Going Coastal

It’s almost over, so hurry up and stretch the season!

You’ve already come to terms with the fact that your tan is fading. But nine months without lemon ice? That’s simply too much to ask. Before fall blows in, there are 10 essential summer experiences to be had – and fast. From dinner and a movie al fresco in Queens to Coney Island frog’s legs, the city’s seasonal treat-makers haven’t shut down. Yet.

1. Picnic in a bottle
Everyone’s talking about the watermelonade they’re juicing daily at Rickshaw Dumpling Bar (61 W. 23rd St., 212-924-9220). It’s pure watermelon juice — a very common drink in Asia — and tastes just like drinking a watermelon, without the pits. Because it goes down like a summer picnic in a bottle, it’s been a huge hit this summer. The dumpling joint’s record, so far, is squeezing and serving 28 watermelons in one afternoon to meet demand.

2. Ice dreams
Every pizza joint in town sells Italian ices year-round, but the real deal is usually a seasonal specialty. Made by many Italian pastry shops in warm weather, they’re spiked with real fruit, piled up high in a paper cup and yours for around $1.50. Summer favorites include D’Aiuto’s Pastry, 873 Eighth Ave., between 31st and 32nd Sts., the Lemon Ice King of Corona (open limited hours all year) at 52-02 108th St. at 52nd St., Queens; and Court Pastry Shop at 298 Court St., Brooklyn. If you only have time for one, make it a lemon.

3. Down by the river
Head to one of New York’s most summery spots — the Boat Basin Cafe on the upper West Side. Walk down the stone steps toward the river and you’ll feel like you’re in a country club far away. Under the vaulted ceiling, gobble up burgers, fries, salmon, PB&J, Italian ices, peel-and-eat shrimp, Yoo-hoos and mango mai tais, all from plastic plates and cups. So sit back and enjoy the sunset — it shuts down for the season in October. W. 79th St and the Hudson River; www.boatbasincafe.com.

4 Take me out…
The end of the summer means the end of baseball season at Coney Island — but there are still tickets available at the remaining Brooklyn Cyclones home games. For as little as $6, you can spend a few hours at Keyspan Park watching future Mets stars hone their skills. Sept. 2-7; for tickets, visit www.brooklyncyclones.com, or call (718) 507-TIXX.

5. Cinema al fresco
The bad news for film buffs this summer was the rainout of two outdoor film nights at Queens’ Socrates Sculpture Park. The good news: They’ll make them up tonight with a season-ending double feature, “Walkabout” (1971), from Australia, and Ingmar Bergman’s “Wild Strawberries” (1957). Starting things off at 7 is a performance by InDidgDance, an indigenous Australian dance troupe. Free; Broadway and Vernon Blvd., Long Island City. (718) 956-1819 or www.socratessculpturepark.org.

6. Eat a peach
Despite imports, you won’t find a good peach in this city after September. So go to a Greenmarket, buy as many as you can carry, and enjoy. Slice a few of the fruits, mix ’em with sugar to taste and a sprinkle of cornstarch in a baking dish, then bake at 400 degrees until bubbly. Top the fruit with scraps of biscuit dough (homemade or store-bought), sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, butter and crushed nuts and bake until this easy cobbler’s crust is golden-brown.

7. Go yacht-clubbing
Brownstone Brooklyn knows summer’s over when the Gowanus Yacht Club finally closes its doors — usually late in September. They don’t have a choice at this local watering hole and burger joint: There’s no roof, no walls, and the kitchen is a grill. In fact, it’s really the patio of the bagel shop next door, complete with wooden tables and folding chairs. While you can, check out the cheap beers (Pabst Blue Ribbon is $2) and cheap food (hot dogs start at $1). 323 Smith St. (at President St.), Brooklyn; no phone.

8. Pool party
There’s just one Sunday left to hit Pool Parties, the free summer concert ­series in the long-abandoned McCarren Park pool in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Scene-seekers come not just for the bands, but for dodge ball games in the old deep end, the adult-size Slip ‘N Slide and the best of hipster fashion-peeping. Plus, there’s Brooklyn Brewery beers and burgers and hot dogs from Sparky’s All-American Food. Visit www.thepoolparties.com.

9. Float your boat
Escape the city streets and float across Central Park’s giant artificial lake. Rowboats and Venetian gondolas can be rented through Oct. 29, weather permitting. Rowboats seat up to four people and can be taken out daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. It’s $12 for the first hour (plus an $18 cash deposit). If you’d like a gondolier to do the work for you, it’s wise to make reservations a couple of days in advance. Gondola rides are available from 5-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 2-9 p.m. Sat. & Sun., for $30 per half hour. Enter the park at E. 72nd St. Reservations: (212) 517-2233.

10. Coney Island, baby
After Sept. 9, Coney Island’s Astroland Park is weekends-only until October weather shuts down the show. That means there’s not much time left to call in sick to work, take the train out to the beach and ride the Cyclone ($6) until your voice is hoarse from all the screaming. (They’ll let you ride for $4 if you go twice.) On the food front, only the original location of Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island serves up fried frog’s legs. And you’ll want to get them soon, since it’s also the only spot where all the seating is outdoors. “I eat them on a bun with a little tartar sauce,” says Wayne Norbitz, president of Nathan’s. “They’re really good. And it’s a lot less money than going to Paris to buy them.” Still scared? Don’t worry — they taste like chicken. 1310 Surf Ave, Brooklyn.