I had a good time with my friends, will be returning soon! Thank you McCarren! Stay fresh!

Ever wondered what tumbleweeds would look like moving underwater? Look no further. McCarren Park Pool has a whole ecosystem of tumbleweeds and all you need are goggles to look in awe at this natural extraordinary occurrence. Beautiful bulbous structures meandering on the bottom of the pool. If you get lucky a smaller one might swim up to you and give you a face hug while unsuspectingly trying to sneak into your mouth. Sometimes they like to dress you up, wrapping themselves around your arms, legs, neck.....or where they deem you need extra glamour to look like Harry from the Hendersons. You didn't expect me to bring you back to your childhood now, did you?  If you're a fan of microbiology, oh man do I have great news for you! All you need to do is hang out at the corner edges of the pool to play a guessing game of: Will this algae give me a rash? Will this make me blind? Will I grow a wart on my nose? I haven't seen a pool this gross in ages. Cleaning seems to be an abstract concept at this facility. I would suggest avoiding the place for 2 days if someone poops in the water. read more

Last summer season 2024 the pool had even less lounge chairs then the year before and half of them were broken, this is a shame as the pool area has plenty of room to provide more lounge chairs. read more

The pool is great I wish they would allow more public access. But the reason why this doesnt have 5 stars is because some dude in the first session proceeded to do whatever yoga or stretches he was doing. Mind you he has speedo underwear. The dude literally does some move that looks like the picture below I swear I never seen anyone bend like that. Unfortunately it was pretty gruesome to see a middle aged man twisting like a pretzel with his head nearly up his arse. My problem was that no one said anything. read more

I love this pool but today the family room attendant was on the phone and when I asked him nicely for help he shushed me and had me and my kid wait. I had to get someone else from the men's locker room area to help me with the family room locker which was stuck. This older gentleman was very nice and scolded the unhelpful attendant. The family room attendant didn't apologize and said he was busy on the phone talking to his Korean instructor like if that was a valid excuse for not helping. Very rude. read more

* This review is for the pool only * Came here with a friend on a Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed our time! Pros: - Centrally located in Williamsburg and easy to get to with public transport - Huge pool with very clean water - Facilities are OK, a little grimy but standard for public facilities with lots of traffic - No lines during weekdays, but I'm sure it's crazy during weekends Note: The description on https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mccarren-park/facilities/outdoor-pools/mccarren-park-pool does not convey how STRICT the rules are here. - You must bring a combination lock in order to enter the premises. They have 2 people at the entrance who scan your belongings and make sure you have a lock. - You must place ALL your electronics/valuables in a locker. Any bags and phones are NOT permitted and you can only hand carry basic essentials such as a towel, sunscreen, books, and water bottle onto the pool grounds. - They have eagle-eyed staff checking every entry point and they do not f*k around. Be nice to them, and they are nice back. - Beach lounge chairs are limited and they go quick - There is very little shade around the pool and you are not allowed to bring sun umbrellas or chairs, so a hat would be the best option. You are not allowed to lay in the little shade underneath or around the lifeguard chairs - They have a huge container of complimentary 30SPF sunscreen but yesterday it was all out. - The website says there's a daily "break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m." but we got kicked out at 2:35 PM so it's not exactly 3 PM. As long as you follow the rules you will have a great time! read more

The staff are amazing at making things run smooth honestly the only issue I had with the place was the fact that they had half of it closed off, which is ironic given they're so concerned about people being too close Either way it's a nice pool just would be better if you could bring your phone on deck read more

Great experience. I arrived right before doors opened at 11am. The line was around the block but as soon as doors opened the line was gone and everyone went in. The view is phenomenal of the city around the pool. Pool is gorgeous and locker rooms, bathrooms and pool are clean and relatively new. The people(friendly) and staff (helpful)had a great vibe. read more

Great pool however wish they would have adult/ senior water aerobics. The pool is beautiful and clean.

