summer in the city: 6 of my favorite things to do in NYC

Coney Island: 
No NYC summer is complete without a trip to Coney Island. You can take the F,D,N or Q towards Brooklyn to get there. I love to go to Nathan's for a lemonade and french fries, ride The Wonder Wheel and just walk on the boardwalk. If you can go during the week, I'd definitely recommend it, as it can get crowded during the weekends. I think the last time I went, this past Memorial Day Weekend, it was the most crowded I've ever seen it. If you're not a big rides person (like me) I'd recommend checking out the Coney Island History Project or the Brooklyn Aquarium while you're there. 

Drinks on a Rooftop Bar:  
Nothing says summer in NYC like a rooftop bar. The minute the weather goes above 60 degrees, New Yorkers flock to rooftop bars after work and on weekends. While they sound good in theory, rooftop bars can be extremely crowded and overpriced, so they’re not always enjoyable. One of my favorites is the Standard Hotel Rooftop. Although it’s very popular and usually crowded, to me it has the best view of any other rooftop bar and the drinks are solid so it's worth it. It’s located in the Meatpacking district on the west side, so you have a clear view of both the Empire Sate building and One World Trade Center. Pro Tip: if you’re not a big drinker and want to get the same view, check out the Whitney Museum next door. It has the same views without all the drunk people. 

Bike Riding on Governor’s Island:
Governor’s Island is another one of my favorite seasonal excursions. It’s just a short ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn. Governor’s Island is definitely a peaceful escape from the city. It’s park like with historical buildings and gorgeous views of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan. Aside from coming to relax, I love to rent bikes to ride. You can rent single bikes, tandem bikes, or even surrey bikes if you want to ride as a group. 

Jazz Age Lawn Party: 
You can come to Governor’s Island anytime during the season, but 2 weekends out of the summer they host the Jazz Age Lawn Party, a 1920’s inspired event with drinks, dancing and live music. You might remember seeing my Instagram stories from it last year. The event is held 2 weekends each summer, once in June and again in August and it’s a lot of fun! 


The Met Fashion Exhibit: 
The annual fashion exhibit at The Met always runs from May through September, so to me it’s synonymous with summer. This year's exhibit is Notes on Camp, and it's very whimsical and quirky. I went to see it over Memorial Day Weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I’d definitely recommend trying to go during the week if you can to avoid the crowds. Also, The Met is no longer pay what you wish unless you’re a NYC resident or student in the tristate area, so bring your student ID or a friend who lives in NYC if you can!

Brooklyn Flea + Jane's Carousel: 
The Brooklyn Flea runs all year long, but it's my favorite when it's outside during the summer months, especially on Sunday when it's in Dumbo. After shopping at the flea, I love to walk down under the bridge towards the water and Jane's Carousel. Yes I ride it (because I'm 29 going on 9 lol) and then sit by the water and admire the view of Manhattan. It’s honestly my favorite place in all of New York City.

If you'd like to shop the dress I'm wearing, you can find it here: 

Dress: c/o Smak Parlour 
Saddle Shoes: Eastland Shoe (purchased from DSW); Bag: old; Scarf: vintage; Sunglasses: No Fakes 
​Location: Coney Island (Brooklyn, NYC)

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