This list is not all-inclusive and I'm sure I missed a ton of things, but it is a place to start for those of you who are looking for some new adventures. Please comment and share some of your favorite NYC summer activities, I'd love to check them out!
Perfect Summer Day
Picnic in a Park
Pretty self explanatory.
Here are some of my favorite parks to gather friends, pack a nibble, pop some bubbly and hangout in:
Brooklyn Bridge Park - excellent views
Riverside Park - good shade for those of us with fairer skin
Central Park - The Great Lawn = Classic
Breezy Summer Night
Movies in the Park
You have lots of options to choose from. Some of the more popular venues include Bryant Park, Pier 63 and Riverside Park. Here is a pretty complete list of sites, in all boroughs, showing movies this summer.
Outdoor Dining
The Frying Pan - It's basically a boat off of Manhattan that they turned into a bar/restaurant. It is quite the scene and very popular during the warmer months when it is open.
Bar Pitti - It is quite a trendy location with a large outdoor space in the village. I haven't been but I here the food is excellent.
Birreria - This rooftop restaurant is on the top floor of Eataly. Birreria is an Italian beer garden who's bar is lined with large oak barrels filled with Vini for patrons to enjoy. The food is delicious and the view of the Empire State Building is not that shabby. I literally dream about the Shitake Fritti, and they make a killer Formaggi and Salumi platter.
Day Trip
The Beach - New Yorkers have easy access to a number of really nice beaches. The best are found on Long Island. Jones Beach and Long Beach are both very popular options that can be accessed from Penn Station via the Long Island Railroad for under $20.
Wine Tasting - New York State boasts numerous wineries under three hours from the city. You can head upstate to The Hudson Valley, out to Long Island's North Fork or the Hamptons. There are a plethora of routes and options to choose from. I've experienced wine tasting upstate as well as in the Hamptons, and both are lush and delicious experiences.
Need to Tak a Dip?
McCarren Hotel & Pool - Sometimes an air conditioned subway ride to Williamsburg, Brooklyn is what it is going to take for a refreshing dip. The pool at the McCarren Hotel & Pool, formally the King & Grove, is available to the public through reservations and a fee.
The Beach at the Dream Downtown - This trendy hotel in the Meatpacking District can be accessed if you book one of their two cabanas that seats up to 10 people. I would call and inquire because policies generally change summer to summer.
Summer Classics
Shakespeare in the Park - Every summer, two plays are put on in the middle of Central Park at the Delacorte Theatre. Each play runs for one month and attracts a packed house every night. The tickets are free, but they are only obtained on a first come first served basis at the box office or via a daily on-line lottery, This summer they are showing King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing. A number of famous actors participate and it is a truly memorable event.
Symphony in the Park - This is one of the most magical things I have experienced in New York City. The New York Philharmonic plays a number of performances throughout public parks in the city over the course of a week. They play two concerts in Central Park and then one in every other borough. Spectators fill the Great Lawn with blankets and picnics to dine under the stars while being serenaded by the Phil. After the concert there are usually fireworks which are incredible as they explode over the downtown New York backdrop. I'd suggest arriving around 6:30 and setting up a spot on the southeast portion of the lawn.
Coney Island - You are not a New Yorker until you take a trip out to Coney Island. The board walk, beach, and amusement park are idilic and staples of the NY community. Luna Park is an adventure you have to experience once...being jostled by the Cylone is both terrifying and nostalgic.
Here are some snapshots of summers past. I'm so excited for this summer and the new memories to come.
xoxo
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