I've visited this pool twice and I'm glad to say every time it's a bitter sweet visit. The facilities are up to Pat from the cleanliness of the restrooms to the locker rooms and also the pool itself. Now on the other hand the staff are hounding on you for every SINGLE move re-iterating very second the rules. Super annoying and frustrating. From what I'm carrying in my towel to where I'm going to change to making sure I shower. I feel like a child being babysit by multiple adults. It creates such a stress full experience. read more

For a public pool in NYC, I've gotta really say this is definitely one of the better ones that I've been to. There aren't hoards of bored children out for the summer running around making a ruckus or continuously splashing water into my face and there are even a few pool chairs, if you're lucky enough to snag one. There's an area designated just for laps, which is great and there's a pretty neat area to play volleyball, sand and all. They cater well to children and there's even an area with water sprinklers for the kids to play in or if you'd just like to cool off without completely immersing yourself in water. One thing to note is that the only showers they offer are outdoor ones in full eyesight of everyone in the pool, so don't plan on taking one of those full nudey showers you may be accustomed to at other pools or gyms unless you want to be banned from the premises for life. Everything else is pretty standard and I've yet to encounter any of the gross things that you'll see floating around other pools (you know what I mean), so I'll definitely be sure to return before the summer's up. read more

McCarren Park Pool - View of the pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I frequented this pool several times over the summer of 2015 I think for their adult swimming lessons via the NYC Parks Dept website. The pool was huge and appeared clean. The staff were okay whenever I went. They stress and watch you like a hawk to make sure you have a locker for your personal belongings. The locker rooms were big and clean and you were always able to find a locker. They had showers and areas to get dressed. Thankfully the times that I went it was closed to the public to give more one on one to students learning to swim or to participate in an aquatic exercise group. Unfortunately I didnt learn how to independently and confidently learn how to swim at this wonderful pool. I am still a work in progress but I would definitely return here to chill in the pool and do my own thing. read more

McCarren Pool is one of the wonderful FREE things to do in the city when it is hot as a mother outside and you need to cool down. But, make sure you bring a LOCK or you will be turned away. Also, I would recommend flip flops, especially when you need to go to the bathroom. All I could think about was the floor being wet with everyone trekking around urine everywhere. Ew, gross. The pool is huge and probably can accommodate 1500+ people! During the weekdays, there is lap swim but of course, there are no rules or lane dividers. It is basically sheer utter chaos. There will be people clearly lap swimming and then some old lady will be floating through all the lanes belly up. Go figure right? But despite all the shortcomings, it is a wonderful pool. I mean, seriously, it is free and nothing beats that. My tax dollars hard at work to provide me fun in the sun. I'm all for social programs! There are lots of cops and securities here, so be prepared to be treated like an inmate, but besides that,it's all good! No food or drinks allowed (except water). You can't bring cell phones on deck. Only your towel, sunscreen and maybe a book. No bags allowed on deck. They are very strict about this. Also note, the pool is CLOSED from 3-4pm everyday. read more

I've never been to a women's correctional facility but I'm glad I had an opportunity to have a glimpse at what one would look like by visiting the McCarren Park Pool and locker room/showers. This is a FREE pool but the staff are not volunteers they're paid and they are another level of awful. Here is one example of, idk, 5000 I'm sure everyone has encountered. Went to use the restroom and the lady told me I couldn't change in there and I said, Ok no prob. I had a towel and bathing suit on so clearly wasn't changing. Then she followed me to the stall and watched me through the crack. If you want a chill pool day, maybe its hot out and you're stressed and just want to unwind by the pool, THEN PAY FOR A PASS. Do not go here! read more

I love, love, love this place. Both times I've been here I've had nothing but good times. However, I came right after work. So its a little disconcerting wearing a shirt and tie while everyone around you is in emo-hipster mode, wearing their patented Threadless shirts and hair that looks like they haven't combed in two weeks. Jesus Christ, can you take the hair out of your eyes, please? ahem...i digress. Yes, its concrete. No grass, no little patches of green, just hard-ass concrete. As a matter of fact, you'll need a hard ass just to be comfortable sitting on the ground. Saw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sonic Youth two nights in a row, and they were just mind blowingly amazing. That Karen O can do no wrong. But hey, I'm here to talk about the place itself. There are various beer booths around the complex. BUT you have to get a wristband first before you can venture down to the booth. If you get to the venue late, that line can be pretty long and torturous. And since its in Brooklyn, its Brooklyn Brewery beer, which is like Kool Aid to the Billyburg hipsters. I can't wait to goto the summer movie series thats there right now. And dont forget that my future wife Feist is there august 29th, so look for me. I'll be the one towards the front of the stage, with a bib around my neck to wipe all the drool away. read more

