Let’s face it- we’re in a state of limbo… hoping that another ‘spike’ won’t happen but kind of knowing it will, feeling ourselves visualize the unreality that we now know happening again, seeing the next season of our lives shuddered… decidedly resisting the urge to impulse-buy puzzles.
I don’t know what to tell you. Hell, I don’t know what to tell me. But what I do know is that now is the time to try to somehow feel normal again- while taking all necessary precautions. WEAR A FUCKING MASK. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. But also, try to feel like it’s summertime and we all still live in the best city in the whole goddamn world. Let’s try to feel it, and feel it normally, while we still can.
I’ve found a few good ways. Come on, let’s do this.
Take a Walking Tour with your friends, in Brooklyn
That’s right. I do walking tours. Which means, choose your group, choose a neighborhood, and let me show you what’s so amazing about life in Brooklyn. My tours combine cocktails and local bites, stories and culture and new ways to fall in love with the city again. DM me for more info. Let’s walk around, together.
Book a Virtual Cocktail Class, with all of your friends
Because Zoom feels like it’s kind of drying up (or is it just me?) shake things up by inviting all your friends to make drinks, together! The Sneaky Spirit Social Club wants to come to your house and throw a virtual party with you and all your friends. Learn to make drinks. Stock your bar cart with hand-selected spirits. Feel better about getting drunk at home. Learn more here. Let’s get sneaky together.
See a Concert with City Winery, in Hudson!
Live music isn’t going to be happening in any capacity for a while. That’s why City Winery has swooped in with a new series at their upstate property, complete with concert pods. Yep, that means anywhere from 2-10 people will have their own little socially-distanced pod situated in an outdoor amphitheater, with an option to add “picnic boxes” complete with meats and cheeses and obviously wine. Check their schedule here (I’ll be seeing Chris Thile on 8/15!)
Rooftop Films’ New Drive-In Theater
Because Skyline Drive-In in Greenpoint has recently caught some heat for being blatantly racially insensitive, and downright overpriced (however… this is New York… why is anyone surprised?) check out Rooftop Films’ new drive-in at the Army terminal. Your $45 price per car (stuff ‘em in!) includes extras like Q&A’s with Andy Samberg after seeing his new film Palm Springs. Get your tickets here.
Spend the Day in Red Hook
Brooklyn Crab and the amazing views at Louis Valentino Jr. Park want you to feel normal again. The two-tiered, always outdoor seated crab shack invites you to have a socially-distanced dinner al fresco, then get a cocktail to-go and admire the unparalleled views from the park down the street. Take a long stroll up toward Brooklyn Bridge Park when you’re done and fall back in love with the city.
Culture Lab LIC
Live outdoor concerts in their parking lot (some even emceed by Michael Che!) that they announce the day-of. Check-in with their Instagram account, wear a mask, bring a blanket, get yourself some culture that isn’t on a screen.
Look but don’t touch at House of Yes
Because you’ve missed the element of unexpected that you can only experience at House of Yes, While we still can’t return to sweaty dance parties and in-your-face performances, they are doing the best they can to bring you that wildness within current restrictions. Book a table for dinner and drinks and expect plenty of seductive surprises, just… stay in your seat. Also, check out their outdoor market that will allow you to browse tons of amazing artisan goods that could have only gotten better during quarantine (right?) Info here.
Turn your Dinner Parties into Picnics
Yeah. Dinner parties are kind of a thing of the past for now, but here’s your chance to really improve your picnic skills. Impress your friends with a charcuterie and cheese board with wine pairing from & Sons Buttery, a Sommelier-owned ham bar and (now) market that has the finest selection of domestic hams and cheeses that will make you forget all about that-time-in-Spain, and instead replace it with a dreamy little picnic in Prospect Park. Or you know, do it with Mekelburg’s and Domino, or the new Azure Market and Transmitter. Or Smorgasburg (order ahead of time!) and the waterfront at North 6th St. Choose your own adventure, and invite your friends. Because dinner parties were getting stuffy anyway.
Spend a Day at the Beach
Like, a full day. Because it’s the best way to spend time with friends with virtually no restrictions. (I mean, if you’re sitting closer than 6 feet to a stranger at the beach, something’s wrong with you) Pack a lunch, grab some White Claws (and have no shame about this), and head out to any of the miles of coastline this city has to offer within about 1.5 hours of anywhere you are. And if you really want an uninhibited experience, check out this piece I wrote about letting it all hang out at Fort Tilden. See you out there 😉
Roosevelt Island Pool, with grills!
Camp out as this candyland of an island paradise, all day. This virtually unknown pool in the middle of Roosevelt Island will have you sun-drenched and nestled between the world’s most infamous skyline and that cool place where you live (Brooklyn), swimming and sipping (they don’t allow you to bring alcohol. It is not hard to bring alcohol.) and even hosting your own intimate cookout. They have two grills and a communal fridge so you can heat those meats only when you’re ready to. Also, there’s almost nothing else to do on the island (ok, ok, the smallpox hospital facade is… there.) so you won’t blink an eye at the $40/$65 (week/weekend) cost of entry. For real, don’t. Just go. Info here.
Rediscover Governor’s Island
Use this amazing guide and spend the day at Governor’s Island. There’s food, breweries, bike trails, amazing views of the city, a wondrous place called Slide Hill, and camping (but sign up QUICK). It’s an amazing way to get out of the city with just a quick little jaunt on the ferry (but reserve your tickets first!)
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