium anywhere. Kills Boro serves beer at the ground. A cold glass of Killsner, a game of baseball and views of the #worlds2ndbestcomkute going back and forth – what could be better.
Kills Boro Brewing Company: 60 Van Duzer Street, Staten Island New York
back of the ferry 