McCarren Park Pool - McCarren Park Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Today I had Three punk male rude locker room attendances Tell me my shorts were Not shorts- LOL I had swimming trunks on! (With a swimming liner on the inside) and there were men in there with tighter Shorts on than mine. I think they were being homophobic bullies. -When I told him I was going to tell staff - and that I had felt like I was being bullied -they laughed and told me "I don't care who you tell- you're lucky I let you in at all" ??Whatever that means! Obviously they don't care about any repercussions- Very low quality attitude and attentiveness and obviously a severe Lack of training. I've been going there for years and I've never been treated this way- Negative stars given read more

This pool is huge and actually really nice for families as they have a specific section for just water play and sprinklers. Overall, it appears to be well-maintained but the people who work here are really terrible. They act like prison guards in training, particularly those who work around the showers and locker areas. There are basic rules that most people follow such as no cell phones anywhere near the lockers and at the pool, but there is a laundry list of other items that are banned even if you aren't swimming and want to lounge poolside with a book. The "banned list of items" includes more than just what is listed on the NYC Parks site. The staff here are not only unnecessarily strict but they should watch their tone and attitude towards visitors. In addition to yelling about various banned items, they shout out a countdown of how much time you are allowed in the shower (NO MORE THAN 2 MINUTES IN THE SHOWER!), a countdown of what time their break officially starts (YOU HAVE 6 MINUTES, *side note about this later), and a very friendly reminder to all the moms and kids to hurry the eff up (GET IN AND GET OUT!!). The NYC Parks Department states they are closed from 3:00 to 4:00PM for a break and pool cleaning but actually, lifeguards' whistles blow as soon as the second hits 2:45PM. That's when all the barking begins to get out of the pool. It's laughable that they tell us to respect their time and to get out of the pool ASAP but reciprocating any form of basic respect to their visitors would be too much to ask, I suppose? But a bunch of hormonal teens treating the pool as their personal jacuzzi in an after-hours episode of Real World: Williamsburg? NO BIG DEAL. read more

Come here every year , this pool is very clean and safe , lines can be long !! me and my family always enjoy ourseleves! Phones are not allowed by the pool read more

One last summer before the emptied-out pool/concert venue gets filled up and turned into a boring old....pool. I plan to go play at the Sunday Pool Parties (free concerts, lots of people, must RSVP, lots of f-f-fun, go early) whenever I get a chance! Saw Bloc Party here last year.. interesting venue. Very British jail-like feeling for some reason, even though you're in Brooklyn. Must be the tower entrance and the peeling paint off all the concrete. Or maybe it's just me and my imagination. read more

McCarren Park Pool - Swimming Pools Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Hard concrete the length of a football field = a sore ass and aching ankles. Needs a massive upgrade to real toilets instead of porta-potties. Nevertheless, a good time. BROOKLYN BREWERY. HOT DOGS. HAMBURGERS. Even PIEROGIES! What's even better is there is plenty of parking! read more

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Do not come here. These people treat you like inmates in a jail. Can't have a phone, can't wear this, can't do this, must have a lock etc. Its ridiculous. A girl screaming into a megaphone at the people waiting in line. Doesn't exactly set the tone for a pleasant day with your family at the pool. Then then told me my cover up dress was not a cover up and insisted it was just a dress instead. This was a plain cotton loose fitting tank dress with spaghetti straps, they acted like I had on jeans or a ballgown and heels and insisting it was pool wear. With no guide as to what constitutes a cover up vs a dress, apparently these people also moonlight as fashion experts. We ended up leaving. These people take their jobs way too seriously. You give these folks a polyester shirt and a nametag and now they got a god complex. Absolutely ridiculous. Save your time and go somewhere else where they know how to treat people like human beings. Edited: I read today in the news that a little boy almost drowned and the life guards didn't do squat. The child was floating face down and a bystander had to jump in save him. This was shortly after we left. Maybe if these people were more focused on doing their jobs and keeping people safe instead of harassing people over fabric, you wouldn't have children almost dying. This place is the seventh circle of hell. You'll have more fun playing in fire hydrant water than at this place. read more

First time to the public pool and I was pretty impressed. It was clean, from point of entry to the locker rooms and showers to the humongous pool itself. The staff were super nice and loaned me a padlock to secure my belongings as I didn't know of the rule prior to going. They even have family change rooms and locker area for adults visiting with children. There's a dedicated swim area for people who want to lapswim, a zero entry kiddy pool and lots of lounge chairs. Really enjoyed our visit and definitely going back before the end of summer! read more

