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I’ve been to a lot of local events recently and I really love to see the community supporting skateboarding and the kids who come out are great.  Blockstar took place in the heart of Brooklyn and the entire neighborhood came out to help out. 

Blockstars one was one of my favorites. 

Early on, before the food and refreshments were set up, a woman came out of her house with a pink plastic cup of water for me.  I grew up in a place where the only time you saw your neighbors was when you happened to drive by them.  

Blockstar is a backyard barbecue in the middle of the street.

Here it seemed that everybody knew everybody and if they didn’t know you the greeted you as if they did and people of all ages were huge fans of skateboarding cheering on and collecting money prizes for the kids who were killing it at the competition.

A local band came out and this girl just ripped the drums.  I don’ t know how old she was, but man she was cool.  And the frontman, very talented indeed.

Park Place between Kingston and Albany Ave

Free Skate Clinic

Skate date
Get things rolling with the aid of Uptown Skate School (646.462.3929, uptownskateschool.com; two people $100, if you mention TONY $65), whose instructors will come to the location of your choice for a one-hour, semiprivate skate- or longboard lesson. At Hudson River Park’s Skate Park (30th St at the Hudson River, hudsonriverpark.org; daily 11am–7pm), you can practice what you’ve learned on the bowl, street course and mini half-pipe for free—you just need to sign your life away in a waiver. (How romantic!) Afterward, take some of the edge off with $2 cans of Schlitz and PBR at badass dive Blue Ruin (538 Ninth Ave between 39th and 40th Sts, no phone), where shots like the Cherry Bomb are served aflame.

Rock climbing and relaxing
Relationships are filled with ups and downs, so get yours started on the right foot scaling the 30-foot indoor rock-climbing wall at The Rock Health & Fitness Club (22-15 31st St at Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, Queens; 718-204-1400, therockhealthandfitness.com; day pass $20 per person, includes equipment). And if things don’t work out, well, that’s what the helmet is for. After you’ve reached the summit and back, stroll on terra firma to Himalaya Teahouse (33-17 31st Ave at 33rd St, Astoria, Queens; 718-777-7450, himalayateahouse.com), which has less to do with Mount Everest than with Zen. Order a large pot of organic rooibos tea ($5.95) and Tibetan steamed momo dumplings ($8.95) to share with your little dumpling while you chill.

On the water
If you’re looking to impress your date with something new and unexpected, perhaps an activity on the water with skyline views, then we’ve got two words for you: kayak polo. With a small boat as your trusty steed, join members of New York Kayak Polo (Pier 66, 26th St at the Hudson River; nykayakpolo.org) for an intro session on the last Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. Games that day are open to anyone—and boats, paddles, life vests and helmets are provided at no cost (first-timers just need to pay a $5 insurance fee). Stick with the boat-in-the-water theme and head to Pier 66 Maritime (Pier 66, West Side Hwy at 26th St; 212-989-6363, pier66maritime.com), a former railroad barge–turned-bar, for white sangria ($8) or a Blue Moon ($6) on the roof deck. Since the most exotic marine life you’ll see floating in the Hudson is cigarette butts, get your fill of the real deal at Bongo (299 Tenth Ave between 27th and 28th; 212-947-3654, ongonyc.com) and suck down a half-dozen oysters ($18) from its extensive selection.

Come learn how to skate for FREE. Pay just the normal entry and we will provide you with all the equipment and instruction for FREE!