They are like seriously strict here. You can't stand there, you must do this, no phone, etc. Like damn! People there take their jobs a little too seriously. The pool itself had a bunch of teens splashing around (surprised no one stopped them) and the water was freezing! It's definitely a great deal since it's free if you don't mind the overbearing staff. Just make sure you bring a lock and flip flops. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to McCarren Park Pool. The pool is clean and they have an adult only swimming section daily. The lifeguards enforce the rules of the pool and will immediately tell kids or parents with kids to leave the adult only section. People are mostly swimming laps in the adult area and it's not overly crowded. It's a process to get inside the pool. You have to line up and show proof or your locker and bathing suit. You cannot go in and hang out unless your with someone and wearing a solid white T-shirt. Yes all white. Seems odd I know. But they refused to let my fiancé in without swim trunks on unless he was wearing a white T-shirt. You must have a lock too. Once in you have to find a locker and lock up your cell phone and any other belongings. Then you shower right before you enter the pool. There are showers conveniently located outside of the men's and women's locker rooms which makes a quick Rinse very easy to do. I have gone a few times this season and also went to adult swim in the early am. I'm very impressed with this pool and highly recommend. read more

I guess with the hoopla of "mischief" over the past few years there has been a tradeoff. You won't be shanked by a twelve year old but you'll have to deal with the fun police who ensure that no fun is allowed. STOP SMILING! I came here opening day this year and luckily the word had not traveled far. It was pretty dead on a super hot day. Upon arrival I forgot to bring my lock. YOU MUST HAVE A LOCK AND A BATHING SUIT. Luckily there is a man willing to profit from your mistake right outside the door. If there is an opportunity to make money in this city, people will find it. However I needed a new lock so it worked out nicely. Once inside I was presented with a free lunch, which you must eat before you head in any further but if you're crazy and slick you can smuggle it in. Mmmmmm free school bagged lunch. Chocolate milk, string cheese and a mystery meat sandwich. Sweet! You head in and first meet the fun police who start getting more anal than a prostate exam. "Sir you can't meet back up with your friends here" says the no fun officer. "I didn't pick here, I was pointing elsewhere and why are you listening to our conversation?" I change quickly and was then told I could not wear a hat to the pool area. I suppose they thought I could smuggle a knife under my hat. Foolish move on their part, my bald shinny head can give a massive face destroying headbutt. I'm not going to do that when I'm wearing a fedora. You see large groups of adolescence which remind me of the young kids from "City of God" (Great movie. Highly recommend if you've never seen it). Basically these kids are having fun in their delinquent ways and if you keep to yourself or befriend them you have nothing to worry about. Bring a towel to lay down on the concrete. Take a dive in the pool, hopefully it won't be packed. Play a great game of beach volley ball. Your feet will hurt from the hot sand and shards of glass but it's all worth the fun. This is one spot the fun police don't worry about. Head back to the pool to cool off, but don't you dare do anything that even resembles like you jumped in. If so you'll be reprimanded and scorned in front of everyone. When it's time to shut down shop, the fun police blow horns, whistles and start nagging you to leave. The kids all start jumping in to piss them off and while they deal with them I catch an extra ten minutes of sun. Just put those headphones in and turn the dial up, you'll be fine. Well no not really, exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer and you're definitely damaging your ears blasting that music. But you're in the moment, live while you can. McCarren Park is a great place to do it! read more

Hit the beach instead. Not worth it. Picture the people you would least like to be around and times it by 1,674,789. The life guard whistles are still ringing in my head. If you stand at attention in the pool and don't move then the life guards will leave you alone. government cheese read more

Went at 430 yesterday (Tuesday, Summer) and was completely surprised at what a great place this was. I expected crowded, dirty, and obnoxious but left pretty excited. There was no line when we showed up so no waiting is always a good thing. We had planned ahead for the trip by reading all the rules online so we weren't surprised when they asked to see our lock before entering. (Pretty sure there was someone right outside of the place trying to sell locks...what a great biz idea! Ha!) The changing area was pretty big and relatively clean. Bathrooms were less desirable but I didn't really expect to find a spa-style facility. The pool was HUGE and even though there were a bunch of people in it, we were still able to float around and casually swim without always feeling like we were going to run into others. Overall a great experience and will def be back. Things to remember when going: 1. You must have your own lock or you wont be able to get in. 2. Do not bring a bunch of crap with you... only the necessities. The lockers are pretty big but chairs, toys, umbrellas and all that are not allowed. 3. If you plan on wearing clothing over your bathing suit, it has to be white and it can't be more than a tshirt and a pair of shorts. It HAS to be white. 4. Bring your own towel and sunscreen and whatever else you need. There is no concession at which to buy these things. Have fun! read more

The pool itself is beautiful. The park employees and life guards are a nightmare. - be prepared to be treated like a n inmate in a prison bootcamp. - be prepared to flash your underwear in public to prove you are wearing swimming trunks. - be prepared for police barriers, bag searches and constant whistles of aggressive life guards (apparently it is not ok for my seven year old daughter to put her hands on my shoulders) read more

For a first time experience this place was great! It's clean for a public pool. As long as you read up on the requirements, the staff shouldn't hassle you. They were pretty courteous and friendly with me, although I was intimidated by the yelp reviews on here. CARRY A PADLOCK! I cannot stress this enough. It was the first thing they asked me. White shirts on deck only. I even got offered a free lunch. I am inclined to believe that these people only get really cranky on days where their pool is at capacity. They seemed alright on a Tuesday evening when there weren't too many people around. The lifeguards are super attentive too. They have a separate area for people who want to do laps. Did I also mention that this pool is free? With all that thrown in I'm not even sure what people are complaining about. read more

Woke up at 7:30 to check out the official opening of the pool yesterday. It was supposed to open at 11, but because of the press...they didn't open until 1:30pm. When we got there, it was around 10:40 and there was already a line forming around the block. I waited in the desert heat with screaming/crying kids and frustrated parents for 3.5 freaking hours. Effing Bloomberg, man. I personally don't like public pools because, well...they're public and there's usually going to be poop or other nasty things swimming around you. But, I just decided to check the place out anyways. The water is freezing cold. And I'm not even exaggerating. My head started to hurt because it was that cold...and my arms went numb. I couldn't bare to be in it for more than 15 minutes. There are like less than 20 beach chairs...but because everyone else decided to hog them, most people laid out on the concrete floor. You MUST have a lock and you must wear a swimsuit (even if you're not there to swim)...otherwise you won't be able to get in. They will check your bags and you have to flash them your suits. Also, the only thing you can bring out with you are your towels, sunscreen and water. No food allowed. 6 billion gallons of water in this pool. PURE INSANITY. read more

Ready. OK! Here's the deal. Came here for the first of their summer movies (Bring It On- yeah!) and it was a lot of fun. First you don't have to get there days ahead of time to get a good view. The sound quality is good. It's free. Yay! However, since it's in Williamsburg, there's no grass, no parks, no trees. Just concrete. So if you bring your cute little sheet (and subsequently spill wine all over it like we did), it ain't gonna cut it. My butt was kiiiilllling me by the end of the film. (Does 'Bring It On' qualify as a "film"...? Not sure). Anyway, bring a pillow. Or an air mattress. Something cushy. Oh and after the copious amounts of alcohol consumed by the hipsters, I overheard security telling people, no glass bottles next week! So bring your wine/beer/vodka in plastic containers. The movie cut out once during a very crucial turning point (the cheerleading competition was just heating up) but the crowd cheered and gave their best *spirit fingers* and it was back on. Rad. http://www.summerscreen.org/home.html UPDATE: Take note that you can show up to see any of the bands that are playing here for free. Just sit in the park that is adjacent to the stage and you can hear the whole show perfectly. I've done this for Built to Spill and Cat Power, Sonic Youth and the Beastie Boys. Perfect summer to do. read more

NYC public pools are pretty strict. You must have a lock and present it to enter, you must show a bathing suit. If you wear a t-shirt in the pool it must be white. You can bring a towel, a book and water out to the pool and that is it. Thinking about sneaking your iPhone out? NO WAY, they make you shake out your towel to check and bark at you to shower before you enter the pool. They do not eff around. It can get crowded and loud, with whistles blowing non stop and life guards yelling at kids. No jumping! No diving! Kids have to be carried in front of you, they can't hang on to your back! No swimming! Ok ok, the last part is allowed. I can see why people are afraid of public pools, but in spite of all of the above I love it. It's great to walk across the park and get a tan without looking like the half naked hipsters in out of context bathing suits in the actual park. If you come early enough you might even get a chair. I like to be near the water and take a dip when I get too hot. Be warned, the pool closes in the middle of the day so you have to leave and come back, which is kind of a drag. read more

They have just released the line-up for the free McCarren Park Pool SummerScreen 2008: July 8: Rushmore July 15: The Virgin Suicides July 22: Wet Hot American Summer July 29: Desperately Seeking Susan August 5: Mean Streets August 12: 28 Days Later August 19: Velvet Goldmine August 26: Blue Velvet UMM--- What McCarren Park staff member lives in my mind right now? He needs to get out... and escort me to all of these movies. Hey- you should come too! Be sure to bring snacks and your beverages in box form (they do not like it when you bring bottles and cans). read more

It was a heady summer night last year when me, my brother and my adopted brother came here to catch M.I.A. in concert. We were an odd trio - me with quasi-corporate gear on, my bro being Mr. Fashionista and my adopted-bro in regular guy gear. We wandered around the immense cracked swimming pool, thinking about when to enter. We decided we'd test the water first by scoring some empanadas and beer. And then, properly fed, we entered the pool. Once the music began, all differences cast aside and we just flowed with the music. I remember looking behind me and seeing the swell of the crowd, not unlike a big splash in the pool. The acoustics were off for this kind of show - I would think bigger sound would play better here than dance-club beats. Still, it was a trip. Once the concert ended, the flood gates released and out gushed the patrons (along with us 3 amigos) into the warm night. I'd like to come back here again. read more

Many a summer afternoon have been spent here listening to music, drinking beers, relaxing with friends, watching the skinny black jean and white hightop fashion parade go by. Not unlike many others I too will miss this unique spot in my neighborhood. The McCarren pool parties are moving to Bushwick, the last show was a few days ago. So this is going to be a community pool again. I enjoy swimming as much as the next person but like I won't be too self- conscious to get into a swimsuit in front of all my skinny hipster neighbors. I'll try to work on that for next summer. It would be super cool if I could float around the pool with one of those to go margaritas while the band plays on stage. I guess it would be bad if one of the amps fell into the water though. read more

Opening day of the new version of the pool...and wow! ( And not just wow to the fact that my friend and I waited an hour and a half to get in) but the pool was HUGE. I hear it's one of the largest public pools in the US? Be it as it may, the water was sooooo nice. Seriously, nicest public pool I've been in ever. But the thing is, it was FREEZING. And ya know how you normally warm up after awhile? Not the case here. I think I started to lose feeling in my left arm after awhile. Important thing to remember: bring a lock. They won't let you in unless you have one. No phones or food are allowed by the pool. Everything goes into the locker and only your towel, sunscreen and water can be brought by the pool. Come early to claim a lounge chair otherwise the cement floor or seats are your friend. Would I be back in a heartbeat? Of course! It's free! And pretty! But next time I'd eat before I go in (plenty of nice spots around the park) so that I have some more body fat to warm me up inside the pool. read more

Long before any of your gentrifying hipsters discovered Williamsburg, yours truly used to swim in this pool. In fact Williamsburg is the setting for the beginning of my unfinished novel. This pool was massive and for a little kid like me was just overwhelming the scores of people that would frequent it. I was always sure I was lost but somehow my wonderful Grandpa kept an eye on me though I couldn't see him. The pool wasn't as much of a melting pot as a mosiac, to quote poor mayor Dinkins. I was sad to see the park close and wish the talk around its reopening wasn't just that. While I know you hipsters would lose a beloved live music venue, you and the kids you will no doubt have, will enjoy it and its cool comfort much more than the sweat that pours off you during these shows. And hopefully, you will make it more a melting pot, a colorful, ethnic swirl, more than a mosaic. read more

I can't in good conscience give this place more than three stars. Why? It's a pool, right Party People? That's the name of the place. And when you are there, it's pretty clear it's a pool. Except for one thing. The conspicuous lack of H20. It's like the opposite of that old chesnut, "water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink". But I suppose that's part of the appeal. You're on the bottom of a pool. And it's an old pool too. Built by the WPA Project. So that grimy floor has history! But it's hot. And you want to cool off. So there's a slip n' slide. But it's a slip and slide on concrete. Oof. Pain. However, Helios has these tents set up where they have these misters. These giant fans that spew out water and cold air at the same time. And that's lovely. Plus you get to pretend you're in a music video as you swirl around the wet water air. And trust me, people do this. They twirl around, they vogue a bit. But what I want to say to them is what you are really doing is HOGGING THE FREAKING MISTER, MISTER! And then there's Brooklyn Brewery beer to be had. You know, some people boycott BB because of the whole basketball arena snafu. But you know what? I don't punish myself for other people's problems. If something's good, I'm going to enjoy it. Me and Lionel Ritchie are like that. Easy like Sunday morning. And speaking of Lionel, the music? When we walked in, there was no one on stage. Apparently, Dan Deacon was making music with the crowd at that point. But it was confusing because you couldn't see anything. And yes, I know that music is meant to be HEARD not SEEN. But still, it was a little disconcerting. So that's one star for the misters, one star for the brew, and a half star for the music and a half star for the slip n' slide in case you wanted a full break down on my thinking. NO STARS FOR THE POOL PROPER FOR EGREGIOUS WANT OF WATER. It's ironic that the thing that makes this place cool is also the thing that makes it kinda suck. If this were a Greek myth, you would say that this is McCarren's tragic flaw. But it's not. So it isn't. read more

Best free concert/event series in the city, hands down. Don't EVEN look at me like that, Bryant Park Movie Night - get a slip & slide, then maybe we can talk. 1. SLIP AND SLIDE! FOR GROWNUPS! Omigod! I can't even contain my wonderment, ok, no, more like my excitement verging on epileptic seizure, about this. 2. They always book a quality gig. And they do a brilliant job of getting people you would actually pay to see. There is no boring weekend booked up with some geriatric fusion jazz duo last heard from in 1971, no "Sounds of Lower Slobovia" weekend with acts you've never heard of playing absolutely ear-shattering annoyingness (Central Park, I'm looking at you!). Every band that's ever played a Pool Party has been 100% of the moment awesomeness. 3. No pretensions to "culture". I mean, hey, "culture" is fantastic, in its proper place. I like opera, most 'world' music, anything historical or locally important. But you don't have to hit me over the head with it. Prospect Park, I'm happy to pay $2 to bliss out to the song stylings of Anjelique Kidjo or Philip Glass (more than happy, actually). But could we cut down on the speechifying, please? Yes, yes, we know Brooklyn is awesome and you are awesome for bringing us this lovely "culture" injected concert series. 4. 100% totally free. Brilliant. This is especially true considering the caliber of acts they book. Beer and other refreshments are also pretty decently priced. And sometimes they even hand out free promotional swag. 5. The hipster cred that comes with feeling all superior because you saw M.I.A. (or really, fill in your band of choice) last summer at the Pool Party for free, when your sucker of a friend actually paid $80 to see her out in Philly. Even better is the feeling that comes when all your friends are scrambling for tickets to see so and so at CMJ, and you saw them free at the Pool Party last summer. Seriously, CMJ seems to pick all their headlining acts from the roster at the Pool Parties and Siren Fest, so if you hit those concerts, you will be way ahead of the game (and all for FREE!). 6. Did I mention the slip & slide? 7. The temporary nature of the venue adds even more NYC scenester cred. In 5 years, when this is back to just being a neighborhood pool (or the inevitably overpriced paid version of what it is now, if the greedy fucks of this world get their way), you will be able to say to your friends who just recently moved here: "Man, I remember when this place used to be this awesome free concert venue. Yeah, lessee, I saw Pretty Girls Make Graves, Interpol, Of Montreal, Deerhoof, Blonde Redhead, M. I. A............" and they will just gape, shamefacedly, at their own stupidity for not living in New York during the awesome time that was the era of the McCarren Park Pool Party (kind of like when you talk to your boss at work, who used to hang out at CB's back when the Ramones and Blondie played there, and you were like 4 years old). read more

It nice, clean and free, what are you expect more?The line are long but it moving fast, give it 15 or 20 minutes when the high peek,it is not a big deal at all. A lot of police officers stay around just in case people cause trouble, I don't mind a bit, feel more comfortable to know that if there trouble , we have help. read more